Thursday 8 August
Generally cloudy with occasional showers, bright spells gradually spreading from west.
After a very slow few days the action heated up today, particularly in relation to Convoy CW.9 ‘Peewit’.
09.00, the first attack of the day is made on six ships that had left the Solent to join the convoy, unaware that it was behind schedule due to 02.00 attack by KM S-Boats (E-Boats) that had sunk three of ships. 57 Ju 87s, escorted by 30 Bf 109s, attacked the six about 10 miles south of St Catherine’s Point. They sank SS Ajax and SS Coquetdale and damaged the other four. The Luftwaffe arrived as the standing patrol of the convoy was being changed and 12 Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron arrived, just as the bombing began. They shot down 3 of the Bf 109s and 2 of the Ju 87s, damaging another 2. 145 Squadron lost two Hurricanes.
The next attack on the convoy started at noon, the Germans found the main body of the convoy this time. It can be broken down into three phases.
Phase 1, 11 Hurricanes of No. 257 Squadron were patrolling the convoy when they were bounced by Bf 109s of JG 27 which were flying ahead of the main raid. Three Hurricanes were shot down before Hurricanes of No. 601 Squadron arrived to drive off the attackers.
Phase 2, The bomber force now approached from Cherbourg and was met by Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron and Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron. A fierce fight took place with the bombers and their escort, 2 Hurricanes were shot down.
Phase 3, at 12.45 Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron, patrolling the Channel, were ordered to the fight. Realising that they were too late to stop the bombing they flew to the French coast where they attempted to cut off the German withdrawal, ending up in a fight with Bf 110s from V.(Z)/LG1.
The Luftwaffe suffered losses too, 1 Bf 110 was shot down and another 5 were damaged (a sign of things to come?) 1 Ju 87 was also damaged.
The Luftwaffe mounted another attack on ‘Peewit’ in the afternoon. This time a large force of 82 Ju 87s escorted by 20 Bf 110s and 30 Bf 109s approached the convoy. Bad timing and weather hampered the German attack and instead of one heavy blow a series of attacks were made over a half hour or so. The convoy had already started to disperse to the west of the Isle of Wight. The raid was met by Hurricanes of Nos. 43, 238 and 145 Squadrons, and Spitfires from No. 152 Squadron, resulting in a prolonged aerial battle. The RAF shot down 5 Bf 109s and damaged another 2. This time 5 Ju 87s were shot down and another made a forced landing on the Isle of Wight, another 8 were damaged, and several of their crews badly wounded. No 43 Squadron lost 2 Hurricanes with another 4 damaged. 145 Squadron lost 3 Hurricanes, including 1 flown by twenty year old FAA pilot Sub/Lt Francis Alan Smith, who was killed. No 152 Squadron had 2 Spitfires damaged.
For the Luftwaffe ‘Peewit’ had been a target of opportunity, not related to Goering’s ‘Adlerangriffe’ plans. It had been a success, despite the losses. Just 4 of the 21 vessels that had left Southend arrived at Swanage undamaged. The large scale of German operations convinced the British that the expected all-out assault by the Luftwaffe had started. The RAF order of the day, issued that night read
“The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Members of the Royal Air Force, the fate of generations lies in your hands.”
It was a little premature, the next few days did not see the all-out assault, but it was only a matter of time.