Dover raided. Defiant squadron largely destroyed.

Weather: Showery with bright intervals in most cases. Channel winds light – fair.

Night: Some activity between Isle of Wight and Plymouth, Thames Estuary and Harwich.

Main Activity:

At 1245 hours, nine Defiants from No. 141 Squadron were ambushed by Messerschmitt Bf 109s from III/JG 51 south of Folkestone. The Defiants, outmaneuvered and outgunned, suffered heavy losses, with six aircraft shot down in quick succession. Hurricanes from No. 111 Squadron arrived just in time to disrupt the attack, enabling the surviving Defiants to retreat safely to Hawkinge. During the engagement, one Bf 109 was severely damaged and crash-landed on return.

At 1431 hours, twelve Hurricanes from No. 43 Squadron encountered a formation of Bf 109s from III/JG 27 off Selsey Bill. The ensuing dogfight resulted in the loss of two Hurricanes, while one Bf 109 sustained damage and managed to return to base.

At 1600 hours, a formation of Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers, escorted by Bf 109s from III/JG 51, launched a raid on Dover. Hurricanes and Spitfires from Nos. 32, 64, and 74 Squadrons scrambled to intercept the attackers. In the intense aerial battle, one Hurricane was shot down, and two Spitfires were damaged. The RAF fighters inflicted damage on two Bf 109s, forcing them to withdraw. Despite the valiant defense, the attack caused significant damage. The British destroyers HMS Griffin and HMS Beagle sustained damage from near misses but fortunately suffered no casualties. However, the armed trawler Crestflower was bombed and sunk, and the tanker RFA War Sepoy was severely damaged, breaking in two. The tanker was later repurposed as a blockship outside Dover Harbour.

German Losses
Airmen: 13 | Aircraft: 5

British Losses
Airmen: 11 | Aircraft: 10

Defiant L7009, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
F/Lt I.D.G. Donald and P/O A.C. Hamilton. Both killed. Shot down by Bf 109 and crashed into residential street in Dover.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Donald.htm
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/HamiltonAC.htm

Defiant L6974, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
P/O J.R. Kemp and Sgt R. Crombie. Certified as missing. Crashed into Channel after being shot down by Bf 109.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/KempJR.htm
http://bbm.org.uk/airmen/Crombie.htm

Defiant L6995, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
P/O R.A. Howley and Sgt A.G. Curley. Certified as missing. Crashed into Channel after being shot down by Bf 109.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Howley.htm
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Curley.htm

Defiant L7015, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
P/O R. Kidson and Sgt F.P.J. Atkins. Certified as missing. Crashed into Channel after being shot down by Bf 109.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Kidson.htm
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Atkins.htm

Defiant L7016, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
P/O D.M. Slatter. Certified as missing. Crashed into Channel after being shot down by Bf 109.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Slatter.htm

Defiant L6983, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft damaged.
Sgt J.F. Wise. Certified as missing. Damage sustained by Bf 109. Sgt Wise baled out over Channel but pilot managed to get aircraft back to base.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Wise.htm

Hurricane P3531, No. 43 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
Sgt J.A. Buck. Drowned. Hit by gunfire from Bf 109, baled out over Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Buck.htm

Photo Descriptions:

  1. A rare photograph of Boulton Paul Defiant, L7000 TW-P, of No. 141 Squadron during the early stages of the Battle of Britain.
  2. Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron being refuelled, July 1940. © IWM (HU 104453)
  3. Crews being taken out to their Boulton Paul Defiants of No. 264 Squadron, July 1940. © IWM (HU 104494)
  4. An air gunner climbs into a Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron, July 1940. © IWM (HU 104495)
  5. An air gunner in the turret of a Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I of No. 264 Squadron RAF, trains his four .303 Browning machine-guns skywards. © IWM (CH 879)
  6. Major Werner Mölders and Major Adolf Galland, two leading aces of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, in conversation with Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring at a coastal location. Both pilots were promoted to Major on 19 July 1940. © IWM (HU 76020)