By the outbreak of the Second World War some 1,094 Flight Cadets from 43 Entries had passed out of the RAF College into the Royal Air Force.

Of that total 90 cadets from 29 of these 43 entries carried out at least one operational sortie in the Battle between 0001hrs on 1st July and 2359 hrs on 31st October 1940.

Together they were responsible for shooting down 116 enemy aircraft.

A total of 116 enemy aircraft were shot down:

11½  Do17s,  2½  Do215s,  12 He111s,   14½ Ju88s,   9½ Ju87s, 46 Bf109s,  17½ Bf110s   2½ Unidentified.

26 College Alumni were killed in action, a mortality rate of  28.9%

In comparison the overall loss of life during the Battle by aircrew was significantly lower at 17.2%.

B of B Fighter Aces (5 or more kills)

Brian Kingcome (9-36B) on 92 Sqn had the highest tally with 7

Aeneas MacDonell (9-32B)  OC 64 Sqn: 6½

With a tally of 6 each were:

Harold Atkinson (9-37B) on 213 Sqn

Charles Davis (4-39B) on 238 Sqn

Henry Hogan (1-29 B) OC 501

Peter Townsend (9-33B) OC 85 Sqn

With 5 each:

John Badger (9-31B) on 43 Sqn    

Timothy  Vigors  (1-39B) on 222 Sqn

After the Battle

Of the 64 survivors a further 19 (29.7%) ‘Cadets’ were killed in action later in the war.