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Eric Stanley Lock - Pilot Profile - Eric Lock

Eric Stanley Lock

Victories : 26.5
-----------------------------
Country : UK
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Allied
Died : 3rd August 1941

Born 19th April 1919, Eric Lock became one of the most famous fighter pilots of the war. Joining No.41 Sqn, he flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain, but was eventually forced to crash-land his badly damaged Spitfire, and spent a long time recovering from his injuries. Returning to action over France in 1941, he joined No.611 Squadron, again flying Spitfires. On 3rd August 1941, Lock was last seen going in for a ground attack near the Pas-de-Calais, where it is presumed he was shot down and killed. Neither his body or aircraft have ever been found. Lock scored 26.5 victories in total, making him the 8th highest scoring British Ace of the war, despite only living until 1941. He was awarded the DSO, DFC and a Bar to the DFC.

Citation for the DSO

This officer has shown exceptional keenness and courage in his attacks against the enemy. In November, 1940, whilst engaged with his squadron in attacking a superior number of enemy forces, he destroyed two Messerschmitt 109's, thus bringing his total to at least twenty-two. His magnificent fighting spirit and personal example have been in the highest traditions of the service.

Citation for the DFC

This officer has destroyed nine enemy aircraft, eight of these within a period of one week. He has displayed great vigour and determination in pressing home his attacks.

Citation for the Bar to the DFC

In September, 1940, whilst engaged on a patrol over the Dover area, Pilot Officer Lock engaged three Heinkel 113's one of which he shot down into the sea. Immediately afterwards he engaged a Henschel 126 and destroyed it. He has displayed great courage in the face of heavy odds, and his skill and coolness in combat have enabled him to destroy fifteen enemy aircraft within a period of nineteen days.


Combat Reports
Personal combat reports from this pilot.

5th September 1940

15.00 hrs, 41 Squadron. Two HeIII and an Me109, about 15,000ft over Shppey.
I was Red 2, 41 Squadron flying in formation with the rest of the squadron when we intercepted a formation of enemy aircraft. We attacked the bombers first. After we engaged, we broke away to port, then I saw Red 1 shoot down an Me109 which exploded in mid-air. It then developed into a dogfight. I then engaged an enemy HeIII which crashed into the river and I followed this down. I climbed back to 8,000 feet and saw an enemy HeIII which had left the main formation. I engaged same and his starboard engine set on fire. I closed in to about 75 yards and fired two long bursts and smoke came from the fuselage. The enemy aircraft then put his wheels down and started to glide. I then stopped firing and followed him down. I was then attacked by an Me109 who fired at me from below and wounded me in the leg. As he banked away he stallturned. I fired at him and he exploded in mid-air. I then followed the bomber down who landed on the sea about 10 miles from the first one in the mouth of the river. I circled round a boat which was at hand. I also flashed my downward light - I saw the boat go to the enemy aircraft. I was then joined by Red 3. On our return we saw the first bomber which was still floating. I saw a small rubber boat.

Artwork featuring this Ace : Prints and Paintings Available to Purchase!

 On the afternoon of 5th September 1940, Spitfires of 41 Sqn intercepted a large formation of Heinkel 111 bombers and their escorts over the Thames estuary, en route for London.  Flying N3162 as Red 2, Flight Lieutenant Eric Lock attacked the bombers head on as they began to turn north.  In a fraught combat, Lock was to destroy two He.111s and a Bf.109 on that single mission, setting him on course to become the highest scoring ace in the RAF during the Battle of Britain with sixteen confirmed victories and one shared.  His final total at the end of the war was twenty six kills confirmed and eight probables. Total Commitment by Ivan Berryman.Click For DetailsDHM1863

Latest Allied Aviation Artwork !
A Fairey Albacore of 826 Naval Air Squadron releases its torpedo at the Battle of Cape Matapan, 28th March 1941.  With intelligence from deciphered Italian communications aiding them, the British fleet had a distinct advantage from the outset of this battle.  However, gaining a torpedo hit on the well protected battleship Vittorio Veneto came at a price - Lt Com Dalyell-Stead and the crew of his Fairey Albacore got close enough to launch their torpedo and damage the battleship, but were killed when their aircraft was brought down by the hail of anti-aircraft fire returned.  Ultimately, the battle was a massive British victory with several Italian capital ships sunk, but it was a notable victory for innovation and intelligence, with British ship-borne radar decisive in a night action, and code-breaking by Bletchley Park aiding the British fleet.

Albacore at Cape Matapan by Ivan Berryman.
A prominent aviator in the Battle of the Atlantic, Terry Bulloch flew B-24 Liberators with No.120 Sqn in an anti-submarine role.  Already awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for shooting down two German aircraft in a No.206 Sqn Lockheed Hudson over Dunkirk, he was awarded a Bar to this when he sunk U-boat U-597 in October 1942.  After another attack, this time sinking U-132 and damaging U-89, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and gained a Bar to this on leaving No.120 Sqn at the end of 1942.  Bulloch is seen here on 8th July 1943 in Liberator GR Mk.V BZ721 of No.224 Sqn having completed his hat-trick of U-boat kills, this time sinking U-514 in the Bay of Biscay.  This type had been modified by RAF Coastal Command to carry rockets, which Bulloch had used to attack the submarine, finishing it off with depth charges.  After the war, Bulloch became an airline pilot, crossing the Atlantic on more than 1,000 occasions.  He died in 2014.

Tribute to Terry Bulloch by Ivan Berryman.
 In early May 1941, in conditions of strict secrecy because the United States was not yet at war, seventeen pilots of the US Navy had arrived in Britain and been attached to Catalina squadrons of Coastal Command.  These experienced PBY pilots were there to assist the Royal Air Force to become familiar with the Catalina, and also to gain operational experience for the US Navy.  On 26th May 1941 Catalina Z of No.209 Sqn, commanded by Flying Officer Dennis Briggs RAF, with Ensign Leonard B Smith USN as co-pilot, joined the search for the Bismarck.  At 1015 the aircraft was being flown in poor visibility at an altitude of 500ft when Ensign Smith sighted the Bismarck at a range of eight miles.  The Catalina was flown towards the contact so that a positive identification could be made and emerged from the cloud only 500 yards from the German ship.  The aircraft met a hail of anti-aircraft fire but was able to make its escape.  As a result of the sighting report from Catalina Z the Bismarck was again engaged by ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy and was sunk at 1040 on 27th May 1941.  Leonard Smith can be considered therefore, the first American to be directly involved in action in World War Two.  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (American) for his actions.

The Aircraft That Found the Bismarck by Ivan Berryman.
 Painted with the black and white markings of the D-Day invasion, P-51 Mustang 43-24823 B6-S 'Old Crow' is the personal aircraft of 'Bud' Anderson.  He flew two tours with the 363rd Fighter Squadron and is credited with 16.25 victories in 116 missions from February to December 1944.  After the war he became a test pilot, flying over 100 different aircraft types before retiring in 1972, often speaking at aviation history events ever since.  As of the time of writing in 2023, he is 101 years old and has just been promoted to the honorary rank of Brigadier General.

Tribute to Clarence 'Bud' Anderson by Ivan Berryman.

Eric Stanley Lock

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