Desperate fighting between the 14th and 19th of May all but finished off the RAF in France. The Germans took Holland, Luxembourg, and Belgium and were pushing the BEF toward Dunkirk. The French army was in full retreat. However, Pilot Officer Johnny Allen, a Spitfire pilot of No. 54 Squadron in England, knew little of this as he took off to investigate a radar contact over the Channel. His wingman had engine trouble but Allen continued alone. The contact proved to be a formation of twenty Ju 88s. Undaunted, he assailed the rear of the formation, shooting down one to gain No. 54 Squadron's first kill before withdrawing.
