This page contains a brief history of Peter Hartas and a collection
of autographs and photographs of surviving members of "The Few" whom I
had to honour of meeting at RAF Duxford on 10th July 2004.
Peter McDonnell Hartas No. 41407 British.
Peter Hartas joined the RAF on a short service commission as an Acting Pilot
Officer in October 1938. He was promoted to a Pilot Officer on the 3rd
September 1939. P/O Hartas was with 4 Ferry Pilot Pool in early 1940 and
was posted to 7 Operation Training Unit, Hawarden on the 3rd September 1940.
The same day Peter was promoted to a Flying Officer. After
converting to Spitfires, Peter was posted to No. 616 Squadron on the 16th
September and then moved to No. 603 Squadron at Hornchurch on the 24th. He
claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 109E destroyed on the 2nd October 1940.
Peter joined 421 Flight when it formed at RAF Gravesend on the 8th
October 1940. The Flight moved to RAF West Malling on the 31st October
1940, and onto RAF Biggin Hill on the 6th November 1940. On the 9th
November the Flight was re-equipped with nine Spitfire Mk. IIa's. On the
15th November the Flight moved to RAF Hawkinge, so they were in a better
location to carry out 'Jim Crows' and Coastal Reconnaissance.
On the 1st December 1940, Peter destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (Werke
No. 0885) of 6/Jagdgeschwader 53. The aircraft crashed into the sea off
Dymchurch at 12.40pm and its pilot, Oberfw. B. Seufert remains missing to
this day.
On the 18th December, Peter shared in the probable destruction of a
Dornier Do 17, with Sgt. Dudley H. Forrest. Peter and Dudley Forrest always flew
together and evolved their own system of signals. Using their system of
signalling, Peter cut off the Dornier Do 17's escape, whilst Sgt.
Forrest attacked it. After several alternate attacks on the engines, the
Dornier Do 17 spiralled down into the sea.
On the 11th January 1941 421 Flight was expanded to full Squadron strength
and was re-numbered No. 91 (Nigeria) Squadron.
Peter was killed on the 10th February 1941, when his Spitfire
P7888 flew into the ground at Capel-Le-Ferne, near Folkestone. The exact
circumstances are uncertain.
He was 21 years old and is buried in the
Folkestone New Cemetery, Hawkinge.
At the Duxford Flying Legends air show in July of 2004 many of the
surviving members of "The Few" were gathered under one roof to meet the public and
sign autographs. They sat at three tables.
Left to right, the five at the table above are:
| Ben Bent |  |
| Ken Wilkinson |  |
| Keith Lawrence |  |
| Jack Toombs |  |
| Des Fopp |  |
Left to right, the three at the above table are:
| Joce Millard |  |
| Tom Neil |  |
| Billy Drake |  |
The final two at right-hand end of the centre table are:
| Roger Morewood |  |
| Terence Kane |  |
At the third table, the first four are:
| Albert Gregory |  |
| Terry Clark |  |
| John Keating |  |
Basil Stapleton
("Stapme") |  |
The final two on the third table, to the right of 'Stapme' are:
| Tony Pickering |  |
| Ken MacKenzie |  |
|
