Sergeant Feary shared in destroying a Ju 88 on 18 July, destroyed a Bf 109 on 12 August and destroyed a Ju 87 and damaged a Bf 110 on the 13th. On the 14th August Feary shot down a Ju 88 which had just bombed Middle Wallop, killing some groundcrew who were trying to close the doors of a hangar.
On 25 August he destroyed a Bf 110 and damaged another, on 7 September he claimed a probable Bf 109 and damaged a Ju 88, on 24 September he shot down a Do 17, on the 25th he damaged another and on the 26th he damaged a Bf 109. Alan Feary thus became one of the Battle of Britain’s Spitfire aces.
He was killed on 7 October 1940, when he was shot down in a surprise attack by Bf 109s over Weymouth. He baled out but was too low. His Spitfire crashed at Watercombe Farm, south of Warmwell airfield. He was buried in Holy Trinity churchyard, Warmwell, and lies among other Battle of Britain airmen.
Squadron Leader Michael Robinson, who had just taken command of 609, wrote to Alan Feary’s widowed mother: “His reputation as a brave and fearless fighter pilot was handed over to me by his previous commanding officer [Squadron Leader “George” Darley] and I can say that he died as he would have wished – for his country. It would be difficult to tell you how much he will be missed by his fellow pilots.”
