Widespread attacks on shipping in south, south-east and south-west coastal waters. Dover balloon barrage.
Night: South Wales and Thames raided.
Weather: Fair all over the country with temperatures slightly above average. Channel and Straits hazy.
Enemy Action by Day
Wednesday, 31 July 1940, brought fair weather across the United Kingdom, with temperatures slightly above average and generally clear skies inland. The Channel and Straits, however, remained hazy, creating challenging visibility for both attackers and defenders. Despite the improved conditions, Luftwaffe activity was reduced in scale compared to previous days, with many raids turning back upon the approach of RAF fighters. Nonetheless, attacks on coastal shipping continued, accompanied by limited inland bombing later that night.
Coastal Shipping Raids and RAF Interceptions
Enemy reconnaissance and low-level attacks focused primarily on convoys off the south, southeast, and southwest coasts. A notable incident occurred around 06:15 hours, when enemy aircraft approached a convoy off Harwich but broke off without engaging. Bombs were later reported falling near four ships off Lowestoft and close to a naval unit in Yarmouth Roads. Despite the deployment of three RAF sections, no contact was made.
Further west, a special convoy under escort was subjected to close surveillance by the Luftwaffe. Hurricanes from No. 1 Squadron were detailed to provide reinforcement. During the engagement, a Dornier Do 215 was believed to have been shot down off the Isle of Wight, although this could not be confirmed.
At 06:35 hours, a raid originating near Berck crossed the Channel toward Dungeness, where Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron were scrambled to intercept. Although contact was made, no aircraft were downed.
Later in the day, around 16:00 hours, two Staffeln of Bf 109s from JG 2 approached the Dover area and opened fire on the coastal balloon barrage. Spitfires from No. 74 Squadron were scrambled and engaged the German fighters. A dogfight developed as additional Bf 109s from II./JG 51 joined the fray. In the running combat over the Dover area, No. 74 Squadron lost three Spitfires, one of which crash-landed heavily upon return. Sergeant F.W. Eley and Pilot Officer H.R. Gunn were both killed.
Luftwaffe losses included at least one Bf 109E, which suffered a seized engine and crash-landed at Fécamp. Confirmed kills were credited to Oblt. Josef Fözö and Lt. Erich Hohagen of 4./JG 51, and Hauptmann Horst Tietzen of 5./JG 51, who claimed his fourteenth aerial victory.
No. 64 Squadron was also scrambled to intercept near Dover that afternoon but made no contact. Nevertheless, the presence of Spitfires appeared to have a deterrent effect, with several raids turning back before reaching the coast.
Northern and Eastern Sectors
In northern waters, the day began with a unique engagement. At 08:55 hours, a Short Sunderland flying boat from No. 10 Squadron RAAF, based at Mount Batten, was escorting the merchant cruiser HMS Mooltan following her refit in Plymouth. The aircraft encountered a Ju 88 and manoeuvred to intercept. Although no shots were fired, the German bomber broke off the approach, and the escort mission continued without further incident.
Meanwhile, off Montrose in Scotland, a meteorological flight of He 111s was encountered shortly after noon. At 12:12 hours, three Spitfires from No. 603 Squadron engaged and shot down an He 111 of 8./KG 26. The bomber crashed northeast of the town, and although two Spitfires sustained damage from return fire, both returned safely to Montrose. This was the only confirmed aerial victory in the north on this date.
The northeast coast also reported three further meteorological flights near the Scottish shoreline, none of which resulted in RAF engagement.
Activity in France and Over the Channel
Along the French coast, German patrol tracks were plotted over Cherbourg, Calais, and Boulogne. Most Luftwaffe formations remained within five to ten miles of the French coastline, turning back when British fighters were detected. While several raids made brief advances toward the Varne Light Vessel and Dover Straits, few penetrated deeply into English airspace.
Enemy Action by Night
Night operations intensified as darkness fell. Raids crossed from Cherbourg and the Channel Islands, many heading inland toward the Thames Estuary and South Wales. Beginning around 22:00 hours, bombs were dropped on multiple targets across Surrey, including Esher, Hinchley Wood, and Thames Ditton. Damage was reported to a warden’s post and three motor cars, and one civilian was injured.
Further bombs fell near Southminster, Rochford, Croydon, Rochester, Brentwood, Gravesend, Ipswich, Wattisham, and Martlesham.
Additional activity occurred across South Wales, where Barry Docks suffered a second bombing within 24 hours. Four high-explosive bombs derailed three railway wagons and shattered windows at the Naval Control and GWR offices. In Cwm Bargoed, damage was inflicted on the railway track.
Near Swansea, bombs fell on Monk Nash, while another raid approached from the west over Milford Haven, unplotted by radar. Between North Coates and Spurn Head, No. 29 Squadron (Blenheims) intercepted an enemy aircraft at 00:15 hours and reportedly shot it down into the sea.
Other unplotted raids were heard or detected acoustically, particularly over Liverpool Bay and the Bristol Channel.
Propaganda and Political Developments in Germany
Meanwhile, within the Third Reich, internal politics spilled over into Luftwaffe identity. Reichsmarschall Göring, displeased with the marriage of Oberstleutnant Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel of JG 53 to a woman of partial Jewish ancestry, ordered the unit’s “Ace of Spades” insignia removed. In protest, pilots of III./JG 53 erased the swastikas from their aircraft tails, some even replacing them with victory tallies. This morale-deflating order had little military impact but sowed discontent within one of the Luftwaffe’s most visible fighter wings.
Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Germany’s Minister of Propaganda, used the day to boast over the airwaves that Britain was near defeat. He claimed the RAF could no longer challenge the Luftwaffe and that German occupation of London was imminent. These claims contrasted sharply with the day’s actual events, in which British defences held firm and the Luftwaffe sustained moderate losses with minimal strategic success.
German Losses:
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 7
British Losses:
Airmen: 5 | Aircraft: 7
Spitfire P9398, No. 74 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
Sgt F.W. Eley killed. Shot down off Folkestone by Bf 109.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Eley.htm
Spitfire P9379, No. 74 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
P/O H.R. Gunn killed. Shot down off Folkestone by Bf 109.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Gunn.htm
Photo Descriptions
- Pilots of No. 32 Squadron RAF leave their aircraft after a sortie from RAF Hawkinge on 31 July 1940.
- Convoy protection. Sunderland L2163/DA-G, one of a pair from No 210 Squadron, over convoy TC6 carrying Canadian troops to Britain, 31 July 1940. The convoy had left Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 23 July and was due to arrive at Greenock on 1 August. The vessel in the background which the censor has circled for blocking out is the H Class Destroyer HMS HIGHLANDER. © IWM (CH 825)