Shipping attacks off Dover and Portland.

Night: Minelaying in Thames Estuary.

Weather: Early morning fog in southern England clearing by mid-morning.

Enemy Action by Day

Saturday, 13 July 1940, began with fog clinging to the southern coast of England. It persisted until midday over the Portland area, while operations elsewhere along the south coast were hampered by haze and intermittent cloud. The Luftwaffe maintained its focus on Channel convoys, particularly those near Portland and Dover, continuing the Kanalkampf phase of the air war.

Though no confirmed ship sinkings were reported, German efforts intensified against shipping lanes and coastal installations. Fighter Command responded in force, with multiple squadrons intercepting bombing raids and escort formations over land and sea. As the Battle of Britain entered its third full day, the RAF and Luftwaffe clashed repeatedly, and losses mounted on both sides.

Early Morning: Minelaying over the Thames Estuary

During the early morning hours, a Heinkel He 115 floatplane of 3./KüFlGr.906 engaged in mine-laying operations in the Thames Estuary was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Leutnant zur See Dr. Gerhard Steinert, Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Joachim Hildbrand and Feldwebel Hermann Pluntke were all killed.

09:15–11:48 Hours: Reconnaissance off the South Coast

Between 09:15 and 10:00 hours, Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron intercepted a Dornier Do 17 south of St Albans Point and claimed it destroyed. The aircraft was probably a Do 17M of 4.(F)/14, which was damaged during the engagement but succeeded in reaching Osen, where it made a forced landing. Its crew escaped unhurt.

At approximately 11:14 hours, Hurricanes of No. 43 Squadron intercepted another German reconnaissance aircraft south of the Isle of Wight and claimed a Heinkel He 111 destroyed over Spithead. The aircraft may instead have been Ju 88 9K+CP of 6./KG 51, which failed to return from a reconnaissance sortie to Southampton and was believed to have crashed in the Channel.

The crew—Oberleutnant Fritz Kasper, Unteroffizier Konrad Labermeier, Feldwebel Wilhelm Zimmermann and Gefreiter Kurt Geiger—were posted missing.

11:45 Hours: Erprobungsgruppe 210 Attacks Thames Shipping

At 11:45 hours, ten bomb-carrying Bf 110s of the newly formed Erprobungsgruppe 210 departed St-Omer to carry out the unit’s first anti-shipping raid against targets in the Thames Estuary. The formation was protected by Bf 110 fighters and Bf 109s of I./JG 52.

RAF fighters failed to intercept the raid, and German crews claimed direct hits on four vessels in the estuary. All aircraft returned safely except one Bf 110 fighter-bomber, which developed engine trouble and force-landed at Ghent.

14:45–15:40 Hours: Reconnaissance Clash off Portland

At approximately 14:45 hours, twelve Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron were scrambled to intercept a Dornier Do 17P reconnaissance aircraft operating off Portland Bill. The Dornier, Do 17P 4U+DK of 2.(F)/123, was escorted by Bf 110s of V.(Z)/LG 1 and Bf 109s of II./JG 51.

A fierce engagement followed over the Dorset coast and English Channel. Red Section of No. 238 Squadron attacked the Dornier, shooting it down into the sea off Chesil Beach. During the same action, Hurricanes of Green and Blue Sections claimed Bf 110s damaged and destroyed, while Sergeant Eric Bann of Yellow Section shot down another Bf 110 before joining attacks on the Dornier.

Of the Dornier’s crew, Oberleutnant Maximilian Graf von Kesselstatt survived and was captured, while Leutnant Oskar Weinbauer and Feldwebel Gerhard Peelen were killed.

Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron also joined the engagement. Flying Officer J.C. Dundas shot down a Bf 110, while Pilot Officer R.F.G. Miller attacked the Dornier repeatedly and observed it heading out to sea on fire and losing height rapidly.

On returning to base, Flight Lieutenant James Cuthbertson Kennedy of No. 238 Squadron stalled Hurricane P2950 while attempting to avoid high-tension cables during his landing approach. The aircraft crashed, killing him.

German records confirm the loss of a Bf 110C of 14./LG 1 during the engagement. Leutnant Hermann Eisele and his air gunner, Unteroffizier Kurt Lochow, were both killed. Two Bf 110s of 15./LG 1 returned severely damaged, with Leutnant Kurt Krebitz wounded aboard one of them.

17:30 Hours: Attack on Dover Harbour and Convoy Bread

At approximately 17:30 hours, a mixed formation of Ju 87 dive-bombers and Bf 109 fighters attacked Dover Harbour and Convoy Bread south of Dover.

Spitfires of No. 64 Squadron from Kenley were scrambled to intercept. During the action, two Spitfires of No. 64 Squadron were accidentally damaged by anti-aircraft fire from Dover’s own defences. One aircraft, flown by Sub-Lieutenant (A) John Sykes RNVR, force-landed successfully at Hawkinge after suffering hydraulic failure caused by shell damage. Another Spitfire also returned damaged by AA fire, though its pilot escaped injury.

Sub-Lieutenant (A) Frederick Dawson-Paul, flying Spitfire L1035, engaged two Bf 109s and claimed one destroyed after its pilot baled out and the aircraft crashed into the sea. Leutnant Joachim Lange of 9./JG 51 abandoned his Bf 109 during the fighting and may have been Dawson-Paul’s victim.

In return, Oberstleutnant Theo Osterkamp, Kommodore of JG 51, claimed a Spitfire destroyed, while Oberleutnant Arnold Lignitz of 9./JG 51 also claimed a Spitfire south of Dover.

Between 17:21 and 18:39 hours, nine Spitfires of No. 54 Squadron patrolled off the French coast, where Pilot Officer C.F. Gray, flying Spitfire R6893, claimed a Bf 109 destroyed.

Although several bombs fell near harbour installations and the convoy route, no ships were sunk during the attack.

17:30 Hours: Attack on a Convoy off Portland

At approximately the same time, twelve Ju 87 dive-bombers of II./StG 1, protected by nineteen Bf 109s of II./JG 51, attacked a convoy off Portland. Ten Hurricanes of No. 56 Squadron intercepted the formation, and the engagement developed into a confused battle across the Channel.

The engagement rapidly developed into a large and confused dogfight over the Channel. Hurricanes attacked the Stukas directly while the escorting Bf 109s attempted to break up the RAF formations.

Flight Lieutenant J.H. Coghlan claimed a Bf 109 destroyed and a Ju 87 probably destroyed, while Flying Officer R.E.P. Brooker and Sergeant James Cowsill each claimed a Ju 87 destroyed. Pilot Officer A.G. Page claimed a Bf 109 probably destroyed, while Squadron Leader G.A.L. Manton and Sergeants P. Hillwood, R.D. Baker and G. Smythe each claimed a Ju 87 probably destroyed.

The German fighter pilots claimed six Hurricanes during the battle. Hauptmann Josef Fözö of 4./JG 51 claimed two, while Hauptmann Horst Tietzen, Unteroffizier Ernst Buder, Feldwebel Heinrich Tornow and Feldwebel Hans John each claimed another destroyed.

Sergeant James Cowsill, flying Hurricane N2432, was killed after claiming a Ju 87 destroyed during the engagement. Sergeant Joseph Whitfield also failed to return after combat over the Channel in Hurricane P2922. Flight Lieutenant Coghlan returned wounded in Hurricane N2402, while Sergeant R.D. Baker brought his damaged Hurricane P2985 back safely.

The RAF’s extensive claims greatly exceeded the Luftwaffe’s confirmed losses. Two Ju 87s of 10.(St)/LG 1 returned badly damaged: one crash-landed on the beach at Cap Gris-Nez with Feldwebel Robert Heidfeld wounded, while the other force-landed at Noordpeene.

Additional RAF and Luftwaffe Operations

Throughout the day, enemy raids continued intermittently along the east coast and Channel approaches. Convoys near Harwich and North Foreland were shadowed and attacked, though no confirmed bomb hits were recorded.

Two Blenheims of No. 82 Squadron failed to return from a raid near Amsterdam after interception by Bf 109s. Blenheim R3701 was shot down with the loss of Flight Lieutenant P.H. Lewis, Sergeant H.W. Richardson and Sergeant J. Newberry, while Blenheim R3756 was also destroyed; Sergeant D.A. Evans and Sergeant A. Avery were captured, and Sergeant A. Evans was killed.

Operational Accidents

RAF flying accidents during the day caused several additional losses.

At Hornchurch, Sergeant Raymond Birch of No. 19 Squadron was killed during dogfighting practice when Spitfire R6688 crashed at Balsham during a steep turn.

No. 610 Squadron also lost Sergeant Patrick Watson-Parker when Spitfire R6807 crashed at Tatsfield during a routine patrol at 11:36 hours.

Hudson N7231 of No. 220 Squadron struck a balloon cable at Boldon Colliery, County Durham, while returning from operations and crashed with the loss of all crew aboard.

At approximately 11:30 hours, Blenheim R3597 of No. 218 Squadron crashed near Harrold after striking the top of a forty-foot ash tree while flying at very low level. Flying Officer Terry Newton, Sergeant Joe Routledge and Sergeant David Malpass were all killed.

A Hurricane of No. 263 Squadron was also wrecked during an unauthorised night patrol near Lanark, though the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Wynford Smith, survived unhurt.

Enemy Action by Night

After dark, Luftwaffe activity diminished considerably, with most operations consisting of mine-laying sorties and scattered nuisance raids along the east coast and Thames Estuary approaches.

At 23:10 hours, a powerful explosion tore through the High Duty Alloys Factory at Slough, killing one man and injuring 45 others. Although enemy action was suspected, the precise cause was never conclusively determined.

Incendiary bombs were also dropped near railway installations in County Durham, including near Seaton Snooks, Brenda Road in West Hartlepool and Graythorp village. Near Consett, bombs fell in the Bridgehill district, killing a cow and causing minor fire damage to a nearby house.

Meanwhile, Bomber Command dispatched substantial forces against targets in Germany, including Bremen, Duisburg-Ruhrort, Hamm, Hamburg and the Dortmund–Ems Canal. During operations over Borkum, Hampden P1322 of No. 44 Squadron attacked Bf 110 fighters near the airfield. Pilot Officer Charles Price was credited with destroying one Messerschmitt after a low-level attack, an action for which he later received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

A returning Blenheim of No. 59 Squadron, R3665, crashed into the sea off Saltdean after its pilot was apparently dazzled by a searchlight. A motor lifeboat recovered the bodies of Pilot Officer H.A. Clark, Sergeant D.D. Morton and Sergeant F. Clayton.

German Losses:
Airmen: 11 | Aircraft: 6

British Losses:
Airmen: 5 | Aircraft: 6

Spitfire R6807, No. 610 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt P.J. Watson-Parker killed. Crashed, reasons not recorded.

Hurricane P2950, No. 238 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
F/Lt J.C. Kennedy killed. Believed injured by gunfire from Do 17, crashed on returning to base.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/KennedyJC.htm

Hurricane N2432, No. 56 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt J.R. Cowsill missing. Last seen in combat with Bf 109, believed ditched in Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Cowsill.htm

Hurricane P2922, No. 56 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt J.J. Whitfield missing. Hit by gunfire from Bf 109 over Channel, crashed into sea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Whitfield.htm

Spitfire R6688, No. 19 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt R.R.G. Birch killed. Stalled while attempting steep turn during dogfight practice.

Photo Descriptions

1. A flight of Hawker Hurricane Mark Is of No. 56 Squadron RAF taking off for a sortie from North Weald, Essex. In the foreground another Hurricane Mark I of the Squadron, P2764 ‘US-P’, stands at its dispersal point near the perimeter track on the south-western edge of the airfield. © IWM (CH 158)
2. Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers during the Battle of Britain, 1940.
3. HMS Vanessa (D29) docked at Blackwell. She and the destroyer HMS Gallant (H59) were escorting a convoy in the English Channel on 13 July 1940 when it came under German air attack shortly after leaving Dover. A bomb landed in the water six yards (5.5 meters) astern of Vanessa, knocking her propellers out of service. The destroyer HMS Griffin (H31) towed her to port. Vanessa underwent repairs at Chatham Dockyard, which were not completed until 4 November 1940. © IWM (A 9503)