Shipping and overland reconnaissance.
Night: Minelaying.
Weather: Squally and thundery, some bright intervals. Channel cloudy.
The 10th of August was originally designated by the Luftwaffe as the launch date for Adlerangriff (“Attack of the Eagles”), the full-scale aerial offensive against RAF Fighter Command. However, poor weather across northern France and southern England delayed the operation. Instead, the day was marked by scattered reconnaissance flights, minor attacks on shipping, and isolated airfield bombings. Though lacking major raids, the day’s events hinted at what was to come—an air war on the verge of escalation.
Enemy Action by Day
In the early morning, a German reconnaissance aircraft reported the position of a convoy off Swanage before turning back and fading south of Shoreham. Nearby, trawlers off Beachy Head came under strafing fire, prompting RAF patrols in the area. Two additional German raids appeared shortly thereafter, likely in coordination with the same reconnaissance effort.
At 07:30 hours, a lone Dornier Do 17 bomber crossed the coast near Pevensey and made a low-level attack on RAF West Malling in Kent. Despite the presence of defending Hurricanes from No. 501 Squadron, the raider penetrated the defences and dropped two sticks of bombs—twelve in total—across the aerodrome. Anti-aircraft batteries opened fire, but the Dornier escaped. The bombing caused considerable damage to the old laundry block of the Institution near the airfield, along with surrounding buildings, resulting in ten civilian casualties. Home Security reports note that the destruction was confined largely to non-operational structures, but the raid demonstrated the vulnerability of inland airfields to lone, low-level attacks.
Later in the morning, an enemy aircraft was reported active over a ship 40 miles southwest of Pembroke, suggesting the continuation of Luftwaffe maritime reconnaissance across the western approaches. German patrols were also observed operating from The Lizard in Cornwall to Dungeness, indicating a broad sweep of Channel waters in search of Allied shipping.
Shipping activity along the east coast remained a focus of Luftwaffe attention. In the early hours, several trawlers off Norfolk were attacked by low-flying aircraft. At 06:30 hours, a Dornier Do 17—reportedly shadowing a convoy east of Lowestoft—was intercepted and shot down by Hurricanes from No. 85 Squadron.
Throughout the day, additional reconnaissance patrols were plotted off Yarmouth, Cromer, and further north off Blyth in Northumberland. A Heinkel He 111 was engaged by No. 72 Squadron off Blyth and was chased out to sea before contact was lost.
In the afternoon, a Dornier was sighted over south Norwich, possibly linked to the same patrol line. A Spitfire intercepted and expended its ammunition against the aircraft, but the raider turned out to sea and escaped. Later in the evening, Erprobungsgruppe 210, flying Bf 110 fighter-bombers, attempted a surprise strike on Norwich, though details of bomb damage remain unclear.
RAF Operations and Incidents
Although aerial combat was limited, RAF activity continued across multiple sectors.
No. 608 Squadron (RAF Coastal Command) conducted its first operational sortie using the Blackburn Botha, a new general reconnaissance aircraft. This marked the beginning of an ultimately troubled chapter for the Botha, which would prove underpowered and unreliable in service.
Enemy Action by Night
As night fell, enemy activity intensified across Britain’s coastal and inland regions. Between North Foreland and Orfordness, eight separate raids were plotted, believed to be minelaying operations. Several of these formations operated in and around the Thames Estuary and off Harwich, consistent with Luftwaffe maritime interdiction strategy.
Further suspected minelaying raids were reported in the Bristol Channel and off Plymouth, while four additional raids were plotted along the Yorkshire coast between Flamborough Head and the Humber. One raid was tracked north-east of the Orkneys, and another moved along the coast from Wick to Rosehearty, reflecting the growing reach of German night operations.
In a significant night operation, bombers from II./KG 27 struck the South Wales ports and Bristol docks around 23:30 hours, dropping both high-explosive bombs and propaganda leaflets. In Swansea, a direct hit on a shelter near the Llandore GWR viaduct caused severe damage to railway infrastructure and resulted in the deaths of four civilians.
Elsewhere, RAF and Home Security reports confirmed that bombs were dropped at several locations during the night. At 01:54 hours, high-explosive bombs struck the Skinningrove Iron and Steel Works, causing minor casualties and slight damage to blast furnace operations. At 02:27 hours, bombs fell near Cullercoats, where an unexploded device—believed to be a magnetic mine—was later discovered. Between 00:45 and 02:00 hours, a heavy concentration of 31 high-explosive bombs was reported in the Warkworth–Amble area of Northumberland, while at 02:15 hours, bombs also fell near Marske, close to Saltburn. Additional bombs were reported across rural parts of Wiltshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, though no serious damage was recorded in these areas.
On the Home Front
Despite the growing tempo of air operations, public morale remained high. One expression of national solidarity came in the form of “Spitfire Funds”, locally organised community drives to sponsor the production of fighter aircraft.
Thanks to Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, the nominal cost of sponsoring a new Spitfire was reduced from over £8,800 to £5,000, allowing towns, businesses, and even villages to “buy” a fighter. In return, each funded aircraft would carry the name of the donor community, often proudly painted beneath the cockpit. These campaigns became a powerful symbol of civilian contribution to the air war and the defence of Britain.
German Losses:
Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 1
British Losses:
Airmen: 0 | Aircraft: 0
Photo Descriptions
- A Dornier Do 17Z bomber drops it’s payload, Summer 1940. Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-341-0489-13 / Spieth / CC-BY-SA 3.0.
- Airmen and WAAF operators at work in the wooden Receiver hut at Ventnor Chain Home station, Isle of Wight, during the Battle of Britain. © IWM (C 1868)