The dynamics of the air war changed in June 1941.
The German invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, opened up the Eastern Front.
The German bomber force was heavily committed to the theatre.
The escalation of the fighting in the Mediterranean and North African theatres also diverted German air strength.
The operations of the Luftwaffe over Britain changed dramatically.
Small numbers of bombers would make hit-and-run attacks on selected targets near the coast for the remainder of 1941, replacing the mass raids of the preceding autumn and winter.
Cunningham used the decline in the pace of operations to train new crews.

Cunningham's practice of leadership was different to his day-fighter counterparts.
A day unit would fly in formation together, engage the enemy together, communicate by radio and follow the directions and example of their commanding officer in combat.
Cunningham was not in a position to lead in this way.
The night fighter was a lone hunter.
When it took off the crew would operate alone in the air.
Instead, he could ensure proficiency in battle only by teaching his men to master their aircraft and AI.
He was constantly in touch with scientists and tracked new developments.
He also took up new crews in the Beaufighter to generate confidence in the machine.
Night pilots had to learn to fly on instruments alone, in adverse weather conditions and for sustained periods.
Rawnsley contributed with the use of AI and mock-interception using target aircraft were flown regularly.

Cunningham still flew on operations.
Flying the new Beaufighter II powered by Merlin engines on an interception in July, he was hit by return fire from a He 111.
The engines spluttered and one caught fire.
Already far out to sea he flew back to base, extinguished the fire and made a wheels-down landing.
The following month he had greater success.
On the night of the 22 August 1941 he intercepted two He 111s.
One was claimed as damaged but the second was confirmed.
The Heinkel He 111, an H-5 model, Werknummer 4081, coded F8+BS belonging to 8./Kampfgeschwader 40 (KG 40), fell into the sea north-west of Wells, Somerset at 22:05.
Gefreiter G. Dohmen, H. Hädrich, and K. Dändel were never found.
The body of Rudolf Faath was washed ashore at Burnham Overy on 31 August.
On 1 September Cunningham caught and downed a Ju 88—his 15th victory.
He was awarded a bar to his DFC on 19 September, by which time he was an acting wing commander.

The winter 1941–42 passed by with relative inactivity.
In the spring 1942, Arthur Harris began his campaign over Germany in earnest with an attack by RAF Bomber Command upon Lübeck.
Adolf Hitler, enraged by the attack, ordered the Luftwaffe to begin retaliatory strikes which began the so-called Baedeker Blitz.
On 4 April Cunningham engaged and damaged a Baedeker raider He 111 pathfinder operating over Exeter.
It was able to escape into cloud.
KGr 100, the specialist German pathfinder unit, was now operating with new navigational aids which allowed them to fly through and navigate in thick cloud and rain.
They deliberately operated whenever the weather proved more difficult for night fighters.
Nevertheless, Cunningham made an interception on the night of the 23 May 1942.

Attempting his usual tactic, the British crew approached from behind and below.
Suddenly the Heinkel lurched into a tight left-hand turn allowing the gunners to fire a broad-side.
The bomber disappeared into the mist.
Cunningham asked GCI for help.
They tracked the Heinkel flying north near Shaftesbury.
Engaging again the German pilot managed to turn into a head-on position and dive past almost upside down.
He continually evaded Cunningham by turning in underneath him at near-impossible angles.
Cunningham and Rawnsley came to understand they were not dealing with a novice.
Soon a turning match began and then the German attempted to escape by twisting and diving.
Cunningham forced him down to 900 feet but Rawnsley and GCI lost contact when the ground clutter hid the Heinkel's signal.
Cunningham returned to base.
News soon came through the He 111
The dynamics of the air war changed in June 1941. The German invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, opened up the Eastern Front. The German bomber force was heavily committed to the theatre. The escalation of the fighting in the Mediterranean and North African theatres also diverted German air strength. The operations of the Luftwaffe over Britain changed dramatically. Small numbers of bombers would make hit-and-run attacks on selected targets near the coast for the remainder of 1941, replacing the mass raids of the preceding autumn and winter. Cunningham used the decline in the pace of operations to train new crews.
Cunningham's practice of leadership was different to his day-fighter counterparts. A day unit would fly in formation together, engage the enemy together, communicate by radio and follow the directions and example of their commanding officer in combat. Cunningham was not in a position to lead in this way. The night fighter was a lone hunter. When it took off the crew would operate alone in the air. Instead, he could ensure proficiency in battle only by teaching his men to master their aircraft and AI. He was constantly in touch with scientists and tracked new developments. He also took up new crews in the Beaufighter to generate confidence in the machine. Night pilots had to learn to fly on instruments alone, in adverse weather conditions and for sustained periods. Rawnsley contributed with the use of AI and mock-interception using target aircraft were flown regularly.
Cunningham still flew on operations. Flying the new Beaufighter II powered by Merlin engines on an interception in July, he was hit by return fire from a He 111. The engines spluttered and one caught fire. Already far out to sea he flew back to base, extinguished the fire and made a wheels-down landing. The following month he had greater success. On the night of the 22 August 1941 he intercepted two He 111s. One was claimed as damaged but the second was confirmed. The Heinkel He 111, an H-5 model, Werknummer 4081, coded F8+BS belonging to 8./Kampfgeschwader 40 (KG 40), fell into the sea north-west of Wells, Somerset at 22:05. Gefreiter G. Dohmen, H. Hädrich, and K. Dändel were never found. The body of Rudolf Faath was washed ashore at Burnham Overy on 31 August. On 1 September Cunningham caught and downed a Ju 88—his 15th victory. He was awarded a bar to his DFC on 19 September, by which time he was an acting wing commander.
The winter 1941–42 passed by with relative inactivity. In the spring 1942, Arthur Harris began his campaign over Germany in earnest with an attack by RAF Bomber Command upon Lübeck. Adolf Hitler, enraged by the attack, ordered the Luftwaffe to begin retaliatory strikes which began the so-called Baedeker Blitz. On 4 April Cunningham engaged and damaged a Baedeker raider He 111 pathfinder operating over Exeter. It was able to escape into cloud. KGr 100, the specialist German pathfinder unit, was now operating with new navigational aids which allowed them to fly through and navigate in thick cloud and rain. They deliberately operated whenever the weather proved more difficult for night fighters. Nevertheless, Cunningham made an interception on the night of the 23 May 1942.
Attempting his usual tactic, the British crew approached from behind and below. Suddenly the Heinkel lurched into a tight left-hand turn allowing the gunners to fire a broad-side. The bomber disappeared into the mist. Cunningham asked GCI for help. They tracked the Heinkel flying north near Shaftesbury. Engaging again the German pilot managed to turn into a head-on position and dive past almost upside down. He continually evaded Cunningham by turning in underneath him at near-impossible angles. Cunningham and Rawnsley came to understand they were not dealing with a novice. Soon a turning match began and then the German attempted to escape by twisting and diving. Cunningham forced him down to 900 feet but Rawnsley and GCI lost contact when the ground clutter hid the Heinkel's signal. Cunningham returned to base. News soon came through the He 111 
John Cunningham (RAF officer)