10 September 1940

Ken Holland was up bright and early at 5.00 a.m. He was scrambled for an X raid, patrolled Warmwell at 10,000 feet but saw nothing. By this stage, Ken had laid claim to ‘his’ Spitfire, and regularly flew UM-W. He was not happy  when Sergeant John Christie ‘did a heavy landing in W and wrecked her. Was livid and am now planeless or, rather, a ‘mover abouter’”.

Bill Millington was preparing to check out of hospital and looked forward to returning to 79 Squadron. Des Sheen was also still in hospital and to help while away the hours started a letter to his family. ‘I am full of very tiny pieces of shrapnel which of course can’t be got out but that’s all except for a little stiffness here and there’. He was impressed by the attitude of the British, after all, his parents had both been born in England. ‘London has been pretty heavily bombed as you doubtless know by now. The poor old East End seems to have caught a packet but the amazing thing is the reaction of the people. It’s not fear but anger and determination. As the chap who picked me up said “never mind. We’ll get you another Spitfire”. They really are unbeatable.’