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 early morning fog clinging to the southern coast of England, but visibility improved as the morning progressed. 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 losses 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.
Morning Engagements over the South Coast
In the early hours, two small enemy raids were detected approaching the Isle of Wight, likely weather and reconnaissance patrols. Despite low cloud and intermittent haze, Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron engaged one formation and succeeded in downing a Dornier Do 17 west of Southampton. Around 11:14 hours, another bomber—a Heinkel He 111—was intercepted over Spithead by Hurricanes from No. 43 Squadron, Tangmere. The Heinkel was destroyed, with debris seen falling into the Channel. These early engagements reflected a continuation of the Luftwaffe’s probing attacks along the Hampshire and Dorset coasts.
14:20–15:00 Hours: Convoy Attack off Portland
At 14:20 hours, a major raid developed over the Dorset coast, as approximately forty German aircraft—comprising twenty Ju 87 Stukas from II./StG 1 and Bf 110 heavy fighters from V.(Z)/LG 1—moved to strike a convoy steaming off Portland. The German force failed to locate its target and instead adopted a defensive formation—the Abwehrkreis—as RAF fighters from No. 238 Squadron (Hurricanes) and No. 609 Squadron (Spitfires) engaged.
A fierce aerial melee ensued. One Bf 110 was shot down outright, and three others sustained heavy damage. Two Stukas failed to return safely to France, crash-landing separately—one near Cap Gris-Nez, the other at Noordpeene. RAF casualties included the loss of one Hurricane from No. 238 Squadron. Flight Lieutenant J.C. Kennedy was killed after engaging a Dornier Do 17 over Chesil Beach. His aircraft came under attack from German fighters, forcing him to dive towards the coast. Attempting a forced landing near Southdown, Littlemore, he stalled while trying to avoid high-tension cables and was killed in the crash.
Although no ships were struck, the engagement marked the first significant deployment of V./LG 1’s bomb-carrying Bf 110s in direct offensive operations against coastal convoys.
17:30 Hours: Dive-Bombing Raid on Dover
Shortly after 17:30 hours, a mixed formation of Ju 87s and Bf 109s launched an attack on Dover Harbour and a southbound convoy just off the coast. The German dive-bombers were from II./StG 1, and their escort came from III./JG 51. Spitfires of No. 64 Squadron from Kenley responded, engaging the escort fighters while AA batteries opened fire on the bombers.
Two Messerschmitt Bf 109s were claimed as probably destroyed by the Spitfires, though not confirmed. One Spitfire was damaged by AA fire, but the pilot managed to return to base safely. Anti-aircraft gunners claimed the downing of one Ju 87, seen falling into the sea—though this too remained unconfirmed. The convoy emerged unharmed, though several bombs fell near the docks and harbour installations.
18:00 Hours: Heavy Clash off Calais
The fiercest action of the day came just before 18:00 hours, about fifteen miles off Calais, during a Luftwaffe strike on Convoy CW 5. The attacking force comprised twelve Junkers Ju 87 dive-bombers from Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 (StG 1), escorted by fighters from three Staffeln of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51), including elements of II. and III. Gruppen. Eleven Hurricanes from No. 56 Squadron engaged the bombers, triggering an intense dogfight with the escorting Messerschmitts.
In this chaotic engagement, No. 56 Squadron claimed three Ju 87s and two Bf 109s destroyed, with a fourth Stuka listed as probable. However, the cost to the RAF was significant. Two Hurricanes were shot down—Sgt. J.R. Cowsill in Hurricane N2432 was killed over Calais, and Sgt. J.J. Whitfield was downed over the Channel at 19:00 hours.
Additional support was provided by Spitfires from No. 54 Squadron, who joined the action and focused on the Bf 109 escort. Among them was New Zealander Flt. Lt. Colin Falkland Gray, who successfully shot down Leutnant Hans-Joachim Lange of JG 51; Lange was killed when his aircraft crashed into the Channel. Luftwaffe losses in the engagement included six aircraft destroyed and eight damaged. Among those confirmed was a Ju 87 from StG 1, which crash-landed near Wissant with both crew members wounded.
The aerial combat also saw several prominent Luftwaffe aces claim victories. Oberst Theo Osterkamp, Kommodore of JG 51, scored what would be his sixth and final aerial victory during this engagement. Oblt. Josef Fözö of 9./JG 51 claimed two Hurricanes destroyed, while additional victories were credited to Hptm. Horst Tietzen and Oblt. Arnold Lignitz. One Bf 109 was confirmed lost in the action.
During the attack, the destroyer HMS Vanessa, part of the convoy escort, suffered disabling near-misses. Although not directly struck, the vessel sustained serious structural damage and was rendered inoperative. She was taken under tow by the tug Lady Duncannon and brought to safety for repairs, which were not completed until November 1940.
In a tragic postscript to the engagement, one RAF Spitfire was mistakenly shot down by anti-aircraft defences at Dover.
Convoy and Coastal Raids across the East
Throughout the day, eight enemy raids were tracked along the East Coast. Two targeted convoys near Harwich and North Foreland, but no bomb hits were recorded. These appeared to be limited harassment or diversionary missions.
Bombing Incidents in Southern England
Scattered bombings were reported in the afternoon and evening. High-explosive bombs were dropped near Warmwell and four miles northeast of Lulworth Cove, though no damage was sustained. At Dundee, another minor raid was recorded, with no resulting casualties.
Enemy Action by Night
After dark, Luftwaffe activity diminished markedly. From 22:40 to 01:17 hours, only a few enemy raids were plotted, most likely minelaying missions in the Thames Estuary and along the stretch between Middlesbrough and The Wash.
One notable incident occurred at 23:10 hours, when a powerful explosion tore through the High Duty Alloys Factory at Slough. One man was killed, and 45 others injured—23 slightly. While enemy action was suspected, the precise cause of the blast remained undetermined.
In Co. Durham, incendiary bombs were dropped near railway lines leading to Seaton Snooks, the west side of Brenda Road in West Hartlepool, and Graythorp village. Near Consett, bombs fell in the Bridgehill district—killing a cow and slightly damaging a house by fire.
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
- 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)
- Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers during the Battle of Britain, 1940.
- 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)
- British troops with a partly-camouflaged crash-landed Heinkel He 111 of Stab./KG 55 shot down by Hurricanes of No. 43 Squadron during an armed reconnaissance sortie to Southampton on 13 July 1940. Dumping its bomb load, the crippled aircraft made a forced landing in a Hampshire meadow beside the Hambleton to Farnham road at Hipley, just opposite the Horse and Jockey pub. One of the crew had been killed, three others injured and one escaped unharmed. © IWM (HU 7963)
Gerald Clark
July 21, 2020 @ 21:45
The Bf 110 shot down was that of Hans Joachim Göring, and Uffz Albert Zimmermann, who crashed at the Verne Portland. Their remains were never recovered. The two damaged aircraft crashed into the sea off Portland. The crews bodies of one, Friedrich Wolfgang Graf von Castell and Gefr Heinz Reder were never recovered. The other Bf 110 was crewed by Joachim Schröder, who was rescued by Weymouth Lifeboat, the body of his crewman, Franz Sorokoputal was not recovered. Also shot down, off Portland in this raid, was a Ju 87B. The bodies of the crew, Wolfgang Grosche and Uffz Horst Fietz, were never recovered.
David Bailey
July 22, 2020 @ 22:40
Sgt Watson-Parker was sadly killed whilst performing the important role of ferrying a Spitfire to 610 Squadron at Biggin Hill. He’d been attached from 263 Squadron to 5 OTU at Aston Down, where he was on a twin-engined conversion course. He was then loaned to 6 MU to deliver the Spitfire. The records show that it was his first flight in a Spitfire, and 263’s squadron leader believed the crash was caused by his lack of experience on the Spitfire. It’s a very sad story. Hope that helps.
Thomas Wright
January 24, 2025 @ 15:47
Apparently Theo Osterkamp, WW1 German ace shot down a spitfire on this date in the vicinity of Dover. He was commander of JG51 and aged 48 at the time of the kill, which was his 5th of WW2.