Dennis Newton - Spitfire Leader: Robert Bungey DFC, Tragic Battle of Britain Hero

Special thanks must go to my wonderful, understanding wife, Allison, who has been a tower of strength with the encouragement she has given me in my quest to tell my fathers story. She has put up with a lot and at times I must have been a right pain in the neck, but in the wash up I want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you, my love. Without your support I would not have been able to complete my mission.

Special thanks are due to my grandparents, Ernest and Ada Bungey; my aunt, Pauline Hannaford (ne Bungey); and my uncle David Ernest Bungey, who was always a kind considerate and generous man. God bless you David and thanks a million for the life that Ive been able to live due to your guidance.

Thank you to the RAF and RAAF people who knew my father and who aided me in my quest, including ex-452 Squadron pilots Raife Cowan and his wife Joan, Ian Milne and his wife, Fred McCann, Bill Jefferies, and Bill Thorpe; former 452/457 Squadron ground staff Bill Maudlen and Jack McKenna, Feardar Dickie Finucane and Ray Finucane (brother of the extraordinary Brendon Paddy Finucane), and the first commanding officer of 452 Squadron, Roy Dutton.

So many others have helped so much: Mary Clisby, sister of Leslie Clisby, and her mother Faye; Jane Waddy; Jon Waddy; Jack Marx; Fiona McWhirter; Ray Fairminer; Nan Wawn; the widow of ex-452 pilot Bardy Wawn; Carolyn Grace, the pilot and owner of the two-seater Spitfire; Milton Howard and Jim Rogers from the Aviation Museum at Port Adelaide; and Bill Denny, South Australian State President of the RSL.

And what can I say about the amazing 60 Minutes team from Channel Nine Network Australia. They were Nick Greenaway (producer); Liam Bartlett (interviewer); Greg Barbara (cameraman); Andy Shaklis (sound); Steve (dogsbody) our ubiquitous driver; Kirsty Thomson (executive producer); and Vanessa for the organisation of accommodation, tickets, etc. When we went to the UK to film segments for the story on my father, I found all the crew great and so very helpful. Nick, we thank especially. Ali and I appreciated what you did for us very much.

Richard Bungey

This book began for me with a telephone call. It was from Richard Bungey who asked in his own direct way if I would like to write a book about his father, Robert Wilton Bungey. I jumped at the chance.

While researching for my first book, A Few of The Few:Australians and the Battle of Britain, I had been amazed at how many times Bob Bungeys name kept cropping up in various publications. There he was flying bombers in France; there he was flying fighters in the Battle of Britain; there he was again intercepting intruders in the winter of 1940/1; and there he was yet again in 1941/2 leading the first, and most successful, Australian Spitfire squadron of the Second World War. But then it all stopped abruptly with a brief footnote appearing in the official RAAF history of the Second World War stating that he died in June 1943. Intriguing. How and why did he change from bombers to fighters? How did he contribute to making 452 Squadron so successful? What happened during the year between him leaving the squadron and returning to Australia in 1943? There were so many questions and I remained intrigued for years. Suddenly I now had the opportunity to investigate further.

I sincerely thank Richard who inspired and provided the impetus for this work and allowed access to his own research and his fathers memorabilia. Thank you, too, to both Allison and Richard for their great welcomes and outstanding hospitality. (They also have the best private display of Christmas lights in Adelaide!)