So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

Tuesday 22 October 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

22nd October 1940
Quiet morning and afternoon.
Night: London, Coventry and Liverpool attacked.

Weather: Widespread fog in the south, clearing to rain later.

Main Activity:

With No. 12 Group now receiving the same indications of hostile activity as No. 11 Group, it must have been galling for the Duxford Wing to be grounded by a thick fog which closed all but Tangmere, Kenley and Biggin Hill and the airfields of No. 10 Group.

The morning was therefore quiet with the Luftwaffe content to despatch a few small fighter-bomber raids. At 2 p.m., however, a big formation began to form up over north-east France and three raids totalling thirty-six aircraft were plotted. The expected raid on London did not materialise, but a convoy off Dover and two in the Estuary were unsuccessfully attacked.

At 4 p.m. four small raids of about thirty-three machines were plotted flying high. Convoy ‘Fruit’ off Dover called for help and Uxbridge diverted two squadrons to cover it. Six other squadrons intercepted the main German formation and a dog-fight developed over Dungeness.

The Luftwaffe lost eleven aircraft—four in combat, the rest in operational accidents. Fighter Command lost six planes.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 28 | Aircraft: 12

British Losses
Airmen: 4 | Aircraft: 6

Hurricane R4074, No. 46 Squadron
Sgt. J.P. Morrison killed. Shot down in combat with enemy fighters over Dungeness.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/MorrisonJP.htm

Spitfire P7431, No. 74 Squadron
F/O P.C.B. St.John killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 109s.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/St.John.htm

Hurricane R4195, No. 257 Squadron
P/O N.B. Heywood killed. Hit by anti-aircraft fire whilst in combat with Bf 109s over Folkestone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Heywood.htm

Hurricane V6851, No. 257 Squadron
Sgt. R.H.B. Fraser killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 109s over Folkestone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Fraser.htm

 

Wednesday 23 October 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
23rd October 1940
Mainly reconnaissance.
Night: Attacks on London and Glasgow. Minelaying off the Yorkshire coast.

Weather: Low cloud and drizzle. Visibility poor.

Main Activity:

For Fighter Command this was the quietest day of the Battle of Britain. Hampered by the weather, the squadrons flew ninety sorties. They lost six planes, however. The Germans, who made some minor raids on London, the midlands and the Thames estuary, lost four machines.

London Bridge, St. Pancras Station, Victoria Docks, East Ham and Watford were hit by night raiders. In the north Glasgow was bombed by Stavanger-based aircraft. One fouled a balloon cable and crashed into the sea.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 5 | Aircraft: 4

British Losses
Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 1

Blenheim L1272, No. 600 Squadron
P/O P.R.S. Hurst killed. Crashed into hillside at Kirkby Malzeard, Yorkshire during practice flight through cloud.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Hurst.htm

 

Thursday 24 October 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
24th October 1940

Very quiet.
Night: Raids on London and Birmingham.

Weather: Overcast and hazy in the Channel, clearing to a starlit night.

Main Activity:

Apart from a few reconnaissance patrols, the morning was quiet. A single raider crossed the coast at Southwold, Suffolk, and penetrated as far as the midlands. It was shot down at St. Neots, Huntingdonshire, on its return flight.

During the afternoon nuisance raids over the southeast and East Anglia kept British pilots on the alert. They flew 476 sorties without loss and shot down two hostile aircraft. The Germans, nevertheless, lost eight operational machines.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 21 | Aircraft: 12

British Losses
Airmen: 3 | Aircraft: 3

Hurricane V7303, No. 43 Squadron
Sgt. D.R. Stoodley killed. Dusk-flying accident at base. Made six attempts to land cross-wind and finally stalled at 250ft.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Stoodley.htm

Hurricane P3404, No. 87 Squadron
P/O D.T. Jay killed. Collided with P/O Cock during routine patrol. Pilot baled out but believed to have hit the tailplane as he did not pull ripcord.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Jay.htm

Hurricane V6807, No. 303 Squadron
P/P J. Bury-Burzymski killed. Crashed during dog-fight practice.

 

Friday 25 October 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
25th October 1940
Lighter-bomber raids on Kent and London.
Night: Italian Air Force carries out an attack on Harwich.

Weather: Fair but overcast.

Main Activity:

Signs of activity showed on the radar screens as the first business commuters were disgorging from London’s deepest shelters—the Underground railway stations. High over Kent they flew, only to be dispersed by Hurricanes and Spitfires, several of them newer and more powerful than those which had borne the brunt of the earlier battles.

Kent took the full force of the bombs released indiscriminately as the RAF dived on the German bombers and fighters, although London came in for a share.

Raids continued throughout the day, during which 809 Fighter Command sorties were flown. Twenty German machines were destroyed. Ten RAF machines were lost.

In Belgium, meanwhile, an excited band of Italians of the Reggia Aeronautica’s Corpo Aereo Italiano prepared for their first direct action against Britain. They were there more as a political gesture than as a serious military effort, and had been despatched by Mussolini as a reply to the embarrassing raids Bomber Command were flying against industrial targets in northern Italy.

The two Fiat BR.20 bomber units, Nos. 13 and 43 Stormos, were allocated the bases of Moelsbroek and Chievres. No. 18 Gruppo with Fiat CR.42 biplane fighters went to Moldegchen and No. 20 Gruppo with Fiat G.50 fighters was sent to Usel. A fifth unit, No. 172 Squadrillia, equipped with CZ.1007 Bis aircraft was allocated Chievres. On this October Friday 16 BR.20S were despatched to bomb Harwich. One of them crashed on take-off and two were abandoned over the sea after running out of fuel.

According to Milch, Mussolini’s contingent was more of a liability than an asset. The men themselves were not to blame. They were excellent pilots, but they had not been trained to fight.

That their presence was unheralded is understandable. They were indistinguishable from the streams of German night bombers that crossed into Britain from bases in France, the Low Countries and Scandinavia.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 30 | Aircraft: 24

British Losses
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 14

Hurricane V6804, No. 46 Squadron
P/O W.B. Pattullo died 26/10/40. Shot down by enemy aircraft. Crashed into house in Woodstock Avenue, Romford after attempting forced landing at Maylands Golf Course.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Pattullo.htm

Hurricane N2708, No. 79 Squadron
P/O S. Piatkowski killed. Crashed near Carew Cheriton after routine patrol. Cause unknown.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Piatkowski.htm

Hurricane V7593, No. 302 Squadron
F/Lt. F. Jastrzebski killed. Failed to return from patrol over the Channel. Last seen gliding toward the enemy coast.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Jastrzebski.htm

Hurricane P2903, No. 501 Squadron
P/O V. Goth killed. Collided with P/O MacKenzie during combat over Tenterden.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Goth.htm

Hurricane V6917, No. 601 Squadron
Sgt. L.D. May missing. Crashed into sea off Exmouth after mid-air collision with Sgt. Mills-Smith during section training flight.

Hurricane P3709, No. 601 Squadron
Sgt. F. Mills-Smith missing. Crashed into sea off Exmouth after mid-air collision with Sgt. May during section training flight.

 

Saturday 26 October 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

26th October 1940
Fighter-bomber raids on London and Kent.
Night: Raids on London, the Midlands, Manchester and Liverpool.

Weather: Cloudy with local showers chiefly in the north and east.

Main Activity:

The whole of London was now under the lash of Göring’s night blitz and as the German News Agency put it inadvertently at the time: ‘Bombs fell all over the place.’ The New York Herald Tribune summed up the situation more accurately, ‘What appears to be happening,’ it said, ‘is that the Germans have found the defences too strong for their daylight attack, permitting accurate fire, and so are putting their effort into night attack … But against a people with courage it is unlikely to prove fruitful … and there is no doubt of British courage.’

The Luftwaffe was keeping up the pressure in daylight, but now it has to reckon with a greater measure of coordination between Park and Leigh-Mallory.

On the 26th the Luftwaffe kept the whole of southeast England on the alert. Raids started early in the morning and began to intensify after 10 a.m. when high-flying fighter sweeps started to penetrate from the Channel. Maidstone, London and convoys in the Thames estuary were bombed, and off the north-west coast of Ireland a FW 200 bombed and set fire to the 42,000 ton liner Empress of Britain.

Fighter Command mounted 732 sorties. Ten German and two British planes were destroyed.

Although airborne in reasonable numbers British night-fighter pilots again had the galling experience of failing to intercept the raids which disturbed the Saturday-night pleasures of thousands all over Britain.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 19 | Aircraft: 10

British Losses
Airmen: 5 | Aircraft: 8

Hurricane V7434, No. 151 Squadron
Sgt. D.O. Stanley died of injuries 27/10/40. Crashed and burst into flames on take-off from Coleby Grange on practice night flight.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/StanleyDO.htm

Hurricane R4184, No. 151 Squadron
Sgt. R. Holder killed. Crashed attempting left-hand turn shortly after take-off from Coleby Grange.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/HolderR.htm

Hurricane V6704, No. 229 Squadron
P/O D.B.H. McHardy captured. Shot down by Bf 109s off the French coast during attack on Heinkel He 59.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/McHardyDBH.htm

Hurricane W6669, No. 229 Squadron
F/O G.M. Simpson missing. Shot down by Bf 109s whilst attacking Heinkel He 59 moored off the French coast.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/SimpsonGM.htm

Spitfire R6839, No. 602 Squadron
Sgt. D.W. Elcome missing. Failed to return from routine squadron patrol.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Elcome.htm

 

Sunday 27 October 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
27th October 1940

Mainly fighter and fighter-bomber sweeps.
Night: Widespread raids with London the main target.

Weather: Cloudy all day except for brighter weather in the late morning.

Main Activity:

The two Luftflotten made an early start and by 7.45 a.m. were raiding London and convoys in the estuary with a series of formations of as many as fifty aircraft.

By 9 a.m. the London suburbs had been hit and the docks damaged. Further sweeps were flown later in the morning and early in the afternoon. At 4.30 p.m. the Germans raided Southampton, London and Martlesham Heath simultaneously.

To repulse the attackers Fighter Command pilots flew 1,007 sorties. Ten British aircraft were shot down, but only five of the pilots were killed. The Germans lost fifteen machines.

Unknown to Fighter Command, however, they had driven off the penultimate major assault in the Battle of Britain.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 11 | Aircraft: 16

British Losses
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 14

Hurricane L1963, No. 43 Squadron
Sgt. L.V. Toogood killed. Crashed vertically from height during high-altitude aerobatics. Cause unknown but probably oxygen failure.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Toogood.htm

Spitfire P7539, No. 66 Squadron
P/O J.R. Mather killed. Crashed and burned out at Half Moon Lane, Hildenborough north-west of Tonbridge. Cause unknown but possible anoxia victim.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/MatherJR.htm

Spitfire P7526, No. 74 Squadron
Sgt. J.A. Scott killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 109s over Maidstone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ScottJA.htm

Hurricane P3168, No. 145 Squadron
P/O A.I.R.G. Jottard missing. Shot down by Bf 109 five miles south-east of the Isle of Wight.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Jottard.htm

Spitfire P7439, No. 603 Squadron
F/O C.W. Goldsmith died 28/10/40. Shot down by Bf 109s south of Maidstone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/GoldsmithCW.htm

Spitfire P7365, No. 603 Squadron
P/O R.B. Dewey killed. Shot down in a surprise attack by Bf 109s south of Maidstone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Dewey.htm

 

Monday 28 October 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
28th October 1940
Convoy off Dover and shipping in the Thames Estuary attacked. London attacked during the afternoon.
Night: Widespread attacks across the country.

Weather: Misty in northern France. Fog over the Thames Estuary and Straits clearing later.

Main Activity:

Mist in northern France restricted the Germans to nuisance raids by single aircraft which also attacked some ships in the Channel.

They were more active in the afternoon when two raids of twenty and one of forty aircraft flew in over Kent. At 4.30 p.m. fifty more planes crossed the coast at Folkestone and headed for London. They were followed by more than 100 German machines which flew in four waves.

British fighters, which flew 639 sorties, fought off the Messerschmitts and lost two planes in the fighting. Eleven German aircraft were destroyed.

That night Nos. 85 and 247 squadrons intercepted and fired on two bombers caught by searchlights. The daylight battle was dying out but Fighter Command was only just beginning to get the measure of the task it had to undertake at night.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 18 | Aircraft: 14

British Losses
Airmen: 0 | Aircraft: 0

 

Tuesday 29 October 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

29th October 1940
London and Southampton raided.
Night: Heavy raids on London and the Midlands.

Weather: Channel overcast. Haze in northern France and Dover Straits.

Main Activity:

In what seems in retrospect like a last convulsive spasm, the Luftwaffe pilots gave of their best. By 11 a.m. thirty of them were fighting it out with British fighters over Kent, although some managed to escape the net to attack Charing Cross bridge.

In the second phase of the day’s assault ninety minutes later. No. 602 City of Glasgow Squadron distinguished themselves by shooting down eight Messerschmitts in ten minutes. With three other squadrons No. 602 were given a tactical advantage by their positioning and height. Moreover, they were able to achieve greater success by working in pairs.

The encounter developed thus: No. 222 Squadron climbed to deliver an attack on the enemy from the rear. No. 602 attacked simultaneously from above, just as Nos. 615 and 229 Squadrons were climbing for height. Outmanoeuvred, the invaders turned for home, whereupon No. 602 gave chase and shot a further four down into the Channel.

While Luftflotte 3 were raiding Portsmouth with two groups of fifty and twelve machines, fifteen Italian BR.20 bombers and seventy-three Fiat fighters attacked Ramsgate.

By the end of the day Fighter Command had recovered its old ratio of victories and destroyed nineteen of the enemy for a loss of seven of its own machines.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 30 | Aircraft: 28

British Losses
Airmen: 5 | Aircraft: 12

Spitfire P7423, No. 19 Squadron
Sub/Lt.(FAA) A.G. Blake killed. Believed ‘picked-off’ by Bf 109 whilst acting as a ‘weaver’ during squadron patrol over south London.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BlakeGA.htm

Hurricane P3066, No. 46 Squadron
Sgt. H.E. Black killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 109s and believed crashed in Hothfield Park near Ashford.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BlackHE.htm

Hurricane P2720, No. 213 Squadron
P/O R.R. Hutley killed. Shot down in combat off Selsey Bill.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Hutley.htm

Hurricane V6852, No. 257 Squadron
Sgt. A.G. Girdwood killed. Caught taking-off during low level bombing attack on base by Bf 109s of II(S)/LG 2.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Girdwood.htm

Hurricane P3889, No. 310 Squadron
P/O E. Fechtner killed. Crashed near base following collision with P/O Maly during ‘wing’ patrol.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Fechtner.htm

 

Wednesday 30 October 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

30th October 1940

Nuisance raids on a reduced scale.
Night: Activity reduced.

Weather: Low cloud and continuous drizzle in all regions.

Main Activity:

It was not until 11.30 a.m. that the first plots began to appear on the operations rooms tables. They were comparatively small. At midday eighty raiders flew into the Estuary and at 12.15 two waves of fifty and sixty machines penetrated via Dymchurch. Ten RAF squadrons were on patrol at the time, and of these six sighted the raiders. No. 81 Squadron shot down two of them.

Luftflotte 3 fighters were responsible for the next flurry of activity when they despatched a succession of raids totalling 130 machines. These started to cross the coast at 4.15 p.m. and some reached London.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 3 | Aircraft: 8

British Losses
Airmen: 9 | Aircraft: 9

Blenheim L6721, No. 1 Squadron
Crashed at Orchard Way Road, South Berstead having suffered R/T failure in deteriorating weather conditions following routine night patrol.
F/O H.J. Woodward killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WoodwardHJ.htm
P/O A.A. Atkinson killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/AtkinsonAA.htm
Sgt. H.T. Perry killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Perry.htm

Spitfire P7375, No. 41 Squadron
Sgt. L.A. Garvey killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 109s over Ashford.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Garvey.htm

Beaufighter R2065, No. 219 Squadron
Hit trees trying to locate base in bad visibility. Crashed and exploded 150yds south of Balcombe Place.
P/O K.W. Worsdell killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Worsdell.htm
Sgt. E.C. Gardiner killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/GardinerEC.htm

Spitfire N3119, No. 222 Squadron
P/O A.E. Davis killed. Wing shot off during combat with Bf 109s.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/DaviesAE.htm

Spitfire K9939, No. 222 Squadron
P/O H.P.M. Edridge died of injuries . Aircraft severely damaged in combat with Bf 109s. Crashed in flames attempting to land at Longwood Farm, Ewhurst.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Edridge.htm

Hurricane V7536, No. 249 Squadron
P/O W.H. Millington missing. Failed to return from sporadic action with enemy fighters over the Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Millington.htm

 

Thursday 31 October 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

31st October 1940
Fighter-bomber and fighter sweeps.
Night: Activity greatly reduced.

Weather: Drizzle in the Channel, haze in the Thames estuary and Dover Straits.

Summary:

The rains came, as it were, to douse the last remaining embers of a bonfire. A few of them spat, however, into sixty half-hearted incursions across the Channel. By nightfall the Battle of Britain was over.

For all the effort put into this phase the Germans achieved singularly little of strategic value. They were no nearer invasion and the sky was no less fraught with danger for the long-range daylight bombers than it had been in earlier phases.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 0 | Aircraft: 2

British Losses
Airmen: 0 | Aircraft: 0

31 October: The German Luftwaffe were denied air superiority by the RAF. The Battle of Britain ended.

 

WEDNESDAY 10 JULY 1940 the Battle of Britain begins

Wednesday 10 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
WEDNESDAY 10 JULY 1940
Convoy raids off North Foreland and Dover.
Night: The east coast, home counties and western Scotland attacked.

Weather: Showery in south-east England and Channel. Continuous rain elsewhere.

Main Activity:

At approximately 1100 hours, the convoy codenamed BREAD rounded the North Foreland, travelling west, and was spotted by a Do 17 reconnaissance aircraft of 4.(F)/121 escorted by Bf 109s of I/JG 51. Six Spitfires of No. 74 Squadron, based at Hornchurch, were scrambled and engaged the enemy aircraft, damaging the Do 17. Two Spitfires were damaged by the Messerschmitt escort and force-landed. Soon afterwards, Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron from Biggin Hill encountered a Staffel of Bf 109s over Dover. One Spitfire was damaged during the melee and crashed-landed at Hawkinge.

At 1325 hours, a large formation was detected heading towards BREAD. The incoming raid comprised twenty-six Do 17 bombers of I/KG 2 escorted by Bf 110s of I/ZG 26 with top cover provided by Bf 109s of I/JG 3 and III/JG 51. Hurricanes from Nos. 32, 56, and 111 Squadrons along with Spitfires of No. 74 Squadron were scrambled and engaged the enemy formation over the convoy. Six Spitfires from No. 64 Squadron were also vectored to the scene. In the resulting action, six German aircraft were shot down and several more damaged. One British Hurricane was lost when it collided with a Do 17 during a head-on attack, and four RAF fighters were damaged. Only one small ship – the 466-ton Dutch steamer Bill S – was sunk.

German Losses
Airmen: 29 | Aircraft: 14

British Losses
Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 2

Hurricane P3359, No. 253 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt I.C.C. Clenshaw killed. Lost control in bad visibility.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. I C C CLENSHAW

Hurricane P3671, No. 111 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
F/O T.P.K. Higgs killed. Collided with Do 17 off coast near Folkestone.
Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O T P K Higgs

 

Battle of Britain Timeline: 10 July 1940 – 31 October 1940 | Bentley Priory Museum
Battle of Britain Timeline: 10 July 1940 – 31 October 1940
The Start of World War II

On 1 September 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany, marking the official start to World War II. After the defeat of Poland, Germany invaded Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France.

Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding argued that Fighter Command’s involvement in defending France against Nazi Germany risked the future defence of Britain:

“If the Home Defence Force is drained away in desperate attempts to remedy the situation in France, defeat in France will involve the final, complete and irredeemable defeat of this country.”

After France fell in June 1940, Germany’s attention turned to Britain.

”What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over, the Battle of Britain is about to begin.” British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill

On 30 June 1940, Hermann Goering – Head of the German Luftwaffe, gave the order to draw the RAF into battle.

The Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940
The Battle of Britain was fought above the skies of Britain, between the RAF and the German Luftwaffe. Had British and Allied aircrew not defeated the Luftwaffe, it is likely that Germany would have invaded Britain.

The Battle of Britain is often described as having 4 phases:

Phase 1: 10 July – 12 August 1940 Attacks on Channel Shipping
The Luftwaffe attacked shipping conveys in the English Channel and Channel ports and coastal radar stations on the South coast. There were widespread night-time raids all along the coast.

16 July: Adolf Hitler issued Directive No. 16, calling for preparations to be made for Operation Sealion – the invasion of Britain. Hitler demanded that ”the British Air Force must be eliminated to such an extent that it will be incapable of putting up any sustained opposition to the invading troops.”

Phase 2: 13 – 18 August 1940 Attacks on Airfields and Radar Stations
The Luftwaffe planned to destroy the aircraft of Fighter Command, either on the ground or in the air. Airfields and radar stations became the focus of German bombing. The raids destroyed valuable aircraft and damaged airfields, making it difficult for aircraft to operate. The airfields of No.11 Group in the south east of England suffered the heaviest attacks. Small civilian airfields were used in emergency.

13 August: ‘Eagle Day’ (Adlertag): The Luftwaffe launched intense raids on RAF airfields, focusing their attacks in the south east of England.

18 August: The Hardest Day: Fierce air battles between the Luftwaffe and the RAF, with severe loss of RAF aircraft on the ground.

Phase 3: 19 August – 6 September 1940
The Luftwaffe continued to bomb towns, cities and airfields across the south coast of England, the Midlands and the north east.

20 August: British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, acknowledged the enormous gratitude to British & Allied aircrew: ”Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.”

24 August: During night bombing of Britain, a lost German bomber formation dropped bombs on London by mistake.

25 August: In retaliation of the bombing of London, the RAF launched their first bombing raid on Berlin.

31 August: Fighter Command suffered its heaviest losses to date. 303 Squadron (Polish Squadron) – based at RAF Northolt – became operational.

Phase 4: 7 September 1940 – 31 October 1940
Mass bombing raids were launched against London, and continued against other major British cities.

15 September: Battle of Britain day. The Luftwaffe launched its heaviest bombing raids on London. Fighter Command successfully fought the attacking aircraft, resulting in heavy Luftwaffe losses.

17 September: Hitler postponed the invasion of Britain (Operation Sealion)

26 September: The Spitfire factory at Southampton was attacked and destroyed.

October: The German Luftwaffe focused their bombing raids on British cities at night, to reduce Luftwaffe casualties. Coastal towns, airfields and other military targets were attacked during the day.

31 October: The German Luftwaffe were denied air superiority by the RAF. The Battle of Britain ended.

 

https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/thursday-11-july-1940/

THURSDAY 11 JULY 1940

Convoys attacked off Suffolk. Portland harbour raided.
Night: Activity over south-west England, East Anglia, Yorkshire coast and Portsmouth.

Weather: Channel overcast. Cloud base 5,000ft, Visibility fair. Thunderstorms and bright intervals in the midlands and north.

Main Activity:

Shortly after 0700 hours, ten Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers from IV/LG 1, escorted by Bf 109s from III/JG 27, headed towards a convoy passing through Lympne Bay. Three Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron were en route to intercept the Stukas when they were bounced by the Messerschmitt escort, losing one aircraft. Six Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron were scrambled from Warmwell and arrived over the convoy just as the Stukas attacked. Outnumbered by odds of 6:1, the squadron was routed and lost two aircraft. However, none of the ships in the convoy were hit.

At 1100 hours, another formation of Ju 87 Stukas from StG 2, escorted by Bf 110s from III/ZG 76, was despatched to attack the convoy. Eighteen Hurricanes from Nos. 87, 238, 501, and 601 Squadrons were scrambled and met the enemy aircraft over Portland. Four Bf 110s and two Ju 87s were shot down. Another Ju 87 was damaged and force-landed at St-Inglevert. The 530-ton patrol vessel HMS Warrior II was sunk.

At 1715 hours, twelve He 111 bombers from KG 51 and KG 55, escorted by twelve Bf 110s from III/ZG 76, appeared heading for Portsmouth. Hurricanes from Nos. 601 and 145 Squadrons intercepted and shot down three bombers. Two Hurricanes were also lost including one that was hit by “friendly” AA fire. A number of He 111s evaded RAF fighters and bombed Portsmouth dockyard, sinking three barges and damaging the French destroyer Savorgnam De Brazza. Bombs also fell on the city, killing 19 civilians and injuring 26.

German Losses
Airmen: 41 | Aircraft: 17

British Losses
Airmen: 3 | Aircraft: 6

Hurricane P2485, No. 501 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
Sgt F.J.P Dixon drowned. Hit by gunfire from Bf 109 of III/JG 27 ten miles off Portland. Baled out but search failed to find any trace of pilot.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. F J P Dixon

Spitfire L1095, No. 609 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
P/O G.T.M. Mitchell drowned. Shot down in combat by Bf 109 over Channel off Portland protecting convoy. Body later washed ashore at Newport I.O.W.
Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O G T M Mitchell

Spitfire L1069 No. 609 Squadron. Aircraft lost at sea.
F/L P.H. Barran died of burns. Shot down in combat by Bf 109 over convoy in Channel off Portland. Baled out. Pilot was rescued but died on rescue boat.
Battle of Britain London Monument - F/Lt. P H Barran

 

FRIDAY 12 JULY 1940
Friday 12 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline



Attacks on convoy off Norfolk-Suffolk coast, shipping off the Isle of Wight and Aberdeen.
Night: South Wales and Bristol areas.

Weather: Mainly cloudy with early-morning fog in the Channel. Thunderstorms in many districts.

Main Activity:

At 0800 hours, a large formation comprising He 111s from III/KG 53 and Do 17s from II/KG 2 was detected heading towards the convoy codenamed BOOTY off the Suffolk coast. Six Hurricanes of No. 17 Squadron from Martlesham Heath were up and en route to patrol over the convoy, when notified of the incoming raid. They were reinforced by seventeen Hurricanes from Nos. 85, 242, and 151 Squadrons and six Defiants from No. 264 Squadron. In the ensuing combat, five German bombers were shot down for the loss of two British Hurricanes.

At 1245 hours, He 111 bombers from KG 26 attacked a shipyard in Aberdeen, killing 29 people and injuring 100. Three Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron were scrambled from Dyce and shot down one of the bombers, which smashed into the newly-built Aberdeen Ice Rink.

German Losses
Airmen: 28 | Aircraft: 9

British Losses
Airmen: 4 | Aircraft: 5

Hurricane P2557, No. 85 Squadron. Lost at sea.
Sgt L. Jowitt missing, believed drowned. Hit by gunfire from He 111 from II/KG 53 off Felixstowe.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. L Jowitt

Hurricane P3275, No. 151 Squadron. Lost at sea.
F/O J.H.L. Allen missing, believed drowned. Hit in engine by gunfire from Do 17 off Orfordness.
Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O J H L Allen

Hurricane P3084, No. 501 Squadron. Lost at sea.
P/O D.A. Hewitt missing, believed drowned. Hit by gunfire while attacking Do 17 off Portland.
Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O D A Hewitt

Spitfire P9502, No. 610 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt S. Ireland killed. Lost control of aircraft during diving practice.

 

Saturday 13 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline


SATURDAY 13 JULY 1940
Shipping attacks off Dover and Portland.
Night: Minelaying in Thames Estuary.

Weather: Early morning fog in southern England clearing by mid-morning.

Main Activity:

At 1500 hours, twelve Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron and three Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron were sent from Warmwell to patrol over a convoy in Lyme Bay. Failing to find the ships, the RAF fighters encountered a large enemy raid that included the first major deployment of Bf 110 fighter-bombers from V/LG 1. In the resulting action, one Bf 110 was shot down and another two were severely damaged. A pilot from No. 238 Squadron was killed when his Hurricane stalled trying to avoid high tension cables whilst landing.

At about 1730 hours, twelve Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers from II/StG 1, escorted by nineteen Bf 109s from II/JG 51, attacked Dover Harbour and the convoy codenamed BREAD. Hurricanes from No. 56 Squadron together with Spitfires from No. 64 Squadron intercepted the enemy aircraft, shooting down one Bf 109 and damaging two Stukas. Two Hurricanes were also lost and two Spitfires were damaged by AA fire, force-landing at Hawkinge. During the attack, the British destroyer HMS Vanessa was badly damaged and had to be towed back to port.

German Losses
Airmen: 11 | Aircraft: 6

British Losses
Airmen: 5 | Aircraft: 6

Spitfire R6807, No. 610 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt P.J. Watson-Parker killed. Crashed, reasons not recorded.

Hurricane P2950, No. 238 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
F/Lt J.C. Kennedy killed. Believed injured by gunfire from Do 17, crashed on returning to base.
Battle of Britain London Monument - F/Lt. J C Kennedy

Hurricane N2432, No. 56 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt J.R. Cowsill missing. Last seen in combat with Bf 109, believed ditched in Channel.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. J R Cowsill

Hurricane P2922, No. 56 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt J.J. Whitfield missing. Hit by gunfire from Bf 109 over Channel, crashed into sea.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. J J Whitfield

Spitfire R6688, No. 19 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt R.R.G. Birch killed. Stalled while attempting steep turn during dogfight practice

 

SUNDAY 14 JULY 1940
Sunday 14 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

Shipping attacks off Dover and Swanage.
Night: Bristol area, Isle of Wight, Kent and Suffolk raided.

Weather: Fair all day.

Main Activity:

At about 1500 hours, Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers of IV/LG 1, escorted by Bf 109s of III/JG 3 and II/JG 51, were despatched to attack the convoy codenamed BOOTY off Eastbourne. They were intercepted by Hurricanes from Nos. 151 and 615 Squadrons along with Spitfires from No. 610 Squadron. One Stuka and one Bf 109 were shot down. Another Bf 109 was badly damaged and crash-landed at Wissant. A Hurricane was also lost. During the attack, the vessel SS Island Queen (779 tons) was sunk and several other ships were damaged.

The aerial battle was witnessed by BBC radio reporter Charles Gardner standing on the cliffs of Dover. He gave a live running commentary that was later to become famous: https://youtu.be/0iSIIquqOWo

German Losses
Airmen: 3 | Aircraft: 3

British Losses
Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 1

Hurricane L1584, No. 615 Squadron. Crashed into sea.
P/O M.R. Mudie died of injuries. Baled out badly injured, rescued by Navy, died on July 15th 1940.
Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O M R Mudie

 

Monday 15 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

MONDAY 15 JULY 1940

Shipping attacked off Norfolk coast and the Channel. Yeovil bombed.
Night: Minelaying.

Weather: Low cloud.

Main Activity:

At 1130 hours, two Spitfires from No. 603 Squadron shot down an He 111 from 2./KG 26, which had been despatched from Norway to bomb an airfield just north of the Firth of Forth. The bomber crashed into the sea some 50 miles offshore.

At 1330 hours, Hurricanes of No. 213 Squadron intercepted a reconnaissance Do 17 north of Portland, inflicting damage. One Hurricane was shot down by return fire.

At 1350 hours, a small number of Ju 88 bombers from LG 1 bombed the Westlands Aircraft Works at Yeovil, damaging hangers and runways. A Spitfire from No. 92 Squadron, based at Pembrey, intercepted and shot down one of the bombers.

At 1413 hours, fifteen Do 17 bombers of KG 2 attacked the convoy codenamed PILOT in the Channel but they were driven off by Hurricanes of Nos. 56 and 151 Squadrons from North Weald. The SS Heworth (2,855 tons) and the Polish cargo vessel Zbaraz were sunk.

German Losses
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 5

British Losses
Airmen: 0 | Aircraft: 1

 

Tuesday 16 July 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
TUESDAY 16 JULY 1940
Very little activity.
Weather: Fog in France, the Straits and south-east England.

Note: On this day, Hitler issued Directive No. 16 ordering the preparation of an invasion plan to ‘eliminate the English motherland as a base from which war against Germany can be continued and, if this should become unavoidable, to occupy it to the full extent’.

Main Activity:

Around 1700 hours, Ju 88 bombers of 6./KG 54 attacked Lee-on-Solent and destroyed a Royal Navy DH86 on the ground. Six Hurricanes from No. 601 Squadron intercepted and shot down one of the bombers off St. Catherine’s Point.

German Losses
Airmen: 4 | Aircraft: 4

British Losses
Airmen: 1 | Aircraft: 1

Hurricane P2995, No. 249 Squadron. Aircraft destroyed.
Sgt A.D.W. Main killed. Engine cut out during take off from base airfield.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. A D W Main

 

How Bomber Command Helped Win The Battle Of Britain.

Bomber Command during the Battle of Britian
During August, as the Battle of Britain became more fiercely joined, Bomber Command's effort against the German air force increased accordingly. Of the 2,227 sorties it flew in the month, 714 were against aerodromes in occupied Europe, almost twice as many as in July, and 435 against the German aircraft industry. Until 12 August, the Blenheim squadrons of 2 Group attempted day operations but, due to heavy losses, had to revert to night raids. On 17 August, the Air Ministry called on Bomber Command for increased attacks against those aerodromes in occupied Europe from which the enemy's air assault was being launched.

Owing to the paucity of reconnaissance reports, it proved very difficult to assess the results of these attacks. Moreover, doubts had always been held by some members of the Air Staff about the uneconomical nature of airfields as targets. German attacks were launched from some 400 different aerodromes in northern France, Holland and Belgium and the Luftwaffe operated efficient dispersal and protective schemes. Therefore, Bomber Command never knew before launching raids which of the aerodromes were actually in operation.