After the outbreak of the
Second World War, No. 43 Squadron moved to
Acklington for convoy patrols and then from February 1940, it was based at
Wick tasked with protective patrols over shipping moving along the north west coastline. A few months later, it was part of
Scapa Flow's aerial defences. In late May, the squadron moved back to Tangmere and it immediately began operating over France, helping cover the evacuation of the
British Expeditionary Force from the beaches at
Dunkirk.
Battle of France Woods-Scawen's Hurricane was damaged with an engagement with
Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters on 31 May and he had to make a crash-landing back at Tangmere. The next day, flying over Dunkirk, he claimed a Bf 109 as shot down although this was unconfirmed. A week later he destroyed another Bf 109 near
Dieppe. After this engagement, he had to bale out. He landed behind German lines but was able to walk for several miles before linking up with retreating British troops. Evacuated from
Cherbourg Naval Base, Woods-Scawen arrived back at Tangmere on 15 June. The body of his brother Patrick was found on 6 September in the grounds of The Ivies, Kenley Lane. He had baled out after his aircraft was shot down but his parachute had failed to open. ==Notes==