Convoys off shipping at Dover attacked.
Night: Widespread minelaying from the Needles, Isle of Wight, to Land’s End; Bristol Channel and eastern coastal waters.
Weather: Occasional thunderstorms. Straits of Dover cloudy clearing to bright intervals.
Main Activity:
At approximately 1300 hours, nine Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers from III/StG 2, escorted by seventeen Bf 109s from I/JG 27, launched an attack on the convoy codenamed BOSOM off Swanage. The raid was intercepted by three Hurricanes from No. 238 Squadron and three Spitfires from No. 152 Squadron. In the ensuing dogfight, two Bf 109s from 3./JG 27 were shot down, but the RAF suffered the loss of two fighters. Despite the intense action, the convoy escaped without any ships being sunk.
Later, at 1600 hours, twelve Hurricanes from No. 501 Squadron were dispatched to the same area and encountered several Bf 109s from 1./JG 27. In the engagement, both sides lost a single aircraft.
By 1740 hours, Ju 87 Stukas from II/StG 1, escorted by Bf 110s from 2./ErprGr 210 and Bf 109s from JG 51, approached BOSOM near Dover. Hurricanes and Spitfires from Nos. 32, 65, and 610 Squadrons intercepted the formation. The RAF managed to shoot down two Bf 109s and inflicted severe damage on four Stukas, two of which crash-landed in France. However, the British also incurred losses, with two Hurricanes and one Spitfire failing to return. During the attack, the steamer Pulborough (860 tons) was sunk, and the British destroyer HMS Brazen suffered severe damage, requiring extensive repairs.
German Losses
Airmen: 18 | Aircraft: 12
British Losses
Airmen: 7 | Aircraft: 9
Hurricane P3766, No. 238 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
Sgt C. Parkinson. Died of injuries the next day. Baled out after being shot down by Bf 109. Rescued by ship.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Parkinson.htm
Hurricane P3082, No. 501 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
P/O E.J.H. Sylvester. Certified as missing. Damaged by Bf 109 off Cherbourg, crashed approaching coast.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Sylvester.htm
Spitfire K9880, No. 152 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
P/O N.H. Posener. Certified as missing. Crashed into Channel after being hit by gunfire from Bf 109.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Posener.htm
Hurricane N2670, No. 32 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
Sub/Lt G.G.R. Bulmer. Certified as missing. Hit by gunfire from Bf 109 and crashed into Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Bulmer.htm
Hurricane P3964, No. 43 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
F/O J.F.J. Haworth. Certified as missing. Shot down while investigating E/A, baled out over Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Haworth.htm
Blenheim L1300, No. 236 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
Sgt E.E. Lockton and Sgt H. Corcoran. Certified as missing. Shot down by Bf 109 during escort mission. Crashed into Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Lockton.htm
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Corcoran.htm
Hurricane P2917, No. 263 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
P/O A.R. Downer. Died of injuries the next day. Crashed while making a forced landing at base.
Photo Descriptions:
- A Junkers Ju 87 B-2 Stuka lucky to make it back to France lies in soft sand, 1940.
- RAF personnel inspecting the burnt-out wreckage of a Junkers Ju 88 reconnaissance aircraft of 4.(F)/122 on Cockett Wick Farm, St Osyth near Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. The aircraft was shot down on 20 July 1940 by No. 56 Squadron Hurricanes. © IWM (HU 89068)
- Flying from RAF Tangmere, Hurricane P3784 FT-U force-landed at Amberley in Sussex, when Sgt Herbert JL “Jim” Hallowes of No. 43 Squadron experienced engine problems during an early morning patrol on 20 July 1940.