Date:	Sunday 7 July 1940
Time:	21:38
Type:	Supermarine Spitfire Mk Ia
Owner/operator:	65 (East India) Sqn RAF
Registration:	R6615
MSN:	704
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	English Channel, off Folkestone, Kent, England -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Hawkinge, Folkestone, Kent
Destination airport:

Narrative:
R6615: Spitfire Ia (c/no.704) First Flown 18-5-40. Delivered to the RAF at 12 MU 21-5-40. Issued to 65 Squadron 1-6-40; shot down by Bf109 near Folkestone, Kent. Pilot - Flying Officer G V Proudman - killed 7-7-40.

According to the official Air Ministry file into the incident (File AIR 81/1038): "Spitfire R6615 lost in air operations, 7 July 1940. Flying Officer G V Proudman: missing presumed dead"

Airborne for a combat air patrol over the Straits of Dover between 20:19 and 21:38 hours (one of six Spitfire assigned to this task). Shot down by a Bf 109. It was later noted in the Squadrons records that; ‘Green Section’ and all three pilots have failed to return. It appears probable that the section was surprised in or below clouds and engaged by superior numbers of the enemy. F/O Proudman had had considerable experience and was a very excellent fighter pilot. The loss of this officer and the other two pilots with him is deeply regretted.’

Leutnant Hermann Segatz and Leutnant Hermann Striebel of the 5th Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 together with Leutnant Herbert Huppertz, Oberfeldwebel Fritz Beeck and Unteroffizier Eduard Hemmerling of the 6th Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 all made claims for Spitfires in this area, at this time.

Two pilots of No.65 Squadron made claims. Flight Sergeant William H. Franklin claimed two Messerschmitt’s and Flight Lieutenant Gerald A. W. Saunders another. In reality Jagdgeschwader 51 returned to their bases in France without sustaining any losses. The one aircraft that the Spitfires DID shoot down was "one of our own" - Hurricane P2756 of 79 Squadron, shot down in error, probably due to being mis-identified as a Bf 109, killing the pilot.

Flying Officer George V. Proudman (Spitfire Serial No. R6615), Pilot Officer Norman J. Brisbane (Spitfire Serial No. N3129) and Sergeant Patrick S. Hayes (Spitfire Serial No. R6609) still remain missing to this day.

Crew of Spitfire R6615:
Flying Officer George Victor Proudman (Pilot) RAF 39947, aged 22 - posted as missing, presumed killed in action 07/07/1940, Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

Ltn. Ltn. Herbert Huppertzof 5./JG51 claimed a Spitfire shot down North West of Dungeness, Kent at 21:38 hours. This ties in with the RAF Air Combat losses log which notes "Sunday, July 07, 1940: F/O G.V. Proudman, 65 Squadron, Spitfire R6615, Convoy Patrol, take off 20:15. Shot down by Me 109 near Folkestone, KIA"

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft R1000-R9999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1980 p 41)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/1038: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502904
3. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1804739/proudman,-george-victor/
4. https://www.facebook.com/126834467471736/posts/remembering-seventy-five-years-ago-today-7th-july-1940the-main-activity-of-the-d/482870171868162/
5. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p009.html
6. https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109E/JG51.II.html
7. First of the Few: 5 June - July 1940 By Brian Cull
8. Their Finest Hour: Stories of the Men who Won the Battle of Britain By Nick Thomas

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
09-Oct-2019 15:33	Dr. John Smith	Added
09-Oct-2019 15:34	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Narrative]
09-Oct-2019 15:40	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Narrative]
10-Oct-2019 16:36	juza7	Updated [Aircraft type, Operator]