Slight activity in the morning, main raids by Luftflotte 3 in the south-west during the afternoon.
Night: Continued widespread attacks with the main concentration in the Midlands.
Weather: Early morning fair but remainder of day cloudy.
Enemy Action by Day:
The morning was quiet, with little aerial action over southern England. RAF pilots of 10 and 11 Groups anticipated a calm day, many enjoying the sunshine. However, by mid-afternoon, the situation escalated sharply. Radar at Ventnor detected a large formation crossing the Channel from Cherbourg, heading towards Weymouth and surrounding cities. Over 100 enemy aircraft arrived, with additional waves from the Channel Islands bringing the total attacking force to over 200 German aircraft.
RAF 10 Group scrambled Nos. 609 and 152 Spitfire squadrons from Warmwell under Squadron Leader Horace Darley, alongside No. 616 Squadron from Kenley. Simultaneously, 11 Group sent Hurricanes from Nos. 17 Squadron (Debden), 87 and 213 Squadrons (Exeter), led by Wing Commander John Dewar. The British fighters converged south of Weymouth and Portland to intercept the attack.
The Luftwaffe force included Ju 88 bombers from II./KG 51 and II./KG 54, protected by Bf 110s from 1./ZG 2 and ZG 76, with fighter escorts comprising Bf 109s from JG 26, JG 53, JG 2, and JG 54. The Ju 88s split into three groups attacking Weymouth, Portland, and Warmwell airfield. No. 87 Squadron engaged the Portland raid, while No. 609 Squadron countered the Bf 110s, which in turn were covered by Bf 109s. Despite heavy fighting, some bombers reached Warmwell, causing limited damage to hangars and communications.
The dogfights were intense and costly. Squadron Leader Cedric Williams of No. 17 Squadron was shot down and killed. Yet heroism shone through, notably Czech pilot Count Manfred Czernin (No. 17 Squadron), who astonishingly downed three Bf 110s in one minute. Although more Bf 109s arrived to counterattack, depleting their fuel forced them to withdraw. RAF losses totaled sixteen fighters; the Luftwaffe lost around twenty aircraft.
Elsewhere, a small Luftwaffe Staffel bombed Dover’s harbour and docks but was driven off by fighters from Gravesend and Biggin Hill. Over the Isle of Wight, III./JG 2 lost three Bf 109s, with their wounded pilots surviving. JG 2 celebrated its 250th aerial victory, while ace Helmut Wick scored his 19th and 20th kills.
Later in the day around 18:00, six 11 Group squadrons engaged a dozen Do 17 bombers over Kent. No. 32 Squadron at Hawkinge faced Bf 109 escorts, which successfully drove them off and destroyed a Hurricane, with P/O K.R. Gillman listed missing. New Luftwaffe tactics, including tighter formations and forward bases near Calais, allowed bombers to penetrate deeper into England with greater success.
A notable casualty was P/O M.M. Shand, a New Zealander with No. 54 Squadron, who was wounded at 19:20 when his Spitfire was attacked by a Bf 109 over Dover.
Night Activity
The Luftwaffe intensified raids at night, focusing on Bristol and Birmingham. Bombers from KG 55 targeted Bristol, losing one He 111 to No. 615 Squadron fighters over Sussex. At 23:00, He 111s from III./KG 27 bombed Birmingham and Avonmouth harbour.
This night also marked the first RAF Bomber Command retaliatory raid on Berlin, ordered by Winston Churchill. The raid involved Vickers Wellingtons from Nos. 99 and 149 Squadrons, Handley Page Hampdens from Nos. 61 and 144 Squadrons, and Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys from Nos. 51 and 78 Squadrons. Their targets included Berlin’s Siemens factory, Klingenberg power station, Henschel aircraft works, Bücker training factory, Tempelhof aerodrome, and Tegel gasworks. RAF Air Staff justified the raid by its morale impact – disrupting the enemy population’s rest and signaling British resolve.
German Losses:
Airmen: 20 | Aircraft: 23
British Losses:
Airmen: 13 | Aircraft: 18
Spitfire R6810, No. 152 Squadron
P/O R.M. Hogg listed as missing. Shot down by Bf 109s over Channel and crashed into sea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/HoggRM.htm
Spitfire R6994, No. 152 Squadron
P/O T.S. Wildblood listed as missing. Shot down by Bf 109s over Channel and crashed into sea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Wildblood.htm
Hurricane V7226, No. 213 Squadron
P/O J.A.L. Phillipart killed. Shot down by Bf 109 over Channel. Body washed ashore two days later.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Philippart.htm
Hurricane R4199, No. 17 Squadron
S/L C.W. Williams listed as missing. Aircraft broke in two after combat with Bf 110. Crashed into sea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WilliamsCW.htm
Hurricane P3200, No. 213 Squadron
P/O H.D. Atkinson listed as missing. Last seen in combat over Warmwell. Failed to return to base.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/AtkinsonHD.htm
Hurricane V7250, No. 87 Squadron
Sgt. S.R.E Wakeling killed. Shot down by Bf 109 and burst into flames and crashed near Dorchester.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Wakeling.htm
Hurricane N2433, No. 32 Squadron
P/O K.R. Gillman listed as missing. Failed to return to base after combat over the Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Gillman.htm
Spitfire R6966, No. 616 Squadron
Sgt. T.E. Westmoreland listed as missing. Failed to return to base.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Westmoreland.htm
Spitfire K9819, No. 616 Squadron
Sgt. P.T. Wareing taken prisoner. Crashed nr Calais after combat with Bf 109. Managed to escape after POW.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Wareing.htm
Blenheim L1330, No. 29 Squadron
P/O R.A. Rhodes listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Rhodes.htm
AC1 N. Jacobson listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Jacobson.htm
Believed shot down and crashed into sea during night combat.
Blenheim L6782, No. 604 Squadron
Sgt. C. Haigh killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Haigh.htm
Sgt. J.G.B. Fletcher killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/FletcherJGB.htm
LAC A.L. Austin died next day.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/AustinAL.htm
Crashed during night operation. No known reason.
Photo Descriptions
- A Junkers Ju 88 A-1 bomber and crew of I./KG 51 “Edelweiss“, Channel Islands, 1940. Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-402-0265-03A / Pilz / CC-BY-SA 3.0.
- Two Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 32 Squadron coming in to land for refueling and rearming at Biggin Hill, watched by an airman standing with a signalling flag in the foreground, August 1940. © IWM (HU 54519A)
- Groundcrew in steel helmets refueling a Hawker Hurricane Mk I of No. 32 Squadron, as the pilot climbs out of the cockpit, Biggin Hill, August 1940. © IWM (HU 54513)
- Groundcrew refueling a Hawker Hurricane Mk I of No. 32 Squadron from a refuelling truck whilst the pilot waits in the cockpit, Biggin Hill, August 1940. © IWM (HU 57450)
- Ground staff in steel helmets refuelling and rearming a Hawker Hurricane Mark I of No. 32 Squadron, at a dispersal at Biggin Hill, August 1940. © IWM (HU 54515)
- Ground staff re-arm a Hawker Hurricane Mk I of No. 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill, August 1940. © IWM (HU 104487)