Decisive raids by German aircraft during their most intensive period of the battle to date. Seventy-five aircraft are lost during the day with airfields as their main targets.

Night: Little activity.

Weather: High pressure giving fine, warm weather although some cloud remained in the Channel area.

On Thursday, 15 August 1940, the Luftwaffe launched its most ambitious and wide-ranging assault of the Battle of Britain. For the first time, all three German air fleets—Luftflotten 2, 3, and 5—were committed to a coordinated offensive against RAF airfields, aircraft factories, and key infrastructure across southern and north-eastern England. Acting on Göring’s directive to focus exclusively on the RAF and its supporting industry, the Luftwaffe flew nearly 1,800 sorties, including over 500 by bombers. Despite inflicting widespread damage, the Germans paid dearly: 76 aircraft were lost, among them 26 Bf 110s. Though stretched to its limits, Fighter Command remained intact and operational—its defences held.

04:50 Hours – Early Morning Interception

The first action of the day came during early morning reconnaissance. A Dornier Do 17 from 3.(F)/31, tasked with photographing southern RAF airfields, was intercepted south of Ventnor and shot down by Spitfires of No. 152 Squadron.

11:25 Hours – Stuka Raids on Lympne and Hawkinge

At approximately 11:25 hours, forty-five Ju 87 Stukas from II./StG 1 and IV.(St)/LG 1, escorted by Bf 109s of JG 26, crossed the Channel toward Hawkinge and Lympne. The formation split as it neared the Kent coast—one group for each target. Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron engaged near Folkestone, while No. 54 Squadron intercepted from above, diving out of the sun. At least three Ju 87 Stukas from II./StG 1 were shot down, yet the formation still broke through despite the interception.

Lympne suffered heavy damage: several buildings were destroyed, the station sick quarters took a direct hit, and all water, power, and telephone lines were cut. Parts of the station were evacuated to nearby houses, and the airfield was rendered unserviceable for forty-eight hours. Hawkinge fared better—one hangar and a small barrack block were destroyed, but fires were quickly contained.

The raid also disrupted radar coverage, with the Chain Home stations at Rye and Dover and the Chain Home Low site at Foreness knocked out temporarily due to power-line damage.

12:00 Hours – Luftflotte 5’s Disaster in the North*

Around midday, Luftflotte 5—operating from Norway—mounted its only major daylight raid of the campaign. Banking on tactical surprise and underestimating British radar, the Germans dispatched sixty-five Heinkel He 111 bombers from I. and III./KG 26 to strike RAF airfields at Usworth, Linton-on-Ouse, and Dishforth, escorted by thirty-four Messerschmitt Bf 110D long-range heavy fighters from I./ZG 76. These Bf 110s were fitted with the distinctive Dackelbauch (dachshund belly) fairing beneath the fuselage to house an additional fuel tank for the long flight from Stavanger.

Leading the escort was Hauptmann Werner Restemeyer, Gruppenkommandeur of I./ZG 76, flying a Bf 110D equipped with FuG 10 radio intercept equipment. His crew comprised Bordfunker Unteroffizier Werner Eichert and Hauptmann Hartwich of X. Fliegerkorps’ signals unit. Their mission was to track British transmissions and adjust the formation’s course in real time. The plan was compromised when the bomber stream inadvertently followed the same route as a decoy seaplane patrol bound for the Firth of Forth, alerting British radar long before the main force approached the coast.

No. 13 Group controllers had ample time to organise an interception. No. 72 Squadron, flying Spitfires from Acklington, made first contact off the Farne Islands. Squadron Leader E. Graham split his flights—one engaged the escorting Bf 110s, the other dived on the bombers. The Bf 110s quickly formed defensive circles, while the Heinkels scattered, many jettisoning bombs into the sea and turning back.

Hurricanes from No. 605 Squadron intercepted over Tyneside, while No. 607 Squadron made contact over Sunderland. No. 79 Squadron engaged further north, and No. 41 Squadron joined later. Most bombs fell into open countryside or the sea; Usworth, Dishforth, and Linton-on-Ouse were untouched.

One of the first Spitfire attacks ignited Restemeyer’s external fuel tank in a fireball. His Bf 110 plunged into the sea, killing all three on board. Elsewhere, Uffz. Karl Richter, flying at the rear of the formation, was struck in the head and lost consciousness. Believing him dead, his radio operator, Uffz. Hans Geishecker, bailed out over the sea and was never seen again. Richter regained consciousness in time to crash-land in Esbjerg, Denmark.

Losses were severe: eight He 111s and six Bf 110s were destroyed, including five aircraft from 8./KG 26—over half the Staffel. RAF casualties for the raid included four Hurricanes damaged or destroyed. Flying Officer C. Passy of No. 605 Squadron was forced to land Hurricane P3827 one mile from Usworth after sustaining damage from return fire off Newcastle, the aircraft being wrecked in the process. Flight Lieutenant A. McKellar, also of No. 605 Squadron, brought back Hurricane P3308 after it was similarly damaged by defensive fire. Pilot Officer K. Schadtler-Law, in Hurricane P2717, was wounded when his aircraft was hit and forced down near Hart railway station; he was admitted to Hartlepool hospital with severe injuries and did not fly operationally again. Pilot Officer Millington of No. 79 Squadron also returned safely after his Hurricane sustained combat damage.

The scale of the defeat forced Luftflotte 5 to abandon daylight raids over Britain. Hauptmann Graf von Stillfried replaced Restemeyer at I./ZG 76, while Hauptmann Rolf Kaldrack took command of III./ZG 76.

13:30 Hours – Bombing of RAF Driffield

While the northern raid collapsed, fifty Ju 88s from I., II., and III./KG 30, operating from Aalborg, pressed on toward the East Riding. Detected off Flamborough Head, they were intercepted by Hurricanes of No. 73 Squadron, Defiants of No. 264 Squadron, Spitfires of No. 616 Squadron, and later Blenheims of No. 219 Squadron. Despite interceptions, the bombers reached RAF Driffield.

Seventeen Ju 88s dropped thirty-two high-explosive bombs, damaging four hangars and three buildings, destroying seven Whitley bombers and one Magister, and damaging five more. A nearby farmhouse was partially demolished. Six RAF personnel were killed and twenty wounded. Intense AA fire downed one Ju 88, with five more lost during withdrawal—10% of the force.

14:30 Hours – Rochester and Martlesham Heath

Around 14:30, all three Gruppen of KG 3—eighty-eight Do 17s—departed Belgium under Generalmajor Walter von Chamier-Glisczinski, escorted by Bf 109s from JG 26, JG 51, JG 52, and JG 54. Intercepted by Nos. 1, 17, 32, and 64 Squadrons—later reinforced by Nos. 111, 151, and 501—the RAF was unable to prevent many of the bombers from reaching their targets.

One group struck the Short Brothers and Pobjoy factories at Rochester, destroying six Stirling bombers and halting production. Others hit Eastchurch and attempted strikes on radar stations at Dover, Rye, Bawdsey, and Foreness with little lasting effect.

At the same time, twelve Bf 110s of Erprobungsgruppe 210 attacked Martlesham Heath from low altitude, destroying workshops, the Officers’ Mess, and a Fairey Battle that exploded, demolishing two hangars. Damage forced emergency repairs into the next day.

17:00 Hours – Evening Raids

At 17:00 hours, some 250 aircraft from Luftflotte 3 advanced toward the Isle of Wight in two main groups before spreading out over Hampshire and Wiltshire. Ju 88s, escorted by Bf 110s, attacked Middle Wallop but caused only light structural damage and minor disruption to operations—considerably less than in the previous day’s raid. No. 609 Squadron scrambled just before the dive-bombing began, pursuing and harrying stragglers as they withdrew to the coast. Other formations were intercepted en route, with one section reaching Worthy Down and inflicting little damage, while another dropped bombs near Portland, most falling harmlessly into open ground. Crews who attacked Odiham later claimed in their reports to have struck Andover instead.

Fighter Command committed eleven squadrons—Nos. 32, 43, 87, 111, 152, 213, 234, 266, 601, 604, and 609—in a series of interceptions along the approach routes. In the fierce air battles that followed, twenty-five German aircraft were destroyed for the loss of sixteen RAF fighters. Thirteen of the enemy losses were Bf 110s, three of which were claimed in rapid succession by Belgian Lieutenant J. Phillipart of No. 213 Squadron.

18:50 Hours – Croydon Aerodrome Attacked*

At 18:15 hours, radar plots indicated more than seventy aircraft approaching from Calais. With most forward squadrons refuelling and rearming, Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park diverted four squadrons from eastern sectors, reinforcing them with a further four and a half as they became available. The formation—comprising Bf 110 fighter-bombers of Erprobungsgruppe 210, including a single Bf 110C-6 armed with a 30 mm cannon in place of the usual twin 20 mm weapons, and escorted initially by Bf 109s of JG 52—was intercepted over the coast by two squadrons, among them No. 501 Squadron, which was already near the end of its fuel. The escort turned back before the target was reached, leaving the raiders to proceed unescorted.

Originally tasked with striking Biggin Hill and Kenley, the German force broke up under interception and missed both targets. From altitude, part of the formation identified West Malling in Kent, bombing runways and damaging buildings. Another section diverted to Croydon, which was officially not yet operational. At 18:50 hours, the Bf 110s of Erprobungsgruppe 210 commenced a determined low-level attack, destroying the H.E. Rollason and Redwing factories—along with many training aircraft—and severely damaging a radio component works. The N.S.F. factory sustained heavy structural damage, while the aerodrome surface and aircraft on the ground escaped harm. Over eighty casualties were caused, including five RAF personnel killed and several wounded. It was the first recorded raid on Greater London.

Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron, patrolling at 10,000 ft, dived on the attackers, joined by No. 32 Squadron from Biggin Hill. In the ensuing combat, Erprobungsgruppe 210 lost six Bf 110s—flown by Rubensdörffer, Fiedler, Koch, Beudel, Habisch, and Ortner—along with a Bf 109E fighter-bomber flown by Leutnant Horst Marx.

Enemy Action by Night

Between 22:00 and 23:30 hours, scattered raids crossed from The Wash to Scarborough, with one reaching RAF Wittering. Further raids struck Somerset and the Bristol Channel. From 00:20 to 01:00 hours, activity was confined to the coastal strip between Lincolnshire and the Isle of Wight. Between 01:00 and 04:00 hours, a few bombers reached Liverpool, Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Hereford, and RAF Leconfield. Damage was limited.

Aftermath

The Luftwaffe’s all-out assault on 15 August came at great cost. Luftflotte 5’s defeat in the north exposed German vulnerabilities, while the RAF’s southern defences held. Many airfields and industrial targets were hit, but Fighter Command’s operational strength remained intact.

Morale within the Luftwaffe began to falter. Major Adolf Galland of III./JG 26 later recalled:

“We saw one comrade after the other vanish from our ranks… Not a day passed without a place remaining empty at the mess table.”

Known as The Greatest Day, 15 August proved Fighter Command could withstand Göring’s combined air fleets. The RAF remained bloodied—but unbroken.

German Losses:
Airmen: 128 | Aircraft: 76

British Losses:
Airmen: 15 | Aircraft: 35

Hurricane P2801, No. 615 Squadron.
Sgt D.W. Halton. Listed as missing. Aircraft crashed and burnt out. No sign of pilot.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Halton.htm

Hurricane R4075, No. 1 Squadron.
P/O D.O.M. Browne. Listed as missing. Last seen in combat with enemy fighters over North Sea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BrowneDOM.htm

Hurricane P4043, No. 1 Squadron.
Sgt M.M. Shanahan. Listed as missing. Last seen in combat with enemy fighters over North Sea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Shanahan.htm

Spitfire R6990, No. 64 Squadron.
F/O C.J.D. Andreae. Listed as missing. Last seen in combat with Bf 109s over Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Andreae.htm

Spitfire K9964, No. 64 Squadron.
P/O R. Roberts. Taken prisoner. Forced landing after combat with Bf 109s over Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/RobertsR.htm

Spitfire N3189, No. 266 Squadron.
Sgt F.B. Hawley. Listed as missing. Believed crashed into Channel after destroying He 115.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Hawley.htm

Hurricane V7227, No. 213 Squadron.
P/O S.M.H.C. Buchin. Listed as missing. Failed to return to base after combat over Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Buchin.htm

Hurricane P3944, No. 111 Squadron.
F/O B.M. Fisher killed. Shot down by Ju 88 and exploded. Pilot bailed out of burning plane.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/FisherBM.htm

Hurricane P3215, No. 87 Squadron.
S/L T.G. Lovell-Gregg killed. Aircraft damaged by enemy gunfire. Crashed attempting to reach Warmwell.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Lovell-Gregg.htm

Hurricane P2872, No. 87 Squadron.
P/O P.W. Comeley. Listed as missing. Shot down by Bf 110 off coast and crashed into the sea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Comely.htm

Spitfire N3277, No. 234 Squadron
P/O R. Hardy. Taken prisoner. Forced landed on beach after combat over Channel off Swanage.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Comely.htm

Spitfire R6988, No. 234 Squadron.
P/O C.H. Hight killed. Collapsed and died by his aircraft after being shot down and crashing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Hight.htm

Spitfire N3168, No. 266 Squadron.
P/O F.W. Cale killed. Baled out over River Medway but was dead when found in the river.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Cale.htm

Hurricane P3941, No. 151 Squadron.
P/O J.T. Johnstone killed. Shot down into Channel by Bf 109. Was dead when picked up by rescue boat.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Johnston.htm

Hurricane V7410, No. 151 Squadron.
P/O M. Rozwadowski. Listed as missing. Failed to return to base after combat over Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Rozwadowski.htm

Photo Descriptions

1. A formation of Heinkel He 111H bombers of 7./KG 1 over the English Channel, 1940. Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-385-0593-05 / Dahm / CC-BY-SA 3.0.
2. A pilot of No. 64 Squadron running towards his Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I as the Squadron is scrambled at Kenley, 10.45 am, 15 August 1940. © IWM (HU 54420)
3. Hawker Hurricanes (P3059 and P3208) of No. 501 Squadron take off from RAF Hawkinge on a squadron patrol, 15 August 1940. Three days later, both these aircraft would be shot down and destroyed in combat between Canterbury and Whitstable.
4. Troops guard the burning remains of a Junkers Ju 88 of Kampfgeschwader 30, one of six aircraft shot down during attacks on airfields in Yorkshire on 15 August 1940. Spitfires of No. 616 Squadron and Hurricanes of No. 73 Squadron intercepted the enemy formation as it approached the coast near Scarborough. © IWM (HU 63859)
5. Bomb damage at RAF Driffield following the attack on 15 September 1940.
6. A Junkers Ju 87B (L1 + EV) of 10 Staffel./Lehrgeschwader 1 lies wrecked in a garden at 78-82 Shorncliffe Crescent in Folkestone. This aircraft was on a bombing sortie over the Channel on 15 August 1940 when it was hit by AA fire and Hurricanes from No. 501 Squadron. Flying at low level, the Stuka hit high tension cables causing it to crash into houses and burn out, killing both crew members (pilot Uffz Franz-Heinrich Kraus and gunner/observer Uffz Herman Weber). In the far distance, a group of Hurricanes can be seen – probably returning to their home airfield at nearby RAF Hawkinge.
7. Pilots of No. 501 Squadron resting at ‘B’ Flight Dispersal at RAF Hawkinge on the afternoon of 15th August 1940 shortly after returning to the airfield from combat with Junkers Ju 87B ‘Stuka’ dive-bombers over Hawkinge and Folkestone.
8. Messerschmitt Bf 110 D-0/B (S9+CK), W.Nr. 3341, of 2.Staffel/Erprobungsgruppe 210, force-landed at Hawkhurst in Kent following the late-afternoon raid on Croydon airfield on 15 August 1940. The starboard rudder controls had been shot through during the action, leading pilot Oberleutnant Alfred Habisch to believe the aircraft might become uncontrollable before reaching the French coast. Choosing not to risk the lives of himself or his rear gunner/radio operator, Unteroffizier Ernst Elfner, he made the decision to put the aircraft down safely in England. Both men were taken prisoner.
9. Crowds watch as officials inspect the cockpit of Messerschmitt Bf 110 D-0/B (S9+CK) W.Nr.3341 of 2.Staffel/Erprobungsgruppe 210. The plane was put on street display in London, then shipped to Los Angeles, aboard the SS Montanan in April 1941, where it was reassembled and evaluated by the Vultee Aircraft Company.

*Special thanks to John Vasco for his invaluable contribution to this page. You can explore his excellent book on Amazon below:

Messerschmitt Bf 110: Bombsights over England Erprobungsgruppe 210 in the Battle of Britain
John Vasco
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