Attacks on convoy off Norfolk-Suffolk coast, shipping off the Isle of Wight and Aberdeen.

Night: South Wales and Bristol areas.

Weather: Mainly cloudy with early-morning fog in the Channel. Thunderstorms in many districts.

Main Activity:

At 0800 hours, a large formation comprising He 111s from III/KG 53 and Do 17s from II/KG 2 was detected heading towards the convoy codenamed BOOTY off the Suffolk coast. Six Hurricanes of No. 17 Squadron from Martlesham Heath were up and en route to patrol over the convoy, when notified of the incoming raid. They were reinforced by seventeen Hurricanes from Nos. 85, 242, and 151 Squadrons and six Defiants from No. 264 Squadron. In the ensuing combat, five German bombers were shot down for the loss of two British Hurricanes.

At 1245 hours, He 111 bombers from KG 26 attacked a shipyard in Aberdeen, killing 29 people and injuring 100. Three Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron were scrambled from Dyce and shot down one of the bombers, which smashed into the newly-built Aberdeen Ice Rink.

German Losses
Airmen: 28 | Aircraft: 9

British Losses
Airmen: 4 | Aircraft: 5

Hurricane P2557, No. 85 Squadron. Lost at sea.
Sgt L. Jowitt missing, believed drowned. Hit by gunfire from He 111 from II/KG 53 off Felixstowe.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Jowitt.htm

Hurricane P3275, No. 151 Squadron. Lost at sea.
F/O J.H.L. Allen missing, believed drowned. Hit in engine by gunfire from Do 17 off Orfordness.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/AllenJHL.htm

Hurricane P3084, No. 501 Squadron. Lost at sea.
P/O D.A. Hewitt missing, believed drowned. Hit by gunfire while attacking Do 17 off Portland.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/HewittDA.htm

Spitfire P9502, No. 610 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt S. Ireland killed. Lost control of aircraft during diving practice.

Photo Descriptions:

  1. Hawker Hurricanes of No. 17 Squadron on the ground at Debden, while another comes in to land, July 1940. © IWM (HU 54414)
  2. Pilots of No. 85 Squadron run to their Hurricanes at the satellite landing ground at Castle Camps, July 1940. In the foreground is P2923 VY-R, flown by Plt Off Albert G Lewis. © IWM (HU 104483)
  3. Pilot Officer Albert G Lewis of No. 85 Squadron grabs his flying helmet from the tailplane of his Hurricane, P2923 VY-R, as a member of the ground crew warms up the engine prior to a sortie, Castle Camps, July 1940. © IWM (HU 104484)
  4. Ground staff warm up a Hurricane of No. 85 Squadron at Castle Camps, July 1940. © IWM (HU 104485)
  5. A German Heinkel He 111 P bomber of the Stab/KG 55 which crash-landed at Hipley in Hampshire on 12 July 1940. It was shot down by Hurricanes of ‘B’ Flight, No. 43 Squadron over Southampton Water. © IWM (HU 90819)
  6. RAF personnel inspecting Heinkel He 111P (coded G1+FA) of Stab/KG 55 which was brought down at Hipley in Hampshire, 12 July 1940. It has been camouflaged to prevent the Luftwaffe attempting to destroy the remains. The bomber was shot down by ‘B’ Flight of No. 43 Squadron over Southampton Water. © IWM (HU 72438)
  7. Civilians and RAF airmen inspect the burning remains of a Heinkel He 111 which was shot down by Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron over Aberdeen, Scotland and crashed into the newly-built Ice Rink on Anderson Drive. © IWM (HU 71114)