This Day in the Battle of Britain

Not being an expert of the RAF but having a common knowledge of the Spitfre, I too thought something was off.

26 October 1940 Saturday
UNITED KINGDOM: The day started with occasional reconnaissance raids over most of southern England and East Anglia. By 1030 hours a small sweeping raid by Bf109s of JG 53 was met with force by the Biggin Hill Spitfires of RAF No. 92 Squadron. The first claim for the day was made by Fw. Stefan Litjens of 4./JG 53 who downed a Spitfire near Tonbridge

During this period, Spitfires of RAF No. 234 Squadron, scrambled from St. Eval, intercepted a Ju88 off Cornwall and lost one of their aircraft before the raider was shot down.

At 1100 hours a large raid had been plotted by radar leaving the Boulogne area and crossing the Channel. Patrolling Hurricanes of RAF No. 229 Squadron, scrambled from Northolt, were vectored to intercept the raid over the Channel and suffered the loss of 2 aircraft during a dogfight with Bf109s. P/O D.B.H.McHardy of RAF No 229 Squadron became a POW when his Hurricane I (V6704) was shot down off the French coast by a Bf 109 after attacking a He 59 at 1130 hours. F/O G.M.Simson, a New Zealander with No 229 Squadron was KIA as his Hurricane I (W6669) was shot down off the French coast by a Bf 109 after he attacked a He 59 at 1130 hours.

Between 1200 hours and 1300 hours several squadrons were scrambled to intercept Bf109 raids over Sussex and Kent. The ensuing engagements involved Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 302 (Polish) and 605 Squadrons and Spitfires of RAF No. 602 Squadron. Lt. Friedrich Geißhardt of 1.(J)/LG 2, Fw. Otto Junge from 6./JG 52 and Oblt. Egon Troha of 9./JG 3 all made claims during this period. JG 52 lost Ofw. Oskar Strack of 1./JG 52 when he was listed as missing in action. F/O C.W.Passy of RAF No 605 Squadron escaped injury when he force landed his Hurricane I (P3737) near Marks Cross, Sussex at 1235 hours. The Hurricane had developed engine problems whilst chasing a Bf 109.

Throughout late afternoon from 1600 hours until dusk, small raids crossed inland with very few interceptions made. Hurricanes of RAF No. 605 Squadron, from Croydon and Spitfires of RAF No. 222 Squadron, from Hornchurch, were both involved in combat with Bf109s over Kent. Maj. Adolf Galland from Stab./JG 26 claimed a Hurricane south of London for his 46th victory. F/O James C.F.Hayter of RAF No 605 Squadron was attacked at 25000 feet and his Hurricane I set on fire. Slightly wounded, Hayter baled out of his Hurricane I (P2916) after combat with a Bf 109 at 1545 hours. He landed in the grounds of a house where a cocktail party was taking place. He was invited to join it and was later picked up by his fiancée, who lived not far away.

At 1800 hours 5 HE bombs were dropped at RAF Wick, 2 falling on the Aerodrome and 3 nearby demolishing several houses and causing 15 civilian casualties, 3 of which were killed. The attack was made by two He111s flying very low and flashing correct recognition signals. One hangar was hit and a Hudson aircraft burnt out, two others being damaged, and another hangar was also damaged.

The Lossiemouth Aerodrome was attacked at 1830 hours by two enemy aircraft approaching from the sea at 100 feet and a third from the West of the Aerodrome. Bombs were dropped on the edge of the landing ground and one Blenheim was burnt out, two others being damaged. One He111 crashed, and it is believed that this was due to the explosion of its own bombs. The casualties reported were 2 dead and 12 wounded.

As the night raids were underway, RAF No: 151 Squadron, based at Digby, lost 2 (night fighter) Hurricanes as they scrambled to intercept bombers at about 2000 hours. Both pilots were killed.

During the night London was again bombed along with Liverpool, Manchester, the Midlands and Bristol. He 111s from II./KG 55 attacked London during the night and lost three bombers on the return flight to France. II./KG 27 lost no bombers during a raid on Liverpool with He 111s at 2210 hours. Bombing was mainly directed against the centre of Birmingham, where large blocks of offices and commercial buildings were hit. In addition the Midland Homeopathic Hospital had to be evacuated. The factories of Stratton Co Ltd and Bulpitt and Son were gutted. The New Street (LMS) Station was closed to all traffic owing to an HE on No 1 platform. In London, The Royal Hospital suffered a direct hit but there were no casualties. A major fire was started at Saffron Hill, Clerkenwell, necessitating the employment of 50 pumps.

Mines were dropped along the east of England from the Thames Estuary up to the Firth-of-Forth.

Transport has taken a hammering as the Luftwaffe kept up its nightly attacks on the capital. Railways in particular were hard hit, not just at the docks but with main-line stations regularly bombed. This week it was the turn of St Pancras station, but the forecourt of Victoria station was also badly damaged. For travellers train services, especially on the Southern Railway, often terminate in the suburbs, and commuters face new puzzles every day in finding "passable" routes to the office. Unexploded bombs closing many streets add to the frustration by diverting bus routes. So many buses and tramcars have been bombed that Londoners see the unfamiliar colours of buses borrowed from as far away as Aberdeen and Exeter on their streets. The Underground has also been interrupted by bombs. Four stations have been hit, the worst being Ballam, where 600 people sheltering were deluged with a river of sludge when the road and water mains above caved in, suffocating 64 of them.

Oblt. Bernhard Jope of I./KG 40, flying one of the few four-engined 200C-1 "Condors" available, attacked the 348 ton ocean liner "Empress of Britain" southwest of Donegal, Ireland. The liner was crippled from the attack and finally sunk by a torpedo from a German U-Boat.

Losses: Luftwaffe 10: Fighter Command 6.

27 October 1940 Sunday
UNITED KINGDOM: The Luftwaffe renewed its persistent raids of bomb-carrying Bf109s on London and selected targets in the southeast throughout the day. There seemed to be no absolute pattern to the German attacks. Raids were conducted only by small groups of planes that were usually turned back by the intercepting British fighters. A number of the airfields came under attack again. Hawkinge, still a forward airfield and of only minor importance, Martlesham, Kirton-on-Lindsay, Driffield and Honnington were also attacked, but serious damage was kept to a minimum.

Just after 0730 hours and for nearly two hours wave after wave of Bf109 raids swept across Kent heading for Biggin Hill, Kenley and London. Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 46, 249, 253, 257, 501, 605 and 615 Squadrons and Spitfires of RAF Nos. 66, 74, 92, 222, 602 and 603 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept the raiders. Only the Spitfires of RAF Nos. 66 and 74 Squadrons and Hurricanes of RAF No. 605 Squadron, from Croydon, managed to engage the Bf109s of JG 53, JG 27 and JG 54. Oblt. Erbo Graf von Kageneck of 9./JG 27 claimed a Spitfire over Ashford. III./JG 54 were returning from a sweep over London when they came across Hurricanes from RAF No. 605 Squadron and dived to attack. Uffz. Arno Zimmermann of 7./JG 54 was climbing from the attack when a Hurricane believed to be flown by Sgt. Eric Wright fired a burst which hit Zimmermann and his Bf 109. Zimmermann finally crash landed on the beach near Lydd. Sgt. J.A.Scott of RAF No 74 Squadron was shot down and killed in his Spitfire II (P7526) by a Bf 109 over Maidstone at 0900 hours. F/O A.Ingle of RAF No 605 Squadron was wounded with slight cuts to the face when his Hurricane I (V7599) sustained some battle damage and suffered a forced landing at Barcombe, Sussex at 0940 hours.

Oblt. Ulrich Steinhilper of I./JG 52 and his wingman were shot down by Sgt Bill Skinner and A/Flt Lt Mungo Park in Spitfire Mk IIs of RAF 74 Squadron. Steinhilper's 109 was hit from behind after he saw what he called;

"....a staircase to the sun, a staircase of Spitfires queuing for the attack, the first one already with red flames dancing along the leading edge of his wings as his guns fired. I landed beside the embankment of a canal. I looked around at the countryside to see if anyone was approaching. Nothing. Only the grey wet drizzle, blown by the wind. I couldn't believe that moments before I had been flying in the bright sunshine. Above the clouds I could hear the throb of engines as my comrades made their way back to base. How far away I was from them now. I felt so alone, so hopeless, my throat tightened and I thought that I was about to cry."

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Oblt. Steinhilper became a POW first in England and then in Canada. He was one of only 12 pilots remaining from the 36 who had started the Battle of Britain with JG 52. The rest were gone - killed or captured. (In 1980 the remains of Steinhilper's Messerschmitt were recovered from the marshes near Canterbury and preserved by the dedicated staff of the Kent Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge. Three years later Steinhilper was surprisingly asked to participate in a Yorkshire television programme entitled Churchill's few. For this project he came back across to England, where after 46 years he was reunited with his old friend 'yellow 2' which was then just a lump of wreckage.)

A Hurricane from RAF No. 43 Squadron based at Usworth near Sunderland, crashed vertically during high altitude aerobatics, the cause unknown, but believed to be through oxygen failure. The aircraft crashed at Congburn Dean, Edmondsley at 1025 hours. The 21-year-old pilot, Sergeant L.V. Toogood was killed and is buried in Kingstone Cemetery, St Mary's Road, Portsmouth. (A major recovery by the Northumberland Aeronautical Collection was made in October 1978. The parts recovered were: the tail wheel assembly, radiator, pilot's seat, radio, armour plate, main wheels and the shattered remains of the Roll-Royce Merlin engine. The pilot's parachute was recovered intact, in excellent condition and positive proof of identity was provided by the pilot's wallet, handed to the RAF.)

At 1130 hours, another series of raids started crossing the east coast of Kent heading for Dartford and the docklands of London and although sighted by RAF fighters, the raiders were too high to intercept. But RAF No. 145 Squadron tried. F/O D.G.S.Honor from RAF No 145 Squadron force landed his Hurricane I (V7422) near St Leonards, Sussex at 1220 hours. He had run out of fuel after combat but he was unhurt. Also running out of fuel was Sgt D.B.Sykes of RAF No. 145 Squadron who force landed his Hurricane I (N2494) near St Leonards, Sussex at 1220 hours. P/O P.A.Baillon of RAF No 609 Squadron bailed out of his Spitfire I (P9503) safely after combat over Andover at 1150 hours.

By 1230 hours the second wave of Bf109s crossed the Kent and Sussex coasts. Interceptions were made by Hurricanes of RAF No. 145 Squadron, scrambled from Tangmere, near Hastings and by Hurricanes of RAF No. 501 Squadron, scrambled from Kenley, over Kent.

At 1320 hours, one raid of 14 aircraft approached Faversham from Dungeness and then turned East; simultaneously another raid of 20 aircraft reached the Central London area and a secondary wave turned back over Ashford. As more Bf109s crossed the coast at Dungeness they were engaged by Spitfires of RAF No. 603 Squadron, scrambled from Hornchurch, over the Maidstone area. During this dogfight RAF No. 603 Squadron lost 3 Spitfires and 2 pilots. P/O C.W.Golsdsmith a South African had been shot down by a Bf 109 of JG 51 South of Maidstone, Kent at 1405 hours. He died of his wounds on the 28th of October 1940. P/O R.B.Dewey of No 603 Squadron was killed when his Spitfire II (P7365) was shot down by a Bf 109 of JG 51 south of Maidstone, Kent at 1405 hours.

Maj. Hannes Trautloft from Stab/JG 54 claimed a Spitfire over Ashford. P/O Eric F.Edsall from RAF No. 222 Squadron crashed in a Spitfire I (X4548 ), when he ran out of fuel after combat and he was injured when he crash landed near Hailsham at 1405 hours.

(27 October 1940 continued......)

At 1630 hours two large raids were approaching their respective targets with formations of Ju88, He111 and Do17 bombers with Bf109 fighter escorts. The first raid crossed North Foreland and over the Thames Estuary into East Anglia whereby the airfields at Martlesham Heath and Coltishall along with the docks in Harwich were attacked. Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 17, 242, 249, 257 and 310(Czech) Squadrons and Spitfires of RAF No. 19 Squadron, from Duxford, were scrambled to intercept the raid. Nine Bf109s dive-bombed the aerodrome at Martlesham at 1642 hours. Between 9 and 12 - 50 Kilo bombs were dropped and three delayed action bombs were dropped on the East side of the aerodrome. The only damage was one workshop, and the aerodrome was serviceable during daylight on the West side. An attack was made by a Do17 on Coltishall at 5,000 feet and a further low-flying He111, which machine-gunned the aerodrome, causing very little damage and no casualties. A second attack took place at 1810 hours by high-flying aircraft, which dropped bombs but caused no damage, but No 3 Post was dive machine-gunned by a Bf109 from 100 feet.

The second raid of Ju88s and Bf109s was made against the Southampton and Portsmouth areas. Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 56, 145, 213, 238 and 607 Squadrons and Spitfires of RAF Nos. 152, 602 and 609 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept. P/O Alexis Jottard a Belgian with RAF No 145 Squadron was shot down and killed in his Hurricane I (P3167) by a Bf 109 at 1715 hours off the Isle of Wight. At the time of his death Jottard was credited with one damaged enemy aircraft. This was claimed while flying biplanes. Oblt. Hermann Reifferscheidt from 1./JG 2 claimed his first victory, a Hurricane near the Isle of Wight. Sergeant J.K.Haire of RAF No 145 Squadron in his Hurricane I (V6888 ) ditched on the sands of Bembridge and escaped injury after a dogfight with a Bf 109 at 1715 hours. P/O Franck Weber was a Czech who served with RAF No 145 Squadron and baled out of his Hurricane I off the Isle of White safely after combat with a Bf 109 at 1715 hours and was picked up out of the Channel.

Before the main bombing raids of the night were launched, several small raids were made, at about 1830 hours, against the airfields of Leconfield, Feltwell, Driffield, Kirton-in-Lindsey and Martlesham. Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 1, 17 and 85 Squadrons made interceptions on the Do17s and He111s over Norfolk and Lincolnshire. A Ju 88A from 7./KG 4 was hit by ground fire during a low level attack on Driffield aerodrome at 1800 hours. It belly landed on Richmond Farm, Duggleby, Yorkshire. Three enemy aircrew members were captured unhurt, the other one died of his wounds on November 15th. A machine gun (an MG15) from the German aircraft is now in the trophy case at Driffield. At Leconfield, Pilot Rossocachacki of RAF No. 303 (Polish) Squadron was injured by shrapnel when the Aerodrome was bombed by 2 He111s at 1808 hours. RAF Mildenhall was attacked for the first time.

At 1732 hours, a Heinkel 111 made a low-flying attack on Lindholme and dropped 6 HE light bombs scoring two direct hits, one on the sick quarters and the other on the Barrack Block, causing 8 casualties. At 1800 hours, an He111 approached the aerodrome at Kirton in Lindsey and came down to 2,500 feet and carried out a machine-gun attack before dropping two bombs which exploded on the roof of No 1 Hangar. A further three bombs were dropped on the South West building and four buildings under construction, one of which was a new explosive store.

During the night raids were made on London, Liverpool and the Midlands. The attack on London was maintained at fair strength but later became sporadic, assuming the single 'relay' character. The attacks on Coventry and Liverpool increased in strength and over the former were still being plotted at 010 hours, although they had ceased over the latter about midnight. A marked feature was wide dispersal of raiders, practically all districts South of a line Barrow to Middlesborough being visited at some time during the period. The route Selsey - Oxford - Midlands, with fanning out both East and West, seemed particularly favoured. The main damage was the blockage of the LMS line at Tottenham and the Kingston Southern Railway Line at Malden due to flooding caused by a main bursting.

Mines were dropped off Harwich, in the Thames Estuary and along the coast of eastern England up to the Firth-of-Forth.

Losses: Luftwaffe 12: Fighter Command 12.

28 October 1940 Monday
UNITED KINGDOM: The shipping and convoy attacks off Dover and in the Thames Estuary started early. Reconnaissance raids were the main source of Luftwaffe activity during the morning with bombs dropped on a convoy near Dover and on the outskirts of the airfield at Hawkinge. Successive waves attacked London in the afternoon.

The first main attack of the day materialized at 1300 hours when about 30 Bf109s swept over Dungeness and into Kent. The formation split up and eventually turned back before British fighters could intercept. This was followed by a similar raid at about 1430 hours, 18+ enemy aircraft flew in from Dover to Maidstone and the Biggin Hill area. As in the previous sweep, penetration was not made further North West. Hurricanes of RAF No: 257 Squadron, scrambled from North Weald, intercepted the Bf109's of JG 27 near Gravesend. Ofw. Otto Schulz of 4./JG 27 and Oblt. Ernst Düllberg from 5./JG 27 each claimed a Spitfire.

By 1600 hours several raids of nearly 50 aircraft each were plotted over the Channel. The first headed for the Isle of Wight and at 1630 hours Portsmouth was attacked before Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 145 and 213 Squadrons, both from Tangmere, could intercept. One of the Do17s was eventually attacked as it headed back toward France.

Meanwhile, the other raids, of mainly Bf109s, were crossing the coast at Dover, Dungeness and Beachy Head. Fresh formations of 50, 30+ and 50 aircraft came inland between Beachy Head and Dungeness, one raid going to Hornchurch and the others to Biggin Hill. Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 229, 249, 253, 257, 501 and 605 Squadrons and Spitfires of RAF Nos. 74, 92 and 603 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept. For once the Bf109s of JG 51 and JG 53 suffered losses without inflicting any on Fighter Command. Ofw. Hans Dieter John from 4./JG 51 was shot down and killed. He had eight victories against Allied aircraft at the time of his death. Oblt. Gerhard Michalski of Stab II./JG 53 claimed a Hurricane near London.

During the night the number of raids over England was reduced. Early raids were widespread over most of the Country and the main objectives were London and its suburbs, and the Midlands where Birmingham received most attention with small raids on Reading, Coventry, Sunderland, East Anglia and the airfields at Biggin Hill, Digby, Linton-on-Ouse, Driffield, Binbrook, and Massingham. In London a 50 pump fire broke out at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich but was under control by about 0200 hours on the morning of the 29th October. The only other serious incident reported was major damage at Southwark which occurred at 0140 hours when a Public Shelter was hit containing 400 people, the casualties being 100.

Incendiary leaves were dropped close to the aerodrome at Digby at 2050 hours. They appeared to fall from a container, spreading over a fairly large area and were alight in the air but extinguished before reaching the ground. At 1947 hours, approximately 300 incendiary bombs fell on Biggin Hill. All fires were extinguished and there were no casualties.

Birmingham again received a fierce attack and there were altogether 230 incidents reported about 32 of which involved damage by high explosive bombs, the remainder being fires caused by incendiary bombs including several oil bombs. The most serious fire was New Street Station where a fire started on No 3 platform and spread to platforms No 4 5, Midlands Parcel Office, Refreshment Room and offices and other building on the Station. The Cathedral, Woolworth's and the Army and Navy Stores were amongst the many other buildings which were affected by fire. A feint to the Bristol area was conducted by a lone He 111 of KG 27 at 2145 hours.

Losses: Luftwaffe 12: Fighter Command 0

29 October 1940 Tuesday
"The Last Gasp"
UNITED KINGDOM: The Tuesday was to be a testing day for Fighter Command with an increase in daylight raids on southern England. The Luftwaffe launched what was possibly their last and final raid of any importance on London during the Battle of Britain. Park again asked that 12 Groups fighters to intercept the bombers, but it took over twenty minutes before the Duxford Wing was formed and was again too late to attack the bombers.

From 0800 hours reconnaissance raids were made at regular intervals until just after 1030 hours when radar detected a formation of Bf109s crossing the Channel toward the Kent coast at Deal. Whilst the Spitfires of RAF Nos. 66, 74 and 92 Squadrons were occupied with the raiders, a small section of bomb-carrying Bf109s broke away and successfully bombed targets in central London including Charing Cross bridge. P/O R.R.Hutley flew with RAF No. 213 Squadron. He baled out of his Hurricane I (P2720) off Selsey at 1145 hours. He was picked up but he died later.

A convoy off Dover was visited by enemy aircraft at 0945 and 1025 hours.

Just after midday the Hurricanes of RAF No. 1 Squadron were scrambled from Wittering to intercept a small raid of Do17s.

At about 1300 hours, a large raid of over 100 Bf109s crossed the Kent coast in several waves and headed for the areas of Biggin Hill, Hornchurch, Maidstone, west and central London. Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 249, 253, 501 and 615 Squadrons along with Spitfires of RAF Nos. 66, 74, 92, 222 and 602 Squadrons had already been scrambled to intercept. The Bf109s of JG 51 got caught and suffered heavy losses to the Spitfires, especially those of RAF No. 602 Squadron from Westhampnett who gained an advantage by working in pairs. The Hurricanes and Spitfires had a height advantage and dove onto the approaching 109s. Eight of the Messerschmitts were shot down in less than ten minutes, and the others dropped their bombs at random and turned back in retreat. The attack developed as RAF No. 222 Sqdrn climbed to deliver an attack on the Bf 109s from the rear. RAF No. 602 Sqdrn attacked simultaneously from above, just as RAF Nos. 615 and 229 Sqdrns were climbing for height. Outmaneuvered, the Messerschmitts turned for home whereupon RAF No. 602 gave chase. Lt. Ernst Terry of the Stab I./JG 51 was shot down and captured. Fw. Heinrich Tornow of 4./JG 51 with twelve victories to his credit, was killed in action over England. Maj. Werner Mölders from Stab/JG 51 claimed a Hurricane over Dungeness. P/O N.D.Edmond, a Canadian with RAF No 615 Squadron was wounded at 1245 hours. His Hurricane I (V6785) was badly damaged in combat.

As the dogfights over Kent and Sussex were subsiding another raid of twelve Ju 88s from LG 1 and Bf109s was plotted approaching Portsmouth at 1430 hours. Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 145 and 213 Squadrons both scrambled from Tangmere and were joined by the Spitfires of RAF No. 609 Squadron from Warmwell. Maj. Helmut Wick of Stab/JG 2 claimed two Hurricanes over Portsmouth to bring his score to 44. P/O Winter of RAF No. 247 Squadron intercepted one Ju88. The attack on Portsmouth caused 39 casualties, including 3 killed. Four shops were demolished and 50 houses badly damaged, also one high explosive bomb fell on the railway, demolishing ten wagons. Two new wings of the works of Messrs Evans Sons were seriously damaged.

While Portsmouth was being raided, the Italians reappeared briefly by day with 15 BR20 bombers escorted by 39 CR42 and 34 G.50bis fighters attacking Ramsgate. The CR42 biplanes causing more puzzlement than anxiety. (The RAF shot down the first Italian aircraft in November when three CR42 biplane fighters and three BR20 bombers were shot down. One of the BR20s had a crew of six, all wearing helmets and carrying bayonets. Due to poor support from the fighters, the Italian bombers switched from daylight to sporadic night bombing attacks. After about three months of operations from Belgium, the entire force was recalled to Italy in January 1941 to support the Italian invasion of Greece. In the end, it is almost surprising the C.A.I. managed to operate and the few missions effected appear as the maximum effort that those simple but bold men could hope to do.) The Royal Marines Barracks in Deal was attacked from the air. At 1640 hours, three HE bombs were dropped in the barracks, the casualties being 1 Officer and 7 other ranks killed, 6 Officers and 6 other ranks wounded. Historian David Collyer claims that the bombers were actually not from the Luftwaffe;

"The bombs fell in Cornwall Road, Cemetery Road, and near the railway bridge in Telegraph Road. My uncle Leslie can remember seeing an Italian aircraft flying by after dropping a bomb in front of the Officers' Mess at the RM depot."

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This would indicate that the attackers were from the Italian Air Corps on their attack against Ramsgate, some eleven miles from Deal.

Late afternoon was to witness several successful attacks by fighter-bomber Bf109s on airfields across East Anglia, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire. This was Luftflotte 2's operation launched under the code-word "Opernhall" (Opera Hall). Seventy-one Ju 88s escorted by 31 Bf109s and 52 bomb-carrying Bf 109s with an escort of 99 Bf 109s and Bf 110 aircraft carried out attacks on a number of airfields. Bombs were dropped at Leeming and Linton on Ouse. The first materialized at 1645 hours when North Weald was bombed by Bf 109s from II(Schlacht)./LG 2 and JG 26 during the scramble of both Hurricane Squadrons, RAF Nos. 249 and 257. One Hurricane from RAF No. 249 Sqdrn was damaged and one from RAF No. 257 Sqdrn (Sgt A.G.Girdwood in his Hurricane I (P3708 ) was completely destroyed when it was hit by a bomb and caught fire. Another from RAF No. 257 Sqdrn was so badly damaged by bombs while it was taking off that its pilot (P/O F.Surma from Poland) climbed to 3,000 feet and baled out. Hptm. Gerhard Schöpfel of Stab III./JG 26 claimed one of the Hurricanes lost. II(Schlacht)./LG 2 lost three aircraft shot down during this mission including the Staffelkapitain of 5(Schlacht)./LG 2, Oblt. Benno von Schenk whose Bf 109E-4 plunged into the sea off the Blackwater Estuary and Ofw. Joseph Hammeling of 4./LG 2 who was attacked at 3,000 feet by two Hurricanes believed to have been from RAF No. 249 Sqdrn but also possibly by Polish Pilot, Michal Maciejowski, of RAF No. 111 Squadron. Ofw. Hammeling was obliged to make a force landing at Wick in Essex in his Bf 109E-7 WkNr 5593 "White N". The following is a translation of a letter by Josef Hammeling describing his ordeal:

"Here is an account of my sortie on 29th October 1940, on which date I became a prisoner of war in England. It was late in the afternoon, about 1700 hours (local time) when about 40 Messerschmitts Bf 109's of my Gruppe took off from Calais/Marck airfield. We headed on a course for London and reached the English coast at about 6,000 metres. Our Gruppe's objective was an airfield to the north-east of London (North Weald). This was a diversionary feint attack about 20 kilometres from the primary target and we took the opportunity to descend to about 4-500 metres for the attack. It was at this altitude that we struck at the target with bombs and our fixed armament and it was during this low-level attack that I received a hit in the radiator system, presumably from the ground defences. The result was that the coolant temperature rose quickly and the motor commenced losing revs. with alarming speed. However, I sought to gain height, in case I had to get out in an emergency. Soon after this two British fighters, a Spitfire and a Hurricane attacked me and I was unfortunately wounded in the head and right arm whilst at an altitude of about 80 metres. Eye witnesses later reported that my machine burned where it came to rest in a rural area near Colchester. After my (pancake) landing I summoned my strength to jump out of my aircraft and attempt to destroy it but some British soldiers intervened. By now I had recovered and took the opportunity to thank those who helped me. They were, to me, safety- although enemies, those who first gave me aid. The Doctor who removed a fragment of metal from my person also treated me in an exemplary manner..."

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Apparently he was captured by the local gamekeeper, Jum (short for Jumbo) Brown, who was a private in the Essex Home Guard. Jum was awarded a Certificate by the Home Guard in recognition of his bravery in single handed sorting out the capture of plane and pilot. Obfw. Konrad Jäckel from 8./JG 26 was also shot down and captured during this time.

(29 October 1940 continued......)

Over the next hour targets were attacked at Wattisham, Honington, Leeming, Newmarket, West Raynham and Linton-on-Ouse. Involved in engagements with the raiders were the Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 1, 17, 46, 219, 249, 253, 257, 302 (Polish), 310 (Czech) and 501 Squadrons along with Spitfires of RAF Nos. 19, 41 and 222 Squadrons. Hptm. Wilhelm Balthasar of Stab III./JG 3 claimed two Spitfires. At 1750 hours RAF North Coates received a machine-gunning attack by three low flying enemy aircraft, and at Norwich the Maintenance Unit was bombed at 1755 hours and one hangar was partly destroyed, the Stores also being damaged.

Sub/Lt A.G.Blake of RAF No. 19 Squadron was killed when his Spitfire II (P7423) crashed near Chelmsford, Essex after an encounter with a Bf 109 at 1715 hours. It was believed he was 'picked-off' by a Bf109 whilst acting as 'weaver' during squadron patrol over south London, crashed and burned out at 'Oakhurst', 216 London Rd, Chelmsford.

F/Lt James Anderson Thomson of RAF No. 302 (Polish) Squadron was injured when he baled out after colliding with a Hurricane over Brooklands. He was slightly injured. P/O E.Fetchner, a Czech of RAF No. 310 Squadron was killed in his Hurricane I (P3889) when he collided with another Hurricane near Duxford at 1510 hours.

Epr210 were ordered to carry out a diversionary attack on the dock areas of London. At briefing no exact target was given but the general impression was that if they could not hit the docks then they could release bombs anywhere. All went well until on the return flight they were attacked by Spitfires. One latched onto the tail of the Staffelkaptian of 3./Epr210, Oblt. Otto Hintze. Trailing a plume of white smoke, Hintze dove away which was noticed by Sgt. J.H.B. Burgess of RAF No. 222 Sqdrn. As the first Spitfire broke away, Sgt. Burgess roared in and gave another burst, watching as Oblt. Hintze bailed from the cockpit, hitting the tailplane and injuring his shoulder. Landing safely in Ashford, Oblt. Hintze was captured.

III./JG 2 flew missions from its new base at Bernay and lost several planes and pilots during the day. The first to be lost was Uffz. Walter Bader of I./JG 2 who was hit by German anti-aircraft or 'friendly' fire and crashed at Cherbourg, severely wounding Uffz. Bader. Later the Adjutant of III./JG 2, Oblt. Erich Wolf, failed to return from a sortie and was officially listed as missing in action. But JG 2 was not alone in its losses. Killed in a flying accident this day was Ofw. Horst Götz of 5./JG 3, who had five victories. Also lost from JG 3 was Oblt. Egon Troha, the Staffelkapitain of 9./JG 3, who with five victories to his credit, was shot down and captured, ending the war as a prisoner.

Twelve HEs of light calibre were dropped at 1830 hours in the petrol compound at Billingham Reach and immediate vicinity. Four petrol tanks and one foamite tank were perforated by splinters. There were no casualties but a quantity of the petrol escaped from the tanks before they were plugged. There was no fire. An engine house and steam, water and oil pipes were damaged, also a reaper which was standing in a field.

Lt. Gerhard Barkhorn of 6./JG 52 on his thirty-eighth sortie was shot down into the Channel but was picked up by a German rescue boat after floating for two hours in his lifeboat. Sgt W.T.Page of RAF No. 1 Squadron force landed his Hurricane I (P3318 ) near Peterborough after combat with a Dornier Do 17 at 1730 hours.

During the night the main targets were London, Birmingham and Coventry with scattered raids made on Liverpool, Oxford and Reading areas. London received less raids than usual but activity was widespread over the Home Counties. A severe fire was caused at the works of Messrs Wrays Optical Works Ltd by incendiary bombs which were dropped at 1940 hours. The centre part of the factory was completely gutted, the whole of the factory heating system is damaged, the boilers probably being destroyed, and the store containing all raw materials for glass work was burnt out. Production will be seriously curtailed. Another large raid on Birmingham at night and another feint by a single Dornier of KGr 606 over Bristol at 2155 hours. Mines were dropped in the Thames Estuary and off Hartlepool.

Hptm. Hans 'Assi' Hahn was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 2 on the Channel Coast in place of Hptm. Otto Bertram.

A new type of German mine, set off by the noise of a ship was discovered near Porthcawl. Two Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve officers, Lieutenant Baker and Sub-Lieutenant Cummins, succeeded in recovering safely a German acoustic mine from the River Ogmore near Porthcawl, allowing its mechanism to be studied at HMS Vernon and counter-measures developed.

Losses: Luftwaffe 27: Fighter Command 11.

30 October 1940 Wednesday
UNITED KINGDOM: In comparison to the past few days, German activity was reduced to reconnaissance and two main raids. Luftflotte 3 joined the action sending a force of over 100 aircraft consisting of fighters and fighter bombers which reached London and bombed a number of targets.

The first raid appeared on radar at about 1130 hours when several waves of Ju88s and Bf109s crossed the Channel towards the Kent coastline. At 1200 hours, 80 Luftwaffe aircraft flew into the Thames Estuary and at 1215 hours, 2 waves of 50 and 60 aircraft entered British airspace at Dymchurch. Six of the 10 RAF fighter squadrons on patrol sighted the German and attacked. For nearly two hours dogfights raged in the skies over Kent and Sussex involving Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 17, 32, 249 and 253 Squadrons and Spitfires of RAF Nos. 41, 66 and 222 Squadrons. Some of the Ju88's had penetrated into East Anglia and were intercepted by Hurricanes of No: 1 Squadron, scrambled from Wittering. P/O A.E. Davies of RAF No 222 Squadron was killed when he was shot down by a Bf 109 over Sussex at 1210 hours. His aircraft a Spitfire I (N3119) was repaired later and re-used. P/O H.P.M. Edridge of RAF No 222 Squadron was also killed when he crash landed his Spitfire I (K9939) after combat with a Bf 109 over Ewhurst.

At 1530 hours the second main raid of 130 Bf109s was crossing the coast near Dover and made for the areas of Maidstone and East London. This attack was divided into two phases. In the first about 80 Luftwaffe aircraft approached Maidstone of which 40 continued North West to South East London, where a few bombs were dropped; these latter aircraft were then intercepted and split up by two RAF Squadrons. In the second phase five small formations totaling about 50 aircraft crossed the Coast between Dover and Beachy Head, and one formation of 12 reached Harwich. Several of these formations were intercepted and quickly retired. Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 17, 249, 253, 501 and 615 Squadrons and Spitfires of RAF Nos. 41, 66, 92, 222 and 602 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept. Sgt L.A.Garvey of No 41 Squadron was killed when he was shot down in his Spitfire II (P7375) by a Bf 109 over Ashford, Kent at 1610 hours. Sgt W.B.Smith a Canadian from RAF No 602 Squadron was wounded when he force landed his Spitfire I (X4542) near Lydd at 1620 hours after being attacked by a Bf 109.

RAF No.1 Squadron Operational Record Book:

"Blue Section (B Flight) took part in an Army co-operation movement. This section was ordered to scramble base. Personnel: POs G.E. Goodman, R.G. Lewis and Sgt V. Jicha. E/a sighted. Goodman mistook it for a Blenheim. Lewis and Jicha recognized it as a Junkers 88 and shot it down. Sgt J. Dygryn crashed when landing, plane written off."

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During the night a major attack was mounted on London and the surrounding counties with smaller raids on the Midlands, Nottingham, Sheffield and the airfields of Duxford and Debden. The first night raiders crossed the coast soon after dark but the weather was bad and all were gone by 2400 hours. Feltwell (Norfolk) Aerodrome was subject to attacks by the Luftwaffe in three waves, at 1801, 1812 and 1818 hours. One hangar of RAF No 75 Squadron was hit and one aircraft set on fire, but this was quickly extinguished. Some damage was done to the structure and several craters were created. Mines were dropped off Harwich and the Thames Estuary.

Lt Robert Selby Armitage (1910-82), RNVR, did very dangerous work in September and October, once tackling a mine in a tree with no chance of escape if the fuse was activated. (George Cross)

Maj. Herbert John Leslie Barefoot (1887-1958 ), Royal Engineers, showed great courage as a bomb-disposal pioneer during September and October. (George Cross)

Flt-Lt Wilson Hodgson Charlton (1907-53) dealt with over 200 unexploded bombs while on bomb disposal duty during September and October. (George Cross)

Sub-Lt William Horace Taylor (b. 1908 ), RNVR, showed great gallantry in mine disposal throughout September and October, in particular regarding an operation at RAF Uxbridge in Middlesex. (George Cross)

Losses: Luftwaffe 8: Fighter Command 6.

31 October 1940 Thursday
"FINI"
UNITED KINGDOM: October 31st 1940 now goes down as the official date as the end of the Battle of Britain, even though Germany added the additional phases that included the bombing of London. For the last several months, the great air battle that had raged over south-east England was to go down in history as one of the most important battles that Britain had to overcome. The Luftwaffe, as the attacking force had a combined strength of bombers, fighters and fighter-bombers. There were huge numbers of aircrew both trained and straight out of flying school, and they had the advantage of flying by both day and by night. Fighter Command on the other hand, as the defending force had only front line fighters that combined did not equal the number of their enemy. They were also at a disadvantage as far as aircrew were concerned, often not enough to man the operational squadrons, who were also losing valuable aircraft daily. The biggest advantages that Britain had over Germany was the fact that they had the English Channel as a natural form of defense and the advantage of flying most of the time over home territory. From courage to casualties, Fighter Command defended with everything that they had even though the odds were far against them. The combined efforts of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, the Air Ministry, the 2,935 pilots that took part as well as the thousands of personnel that manned the radar stations, filter rooms and the operation rooms. The refuellers and armourers and fitters that kept the fighter aircraft in the air. All the combined efforts of these people proved that by working as a team, they could attain victory over an enemy that was fighting for all the wrong reasons. The Battle of Britain was epic that had no planned script, yet it had a cast of thousands, and each person that took part must be given credit for its success. The Battle of Britain marked the first defeat of Hitler's military forces, with air superiority seen as the key to victory.

The fact that the RAF had emerged apparently intact from nearly 4 months of day to day battle against a concerted attack by three Luftflotten of the Luftwaffe was of enormous significance. Against every expectation, to have won this victory meant that the rest of the world saw that Britain was a serious contender in the war against Hitler. For Britain itself, the victory meant that the Germans would not, after all, be marching down Whitehall in a repetition of their victory parade down the Champs Elysees. It meant also, that Britain would not have to experience the nightmare of invasion with the Gestapo making lists of thousands of English people whom they wanted to eliminate. From Churchill's point of view it meant above all that he could show America that Britain was worth supporting.

At the time, Thursday 31st October 1940 was not known as the "official" end to the Battle of Britain, especially by the pilots still fighting, but ironically it proved to be one of the quietest days in four months. Only minor attacks were made which were nothing more that nuisance raids interrupting the dinner of many of the RAF pilots.

Throughout the day from 0730 hours until dusk, reconnaissance and scattered bombing raids were made over East Anglia, Kent, Sussex, South Wales, Hampshire and Lancashire. Bombs were dropped on the airfields of Bassingbourn, Martlesham and Poling with further targets in the Monmouth and Newport areas also being attacked. The Aerodrome at Lawford Heath, which was under construction, was attacked at 1345 hours and five HE were dropped and 16 wooden huts were badly damaged. The Royal Ordnance Factory at Glascoed was attacked by a single enemy aircraft at 1250 hours. The attacking aircraft dropped 12 bombs, three of which were unexploded and then proceeded to machine-gun the factory from a height not greater than 200 feet. The roof of the building was damaged. At 1325 hours, an HE fell on the Works of the British Portland Cement Co and damaged the electricians' shop. At 1444 hours, five enemy aircraft machine-gunned many houses in the vicinity of Castle Bromwich and some damage was done to roofs and glass from AA guns and blast. The Repairable Equipment Ltd Factory was the chief sufferer.

'SS Hillfern' (1,535t) a cargo ship, sailing from Sunderland to Cork with a cargo of coal, was sunk by German aircraft, NE of Kinnaird Head. At about 1100 hours a ship off Rattray Head and the Bell Rock Lighthouse was machine-gunned. While this ship was being salvaged in the afternoon it was again attacked.

One He 111 of III./KG 55 took off at 1045 hours on a mission to the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton but soon aborted the flight upon leaving the Villacoublay airfield.

Although several Fighter Command squadrons were scrambled to intercept or patrol during the day, there was no direct combat between the Luftwaffe and the RAF. The losses on both sides were due to accidents. A Hurricane from RAF No.43 Squadron based at Usworth near Sunderland, force-landed at Chirnside, Berwick, due to engine failure at 1030 hours. The pilot, Sergeant B. Malinowski was unhurt, the aircraft damaged but repairable.

During the night London and the Midlands were the targets with mines dropped off Spurn Head and the Thames Estuary. Luftwaffe activity was divided into two phases, one in the early evening and the other in the early morning. Adverse weather conditions accounting for intervening absence of any enemy operations. At 1825 hours the first night raiders (approximately 30) were leaving Dieppe on the usual North Westerly route. Strong westerly gales blew them off course so that landfalls were made in the Hastings/Dungeness area. These raids were joined by two from Calais and all proceeded towards West and Central London, though only a few achieved their objective. At 0245 hours two attacks developed with London and the Midlands as their respective objectives. The Midland raids of approximately six aircraft made landfall in the Weymouth area, the majority proceeding to Birmingham and in one or two cases further North. Approximately 25/30 raids from Dieppe/Le Havre Coast were concerned in the London attack. At 0500 hours the attack on London began to slacken and the last raids on the Midland area were leaving the country.

Losses: Luftwaffe 2: Fighter Command 1

Although the Battle of Britain between the RAF and the Luftwaffe was over, during the Blitz (September 1940 to May 1941) German aircraft delivered more than 35,000 tons of bombs to targets in Great Britain, with the loss of 650 aircraft. London was attacked 19 times during that period, with 18,800 tons of bombs. In London 60,000 houses were uninhabitable, 130,000 less badly damaged, and 16,000 totally destroyed. Three-quarters of the houses in the East End are of Stepney were estimated to be wrecked.

The Allied losses were 544 aircrew killed, 422 wounded and 1547 aircraft destroyed, while the Luftwaffe lost 2698 aircrew killed, and lost 1887 aircraft. During the first four months, (1 July - 31 October 1940), one Luftwaffe bomber unit, KG 51 lost 13 Ju 88s and 21 damaged.

2936 fighter pilots took part in the battle on the British side, including 595 non-British pilots. These included 145 pilots from Poland, 127 from New Zealand, 112 from Canada, 88 from Czechoslovakia, 28 from Belgium, 32 from Australia, 25 from South Africa, 13 from France, 10 from Ireland, 7 from America, and 1 from each of Jamaica, Palestine and Rhodesia.

An excellent set of postings, Many thanks

The last photo sums it up better than anything I can say

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

That last picture says it al

Chris, you've provided a fantastic concise, accurate and easy to read day to day account of the most famous, and biggest, air battle in history, posted 70 years to the day, for each account. Very well done my friend, and thanks.

Many thanks for all your hard work Njaco I learnt an awful lot from your daily posts.

Thanks NJACO.

No one who read this for the past several months cannot say they learned something new!

Thanks guys, I LOVED doing it!

It was a pleasure to read.

Otto Hintze was NOT acting-Gruppenkommandeur of Erprobungsgruppe 210 when he was shot down on 29th October 1940. His 3. Staffel had been attached to II./LG 2 since early October in order to fly fighter-bomber missions alongside that Gruppe. 3./Erpr. Gr. 210 were attached to Erprobungsgruppe 210 in name only from then on.

Following the loss of acting-Gruppenkommandeur Oblt. Werner Weymann on 5th October, the Bf 110s of Erpr. Gr. 210 were nominally led by Wolfgang Schenck until Major Lessmann was posted in on 1st November 1940.

Unfortunately it is a common misconception that Otto Hintze led Erpr. Gr. 210 in October 1940.

Source: the man himself.

Well Njaco, scores of postings, many hundreds of pages in length should anyone want to print it of very fine detail, in which I agree that everyone found something new, and what do we find at the end. That your not perfect, missing one persons posting for one month in the entire war. Shame on you

John, the information is of interest, but the tone needs working on.

"P/O A.E.Davies of RAF No 222 Squadron was killed when he was shot down by a Bf 109 over Sussex at 1210 hours. His aircraft a Spitfire I (N3119) was repaired later and re-used,"

how is this possible? was plane on the ground or landing? hard to imagine a plane being shot down and being repaired.

Glider, no worries! I expected some mistakes including one nobody has caught yet.

John, thanks for that. I believe I got that from a book by Eric Mombeek which is usually accurate. But I defer to you, kind sir!

and Bern, check this......

N3119 Ia 389 EA MIII FF 28-10-39 6MU 3-11-39 HQ Hornchurch 4-1-40 602S 14-3-40 AST 22-8-40 222S 12-9-40 shot down by Bf109 12-05hrs P/O Davies killed 30-10-40 AST SOC 5-11-40 cancel 16-2-41 53OTU 5-6-42

production page 002

would love to see details of this!