Weather: widespread fog

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

  • Blenheim – 46
  • Spitfire – 225
  • Hurricane – 421
  • Defiant – 17
  • Gladiator – 8
  • Total – 717

The day saw a number of individual attacks by lone Me109s. RAF Ternhill was bombed, destroying a hangar and damaging others. The RAF managed to fly 275 sorties, destroyed 7 enemy aircraft, losing one RAF fighter.

That night 300 bombers attacked Britain.

85 Squadron Operational Record Book – 16 October
Order for one section to scramble. Flt Lt Marshall, Sgt Webster and Sgt Goodman took off 07.15 and landed 07.35. Conditions difficult owing to mist and low cloud at 300ft. 11 hours 40 mins non-op flying, consisting of a battle climb to 25,000 feet, fighter attacks, camera gun and aerobatics. POs A. Velebnovsky and E. Foit (Czechs) posted from 6 OTU.

Sqdn Ldr Townsend accompanied by Fg Off T.J. Molony, motored to Speke to sit on court of enquiry. Sgt Johnson posted to 145 Squadron, Tangmere.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 16th October 1940):

*  Enemy: 2 confirmed, 0 probable, 1 damaged
*  Own: 1 Hurricane of which the pilot is safe.

Today’s theme:  Top Gun Gallery – Adolf Galland