Isolated patrols and reconnaissance.
Night: Raids on London, Liverpool, the Midlands and Bristol.
Weather: Cloudy in Channel, mist in northern France clearing later.
Main Activity:
Swirling mists gave the Germans an easy morning but where possible they mounted some patrols. One bomber sent out was brought down over Kent.
At lunchtime it began to clear and by 2 p.m. fourteen Bf 109s had assembled over the Pas de Calais for a sweep on England. They steered for London unopposed but dropped no bombs. Later, a dog-fight over Beachy Head developed and two British fighters were shot down, bringing Fighter Command’s losses to five for the day. Two Germans failed to return home.
Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster
German Losses
Airmen: 4 | Aircraft: 6
British Losses
Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 2
Hurricane P3260, No. 3 Squadron
F/O G.F. McAvity died of injuries. Crashed attempting slow roll during AA co-operation exercise.
Spitfire R6922, No. 92 Squadron
Sgt. L.C. Allton killed. Crashed on Tuesnoad Farm, Smarden. Circumstances unknown.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Allton.htm
Photo Description:
- The fuselage of a Heinkel He 111 bomber, being transported by road to a scrap yard, October 1940. © IWM (HU 72439)