The missing fittings for the armour plate arrived and about midday work started to install them. Flight Sergeant Evans led the team of Auxiliary fitters who worked non-stop for 24 hours to complete this modification on 13 Spitfires, and not a moment too soon. Orders were received from the Station Commander that night to prepare 12 aircraft for operations over the French coast next day.
Operation DYNAMO was in full swing, the evacuation of the BEF from France. The southern advance of the German army had nearly reached the Channel coast but for some reason their tanks had been ordered to halt, perhaps lack of fuel as their resupply echelons were many miles behind. Another possible reason is that Hermann Goering, head of the Luftwaffe, begged Hitler to allow his air force to destroy the BEF. Whatever the reason, the BEF were backed into a perimeter around Dunkirk and 609 were going into action as a full Squadron for the first time.