On 11 May a Bristol Bombay crashed near the airfield. It was carrying spare parts and their loss effected the squadrons operational readiness, leaving most of the squadron grounded. Later that day Carey conducted a lone patrol to Lille and Douai and spotted three unescorted He 111s but all were shot down by another squadron before he could get into position. In the afternoon, in the same sector, he dispatched a "Stab"./"KG" 54 (Command squadron) He 111. Three airmen were captured and two were killed. On the ground the situation was rapidly deteriorating in Belgium. Belgian border defences were breached by 11 May and German forces were advancing on Hannut and Gembloux. On 12 May 3 Squadron flew air superiority support for the French 1st Army at the Battle of Hannut (12 May–14 May). Carey flew four missions—his first in the Battle of Belgium. Hew flew one over Hannut where the squadron met heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire but no enemy aircraft. Another patrol over Louvain yielded the same result. On a later sortie, south of Brussels, 3 Squadron intercepted 12 He 111s and Carey claimed one destroyed and one probably destroyed. 3 Squadron lost Flying Officer D Ball. Ball was probably shot down by a Bf 109 from "Jagdgeschwader" 21 and died of his wounds in a German hospital.