…... to lying in wait for the reconnaissance aircraft, their Messerschmitt 109 aircraft always hunting in pairs. Consequently the Squadron were suffering regular losses during their frequent sorties over the enemy lines. Although the pilots on the Squadron were not practised at modern fighter tactics many of them did well in the frequent engagements by enemy fighters. On one occasion Flying Officer P T Cotton was attacked by two Messerschmitt 109s while carrying out a reconnaissance over El Adem. For thirty minutes he engaged the enemy and it was only when all their ammunition had been expended that he made his escape to make a crash landing six miles from base with engine failure. The following are the particulars for the recommendation of the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Flying Officer Cotton:
“At 1530 hours on 29th November 1941 Flying Officer P.T. Cotton took off from LG 134 to carry out a Tactical reconnaissance in the Acroma-Tobruk-El Adem area. He was unescorted. At the time there was much cloud cover at 1000 - 4500 feet over the area. Flying Officer Cotton had completed most of his task and was flying from El Adem to El Gubbi when he noticed two fighter aircraft at 1000 - 1500 yards away. Thinking they were Me 109s he immediately pulled the emergency boost out-out and opened up, at the same time losing height and weaving so as to keep the two aircraft in view. The Me 109s closed to 300 yards on the starboard beam and commenced their attack. One broke away and started a stern attack, whereupon Flying Officer Cotton flicked his aircraft over in a violent right hand turn and spiralled towards the earth. At ground level he made for home on a southeast course but found the 109s again on him. They attacked him individually from astern, the quarter, and once from head on. Each successive attack was foiled by Flying Officer Cotton’s evasive tactics which were to complete a 360 degree turn, very tight and fast (he used 15 degrees of flap); and each time to make a little headway southeast. The chase and the attacks went on for nearly half an hour during which time Flying Officer Cotton’s aircraft was repeatedly hit. He managed to get in several bursts at the enemy aircraft but apparently without success.
