Weather: fog and widespread rain causing poor visibility

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

  • Blenheim – 40
  • Spitfire – 234
  • Hurricane – 402
  • Defiant – 19
  • Gladiator – 7
  • Total – 702

Fog grounded most of 12 Group and some of 11 Group. That afternoon, a convoy off Dover was attacked unsuccessfully. Later small groups of Me109s, targeting another convoy, were plotted off the south coast. On being intercepted, dog-fights developed. As a result 11 enemy aircraft were destroyed while 6 RAF planes were lost. Despite the weather, the Luftwaffe succeeded in attacking London.
At night, Coventry was once again a major target with 200 people being made homeless. Bombs were also dropped on Windsor Great Park.

74 Squadron – Combat Report – 22 October
Patrol Maidstone at 15,000 feet in company with 92 Squadron. S/L Malan attacked the leading enemy aircraft in a fast dive and fixed bursts from 200 to 50 yds range. The enemy aircraft smoked heavily after the 2nd burst but carried on. S/L Malan continued to fire but had to break off momentarily to wipe ice off his windscreen. He then followed the enemy Me109 to the coast and saw the aircraft crash into the sea 5 miles out from the Hastings-Dungeness area.

73 Squadron Operational Record Book – 22 October
Thick fog until 1200 hours. Nothing was done in the morning except to walk Hon. Group Captain ‘Stefan’ across the aerodrome in the hope of setting up a hare. In this F/C Hoole and P/O McFadden were successful, but Hon. G C ‘Stefan’ having sighted the hare did not make any attempt to chase. In good time he will undoubtedly realise what his duties to the mess are. There was no flying throughout the day.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 22nd October 1940):

*  Enemy: 3 confirmed, 1 probable, 1 damaged
*  Own: 6 aircraft with 4 pilots killed or missing.