Quiet morning and afternoon.
Night: London, Coventry and Liverpool attacked.
Weather: Widespread fog in the south, clearing to rain later.
Main Activity:
With No. 12 Group now receiving the same indications of hostile activity as No. 11 Group, it must have been galling for the Duxford Wing to be grounded by a thick fog which closed all but Tangmere, Kenley and Biggin Hill and the airfields of No. 10 Group.
The morning was therefore quiet with the Luftwaffe content to despatch a few small fighter-bomber raids. At 2 p.m., however, a big formation began to form up over north-east France and three raids totalling thirty-six aircraft were plotted. The expected raid on London did not materialise, but a convoy off Dover and two in the Estuary were unsuccessfully attacked.
At 4 p.m. four small raids of about thirty-three machines were plotted flying high. Convoy ‘Fruit’ off Dover called for help and Uxbridge diverted two squadrons to cover it. Six other squadrons intercepted the main German formation and a dog-fight developed over Dungeness.
The Luftwaffe lost eleven aircraft—four in combat, the rest in operational accidents. Fighter Command lost six planes.
Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster
German Losses
Airmen: 28 | Aircraft: 12
British Losses
Airmen: 4 | Aircraft: 6
Hurricane R4074, No. 46 Squadron
Sgt. J.P. Morrison killed. Shot down in combat with enemy fighters over Dungeness.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/MorrisonJP.htm
Spitfire P7431, No. 74 Squadron
F/O P.C.B. St.John killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 109s.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/St.John.htm
Hurricane R4195, No. 257 Squadron
P/O N.B. Heywood killed. Hit by anti-aircraft fire whilst in combat with Bf 109s over Folkestone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Heywood.htm
Hurricane V6851, No. 257 Squadron
Sgt. R.H.B. Fraser killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 109s over Folkestone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Fraser.htm
Photo Descriptions:
- Sgt Stanley Andrew of No. 46 Squadron RAF watches ground staff inspecting the oxygen supply of Hurricane Mk I PO-H before a sortie from RAF Stapleford Tawney in October 1940. © IWM (HU 104479)
- Holland House Library, London, after a German air raid on 22 October 1940.