Episode2.org

Weather: fine but cloudy later.

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

• Blenheim – 54
• Spitfire – 233
• Hurricane – 416
• Defiant – 18
• Gladiator – 6
• Total – 727

There was little activity until late afternoon when a massive force of over 200 aircraft built up over Cherbourg and then headed towards Weymouth and Warmwell nearby. The Scilly Isles and Croydon were also bombed by day. In the early evening in the east of the country a force of over 100 aircraft approached Dover. This force was attacked by 32 and 54 squadrons. The day’s tally was 16 RAF aircraft lost with 22 German aircraft shot down. At night Plymouth and Coventry were bombed.

However, an important development occurred that night. As a reprisal for the attack on London which had happened the previous day, 81 twin engine RAF bombers were heading for Berlin. This escalation was to have a profound effect on the outcome of the Battle.

54 Squadron Operational Record Book – 25 August
Al Deere awarded Bar to his DFC – the first member of the squadron to achieve this distinction. He has shot down 11 enemy machines, shared in the destruction of another 3 and probably destroyed another 3. Heartiest congratulations.

Squadron to date: 78 destroyed, 42 probable, 28 damaged.

PO DH Wissler Diary – 25 August
This was our hard day being at 15mins and readiness the day long. At about half past seven we had a hell of a scrap over Portland, in which about 100 a/e were engaged. F/L Bayne made an attack below and astern quarter. The Me110 whipped up in a stall turn and I gave him a long burst while he was in a stalled condition, it fell over and went down. I then went on my own and made a Me110 brake [sic] formation, I gave it another burst and it went down towards the sea. F/L Bayne shot down but ok. S/L Williams lost, wing shot off.

73 Squadron Unofficial War Diary – 25 August
During the early hours of the morning, Sgt Lang was shot down by our own AA guns while chasing a Hun. After a further attempt to reach the aerodrome he decided to bail out having come down to 4,000 feet with his aircraft on fire. Fortunately he landed safely in the middle of Beverley High Street when he was promptly arrested by the Home Guard. AA officers are not popular in the mess these days!

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 25th August 1940):

*  Enemy: 53 confirmed, 15 probable, 16 damaged
*  Own: 16 aircraft with 10 pilots killed or missing

Todays’s theme: Historical Documents – Captains & Commanders: Oberst Josef ‘Beppo’ Schmidt

Weather: rain in the north, scattered showers in the south.

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

• Blenheim – 53
• Spitfire – 240
• Hurricane – 396
• Defiant – 22
• Gladiator – 7
• Total – 718

The weather restricted activity this day. Nevertheless there were small raids on Oxford and Southwold. There was also reconnaissance over Hatfield and Northolt airfields.

Later bombs were dropped on oil installations on Pembroke Docks. In the afternoon there were small raids on Manston and Eastchurch. There were also raids on a convoy off East Anglia.

Due to the difficult weather, 11 Group Squadrons had limited success during their interceptions. The RAF flew 450 sorties and lost 2 aircraft but shot down 6 German aircraft. Amongst these latter was the first success by one of the Polish squadrons, 302(P), which shot down a Ju88.

54 Squadron Operational Record Book – 20 August
Score to date – 69 destroyed, 41 probable, 27 damaged.

PO DH Wissler Diary – 20 August
I took off from Debden at about 10.15 and flew to Tangmere. I navigated my way ok but being on the coast this wasn’t very hard. Tangmere is in a shocking state the buildings being in an awful shambles. Several 1000lb bombs having fallen. We were put to 30 mins at 1, and did nothing for the rest of the day. The dispersal hut is most cozy and puts outs at Debden to shame.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 20th August 1940):

*  Enemy: 7 confirmed, 4 probable, 5 damaged.
*  Own: 3 aircraft of which two pilots are safe.

Todays’s theme: Historical Documents – Obituary of Pilot Officer W.L.M. Fiske, The Times, August 20th 1940