The No.615 Squadron leaves, finally, at 04h30, for the airfield of Norrent-Fontes with thirteen Hawker Hurricane Mk I (as well as one Miles Magister). The day starts very early when at 08h00, a double patrol is organized : the first above Lille (six aircraft), and the second in defense of the airfield (three aircraft).

A more ambitious operation begins at 11h00. In this case, a formation composed of No. 504, No.607 and No.615 (RAF) Squadron is responsible for attacking a German convoy on the Cambrai-Arras road. According to Squadron Leader Joseph R. Kayll:

« There was a request from the Army that we should try de delay the German advance towards Arras on the road from Cambrai. We managed to get 12 serviceable aircraft together (three from 615, three from 504 and six from 607), 615 leading. We found a large quantity of German transport on this perfectly straight road and were able to do some damage. Unfortunately we lost three aircraft, including Flying Officer Bob Pumphrey [P3448 AF-H] of 607, who managed to jump out at low level and survived as a PoW. Our mistake was to attack in sections of three in line astern and the German had a concentration of cannon and machine-guns at either side of the road. ».

Indeed, the losses are non-negligible and, besides Flying Officer Robert EW Pumphrey, No.504 (RAF) Squadron loses Pilot Officer Michael Jebb (P3586) and Blair E.G. White, although the two pilots are only injured and can be evacuated from Dieppe, while No.607 (RAF) Squadron loses Pilot Officer Richard S. Demetriadi (P2671 – AF-H), again without consequences for the pilot. At the same time, the aircraft of Squadron Leader Joseph R. Kayll is also damaged in the wing, but he can return to Norrent-Fontes [1]. Despite these losses, mainly material, British pilots are able to destroy seven vehicles according to a raconnaissance made by Flying Officer Lionel M. Gaunce around 13h00.

In the afternoon, six Hawker Hurricane Mk I take off for a patrol of Arras – Douai – Lens sector. A formation of twelve Heinkel He.111 of I./LG 1 was sighted, at an attitude of about 4,800 meters, and a fight commenced, around 16h00, during which Squadron Leader Joseph R. Kayll and Pilot Officer Petrus H. Hugo claim a bomber [2]. According to Joseph R. Kayll:

« Attacked tail of formation with beam attack which put rear gunner out of action. Then attacked from astern, closing to 200 yards. Port engine stopped and was smoking badly. E/a went into a spin and disappeared through low cloud. »[3].

Indeed, the Heinkel He.111 (L1 + GK), from 2./LG 1 [4], hit the ground near Lille killing Feldwebel Erich Hackbarth, Unteroffizier Max Bröge and Gefreiter Heinz Schönberg. According to an interrogator report of the sole survivor, the Feldwebel Erich Weber, by the British:

« We took off from Dusseldorf at 14h00 to watch troop movements west of Lille. The Heinkel 111 aircraft was armed with four machine guns and carried twelve 50-kilo bombs. We were fired bu several anti-aircraft fire, and shot down by a Morane at 4,800 meters »[5].

This patrol is the last documented sortie of No.615 Squadron from France. The evacuation orders to England are starting to rain on the different British squadrons. The evacuation of Norrent-Fontes begins around 18h30 when nine Hawker Hurricane Mk I of No.615 Squadron, including L1289 (Flying Officer Anthony Eyre), take off with four others of No. 607 (RAF) Squadron to escort a Sabena’s Savoia-Marchetti S.73P carrying the No.60 (RAF) Wing staff, and some of the ground personnel, heading for Kenley Airfield [6].

Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 “OO-AGL” from SABENA. This aircraft was abandoned in Algiers and transferred to Italy (22 September 1940). Source : Wikipedia – L’encyclopédie libre

Three other Hawker Hurricane Mk I and the last four Gloster Gladiator Mk I (including the N2304 and N2306) take the same path in the evening. For his part, Flight Lieutnant James G. Sanders makes the crossing with a Bristol Blenheim, while Pilot Officer Petrus H. Hugo returns with the Miles Magister from Merville.

« At 13h00, instructions were received that everyone should be ready to evacuate to England. At 14h30, the ground staff packed up for Boulogne leaving behind eighteen airmen. At 18h25, a SM75 transport aircraft took on board the No. 60 Squadron Commander and his staff as well as the 18 airmen of the squadron, twenty-one airmen of No. 615 Squadron and ten airmen of No.607 Squadron. The plane takes the direction of England »[7].

Pilot Officers John E.M. Collins [8], Malcolm Ravenhill [9] (aboard Gloster Gladiator Mk II N2308 KW-T) and Victor B.S. Verity [10] return in the evening to No.229 (RAF) Squadron .