Dover, Folkestone and airfields in Kent and Essex attacked. Lesser raids in the Solent.
Night: Widespread raids, Industrial areas and airfields the main targets.
Weather: Mainly cloudy but dry. Brighter in the south.
Enemy Action by Day
By the final week of August, the Luftwaffe had shifted tactics to large-scale, heavily escorted daylight raids, hoping to overwhelm Fighter Command by forcing it into repeated battles of attrition. Göring’s insistence that fighters remain close to the bomber formations deprived German Jagdwaffe units of tactical flexibility but ensured the bombers reached their targets under heavy protection.
On 26 August, Luftflotte 2 directed three major daylight operations against southeast England and the south coast. Raids struck Dover and Folkestone, penetrated deep over Kent, Essex, and into East Anglia, and mounted a large-scale assault on Portsmouth and Southampton. By nightfall, the attacks had extended nationwide, with devastating raids on Birmingham, Coventry, and other industrial centres.
11:37 Hours: First Major Raid – Dover and Folkestone
At mid-morning, radar picked up a series of raids forming in the Gris-Nez area: five distinct groups comprising around 50 bombers and 80–100 fighters. The force included Do 17s of KG 3, escorted by Bf 109s of JG 3, JG 26, and JG 51. Elements of ZG 26 provided Bf 110 support.
The formation crossed the Channel and attacked targets in the Dover–Folkestone sector, with some bombers pressing inland toward Biggin Hill and Kenley. Fighter Command scrambled six squadrons, including Spitfires of No. 616 Squadron from Kenley, Defiants of No. 264 Squadron from Hornchurch, and others from 11 Group.
No. 616 Squadron, caught climbing late into position, suffered heavily. Seven Spitfires were shot down in rapid succession—two pilots were killed, and five others survived by bailing out or crash-landing. Among the Luftwaffe victors was Major Werner Mölders, Kommodore of Stab./JG 51, who claimed his 27th victory, and Hauptmann Josef Fözö of 4./JG 51, who destroyed two Spitfires over Dover.
Meanwhile, No. 264 Squadron attempted to intercept the Dornier bombers over Herne Bay but was overwhelmed by the escorting fighters. Three Defiants were shot down; yet, in return, the gunners claimed six Do 17s and one fighter destroyed before the unit was decimated. With their escort forced to turn back due to fuel concerns, the Dorniers pressed on but were harried and eventually dispersed, jettisoning bombs over Dover, Folkestone, Margate, and Broadstairs. A number of aircraft also released ordnance over Biggin Hill and Kenley, though damage was limited. By 12:50, the raid was broken up.
14:22 Hours: Second Major Raid – Kent and Essex
Shortly after 13:00 hours, radar stations again reported a build-up off the Belgian coast. This second assault involved 78 Do 17s of II./KG 2 and III./KG 3, escorted by over 120 fighters, including Bf 110s of ZG 26 and ZG 76, and Bf 109s of JG 3.
As the formations crossed the Essex coast near Harwich and entered the Thames Estuary, Fighter Command deployed ten squadrons. Among those scrambled were Hurricanes from Nos. 1 (RCAF, Northolt), 56 (North Weald), 85 (Croydon), 111 (Debden), 310 (Czech, Duxford), and 615 (Kenley) Squadrons.
The first to intercept were the Czechs of No. 310 Squadron, who clashed with the Bf 109 escort. In the ensuing melee, two Hurricanes were lost, though both pilots escaped with minor injuries. Reinforcements from Nos. 56 and 111 Squadrons joined the battle over Clacton and Colchester, claiming several fighters destroyed. No. 1 RCAF Squadron engaged as the formation swung northwest toward Debden. During the fierce combat, Flying Officer R. L. Edwards of Cobourg, Ontario, became the first Canadian fighter pilot killed in action when his Hurricane was brought down by return fire from a Do 17 of KG 2. His aircraft crashed near Thaxted, Essex. Squadron Leader Ernest McNab, commander of No. 1 RCAF Squadron, was seriously wounded by defensive fire but managed to return to base.
Despite strong opposition, six Dorniers broke through and bombed RAF Debden, dropping about 100 bombs. One hangar was destroyed, another damaged, and the sergeants’ mess, NAAFI, and motor transport section hit. Water and electricity supplies were cut, six personnel were killed, and several Hurricanes on the ground were destroyed or damaged.
Meanwhile, Nos. 85 and 615 Squadrons intercepted the portion of the raid approaching via the Thames. Several Do 17s were shot down, including one forced to belly-land at Rochford aerodrome, its surrender witnessed by ground staff who joked about “door-to-door service.”
16:00 Hours: Third Major Raid – Portsmouth and Southampton
The final major operation of the day fell to Luftflotte 3. Around 50 He 111s of I. and II./KG 55, escorted by over 100 fighters—including Bf 110s of V(Z)./LG 1 and Bf 109s of JG 2, JG 27, and JG 53—approached Portsmouth at 15,000 feet on a broad front.
Fighter Command scrambled multiple squadrons including Hurricanes from Nos. 43 (Tangmere) and 213 (Exeter) Squadrons, and Spitfires from Nos. 602 (Westhampnett), 234 (Middle Wallop), and 152 (Warmwell) Squadrons. Due to worsening weather and low cloud, not all units made contact, but those that did caused confusion in the bomber stream. Many Heinkels jettisoned their bombs into the Channel before turning back. Three He 111s were destroyed and others damaged. Four Bf 109s were also claimed, but at the cost of four RAF fighters and three pilots wounded.
Portsmouth nevertheless suffered. Bombs struck Langstone Harbour, destroyed Fort Cumberland, and set fire to the Hilsea gasworks. In the dockyard, the destroyer HMS Acheron had her stern blown off, killing two sailors and wounding three more. HMS Bulldog, moored nearby, was damaged, and her captain, Commander J. P. Wisden, was mortally wounded (he died on 29 August). The French torpedo boat Flore suffered bridge damage, and the naval mine and torpedo school HMS Vernon was also badly hit.
In the air, Oberleutnant Werner Machold of 1./JG 2 scored his 13th victory, downing a Spitfire, while Hauptmann Hans-Karl Mayer of I./JG 53 claimed two more. JG 2 lost Leutnant Walter Hoffmann of 7./JG 2, missing in action over the Channel, while II./JG 53 suffered heavily, with two pilots killed and another rescued from the sea.
Later in the evening, a rescue He 59 seaplane operating south of the Isle of Wight was intercepted and shot down by RAF fighters.
Enemy Action by Night
From 21:25 hours onwards, the Luftwaffe launched one of its heaviest night offensives to date. Bombers streamed across the coast between Beachy Head and Plymouth, penetrating inland to London, Birmingham, and Coventry. London remained under continuous red warning until after 03:00.
Birmingham sustained severe damage, including hits on Bordesley Junction marshalling yards, Small Heath goods yards, and timber storage facilities. Fires raged at BSA Tools Ltd., while the Nuffield works at Castle Bromwich was hit again, though the production impact was unclear. Coventry was also struck, with the Rootes Securities engine plant at Ryton-on-Dunsmore damaged by fire. Plymouth and Bristol endured additional raids, while mining operations were carried out off Plymouth, Whitby, the Tyne, and along the East Anglian coast.
In the north, bombs fell on Stockton-on-Tees, damaging locomotives and a small munitions factory, and at Thornaby, where the Cleveland Works of Dorman Long were hit. In Newcastle, Swan Hunter’s shipyard suffered damage from a delayed-action bomb.
By dawn, more than thirty separate raids had been plotted.
Losses and Assessment
The day was costly for both sides. Fighter Command lost 29 aircraft, with 7 pilots killed and others wounded. The Luftwaffe lost 42 aircraft—a figure that German fighter pilots blamed on the restrictive escort orders forcing them to remain tied to the bombers. Many German crews complained that this prevented them from gaining tactical advantage in combat and allowed RAF fighters to concentrate effectively on the formations.
The results of the raids were mixed. Damage was inflicted at Debden, Portsmouth, Birmingham, and Coventry, but the Luftwaffe suffered such losses that Luftflotte 3 suspended major daylight raids for nearly a month.
Summary
The actions of 26 August 1940 demonstrated both the scale and the cost of Göring’s strategy. The Luftwaffe mounted three massed daylight attacks, but while bombs fell on key airfields and ports, the German toll was heavy.
For Fighter Command, the day was another grim reminder of the strain being imposed on its squadrons. Units from both 10 and 11 Groups were engaged, sustaining losses but inflicting serious damage on the enemy. Individual stories—such as the loss of Flying Officer R. L. Edwards of No. 1 RCAF Squadron, the deaths of multiple No. 616 Squadron pilots, and the gallant resistance of No. 264 Squadron’s Defiants—captured the human cost of the day’s battles.
By night, the Luftwaffe’s escalation into sustained bombing of industrial cities marked a further turning point. For Britain, 26 August was a day of fierce combat and heavy sacrifice, but also a day when the German daylight offensive faltered under unsustainable losses, foreshadowing the shift toward the night Blitz.
German Losses:
Airmen: 44 | Aircraft: 42
British Losses:
Airmen: 7 | Aircraft: 29
Spitfire R6633, No. 616 Squadron
Sgt. M. Ridley killed. Hit by gunfire from Bf 109 over Kent coast. Crashed near town.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Ridley.htm
Spitfire N3275, No. 616 Squadron
F/O G.E. Moberley killed. Shot down over Channel by B109. Pilot did not bale out of aircraft.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Moberly.htm
Defiant L6985, No. 264 Squadron
Sgt. B. Baker listed as missing. Crashed into Thames Estuary after hit by gunfire from Bf 109. Pilot safe.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BakerB.htm
Defiant L7025, No. 264 Squadron
Sgt. W. Maxwell listed as missing. Crashed into Thames Estuary after hit by gunfire from Bf 109. Pilot safe.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/MaxwellW.htm
Spitfire R6595, No. 610 Squadron
P/O F.K. Webster killed. Badly damaged by Bf 109. Crashed in flames attempting to land at Hawkinge.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WebsterFK.htm
Hurricane P3874, No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron
F/O R.L. Edwards killed. Shot down by gunfire from Do 17 during attack on Debden Airfield.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/EdwardsRL.htm
Photo Descriptions
- A Wellington bomber and crews of No. 149 Squadron after their return from Bomber Command’s first attack on Berlin on the night of 25-26 August 1940. © IWM (HU 104669)
- German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels inspects a bomb damaged street in Berlin following the first RAF raid on the city. © IWM
- RAF personnel examine bullet holes in the cockpit of Heinkel He 111P (Werke Nr. 2124 G1+DM) of 4 Staffel./Kampfgeschwader 55, shot down by Sgt B. E. P. Whall of No. 602 Squadron during an attack on Portsmouth Harbour on 26 August 1940.
- Heinkel He 111P (Werke Nr. 2124 G1+DM) of 4 Staffel./Kampfgeschwader 55, shot down by Sgt B. E. P. Whall of No. 602 Squadron during an attack on Portsmouth Harbour on 26 August 1940.
- Sergeant Cyril Frederick Babbage of No. 602 Squadron makes land by Bognor Regis Pier in West Sussex after bailing out of his Spitfire Mk I (X4188) LO-M from RAF Westhampnett on 26 August 1940. Picked up by local fishermen, he was sent to the local hospital. Babbage had downed a Bf 109 over Selsey Bill before being shot down.
- Two crew members of Bristol Blenheim Mark IV, R3811 ‘BL-G’, of No. 40 Squadron RAF enjoy the fresh air while waiting to take off from Wyton, Cambridgeshire. On 26 August 1940, R3811 failed to return from a night intruder sortie over Querqueville and Maupertus airfields in France, all the crew being killed. © IWM CH 717