So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Gage, Jul 10, 2011.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Wednesday 17 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

    WEDNESDAY 17 JULY 1940
    Search for shipping off Scottish and east coasts.
    Night: Targets attacked in south-west. Minelaying.

    Weather: Dull with occasional rain.

    Main Activity:

    At around 1400 hours, twelve Spitfires of No. 64 Squadron on patrol over Beachy Head were bounced by Bf 109s of 3./JG 2. One Spitfire was shot down.

    At 1530 hours, six Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron encountered and attacked a lone He 111 of Stab/KG 27. It was claimed as damaged but failed to return.

    At 1600 hours, a small formation of He 111 bombers from III/KG 26, based in Stavanger, Norway, bombed the Imperial Chemical Industries factory at Ardeer, Ayrshire. One of the bombers was intercepted and shot down by Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron 25 miles east of Fraserburgh. Two survivors were seen to take to a rubber raft. One of the Spitfires was damaged by return fire but was able to return to base.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 15 | Aircraft: 4

    British Losses
    Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 1

    Spitfire K9916, No. 603 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
    F/O C.D. Peel. Certified as missing. Failed to return from an operational flight.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O C D Peel
    [​IMG]
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Thursday 18 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

    THURSDAY 18 JULY 1940
    Shipping off south and east coasts attacked.
    Night: Very little activity.

    Weather: Occasional rain in southern districts. Straits of Dover cloudy. Cool.

    Main Activity:

    At 0930 hours, fifteen Spitfires of Nos. 152 and 610 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept a large raid heading towards a convoy near Deal. The enemy formation turned out to be thirty Bf 109s of JG 51. In the ensuing combat, one Spitfire was shot down and two others damaged.

    At about 1300 hours, six Spitfires from No. 609 Squadron intercepted Ju 88 bombers from II/LG 1 off the Isle of Wight. One bomber was shot down and another damaged. Two Spitfires were lost to return fire. Around the same time, six Spitfires from No. 145 Squadron shot down an He 111 bomber from KG 27 twenty miles south of Bognor Regis.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 16 | Aircraft: 6

    British Losses
    Airmen: 8 | Aircraft: 5

    Blenheim N3541, No. 235 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
    P/O R.L. Patterson, Sgt R.Y. Tucker, and Sgt L.H.M. Reece. Certified as missing. Failed to return from operational flight.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O R L Patterson
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. R Y Tucker
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. L H M Reece

    Spitfire P9452, No. 610 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    P/O P. Litchfield Killed. Shot down by Bf 109 over Channel. Body never recovered.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O P Litchfield

    Blenheim L6779, No. 236 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    P/O C.R.D. Thomas and Sgt H.D.B. Elsdon. Both killed. Shot down during photo-recon mission over Le Havre, France.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O CRD Thomas
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. H D B Elsdon

    Blenheim L6639, No. 236 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    P/O R.H. Rigby and Sgt D.D. Mackinnon. Both killed. Shot down by Bf 109 during photo-recon mission over Le Havre, France
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O R H Rigby
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. D D MacKinnon
     
  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    8 Things You Need To Know About The Battle Of Britain
    The Few' were supported by many
    Many people in addition to Churchill’s ‘Few’ worked to defend Britain. Ground crew – including riggers, fitters, armourers, and repair and maintenance engineers – looked after the aircraft. Factory workers helped keep aircraft production up. The Observer Corps tracked incoming raids – its tens of thousands of volunteers ensured that the 1,000 observation posts were continuously manned. Anti-aircraft gunners, searchlight operators and barrage balloon crews all played vital roles in Britain’s defence. Members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) served as radar operators and worked as plotters, tracking raids in the group and sector operations rooms. The Local Defence Volunteers (later the Home Guard) had been set up in May 1940 as a ‘last line of defence’ against German invasion. By July, nearly 1.5 million men had enrolled.


    All of the RAF helped defend Britain
    The RAF was organised into different ‘Commands’ based on function or role, including Fighter, Bomber and Coastal Commands. While victory in the Battle of Britain was decisively gained by Fighter Command, defence was carried out by the whole of the Royal Air Force. Britain’s most senior military personnel understood the importance of the bomber in air defence. They wrote on 25 May: ‘We cannot resist invasion by fighter aircraft alone. An air striking force is necessary not only to meet the sea-borne expedition, but also to bring direct pressure to bear upon Germany by attacking objectives in that country’.
     
  4. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/friday-19-july-1940/
    FRIDAY 19 JULY 1940
    Dover raided. Defiant squadron largely destroyed.
    Weather: Showery with bright intervals in most cases. Channel winds light – fair.

    Night: Some activity between Isle of Wight and Plymouth, Thames Estuary and Harwich.

    Main Activity:

    At 1245 hours, nine Defiants of No. 141 Squadron were bounced by Bf 109s of III/JG 51 south of Folkestone. Six aircraft were lost in rapid succession before Hurricanes from No. 111 Squadron arrived to break up the attack and allow the remaining Defiants to return to Hawkinge. One Bf 109 was severely damaged and crashed on landing.

    At 1431 hours, twelve Hurricanes of No. 43 Squadron encountered a formation of Bf 109s from III/JG 27 off Selsey Bill. In the ensuing combat, two Hurricanes were shot down and one Bf 109 returned damaged.

    At 1600 hours, a formation Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers, escorted by Bf 109s from III/JG 51, attacked Dover. They were engaged by Hurricanes and Spitfires from Nos. 32, 64, and 74 Squadrons. In the resulting action, one Hurricane was shot down and two Spitfires were damaged. Two Bf 109s were also badly damaged. The British destroyers Griffin and Beagle were both damaged by near misses but sustained no casualties. The armed trawler Crestflower was bombed and sunk while the tanker RFA War Sepoy was severely damaged, broken in two and subsequently used as a blockship outside Dover Harbour.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 13 | Aircraft: 5

    British Losses
    Airmen: 11 | Aircraft: 10

    Defiant L7009, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    F/Lt I.D.G. Donald and P/O A.C. Hamilton. Both killed. Shot down by Bf 109 and crashed into residential street in Dover.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - F/Lt. I D G Donald
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O A C Hamilton

    Defiant L6974, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    P/O J.R. Kemp and Sgt R. Crombie. Certified as missing. Crashed into Channel after being shot down by Bf 109.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O J R Kemp
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. R Crombie

    Defiant L6995, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    P/O R.A. Howley and Sgt A.G. Curley. Certified as missing. Crashed into Channel after being shot down by Bf 109.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O R A Howley
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. A G Curley

    Defiant L7015, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    P/O R. Kidson and Sgt F.P.J. Atkins. Certified as missing. Crashed into Channel after being shot down by Bf 109.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O R Kidson
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. FPJ Atkins

    Defiant L7016, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    P/O D.M. Slatter. Certified as missing. Crashed into Channel after being shot down by Bf 109.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O D M Slatter

    Defiant L6983, No. 141 Squadron. Aircraft damaged.
    Sgt J.F. Wise. Certified as missing. Damage sustained by Bf 109. Sgt Wise baled out over Channel but pilot managed to get aircraft back to base.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. J F Wise

    Hurricane P3531, No. 43 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    Sgt J.A. Buck. Drowned. Hit by gunfire from Bf 109, baled out over Channel.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. J A Buck
     
  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

    SATURDAY 20 JULY 1940
    Convoys off shipping at Dover attacked.
    Night: Widespread minelaying from the Needles, Isle of Wight, to Land’s End; Bristol Channel and eastern coastal waters.

    Weather: Occasional thunderstorms. Straits of Dover cloudy clearing to bright intervals.

    Main Activity:

    Around 1300 hours, nine Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers from III/StG 2, escorted by seventeen Bf 109s from I/JG 27, were despatched to attack the convoy codenamed BOSOM off Swanage. They were met by three Hurricanes from No. 238 Squadron and three Spitfires from No. 152 Squadron. In the ensuing combat, two Bf 109s from 3./JG 27 were shot down for the loss of two British fighters. No ships were sunk.

    At 1600 hours, twelve Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron were despatched to the same area, meeting a number of Bf 109s from 1./JG 27. Both sides lost an aircraft during the engagement.

    At 1740 hours, Ju 87 Stukas of II/StG 1, escorted by Bf 110s from 2./ErprGr 210 and Bf 109s from JG 51, approached BOSOM off Dover. They were intercepted by Hurricanes and Spitfires from Nos. 32, 65, and 610 Squadrons. Two Bf 109s were shot down and four Stukas were badly damaged with two crash-landing in France. Two Hurricanes and a Spitfire were also lost. The steamer Pulborough (860-tons) was sunk and the British destroyer HMS Brazen was badly damaged.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 18 | Aircraft: 12

    British Losses
    Airmen: 7 | Aircraft: 9

    Hurricane P3766, No. 238 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    Sgt C. Parkinson. Died of injuries the next day. Baled out after being shot down by Bf 109. Rescued by ship.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. C Parkinson

    Hurricane P3082, No. 501 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    P/O E.J.H. Sylvester. Certified as missing. Damaged by Bf 109 off Cherbourg, crashed approaching coast.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O E J H Sylvester

    Spitfire K9880, No. 152 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    P/O N.H. Posener. Certified as missing. Crashed into Channel after being hit by gunfire from Bf 109.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O F H Posener

    Hurricane N2670, No. 32 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    Sub/Lt G.G.R. Bulmer. Certified as missing. Hit by gunfire from Bf 109 and crashed into Channel.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sub/Lt.(FAA) G G R Bulmer

    Hurricane P3964, No. 43 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    F/O J.F.J. Haworth. Certified as missing. Shot down while investigating E/A, baled out over Channel.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O J F J Haworth

    Blenheim L1300, No. 236 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
    Sgt E.E. Lockton and Sgt H. Corcoran. Certified as missing. Shot down by Bf 109 during escort mission. Crashed into Channel.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. E E Lockton
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. H Corcoran

    Hurricane P2917, No. 263 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    P/O A.R. Downer. Died of injuries the next day. Crashed while making a forced landing at base.
     
  6. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    The NLO diary at Coastal Command shows the wider picture of this days activities in relation to defence against invasion.

    From 00:00 to 07:10 on the first image (893) are the reports from Bomber Command on enemy shipping from Denmark to Holland then delays to Coastal Command standard search areas to seek German naval unit breakout from the Baltic.

    At 10:00 is discussion on importance of Trondheim recce followed by intercepts from E/A of weather in Channel and suitability for bombing attacks.

    12:50 is enemy recce report of 1 BS, 2DR 7 Flying Boat in harbour - Plymouth is associated with this report

    13:05 Trondheim recce gets off
    13:40 is report of Bosom attack at 13:00

    until 19:20 are one liners of Coastal Command Standard search area tasking and reports as well as reports on attacks on channel convoy

    At 19:20 (on image 894) is the first verbal report from ground sources that at 09:00 it was thought that Gneisenau and other shipping has sailed (a month earlier after a torpedo strike for HMS Clyde the ship had returned to Trondheim for repairs - Ross) the note from NLO clarifies that sea trials are thought rather than attack sortie.

    The remaining pages for the 20th July record the activity trying to locate and intercept this capital ship.

    Ross
     

    Attached Files:

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  7. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Sunday 21 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
    SUNDAY 21 JULY 1940
    Raids on convoys in Channel and Straits of Dover.
    Night: Targets chiefly at Merseyside.

    Weather: Fine and fair early, clouding over during the morning. Fair in the evening.

    Main Activity:

    At 1005 hours, a section of Hurricanes from No. 238 Squadron intercepted and shot down a reconnaissance Bf 110 from 4.(F)/14, which had penetrated inland over the south coast. The German aircraft shot down a Fairey Battle trainer near Stockbridge and a Hawker Hart biplane of 1 FTS, based at Old Sarum aerodrome.

    At 1458 hours, Do 17s from KG 3, escorted by Bf 109s of JG 27 and Bf 110 fighter-bombers of V/LG 1, approached the convoy codenamed PEEWIT south of the Needles. Hurricanes from No. 43 Squadron were scrambled to intercept. In the resulting action, a Bf 109 and a Hurricane were destroyed in a collision. The Do 17s dropped their bombs without result and turned back for France, at which point Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron arrived and engaged the Bf 110s dive-bombing the convoy. One Bf 110 was severely damaged and crash-landed at Theville.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 19 | Aircraft: 12

    British Losses
    Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 2

    Hurricane P3973, No. 43 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    P/O R.A. DeMancha. Certified as missing. Collided with Bf 109 and crashed into Channel.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O R A DeMancha
     
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  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Support from the Ground in the Battle of Britain

    Around 3,000 pilots fought in the Battle of Britain, but thousands of other people helped defend Britain in the summer of 1940. They were the Royal Air Force (RAF) ground crews who the pilots depended on in order to get in the air and engage the enemy, the staff in the Sector Station operations rooms who ‘scrambled’ the fighters into action, and the teams operating defences on the ground.
    WAAF Plotters
    Operations Staff
    Observer Corps
    Balloon Command
    Anti-Aircraft Command and Searchlight Operators
    Engineers and Armourers
    Riggers and Fitters
    Ground crew








     
  9. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Monday 22 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

    MONDAY 22 JULY 1940
    Shipping off the south coast attacked.
    Night: Minelaying the whole length of the eastern seaboard.

    Weather: Straits fair; Channel cloudy. Light westerly winds in both. Bright intervals between showers in the east.

    Main Activity:

    At about 0730 hours, three Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron intercepted and shot down a Do 17P of 4.(F)/121 into the sea about 20 miles south of Selsey.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 4

    British Losses
    Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 2

    Hurricane P3895, No. 85 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    P/O J. L. Bickerdike killed. Crashed on approach to Castle Camps satellite airfield.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O J L BICKERDIKE
     
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  10. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    How the Observer Corps helped win the Battle of Britain


    The Observer Corps was officially formed in 1925. A series of observation posts were established during the First World War to spot and identify enemy aircraft over Britain. The Observer Corps built on the legacy of this system.

    Largely made up of volunteers who trained themselves in aircraft recognition, the Observer Corps played a crucial role during the Battle of Britain as part of the Dowding System.

    The radar stations positioned along the coast were only able to look outwards. Once inland, it was up to the Observer Corps to identify enemy aircraft and to estimate the size and height of the formations. This information was passed to an Observer Corps Centre and then to Group and Sector Station Operations Rooms where it was used to inform Fighter Command's operations.

    In 1941, in recognition of their contribution, the Observer Corps became the Royal Observer Corps (ROC).

    The ROC continued to serve throughout the Second World War. They provided early warning of air raids and later in the war helped spot incoming V1 and V2 rockets. Observers even served aboard the invasion fleet on D-Day to give early identification of incoming aircraft.
     
  11. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Tuesday 23 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

    TUESDAY 23 JULY 1940

    East coast shipping raided.
    Night: Minelaying from Dover to the Tyne and Forth Estuary.

    Weather: Slight haze in the Straits of Dover. Cloudy with occasional rain in other districts.

    Main Activity:

    At 1540 hours, three Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron intercepted and shot down a Do 17 of 3./KG 3 in a raid near Kinnaird’s Head.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 10 | Aircraft: 6

    British Losses
    Airmen: 0 | Aircraft: 2

    https://battleofbritain1940.com/video/air-drama-off-the-coast/
     
  12. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    How The Luftwaffe Fought The Battle Of Britain

    Three air fleets – Luftflotten 2, 3 and 5 – were deployed to face RAF Fighter Command from across the English Channel and the North Sea. Luftflotte 2, commanded by Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, undertook the main weight of operations against the south-east of England. Luftflotte 3, under the leadership of Field Marshal Hugo Sperrle, concentrated on targets in the western half of England and General Hans Stumpff’s Luftflotte 5 was to be used for diversionary attacks against northern Britain.

    The Luftwaffe suffered various problems which hampered its effectiveness in the Battle of Britain. It was designed as a close-support weapon moving forward with ground troops, not as an instrument for a strategic bombing campaign against a determined opposing fighter force.
     
  13. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Wednesday 24 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

    WEDNESDAY 24 JULY 1940

    Convoys and shipping in the Channel attacked
    Night: Nil.

    Weather: Channel and Straits of Dover cloudy. Coastal and hill fog in western districts spreading east. Rain in most districts.

    Main Activity:

    At 0815 hours, six Spitfires of No. 54 Squadron were scrambled to intercept a formation of Do 17s from II/KG 2 attempting to bomb a small convoy in the Straits of Dover. The raid was broken up but two Spitfires were damaged by return fire with one force-landing. No ships were sunk.

    At about 1100 hours, another German raid comprising Do 17s of I/KG 2, escorted by Bf 109s of III/JG 26 and III/JG 52, was detected heading for a convoy in the Thames Estuary. Spitfires from Nos. 54, 65, and 610 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept. In the resulting combat, six Bf 109s were shot down and another crashed at Marquise. Two Spitfires were also lost.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 23 | Aircraft: 15

    British Losses
    Airmen: 3 | Aircraft: 5

    Spitfire R6812, No. 54 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    F/O J. L. Allen killed. Engine damaged in combat with Bf 109, but losing height crashed near the Old Charles Inn at Cliftonville.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O J L Allen

    Hurricane P3316, No. 151 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    P/O J. R. Hamar killed. Aircraft stalled at 500 ft and crashed nose first on aerodrome.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O J R Hamar

    Hurricane P2685, No. 46 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    P/O A. M. Cooper-Key killed. Aircraft crashed during training exercise due to engine failure.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O A M COOPER-KEY
     
  14. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/thursday-25-july-1940/
    [​IMG]
    THURSDAY 25 JULY 1940
    Convoys and shipping in the Channel raided
    Night: Minelaying in the Firth of Forth and Thames Estuary. Reconnaissance over Bristol and Channel area.

    Weather: Fine day with haze in the Straits of Dover. Winds north-westerly and light.

    Main Activity:

    At 1207 hours, a large formation of Bf 109s from III/JG 52 approached Dover at sea level and were met by Spitfires from No. 65 Squadron. One German fighter was lost when it hit and crashed into the sea.

    At 1245 hours, twenty Hurricanes from Nos. 32 and 615 Squadrons engaged more than forty Bf 109s in a dogfight near Dover. One Hurricane was badly damaged. As the fighters withdrew, sixty Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers from II/StG 1 and IV/LG 1 attacked the convoy codenamed PEEWIT passing through the Dover Straits. Nine Spitfires from No. 54 Squadron were scrambled to help but they were bounced by Bf 109s of III/JG 26 and lost two aircraft.

    At 1430 hours, thirty Ju 88s from III/KG 4, escorted by over 50 Bf 109s, were despatched to attack PEEWIT. They were engaged by Spitfires from Nos. 64 and 610 Squadrons along with Hurricanes from No. 111 Squadron. The attack was broken up but two Spitfires were lost and another two damaged. One Bf 109 was confirmed destroyed.

    At about 1715 hours, PEEWIT was attacked again by Ju 87 Stukas from II/LG 1 and III/StG 1 off Folkestone. Five ships were sunk and another four damaged. Hurricanes from No. 56 Squadron together with Spitfires from Nos. 54, 64, and 610 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept, shooting down two Ju 87s and two Bf 109s. Two Spitfires were also lost.

    Eleven out of twenty-one ships in convoy PEEWIT were sunk and another seven damaged along with two British destroyers, HMS Boreas and HMS Brilliant. The two destroyers were despatched from Dover to engage German E-boats.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 19 | Aircraft: 19

    British Losses
    Airmen: 7 | Aircraft: 9

    Spitfire P9451, No. 64 Squadron. Lost at sea.
    F/O A.J.O. Jeffrey. Killed. Was last seen crashing into the Channel. Body washed up on Dutch coast.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O A J O Jeffrey

    Spitfire R6707, No. 54 Squadron. Lost at sea.
    F/Lt B.H. “Wonky” Way. Presumed drowned. Shot down by Bf 109 and crashed into Channel.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - F/Lt. B H Way

    Spitfire R6693, No. 610 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    S/L A.T. Smith. Killed. Crashed and burnt out after stalling on landing. Previously in combat with Bf 109.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - S/Ldr. A T Smith

    Spitfire L1035, No. 64 Squadron. Lost at sea.
    Sub/Lt F.D. Paul. Died of Injuries. Shot down by Bf 109, captured by a German E-boat but died five days later.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sub/Lt. (FAA) F Dawson-Paul

    Spitfire R6816, No. 54 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    P/O A. Finnie. Killed. Hit by gunfire from Bf 109 and crashed at Kingsdown, near Dover.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O A Finnie

    Spitfire P9493, No. 234 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
    P/O G.K. Gout. Killed. Crashed just outside town. Circumstances not known.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O G K GOUT
     
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  15. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Friday 26 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
    FRIDAY 26 JULY 1940
    Shipping off the south coast attacked.
    Night: Minelaying in Thames Estuary and off the Norfolk coast. Bristol area.

    Weather: Heavy cloud with rain and poor visibility.

    Main Activity:

    At about 0945 hours, six Hurricanes of No. 601 Squadron intercepted a formation of Bf 109s from III/JG 27 off the Isle of Wight. One Hurricane was shot down during the engagement. Later that morning, twelve Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron engaged Bf 109s of 2./JG 27 off Portsmouth. One Bf 109 was shot down.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 9 | Aircraft: 5

    British Losses
    Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 1

    Hurricane P2753, No. 601 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
    P/O P. Chalenor Lindsay. Posted missing. Shot down by Bf 109 over Channel and crashed into sea.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O P C Lindsey

    [​IMG]
     
  16. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    In an action over the Channel on the 26th Lindsey was shot down, it is thought by Oberleutenant Dobislav of III/JG27, two miles south of St. Catherine's Point. His Hurricane, P2753, crashed into the Channel and he was reported 'Missing'.

    Lindsey's body was washed ashore on 21st September 1940 at Pointe de la Creche on the French coast and he is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery.

    He was 20 years old.

    [​IMG]

    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O P C Lindsey
     
  17. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/saturday-27-july-1940/

    SATURDAY 27 JULY 1940
    Raids on shipping and naval units in Dover harbour and Straits.
    Night: Attacks on south-west England.

    Weather: Fair Straits, cloudy in Channel. Slight rain in the midlands and the North Sea.

    Main Activity:

    Shortly before 0800 hours, thirty Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers of I/StG 77, escorted by Bf 109s of JG 27, were despatched to attack the convoy codenamed BACON sailing past Portland. Three Hurricanes from No. 238 Squadron were scrambled from Middle Wallop to intercept and shot down one Ju 87.

    At 0945 hours, a second wave of Ju 87 Stukas attacked BACON. Hurricanes from Nos. 145 and 238 Squadrons along with Spitfires from No. 609 Squadron intercepted but they were kept at bay by the escorting Bf 109s. One Spitfire was shot down.

    At 1430 hours, Bf 110 fighter-bombers of 3./ErprGr 210 attacked Dover Harbour, damaging the British destroyer HMS Walpole. RAF fighters chased the enemy aircraft towards France but did not make contact.

    At 1706 hours, six minesweeper trawlers, escorted by the British destroyers HMS Wren and HMS Montrose, were attacked off Aldeburgh by He 111 bombers from KG 53. HMS Wren was sunk and HMS Montrose was damaged.

    At 1730 hours, Dover Harbour was attacked again. The British destroyer HMS Codrington was sunk and the depot ship HMS Sandhurst was badly damaged. Six Spitfires from No. 41 Squadron together with twenty-four Hurricanes from Nos. 501 and 615 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept the enemy aircraft. One Hurricane was lost. Following the combat, an He 59 air-sea rescue aircraft was intercepted and shot down.

    With the loss of three destroyers, the British Admiralty decided to withdraw all naval ships from Dover and cease using the harbour as an advanced base.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 12 | Aircraft: 5

    British Losses
    Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 2

    Spitfire N3023, No. 609 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
    P/O J.R. Buchanan. Killed. Shot down by Bf 109 off Portsmouth.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O J R Buchanan

    Hurricane P3808, No. 501 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
    F/O P.A.N. Cox. Posted missing. Shot down by Bf 109 off Dover.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - F/Lt. P A N Cox
     
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  18. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/sunday-28-july-1940/
    SUNDAY 28 JULY 1940
    Shipping attacked off Dover and south coast ports.
    Night: Minelaying from Thames Estuary to Humber. Scattered raiders over England and Wales.

    Weather: Fine early. Fair for the rest of the day, clouding over in the evening.

    Main Activity:

    At 1335 hours, a large raid was detected crossing the Dover Straits. Twenty-four Spitfires of Nos. 74 and 41 Squadrons were scrambled along with Hurricanes of Nos. 257 and 111 Squadrons. The enemy bombers flew off towards the south east without attacking any targets while the escorting Bf 109s, drawn from III/JG 26 and JG 51, were engaged by the Spitfires. One Bf 109 was shot down and two others damaged, force-landing on return. Three Spitfires and a Hurricane were also lost. Following the combat, two He 59 air-sea rescue aircraft were spotted and destroyed by Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 14 | Aircraft: 11

    British Losses
    Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 6

    Spitfire P9547, No. 74 Squadron. Aircraft lost.
    P/O J.H.R.Young. Killed. Shot down by Bf 109 near Goodwin Sands.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O J H R Young
     
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  19. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/monday-29-july-1940/
    MONDAY 29 JULY 1940
    Convoy off Dover raided.
    Night: Activity on a reduced scale over land.

    Weather: Fair all over Britain. Thames Estuary and Dover hazy.

    Main Activity:

    At 0734 hours, a large formation comprising forty-eight Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers from IV/LG 1, II/StG 1, and II/StG 3, escorted by eighty Bf 109s from JG 51 and III/JG 26, crossed the Channel to attack Dover Harbour. Spitfires from Nos. 41 and 64 Squadrons along with Hurricanes from Nos. 56 and 501 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept, shooting down three Stukas and damaging six other German aircraft including four Bf 109s, which crash-landed in France. Two RAF fighters were lost and several more damaged. The steamer SS Gronland and patrol yacht Gulzar were sunk by the Stukas. HMS Sandhurst was also destroyed.

    At 1300 hours, a small formation of Ju 88s from II/KG 76 attacked trawlers off Dungeness at very low level. No damage was caused but one bomber was destroyed when it flew into a barrage balloon cable and another was shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

    At about 1720 hours, eleven Bf 110 fighter-bombers from ErprGr 210, escorted by thirty Bf 110 fighters of ZG 26, attacked the convoy codenamed CAT off Harwich. Several RAF squadrons were scrambled to intercept but only Hurricanes of No. 151 Squadron engaged. Two Hurricanes were damaged and force-landed. A Bf 110 fighter-bomber was also damaged. Two ships in the convoy were hit.

    German Losses
    Airmen: 25 | Aircraft: 11

    British Losses
    Airmen: 3 | Aircraft: 6

    Spitfire N3038, No. 41 Squadron. Aircraft Lost.
    F/O D.R. Gamblen. Missing. Disappeared over Dover.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O D R Gamblen

    Hurricane L1955 , No. 43 Squadron. Crashed and burnt out.
    P/O K.C. Campbell. Killed.

    Hurricane P3879, No. 56 Squadron. Crashed and exploded in the Channel off Dover.
    F/Sgt C.J. Cooney. Killed. Shot down by Bf 109.
    Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. C J Cooney
     
  20. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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