Shipping reconnaissance and attacks on two Channel convoys.

Night: Increased activity particularly in the Midlands, north and west. Some minelaying.

Weather: Cloudy and squally.

Main Activity:

At 0900 hours the convoy ‘Totem’ was passing through the Straits of Dover and reported being under air attack. Investigation showed that it was in fact being shelled by the German heavy batteries near Cap Gris Nez. The first bombardment lasted eighty minutes and 100 shells were fired without effect.

Failure of the guns brought the Luftwaffe into action and at 1240 hours some forty aircraft attacked the convoy, but were beaten off by Nos. 54 and 65 squadrons.

Apart from a few reconnaissance flights, the day remained quiet until 1850 hours when a series of raids developed against Dover during the course of which Manston was again hit.

Five RAF aircraft were lost for the destruction of two German—a poor repayment for 509 Fighter Command sorties, which were again hampered by bad weather.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

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:

  1. 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)
  2. 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)
  3. 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)