| August 18th
The Luftwaffe put up a total of about 970 sorties over England - 495 by bombers and 460 by fighters on this day.
The Luftwaffe lost 69 aircraft destroyed or damaged beyond repair as a result of ops over Britain. Of these 59 were lost to probable fighter action.
The Luftwaffe lost 94 aircrew killed and 40 taken prisoner.
Fighter Command put up 927 sorties.
Of the 31 British fighters destroyed or damaged beyond repair 25 fell to enemy fighter action, 2 to return fire from bombers.
During action on the 18th ten British fighter pilots were killed and one died of wounds later. Nineteen pilots were wounded.
This day was reputed to be the hardest day of the Battle of Britain, measured in material losses.
(info from Dr. Alfred Price)
__________________ 'There I stood at the bar, wearing a Mae West, no jacket, and beginning to leak blood from my torn boot. None of the golfers took any notice of me - after all, I wasn't a member!' Kenneth Lee - after being shot down on the 18th August 1940. "The real you washes ashore" |