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Weather: mainly fair, intermittent showers.
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 55
- Spitfire – 237
- Hurricane – 391
- Defiant – 21
- Gladiator – 7
- Total – 711
There were several major incursions by mixed groups of bombers surrounded by large concentrations of fighters which ranged over Kent with some aircraft penetrating to London. However, 4 squadrons of the RAF managed to intercept. In Brighton, 11 people were killed during a morning raid. In the air fighting that day, 8 German aircraft were destroyed for a loss of 7 RAF fighters.
That night the London Docks were once again targets and Lambeth Palace was damaged.
266 Squadron Operational Record Book – 20 September
Average temperature – visibility very good. Practices included battle climb, squadron formation flying – fighter command attacks and dog fighting.
Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 20th September 1940):
* Enemy: 6 confirmed, 1 probable, 2 damaged
* Own: 7 aircraft with 4 pilots killed or missing.
Today’s theme: The Squadrons – 85 Squadron
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
Weather: variable
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 51
- Spitfire – 212
- Hurricane – 362
- Defiant – 25
- Gladiator – 5
- Total – 655
This was to be a busy day. Several large attacks were mounted by the Luftwaffe. Only fighters were involved. Over Kent, they were intercepted with major battles following. In the afternoon further attacks were mounted and duly intercepted not only by 11 Group squadrons but also by the Duxford wing. The wing, led by Squadron Leader Bader achieved considerable success though not as great as that claimed. The score that day was 15 enemy destroyed at a cost of 12 RAF fighters. The RAF had flown 1165 sorties that day.
That night London was again the main target of the Luftwaffe bombing effort. County Hall, Westminster was hit. Bomber Command launched several attacks on French ports aiming at the barges.
73 Squadron Unofficial Diary – 18 September
At 4pm the “Scramble” and patrol Colchester, angels 15, given. Led by P/O Scott the Squadron began a game of hunt the slipper. “Patrolling J for Johnny” reported Scotty, “Orbit” replied Ops, then “Patrol Chelmsford”, “Patrolling Chelmsford” reported Scotty a few minutes later. “Orbit” said Ops. So we orbited and peace reigned for a few minutes, then “Vector 180° for two minutes, four bandits closing coast”. So off we went, and sure enough there was something about 10,000 feet above us. “Can you see the bandits?”, Sergt Garton replied, “yes I can see them, but God knows how we’re going to get up to the b******s”. This seemed to shake Ops for a bit, for we were told to patrol Colchester again. Arriving there we received the order to “Pancake”. So off we started for home and tea, when suddenly “Patrol K for King below cloud base”. This was done, and then we were ordered back to Colchester, angels 10. After an hour and 40 minutes, the Ops graciously allowed us to return and refuel. Sergt Perkin went a drift, but landed at North Weald, and came on here later.
303 Squadron Operational Record Book – 18 September
Visit from General Sikorski.
Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 18th September 1940):
* Enemy: 33 confirmed, 16 probable, 19 damaged
* Own: Twelve aircraft of which nine pilots are safe.
Today’s theme: Top Gun Gallery – Stanislaw Skalski
Weather: rain and cloud
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 49
- Spitfire – 222
- Hurricane – 362
- Defiant – 23
- Gladiator – 8
- Total – 659
Faced with the prospect of further bad weather, Hitler yet again postponed Sealion.
Despite the conditions, Luftflotte 2 sent over small pockets of fighter bombers together with a mass of Me109s to harass the defences. The idea was that the bombers would attract RAF fighters who would then run into the Me109s who would slaughter them. The RAF flew 540 sorties, lost five of their number but shot down 8 of the enemy.
By night, there was a heavy attack on London by over 260 bombers. The West End took the brunt of this night’s raids. There was a great deal of damage and in particular John Lewis in Oxford Street went up in flames. There was direct hit on the telephone exchange at Greenwich and Marble Arch tube station was also hit. Merseyside and Glasgow were further targets that night.
RAF Bomber Command continued its night raids on the concentrations of barges in the French ports along the Channel.
73 Squadron Unofficial War Diary – 17 September
At 1550 hrs the Squadron was ordered to “scramble” to Hendon, angels 15, and join up with 257 Squadron. A glorious shambles was the result. The Squadron arrived over Hendon to find the sky absolutely stiff with aircraft, which on closer inspection proved to be British. If the number of aircraft shot down by the Hun is as great as he claims then after this afternoons display we are quite ready to believe that our production of aircraft and fighter pilots must have reached astronomical figures.
501 Squadron Operational Record Book – 17 September
One patrol (2 aircraft) took off on patrol at 13:50hours. 12 aircraft took off at 15:03 hours in company with 253 Squadron over Ashford. They were attacked by 20 Me109s. Sqdn Ldr Hogan attacked 1 Me109 and hit it in the radiator. This aircraft was seem to turn inland. Damage to this aircraft was not seen. Sgts Lacey and Egan were reported missing in this engagement but information was received that Lacey was uninjured but had baled out.
Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 17th September 1940):
* Enemy: 10 confirmed, 4 probable, 2 damaged
* Own: Five aircraft of which four pilots are safe.
Weather: cloud and rain
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 60
- Spitfire – 216
- Hurricane – 356
- Defiant – 19
- Gladiator – 8
- Total – 659
That day Goering held a conference with his commanders in France at which he announced a return to a policy of hitting Fighter Command and its airfields. At the same time, he said that bomber formations were to be reduced and the covering fighters increased. The key was to draw up RAF fighters and destroy them. He envisaged that in four to five days the job would be done and the RAF fighter strength eliminated.
At Uxbridge, Park was trying to tighten up the battle procedures of 11 Group. Despite the achievements of the previous day, in his opinion there was still more that could be done. For instance, to intercept the second and third waves of the German attacks, he wanted to ensure that squadrons should be in pairs, or if there was time, to be formed into wings of three squadrons. In Germany in the meanwhile, it was announced that that day the Reichsmarschall had flown over London in a Ju88. To accommodate his rather large girth this would have necessitated a massive modification to the air frame. There was some doubt in England anyway as to whether this had actually happened.
Due to the bad weather there were only a number of small incursions mainly over Kent. 9 German aircraft were destroyed at the cost of one RAF fighter.
That night some 170 bombers launched an attack on London. Liverpool and some other provincial cities, including Coventry, also came under attack.
266 Squadron Operational Record Book – 16 September
Average temperature, drizzle afternoon and evening. Visibility poor. Practices included formation flying – Fighter Command attacks. PO A.H. Humphrey, PO H.A.R. Prowse and Pilot Sgts L.C. Allton, R.A. Boswell, R.A. Breeze, J.T. Dunmore and A.N. MacGregor reported for flying duties from no. 7 Operational Training Unit.
Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 16th September 1940):
* Enemy: 2 confirmed, 0 probable, 1 damaged
* Own: One Spitfire of which the pilot is safe.
Today’s theme: Unsung Heroes – Airfield Repair Services
Battle of Britain Day
Weather: fine
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 47
- Spitfire – 192
- Hurricane – 389
- Defiant – 24
- Gladiator – 8
- Total – 660
Weather wise this was finally the opportunity the Luftwaffe had been waiting for. Accordingly, in mid-morning the radar along the south coast picked up evidence of mass raids which duly appeared over southern England heading for London. All three groups, 10, 11 and 12 in southern England now played their part in intercepting the incoming armada. There were no less than 30 squadrons who were engaged in intercepting and contesting the progress of this vast fleet of German bombers. Furthermore, the latter was accompanied by a very strong force of Me109s. Naturally, despite the aerial battles which developed, substantial damage was done to London. This was partly due to the manner in which the German bombers jettisoned their bombs when under attack.
Bombs fell again on Buckingham Palace. One sergeant pilot who shot down a Do17, from which the German crew managed to parachute to safety, was himself shot down and managed to bale out ending up in a dustbin in Chelsea. Proceedings that day demonstrated beyond doubt that Fighter Command, far from being on the verge of collapse, was on vigorous form. Despite the RAF claiming that it had shot down no less than 183 aircraft, when the actual figure was 56, for a loss of 26 aircraft, the result was almost three to one in the RAF’s favour. For the Germans it was the sheer experience of having to fight their way to London and back when they had been assured that the opposition was almost at an end, that so riled them.
Meanwhile, in the early evening there had been an attack on the Supermarine Spitfire factory near Southampton but this had been driven off by intense anti-aircraft fire.
The significance of this day was, that in terms of publicity, the British had got a wonderful boost to their morale. Everybody in the land had listened to the nine o’clock news on the BBC that night. Although the day had been fine, the weather was in fact breaking up. It was going to be too late to mount an invasion. The Germans had missed the boat. Yet despite the events of these couple of days, Goering was not giving up. Indeed a new plan was announced. It would be a renewed attack on Fighter Command airfields carried out mainly by hoards of Me109s. The RAF, he confidently asserted, would be finished within 4 days. That was what everyone had heard at the beginning of Adler Tag. The weather would last another 6 weeks but the decisive day, which has gone down in history as Battle of Britain day, was on this date the 15th September. Britain had survived the onslaught.
249 Squadron Operational Record Book – 15 September
Squadron patrolled with no. 46 Squadron at 12:00 hours and intercepted 20 Do215s South of London, and carried out a beam attack. Enemy casualties: 1 destroyed, 1 probable and 1 damaged. Our casualties: nil. At 13:40 hours, Squadron again ordered to patrol and intercepted 15 Do215s over South London. A beam attack cracked this formation wide open, the result being that 5 ½ bombers were destroyed and 8 ½ probables and 3 damaged. One reason for this success was that the German fighters failed to do their stuff, probably due to their attention already being diverted by being attacked from above by Spitfires. Further patrol with 46 Squadron carried out over Shellhaven during the evening; nothing seen. This was by far the most successful day in the Squadron’s history.Total to date 185 enemy aircraft destroyed.
Enemy casualties: 8 ½ destroyed, 9 ½ probable, 4 damaged.
73 Squadron Unofficial War Diary – 15 September
At 1445hrs our five serviceable machines took off to investigate an “X” raid near Maidstone. Over 100 EA nearly all bombers, were contacted and the boys waded in. P/O Langham-Hobart set about a Me110 and saw one engine on fire. Sergt Ellis tackled a He111k and damaged it, both of these were highly probable, Sergt Garton damaged a Do17.
News came through later that P/O Roy Marchand had crashed at Sittingbourne, Kent, and was unfortunately killed. No details are available…The task of breaking the news to Mrs Marchand. Roy’s wife, fell to F/Lt Beytagh and P/O Hoole. The whole Squadron mourns the loss of this popular, cheery, happy-go-lucky, but gallant pilot.
Cyril Shoesmith, 14 years old, Bexhill-on-Sea, Diary – Sunday 15 September
The 1st air raid today was from 11.40am-1.10pm. Saw a Hurricane about 12.30, and just before the “all clear” went we saw a squadron of “Hurricanes” and a squadron of “Spitfires”. At 2.45pm the “take cover” was sounded. We saw a German bomber being attacked by 3 Spitfires. Also about 30 German planes in one formation heading towards the sea. A big number of English planes headed towards Eastbourne. The raid lasted 1 hour.
Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 15th September1940):
* Enemy: 186confirmed, 42 probable, 72 damaged
* Own: 25 aircraft with 13 pilots killed or missing.
Today’s theme: Captains and Commanders - Winston Churchill
Weather: showery
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 52
- Spitfire – 215
- Hurricane – 403
- Defiant – 16
- Gladiator – 7
- Total – 693
Activity this day was once more concentrated on attacks by single aircraft. The targets were south of London and on London itself. Attacks took place on radar stations and on Eastbourne and Brighton where a cinema was hit killing 35 people.
In Berlin Hitler blamed the difficulties being experienced in the battle against the RAF on the weather. The point is that the Germans had missed the fine weather earlier in the month. It was then that they had failed to dominate the RAF. Now it was getting too late to launch an invasion. Yet the Germans managed to get the impression that once again the RAF was showing signs of being near defeat. The RAF lost 14 and the Luftwaffe lost 7.
73 Squadron Operational Record Book – 14 September
This turned out to be our blackest day. Twelve machines took off, seven returned in disorder. F/O Smith, supported by two others, reports that Spitfires attacked the formation and broke up the rear section. Smithy followed one Spitfire right down almost to the ground, hence the forcefulness of his statement that they attacked our formations. Of the seven that returned, P/O Marchand was battered about a bit, having a bullet through his port tank, one through the port aileron passing through the main spar and emerging from the landing light, and one clean through the top of the W/T mast just above his head.
F/Lt Beytagh got a bullet in his radiator and force landed at West Malling. Sergt Marshall was shot down by a Me109 near Dover, Sergt Leng was also shot down by one of the same tribe, near Gravesend. The CO was reported missing, also Sergt Brimble. Sergt Griffin was shot in both legs and baled out. A pall of gloom spread over the whole unit.
Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 14th September 1940):
* Enemy: 16 confirmed, 3 probable, 12 damaged
* Own: 12 aircraft with 4 pilots killed or missing.
Today’s theme: The Airfields – RAF Middle Wallop
Weather: intermittent rain
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 51
- Spitfire – 208
- Hurricane – 393
- Defiant – 18
- Gladiator – 8
- Total – 678
In the morning several aircraft attacked single buildings in London. The targets included Downing St, Whitehall and Buckingham Palace. Some aircraft reached further inland and were able to attack parts of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In the afternoon single seater fighters were despatched by Luftflotte 2. They aimed for Biggin Hill but were turned back by Fighter Command. The RAF lost 1 aircraft and the Luftwaffe lost 4.
London was targeted that night. Clapham Junction and a school in West Ham, which was being used as a reception centre, were just two of the areas hit.
73 Squadron Unofficial War Diary – 13 September
Mrs Robinson, the CO’s better half, has got us adopted by a knitting circle…Mrs R also collected all our “smalls” and took them off to launder them.
PO D.H. Wissler Diary – 13 September
Bed at 10.30 thinking very hard of Mummy and Pop as I could see a hell of a barrage over town. God Damn and blast Hitler.
Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 13th September 1940):
* Enemy: 3 confirmed, o probable, 3 damaged
* Own: 1 Hurricane of which the pilot is safe.
Today’s theme: The Squadrons – 73 Squadron
Weather: unsettled with some rain
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 50
- Spitfire – 208
- Hurricane – 392
- Defiant – 21
- Gladiator – 8
- Total – 679
Once again, the main activity on the part of the enemy reconnaissance flights along with attacks by Me109s flying solo and small numbers of Ju88s. The weather held back the RAF in their pursuit of these marauders. In the early evening, Hornchurch was attacked by a single plane. That day there had also been bombs on Harrogate and Hastings.
That day a large delayed action bomb fell next door to the north wall of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London which took several days to extract. The bomb disposal experts who extracted the bomb were awarded the George Cross. The RAF flew 247 sorties but lost no planes while the Germans suffered 4 aircraft destroyed.
That night Liverpool, London and Blackpool were bombed. Bomber Command carried out further attacks on the German barges.
266 Squadron Operational Record Book: 12 September
Cold, drizzle during the afternoon. Visibility poor. 6 aircraft operating from Duxford. Owing to adverse weather only local flying was performed. Sqdn Ldr H.W. Mermagen, AFC, temporarily assumes Command of the Squadron.
Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 12th September 1940):
* Enemy: 3 confirmed, 0 probable, 4 damaged
* Own: Nil.
Today’s theme: The Planes They Flew – Bristol Blenheim
Weather: fine; some cloud on the south coast
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 61
- Spitfire – 214
- Hurricane – 387
- Defiant – 21
- Gladiator – 8
- Total – 691
From mid-afternoon onwards Luftflotte 3 delivered a raid on Southampton. This was followed by several raids on London by Luftflotte 2. As well as hitting London, aircraft attacked Biggin Hill, Kenley and Brooklands. Later that day raids also came in from the Cherbourg peninsula which once again ended up bombing Southampton and Portsmouth. There were also raids by Me109s which attacked Kenley, Detling and a convoy heading its way round the Kent coast. That day the RAF flew 678 sorties and lost 29 aircraft with 17 pilots killed. The Germans lost 25 aircraft.
Meanwhile there was intense speculation concerning the imminence of invasion. All this, however, was conditional on air superiority being achieved. At the same time it was noted by German aircrews that despite the losses inflicted on the RAF, the latter still appeared to have undiminished strength. Victory was still eluding the Luftwaffe.
That night Bomber Command hit French ports and damaged German invasion craft whilst the Luftwaffe continued to target London hitting Crystal Palace station and once again setting the Docks alight.
249 Squadron Operational Record Book – 11 September
Brought to readiness at 16:10 hours and ordered to patrol London Docks and Thames Estuary. Large formations of He111s with fighter escorts intercepted East of London. For the first time, it was possible to carry out a head-on attack, this resulted in 2 He111s being destroyed and 1 probable. Sgt Davis was wounded during this battle and had to bale out at Beneden owing to fire in his aircraft. Squadron patrolled Dover at 18:15 hours, and although a number of enemy fighters were seen high above, it was not possible to make contact. A stick of bombs was seen to fall slap outside the entrance to Dover harbour in the sea but no-one could see the enemy aircraft from which they were dropped.
Enemy casualties: 2 destroyed, 1 probable, 1 damaged
Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 11th September 1940):
* Enemy: 89 confirmed, 34 probable, 52 damaged
* Own: 28 aircraft with 17 pilots killed or missing
Today’s theme: Top Gun Gallery – Eric Lock
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