Shipping attacked in Channel and east coast.
Night: South Wales and the Midlands.
Weather: Mainly fine in the north but cloudy in the east. Channel cloudy. Drizzle in Dover Straits.
Enemy Action by Day
The day began with mixed meteorological conditions across the British Isles. While the north experienced largely fine weather, the eastern counties and Channel coast were overcast with low cloud cover and intermittent drizzle. Visibility in the Dover Straits was particularly poor, limiting both aerial visibility and the scale of enemy operations in the morning.
Enemy air activity remained limited during the early part of the day, with only three tracks plotted up to 16:30 hours. One of these approached to within five miles of Dover before turning away. At 16:30 hours, two German formations merged and advanced toward Clacton, passing over a British convoy located ten miles north of Herne Bay. Although the convoy was bombed, there were no reports of significant damage. A fighter squadron was ordered to intercept but failed to make contact.
Between 18:27 and 18:53 hours, seven separate enemy raids were detected assembling in the Calais-Boulogne sector. These formations flew varied courses over the Straits of Dover, but once again, four RAF squadrons dispatched to engage failed to make contact with the enemy, likely due to poor visibility and the evasive tactics of the German aircraft.
In the Humber region, German reconnaissance aircraft observed a convoy but refrained from attacking. Two RAF sections were sent to intercept but were unsuccessful in locating the enemy. Off Haisborough, a section of cannon-armed Spitfires from No. 19 Squadron made contact with an enemy formation but lost them in cloud cover. The German aircraft ineffectually bombed shipping off Great Yarmouth. Three additional raids were plotted along the East Anglian coast in the early evening, but all quickly dissipated without causing damage.
Although combat engagements were relatively few, there were several notable accidents. Squadron Leader Henry Cecil “Sam” Sawyer of No. 65 Squadron was killed when his Spitfire R6799 crashed shortly after takeoff from Hornchurch during a night patrol. Inexperienced in night flying, Sawyer was likely blinded by engine exhaust glare and stalled while climbing. He was just 25 years old. Other non-combat accidents included a Hurricane flipping on landing at Castletown, and a Blenheim overshooting the runway at Leeming. Another Spitfire from Rochford crashed and burned on takeoff.
August 2nd also marked the formal establishment of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron at RAF Northolt. Despite initial resistance from Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, the desperate shortage of trained fighter pilots led to the integration of Polish airmen into RAF units. Flight Commander John Kent, a Canadian, and Czech pilot Sergeant Josef František would go on to become two of the unit’s most celebrated members. František would ultimately record the highest number of individual victories during the Battle of Britain.
While overall activity remained modest, several Luftwaffe claims were recorded. Oblt. Paul Temme of Stab I./JG 2 claimed a Blenheim shot down near Le Havre at 11:00 hours, while two more Blenheims were claimed over the Zuiderzee by Uffz. Hans Schätzel of 4./JG 54 and Fw. Fritz Oeltjen of 7./JG 54.
Enemy Action by Night
Night raids were more widespread than during the day but remained less intense than previous nights. German bombers followed familiar routes, entering via Weymouth and striking targets in South Wales, then continuing as far north as Sealand, Liverpool, and Lancashire. One particularly long-ranging aircraft reached Hartlepool before returning via the same route through Liverpool and south Wales back to the Cherbourg area. Swansea was bombed at 23:30 hours, damaging houses and vehicles and causing five casualties.
In the Midlands, raids penetrated through East Anglia, with one searchlight post north of Bury St Edmunds reportedly machine-gunned. Bombs were also reported at Ternhill, though none struck the aerodrome itself. Other aircraft approached from Beachy Head and North Foreland, both formations circling within the London Artillery Zone before withdrawing.
Several enemy formations were detected moving toward the Orkney and Shetland Islands around 22:00 hours. Additional aircraft flew inland over Edinburgh, crossed to Glasgow, and turned south over Cumberland before exiting via the east coast.
German minelaying was observed across several coastal sectors, including the Thames Estuary, East Anglia, the stretch from Tees to St Abb’s Head, and areas off Aberdeen and the northeast coast. These efforts underscored the persistent threat to British coastal navigation.
Reports confirmed that further copies of Hitler’s 19 July Reichstag speech were dropped by Luftwaffe aircraft, this time over the Brecon and Talyllyn districts of Breconshire, following similar leaflet operations the previous day.
German Losses:
Airmen: 16 | Aircraft: 7
British Losses:
Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 3
Spitfire R6799, No. 65 Squadron. Burnt out.
S/L H.C. Sawyer. Killed. Crashed on take off on night patrol and exploded in flames.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Sawyer.htm
Photo Descriptions
- A Handley Page Hampden being bombed up, 2 August 1940. © IWM (HU 104647)
- The wreckage of the He 115 seaplane, which crashed onto the deck of the SS Highlander on 2 August 1940.