Air Operations, Mediterranean
Italian planes bomb Jerusalem. 46 people are killed.
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]Atlantic
The repatriation steamer, Meknès, carrying 1,277 French sailors to Marseilles, is sunk by German MTB S-27 off Portland. 383 are killed.
[ | ]Battle of Britain
Day 15
Weather - Cloudy over the Channel. Fog in western areas spreading east. Rain expected in most areas.
Combat - The morning sees little action. At about 0630hrs a raid bombs an area of Glasgow and one hour later Spitfires of No: 92 Squadron shoot down a Ju-88 over the southwest of England. The largest raid materializes just before midday when Do-17's, escorted by Me-109's commanded by Adolf Galland, approach Dover and is met by Spitfires of No: 54 (Rochford), 65 (Manston) and 610 (Biggin Hill) Squadrons. A long dogfight follows which covers Kent from Dover up to Margate.
Late afternoon and early evening has very little action apart from a few intrusions over the coast at Dover and Hastings with Spitfires of No: 66 and 74 Squadrons scrambling without interception.
During the night there are no reported raids.
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R.A.F. Losses: 6 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 4 pilots killed or missing and 1 wounded.
Luftwaffe Losses: 14 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 21 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 4 wounded.
NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.
[ | ]Battle of the Atlantic
- The French steamer Meknes (6127t) carrying 1277 French sailors being repatriated to Marseilles is sunk by the German motor torpedo boat S-27 off Portland. 383 passengers and 33 of the crew are lost. The survivors are rescued by the British destroyers Viscount, Wolverine, Sabre and Shikari.
The French Line's Meknes
- The Finnish steamer Trio (1451t) is lost on a mine near Borkum. The entire crew is rescued.
| ]Mediterranean
The Italian steamer Celio (3872t) hits a mine and sinks east of Tolmeita, Cyrenaica. This is in a minefield laid by the British submarine Rorqual on 21 July.
[ | ]Rumania
The Rumanian government takes over the British oil interest in the country, namely, the Astra-Romana Oil Co (Shell).
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