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Well, not my garden exactly but a few hundred yards from it and, naturally, not when I owned the property. But this rather fuzzy photograph from Monday 30 September 1940 shows 4/JG27 Messerschmitt Bf109E (work number 6306) after force-landing in a paddock next to the cricket pitch at Pelsham House near Rye.

It had been engaged on escort duties but suffered radiator damage in combat and its pilot, Unteroffizier R.Hammer, obviously put it down where he could, apparently tearing off both wings when he passed between two oak trees. He was captured by members of the Home Guard and removed to Benenden Hospital, only slightly injured. The 109, serial number 7, was declared a write-off but who shot it down, I have been unable to discover.

This is positively the last entry relating to the Battle of Britain during this memorable month but I thought it worth logging as a contrast to some of the painstaking excavations of downed fighter aircraft where fragments of gun-buttons or canopy handles are turned over and marvelled at.

I wonder what became of this largely intact machine? The small shed in the background, by the way, used to contain the groundsman’s mower for tending the cricket pitch before the war. It still exists today and looks exactly the same from our sitting room window.

Good question when related to work in progress. I’m prompted to attempt an answer thanks to an email from a reader in Cambridge, one Meint (sic), who asks: ‘Any more updates on the new book? Do you already have a release date and any more hints on plot/characters? Have really enjoyed your first three efforts, hope there are many more to follow.’

On the last point, Meint, so do I but approaching 73 you can’t promise. To complete the current novel is the prime objective.
As to release date, late 2011 at the present rate of progress. I was chased by Headline Review, ‘my’ publisher within the Hachette empire, to deliver the already overdue MS by early December but I’ve only completed 65,000-words so far with a similar amount remaining. The only reassurance I could give my patient and supportive editor Martin Fletcher is that I believe the work is pretty good. The reasons for the delay: a period of ill-health and a projected house-move followed by a dispute with a neighbouring land-owner over boundaries and a right-of-way that may well end up in court; costly in time and money.

Hints on plot and characters? Well, its’ central figure is emerging as something of a monster, most interesting to write; perceived by the world in general as an aviation hero (as indeed he is) but gradually revealed as a predatory and unprincipled swine with unfortunate political ambitions. The effects of said swine on those around him, particularly a son, provide the motive power of the plot.

It’s been enjoyable to deal with real locations in Kent, Sussex and France, particularly Alfriston and Rye. I said jokingly to Martin that, on publication, I hoped signs would appear along the roads: You Are Now Entering Barnard Country. But weaving in historical fact as the fictional plot progresses is a fascinating exercise. This morning for example I’m focussing on the Flying Village that existed at Brooklands before the Great War, where my aviator is about to begin his flying career, in flashback I might add because the chapters not only develop the story from the perspective of different characters but also at different dates, back and forth in time.

I’m wary of revealing too much because this is new territory for me and I hope my readers will follow me there. Martin thought it might be ‘the
breakthrough novel’; the first three having sold very well but not up there with the mega best-sellers. Who knows? All you can do is plug on, write as carefully and as interestingly as you can and hope it meets, eventually, with approval and enjoyment.

Meanwhile, many thanks to Meint for getting in touch.

From: Chris Howells to Frank Barnard

Ian Edwards warned us on the RAF site that he was commenting on your mistakes in what he describes as ‘excellently researched novels.’ My late father had a brief tour on Sunderlands in the 1950s at Pembroke Dock. He also had a tour on Operations and Luqa in Malta 1946-67 so I have a good knowledge of the island from my school days. The people of that island are wonderful and after all they suffered in World War Two more than deserved the George Cross and British citizenship.

I love your books so more power to your elbow, typing fingers and, hopefully, your Apple Mac.

Someone once asked me, when they learned I was a published author: ‘ How’s it feel to be rich and famous?’ I remembered this when two things happened on the same day; the announcement that Barclays Bank is paying out £1.5 billion in cash bonuses as their profits soar by 92% to £11.6 billion, and a letter in the post box (or rather, old waste bin) from NatWest about a currency exchange matter involving me. This last sounds impressive until you learn that it related to a payment of 37.75 Euros by the Irish Libraries people who, like their UK counterparts, pay about 5p every time one of your books is taken out.

We were quite pleased, Jan and I, because this Gallic windfall just about covered a pub lunch, that is until we learned that NatWest were charging me £5.00 to change euros into sterling. Apparently this is quite reasonable. My local branch thought it might have been £10.00, almost 25%. But it does perhaps go some way to explaining why the bankers seem to be doing so particularly well at the moment. All this on top of hearing that some MPs charge £5,000 a day for lobbying which is almost the same as the annual state pension I receive aged 72. Of course I must remember my income from writing which was, now let me see, oh dear. So what am I saying? ‘Rats’ might cover it.