Date:	Sunday 7 July 1940
Time:	20:50
Type:	Supermarine Spitfire Mk Ia
Owner/operator:	65 (East India) Sqn RAF
Registration:	N3129
MSN:	400
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, Kent
Destination airport:

Narrative:
N3129: Spitfire Ia (c/no.400) First Flown 3-11-39. Delivered to the RAF at 9 MU Cosford 9-11-39. Issued to 65 Squadron 2-4-40; shot down by Bf 109 at 20.50 hours near Folkestone, Kent. Pilot missing, presumed killed 7-7-40

According to the official Air Ministry file into the incident (File AIR 81/1039): "Spitfire N3129 lost in air operations, 7 July 1940. Pilot Officer N J Brisbane: missing presumed dead".

Airborne for a combat air patrol over the Straits of Dover between 20:19 and 21:38 hours (one of six Spitfires 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 N3129:
Pilot Officer Norman James Brisbane (Pilot) RAF 41897 - posted as missing, presumed killed in action 07/07/1940, Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

Uffz. Eduard Hemmerling of 5./JG51 claimed a Spitfire shot down North West of Folkestone, Kent at 21:55 hours (=20:55 hours BST). This ties in with the RAF Air Combat losses log which notes "Sunday, July 07, 1940: Pilot Officer N.J. Brisbane, 65 Squadron. Spitfire N3129: Convoy Patrol, take off 20:15. Shot down by Me 109 off Folkestone, KIA"

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft N1000-N9999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1977 p 41)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/1039: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502905
3. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1530441/brisbane,-norman-james/
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 15:59	Dr. John Smith	Added
10-Oct-2019 16:36	juza7	Updated [Aircraft type, Operator]