RAF reconnaisance patrols on this day were mainly tasked with trying to identify German battery locations that were shelling Dunkirk. Due to good weather conditions Luftwaffe activities were expected to be high on this day and although Dunkirk itself was left in the main alone the ships in the channel received a significant amount of attention. The RAF mounted eight fighter patrols on this day and flew from 5.10 am. to 8.10 pm. mainly protecting the area around Dunkirk and involved 289 sorties. No ships were lost on this day to enemy action although the minesweeper Devonia was beached on La Panne beach at 1600 hrs and abandoned at 1930 hrs in an effort to help the boat work on this beach. 264 Squadrons losses for this day are listed below. Despite their losses they accounted for four Bf109's and six He111's during the day. All info from ATB's The Battle of France and The Evacuation from Dunkirk.
Pilot Officer Guy Lewis Hickman CWGC :: Certificate Defiant L6968. Shot down in combat with Bf109's of III./JG26 off De Panne 2.40 pm. P/O G L Hickman and LAC A Fidler both believed baled out but killed. Aircraft lost.
Leading Aircraftman Alfred Fidler CWGC :: Certificate Defiant L6968. Shot down in combat with Bf109's of III./JG26 off De Panne 2.40 pm. P/O G L Hickman and LAC A Fidler both believed baled out but killed. Aircraft lost.
Defiant L6961 and Defiant L6980. Collided with each other during combat with Bf109's of III./JG26. L6961 crash-landed on beach near Dunkirk 2.40 pm. Pilot Officer D. Whitley and Leading Aircraftman Turner unhurt. Aircraft abandoned. L6980 disintegrated over Dunkirk 2.40 pm. Pilot Officer M H Young baled out unhurt. Sergeant S B Johnson missing. Aircraft a write-off. 747782 Sergeant Stanley Bernard Johnson CWGC :: Certificate
Shot down during attack on He 111's of KG27 off Dunkirk 7.35 pm. F/Lt N G Cooke and Cpl A Lippet missing. Aircraft lost. 37652 Flight Lieutenant Nicholas Gresham Cooke CWGC :: Certificate 348039 Corporal Albert Lippett DFM CWGC :: Certificate 348030 Acting Corporal Albert Lippett 264 Sqn. Immediate DFM Air Gunner. Air2/4095 This airman was rear gunner to Flt. Lt. Cook and by his good shooting and coolness, shared the credit for the 8 German aircraft shot down by that officer. LG 14.6.40
Damaged by return fire during attack on He111's of KG27 and ditched in the sea five miles off Dover 7.40 pm. Pilot Officer E G Barwell and Pilot Officer J E M Williams rescued by a destroyer. Aircraft lost.
Badly damaged by return fire during attack on He111's of KG27 over Dunkirk 7.40 pm. and crashed on landing at Manston. Pilot Officer R W Stokes unhurt. Leading Aircraftman Fairbrother baled out wounded. Aircraft damaged but repairable.
