Odd RAF report

This is an odd report from the Battle of Britain archives (11th July 1940):

After 1100 hours considerable activity started with an attack on Portland and a convoy off the coast, some fifty enemy aircraft taking part. These aircraft were plotted from Cap Hague and Jersey. Five of our squadrons intercepted and succeeded in shooting down 8 Me110s for certain and 8 Me110s and 1 Ju87 probable. In addition, one Hurricane which attacked one of our sections and which bore red and blue checked markings on the wings was shot down.

I wonder what was up with that Hurricane. Captured by the Germans and used against us?

Here's an interesting picture from the archive showing a few belts of ammunition which have been laid across the wing of an RAF aircraft (a Hurricane I believe).

Some of the casualty reports show just how low the British were on aircraft. For instance:

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft
as at 0900 hours, 29th October 1940

Blenheim - 40
Spitfire - 211
Hurricane - 403
Defiant - 13
Gladiator - 8
Total - 675

And the next day:

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft
as at 0900 hours, 30th October 1940

Blenheim - 39
Spitfire - 213
Hurricane - 391
Defiant - 11
Gladiator - 8
Total - 662

One day I'm going to have to graph out these figures showing their rise and fall for each day of the battle.

Posted by JohnJo at February 12, 2004 02:20 PM | TrackBack