Small raids on airfields in the east and south.
Night: Slight activity including Scotland.
Weather: Cloudy, occasional rain.
Enemy Action by Day
The Luftwaffe’s operations on Wednesday, 21 August 1940, were hampered by poor weather and low visibility, yet attacks continued in the form of scattered bombing runs, reconnaissance probes, and fighter-bomber raids across a wide geographical front. Fighter Command correctly assessed that large formations were unlikely but maintained high alert for isolated raids against airfields, convoys, and strategic coastal infrastructure.
Shortly after 12:15 hours, British radar stations detected a medium-sized enemy formation approaching Norfolk. After tracking the flight path, the force split in two: one group veered inland toward Norwich via Great Yarmouth, while the other tracked northeast along the coast past the Wash into Lincolnshire, apparently bound for Hull. These formations were identified as Dornier Do 17 bombers from KG 2 and KG 3 respectively.
No. 242 Squadron, flying Hurricanes from Coltishall under the command of F/Lt G.F. Powell-Sheddon, engaged the southern wing of the formation over Norfolk. Blue Section made contact and destroyed one Do 17 of KG 2, which crashed in flames in open countryside. The remaining bombers broke formation and sought shelter in low cloud, abandoning their original objective. No. 302 (Polish) Squadron, also scrambled to intercept, returned to base without making contact.
Further north, No. 611 Squadron, newly equipped with Spitfire IIs, intercepted the KG 3 formation off Skegness. P/O J.W. Lund claimed a Dornier before his aircraft was damaged by return fire, forcing him to crash-land; he escaped uninjured. P/O M.P. Brown sustained hits to his Spitfire’s tail and port wing, forcing him to disengage. F/O D.H. Watkins successfully downed another Do 17 off Scott’s Head, although his aircraft also suffered minor damage. While attempting evasive manoeuvres in thickening cloud, two Dorniers collided—one crash-landed near Mablethorpe, its crew taken prisoner; the other was finished off by pursuing RAF fighters.
Meanwhile, Convoy CE9, navigating the Dover Straits, came under sustained German attack from both artillery fire and high-altitude bombing. Shelling was believed to originate from coastal batteries in Pas-de-Calais, while Ju 88s and Do 17s mounted dive- and level-bombing runs. However, the protective kite-balloon barrage and strong anti-aircraft defences forced the attackers to jettison bombs prematurely, resulting in minimal damage and several German losses.
Southwest and Southern England
In Cornwall, Luftwaffe activity intensified briefly as Ju 88s from KG 30 mounted a significant raid on RAF St. Eval, a Coastal Command airfield. The attack destroyed six Blenheims of No. 236 Squadron, either on the ground or in dispersal bays. Hangars were set ablaze and multiple support buildings hit. Hurricanes from No. 238 Squadron scrambled in response but arrived too late to prevent the destruction.
Elsewhere in the southwest, additional attacks targeted RAF Binbrook, Stormy Down, and RAF Watton, where a Do 17 dropped a hurried salvo of twenty bombs. The raid caused no casualties and only minor cratering. The bomber was intercepted shortly afterward and shot down by RAF fighters, likely from No. 56 Squadron.
RAF Brize Norton and Middle Wallop also came under assault. At Middle Wallop, Ju 88s scored a near miss on dispersal areas. One Blenheim was damaged by bomb splinters, and several buildings suffered light damage. Around 13:00 hours, Hurricanes from No. 17 Squadron intercepted an incoming bomber formation near the Isle of Wight, shooting down a Ju 88 which crash-landed at Earnley, its four-man crew captured.
Along the Cornish coast, at approximately 13:30 hours, No. 234 Squadron, flying Spitfires, intercepted Ju 88s returning from the St. Eval raid. P/O Bob Doe, already a rising ace, downed one of the bombers, which crashed in flames with no survivors.
Evening engagements continued nationwide. Between 17:30 and 18:30 hours, No. 238 Squadron again clashed with Ju 88s off Cornwall, while No. 56 Squadron engaged Dorniers near Ipswich. In this latter action, F/O R.E.P. Brooker downed one Do 17 before being struck by return fire. His Hurricane, P3153, was severely damaged, but he managed to crash-land and escaped with minor injuries.
Enemy Action by Night
Nightfall brought little relief from poor weather, and Luftwaffe night operations remained fragmented and largely ineffective. Four small raids crossed the Sussex coast and penetrated toward Northolt, Reigate, Maidstone, Weybridge, and south London. No significant damage was reported, and most bombs fell in open country.
Scattered contacts were recorded off the Essex coast, Harwich, Aberdeen, the Humber, and across the Firth of Forth toward Drem. These were largely attributed to single aircraft conducting reconnaissance or harassing bombing sorties.
Suspected minelaying was reported along coastal stretches from Kinnaird’s Head to St Abb’s Head, the Humber to Yarmouth, and Dungeness to Selsey Bill. No mine strikes were recorded, but Royal Navy patrols were placed on alert.
German Losses:
Airmen: 29 | Aircraft: 14
British Losses:
Airmen: 0 | Aircraft: 4
Photo Description
- Troops and civilians pose with Junkers Ju 88A-1 (B3+BM) of 4./KG 54, which belly-landed on Marsh Farm, Earnley, Sussex, on the evening of 21 August 1940. It had been intercepted by No. 17 Squadron Hurricanes during an attack on RAF Brize Norton. © IWM (HU 73745)