Shipping reconnaissance and attacks on two Channel convoys.
Night: Increased activity particularly in the Midlands, north and west. Some minelaying.
Weather: Cloudy and squally.
Enemy Action by Day
Cloudy skies and squally weather persisted throughout the day, with strong winds and rain sweeping across much of Britain. While these poor conditions curtailed large-scale aerial operations by the Luftwaffe, they did not prevent a renewed focus on shipping targets and strategic bombing raids during the night. Fighter Command remained alert, conducting over 500 sorties despite the weather, while enemy activity fluctuated between sporadic reconnaissance missions and more determined attacks.
Morning Convoy Action and Artillery Duel Across the Channel
The day’s first major incident involved Convoy Totem, which was making its way through the Strait of Dover. Around 12:30 hours, German coastal artillery positioned near Cape Gris Nez opened fire on the convoy, marking the first time that these heavy 14-inch batteries had been used against shipping. For over an hour, the Royal Navy escorts laid smoke screens as the shells fell into the sea, throwing up enormous water columns. Although the fire was intense, no direct hits were reported, and the convoy escaped unscathed.
As the bombardment subsided, German spotter aircraft were observed directing fire. This was soon followed by a formation of around thirty Luftwaffe aircraft, including Junkers Ju 88s and Bf 109s, which crossed the Channel. Fighter Command scrambled Nos. 54, 610, and 615 Squadrons to intercept the raid. Spitfires of Nos. 54 and 610 engaged the incoming bombers just as the latter reached the convoy. In the ensuing combat, one Ju 88 was damaged and forced to crash-land in France. However, the RAF suffered losses: Sgt G.R. Collett of No. 54 Squadron was killed when his Spitfire was shot down into the Channel. Additionally, one Hurricane of No. 615 Squadron was accidentally shot down by a fellow pilot; however, the pilot survived a forced landing near Deal.
Afternoon Raids: Manston and the South-East
Around 18:30 hours, a second wave of German aircraft—this time estimated at thirty—crossed the coast near Deal. These formations included Bf 109s from JG 26 and Bf 110s of Erprobungsgruppe 210, with Manston Airfield as their target. Although Fighter Command scrambled only a single Spitfire squadron to intercept the fighters, intense dogfights ensued. During the raid, Spitfire pilot Sgt M. Keymer of No. 65 Squadron was killed off Dover at 19:35 hours, while F/O H.S.L. “Cocky” Dundas was wounded in the arm and leg but survived after bailing out of his Spitfire. The attack on Manston resulted in the destruction of two hangars and two Bristol Blenheims. Additional buildings were damaged, and the airfield was rendered temporarily unserviceable.
No. 302 (Polish) Squadron, flying Hurricanes, conducted its second operational sortie of the campaign. Though they reported damaging two Ju 88s—one over the sea and another near the coast—these claims remained unconfirmed.
Reconnaissance and Skirmishes Along the Coasts
Earlier in the day, sporadic reconnaissance flights were plotted along the South and East Coasts. One enemy aircraft, likely conducting artillery spotting, was observed loitering near a convoy before retreating when engaged by RAF fighters. Another small raid over Orfordness was also intercepted, but the German bomber escaped after jettisoning its payload into the sea.
Multiple aircraft crossed the coast in the evening, dropping bombs at Dover, Deal, and Manston between 19:00 and 19:45 hours. Although Fighter Command dispatched six squadrons to meet these raids, only limited contact was made due to failing light and scattered formations.
Enemy Action by Night
With the Luftwaffe largely grounded by poor weather during the day, nightfall brought a sharp uptick in operations. Single aircraft raids were plotted across the country, with particular activity in the Midlands, north, and west. Around 23:00 hours, Heinkel He 111s of Kampfgruppe 100 (KGr 100), using the X-Verfahren navigation system, launched a precision attack on the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton. Twenty-three bombers dropped over sixteen tons of high explosives, damaging two factory buildings and injuring four people. Despite the intensity of the raid, all aircraft returned safely to their base in Brittany.
In a separate incident, a British train between Wanborough and Tongham near Guildford was attacked with high explosive and incendiary bombs at midnight, resulting in one casualty and a fire on board the train.
One of the more controversial raids occurred at Harrow and Wealdstone around 03:30 hours. These bombs are often cited as the first to fall on London, although the area was technically still part of Middlesex at the time. Nevertheless, the Civil Defence authorities treated it as a London borough, and its inclusion in the Metropolitan Police jurisdiction marked it as a symbolic first attack on the capital.
Losses at Sea and Enemy Movements
In the Irish Sea, the Canadian merchant ship SS Thorold (1,689 GRT) was bombed and sunk by German Do 17 bombers near position 51.46N, 005.38W. Of her 23 crew, ten were killed.
Elsewhere, a Do 17 was destroyed off the Suffolk coast by Hurricanes of No. 257 Squadron. A separate raid on Peterhead damaged gas and water mains, with the resulting rail disruption underscoring the growing impact of the Luftwaffe’s night operations on infrastructure.
German Reorganisation and Awards
While the RAF dealt with raids across the country, Göring took advantage of the weather-induced lull to implement further changes within the Luftwaffe. The three Jagdgeschwader under Luftflotte 3—JG 2, JG 27, and JG 53—were reassigned to Luftflotte 2 and began repositioning from Cherbourg to the Calais region to reduce flight times over the Channel.
Several senior Luftwaffe officers were recognised for their service: Generalmajor Theo Osterkamp (Jagdfliegerführer 1), Major Max Ibel (JG 27), and Oberstleutnant Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp (JG 2) were all awarded the Ritterkreuz. Major Adolf Galland was promoted to Kommodore of JG 26, replacing Major Gotthardt Handrick, while Hptm. Gerhard Schöpfel took command of III./JG 26 and Hptm. Rolf Pingel was appointed to lead I./JG 26.
German Losses:
Airmen: 9 | Aircraft: 4
British Losses:
Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 2
Spitfire R6708, No. 54 Squadron
Sgt G.R. Collett killed. Shot down into the sea. Body was washed up on beach on Dutch coast.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Collett.htm
Spitfire K9909, No. 65 Squadron
Sgt M. Keymer killed. Shot down by Bf 109 into Channel. Buried at Bazinghem, France.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Keymer.htm
Photo Descriptions
- Damage to the steamer Sir John Hawkins at Millbay Docks, Plymouth caused by bombs dropped by enemy aircraft during the early hours of 22 August 1940. © IWM (A 254)
- Damage to the landing stage at Millbay Docks, Plymouth caused by bombs dropped by enemy aircraft during the early hours of 22 August 1940. © IWM (A 255)
- A motor car wrecked whilst parked outside the Military Police Office at Docks Gate, Plymouth on 22 August 1940. An incendiary bomb of “oil” type caused the fire which burnt the car out. © IWM (A 261)