Bob Braham - Military Career

Military Career

His first squadron was 29 Squadron in December 1938, flying the two-seater Hawker Demon. Early in 1939 No 29 Squadron re-equipped with the Bristol Blenheim, but soon after switched to the Hawker Hurricane. Braham carried out his first operational patrols of World War II in September 1939. He had by now been given the nickname 'Bob', which stayed with him throughout his service career. (Braham 1961, p. 41) No 29 Squadron was now designated a night-fighter squadron and once again received Blenheim l's. In mid 1940, they were being equipped with the early AI Mk III RDF 'radar' and four Browning machine guns in a pack under the belly. The squadron started night flights over Lincolnshire in June 1940. On the night of 24/25 August 1940, during the Battle of Britain, Bob destroyed his first enemy aircraft, a Dornier Do 17, guided by his AI operator Sgt. Wilsden. (Braham 1961, pp. 56–58)

In October 1940 the squadron started to receive the more modern Bristol Beaufighter Mk IFs with Mk IV AI radar.

Braham received a DFC in January 1941. In March he destroyed another enemy aircraft, a Dornier Do 17 of Stab. Kampfgeschwader 2, his first in a Beaufighter. No 29 Squadron moved to RAF West Malling, Kent in May 1941 and it was from here that Braham really developed his night fighting skills, with the start of his association with two navigators/radar operators who would contribute so much to his success: 'Sticks' Gregory and 'Jacko' Jacobs. (Braham 1961)

By November 1941 he had claimed 7 enemy aircraft, and was a Flight Lieutenant, receiving a bar to his DFC. In January 1942 Braham finished his tour of operations and was posted from No 29 Squadron to No 51 OTU at Cranfield as an instructor with his navigator/AI operator F/Sgt 'Sticks' Gregory. (Braham 1961, p. 107)

While at Cranfield, Braham and Gregory visited 29 Squadron at West Malling and operating on the night of the 6/7 June 1942 in a borrowed Beaufighter, destroyed a Dornier 217 raiding Canterbury. He was posted back to No 29 Squadron from 51 OTU in July 1942 as a Squadron Leader and Flight Commander. After damaging a Ju 88 on the 24th he destroyed another on the 28th. On the 29th he attacked and damaged a Junkers Ju 88 flying at 150 ft above the English Channel. Return fire from the Ju 88 caused his port engine to catch fire, forcing a crash landing near Beachy Head. Neither he nor Jacobs were injured. He was awarded his first DSO in October 1942. (Braham 1961, p. 125)

By this time Bob Braham had destroyed 12 enemy aircraft with one probable and four damaged. He was then given command of No. 141 Squadron RAF at Ford in late 1942 as a 22-year-old Wing Commander. With him went his AI operator Gregory, now a Flying Officer with the DFC and DFM. (Braham 1961, pp. 133–136)

No 141 Squadron's Beaufighter Mk.IF's moved to Cornwall in February 1943 to carry out night patrols over Brittany and SW France and daylight patrols over the Bay of Biscay and Atlantic Approaches to protect Coastal Command aircraft.