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605 Sqn 12.10.40

Fog again, but clearing up by mid-day. 615 Squadron landed here and did two patrols with us. During the escorted patrol, P/O/ Ingle and Sgt. Howes each shot down a Me 109 in the sea off Dungeness. Sgt. MacIntosh is missing from the patrol. P/O. Rothwell and P/O. Thompson posted to the Squadron from 32 Squadron.

Base Changes

3 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Castletown
111 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Dyce
600 Sqn(Blenheim IF/Beaufighter IF) moved to Catterick

First and Last Operational Missions

16 Sqn(Weston Zoyland) flew its first mission in the Lysander III

66 Sqn 13.10.40

Interception Patrols. Squadron engaged some ME.109’s and S/Ldr. Leigh damaged one. Sgt. Cameron, F/Lt. Oxspring, P.O. Cooke, P.O. Baker and P.O. Bodie each got a probable. P.O. Bodie was shot up but made a normal landing at base but was uninjured S/Ldr. Leigh also got some damage to his machine and forced down at Burnham, but he was uninjured. Sgt. Cook forced down at Hornchurch – plane wrecked pilot uninjured.

Base Changes

64 Sqn(Spitfire IA) moved to Biggin Hill
72 Sqn(Spitfire IA) moved to Coltishall
232 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Skitten

First and Last Operational Missions

300 Sqn(Swinderby) flew its last mission in the Battle I

605 Sqn 14.10.40

A grey day clouds coming down to ground level by 1300 hours. In the morning a He.111 came over the aerodrome at 1,500 ft. and dropped a bomb about ¼ mile away. Two sections of 2 aircraft sent up about 12.30 only one aircraft landing here, 2 landing at Gatwick and P/O. Hope losing his way flew into the I.A.Z. where he was shot down or ran into a cable at South Norwood. Apart from being the only 605 Squadron original auxiliary still in the Squadron his charming personality and sense of humour and stability will be much missed by the rest of the Squadron.

First and Last Operational Missions

214 Sqn(Catterick) flew its first mission in the Beaufighter IF

92 Sqn 15.10.40

0845 – 1015 Fighter Patrol eleven Spitfires. Rendezvous with 66 Sqn over Base, 66 to lead, then patrol Base at A.30. Gained height over London and ran into about 50 Me.109’s. Gave chase and came into range about half way between Dover and Cap Griz Nes and attacked. Sgt. Kingaby shot down 1 Me.109 and Sgt. Fokes 1 Me.109 and 1 He.111. Sgt. Parker missing.
1120 – 1330 Fighter Patrol nine Spitfires. Patrol Sevenoaks A.30 Vectored West when at A.27 and intercepted 50 plus Me.109’s at A.20. Sqdn attacked head on. Sgt. Fokes shot down one in flames and P/O. Holland got a Probable. P/O. Lund crashed in sea, but rescued by H.M.S.Nysan.

Base Changes

64 Sqn(Spitfire IA) moved to Coltishall
74 Sqn(Spitfire IIA) moved to Biggin Hill
141 Sqn(Defiant I) moved to Drem

First and Last Operational Missions

33 Sqn(Fuqa) flew its last OM in the Gladiator II
142 Sqn(Binbrook) flew its last OM in the Battle I
603 Sqn(Hornchurch) flew its last OM in the Spitfire IA

249 Sqn 16.10.40

Squadron patrolled HORNCHURCH at 15,000 feet. P/O. LOFTS and SGT. BOUQUILLARD left formation to attack a lone Dornier 215 at which they both fired. P/O. LOFTS force landed with a bullet hole in the oil system of his aircraft near <unreadable>. Claim one Dornier 215.

First and Last Operational Missions

301 Sqn(Swinderby) flew its last OM in the Battle I

66 Sqn 17.10.40

Interception Patrols. P.O. Reilly shot down nr Westerham and killed.
S/Ldr. A.S. Forbes D.F.C. Takes over Command of No. 66 Squadron.
Weather:- Much low cloud. Cloud clearing in the evening. Vis:- Poor becoming good. Wind:- S.W. less than 10 m.p.h.

First and Last Operational Missions

16 Sqn(Weston Zoyland) flew its last OM in the Lysander II
94 Sqn(Shoreham – Hurricane I) flew its first mission of the war
603 Sqn(Hornchurch) flew its first OM in the Spitfire IIA

66 Sqn 18.10.40

No operational flying. S/Ldr. Leigh proceeds on leave prior to posting to No. 13 Grp. for Admin. Duties. Information was received that P.O. Cooke had been promoted to A/Flt. w.e.f. 5.10.40. Weather:- 10/10 cloud below 500 ft. Drizzle and rain p.m. Vis:- poor throughout being 500 yds. mostly. Calm early, but a N.E. Breeze at 5-10 m.p.h. later in the day.

Base Changes

2 Sqn(Lysander II) moved to Sawbridgworth

66 Sqn 19.10.40

Interception Patrols, all recalled. Weather:- 10/10 cloud below 700ft. drizzle at times. Vis:- below 1,000 yds. Wind:- E. 5-15 m.p.h.

257 Sqn 20.10.40

During the afternoon 257 Squadron in company with 48 Squadron was sent up to intercept Raid 4. They sighted 30 Me 109’s which turned out to sea and the Squadrons were unable to catch them. Later in the afternoon 257 Squadron while on patrol sighted a number of Me 109’s going down the THAMES ESTUARY at 26,000 feet. As 257 Squadron was below them they were unable to catch the enemy aircraft.

257 Sqn 21.10.40

The Squadron carried out a patrol a 14.15 hrs. but did not sight any enemy aircraft. There was another scramble at 15.32 hrs. the Squadron was ordered to land at 16.46 without seeing any enemy aircraft. The Squadron was released at 17.15 hrs.

257 Sqn 22.10.40

The first scramble of the day took place at 15.45 hrs. The Squadron took off to rendezvous 46 Squadron over STAPLEFORD. While in the FOLKESTONE area they saw 7 twin engine enemy aircraft simultaneously about 12 Me 109’s appeared and attacked the Squadron from behind and above. A dog fight took place resulting in the following casualties:

Enemy Casualties: 1 Me 109 probably destroyed over DUNGENESS
1 Me 109 destroyed by P/O Coke (This aircraft crashed at R.5343)

Our Casualties: P/O Heywood killed
Sgt. Fraser killed

P/O Heywood is believed to have been killed by one of our own Bofors guns. Sgt. Nutters machine was slightly damaged and he landed at GATWICK.

257 Sqn 23.10.40

Shortly before 16.00 hrs. 257 Squadron in company with 46 Squadron took off and patrolled MAIDSTONE at 15,000 ft. and later up to 25,000 and 30,000 feet to sweep HAWKINGE – DEAL – CANTERBURY. The sweep down sun was successful in breaking up a formation of Me 109’s before it had penetrated a few miles inland.

Base Changes

85 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Kirton-in-Lindsay

257 Sqn 24.10.40

The Squadron did a test flight for the Observer Corps at 11.37 hrs. They patrolled MAIDSTONE at 13.55 hrs. and later landed having seen no enemy aircraft. The Squadron was released at 16.19hrs.

Base Changes

232 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Drem

First and Last Operational Missions

41 Sqn(Hornchurch) flew its last mission in the Spitfire IA
268 Sqn(Bury St. Edmonds - Lysander II) flew its first mission of the war

501 Sqn 25.10.40

A.M. Weather. Poor ground visibility and low cloud. The Squadron was at readiness from dawn to 09.00 hours. One section took off at 08.02 hours to patrol Westborne. They attacked a J.U.88 but did no apparent damage before it escaped into the clouds. They landed at 09.15 hours. The Squadron took off again at 11.11 hours to patrol base and climbed to 25,000 feet. They sighted about 12 M.E.109’s flying in the opposite direction. Red 1 and Blue 2 attacked 1 M.E.109 which exploded in Mid-Air. Blue 3 also destroyed one M.E.109. They landed again at 13.00 hours.
P.M. The Squadron took off at 14.43 hours to Patrol Biggin Hill between Cranbrook and Tenterden then encountered a formation of M.E.109’s two of which were destroyed. Pilot Officer V.Goth was killed in this engagement after colliding with Pilot Officer Mackenzie who baled out successfully. This concluded the Squadrons flying for the day.

First and Last Operational Missions

41 Sqn(Hornchurch) flew its first mission in the Spitfire IIA
202 Sqn(Gibraltar) flew its first mission in the Swordfish I
604 Sqn(Middle Wallop) flew its first mission in the Beaufighter IF

605 Sqn 25.10.40

A beautiful still day, becoming foggy in the evening. Three patrols flown. During the second, the Squadron at 28,000 ft. dived upon 16 Me 109’s at 27,000 ft. near Mayfield. S/L. McKellar destroying one, P.O. Ingle probably destroyed one and S/L. McKellar, P/O. Foster, P/O. Hayter and Sgt. Wright each damaged one. F/O. Passy force landed near Rotherfield, having been shot in the prop, the machine was damaged but he was uninjured. At 15.30 the Squadron again went up and patrolled N.E. of Kent. Nothing was seen except by P/O. Hayter, who dived after 4 Me 109s. The Squadron did not follow owing to faulty R/T. He was shot down by one Me 109, but baled out and was uninjured.
P/O. Gascoyne posted to 32 Squadron as adjutant. P/O. Gauze and P/O. Tarkowski (Polish)posted to us and the two Czech Sergeants posted out. We are not letting the latter go just yet as the new pilots have only done about 30 hours in Hurricanes.
Telegram received from H.Q.F.C. stating that 605 Squadron has been selected as the first Hurricane Squadron to be reequipped with Hurricane II’s. Everyone is much delighted with this compliment.

Base Changes

242 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Duxford

First and Last Operational Missions

66 Sqn(West Malling) flew its last mission in the Spitfire IA

145 Sqn 27.10.40

Fine weather. The whole Squadron was ordered to patrol base at 15000 feet with No. 213 Squadron leading. The Squadron then proceeded from Base to Mayfield to Tenterden. They eventually climbed to 31000 feet at which height they continued to patrol. The Squadron landed at 1220 without having intercepted enemy aircraft. Flight Officer D.S.G. Honor made a forced landing near Halton in Hurricane P.4722 and Segt.-Pilot Sykes force landed near Amersham in Hurricane N.2494. Both force landings were due to a shortage of fuel and neither of the pilots were injured. At 1630 hours the whole Squadron of eleven aircraft again took-off to patrol East of the Isle of Wight. Pilot Officer J.H. Offenberg reported having shot down one M.E.109 (probable) about five miles South of Bembridge (Isle of Wight). Pilot Officer Jottard, who was fling with Pilot Officer Offenberg, failed to return and is believed to have been shot down into the sea by the M.E.109.
Segt.-Pilot J. Weber was shot down in the Solent and had to “bale-out” and was picked up and brought ashore by a Motor Torpedo Boat. He was flying Hurricane V.7592. Segt.-Pilot Haire was also shot down near Bembridge (Isle of Wight). He force landed in the water on the shore and waded out. Both pilots were uninjured.

First and Last Operational Missions

57 Sqn(Elgin) flew its last mission in the Blenheim IV
66 Sqn(West Malling) flew its first mission in the Spitfire IIA

257 Sqn 28.10.40

At 09.45 hrs. the Squadron was ordered on security patrol over MAIDSTONE, they encountered a formation of enemy aircraft. P/O SURMA (Polish) attacked an He 111, he lost the Squadron who had chased out the enemy formation but failed to catch them.
Enemy Casualties: 1 He 111 probable by P/O SURMA (Polish)
Our Casualties: Nil
A further patrolled was ordered at 15.40 hrs. with 249 Squadron over MAIDSTONE, when over the GRAVESEND area they saw 70 or 80 enemy aircraft an attack was made and a dogfight ensued.
Enemy Casualties: S/LDR SANFORD-TUCK D.F.C. 2 Me 109 probable's
SGT. HENSON 1 Me 109 damaged

First and Last Operational Missions

37 Sqn(Feltwell) flew its last mission in the Wellington IA
40 Sqn(Wyton) flew its last mission in the Blenheim IV

257 Sqn 29.10.40

The following patrols were ordered. MAIDSTONE 09.22 to 11.05 hrs. and Base 11.40 to 14.10 hrs. On both patrols no enemy aircraft was seen. At 16.40 hrs. the station was dive-bombed just as the Squadron was taking off. SGT. GIRDWOOD’s machine was struck by bomb blast and set on fire, he was burned to death. F/Lt. BLATCHFORD Acting Squadron Leader chased an Me 109 and received a burst of cannon fire which damaged his aircraft but he managed to land safely. P/O. SURMA heard an explosion at 3,000 ft. which filled his cockpit full of smoke. He baled out and landed in a tree near MATCHING and after informing Home Guards of his nationality he was taken down from the tree, given a couple of whiskies and driven back to camp. Apart from a black eye he was not injured.
Our Casualties: 2 Hurricanes written off.
SGT. GIRDWOOD killed.

Base Changes

21 Sqn(Blenheim IV) moved to Watton
264 Sqn(Defiant I) moved to Rochford

First and Last Operational Missions

15 Sqn(Wyton) flew its last mission in the Blenheim IV
29 Sqn(Wellingore) flew its last mission in the Hurricane I

257 Sqn 30.10.40

The Squadron patrolled Base at 11.37 hrs. and again at 16.01 hrs. No enemy aircraft were seen.

Base Changes

19 Sqn(Spitfire IIA) moved to Duxford
66 Sqn(Spitfire IA) moved to West Malling
72 Sqn(Spitfire IA) moved to Matlask

605 Sqn 31.10.40

Poured with rain all day. Nothing to report.

Base Changes

105 Sqn(Blenheim IV) moved to Swanton Morley

First and Last Operational Missions

218 Sqn(Oakington) flew its last mission in the Blenheim IV