Weather: mild with showers

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

  • Spitfire – 211
  • Hurricane – 364
  • Defiant – 21
  • Gladiator – 7
  • Total – 654

That morning London was clearing up after further considerable damage to the West End. The day was marked by sporadic raids either by single aircraft or small groups. These tried to reach the capital but were intercepted and turned back. During the afternoon Walthamstow and Hackney were machine gunned. In the evening, the Luftwaffe launched bombing raids against London. Losses this day were 8 Luftwaffe aircraft with no losses reported by the RAF.

In Germany Hitler gave the order to disperse the barges which had been waiting in the French ports to take part in the invasion. Keeping them there was only providing RAF Bomber Command with attractive targets. This was a signal that Sealion had been cancelled, at least for the winter.

266 Squadron Operational Record Book – 19 September
Average temperature – visibility very good. Practices included battle climb to 30,000 feet, flight formation – formation attacks and cloud flying.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 19th September1940):

*  Enemy: 6 confirmed, 1 probable, 0 damaged
*  Own: Nil.

Today’s theme: The Planes They Flew – Gloster Gladiator