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.
Hurricanes of No. 242 Squadron from Coltishall, under the command of F/Lt G. F. Powell-Sheddon, engaged the southern wing of the formation over Norfolk. Blue Section, comprising Flight Lieutenant G. F. Powell-Sheddon, Sub-Lieutenant R. E. Gardner, and Pilot Officer J. B. Latta, made contact and destroyed one Do 17Z-3 (U5+FK) of 2./KG 2 at approximately 12:30 hours; the aircraft crashed at Conifer Hill, Starston. Leutnant H. Ermecke was killed, while Unteroffizier G.-D. Wulf, Unteroffizier H. Hermen, and Sonderführer Leutnant K. Rasche baled out and were captured. 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. Flying Officer D. H. Watkins and Red Section shot down a Do 17Z-3 at approximately 12:35 hours, which crashed into the North Sea off Skegness; Feldwebel M. Zimmermann and Unteroffizier V. Wiegrand were reported missing, believed killed; Unteroffizier B. Skibitzki was washed ashore at Brancaster on 9 September and buried at St Mary’s Churchyard, Great Bircham; and Gefreiter E. Schläfer was lost at sea.
Shortly after, at approximately 12:40 hours, Pilot Officers J. W. Lund and M. P. Brown of Red Section shot down a Do 17Z-3 of 4./KG 3, which crashed into the North Sea off Scolt Head, Brancaster Roads; Leutnant H. Kruger, Oberfeldwebel W. Stolle, Unteroffizier H. Kaschner, and Oberfeldwebel E. Kotulla were all killed, their bodies later washing ashore along the Norfolk coast, with Kaschner buried at St Mary’s Churchyard, Great Bircham. During the engagement, Lund’s Spitfire was damaged by return fire, forcing him to crash-land, though he escaped uninjured; Brown’s Spitfire was hit in the tail and port wing, forcing him to disengage.
While attempting evasive manoeuvres in thickening cloud, two Dorniers of 6./KG 3—Do 17Z-3 (5K+AP) and Do 17Z-2 (5K+BP)—collided at approximately 13:30 hours; the wreckage came down at Farlesthorpe near Alford and at Bilsby. Oberleutnant H. Schwarz and Oberleutnant U. Matschoss baled out and were captured, while Oberfeldwebel W. Loos and Unteroffizier H. Lehmann were killed; Unteroffizier G. Pollmann, Unteroffizier F. Paterrok, Gefreiter H. Langer, and Gefreiter K. Ludwig, from the second aircraft, all baled out and were captured.
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.
Along the Cornish coast, around 14:00 hours, Spitfires of No. 234 Squadron intercepted a formation of Ju 88s returning from the St. Eval raid. Squadron Leader J. S. O’Brien and Pilot Officer R. F. T. Doe engaged and shot down a Ju 88A-1 of 1./KG 54 at approximately 14:15 hours. The aircraft crashed at King’s Somborne; Oberleutnant M.-D. Birkenstock, Obergefreiter G. Freude, Unteroffizier R. Schulze, and Gefreiter F. Becker were all killed and buried in an unregistered grave.
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 16:00 hours, Hurricanes from No. 17 Squadron intercepted an incoming bomber formation near the Isle of Wight, shooting down a Ju 88A-1 (B3+BM) of 4./KG 54 on a mission to bomb RAF Brize Norton. The aircraft was brought down at approximately 16:15 hours by a combination of anti-aircraft fire and Blue Section—Squadron Leader C. W. Williams, Pilot Officer H. A. C. Bird-Wilson, and Pilot Officer J. K. Ross—and crash-landed at Marsh Farm, Earnley, Sussex. Hauptmann L. Maiwald, Oberfeldwebel H. Apollony, Unteroffizier K. Miethner, and Unteroffizier H. Hempel were all captured.
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, Flight Lieutenant P. S. Weaver and Flying Officer R. E. P. Brooker shot down a Do 17Z (U5+CS) of 8./KG 2 at approximately 18:26 hours while it was on a mission to bomb RAF Wyton. The aircraft crashed at Gippeswyk Park, Ipswich; Leutnant K. Kzienzyk, Flieger H. Stertz, Unteroffizier H. Behnke, and Gefreiter J. Sollfrank all baled out and were captured. During the engagement, Brooker’s Hurricane (P3153) was struck by return fire and 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.
At approximately 23:55 hours, a Ju 88A-1 (4D+LT) of 9./KG 30, on a reconnaissance mission to Edinburgh, crashed into the North Sea east of Berwick. Feldwebel P. Meyn and Gefreiter W. Lauer were reported missing, believed killed, while Obergefreiter K. Tutschek and Feldwebel P. Porrmann survived after twelve hours in their dinghy and were later rescued.
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)