Raids on shipping and naval units in Dover harbour and Straits.
Night: Attacks on south-west England.
Weather: Fair Straits, cloudy in Channel. Slight rain in the midlands and the North Sea.
Main Activity:
Shortly before 0800 hours, thirty Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers from I/StG 77, escorted by Messerschmitt Bf 109s from JG 27, launched an attack on the convoy codenamed BACON as it sailed past Portland. Three Hurricanes from No. 238 Squadron, scrambled from Middle Wallop, intercepted the raid and succeeded in shooting down one Ju 87.
At 0945 hours, a second wave of Ju 87 Stukas targeted BACON. Hurricanes from Nos. 145 and 238 Squadrons, alongside Spitfires from No. 609 Squadron, responded to the attack but were heavily engaged by the escorting Bf 109s. Despite their efforts, one Spitfire was shot down, and the convoy faced sustained pressure from the Luftwaffe.
At 1430 hours, Bf 110 fighter-bombers from 3./ErprGr 210 struck Dover Harbour, damaging the British destroyer HMS Walpole. RAF fighters pursued the attackers toward France but were unable to make contact before they escaped.
Later, at 1706 hours, six minesweeper trawlers escorted by the British destroyers HMS Wren and HMS Montrose came under attack off Aldeburgh by Heinkel He 111 bombers from KG 53. HMS Wren was sunk during the assault, and HMS Montrose sustained damage.
At 1730 hours, Dover Harbour faced another devastating Luftwaffe raid. The destroyer HMS Codrington was sunk, and the depot ship HMS Sandhurst was severely damaged. In response, six Spitfires from No. 41 Squadron and twenty-four Hurricanes from Nos. 501 and 615 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept. During the intense engagement, one Hurricane was lost. After the combat, an He 59 air-sea rescue aircraft was intercepted and shot down.
The day’s heavy losses, including the sinking of three destroyers, prompted the British Admiralty to make a critical decision: all naval ships were withdrawn from Dover, and the harbour was abandoned as an advanced operational base. This marked a significant shift in naval strategy amid the escalating air and sea battles.
German Losses
Airmen: 12 | Aircraft: 5
British Losses
Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 2
Spitfire N3023, No. 609 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
P/O J.R. Buchanan. Killed. Shot down by Bf 109 off Portsmouth.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BuchananJR.htm
Hurricane P3808, No. 501 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
F/O P.A.N. Cox. Posted missing. Shot down by Bf 109 off Dover.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/CoxPAN.htm
Photo Descriptions:
- Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers of Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 taking off from an airfield in France, 1940.
- The British destroyer HMS Wren was sunk by He 111 bombers from KG 53 on 27 July 1940 while escorting minesweepers off Aldburgh, Suffolk.