Airfield attacks in south-east; Manston evacuated. Heavy raid on Portsmouth.

Night: Heavier attacks over wide area. Minelaying.

Weather: Fine and clear in the south, drizzle in the north.

Enemy Action by Day

The lull of the previous five days had allowed both the RAF and the Luftwaffe to regroup. RAF radar stations damaged in earlier attacks were swiftly restored, and most airfields remained operational despite repeated bombing. Losses of pilots and aircraft continued to mount on both sides, but the Luftwaffe had failed to achieve the decisive results promised earlier in the campaign. On 24 August, Göring issued renewed instructions calling for sustained pressure on Fighter Command through repeated attacks, with particular emphasis on RAF airfields. Fighter escorts were ordered to remain close to their bombers, restricting the free-ranging tactics previously favoured by German pilots.

The result was a day of stepped raids, feints, and massed attacks that placed Fighter Command under continuous strain.

Morning Activity over Kent

At first light, radar detected enemy formations approaching the Kent coast. Between 06:00 and 08:00 hours, multiple formations—together amounting to more than eighty aircraft—crossed between Dover and Dungeness and flew inland toward North Foreland and Gravesend. RAF fighters intercepted and dispersed these incursions before they could reach inland targets. Four enemy aircraft were destroyed, and no bomb damage was reported.

At approximately 10:00 hours, Dover and Folkestone were shelled by heavy batteries across the Channel. Four shells fell near Hawkinge aerodrome, though little damage was sustained. The shelling continued intermittently, with intervals of several minutes between rounds.

Late Morning: Manston Attacked

At 11:30 hours, a further enemy formation—comprising Ju 88 bombers of KG 76, escorted by Bf 109s of JG 51—crossed the Channel from the Cap Gris-Nez area targeting Manston. Defiants of No. 264 Squadron were scrambled alongside Hurricanes of Nos. 151 and 501 Squadrons.

As the bombers delivered a heavy attack on the airfield, No. 264 Squadron engaged the formation, claiming one Ju 88 destroyed and another damaged. The engagement proved costly: three Defiants were lost including the aircraft flown by Squadron Leader P. A. Hunter, the squadron’s commanding officer, who was listed as missing along with his gunner, Pilot Officer F. H. King. Two other aircraft sustained damage.

During this period, Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron were vectored to the Dover area, where for the first forty minutes they made no contact. They later intercepted a flight of six Bf 109s. The German fighters, already holding a head start, turned away and made for France, and the engagement was broken off. One pilot, Sergeant R. F. Hamlyn, continued the pursuit in defiance of standing orders, chasing a single Bf 109 back across the Channel toward the French coast before returning to base.

Midday Fighting and the Loss of Manston

By midday, attacks on Manston and Dover resumed. Fresh bomber formations again struck the area under fighter escort, and multiple RAF squadrons were committed to the defence. Pilot Officer Władysław Głowacki of No. 501 “County of Gloucester” Squadron, flying Hurricane V7234, achieved five confirmed victories in the course of the day. Leading his section against a formation of Ju 88 bombers that had just attacked Manston, he destroyed two Ju 88s in quick succession and shot down an escorting Bf 109. Later the same day, he claimed a further Ju 88 near Greystone, becoming an ace in a single day.

The situation at Manston rapidly deteriorated. Fires spread across the station, buildings were destroyed, and the landing area was rendered unusable. Further attacks followed at 13:11 and again at 15:39 hours. By the afternoon, the airfield had been evacuated and had ceased to function as a forward operational base.

Afternoon Fighting over Kent and the Thames Estuary

Between 13:00 and 14:00 hours, additional enemy formations were engaged over the North Foreland and Deal areas, resulting in further dogfights. As the afternoon progressed, bomber streams were tracked approaching London before diverting toward the sector stations at Hornchurch and North Weald.

With multiple engagements already underway along the south-eastern coastline and further enemy formations anticipated, No. 11 Group was stretched to its limits. Hurricanes from Nos. 32, 151, 501, and 615 Squadrons, along with Spitfires from Nos. 54, 65, and 610 Squadrons, were committed in rapid succession, supported by the remaining Defiants of No. 264 Squadron.

As the scale of the fighting expanded across north Kent, the Thames Estuary, and parts of Essex, Air Vice-Marshal Park requested reinforcements from No. 12 Group. In response, Spitfires of No. 19 Squadron were dispatched from Duxford, while three additional squadrons attempted to form a ‘Big Wing’. However, by the time they reached the operational area, the German bombers were already withdrawing, leaving behind fires and scattered bomb damage across the Estuary.

North Weald was attacked later in the afternoon, sustaining damage to its wireless station and mains supply, though operations continued. Hornchurch was also struck but remained operational.

German fighter units engaged during this phase included elements of JG 2, JG 3, JG 26, JG 51, JG 53, and Zerstörer units of LG 2. Fighting was intense and often brief. In one sharp engagement, Bf 109s fell upon Spitfires of No. 616 Squadron, shooting down seven aircraft in a matter of moments. Two Bf 109s of II./JG 2 were destroyed during the fighting—one pilot was killed, and another was wounded after crashing near Le Havre. Leutnant Franz Achleitner of 9./JG 3, who had five victories, was shot down and captured.

Unteroffizier Hans Busch and Unteroffizier Walter Harheim of 2./JG 51 were both killed when their aircraft collided over Ramsgate. In the same area, a Spitfire from No. 610 Squadron was shot down by Hauptmann Josef Fözö of 4./JG 51. Shortly afterwards, Feldwebel Josef Oglodeck of 1./JG 51 was killed in action after claiming his second Spitfire at 14:12 hours. Off Margate, Oberleutnant Josef Priller of 6./JG 51 destroyed two Hurricanes.

At 16:45 hours, a Blenheim of No. 235 Squadron was mistakenly shot down by a Hurricane of No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron and crashed into Bracklesham Bay, resulting in the loss of its crew.

The Portsmouth Raid

Until mid-afternoon, activity in the south and west had been limited largely to reconnaissance. At approximately 16:00 hours, radar detected a major enemy formation assembling off the Cherbourg Peninsula. Shortly after 16:20 hours, He 111 bombers of KG 55 crossed the coast and attacked Portsmouth. Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron were scrambled to intercept but encountered the bombers under unfavourable conditions, finding themselves below the main formation and already under fire from coastal anti-aircraft batteries.

The city and dockyard area were heavily bombed. Over 200 bombs were dropped, causing widespread devastation. Naval barracks, factories, shops, and housing were struck, railway services were disrupted, and two naval units in harbour were damaged. The destroyer HMS Acheron sustained damage. More than one hundred civilians were killed and several hundred injured, making it the heaviest single daylight toll of the battle to date.

RAF interception was limited, and the attack was carried out largely unopposed.

Evening Activity

At 18:45 hours, more than 110 enemy aircraft crossed the coast near Dover and Dungeness and penetrated inland as far as Maidstone. Upon interception by RAF fighters, the formation turned back toward France without attacking further targets.

Enemy Action by Night

Enemy activity continued on a widespread scale after dark. Raids were reported across southern and western England, South Wales, the Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire. Bombing occurred in Birmingham, Bristol, Gloucester, Cardiff, Sheffield, Hull, Liverpool, and Middlesbrough. At St Athan, the RAF hospital was damaged; at Castle Bromwich, the aircraft factory sustained slight damage. Mine-laying operations were reported off the Lancashire coast, in the Channel, and extensively in the Thames Estuary and East Anglian waters.

During the night, He 111 bombers of Kampfgeschwader 1, operating under Luftflotte 3, crossed the Thames Estuary while searching for the Thameshaven oil terminal. Owing to navigational error, bombs were dropped over parts of London. West Ham and Bethnal Green were hit, warehouses in the West India Docks were set alight, and a serious fire developed from Fore Street toward London Wall. In total, seventy-six serious incidents were reported across the capital, with nine civilians killed and fifty-eight injured.

One enemy bomber was reported destroyed by fighter action during the night, with another listed as probably destroyed.

Summary

Saturday, 24 August 1940 marked a turning point in the air war. The day demonstrated both the resilience of Fighter Command and the Luftwaffe’s shift towards sustained terror bombing. For the first time, Londoners endured the shock of a night raid, while Portsmouth paid dearly for the German bomber onslaught. The RAF remained bloodied but unbroken, and Churchill’s immediate order for reprisal raids on Berlin ensured that the conflict was about to escalate into the Blitz proper.

German Losses:
Airmen: 46 | Aircraft: 41

British Losses:
Airmen: 10 | Aircraft: 20

Hurricane P3141, No. 501 Squadron
P/O P. Zenker listed as missing. Failed to return to base after combat with Do 17s and Bf 109s.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Zenker.htm

Defiant N1535, No. 264 Squadron
S/L P.A. Hunter listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/HunterPA.htm
P/O F.H. King listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/KingFH.htm
Last seen chasing Ju 88 out to sea after attack on Manston.

Defiant L6966, No. 264 Squadron
P/O J.T. Jones listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/JonesJT.htm
P/O W.A. Ponting listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Ponting.htm
Last seen in combat with Ju 88s & Bf 109s over the Channel.

Defiant L7027, No. 264 Squadron
F/O I.G. Shaw listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ShawIG.htm
Sgt A. Berry listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BerryA.htm
Possibly shot down by Bf 109 into Channel after raid on Manston.

Defiant L6965, No. 264 Squadron
Sgt W.H. Machin died of wounds.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Machin.htm
Shot down by Bf 109 over base. Pilot was slightly injured.

Blenheim T1804, No. 235 Squadron
P/O D.N. Woodger listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Woodger.htm
Sgt D.L. Wright killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WrightDL.htm
Shot down by Hurricanes of No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron and crashed into Bracklesham Bay.

Photo Descriptions

1. Six Boulton Paul Defiant Mark Is of No. 264 Squadron flying in loose ‘vic’ formations. © IWM (CH 889)
2. Soldiers and police inspect Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 5587) flown by Ofw. Fritz Beeck of 6./JG 51, which force landed at East Langdon in Kent while escorting an attack on Manston, 24 August 1940. © IWM (HU 73433)
3. A member of the Home Guard stands by the rear fuselage of Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 5587) ‘Yellow 10’ of 6./JG 51 ‘Molders’, which crash-landed at East Langdon in Kent, 24 August 1940. The pilot, Oberfeldwebel Beeck, was captured unhurt. Note the II Gruppe emblem of a weeping bird with an umbrella tucked under its wing and the inscription “Gott Strafe England“. © IWM (HU 88402)
4. Soldiers pose with Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 5587) ‘Yellow 10’ of 6./JG 51 ‘Molders’, which crash-landed at East Langdon in Kent, 24 August 1940. © IWM (HU 67704)
5. The remains of Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 5587) ‘Yellow 10’ of 6./JG 51 in a scrapyard in Kent. Note the hole in the fuselage where the ‘weeping bird’ badge of II Gruppe has been removed as a souvenir. © IWM (H 4222)
6. Heinkel He 111 bombers of Kampfgeschwader 1, Summer 1940.
7. The remains of Stanley Street in Portsmouth following the fourth Luftwaffe raid on the city on 24 August 1940.