Raids on convoys in Channel and Straits of Dover.
Night: Targets chiefly at Merseyside.
Weather: Fine and fair early, clouding over during the morning. Fair in the evening.
Enemy Action by Day
The day began with fine and fair weather, though skies clouded over during the morning. By evening, conditions had cleared. The Luftwaffe focused much of its effort on disrupting British coastal shipping, particularly convoys passing through the Channel and Straits of Dover. Despite Göring’s recent directive restricting attacks on ports and infrastructure necessary for future German operations, air activity against convoys intensified. No. 11 Group, under Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park, had established standing patrols of twelve fighters over the westbound Convoy CW 7, codenamed Peewit, which passed through the Dover Strait throughout the day.
Morning Reconnaissance and Early Skirmishes
Shortly after dawn, German reconnaissance aircraft began probing British shipping lanes. At 09:20 hours, a Spitfire from No. 54 Squadron suffered engine failure while on convoy patrol and crashed into the sea 15 miles east of Clacton. The pilot, Pilot Officer J.L. Kemp, successfully baled out and was rescued by a Royal Navy destroyer.
14:58 Hours: Interceptions over Convoy Peewit
At 14:58 hours, Dornier Do 17s of KG 3, escorted by Bf 109s from JG 27 and Bf 110 fighter-bombers of V./LG 1, approached the convoy codenamed Peewit south of the Needles. Hurricanes from No. 43 Squadron were scrambled to protect the convoy. The Do 17s released their bombs without result before turning back for France. As they withdrew, Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron arrived and engaged the Bf 110s as they pressed home a dive-bombing run on Peewit. One Bf 110 was severely damaged during the action and subsequently crash-landed at Theville in France, resulting in the death of one crew member.
During the same engagement, a Hurricane of No. 43 Squadron collided mid-air with a Bf 109 of 7./JG 27. Pilot Officer R.A. DeMancha, flying Hurricane P3973, was killed along with the German pilot. Both aircraft fell into the sea approximately five miles south of the Needles.
Despite the intensity of the raid, the convoy sustained no serious damage. The Luftwaffe’s efforts to disrupt shipping near the Needles ultimately failed.
Reconnaissance Flight Intercepted and Captured Intact
While the primary focus of German operations remained coastal shipping, several raids pushed inland. One such sortie involved a Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-5 (W.Nr. 2177) of the reconnaissance unit 4.(F)/14 (5F+CM), which had earlier shot down a Fairey Battle trainer near Stockbridge and a Hawker Hart biplane of No. 1 FTS, based at Old Sarum Aerodrome. At 10:05 hours, it was intercepted near Goodwood by Red Section of No. 238 Squadron. Following a short engagement, the pilot, Oberleutnant Friedrich Karl Runde, managed to force-land the aircraft in relatively good condition. It was later recovered by the RAF and taken to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough.
Elsewhere, RAF Hurricanes intercepted a formation of enemy bombers and succeeded in shooting down a Dornier Do 17 near Blandford.
Continued Probing Attacks and Luftwaffe Losses
Throughout the afternoon, Luftwaffe aircraft repeatedly approached convoys and coastal targets in scattered formations. Many of these sorties broke off upon the arrival of RAF fighters, reflecting growing caution among German units. Despite the frequency of activity, damage to British shipping was minimal, while German losses continued to mount. By day’s end, twelve Luftwaffe aircraft had been lost, including several Bf 109s, multiple Bf 110s, and at least one Dornier Do 17.
Enemy Action by Night
German night operations were conducted on a relatively smaller scale than previous nights but covered a broad geographical area. Beginning at approximately 23:30 hours, several waves crossed the coast from the Cherbourg district and proceeded into the West Country. Between 23:30 and 03:00 hours, around six to eight raids were detected crossing inland. Two of these penetrated as far as Barrow-in-Furness before returning via Liverpool and over Yorkshire.
Other isolated raids were tracked over Leeds, Church Fenton, Tyneside, Norfolk, and Wiltshire. Bombs were confirmed dropped in areas including Tyneside, near Derby, Driffield, and Hornsea. However, no serious structural damage was reported. At 05:20 hours, coastal radar stations tracked an attempted Luftwaffe strike on a convoy off the Lincolnshire coast, though the raid was unsuccessful.
Minelaying was suspected off the coasts of Plymouth, in the Thames Estuary, and near the Tyne. These operations coincided with a general increase in reconnaissance activity over East Anglia and Scotland, though few penetrated far inland during the night period.
Broader Strategic Developments
Across the Channel, the Luftwaffe continued its build-up. II. and III. Gruppen of JG 26 completed their transfer to former British First World War airfields near Calais, reinforcing Luftflotte 2’s strength in preparation for escalated operations. Meanwhile, Göring held a high-level conference with Luftflotte chiefs of staff regarding the upcoming intensified phase of the air campaign against Britain. He reiterated that attacks on installations vital to later German operations—particularly dockyards on the south coast—were to be avoided. The meeting also addressed air defence readiness, supply stockpiling, and signal coordination across Luftwaffe units. Timing and target selection were to be closely integrated between air fleets.
German Losses:
Airmen: 19 | Aircraft: 12
British Losses:
Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 2
Hurricane P3973, No. 43 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
P/O R.A. DeMancha. Certified as missing. Collided with Bf 109 and crashed into Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/DeMancha.htm
Photo Descriptions
- A Dornier Do 17Z bomber of Kampfgeschwader 3, 1940. Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-343-0679-06A / Gentsch / CC-BY-SA 3.0.
- Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-5 (W.Nr. 2177) of the reconnaissance unit 4.(F)/14 (5F+CM). This aircraft was shot down by Red Section of No. 238 Squadron on 21 July 1940 at Goodwood. The pilot, Oblt. Friedrich Karl Runde managed to put it down in relatively good condition. It was repaired at Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough with parts from Me 110 2N+EP of 9./ZG76 (Oblt. Gerhard Kadow) that was shot down near Wareham on 11 July 1940. It was flown for the first time again on 15 February 1941. Later it was tested at RAE Duxford, painted in RAF colours (RAF serial AX772). It was assigned to No. 1426 Squadron after the end of the trials. Stored in November 1945, it was scrapped in November 1947.
- P/O John S Wigglesworth of No. 238 Squadron RAF perks up in Hurricane Mk I VK-I at RAF Middle Wallop. The 19-year-old pilot shared in the destruction of a Do 17 and a Bf 110 on 21 July 1940.