[Officer's Mess R.A.F. Leconfield] Sunday [29 September 1940] Squiffs darling Sweetheart, Th...

[Officer's Mess R.A.F. Leconfield]

Sunday [29 September 1940]

Squiffs darling Sweetheart,

Thanks indeed for your lovely letter. I too, love you more than ever. We have got quite a lot to be thankful for and such a lot to look forward to.

It's very nice living in the Officer's Mess - I have a lovely room - huge wardrobe, two sets of chest of drawers and everything very nice indeed - a batman to do everything - clean shoes and buttons - get a bath ready, etc. It's too easy Squiffs. I need my dressing gown pretty badly now - It will be nice.

It doesn't seem strange at all - naturally because I've been with quite a few of the Officers for some time and I feel perfectly at home. It is funny to have airmen saluting and calling Sir 'this' and Sir 'that'. You'll have to do that Squiffs - wait till we get Miss Susan out for a walk in her pram - I'll bet she'll be a little terror.

This time next week it ought to be all over - I'll bet you'll be pleased darling - a big weight off my mind and a big weight from your shoulders. Habibe so very much - I love my wife so very much indeed.

The C.O. has congratulated me on my uniform - he says it really looks good and fits well - I'm very pleased myself with it.

You still haven't told me which photograph you gave to the press and I would like to have seen what was said - I haven't seen anything yet - May I Mrs. Fusspot?

… If we do happen to stay here for long - I think you and Susan might come up for a short stay when possible - I would manage to get home most nights while you were here and you could stay in Beverley - a place the size of Woodbridge which is only two and a half miles from here.

Give my love to Mrs. Ruggles and all at home and be careful darling - all my dearest love to you sweetheart.

Your loving husband

Xxx Andy xxxxxxxx'

The last letter sent by 'Andy' Laws, D.F.M., to his wife. He was killed in a collision with another Spitfire the next day.

The outstanding - and deeply poignant - Battle of Britain Spitfire ace's D.F.M. group of four awarded to Flight Sergeant A. F. 'Andy' Laws, Royal Air Force, whose valiant record in No. 64 Squadron in June-August 1940 resulted in the destruction of five enemy aircraft

Commissioned on 28 September 1940, he was killed in a collision with another Spitfire on the 30th, his C.O. writing to his father:

'As I understand that your son's wife is expecting a baby very shortly, I thought it would be unwise to inform her by telegram of the tragedy and I hope that you will have appreciated this point from the wording of my telegram … Your son has a magnificent record in the Squadron since its formation and he has been one of its mainstays during all the operations in which it has been engaged. His loss is almost irreparable … apart from his great value as a pilot and a leader, we are all mourning the loss of a personal friend … '

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (514143 F./Sgt. A. F. Laws, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, extremely fine (4)

D.F.M. London Gazette 1 October 1940. The original recommendation states:

'This Airman has taken part in numerous operational flights since May 1940. He has destroyed five enemy aircraft and damaged another two. His initiative, courage and tenacity have been outstanding.'

Adrian Francis 'Andy' Laws was born at East Dereham, Norfolk on 10 August 1912 and joined the R.A.F. as an Aircrafthand in March 1931. Posted to the Middle East at the end of the following year, he later applied for pilot training and attended No. 4 F.T.S. Abu Sueir in July 1935. His course completed, Laws joined No. 64 Squadron at Ismailia as a Sergeant Pilot in April 1936.

First victory

The Squadron returned to the U.K. in September 1936 and Laws was still serving with it at Church Fenton on the outbreak of war.

On 12 June 1940 he shared in the destruction of a He. 111 over the Thames Estuary. He hounded the damaged bomber to wave-top height with two passes. While two other Spitfires arrived to take shots at what was now a wallowing enemy, Laws emptied his guns and watched the bomber settle on the water. He circled the plane and saw the crew inflating their dinghy.

Spitfire ace - Battle of Britain D.F.M.

Laws was promoted to Flight Sergeant on 1 July 1940, about the same time that Squadron Leader Aeneas MacDonnell took command of No. 64. Chief of the Glengarry clan, McDonnell would later say of his pilots ' … it's like holding a team of wild horses when there are Germans near': it's a description that undoubtedly befits Laws.

He claimed a Me. 109 destroyed over St. Margaret's Bay in the morning of the 29th and damaged another that was attacking his Blue 1 in a combat north of Folkestone on 11 August. Two days later - on 'Eagle Day' - he damaged a Do. 17 south of Portsmouth. The German pilot, aware that his rear gunner had been wounded in Laws's first attack, flew his aircraft in a series of diving turns and eventually reached the cover of some cloud, but not before Laws had gained further hits on the Dornier's fuselage.

On 15 August, Laws claimed another 109 destroyed, 64 Squadron having been vectored onto 60 enemy aircraft over Dover. Pursuing his opponent over the Channel, he carried out a beam attack as the 109 slowed slightly at the top of a turn: a brace of three-second bursts into the tail of the 109 set it ablaze:

'I was Green 1 whilst on patrol with the Squadron - two formations of enemy aircraft encountered, one above and ahead and the other to starboard - Squadron Leader closed into attack and usual dog-fight developed. Caught one Me. 109 in beam attack whilst enemy aircraft was at top of climbing turn. Followed him in dive and fired two more bursts from astern - saw aircraft burst into flames and pieces break away. Attacked by several others - chased one in dive to east and fired remaining ammunition - no results observed' (his combat report, refers).

On the 18th - better known as the battle's 'Hardest Day' - Laws destroyed a Me. 110 and shared in the destruction of a He. 111 in the Kenley area; he took out the former as it was attacking a Hurricane:

'When at 20,000 ft. over base saw bomb explosions on base. Enemy formations sighted and engaged - at 12,000 ft. as Green 2, followed Green 1 in attack on Heinkels. Green 1 expended ammunition on 1 He III - I followed on same bomber and after two bursts enemy burst into flames and crashed near church south of Biggin Hill - climbed again to attack mixed formation of bombers and Me 110s - chased Me 110 on tail of Hurricane and after several bursts enemy's port engine was on fire and he dived in vertical dive to ground. Finished off ammunition on Heinkel III - possibly damaged. Returned base and landed' (his combat report, refers).

Journey's end

It was to prove Law's last victory for, having been awarded the D.F.M. and been commissioned on 28 September, he was killed in a flying accident on the 30th.

The fatal accident was witnessed by an American pilot 'Art' Donahue. His diary - later published as Tally-Ho! - A Yankee in a Spitfire - noted:

'I rejoined my squadron several days before my leave expired … I learned that the heroism of some of the boys hadn't gone unrecognised. Three D.F.C.s and one D.F.M. had gone to the Squadron … Andy [Laws], who had four confirmed, received the D.F.M. because he was a Flight Sergeant and not a commissioned officer at the time ... He had worked up from the ranks to become an exceptional fighter pilot. He had just been awarded a commission as Pilot Officer.'

Donahue continues:

'Next morning Andy [Laws] had to give a group of new pilots some practise flying before we went to the target range; so a...