Shipping off south and east coasts attacked.
Night: Very little activity.
Weather: Occasional rain in southern districts. Straits of Dover cloudy. Cool.
Main Activity:
At 0930 hours, fifteen Spitfires from Nos. 152 and 610 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept a reported enemy raid approaching a convoy near Deal. Upon engagement, the formation was identified as thirty Messerschmitt Bf 109s from JG 51. In the ensuing dogfight, one Spitfire was shot down, and two others sustained damage.
Around 1300 hours, six Spitfires from No. 609 Squadron intercepted a group of Junkers Ju 88 bombers from II/LG 1 off the Isle of Wight. The Spitfires successfully downed one of the bombers and damaged another, but two Spitfires were lost to defensive return fire. Around the same time, six Spitfires from No. 145 Squadron engaged and shot down a Heinkel He 111 bomber from KG 27 approximately twenty miles south of Bognor Regis, marking another decisive action of the day.
German Losses
Airmen: 16 | Aircraft: 6
British Losses
Airmen: 8 | Aircraft: 5
Blenheim N3541, No. 235 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
P/O R.L. Patterson, Sgt R.Y. Tucker, and Sgt L.H.M. Reece. Certified as missing. Failed to return from operational flight.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/PattersonRL.htm
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/TuckerRY.htm
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ReeceRHM.htm
Spitfire P9452, No. 610 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
P/O P. Litchfield Killed. Shot down by Bf 109 over Channel. Body never recovered.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Litchfield.htm
Blenheim L6779, No. 236 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
P/O C.R.D. Thomas and Sgt H.D.B. Elsdon. Both killed. Shot down during photo-recon mission over Le Havre, France.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ThomasCRD.htm
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ElsdonHDB.htm
Blenheim L6639, No. 236 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
P/O R.H. Rigby and Sgt D.D. Mackinnon. Both killed. Shot down by Bf 109 during photo-recon mission over Le Havre, France
http://bbm.org.uk/airmen/Rigby.htm
http://bbm.org.uk/airmen/MacKinnonDD.htm
Photo Description:
- Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV L9446 of No. 235 Squadron
- Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron, based at Biggin Hill, banking left, July 1940. © IWM CH 734