SMALL John Fl Off 266 Sqn

F/O JOHN SMALL 266 Sqn Rhodesia
Early in 1943, the Germans began a series of tip-and-run raids, aimed at the south coast of Britain and it was during one such raid on 10th January, that 266 Sqn got its first kill of 1943.
31 year old Shaniva pilot, F/O John Small, former manager of a gold mine in Southern Rhodesia, flying in a Typhoon R8937 ZHL destroyed a Focke-Wulf 190 in full view of the people on the front at coastal resort of Torquay. Another Rhodesian pilot, aged 21, from Salisbury F/O Peter Blackwell was in the same engagement. It was a bright day with good visibility when eight FW 190s made their raid, dropping their bombs on Teignmouth. F/O John Small and P/O Peter Blackwell gave chase and closed fast firing finally at a distance of 100 yards, as the raiders were actually over the Torquay beachfront. As the raiders turned and streaked for home, Small fired another burst shooting the enemy aircraft down into the sea 500 yards from the coast. Johnny Small said later “ The last burst caused a big flash in the raiders fuselage and he crashed into the sea with a tremendous splash. I was following so closely that I flew straight through the fountain of water which he threw up” The debris and water caused slight damage to his radiator and cowling but he returned to base safely. Peter chased the other FW 20 miles out to sea and damaged the raiders plane but could not claim a second victory. Still one FW destroyed and one damaged was “a damn good start at Exeter”
On the 15th August 1943 ,one of the worst days for 266 Sqn, Sqn Ldr Macintyre, F/O Small & F/O Biddulph were killed. John Small was forced to bale out over Guipvas and was shot by a German airman while coming down on his parachute.