Battle of Britain

As the Luftwaffe's bombing campaign on the southeast England escalated, No. 85 Squadron was increasingly drawn into the aerial fighting.^[4] In the late afternoon of 18 August, the squadron was scrambled to intercept over 50 Heinkel He 111 medium bombers and their escorting Bf 110s, targeting the airfield at North Weald; the Hurricanes were unable to get through to the bombers but Howes shot down two Bf 110s to the east of River Crouch. He also damaged a Do 17 in the same area.^[5][6] His next success came on 26 August, when he shared in the destruction of a Do 17 over Maidstone. On the last day of August, he probably destroyed a Do 17 in the vicinity of Biggin Hill. The next day he destroyed a Do 17 to the south of Tunbridge Wells. He also damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter.^[5] On 12 September, Howes was posted to No. 605 Squadron.^[5] This was based at Croydon and, like No. 85 Squadron, operated the Hurricane.^[7]

On 15 September, now known as Battle of Britain Day, the Luftwaffe mounted a large bombing raid on southeast England in which No. 605 Squadron was heavily engaged. When the squadron was scrambled in the mid-afternoon, Howes shot down one Do 17 to the east of Dungeness and probably destroyed a second over the Thames Estuary.^[5][8] By early October, the Luftwaffe's daylight raids were on the wane but Howes shot down a Bf 109 near Dungeness Point on 12 October. His successes in France and in the early part of the Battle of Britain were recognised with an award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.^[5][7] The citation, published in the London Gazette, read:

During the period of intensive operations in France, Sergeant Howes destroyed four enemy aircraft. In August, 1940, he took part in attacks against large enemy formations. He personally destroyed two Messerschmitt 110's and one Dornier 215, and severely damaged several others. Sergeant Howes has proved himself a brave and determined pilot.

Howes damaged a Bf 109 in an engagement near Eastchurch on 1 November. The next day, he damaged another Bf 109, this time in the vicinity of Beachy Head. On 10 November, he destroyed a Bf 109 over the Thames Estuary. The Luftwaffe mounted a large raid with Bf 109 fighter-bombers on 15 November, and No. 605 Squadron was involved in its interception; Howes shot down one of the three Bf 109s that were destroyed by the squadron. On 1 December, Howes was in an engagement with Bf 109s which resulted in his Hurricane being damaged. He made a forced landing at the airfield at Gravesend. This was one of three of the squadron's aircraft that were lost as a result of contact with the Luftwaffe.^[5][10]

On a night time patrol on 22 December, Howes was killed in an aircraft accident. The weather had curtailed his patrol and he was returning to Croydon when it is believed that he lost control of his Hurricane, which crashed at Cuxton in Kent.^[2][11] He is buried in the cemetery of St Margaret's Church at Rainham in Kent.^[12] At the time of his death, Howes was credited with the destruction of twelve aircraft, one of which shared with other pilots, and five damaged. He is also believed to have probably destroyed two aircraft.^[5]