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19.10.40 A Convoy was patrolled for ninety minutes, but apart from this there was no operational flying. “AGENT”, 25 miles East of BRADWELL was covered by “A” Flight, whilst “B” Flight were over “ARENA”, 10 miles East of SHOEBURYNESS. 20.10.40 The Wing was engaged in a patrol on the NORTH WEALD patrol line at 25,000 ft. No. 46 Squadron were leading, and No. 257 Squadron were in the rear. No enemy aircraft were encountered and after ninety minutes the Wing was ordered to land. 21/10/40 There was no flying. P/O F. SURMA, the Polish pilot posted to the Squadron on the 18th was posted away to No. 257 Squadron. 22.10.40 In company with No. 257 Squadron, the Squadron patrolled in the vicinity of HORNCHURCH at 10,000 ft. No enemy aircraft. 23.10.40 A single aircraft flew on air test for fifteen minutes, but apart from this there was no flying. 24.10.40 Flying above 10/10 clouds, extending from 5,000 ft to 7,000 ft and thickening towards France, the Wing patrolled the MAIDSTONE line at 15,000 ft. In the South of the area there were some very thin cirrus at 25,000 ft. No enemy aircraft were sighted. 25.10.40 Patrols were carried out throughout the day. On the first of these, Blue Leader, at approximately 09.25 flying due South in the vicinity of MAIDSTONE sighted 20 Me 109’s on his starboard flying at 25,000 ft. He was then flying at 24,000 ft. He went in to intercept but was unable to contact the enemy. Later he saw another group of approximately 40 Me 109’s approaching from a Northerly direction, but flying too high to intercept. P/O PATTULLO, flying guard to the Squadron at 27,000 ft. made a beam ahead attack on these latter enemy aircraft and damaged one Me 109, pieces of the wing and fuselage being observed to fall off. On a further patrol in which the Squadron was engaged, P/O PATTULLO, again flying guard, failed to return. He struck a house near ROMFORD and was taken to Oldchurch Hospital, ROMFORD, where he died. P/O BROWN was posted to 46 Squadron from LOUGHBOROUGH, as adjutant.26.10.40 Two routine patrols were made in conjunction with No. 17 Squadron, the morning patrol being on the MAIDSTONE line at 15,000 ft., and the afternoon patrol on the ROCHFORD line at 20,000 ft. 27.10.40 09.30 Again patrolling with No. 17 Squadron the Wing climbed to 15,000 ft. over NORTH WEALD and then patrolled MAIDSTONE. At approximately 10.05 hours, flying at 16,000 ft. over 10/10 cloud at 3,000 ft., the Wing vectored 150 to look out for a lone bandit, and saw a Do 17 some 5,000 ft. below flying due South, but before they could intercept the enemy aircraft disappeared into cloud. P/O YOUNG of “B” Flight, states that he saw two He 113’s at 10.30 hours flying due East, camouflaged pale blue on top with what appeared to be white crosses on the wings. He fired at long range, but without effect. The Squadron returned to base via HATFIELD. Three further patrols were carried out during the day, but no enemy aircraft were encountered. The two latter patrols were of a protective nature since the weather was very clear and afforded the enemy an excellent opportunity of flying rapidly over the coast. 28.10.40 Patrols were carried out over the THAMES Estuary and over COLCHESTER, NORTH WEALD and HORNCHURCH. There was nothing of any incident to report. 29.10.40 Whilst on patrol with No. 257 Squadron in the vicinity of MAIDSTONE a number of Me 109’s were sighted flying at 26,000 ft. and 5,000 ft. above the Squadron. Five Me 109’s attacked the Squadron, the remainder forming a defensive circle, and in the ensuing dog fight one Me 109 was destroyed by F/LT RABAGLIATI, and a probable was obtained by P/O REID. SGT BLACK was badly wounded in the leg and received facial burns, his Hurricane was completely destroyed when it crashed near ASHFORD. 30.10.40 Four patrols were carried out by the Squadron over Kent and Essex above 10/10 cloud at 4,500 ft., but no enemy aircraft were seen. SGT. N.M. WALKER reported to the Squadron for flying duties. 31.10.40 Two aircraft were engaged in a protective patrol at 25,000 ft. over BURNHAM for an hour. No other patrols were carried out. F/LT. L.M. GAUNCE, D.F.C., was posted to the Squadron for flying duties and to command.
The formal end of The Battle of Britain |