Daily Archive

Weather: fair.

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

• Blenheim – 52
• Spitfire – 234
• Hurricane – 410
• Defiant – 14
• Gladiator – 7
• Total – 717

On this occasion, the Luftwaffe returned to attacking a convoy. In fact, it was a feint. The real effort was an attack picked up by radar of a large formation coming in from the Pas de Calais. The enemy target turned out to be airfields south of London. A group of bombers flying at 20 000 ft struck Biggin Hill, doing considerable damage to the area but not the aerodrome itself. A little later, a second group of aircraft attacked with a large segment aiming once again at Biggin Hill. To this was, however, added Shoreham and Tangmere. Later that afternoon, a third wave of attacks came over, including a third visitation for the day on Biggin Hill, together with a number of other airfields. The most damaging raid of the day was flown by a group of 10 Ju88s which, aiming at Biggin Hill, flew north of that airfield, then turned round and came in from that direction. The bombing was extremely accurate. It left the airfield a virtual wreck. It also left 39 dead and many of the buildings demolished. Detling and Kenley were also hit in this serious attack. Detling was out of action until the following day.

Finally another group got through to Luton where bombs hit the Vauxhall works and caused a large number of casualties.

At the end of a busy day, the RAF had lost 25 fighters compared with 36 German aircraft destroyed. However, 15 RAF pilots had survived. 1050 sorties had been flown by the RAF. This was to be the highest number of sorties flown in a day during the Battle.

That night Liverpool suffered a third episode of heavy bombing.

242 Squadron Operational Record Book – 30 August
Squadron ordered to proceed to Duxford. Operations from Duxford. Enemy planes shot down north of London without any loss to Squadron. 4 e/a attacked and probably shot down. Signal received from AOC 12 Group congratulating Squadron on its achievement. The above brings the Squadron’s total bag for month to 14 certainties and 5 probables. Signal received from AOC 12 Group read: ‘heartiest congratulations on a first class show. Well done 242”. Signal received from Chief of the Air Staff which read: “magnificent fighting. You are well on top of the enemy and obviously the fine Canadian traditions of the last war are safe in your hands”. Signal received from Under Secretary of State for Air congratulating Squadron.

253 Squadron Operational Record Book – 30 August
14 Hurricanes took off Kenley 10:50 hours followed by 5 more at 11:25 hours when an attack on Croydon and Kenley appeared likely. The Squadron was first ordered to patrol Maidstone, but the flights were separated and were ordered back to orbit base where they were joined by the other 5 aircraft. They were then vectored off to the south, where at 18,000 feet near Redhill they saw 3 formations of 9 bombers escorted by 30 fighters, Me110s and Me109s. B Flight at once attacked the bombers, which included He111, Do215 and possibly Ju88s, but observed no results with the exception of PO Nowak (Green 3) who probably destroyed a Do215 (this pilot maintained that this bomber was a Ju88) A Flight who were behind and below followed in to attack and Yellow 3 (PO Greenwood) fired all his ammunition into a Heinkel 111 which force landed, 4 of the crew being seen climbing out. A series of individual fights took place, chiefly with Me110s and Me109s which had come to the rescue of the bombers.

303 Squadron Operational Record Book – 30 August, Northolt
First operation. In the course of training interception with 6 Blenheims in the afternoon, B Flight contacted with some 60 German bombers, 60 fighters and British fighters having a running battle near Hatfield. FO Paszkiewicz brought down one Do 17 (destroyed) while the rest of the fighters escorted the Blenheims safely back to Northolt.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 30th August 1940):

*  Enemy: 62 confirmed, 21 probable, 29 damaged
*  Own: 25 aircraft (10 pilots killed or missing)

Todays’s theme: The Squadrons – 310 Squadron