Weather: dull day with some rain.

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

  • Blenheim – 58
  • Spitire – 219
  • Hurricane – 412
  • Defiant – 26
  • Gladiator – 6
  • Total – 721

In the morning, a major convoy heading westwards was attacked as it passed through the Straits of Dover. At first the attack was by shells fired from France. When this proved unsuccessful, the Luftwaffe sent up aircraft to bomb the convoy. 54 and 610 Squadrons intercepted this attack which led to some fierce fighting. There were further attacks on the Scilly Isles and Manston was targeted in the early evening. Unusually, 5 RAF fighters were lost as against 2 German fighters shot down.

54 Squadron Operational Record Book – 22 August
Signs that the enemy was collecting his forces near Calais and so the squadron patrolled Manston. No results.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 22nd August 1940):

*  Enemy: 6 confirmed, 4 probable.
*  Own: 5 aircraft (2 pilots lost).

Todays’s theme: The Planes They Flew – Dornier 17