Shipping attacked off Dover and south coast ports.
Night: Minelaying from Thames Estuary to Humber. Scattered raiders over England and Wales.
Weather: Fine early. Fair for the rest of the day, clouding over in the evening.
Enemy Action by Day
The day began fine and remained generally fair across southern England, though conditions deteriorated slightly by evening. Luftwaffe operations resumed with a renewed focus on coastal shipping targets and reconnaissance flights, culminating in a major air engagement off Dover in the afternoon. By nightfall, enemy aircraft returned for widespread minelaying and scattered bombing across much of the British mainland.
Early Morning Incidents and First Losses
The first Luftwaffe loss of the day occurred just after 05:00 hours when a Ju 88 of 3./KG 51, en route to bomb the industrial city of Crewe, lost its bearings in poor visibility and exhausted its fuel supply. The bomber made a forced landing near Bexhill, Sussex. The entire crew survived and was taken prisoner.
At 05:25 hours, No. 234 Squadron was scrambled from RAF St. Eval to intercept enemy bombers near the Devon coast. Spitfires flown by Flight Lieutenant P.C. Hughes and Pilot Officer P.W. Horton engaged and destroyed a Ju 88 east of Plymouth.
Around 06:30 hours, enemy aircraft appeared over Glasgow and dropped bombs on the Hillington district. A local printing works sustained serious damage; windows were shattered at the Rolls-Royce factory, and several minor civilian casualties were reported.
At 07:30 hours, a Ju 88 that had attacked shipping off Porthcawl in South Wales was intercepted and shot down by No. 92 Squadron.
Late Morning Probing Raids
Scattered raids continued through the morning but failed to inflict significant damage. At 06:40 hours, a formation departed Cherbourg toward Plymouth but was not intercepted. At 11:10 hours, three aircraft were tracked from Baie de la Seine toward Swanage, with sound plots recorded overland; they turned back without contact. Another group of three aircraft appeared north of Cherbourg at 12:37 hours and approached Bournemouth but again turned away. A separate raid approached Portland before withdrawing without attacking.
12:00–13:00 Hours: False Start Over the Channel
At 12:04 hours, RDF detected a substantial Luftwaffe formation gathering over Calais and Boulogne. The enemy circled the French coast, began a partial crossing toward Dover, but turned back halfway and dispersed without engagement. This was interpreted as a feint or aborted mission, possibly intended to test Fighter Command’s readiness.
13:35 Hours: Heavy Raid – The Battle Over Dover
At 13:35 hours, radar detected five enemy raids—around 100 aircraft—crossing the Channel and converging over the Dover sector. The attacking force comprised approximately 60 Heinkel He 111 bombers escorted by some 40 Messerschmitt Bf 109s from I. and II./JG 51 and III./JG 26. Fighter Command scrambled four squadrons: Nos. 41 and 74 (Spitfires) and Nos. 111 and 257 (Hurricanes).
No. 74 Squadron, led by Squadron Leader Adolph “Sailor” Malan, was first to engage. Twelve Spitfires attacked 36 Bf 109s of I./JG 51 over Dover while the Hurricanes climbed to intercept the bombers. Intense combat followed. No. 74 Squadron lost two Spitfires with two more damaged, and No. 41 Squadron had one aircraft damaged. Five Luftwaffe fighters were confirmed destroyed, including aircraft from 1., 2., 3., and 6./JG 51. Ofw. Karl Schmid, Oblt. Richard Leppla, and Fw. Arthur Haase each claimed RAF kills.
Major Werner Mölders, newly appointed Kommodore of JG 51, scored his 26th victory during the engagement but was severely wounded in both legs by return fire and forced to crash-land in France. He later described a chaotic mêlée with Spitfires north of Dover, during which his aircraft sustained multiple hits. Although his undercarriage failed, he executed a successful belly landing.
There was dispute over who inflicted Mölders’ wounds. Oberleutnant Richard Leppla claimed to have shot down Flight Lieutenant J.T. Webster of No. 74 Squadron, believing this aircraft had hit Mölders. Squadron Leader ‘Sailor’ Malan also claimed a Bf 109, and some accounts credit him instead. Flying Officer A.D.J. Lovell of No. 41 Squadron—claimed by Mölders—managed to return to Manston despite heavy damage to his Spitfire.
15:30–17:30 Hours: Rescue Aircraft and Convoy Raids
After the Dover battle, Luftwaffe air-sea rescue operations became targets. At 15:30 hours, Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron encountered Heinkel He 59 seaplanes east of Boulogne; two were shot down while attempting to recover downed German airmen. A third He 59, attempting to land near survivors, was strafed and damaged by Flying Officer Ferris but escaped.
At 15:52 hours, a separate raid was tracked from 40 miles south of Dungeness toward Selsey Bill, fading by 16:30 hours over Le Havre. At 17:08 hours, two raids—nine or more aircraft—approached Swanage from Portland but withdrew under RAF pressure. Another Portsmouth-area raid dispersed without action. At 17:35 hours, a convoy off Milford Haven sent a distress call, prompting a fighter scramble, but no contact was made.
Reconnaissance and East Coast Probing
Reconnaissance flights were frequent. At 14:24 hours, a probable meteorological flight was plotted 60 miles east of Haisborough. At 15:03 hours, another enemy aircraft was sighted 18 miles east of Bawdsey before fading over Foreness. A separate raid at 16:00 hours—possibly targeting a Royal Navy unit—was plotted 50 miles east of Mablethorpe before circling off Cromer. A “help” signal was received from the vessel under attack.
At 18:53 hours, a reconnaissance group of three or more aircraft was tracked from Dunkirk to 15 miles east of Lowestoft before turning south under pursuit. The formation returned via Gris Nez and appeared to land at St. Inglevert. At 19:48 hours, seven raids again formed near Gris Nez, including one of 40 aircraft at 30,000 ft. Six RAF squadrons were dispatched, but the raid dispersed before reaching Britain.
Enemy Action by Night
Night operations saw widespread activity. The main effort was intensive minelaying from the Thames Estuary to the Humber, extending as far north as Aberdeen. Inland bombing occurred across much of England, Scotland, and Wales. By 01:30 hours, most raids had begun to withdraw; by 02:45 hours, the country’s interior was largely clear.
Bombs were reported at Edinburgh, Perth, Rochford, Tyne, Thames Estuary, Crewe, Newcastle, Alnwick, Hungerford, Staplehurst, Long Eaton, Holywell (Flintshire), Sealand, Edenbridge, Brixham, Shaftesbury, Lydd, Colchester, Lichfield, Derby, Salford, and Swansea. A searchlight post at Staplehurst was destroyed. At 02:00 hours, a German aircraft crashed at Wooton Hill, southwest of Newbury; the crew bailed out and evaded immediate capture.
At 23:30 hours, He 111s of III./KG 55 attacked the Rolls-Royce facility in Crewe. Bombs also fell on Kent and Sussex, causing light housing and utility damage near Edenbridge. Sealand Aerodrome was bombed at 02:30 hours. In South Wales, infrastructure near Neath and Pontaliw was damaged, including disruption to rail and road links.
German Losses:
Airmen: 14 | Aircraft: 11
British Losses:
Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 6
Spitfire P9547, No. 74 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
P/O J.H.R.Young killed. Shot down by Bf 109 near Goodwin Sands.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/YoungJHR.htm
Photo Descriptions
- Acting F/L Adolph G “Sailor” Malan of No. 74 Squadron RAF poses besides Spitfire Mk I ZP-A at RAF Hornchurch. On 28 July 1940, Malan found himself in combat with Major Werner Mölders of JG 51 over Dover. Mölders was wounded and crash-landed in France.
- Major Werner Mölders climbing into his Messerschmitt Bf 109.
- Spitfire Mk I EB-O is inspected at RAF Manston, after F/O Anthony DJ “Tony” Lovell of No. 41 Squadron crashed the aircraft on landing on 28 July 1940.
- Bristol Blenheim Mk IVs of No. 40 Squadron at Wyton, July 1940.