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 of No. 141 Squadron were bounced by Bf 109s of III/JG 51 south of Folkestone. Six aircraft were lost in rapid succession before Hurricanes from No. 111 Squadron arrived to break up the attack and allow the remaining Defiants to return to Hawkinge. One Bf 109 was severely damaged and crashed on landing.
At 1431 hours, twelve Hurricanes of No. 43 Squadron encountered a formation of Bf 109s from III/JG 27 off Selsey Bill. In the ensuing combat, two Hurricanes were shot down and one Bf 109 returned damaged.
At 1600 hours, a formation Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers, escorted by Bf 109s from III/JG 51, attacked Dover. They were engaged by Hurricanes and Spitfires from Nos. 32, 64, and 74 Squadrons. In the resulting action, one Hurricane was shot down and two Spitfires were damaged. Two Bf 109s were also badly damaged. The British destroyers Griffin and Beagle were both damaged by near misses but sustained no casualties. The armed trawler Crestflower was bombed and sunk while the tanker RFA War Sepoy was severely damaged, broken in two and subsequently used 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:
- A rare photograph of Boulton Paul Defiant, L7000 TW-P, of No. 141 Squadron during the early stages of the Battle of Britain.
- Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron being refuelled, July 1940. © IWM (HU 104453)
- Crews being taken out to their Boulton Paul Defiants of No. 264 Squadron, July 1940. © IWM (HU 104494)
- An air gunner climbs into a Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron, July 1940. © IWM (HU 104495)
- 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)
- 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)