Raids on convoys off Orfordness, Clacton and Harwich.
Night: South Wales and midlands.
Weather: Unsettled, with drizzle and low cloud.
Enemy Action by Day
Tuesday, 30 July 1940, was marked by unsettled conditions, with low cloud and persistent drizzle limiting large-scale aerial activity. Despite the poor weather, several sharp encounters occurred over coastal and inland regions, and both the RAF and the Luftwaffe remained active in key sectors. On this day, Fighter Command suffered no confirmed losses, while the Luftwaffe lost at least five aircraft in combat and through anti-aircraft fire.
Behind the front lines, Adolf Hitler issued a significant directive, postponing any potential invasion of Britain until at least mid-September. German leadership remained divided on the scope and methods of such an operation, while Luftwaffe preparations for a sustained air campaign against the RAF entered their final planning phase.
Patrols and Engagements over Southern England
At approximately 09:00 hours, a Junkers Ju 88A of 2.(F)/122 (F6+BK), engaged on a reconnaissance of shipping along the East Coast, suffered engine failure and ditched into the sea near Happisburgh, Norfolk. Leutnant H.-J. Rabbow, Unteroffiziers J. Kehres and G. Lemm, and Gefreiter R. Reimer took to their dinghy and were later rescued by a British fishing vessel.
Raids in the North and Offshore Interceptions
Northern airspace was comparatively quiet. Five raids were plotted between Flamborough Head and the Orkneys throughout the day. One of these was believed to be a meteorological reconnaissance flight.
At 12:12 hours, three Spitfires from No. 603 Squadron intercepted a Heinkel He 111 of 8./KG 26 southwest of Montrose. The bomber was brought down northeast of the town after a short engagement. Although two of the Spitfires sustained damage from return fire, all returned safely to base. The interception marked a clear success for the squadron amid limited Luftwaffe activity in the region that day.
Enemy Action by Night
Night operations were limited in scale, likely due to continued poor weather across much of the country. During the early evening, a small enemy raid was plotted over Surrey. Bombs were dropped at Esher, Chessington, Tolworth, Woldingham, and Merstham. A balloon barrage was also attacked during this incursion, though no significant damage was reported.
Later in the evening, additional raids originating from the Baie de la Seine and Cherbourg were detected over the Plymouth area. These flights progressed inland across Devon and Dorset, extending into South Wales and the Midlands. A raid approaching from the west dropped bombs on Heysham, five miles south of Lancaster. Further reports were received of bombings at Barry Docks and near Cwm Bargoed, where a railway line was damaged.
During a raid near Bristol, anti-aircraft fire brought down a Heinkel He 111, further adding to the day’s German losses. At around 23:00 hours, He 111s of I./KG 55 launched a raid targeting industrial and fuel infrastructure. Bombs were dropped on the Bristol Aeroplane Company and the oil tanks at Avonmouth. The attack continued past midnight, though the full extent of the damage was not immediately clear.
At approximately 00:15 hours, a Ju 88A-1 (W.Nr. 4102, 5J+ER) crash-landed while attempting to return from operations, catching fire and exploding at Great Barton near Bury St Edmunds; Unteroffiziers W. Bohlke and F. Krause, Obergefreiter J. Berlage, and Gefreiter B. Glaser were all killed and later buried at Cannock Chase.
Civilian Reports and Home Security Findings
According to Home Security summaries, bombing began just after midnight when shops in Hull were damaged by an early raid. During the morning, St Athan aerodrome in South Wales was struck. The married men’s quarters were demolished and additional damage was recorded, although no casualties were reported.
In Norwich, a bus station was hit by twelve high-explosive bombs dropped at 06:00 hours. Several buses were destroyed, houses and a water main were damaged, and some casualties occurred. No further bombings were reported during daylight until 22:12 hours, when Esher and Farleigh in Surrey were struck again, though without serious consequence. Overnight, bombs fell on Barry Docks and Cwm Bargoed, damaging railway infrastructure.
German Strategic Developments
On the German side, 30 July 1940 marked a turning point in strategic planning. Adolf Hitler formally delayed Operation Sea Lion, stipulating that no invasion could proceed before 15 September. In private, he preferred postponement until early 1941, though his senior commanders disagreed.
Disputes persisted between the Army and Navy regarding the most suitable landing zones. The Navy favoured a concentrated crossing in the Dover Straits, while the Army preferred a broader front reaching as far west as Lyme Regis.
Propaganda Minister Dr. Joseph Goebbels addressed the German public with familiar bravado, claiming that Britain’s resistance was faltering and that the RAF could not match the strength of the Luftwaffe. He suggested that the United States would remain uninvolved and asserted that a German victory, possibly by Christmas, was inevitable. These remarks served to bolster civilian morale, despite the operational challenges the Luftwaffe continued to face.
German Losses:
Airmen: 21 | Aircraft: 9
British Losses:
Airmen: 0 | Aircraft: 1
Photo Description
- Pilots of No. 85 Squadron seen running to their aircraft. © IWM (HU 49253)
- Hawker Hurricane Mk I flown by Sgt G ‘Sammy’ Allard of No. 85 Squadron, July 1940. © IWM (HU 104491)