Saturday 24 August.
Similar weather to yesterday but cloudy off the coasts.
The Luftwaffe had regathered its forces and a new assault was launched today.
08.00 and RDF picked up the first German formations over Cap Gris Nez. Nos 610 and 85 Squadrons intercepted the first raid, 12 Ju 88s escorted by 20 Bf 109s. 1 Spitfire was shot down, a Defiant damaged and another Hurricane damaged by ‘friendly’ AA fire. A larger raid passed the coast without interception but by 09.30 all the enemy aircraft had withdrawn.
10.25 and two large raids were detected. 30 Ju 88s escorted by 40 Bf 109s and 30 Do 17s escorted by 40 Bf 109s. The first crossed the coast near Dover and was intercepted by No 54 Squadron, the other crossed near Hythe and was met by No 501 Squadron. 1 Bf 109 was shot down for the loss of 1 Hurricane. Reports show that very few bombs were dropped, presumably as the bombers struggled to find their targets.
The Luftwaffe kept controllers guessing, with many RDF plots seen over the Channel. Standing patrols were maintained over forward airfields at Hawkinge, Manston and Rochford. At 11.30 a large raid of 30 Do 17s escorted by 60 Bf 109s crossed the coast between Broadstairs and Deal. No 151 Squadron tangled with the Bf 109s on the raids northern flank, while No 610 tangled with those on the southern flank. The Do 17s dropped 150 bombs on Ramsgate and another 60 on the civilian airstrip optimistically called Ramsgate Airport. 1 Bf 109 was shot down for the loss of 1 Hurricane destroyed and another 4 fighters damaged.
At 12.30 Three raids crossed the coast between Deal and Dover, two comprising about 40 Bf 109s turned back but the third, 20 Ju 88s and its escort of 30 Bf 109s headed for Manston and bombed the airfield just as No 264 Squadron’s Defiants took off. Manston was badly damaged, communications were cut, the airfield rendered unusable and most staff evacuated. Both No 501 Squadron, which had just taken off from Gravesend and No 264 Squadron intercepted the raid as it withdrew. The Luftwaffe lost 3 Bf 109s and 4 Ju 88s, with another badly damaged. The RAF lost 4 Defiants, an ominous sign of things to come.
The Luftwaffe continued to use almost continuous flights over the Channel to occupy the RDF stations, the controllers at the Bentley Priory filter room and their subordinate controllers at the Group control rooms. It caused the RAF to maintain standing patrols, often fruitless. Eventually 12 Bf 109s of I./JG 26 ventured over the coast at Dover to be met by the Hurricanes of No 32 Squadron, 2 of the Hurricanes were shot down, the Bf 109s escaped unscathed. Further north, near Canterbury, No 54 Squadron had an inconclusive encounter with 20 Bf 109s, being lucky to escape without losses. The squadron’s intelligence report drily noted that
‘A dog-fight developed in which our aircraft were greatly outnumbered and had difficulty extricating themselves.’
15.15 to 16.00 a big battle was fought, mainly over the Thames estuary. The principal targets were the airfields at Hornchurch and North Weald, both north of the Thames.
The Hornchurch raid: This comprised 30 Ju 88s escorted by 70 Bf 109s and was first sighted by No 501 Squadron off the coast of Folkestone. The raid was pursued across Kent, 501 finally engaging between Maidstone and Gravesend. Hornchurch was bombed again. No 610 Squadron, which had just taken off from Hornchurch also attacked the raid. Only 6 bombs hit the airfield.
The North Weald raid: as the previous raid withdrew this raid of 60 He 111s escorted by 80 Bf 109s and 20 Bf 110s approached the Thames estuary. It was initially intercepted by Nos. 54 and 65 Squadrons and then No 615 followed by Nos 151 and 111. Despite their efforts, North Weald was heavily bombed, an estimated 150-200 bombs hit the airfield. As this force withdrew it was attacked by Nos 16 and 56 Squadrons. No 32 Squadron, which had refuelled and rearmed at Hawkinge engaged a force of Bf 109s which arrived to escort the bombers back across the Channel. At least some of No 54 Squadron who were still airborne joined in. There were losses on both sides. The Luftwaffe lost 5 Bf 109s, 5 He 111s. The RAF had lost 4 of its fighters with several more damaged.
The final large action of the day took place over the Solent and Portsmouth as the Luftwaffe’s attention turned west and onto 10 Group. At 16.10 a large raid was 35 miles south of the Isle of Wight and comprised 46 Ju 88s of I and III/KG 51 with an escort of more than 200 Bf 109s, the entire combined strength of JGs 2, 27 and 53. The 10 Group controller dispatched his squadrons or elements thereof to meet the raid, Nos 17, 43, 234, 609, 249 and 1 (RCAF) all took off. As the raid passed east of the Isle of Wight the fighters separated from the bombers and engaged the British fighters (so much for a close escort). The bombers proceeded to bomb Portsmouth, killing 55 and injuring another 225. The Luftwaffe lost a Bf 109 and a Bf 110 and the RAF a single Spitfire.
Also lost today were 2 Blenheims of No 235 Squadron, Coastal Command, another was damaged. These aircraft were attacked by Hurricanes of No 1 (RCAF) Squadron, making its debut in the battle. The Blenheims were patrolling the aerodrome at Thorney Island. There was obviously a political element to this, calls for a Board of Enquiry etc. It was Dowding who put an end to the incident on 27 August when, having received all relevant reports, he wrote to the Air Ministry
‘In my view these papers make the facts of the accident sufficiently clear and I would suggest that a formal Court of Enquiry is hardly necessary. I would request, therefore, that you will take the matter up as you see fit with the Headquarters, Royal Canadian Air Force in London and inform me if it is thought that any further action is required.
I have no doubt that all concerned view this tragic mistake with the sincerest regret and I have already expressed my personal grief to the Air Officer Commanding, Coastal Command.’
Before judging it is worth considering how similar the two types appear, particularly through several inches of armoured glass, in variable light and at 250 mph.
The Blenheim is the image at the top.
The final figures for the day show that the Luftwaffe had lost 27 aircraft with another 15 damaged of which 10 were written off, so a total of 37 aircraft lost. The RAF had lost 18 aircraft with a further 17 damaged, of which 2 were written off, so a total of 20 aircraft lost. This may seem a narrow margin of victory, it did to the British at the time, but again the Luftwaffe had failed to achieve anything like the targets it had set for itself.
Tonight would see the first serious night time bombing of London. It was not intentional, KG 1, aiming at the Thameshaven oil terminal by night missed and bombs fell across the East End. 76 incidents were reported across the city 9 people were killed, 58 injured. For some this was the start of the Blitz.