On September 27, 1940, during the intense Battle of Britain, English pilot Victor Ekins faced a life-threatening situation when his Hurricane fighter, V6672, was struck by enemy fire while engaged in a dogfight against a German Me-110. A bullet penetrated Ekins’ back, exited through his stomach, and struck the aircraft controls, rendering the plane uncontrollable at an altitude of 5,700 metres.
Despite his critical injury and the inoperable aircraft, Ekins had the presence of mind to parachute from the stricken plane. He managed to land in the English countryside, a location that could have meant disaster given his serious condition and the lack of immediate help. Remarkably, fate smiled on him—he landed near a Canadian military ambulance unit’s base camp. The personnel there quickly provided medical assistance and transported him to a nearby hospital.
Ekins made a swift recovery and was able to return to his squadron just two months later. He served throughout the war and eventually left the Royal Air Force as a squadron leader, after which he resumed his career as a farm surveyor in the family business.
The Battle of Britain was marked by significant losses, with over 1,500 RAF aircrew, including 24 Australians, perishing. Conversely, the Luftwaffe suffered an estimated loss of 2,585 aircrew. Ekins’ story stands out as a testament to survival against the odds during one of the most challenging periods of aerial warfare.