So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

21st September 1940
WEATHER:
The day opened to scattered cloud although along the Estuary and the River Thames as far as London there was considerable haze. Once this cleared, most of the south was fine with scattered cloud but by midday cloud had started to build up. In the north there was cloud with sunny spells but it remained dry.
OPERATIONS:
Early morning dawned with cloudless skies as no sign of the enemy. It was to remain that way for most of the day. Radar picked up an occasional aircraft, but these were believed to be on reconnaissence flights as they kept clear of the English coast. This was to be one of the quietest days of the battle, with more action being seen behind the scenes than in the air.

The invasion of German troops on the island of great Britain was called "Cromwell" and all stations had been placed on standby as the possiblity was always there that an invasion was always a possiblity. But just as the Battle of Britain in the air seemed to be slowing down, so was the possiblity of any German invasion for at least this year. Now, almost into the month of October, the days would be becoming shorter, the weather would soon deteriorate with the waters of the Channel becoming rougher and the signs from the German held Channel ports indicated that Bomber Command had all but destroyed any hope of the German infantry using the ports as a dispersal point for the Channel crossing.

No hint of relaxation of alertness against the threat of invasion was allowed to percolate through to the armed forces, nor the civilian population. It was premature for that. But the view of the War Cabinet and of the most senior officers in all the Services was that with the days shortening, the weather deteriorating and the equinox approaching, it would now be most foolhardy of Hitler to attempt a crossing in 1940.
On 21st September ‘Cromwell’ was cancelled and Alert No. 2 reinstated. Anthony Eden, while relaxing one morning at Elham, was therefore all the more surprised to hear from Churchill by telephone on 22nd September that he had just received a call from the American President that, for sure, the Germans would invade that very day. Eden took a walk to the Dover cliffs. He peered down through the fog and noted an exceedingly choppy sea. He then returned home and telephoned Churchill. An invasion, he said, seemed highly unlikely, and in any case they would all be sea-sick by the time they arrived by barge.

The next day Roosevelt telephoned again, this time to apologise. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said. ‘The codes got mixed. It was Indo-China, not England, and Japan, not Germany.’ And that, indeed, was the case.

Hough and Richards Battle of Britain A Jubliee History Hodder & Stoughton 1989 p294
But if one was to get the impression that tensions were easing, what with a day of very little combat action and "Cromwell" being cancelled. Fighter Command was in fact strengthening its commitment to battle with the introduction of 421 Flight.
One of the problems that Fighter Command encountered was the fact that when radar picked up approaching enemy aircraft and formations, it was not known as to what type of aircraft they were until clarified by spotters or the Observer Corps. With the approach of German bombers, Keith Park had just enough time to scramble his fighters, get to the correct height to attack and intercept the enemy as it crossed the coast. But with this new tactic of sending formations of Bf109s, often in Geschwader force, there was not enough time to scramble the fighters and meet them as they crossed the coast. As experienced over the last few days and on those occasions that Bf109 formations made their intended attacks on British targets, they generally would be well over the coastline and much closer to London before they were intercepted by British fighters.

It was on this day that Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding was to authorise the formation of a new unit that was to become known as 421 Flight. This was instigated in colaboration with Keith park because it was now felt that with Bf109 formations that could cross the Channel quicker than the bombers that they once escorted, their would be no chance of British fighters intercepting them in time once they had been positively identified.

The task of 421 Flight that was equipped with Hurricanes, was to fly in small formations on reconnaissence missions over the Channel to report on any build up and composition of these formations prior to them reaching the English coastline. This way, as well as the detection being made on radar stations along the coast of their location, 421 Flight would be vectored into a position where they could provide details back to their sector station of type and strength of the enemy much earlier than if it was left to the Observer Corps alone. Initially, the flight was formed at Gravesend in mid October and on October 31st was posted to West Malling and before the end of 1940 they had been moved to Hawkinge.

The formation of 421 Flight (which was later to become 91 Squadron) was naturally too late for the Battle of Britain. Some authorities say that such a squadron should have been formed earlier so as to provide early indications of strength and composition of the enemy. But again, this would have been another of the many debatable points that arose during the Battle of Britain.

In general, this was an exceptionally quiet day. Small nuisance raids by small formations of enemy aircraft had attacked both Kenley and Biggin Hill aerodromes but these were thwarted by fighters from Kenley, Biggin Hill and Croydon. 238 Squadron had accounted for one destroyed while the Spitfires of 602 and 611 Squadrons accounted for one each destroyed. One of the Do17s damaged by 802 Squadron managed to get back to the French coast, but was to crash land at Landerneau killing all on board.

The usual night raids continued on London and Liverpool which was now becoming a regular occurence. Although the East End of London still came under constant bombardment, other targets in and around London were now being hit. Spasmodic raids around Tynemouth and County Durham also occurred but records indicate that no casualties were recorded.


Page 48: September 21st 1940

 

22nd September 1940

No Fatal Fighter Command Losses

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Spitfire
4 Hurricanes

0 in Combat - 5 Bombing/MF/Bad Weather

I/LG1
Ju 88A-1 (3121). Crashed and burned out at Orleans-Bricy on take off on operational sortie. Crew of four NCOs all killed. Aircraft L1+JK a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

2 He 115
1 Me 110
1 Ju 87
2 Ju 88
2 Me 109
2 Do 17
1 He 111

 

23rd September 1940
74 Sqd, Coltishall
Spitfire II P7362. Abandoned aircraft during routine patrol one and half miles south east of Southwold 11.30am. Cause unknown. Sgt D.H. Ayers baled out but lost. (Body recovered 4/10/40) Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

6 Spitfires
6 Hurricanes

8 in Combat - 4 MF/Unknown

3/JG54
Me 109E-4 (1516). Shot down during combat with fighters and crashed at Barham, Kent 10.20am. Oberfw Knippscheer killed. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

2 He 59
13 Me 109
2 He 111
4 Ju 88

 

24th September 1940

19 Sqd, Biggin Hill
Spitfire X4037. Shot down by 109s 9.00am. Crashed and burned out near North Weald. P/O J.S. Bryson killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

7 Spitfires
7 Hurricanes

9 in Combat - 5 Accident/Lack of Fuel/Collision

III/ZG76
Me 110C-4 (3534). Crashed in the Channel off Southampton due to flak damage. Uffz Helwig and Uffz Mirow both missing. Aircraft 2N+DN lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Hs 126
5 Me 110
3 Me 109
8 Ju 88
1 Ju 87
3 Do 17
2 He 111

 

26th September 1940

152 Sqd, Warmwell
Spitfire K9882.
Shot down by Me 109s in combat over the Channel off Swanage 4.50pm. Crashed into the sea. Sgt J.M. Christie picked up dead. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

5 Spitfires
12 Hurricanes

17 in Combat

4(F)/14
Me 110C-5 (2187). Shot down by fighter during reconnaissance mission over the Channel. Crashed in the sea at Salt Mead Ledge, west of Cowes, Isle of Wight 5.40pm. Lt Pank and Uffz Schmitt killed. Aircraft 5F+CM lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Ju 52
6 He 111
1 Do 18
3 Me 110
2 Do 17
2 Me 109
1 Ju 88

 

27th September 1940

303 Sqd, Northolt
Hurricane V7246.
Shot down in flames in combat over the Horsham area. Crashed at Holywych Farm, Cowden 9.35am. Sgt T Andruszkow killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

31 Hurricanes
28 Spitfires

55 in Combat - 4 Unknown/AA

8/JG54
Me 109E (1538). Severely damaged in fighter combat over North Kent. Hit fence trying to land, Somersaulted over main road and crashed in flames near Brenley House, Boughton, east of Faversham 12.05pm. Oblt Schon killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

19 Ju 88
20 Me 110
24 Me 109
1 Do 17
3 He 111
2 Fiat Br 20 (Corpo Aereo Italiano)

 

27 September 1940

83 Squadron
Hampden P4392 'P'

The Hampden took off from Scampton and when returning from a sortie to Lorient became lost. The aircraft was abandoned by the crew over Lincolnshire. Of the crew of four P/O. D D. Snooke was lost when his parachute failed to deploy. The aircraft went on to crash on St.Matthias Church. Lincoln.

CWGC - Casualty Details

 

1st October 1940

RAF Loss/Damage Figures For September 1940
Figures from 1st - 30th

RAF Lost/Damaged for August 565 in Combat - 109 in Miscellaneous

The days with the biggest losses/damaged to combat were the 7th with 51, 15th with 54 and the 27th with 55.



607 Sqd, Tangmere
Hurricane V6686.
Shot down during combat with Me 110s over the Isle of Wight 10.50am. Sgt N. Brumby killed. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

6 Hurricanes
1 Blenheim
2 Spitfires

5 in Combat - 4 Unknown/MF/Lack of Fuel

1/ZG26
Me 110D (4212). Shot down into the Channel during combat with fighters off Swanage. Lt Scharnhost and one NCO both killed. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Ar 196
4 Ju 88
2 He 111
2 Me 109
1 Me 110
1 Do 17

 

2nd October 1940

No Fatal Fighter Command Losses

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

3 Hurricanes
1 Blenheims
3 Spitfires

1 in Combat - 6 Lack of Fuel/Ground Collision

Seenotflugkdo. 4
He 59 (1510). Forced landed on sea in known minefield area during operational sortie. Cause unknown. Crew took to dinghy which triggered a mine. Lt Barbinger killed. Oberfw Niess, Fw Horr and Gefr Brandt missing. Aircraft NO+FU lost.

1 He 59
2 He 115
1 Hs 126
4 Me 109
4 Do 17
2 Ju 88
4 He 111
2 Me 110

 

2nd October 1940

17 Squadron Operational Record Book – 2 October
The Squadron took off from Debden at 08:40 hours, joining 73 Squadron over base, and patrolled Hornchurch. While returning after 90 minutes patrol the Squadron was vectored to intercept a Do17. 4 a/c returned to base short of fuel and the remainder chased and attacked the Do17. Yellow Section after making an attack landed at Martlesham to re-arm and re-fuel, later returning to Debden. Flt Lt Bayne attacked, but had to return to base owing to lack of fuel. FO Blatchford and PO Fajtl (Czech) continued the attack, and force-landed in fields near Pulham Aerodrome, returning by transport later. PO Ross force landed in a field after seeing the Do crash nearby. He inspected the crash and saw the crew taken prisoner, after which he managed to take off and return to Debden having been refuelled from Martlesham.
Day 85– 2nd October 1940 « Battle of Britain Day by Day

 

3rd October 1940
600 Sqd, Redhill
Blenheim L4905. Suffered engine failure during routine patrol in heavy rain. Crashed into trees on high ground at Broadstone Warren, Forest Row 3.55am. P/O C.A. Hobson, Sgt D.E. Hughes, AC2 C.F. Cooper killed. Aircraft BQ-M a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

3 Blenheims

1 in Combat - 2 MF

Kuestenflieger Gruppe 606
Do 17Z (3491). Believed brought down by AA fire during mission over England at night. Crashed in sea off Cornwall. Lt Zur See Schmitt and Obgefr Dofschmidt both killed. Fw Wilm and Uffz Seidenstahl missing. Aircraft 7T+EL a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

5 Do 17
5 Ju 88
3 He 111

 

4th October 1940
66 Sqd, Gravesend
Spitfire X4320.
Missing following interception of He 111 of east coast 4.00pm. Crashed into the sea. Flt Lt K. McL. Gillies killed (washed ashore at Covehithe 21/10.40). Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

3 Hurricanes
2 Spitfires

1 in Combat - 4 Due to Adverse Weather

II/LG1
Ju 88A-1 (6116). Shot down by fighters over the Channel off Dungeness. Crashed in the sea. Gefr Jahn and Gefr Schoeffmann both killed. Uffz Kross and Uffz Kirchbaur missing. Aircraft L1+EP lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 He 59
8 Do 17
1 Me 109
3 He 111
9 Ju 88

 

5th October 1940
72 Sqd, Biggin Hill
Spitfire K9989.
Mid-air collision shortly after take off. Crashed and burned out 9.50am. P/O N. Sutton killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

10 Spitfires
7 Hurricanes
1 Magister

13 in Combat - 5 MF/Collision/Out of Fuel

II/LG1
Ju 88A-1 (4134). Shot down in combat with RAF fighters during sortie over the Channel. Lt Hoffman, Gefr Neuenberg, Gefr Steiner and Uffz Worbanger all killed. Aircraft L1+JN a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Hs 126
4 Me 110
12 Me 109
2 He 111
2 Do 17
4 Ju 88

 

7th October 1940
603 Sqd, Hornchurch
Spitfire N3109.
Shot down in combat with Me 109s of II/JG26 crashed Hurst Farm, Godmersham Park 10.45am. F/O H.K.F. Matthews killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

13 Hurricanes
12 Spitfires
1 Defiant

21 in Combat - 5 Collision/Unknown

II/ZG26
Me 110D-2 (3416). Shot down by RAF fighters in action over Yeovil 4.20pm. Oberfw Stahl and Uffz Mauer missing. Aircraft 3U+HN a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Ju 52
1 Ar 196
1 Hs 126
2 Do 17
12 Me 109
1 He 111
1 Ju 88
8 Me 110

 

8th October 1940
264 Sqd, Luton
Defiant N1627.
Crashed at Marlow exact cause unknown. Reputedly result of enemy action. P/O H.I. Goodall, Sgt R.B.M. Young killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

3 Hurricanes
1 Defiant
1 Blenheim
8 Spitfire

4 in Combat - 9 Collision/Unknown/MF/Accident

Seenotflugkdo. 2
He 59 (0534). Shot down by 235 Sqd Blenheims engaged over the Channel off Cherbourg 8.00am. Crashed in the sea. Lt zur See Stelzner, Uffz Hirschmann, Uffz Fisher and Uffz Wischer all missing. Aircraft TW+HH lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

2 He 59
1 Fw 200
1 Do 17
2 Ju 87
9 Ju 88
1 Me 110
8 Me 109
7 He 111

 

9th October 1940
92 Sqd, Biggin Hill
Spitfire X4597.
Shot down believed by 109s and crashed at The Ridgeway, Smeeth, Ashford 12.50pm. Sgt E.T.G Frith baled out badly burned admitted to Willesborough Hospital (died 17/10/40). Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

3 Spitfires
1 Blenheim
1 Hurricane

4 in Combat - 1 Unknown

9/JG54
Me 109E-4 (1573). Shot down in combat with enemy fighters over the Channel and crashed in the sea. Lt Eberle killed. Aircraft lost

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Fi 156
1 Do 17
6 Ju 88
7 Me 109
1 Ju 87
5 He 111
2 Me 110

 

10th October 1940
312 Sqd, Speke
Hurricane L1547.
Caught fire during routine patrol, cause unknown. Crashed into mud of River Mersey. Sgt O. Hanzlicek baled out into river at Oglett and killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

5 Hurricanes
5 Spitfires

5 in Combat - 5 Unknown/Collision

1/KG2
Do 17Z (3442). Returned to base damaged following combat with RAF fighters over the Channel. Lt Dilcher killed. Aircraft U5+CH 10% damaged.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

4 Do 17
1 Ju 52
8 Me 109
2 Ju 87
6 Ju 88
2 He 111

 

11th October 1940
41 Sqd, Hornchurch
Spitfire X4042.
Mid-air collision during battle climb to engage 109s. Crashed near Crooked Billet Ash 4.24pm. F/O D.H. O'Neill baled out but parachute failed to open. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

11 Spitfires
6 Hurricanes

9 in Combat - 8 Unknown/Collision/Pilot Error

2/Kuestenflieger Gruppe 606
Do 17Z-3 (3475). Crashed in the Irish Sea, cause unknown, during mission to bomb Crewe. Lt zur See Felber, Oblt Richer and Gefr Hoppmann killed. Uffz Weber missing. Aircraft 7T+EK a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Ju W34Hi
1 Do 18
4 Do 17
2 Hs 126
2 Ju 88
5 Me 109
2 He 111

 

12th October 1940
Oct 12th.

Kenley and Biggin Hill raided yet again, with day losses of German 11, British 10.

Piccadilly Circus was bombed, but the most significant event of the day went unknown in the UK: that Hiltler put off any possibility of invading until 1941 in the Springtime.
But this did not mean a real respite for either side.

Excerpt from The Battle of Britain, by John Frayn Turner.

Regards
Tom

 

13th October 1940
See:
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/37121-so-began-their-finest-hour-33.html#post441779
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/37121-so-began-their-finest-hour-33.html#post441780
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/37121-so-began-their-finest-hour-33.html#post441781

Blenheim L6637 shot down in error by 312 Sqd.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

2 Hurricanes
3 Spitfires
3 Blenheims

4 in Combat - 4 Friendly Fire/Accident

No Fatal Luftwaffe Casualties

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

4 Me 109
1 Ju W34Hi
3 Ju 88
3 He 111
1 Me 110