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 Weather: cloud and widespread drizzle

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

• Blenheim – 40
• Spitfire – 227
• Hurricane – 399
• Defiant – 10
• Gladiator – 8
• Total – 684

It seemed that the weather was putting an end to the battle by day. This was in fact, officially, the last day of the Battle of Britain. The effort put in by the enemy that day seemed half-hearted. However, October as whole was far from representing a gradual decline in enemy activity. On the contrary, it had put RAF fighters to perhaps the sternest test of the whole encounter. The switch by the Luftwaffe to attacks by fighters and fighter bombers and its abandonment of the twin-engined bomber as its main weapon increased the odds against the RAF. Furthermore, the tactic of sending many of the attacks at what was in those days extreme altitude put a serious extra strain on RAF pilots. All this had resulted in many more fighter-to-fighter combats. The physical strain on pilots of this new form of combat was beginning to tell on RAF capacity to hold their own. The Battle had also taken its toll on the civilian population with the total casualties from the bombing in October being 6,334 civilians killed and 8,695 seriously injured.

However, the RAF kept up its ability to absorb the lessons of every new tactic employed by the Luftwaffe. Whatever the Luftwaffe threw at them, RAF pilots always rose to the challenge. They were doing so on the last day of the Battle as they had done on the first day on July 10th.

73 Squadron Operational Record Book -31 October
Weather terrible – impossible to do any flying, everyone getting ‘brassed off’ with the mud and general bad conditions.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 31st October 1940):

*  Enemy: 0 confirmed, 0 probable, 0 damaged
*  Own: Nil.

Today’s theme: The Final Story – Thank you, but no thank you 

Weather: heavy cloud

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

• Blenheim – 47
• Spitfire – 225
• Hurricane – 412
• Defiant – 26
• Gladiator – 8
• Total – 718

The weather conditions hampered Fighter Command which only flew 90 sorties. Fighter Command lost 6 aircraft against a German figure for the day of 4 destroyed.

That night, substantial damage was done in the bombing of London. The National Gallery was hit. Scotland was also targeted, with £20,000 worth of damage being inflicted on a saw mill in Stirlingshire. Glasgow was also hit.

73 Squadron Operational Record Book – 23 October
There was operational flying during the day. The most important news to-day is that 73 Squadron is to become a night fighter Squadron immediately. There is no doubt that every pilot is disappointed and dislikes the prospect of night flying, but the CO has given each pilot the opportunity of being posted away.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 23rd October 1940):

*  Enemy: 0 confirmed, 0 probable, 1 damaged
*  Own: Nil.

Today’s theme:  Top Gun Gallery – Werner Mölders

Weather: fog and widespread rain causing poor visibility

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

• Blenheim – 40
• Spitfire – 234
• Hurricane – 402
• Defiant – 19
• Gladiator – 7
• Total – 702

Fog grounded most of 12 Group and some of 11 Group. That afternoon, a convoy off Dover was attacked unsuccessfully. Later small groups of Me109s, targeting another convoy, were plotted off the south coast. On being intercepted, dog-fights developed. As a result 11 enemy aircraft were destroyed while 6 RAF planes were lost. Despite the weather, the Luftwaffe succeeded in attacking London.
At night, Coventry was once again a major target with 200 people being made homeless. Bombs were also dropped on Windsor Great Park.

74 Squadron – Combat Report – 22 October
Patrol Maidstone at 15,000 feet in company with 92 Squadron. S/L Malan attacked the leading enemy aircraft in a fast dive and fixed bursts from 200 to 50 yds range. The enemy aircraft smoked heavily after the 2nd burst but carried on. S/L Malan continued to fire but had to break off momentarily to wipe ice off his windscreen. He then followed the enemy Me109 to the coast and saw the aircraft crash into the sea 5 miles out from the Hastings-Dungeness area.

73 Squadron Operational Record Book – 22 October
Thick fog until 1200 hours. Nothing was done in the morning except to walk Hon. Group Captain ‘Stefan’ across the aerodrome in the hope of setting up a hare. In this F/C Hoole and P/O McFadden were successful, but Hon. G C ‘Stefan’ having sighted the hare did not make any attempt to chase. In good time he will undoubtedly realise what his duties to the mess are. There was no flying throughout the day.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 22nd October 1940):

*  Enemy: 3 confirmed, 1 probable, 1 damaged
*  Own: 6 aircraft with 4 pilots killed or missing.

Weather: cloudy with fog and rain

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

• Blenheim – 32
• Spitfire – 227
• Hurricane – 410
• Defiant – 13
• Gladiator – 7
• Total – 689

There were sporadic raids by single or small groups of Me109s over much of the southern counties and the Midlands, with some reaching as far north as Lancashire and Liverpool. Interception was difficult on account of the weather. The RAF flew 275 sorties but lost no aircraft, yet shooting down 6 enemy planes. One of these was a Ju88 which had tried to disguise itself as a Blenheim. The ruse did not work and the enemy aircraft was shot down on its way back to the coast.

At night Coventry suffered heavy raids, considerable damage being done to the Armstrong-Siddeley works. There were also raids over London, Birmingham and Liverpool.

245 Squadron Operational Record Book – 21 October
One operational flight called for at 14:20 by 1 section. Dog fighting. Formation and attack exercises carried on throughout the day. 1 section took off at 12.05 for Sydenham to meet and escort the aircraft conveying HRH the Duke of Kent, who visited Aldegrove station in the course of his Ulster tour of inspection. After lunch and an inspection of the station, a section of Hurricanes escorted HRH back to Sydenham. Hurricane P3657 piloted by Sgt E G Greenwood did not return from battle climb. News later received from the police at Toombridge that the a/c was observed to dive into Lough Neagh at high speed, exploding on impact.

73 Squadron Operational Record Book – 21 October
There was too much mist and the weather altogether too bad for the Squadron to operate as a unit, but twice during the day a pair of Hurricanes were despatched to intercept single raiders. S/L Murray and F/L Smith patrolled over the SE coast in the morning and F/L Smith and Sergt. Price were ordered in the afternoon to patrol base at 9000 feet. No e/a was seen but a Wellington which did not appear to have the proper markings was challenged but it soon proved itself as friendly. ‘Stefan’ has arrived this afternoon and been accorded the Honorary Rank of Group Captain. ‘Stefan’ is a Borzie presented to the Squadron as a mascot by friends in Cambridge.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 21st October 1940):

*  Enemy: 2 confirmed, 0 probable, 3 damaged
*  Own: Nil.

Weather: rain in the Channel; visibility poor over the mainland

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

• Blenheim – 31
• Spitfire – 226
• Hurricane – 403
• Defiant – 12
• Gladiator – 8
• Total – 680

The poor weather led to sporadic attacks by single aircraft or by small groups of enemy planes. Many coming over the coast of East Anglia from bases in Holland and Belgium. Some bombs were dropped in and around North Weald. Interception by RAF fighters was virtually impossible as a result of poor visibility. The RAF flew 173 sorties and lost no aircraft, but the Luftwaffe suffered 9 aircraft destroyed.
Around 60 bombers attacked the south that night.

73 Squadron Operational Record Book – 3 October
Rained nearly all day and it early became apparent that flying would be almost impossible for this Squadron. At about mid-day the Squadron was released for the rest of the day. Despite the poor weather the pilots could hardly believe that the order had been given. Some went to London – some to Cambridge and some to Debden and Saffron Walden. There were very few inmates of the mess by 1800 hours.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 3rd October 1940):

* Enemy: 1 confirmed, 0 probable, 0 damaged
* Own: Nil.

Today’s Theme: The Planes they Flew- Fw 200 Condor