Battle of Britain Pilot's Blog - John Bisdee

14 July 1940, Plt. Off. John Bisdee
Battle of Britain Blog Entry

No diary entry - the Air Staff Operational Summary records:

Fighter engagements with the enemy were on a smaller scale due to a reduction of enemy activity near our Coasts. What activity there was, however, was almost entirely directed towards attacks on shipping. Bombs damaged convoys off DOVER and a naval unit was bombed off SWANAGE. No damage reported. A convoy off the NORFOLK Coast was also reconnoitred, and one raid approached the coast of MONTROSE. Patrols were maintained over convoys at periods during the day; one enemy aircraft in reporting the position of a convoy mentioned our Fighter escort, and no attack resulted.

13 July 1940, Plt. Off. John Bisdee
Battle of Britain Blog Entry

No diary entry - the Air Staff Operational Summary records:

During the day the enemy focussed his attention primarily on shipping and many bombs were dropped on convoys but no hits were reported. Major fighter engagements were as follows:-

1. Off PORTLAND at 1430 hours.
2. In the DOVER area at 1730 hours.
3. About 15 m. off CALAIS at 1800 hours.

12 July 1940, Plt. Off. John Bisdee
Battle of Britain Blog Entry

No diary entry - the Air Staff Operational Summary records:

The chief features of the day's operations were attacks on shipping and one raid on ABERDEEN. The main shipping raid consisted of 2 formations of 12+ and 6+ aircraft which attacked a convoy off the NORFOLK-SUFFOLK Coast in the morning.

Five fighter sections were despatched to intercept and these were further reinforced by one squadron. The ensuing action resulted in 6 enemy aircraft being shot down for certain and 2 more probable. One HURRICANE is missing and one crashed on landing.

A second, though less intensive raid, on shipping took place in the afternoon off the ISLE OF WIGHT. This was intercepted by one squadron and resulted in one enemy aircraft being shot down and 2 others probable.

Other actions along the coasts by fighters brought the total enemy casualties to 10 certain and 4 probable, the aircraft which bombed ABERDEEN being included.

One other HURRICANE was brought down in the sea, but the pilot is safe.

11 July 1940, Plt. Off. John Bisdee
Battle of Britain Blog Entry

No diary entry - the Air Staff Operational Summary records:

Between 0600 and 0900 hours a number of raids by single aircraft were carried out between YARMOUTH and FLAMBOROUGH HEAD and inland.

Bombs were dropped at several places including the R.E. Headquarters at MELBOURNE in DERBYSHIRE, and at BRIDLINGTON where a truck containing ammunition was blown up. Although weather conditions were not good, a DO.17 was intercepted by fighters and shot down off CROMER by No. 242 Squadron. One of our HURRICANES was shot down during the combat but the pilot is reported safe. In the South, attacks were reported on shipping off the ISLE OF WIGHT and at 0741 hours a raid of six aircraft appeared in the CHERBOURG area. Three sections of fighters were ordered to patrol POOLE and on the approach of the enemy were reinforced by a further Squadron. A fight ensued and 604 Squadron shot down a JU.87 confirmed and possibly an additional JU.87 unconfirmed.

Between 0900-1100 hours, there was little activity, probably due to the bad weather. Of four raids however, one, a DO.17, was intercepted by No. 601 Squadron and shot down off SELSEY BILL. Another raid bombed SWANSEA and carried out a shipping reconnaissance of MILFORD HAVEN.

After 1100 hours considerable activity started with an attack on PORTLAND and a convoy off the Coast, some fifty enemy aircraft taking part. These aircraft were plotted from CAP HAGUE and JERSEY. Five of our Squadrons intercepted and succeeded in shooting down 8 ME.110's for certain and 8 ME.110's and 1 JU.87 probable. In addition, one Hurricane which attacked one of our sections and which bore red and blue checked markings on the wings was shot down.

The A.A. at PORTLAND shot down three enemy aircraft, one HE.111, 1 JU.88 confirmed and one unidentified enemy aircraft unconfirmed. As a result of this engagement, an ME.110 landed near WEYMOUTH practically undamaged and the occupants arrested before they could destroy the aircraft.

In the afternoon several attacks on convoys off SUFFOLK were reported. Continuous fighter patrols were maintained over these convoys and no reports of damage have been received. One enemy aircraft carried out a reconnaissance over ALDERSHOT, UPPER HEYFORD and out over NORFOLK.

At 1744 hours, a raid of some fifty aircraft attacked PORTSMOUTH. Guided by accurate A.A. fire, two of our Squadrons intercepted th enemy and in the ensuing combat, No. 601 Squadron shot down 4 HE.111's and 1 ME.110 for cetain and 4 He.111's probable. No. 145 Squadron shot down 1 ME.110 and 3 HE.111's for certain and lost one Hurricane (pilot safe).

Bombs fell in PORTSMOUTH setting fire to the gas works and causing some casualties. Pilots report that during this engagement, enemy bombers threw out various objects some of which appeared to be metal turnings, plates and wire, in great quantity.

One raid was plotted North of GLASGOW at 1913 hours and was tracked East over the FIRTH OF FORTH and out to sea. This is considered significant in view of a raid which was plotted at about 2330 hours on the night 10/11th July going westwards over the same route with no trace of its return.

10 July 1940, Plt. Off. John Bisdee
Battle of Britain Blog Entry

No diary entry - the Air Staff Operational Summary records:

During the day the main enemy effort was concentrated in two attacks on shipping.

At approximately 1100 hours a convoy was attacked off MANSTON by 1 DORNIER escorted by 10 ME. 109's but in consequence of timely action by two of our fighter Squadrons, the enemy aircraft were driven off and they suffered losses of 1 ME. 109 confirmed and 4 ME.109's probable.

At 1325 hours a large force of about 120 enemy aircraft collected behind CALAIS and approached a convoy between DOVER and DUNGENESS. Fighter interception by 5 Squadrons resulted in 6 ME.110's, 1 ME. 109, 1 DO.17 and 1 DO. 215 being confirmed as having been shot down, and 2 ME.110's, 5 ME.109's and 4 DO.215's probable casualties.

Further enemy harassing raids took place along the West, South and East Coasts. This was especially heavy in the West. Towards the evening, owing probably to bad weather, activity decreased.