TNA ADM 234 360

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THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. VIII
she shot down one Heinkel aircraft in flames. in mixed Between 1630 and 1745 our air
encountered many enemy this series of combats formations, we the largest patrols
of about thirty. In lost 5 aircraft being
Rear-Admiral due to always re-appearedisid
to definitely group shoot down destroyed¹. Wake-Walker, the enemy It was observation "at during times this hauled balloon latter down failed period but to that always re-appearedia find a squadron for enemy a
At 1800, when until Lord 1930. Gort was embark, there were a a
which continued
Between 1920 and 1930 our patrols the were engaged with a formation of
At 1920, off Dunkirk, the Whitehall's after group shot down a bomber.
70 H.E.111's and M.E.109's. In encounter, Fighter Command lost about 3
craft and claimed 10 bombers and 6 fighters definitelydestroyed. Some of air-
Hurricane pilots complained on their return that they had been shot at by the the
engaged about thirty M.E.109's, but no bombers were intercepted.
Spitfires¹. At 2010 six Hurricanes trying to locate the observation balloon at Nieuport
Final evacution of B.E.F. expected on night 1st/2nd June
Meanwhile, at 1920, all ships in the Nore and Dover Commands were informed
by the V.A., Dover, that the final evacuation of the B.E.F. was expected on
the night 1st/2nd June, and that the evacuation of the French from Dunkirk
and Malo beach would continue from the 1st June by both British and French
ships². At 2309 General Lloyd informed the D.M.O. of the new plan and stated that
General Alexander had been placed in command of the final phase of the
evacuation, that the composition of his force was not known, and that it was
impossible now to state how long the French evacuation would take but that
the Alexander force would remain till the last³.
Meanwhile, no firm information could be obtained from the French on the
following matters4:-
(i) the number of French troops to be evacuated;
(ii) the nature and extent of French seaborne transport;
(iii) the French military plan for the defence of the perimeter and the final
withdrawal of French troops.
Embarkation reaches its zenith
The main features of the day had been :-
(a) the increased enemy artillery activity on Dunkirk, La Panne beach and
(b) the change in the military plan as regards the locality and time of lifting
the approach channels
(c) the set-back to beach evacuation that occurred during the the choppy after-
the final contingents of the B.E.F.
noon and evening, forenoon, when large numbers were lifted from the
weather of the followed by an excellent recovery in western
22,942 total of were 68,014 lifted proved from to the be beaches the highest daily total of the
The rate of embarkation had, however, and 45,072 up from expectations:,
beaches. come to A total of
I R.A.F. Narrative, p.335.
2 Appendix Q.19.
3 Appendix Q.22.
4 D.R. p.21, para. 63.
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