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.

Enemy Action by Day

Friday, 12 July 1940, brought poor weather across much of Britain. Heavy rain affected northern districts during the morning, while cloudy conditions over the south-east hampered Luftwaffe operations. Conditions improved during the afternoon, and most of the day’s major fighting took place off the Essex and Suffolk coastline. Despite the weather, Luftwaffe activity remained persistent, focusing primarily on shipping in the Channel and the North Sea, as well as coastal infrastructure from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight. The Luftwaffe’s strategy continued to focus on disrupting merchant convoys and drawing RAF fighters into action over the coast.

06:00–09:00 Hours: Early Skirmishes and Convoy BOOTY Attacked

At first light, scattered reconnaissance and probing raids were reported along the southern coastline, particularly in the vicinity of Portland. Around 06:00 hours, Luftwaffe aircraft conducted low-level reconnaissance flights over British defensive positions along the Dorset coast, with several contacts tracked by Chain Home radar stations. Inland, poor visibility and low cloud hindered reports from Royal Observer Corps posts.

The main activity of the morning developed off the East Anglian coast, where convoy BOOTY was steaming south-west near Orfordness and Aldeburgh Lightship. Heinkel He 111s and Dornier Do 17s began attacking merchant shipping along one of Britain’s busiest coastal trade routes. Hurricanes of No. 85 Squadron from RAF Martlesham Heath were scrambled after enemy aircraft were reported near Harwich, while Nos. 17 and 151 Squadrons were also ordered into the air.

Coastal Command Ansons of No. 500 Squadron were already escorting convoy BOOTY near Orfordness. One Anson crew observed three Heinkel He 111s preparing to attack the ships before six more enemy aircraft appeared. During the fighting, Anson N5520 “MK-D,” flown by Flying Officer Arthur Whitehead, was shot down by a Heinkel of KG 53. Whitehead, Pilot Officer A. R. Mathias and Aircraftman W. C. Hubbard were killed, while Sergeant H. W. J. Smith survived and was captured.

The cargo vessel Hornchurch was damaged by a near miss off Aldeburgh Lightship and abandoned by her crew, who were rescued by HMS Widgeon.

Shortly after the German bombers pressed home their attacks against the convoy, Hurricanes of No. 17 Squadron engaged the leading formations, with additional attacks carried out by Nos. 85 and 151 Squadrons. The Luftwaffe bombers flew in tight defensive formations, making repeated RAF attacks dangerous and costly.

At approximately 09:00 hours near Orfordness and the Shipwash Light Vessel, Pilot Officer G. E. Pittmann and Sergeant D. Fopp of No. 17 Squadron shot down a He 111 H-2 of 3./KG 53 while it attacked convoy BOOTY. Oberleutnant Helmut von Brocke died shortly after rescue, while Unteroffizier Werner Weber and Feldwebel Peter Baumeister were recovered with serious injuries. Feldwebel Bernhard Wlazlak was reported missing, believed killed.

Later, at approximately 09:40 hours, He 111 H-2 A1+ES of 9./KG 53 was shot down near Aldeburgh Light by Pilot Officer K. Manger and Sergeant G. Griffiths of No. 17 Squadron during further attacks on the convoy. Feldwebel Johann Bolte and Feldwebel Karl Hartmann were captured, while Unteroffizier Heinz Zittwitz and Gefreiter Helmut Tonn were killed. Gefreiter Eugen Wagner was posted missing, believed killed.

A few minutes later, Dornier Do 17s of II./KG 2 attacked the convoy. Hurricanes of Nos. 17 and 151 Squadrons intercepted them, destroying two Dorniers of 5./KG 2. One of the aircraft was flown by Hauptmann Erich Machetzki, Staffelkapitän of 5./KG 2, who was lost with his crew. A second Dornier, flown by Feldwebel Arno Zelmer, was also lost with all aboard.

RAF losses included several Hurricanes shot down by defensive fire. Sergeant Len Jowitt of No. 85 Squadron was killed during the fighting, while Flying Officer J. H. L. “Johnny” Allen of No. 151 Squadron was also shot down and killed when his Hurricane was hit during attacks on the Dornier formations. The 151 Squadron attack was led jointly by Wing Commander Victor Beamish, Station Commander at North Weald, and Squadron Leader Teddy Donaldson; both of their aircraft were damaged by return fire.

09:00–13:10 Hours: Raids on Aberdeen and the Scottish Coast

Meanwhile, in Scotland, Heinkel He 111 bombers of KG 26 carried out raids against Aberdeen and surrounding industrial facilities. Bombs fell across the city and harbour district, killing 29 civilians and injuring more than 100 others. Among the dead was a cart driver sheltering beneath his horse; both man and animal were killed in the blast.

Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron intercepted one of the Heinkel formations during the early afternoon. At approximately 13:10 hours, He 111 H-3 1H+FT of 9./KG 26, flown by Leutnant Herbert Huck, was attacked by Yellow Section of No. 603 Squadron and shot down over Aberdeen. The bomber crashed into the city’s newly built ice rink on South Anderson Drive, causing a major fire and further destruction. Huck, Gefr G. Kerkhoff, Uffz P. Plischke and Fw A. Skokan were all killed and buried in Dyce Old Churchyard.

Two local ARP wardens, Alfred Carson and medical student Frazer Allen, were later awarded the George Medal for rescue work carried out amid the burning wreckage and collapsing debris of the ice rink.

Further damage was inflicted on industrial premises near the harbour, including the Hall Russell & Co. Iron Works, while scattered incendiaries caused minor fires in rural districts surrounding the city.

Morning Action off Portland

Off the south coast, reconnaissance aircraft continued probing operations despite poor visibility. Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron intercepted a Heinkel east of Portland Bill during the morning and claimed it probably destroyed. The aircraft was later identified as a Heinkel of Stab/StG.3 which force-landed at Cherbourg with three crew members wounded.

11:50 Hours: Coastal Command Attack on Cherbourg

At 11:50 hours, Blenheim TR-J of No. 59 Squadron attacked Cherbourg airfield, where the crew observed German fighters and a large French aircraft on the ground. The Blenheim sustained anti-aircraft damage before being attacked by approximately twelve Bf 109s during the return flight across the Channel.

Rear gunner Sergeant Howard Webb was wounded during the attack, and the aircraft later crash-landed at RAF Thorney Island. Pilot Officer R. W. Ayres escaped unhurt, while Sergeant Derek Roper was injured in the landing accident.

13:00–16:00 Hours: Attacks on Portland, Portsmouth and the Solent

By the afternoon, Luftwaffe activity had shifted back toward the south coast. At approximately 15:15 hours, a lone Dornier Do 17 approached Portland and was intercepted by Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron.

During the engagement, Hurricane P3084, flown by Pilot Officer Duncan A. Hewitt—a Canadian serving with the RAF—crashed into the sea while attacking the Dornier. Although initially attributed to return fire, later accounts from fellow pilots suggested Hewitt may have misjudged his attack from beneath the aircraft. The Dornier was claimed probably destroyed.

Later in the afternoon, Hurricanes of B Flight, No. 43 Squadron intercepted Heinkel He 111P G1+FA of Stab/KG 55 during operations near Portsmouth and Southampton Water. The bomber, flown by Feldwebel John-Christian Möhn, was repeatedly attacked and badly damaged before crash-landing near the Horse & Jockey public house at Hipley, north of Portsmouth.

The aircraft skidded across a ploughed field before coming to rest near the Horse & Jockey public house. Observer Oberleutnant Walter Kleinhanns was killed, while Oberfeldwebel Fritz Knecht, Oberfeldwebel Philipp Müller and Feldwebel Heinz Kalinna were wounded and captured. Möhn himself survived uninjured and was taken prisoner.

Witnesses later recalled that the German crew were temporarily held at gunpoint by the landlord of the Horse & Jockey public house, Sam Brown, armed only with a toy pistol until soldiers arrived at the scene.

16:00–18:00 Hours: Thames Estuary and South-West Coast Operations

Around 16:40 hours, Luftwaffe aircraft, including Ju 88s operating along the south-west coast, carried out reconnaissance and nuisance raids across Cornwall, Devon and the western Channel approaches. RAF units attempted interception where possible.

Over St Eval, Spitfires of No. 234 Squadron attacked a Ju 88 and claimed it probably destroyed. Further east, Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron intercepted Bf 110s escorting another Ju 88 south of St Catherine’s Point. The Ju 88 was claimed destroyed and several Bf 110s damaged. The Ju 88 may have been an aircraft of 3./KG 51 which later crash-landed at Villaroche and was written off.

Later in the afternoon, Red Section of No. 74 Squadron led by Flight Lieutenant Adolph “Sailor” Malan intercepted a Heinkel He 111 of 4./KG 53 over the Thames Estuary after it attacked a coaster. Malan made the initial attack, silencing the bomber’s defensive guns before Sergeant E. A. Mould and Pilot Officer Stevenson continued the engagement. The damaged Heinkel eventually crashed into the sea.

Enemy Action by Night

Luftwaffe operations resumed after dark. From 22:40 to 01:02 hours, enemy aircraft crossed into the Portland area before continuing toward South Wales and the Bristol region. Bombs were dropped at Newport, causing minor damage to railway sidings and nearby industrial property, while additional bombs fell near Highbridge in Somerset.

Further raids were plotted off Northumberland and Yorkshire, with bombs dropped at Billingham and Thornaby. On the Scottish coast, enemy aircraft crossed near Fife and the Clyde approaches, dropping bombs near Cupar, Dunfermline and Helensburgh, though little significant damage was reported.

Adverse weather restricted RAF night interceptions and reduced the effectiveness of German bombing operations.

Operational Accidents and Night Losses

Several RAF aircraft were lost in accidents during the day. Sergeant Sydney Ireland of No. 610 Squadron was killed when Spitfire P9502 crashed in a flying accident, while Hurricane N2703 of No. 145 Squadron was wrecked during a force-landing near Ringwood. Its pilot, Sub-Lieutenant Frank Smith, escaped with minor injuries.

During the night, Coastal Command Blenheim L9474 of No. 53 Squadron, flown by Wing Commander E. C. T. Edwards, was mistakenly shot down by British anti-aircraft fire over Essex. The crew successfully bailed out near Upminster.

Bomber Command also lost Whitley N1502 of No. 102 Squadron, which ditched after flak damage; the crew were rescued by a trawler.

Elsewhere, the Grimsby trawler Volonte was attacked and sunk off Iceland by a Heinkel He 111 operating from Norway.

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)