Lionel Gaunce

Gaunce did not return to operational duties with No. 3 Squadron until after the outbreak of the Second World War. In the interim, he had returned to his previous rank of flying officer.^[3] By this time, the squadron was operating the Hawker Hurricane fighter from Croydon.^[4] In February 1940 he was posted to No. 615 Squadron which, at the time, was based in France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force. His new unit, which was equipped with Gladiators, saw little action other than patrols until the commencement of the German invasion of France and the Low Countries on 10 May. Its aircraft upgraded to Hurricanes, it was heavily involved in bomber escort and interception duties. It was withdrawn to England on 23 May for a rest. On its return, Gaunce and five other pilots were briefly detached from the squadron to form a flight of Gladiators and sent to Manston. There it joined No. 604 Squadron, but this detachment was only for a week and Gaunce then returned to Kenley to rejoin his squadron.^[3][5]

No. 615 Squadron quickly became drawn into the aerial fighting over the English Channel and southern England and on 20 July, Gaunce destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter near Cap Gris-Nez. Five days later he shot down another Bf 109 near Dover.^[5][6] On 6 August, he was promoted to flight lieutenant.^[7] On 12 August, while on a sortie to the east of Beachy Head, he shot down one Bf 109 and claimed another as probably destroyed. He damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter south of Brighton on 16 August, and damaged what he claimed as a Heinkel He 113 fighter but what was actually a Bf 109 two days later near Kenley. He himself was shot down in the engagement, baling out of his Hurricane and receiving minor burns.^[3] In recognition of his aerial successes in the aerial campaign over the south of England, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.^[6] This was gazetted on 23 August and the published citation read:

This flight commander has displayed excellent coolness and leadership since the return of the squadron to England. In July, 1940, his flight took part in resisting an enemy air attack on Dover, when three of our aircraft were attacked by forty Junkers 87's. At least two of the enemy aircraft were shot down. Flight Lieutenant Gaunce has shot down three enemy aircraft since returning to England.

Briefly hospitalised before returning to No. 615 Squadron, on 26 August Gaunce destroyed a Bf 109 over the Thames Estuary. The same day he was shot down, baling out and coming down into the sea. Burnt and suffering shock, he was treated at Herne Bay hospital. He did not return to his unit until 15 September. By this time the squadron was resting at Prestwick in Scotland after its extensive operations over southeast England.^[3][6]

In late October Gaunce was promoted to acting squadron leader and appointed commander of No. 46 Squadron.^[3] This Hurricane-equipped unit was based at Stapleford Tawney but the Luftwaffe's offensive against England was declining in intensity by this time and it was only infrequently in action.^[9] On 11 November, the squadron was scrambled to intercept a raid mounted by the Corpo Aereo Italiano (Italian Air Corps). Gaunce shot down one Fiat CR.42 fighter and probably destroyed a second, both to the east of Orford Ness. He also, with another pilot, shared in the destruction of a Fiat BR.20 medium bomber near Harwich. The following month he took ill and relinquished command of No. 46 Squadron.^[3][6]

Gaunce was kept in a non-flying role for several months until, in July 1941, he was given command of No. 41 Squadron.^[3] His new unit was equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters and was engaged in Fighter Command's Circus offensive, carrying out sorties to German-occupied France as part of the Tangmere wing.^[10] On 20 August he damaged a Bf 109 near Le Havre, and the following day shared in the probable destruction of another near Dunkirk. He damaged a Bf 109 over Saint-Omer on 27 August, and the following day, near Le Havre, damaged a second.^[6] On 1 September, his squadron leader rank was made substantive.^[11] He damaged a Bf 109 to the south of Boulogne, his final aerial victory. Flying a sortie to France on 19 November, his Spitfire was hit by anti-aircraft fire as he passed near Ivigny. He was seen to crash into the sea off Janville and presumed to have been killed.^[6]

Gaunce was survived by his wife of four years, Queenie Paula Scott, and is commemorated on the Runneymeade Memorial at Englefield Green. After the war, a mountain in Alberta's Jasper National Park was named for him.^[1][2] He is credited with the shooting down of six aircraft, one of which was shared with another pilot. He is also credited with three aircraft probably destroyed, one being shared, and six damaged.^[6]

• Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
• Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-8-9869-7000.
• Wynn, Kenneth G. (2015). Men of the Battle of Britain: A Biographical Directory of the Few. Barnsley: Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-39901-465-6.