Quiet in the morning, airfield attacks in the south and south-east later in the day.
Night: Further attack on Liverpool with diversionary raids in the Midlands.
Weather: Showers and bright intervals. Cloud in the Channel and Straits.
Enemy Action by Day
The weather on 29 August was unsettled, with showers and bright intervals across much of Britain. Low cloud lingered over the Channel and the Dover Straits, complicating both reconnaissance and interception. Flying conditions were generally fair, though visibility was variable. After several days of sustained Luftwaffe pressure, the morning passed with little more than reconnaissance, giving a sense of deceptive calm. Yet as the afternoon progressed, enemy operations intensified, focusing once again on airfields in southern England. By night, large-scale bombing returned, with Liverpool enduring its second heavy raid of the war, supported by diversionary attacks across the Midlands and North.
Morning Reconnaissance and Early Raids
The Luftwaffe activity during the early hours was limited to reconnaissance flights. A single aircraft reconnoitred the Guildford area while another surveyed Weymouth Bay. At Warmwell, a small bombing raid caused superficial damage to one hangar and burnt out the sick quarters, but the station remained operational. Additional reconnaissance aircraft were plotted over the Thames Estuary, the Firth of Forth, and Spurn Head. These early probes set the stage for larger operations that were to follow later in the day.
Fighter Sweep over Kent and Attacks Towards Biggin Hill
By late morning, Luftflotte 2 mounted a massive fighter sweep over Kent, the largest of its kind up to that point in the battle. More than 560 Bf 109s and 150 Bf 110s, operating under Jagdfliegerführer 1 and 2, crossed the Channel in force. The intention was to draw Fighter Command into combat without the distraction of bomber escort, but RAF controllers, recognizing the tactic, declined to commit large numbers of fighters. The enormous armada swept over southern England virtually unchallenged, and while no major engagements developed, the Luftwaffe declared the operation proof of their claimed air superiority. Kesselring’s fighter staff even reported to Berlin that “unlimited fighter superiority” had now been achieved over the south of England, a conclusion that ignored the tactical restraint deliberately exercised by Fighter Command.
At 15:10 hours, nine enemy aircraft were observed crossing over Dover towards Tangmere. This small raid was followed immediately by a much larger formation of nearly 170 aircraft, which appeared to be heading towards Biggin Hill.
RAF squadrons scrambled to intercept. Hurricanes from Nos. 85 (Croydon) and 151 (North Weald) Squadrons were among those engaged, alongside Spitfires of Nos. 603 (Hornchurch) and 610 (Biggin Hill) Squadrons. Heavy fighting developed over Kent, with RAF pilots claiming several victories. Four German aircraft were confirmed destroyed in this action, with an additional loss attributed to anti-aircraft fire.
The RAF, however, suffered notable casualties. Sergeant J.H. Mortimer Ellis of No. 85 Squadron was shot down by a Bf 109 but baled out of his Hurricane (L1915) without injury; the aircraft crashed near Ashburnham, Kent. Sergeant F.R. Walker-Smith, also of No. 85 Squadron, was wounded in the foot when his Hurricane (V7350) was hit over the Sussex coast. He baled out and survived. Pilot Officer A.G. Wainwright of No. 151 Squadron was forced to bale out of his Hurricane (P3882) near Basildon, breaking several ribs upon landing.
Raid on Rochester and Further Losses
At 17:25 hours, a further raid of approximately twenty aircraft crossed North Foreland and pressed inland towards Rochester. The force was intercepted by Hurricanes of No. 85 Squadron and Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron, which between them brought down four enemy aircraft.
However, the RAF suffered further losses. Flight Lieutenant Harry Raymond Hamilton, a Canadian serving with No. 85 Squadron, was killed when his Hurricane (V6623) was shot down near Rye at 18:15 hours. Later, at 19:00 hours, Pilot Officer Richard Hillary of No. 603 Squadron was downed by a Bf 109. He crash-landed his Spitfire (L1021) at Lympne and survived without serious injury.
The day’s fighting also marked a victory for Leutnant Heinz Bär of 1./JG 51, who downed a Hurricane at 19:45 hours, his seventh kill.
By the close of the day’s operations, RAF Fighter Command had lost ten aircraft, with at least two pilots killed, while Luftwaffe losses amounted to twenty-four aircraft.
Enemy Activity in the West and Scilly Isles
While the main focus of the day’s actions was in Kent and the South East, there were scattered operations further west. A single aircraft reconnoitred Portsmouth in the early afternoon, and soon afterwards a small raid of about twelve aircraft approached the area but turned back upon sighting RAF fighters. At 16:00 hours, a raid struck the Scilly Isles, where bombs ignited several fires and caused two civilian casualties. The attack prompted growing alarm among the islanders, with reports of public panic and calls for evacuation.
Enemy Action by Night
As daylight faded, the Luftwaffe renewed its offensive on a larger scale. Dusk raids penetrated East Anglia, with Debden and Duxford among the intended targets. After 23:00 hours, the night’s main effort was launched, focusing on three areas: the South West and South Wales, the industrial Midlands, and the Tees and Tyne districts.
The heaviest blow fell on Liverpool, which endured its second major night raid of the war. He 111s of I./KG 55, Ju 88s of III./LG 1, and He 111s of I./KG 27 targeted the docks and surrounding areas. Houses were demolished, water and electricity mains severed, and significant fires ignited. In the Speke district, factories including the Rootes plant sustained damage, while at Altrincham a 50,000-gallon oil tank at the Anglo-American depot was set ablaze. Damage was also recorded in Manchester.
Diversionary attacks accompanied the Liverpool raid. Coventry suffered heavy bomb damage to housing and public utilities. Gloucester’s water supply was disrupted after a main was struck. The main Liverpool–Exeter railway line was damaged near Silverton, halting traffic temporarily. At Tresco in the Scilly Isles, further low-level bombing caused fires and civilian casualties.
Luftwaffe losses during the night included two He 111s of KG 55 lost in France in non-combat crashes and one He 111 of KG 27 which came down at Fordingbridge.
Organisational Developments
No. 305 (Polish) Squadron was officially formed at Bramcote near Nuneaton, Warwickshire. It was established under British control with an ancillary cadre of British personnel and primarily comprised Polish airmen.
Meanwhile, No. 12 Group Headquarters announced that No. 307 Squadron would be equipped with Boulton Paul Defiant aircraft, contrary to previous plans for Hurricanes. The unit included both Polish airmen who had previously served in France and others trained under British instruction at Hucknall.
German Losses:
Airmen: 45 | Aircraft: 24
British Losses:
Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 10
Hurricane V6623. No. 85 Squadron
F/L H.R. Hamilton killed. Shot down over Winchelsea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/HamiltonHR.htm
Spitfire R6629, No. 610 Squadron
Sgt. E. Manton killed. Shot down during combat with Bf 109s over Hurst Green and crashed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/MantonE.htm
Photo Descriptions:
- Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 flown by Hauptmann Rolf Pingel, Gruppen Kommandeur of I/JG 26, France 1940. © IWM (HU 44150)
- A Messerschmitt Bf 110C of 6./ZG 76 (M8+EP) over the English Channel, August 1940.