Thursday the 23rd of July 1940

Event Date: Thursday the 23rd of July 1940
Sqn Name / Home-base: No. 19 Squadron / Duxford
Sqn Strength /Aircraft type: 3 Spitfire Mk.Ia
Area of Patrol: Manston - Dungeness Area
Enemy Contacts Location / Altitude: Channel and Dungeness Area / Angels 12
Enemy Type / Count: BF109E / Small Groups from 2+

Friendly Damage / Losses: 1 x Spitfire Mk. Ia damaged
Enemy Damage / Losses: Nil
Sqn Sortie Report:

Three Spitfires of 'A' Flight (Sqd Ldr. Dixon, Flt Lt. Conflict, Flt Lt. Speedy) patrolled the south east coast between Manston and Dungeness at angels 19, very limited RDF contacts were reported during this time, save for a raid building in the Boulogne / Le Touquet area, which was shadowed inland and tracked south west of Dungeness, but which then dispersed (possibly intercepted by No. 54 Squadron).

'A' Flight continued to patrol near Dungeness, and descended to angels 10 to search for a contact of 1+ approaching the coast from the south, reported at angels 6 - crossing over the coast they were then bounced from above by 2+ 109s and began to evade, despite this Sqd Ldr. Dixon took cannon damage to his port wing during the opening attack, and was forced to disengage low and return to base, Flt Lt. Conflict also reported damage and returned to base, meanwhile Flt Lt. Speedy managed to disengage and continue his patrol west towards the Isle of Wight, however no further contacts were encountered before he was forced to return to base due to bingo fuel.