Shipping and overland reconnaissance. Night: Minelaying. Weather: Squally and thundery, some bright intervals. Channel cloudy. The 10th of August was originally designated by the Luftwaffe as the launch date for Adlerangriff (“Attack of the Eagles”), the full-scale aerial offensive against RAF Fighter Command. However, poor weather across northern France and southern England delayed the operation. […]
1940
10
Aug
11
Aug
Sunday 11 August 1940
Heavy attack on Portland, feints by fighter formations over Dover. Convoy attacks in Thames Estuary and off East Anglia. Night: Harassing attacks on Merseyside. Minelaying. Weather: Fair in morning, cloudy for most of the day. Although 11 August was not the official beginning of Adlerangriff (Eagle Attack)—which would commence two days later—it marked a dramatic […]
12
Aug
Monday 12 August 1940
Heavy raid on Portsmouth. Convoy in Thames Estuary, radar stations and coastal airfields attacked. Night: Widespread harassing raids. Weather: Fine with some mist patches. Enemy Action by Day On the eve of Adler Tag (Eagle Day), the Luftwaffe launched a powerful and highly coordinated assault across southern England in what amounted to a full-dress rehearsal […]
13
Aug
Tuesday 13 August 1940
Opening of ‘Eagle Day’ misfires. Heavy raid on Eastchurch followed by afternoon raids on Portland, Southampton and airfields in Kent and Hampshire. 1,485 German sorties. Night: Light attacks on Midlands, Wales and the West Country. Weather: Mainly fair. Early morning mist and slight drizzle in places and some cloud in the Channel. Enemy Action by […]
14
Aug
Wednesday 14 August 1940
Targets in south-east England, airfields and communications facilities along with airfields in the west. Night: Little activity. Weather: Mainly cloudy with bright patches and cloud in the Channel. Enemy Action by Day Poor visibility and heavy cloud across northern France and southern England curtailed Luftwaffe operations on 14 August. While no full-scale assault occurred, the […]
15
Aug
Thursday 15 August 1940
Decisive raids by German aircraft during their most intensive period of the battle to date. Seventy-five aircraft are lost during the day with airfields as their main targets. Night: Little activity. Weather: High pressure giving fine, warm weather although some cloud remained in the Channel area. On Thursday, 15 August 1940, the Luftwaffe launched its […]
16
Aug
Friday 16 August 1940
Airfields in Kent, Hampshire and West Sussex attacked with widespread damage. Radar station at Ventnor put out of action. Other targets in Oxfordshire, Essex and Suffolk hit. Night: Numerous light attacks. Weather: Mainly fair and warm with haze over the Channel. Enemy Action by Day The weather remained fair and warm, with haze lingering over […]
16
Aug
Won Vc In First Fight
During an action near Southampton on 16 August 1940, Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson of No. 249 Squadron was wounded when his Hurricane was attacked by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 of JG 53. Despite his cockpit being ablaze and himself badly injured, Nicolson pressed home his attack and shot down the enemy fighter before bailing out. […]
17
Aug
Saturday 17 August 1940
Activity limited to reconnaissance sorties. Fighter Command faces pilot shortage. Night: Light raids on the Midlands, Merseyside and South Wale Weather: Fine in the Channel, haze and some cloud in the east. Strategic Pause AftAfter five consecutive days of punishing combat, the Luftwaffe’s activity sharply declined on 17 August. Fighter Command, anticipating continued heavy raids, […]
18
Aug
Sunday 18 August 1940
Massed German formations return attacking airfields in the south and south-east. Night: Light bombing in Bristol, East Anglia and South Wales. Minelaying. Weather: Fine and fair early, cloudy for rest of day. Enemy Action by Day Sunday, 18 August 1940 became known as “The Hardest Day”—a title earned not only by the intensity and scope […]