Combat report of No. 145 Squadron for 2 October 1940

Combat reports were official documents detailing operational encounters with enemy aircraft. They convey both the mental strain of operations and the sense of excitement when victory claims were made.

This combat report provides details of an engagement featuring personnel of Nos. 145 and 254 Squadrons that took place on 2 October 1940 around the northeast coast of Scotland. One probable enemy casualty was recorded in comparison to zero RAF casualties. The sole named pilot on this combat report is Pilot Officer Baudouin Marie Ghislain de Hemptinne. De Hemptinne was a Belgian pilot who was attached to No. 145 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. He was later posted to Nos. 609, 64 and 122 Squadrons throughout the rest of his RAF career. He received the Belgian Croix de guerre on 21 July 1941. Tragically, de Hemptinne was killed on 5 May 1942 when he was serving in No. 122 Squadron, his Spitfire being shot down near Ypres.