Shipping attacks off Dover and Swanage.
Night: Bristol area, Isle of Wight, Kent and Suffolk raided.
Weather: Fair all day.
Main Activity:
At about 1500 hours, Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers of IV/LG 1, escorted by Bf 109s of III/JG 3 and II/JG 51, were despatched to attack the convoy codenamed BOOTY off Eastbourne. They were intercepted by Hurricanes from Nos. 151 and 615 Squadrons along with Spitfires from No. 610 Squadron. One Stuka and one Bf 109 were shot down. Another Bf 109 was badly damaged and crash-landed at Wissant. A Hurricane was also lost. During the attack, the vessel SS Island Queen (779 tons) was sunk and several other ships were damaged.
The aerial battle was witnessed by BBC radio reporter Charles Gardner standing on the cliffs of Dover. He gave a live running commentary that was later to become famous: 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)