Battle of Britain - Day 7

Day 7 – July 16th 1940
July 16, 2010 in 54 Squadron, July 1940
Weather: mainly poor with fog extending from northern France across the Channel.

In a number of isolated encounters the Luftwaffe lost 5 aircraft while the RAF lost 2 fighters. The RAF flew 313 sorties.

It was on this day that Hitler issued his directive for the preparations for Sealion, the invasion of Britain. Thus ended the first week of the Battle. The RAF had performed reasonably well in combat against their adversary. Their pre-war tactics of flying in close formation and attacking according to a formula had soon to be abandoned. They had seen the loose German formations, in pairs with the leader flying slightly ahead of his wing man who flew slightly behind and above. This gave German pilots a serious advantage. The pair was called a rotte with two pairs being called the schwarm. The RAF was to adapt this formation into what they would call a “finger four”, in which the index finger would represent the leader. The German pilot, Werner Mölders, who had worked this formation out during his service in the Spanish Civil War, was to become the originator of the standard for air fighting, which lasted almost until the present day.

54 Squadron Operational Record Book, 16 July, 23:00 hours
For the first time during our stay at Rochford the majority of the squadron relaxed after release at a dance organised for the squadron by the doctors and nurses of the Southend General Hospital. This gesture was greatly appreciated and full advantage taken of it.