Friday, August 16
1 Squadron, Northolt
Hurricane P3173. Shot down over thorney Island. Crashed and burned out at Manor Farm, Chidam 1.05 PM.
Pilot Officer J.F.D. Elkington baled out injured and admitted to Hospital. Aircraft a write off.
Hurricane P2751. Set alight by return fire from He 111 over Surrey 5.50PM. returned to base.
Squadron Leader D.A. Pemberton unhurt. Aircraft repairable.
Hurricane P3653 Hit in glycol tank during attack on He111s. 5.30PM. Crash landed near Farnham.
Pilot Officer P.V.Boot unhurt. Aircraft damaged but repairable.
266 Squadron Hornchurch
Spitfire 6768 Shot down in Combat with Bf109s. Crashed and burned out at Eastry Court 12.35PM.
Squadron Leader R.L.Wilkinson killed. Aircraft a write off.
Spitfire N3240 failed to return from combat with Bf109s pursured over the channel 12.40PM. Crashed and
burned out in a suburb of Calais. Sub-Lieutenant H.L. Greenshields killed. Aircraft a write-off.
Spitfire X4030. Severly damaged in combat with Bf 109s over Canterbury 12.40PM.
Sergeant A.W. Eade unhurt. Aircraft damaged but repairable.
Spitfire N3095 Shot down in flames at Adisham during combat with Bf 109s 12.45 PM.
Pilot Officer N.G. bowen killed. Aircraft a writeoff.
Spitfire P9312. Set alight in Combat with Bf109s and abondoned over Canterbury 12.45PM.
Believed that which crashed near Wickhambreaux. Flight Lieutenant S.H. Bazley baled out with
burns and minor injuries. Aircraft a write off.
Spitfire K9864 Severly damaged in combat with Bf109s over Canterbury and force landed near Oare,
Faversham, 12.55PM. Pilot Officer S.F. Soden slightly wounded in the legs. Aircraft a write off.
These are the combat reports for Friday August 16, 1940 from only two RAF Squadrons.
On that date Fifteen RAF squadrons reported damaged or destroyed aircraft as well as killed, missing in action
wounded, unhurt or rescued Pilots. The total of aircraft damaged or lost 43. But most of all that is the total
of the RAF fighter pilots (43) who received damage, were wounded, were listed as missing, or died that day.
That my friends puts a face on the reality of the Battle of Britain.
Also remember that the Luftwaffe lost Pilots also. They had wives, children and girlfriends also.
If you are participating in the last frame of the Battle of Britain this Saturday don't forget to load in your cockpit what I've written above.
The reality of what happened. The men who flew the machines. And the Valor with which they served.
Hurricane P2686 Damaged in explosion of He111 shot down near Petworth 5.25PM. returned to base.
Pilot Officer G.E. goodman unhurt. Aircraft repairable.
Hurricane (no number) returned to base with two longerons severed in attack by BF110 over the South Downs
5.35PM. Pilot Officer N.P.W. Hancock unhurt. Aircraft repairable.
The list grows longer....day by day.
