Shipping attacks off Dover and Swanage.
Night: Bristol area, Isle of Wight, Kent and Suffolk raided.
Weather: Fair all day.
Main Activity:
At approximately 1500 hours, Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers from IV/LG 1, escorted by Bf 109s of III/JG 3 and II/JG 51, launched an attack on the convoy codenamed BOOTY off the coast of Eastbourne. Hurricanes from Nos. 151 and 615 Squadrons, supported by Spitfires from No. 610 Squadron, were scrambled to intercept the raid. In the intense engagement that followed, one Stuka and one Bf 109 were shot down, while another Bf 109 was heavily damaged and forced to crash-land at Wissant. The RAF suffered the loss of a Hurricane.
Despite the brave defense, the 779-ton vessel SS Island Queen was sunk, and several other ships in the convoy sustained damage.
The dramatic aerial battle was observed from the cliffs of Dover by BBC radio reporter Charles Gardner, who delivered a gripping live commentary. His vivid account, which captured the intensity of the combat, would later become iconic and is still remembered today. Listen to the broadcast here:: https://youtu.be/0iSIIquqOWo
German Losses
Airmen: 3 | Aircraft: 3
British Losses
Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 1
Hurricane L1584, No. 615 Squadron. Crashed into sea.
P/O M.R. Mudie died of injuries. Baled out badly injured, rescued by Navy, died on July 15th 1940.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Mudie.htm
Photo Descriptions:
- A British convoy under air attack by German dive-bombers on 14 July 1940.
- Bombs falling away from a Junkers Ju-87 Stuka dive-bomber, 1940.
- Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron land over the western end of ‘The Bump’, as Biggin Hill airfield was known, July 1940. © IWM (HU 87412)