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Quiz about Battle of Britain Fighter Ace

Battle of Britain Fighter Ace Trivia Quiz

The person who this quiz is about is generally accepted to have been the top scoring allied fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain. Enjoy, and please let me know what you think!

A multiple-choice quiz by Quiz_Beagle. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Quiz_Beagle

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
251,362

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
643

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. On 13 May 1940, this pilot went into battle alone during the Battle of France, because his Hurricane 1 would not start at first. What happened on this sortie? Hint

He got lost and ran out of fuel

He shot down a Heinkel 111 and a Messerschmitt 109

He was shot down by a Messerschmitt 109

He got lost in fog and had to bale out

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. On his first day in actual battle on 13 May 1940, this pilot shot down three aircraft during the Battle of France. What honour was he awarded for this? Hint

Legion d'Honneur

Distinguished Flying Medal

Distinguished Flying Cross

Croix de Guerre

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Although awarded the Croix de Guerre for shooting down three aircraft in the Battle of France, the pilot did not collect this medal until the early 1980s. Why not? Hint

The Germans marched into Paris on the day it was to be awarded

He didn't want a French medal

It was withdrawn

De Gaulle refused to give medals to the British

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. On 2 June 1940, this pilot was shot down and had to bale out. By what aircraft? Hint

Me109

Hurricane (friendly fire)

He111

Do17

5. Although this person had wanted to be a pilot since he was twelve years old, his father, a Yorkshire farmer, did not want him to join the R.A.F. He therefore worked for three years as what? Hint

plumber

farmer

pharmacist

blacksmith

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In 1938, having learnt to fly with the RAFVR, this person realised that he wanted to fly full time and became what? Hint

An airline pilot with BOAC

A Flying Instructor at Yorkshire Aeroplane Club

He joined the RAF

He joined the Fleet Air Arm

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. This pilot flew for 501 County of where Squadron? Hint

Gloucester

Kent

Yorkshire

Surrey

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. On 13 September 1940 the pilot had to take off with unbroken cloud cover to look for a Heinkel 111 that was 'somewhere over London'. He was airborne for two hours, but eventually found the Heinkel and shot it down, being shot down himself and having to bale out. What had the Heinkel done? Hint

It was carrying Top Secret codebooks

Carried Rudolf Hess to England

Bombed Buckingham Palace

Photographed London Docks

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. The Battle of Britain is generally believed to have been over by October 1940. This pilot's tally is generally believed to have been the highest Allied score. What was it? Hint

12 destroyed, 3 probables and 5 damaged

17 destroyed, 2 probables and 4 damaged

13 destroyed, 3 probables and 7 damaged

18 destroyed, 4 probables and 6 damaged

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Who was this pilot? Hint

Douglas Bader

Bob Stanford Tuck

Johnnie Johnson

James Harry 'Ginger' Lacey

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On 13 May 1940, this pilot went into battle alone during the Battle of France, because his Hurricane 1 would not start at first. What happened on this sortie?

Answer: He shot down a Heinkel 111 and a Messerschmitt 109

When he returned with his gun covers blown off to 501's airfield at Betheniville, he was not believed, but this pilot proved it was no fluke later in the day when he shot down a Messerschmitt 110, and the two he had shot down in the morning were verified that evening.

2. On his first day in actual battle on 13 May 1940, this pilot shot down three aircraft during the Battle of France. What honour was he awarded for this?

Answer: Croix de Guerre

He was awarded the Croix de Guerre. The Legion d'Honneur is France's highest honour. Although this pilot was later awarded the DFM and bar, the DFC was only awarded to officers and at the time, the pilot in question was only a sergeant.

3. Although awarded the Croix de Guerre for shooting down three aircraft in the Battle of France, the pilot did not collect this medal until the early 1980s. Why not?

Answer: The Germans marched into Paris on the day it was to be awarded

He didn't think he'd be very popular if he turned up! It was awarded when, together with a French general, he rekindled the eternal flame at the Arc de Triomphe. A memorable party was held for him by the Free Poles that night!

4. On 2 June 1940, this pilot was shot down and had to bale out. By what aircraft?

Answer: Do17

This pilot, much to his mortification, was shot down by bombers quite often. In fact, on 17 September, he noted in his log book that it had been quite pleasant to be shot down by a fighter for a change!

5. Although this person had wanted to be a pilot since he was twelve years old, his father, a Yorkshire farmer, did not want him to join the R.A.F. He therefore worked for three years as what?

Answer: pharmacist

He became a pharmacist because he liked doing chemistry. He soon discovered that a pharmacist spent his time selling soap and toothpaste! It wasn't until his father had died that he was given reluctant permission by his mother to try (she thought he'd fail his medical!)

6. In 1938, having learnt to fly with the RAFVR, this person realised that he wanted to fly full time and became what?

Answer: A Flying Instructor at Yorkshire Aeroplane Club

Interestingly enough, this person's wife, who he married in India, was in the Fleet Air Arm. He would never have become an airline pilot, which he likened to 'bus driving'. Many years later, his youngest daughter would proudly communicate this opinion to airline pilots!

7. This pilot flew for 501 County of where Squadron?

Answer: Gloucester

501 Squadron has been reformed as a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron. Although the pilot in question had no connection with the county, many years later his youngest daughter found herself as second in command of 181 (City of Gloucester) Air Training Corps squadron!

Answer: Bombed Buckingham Palace

The pilot was nearly shot by a zealous Home Guard volunteer with a shotgun so he 'remonstrated' with him in purest Anglo-Saxon and offered to show him his ID card - but the Home Guard man declined, explaining that 'anyone who can swear like that couldn't possibly be German'!

9. The Battle of Britain is generally believed to have been over by October 1940. This pilot's tally is generally believed to have been the highest Allied score. What was it?

Answer: 18 destroyed, 4 probables and 6 damaged

This pilot's record, as I have said, is generally considered to have been the best of the Battle of Britain, but mention must also be made of Eric Lock, who shot down 16 aircraft (with a half share in another one). Unfortunately Lock perished at only 22. This pilot went until the end of the war, even shooting down an Oscar over Japan.

10. Who was this pilot?

Answer: James Harry 'Ginger' Lacey

On 20 May 1989 Ginger Lacey lost his last battle - against cancer. Fighter pilot and still flying until the day he died, he would have been 90 years old on 1 February 2007. I am proud to be his youngest daughter. Please let me know if you would like to see more quizzes about the rest of his war and life.

Source: Author Quiz_Beagle

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor DakotaNorth before going online.
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