Shipping in Straits attacked.
Night: Minelaying between the Wash and the Tay.
Weather: Temperatures high. Fine weather with slight haze in the Channel.
Enemy Action by Day
The return of fine weather on 5 August 1940 brought renewed Luftwaffe activity across Britain’s skies. With clear conditions and only light haze over the Channel, reconnaissance flights and minor attacks resumed, particularly targeting convoys along the southeast coast. While full-scale raids were still absent, multiple probing actions kept RAF Fighter Command on high alert. The day also saw intensified enemy minelaying operations along Britain’s eastern seaboard, from the Wash to the Tay.
Morning Raids Over the Channel and South Coast
At dawn, German aircraft began probing British defenses over the Straits of Dover and the southern coastline. A series of reconnaissance flights, likely by Ju 88s and He 111s, approached from the Calais–Gris Nez sector. At around 08:00 hours, a Luftwaffe formation attempted to shadow a convoy moving between Hastings and the North Foreland. Four RAF squadrons were scrambled, including No. 65 Squadron from Hornchurch. One of its sections intercepted five Bf 109s from I./JG 54 returning from the convoy area. A sharp engagement ensued just four miles off Calais. Two Messerschmitts were damaged, and Oblt. Reinhard Seiler of 1./JG 54 claimed a Spitfire, believed to be from No. 65 Squadron.
Air Battles Over Kent and the Channel
Shortly after, six Spitfires of No. 64 Squadron engaged further Messerschmitts from JG 54 over Kent. The skirmish cost the RAF one Spitfire and the life of Sgt. L.R. Isaac, whose aircraft (L1029) was downed off Folkestone at 08:50 hours. One Bf 109 was confirmed destroyed in the combat, and another limped back to occupied France.
Later in the day, at approximately 14:00 hours, a large formation of Ju 88s—escorted by Bf 109s from JG 51—attempted to locate Channel shipping. Spitfires from No. 41 Squadron and Hurricanes from No. 151 Squadron responded. During the interception, No. 151 Squadron claimed a Bf 109. Luftwaffe pilots from 7./JG 51, including Gefr. Paul Limpert, Lt. Hermann Staiger, and Hptm. Walter Oesau also scored victories. However, the unit suffered the loss of experienced pilot Karl Schmid, credited with ten aerial victories before being killed in action.
Convoy Engagements and Inland Bombing
Additional formations crossed the Channel near Dungeness. At 14:50 hours, No. 145 Squadron intercepted a raid, claiming one Ju 88 and one Hs 126 as probable kills, although neither was confirmed. The RAF lost one Hurricane during the engagement.
A convoy near Yarmouth came under attack later in the afternoon. Hurricanes from No. 242 Squadron shot down a Ju 88 and claimed a He 111 as a probable. Meanwhile, No. 72 Squadron intercepted a He 111 near Blyth, Northumberland, pursuing it out to sea.
At 15:12 hours, a lone aircraft dropped bombs on Norwich, igniting fires in railway goods yards and timber depots. Scattered bombing incidents were also reported at Brighton, Leighton Buzzard, Milford Haven, the Isle of Grain, and Middlesbrough.
Reconnaissance and Mysterious Incursions
One raid ventured over Bempton on the East Yorkshire coast before fading 100 miles east of Whitby. Another passed between Hartlepool and Tees. Several other plots were likely linked to shipping reconnaissance flights off East Anglia.
A strange incident was reported over the Firth of Tay, where a Heinkel bearing white roundels—but no identifiable German insignia—was seen near Turnhouse. The aircraft’s purpose and origin remained unclear.
Elsewhere, No. 72 Squadron Spitfires engaged what appeared to be a lone He 111 off the northeast coast. Although driven off, the aircraft was not brought down.
Enemy Action by Night
Night activity was comparatively light. The Luftwaffe concentrated primarily on minelaying operations along the eastern seaboard. Between the Wash and the Tay, at least five raids were plotted and suspected to have dropped mines in coastal shipping lanes.
At 21:25 hours, a raid crossed inland near Dover, moving up through Kent toward the Thames Estuary. London was placed on “purple” alert. Two similar tracks followed shortly after.
Meanwhile, five raids were plotted moving down the Channel toward Cherbourg. Only two of these appeared to continue westward toward Cardiff and Swansea, though there is little evidence of damage or bomb impacts.
Four more short-duration raids were tracked off Pembrokeshire, while radio intercepts suggested Luftwaffe reconnaissance activity near the Bristol Channel.
At 22:10 hours, a returning RAF bomber crew reported sighting a Bf 110 flying at 10,000 feet, 18 miles northeast of North Walsham.
Leaflet drops continued as part of the Luftwaffe’s psychological warfare efforts. Leaflets containing Hitler’s July 19 speech—his so-called “Last Appeal to Reason”—were dropped overnight near Great Oakley (near Harwich).
German Losses:
Airmen: 17 | Aircraft: 8
British Losses:
Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 2
Spitfire L1029, No. 64 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
Sgt L.R. Isaac. Missing. Presumed shot down by Bf 109 over Channel. Failed to return to base.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Isaac.htm
Photo Description
- Three Spitfire Mk Is (including R6712, YT-N, and R6714, YT-M) of No. 65 Squadron, taking off from Hornchurch, August 1940. © IWM (HU 54421)