The English Summer of 1940 continued to provide clear skies for the German raids on Saturday the 27th of October.
The Hurricane pilots of 151 Sqn were given their briefing that they had failed in their objective the previous week. Too many bombers reached their target and they needed to 'up their game' in the words of Dowding...
This week they would be joined by some reinforcements from 64 Sqn operating out of Biggin Hill. The Hurricanes were advised that after their first sortie they would be refueling and rearming from Hawkinge, the Spitfires would then be operating from Manston.
The Germans planned a heavy strike of the radar installations in the setting afternoon sun. Sites at Dover, Ash and Dunkirk (English Dunkirk not France) JU87's poured across the channel, with every serviceable Stuka being thrown at these three raids. This was followed by ME110's being sent to raid the Airfields of Biggin Hill and Kenley.
Fierce dogfights ensued over the Southern Coast with many of the ME110's being turned back from their raid and many lost and scattered across the English countryside. The JU87's also took a beating but most of them hit their objectives.
The RAF did well, shooting down many enemy aircraft however the Radar network was badly damaged.
As the RAF landed and rearmed and refuelled, the Germans snuck in a low level raid of JU88's into Manston from Denmark, causing the Spitfires to scramble and become engaged again. 151 Sqn was scrambled and told to climb to Angels 25 to patrol the Manston/Ramsgate area with supporting Spitfires.
5th Staffel of the Luftwaffe had landed from their first escort sortie of the JU87's to re-arm and immediately take off again to catch up with a large 54 aircraft
HE111 bomber raid heading to the King George Docks in London. These bombers left France at contrail height in the setting sun and 5th Staffel caught up with the five waves of bombers as they approached the Eastern coastline of England.It was not long before the RAF saw the incoming raid and began the first of many engagements as the bombers headed for London. Gravesend and North Weald had been put on standby for re-arm and refueling duties and running engagements occurred along the Thames at high altitude. Again the RAF took down roughly 10 bombers with others severely damaged and limping home.....
But the docks were hit and 5th Staffel did well protecting their bombers, even if some were a little worse for wear....
As the sun began to set, the last raids headed back to France and the RAF crews landed for some much needed rest and relaxation as they knew it would all be happening again at 6pm on November the 3rd.....
There is sure to be Fireworks!!!
BD
