Air Operations, Europe

Another destroyer, the Delight, is sunk off Portland by German aircraft and the whole eastern half of the Channel is placed out of bounds for RN destroyers in daylight. Mine sweeping operations continue, however, ensuring that access can be gained if necessary. The British Air Ministry announces that German air-sea rescue machines, ususally Heinkel seaplanes, behaving suspiciously will be shot down despite their Red Cross markings. 4 have already been shot down. The day's losses: 11 German, 3 British. In the past 5 days the RAF has lost 18 planes and the Germans 52.

Battle of Britain

Day 20

Weather - Conditions fair over country with slight haze in the Channel.

Combat - The good weather sees early action around 0730hrs with a large raid of over 100 aircraft, mainly Ju-87's and Me-109's, attack Dover. This is met by Spitfires of No: 41 and 64 Squadrons along with Hurricanes of No: 56 and 501 Squadrons and a large dogfight breaks out over the Dover Straits and Kent.

An Me-109E Stab I.JG51 crashes after making it back to France

Throughout the afternoon many raids are made against the South and Southeast coastlines. At about 1300hrs Spitfires of No: 610 Squadron intercept a Do-17 off Dungeness. Just after 1400hrs Hurricanes of No: 145 Squadron attack a Ju-88 off the coast from Portsmouth and Worthing. Between 1500hrs and 1545hrs two raids are intercepted. The first by Hurricanes of No: 85 Squadron who attack a Do-17 off Harwich and the second by Spitfires of No: 66 Squadron along with Hurricanes of No: 17 Squadron intercepting He-111's over the Thames Estuary.

Later, at about 1730hrs, Hurricanes of No: 151 Squadron engage over 30 Me-110's over the Thames Estuary and North Foreland as the raiders approach a convoy.

During the night, mines are dropped off Harwich, Dover and in the Thames Estuary. Bombs are dropped in Wales and near Norwich. A Ju-88 crashes near Bury St. Edmunds.

R.A.F. Losses: 11 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 3 pilots killed and 1 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 17 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 39 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 2 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British destroyer Delight is sunk by German bombing off Portland. 18 of her crew die from the attack.
• U-99 sinks the British steamer Clan Menzies (7336t) about 150 miles west of Loop Head, County Clare with the loss of 6 crewmen. 88 survivors are landed in Ireland.
• The British steamer Gronland (1264t), which had been damaged in an air attack on the 25th, is sunk by German bombing in outer Dover Harbor. 19 crewmen are killed.
• The British steamer Ousebridge (5602t) sinks on a mine in Queen's Channel, Liverpool with the loss of 2 of her crew.
• The British steamer Moidart (1262t) sinks on a mine with the loss of 11 crewmen.

Germany, Planning

A memorandum issued by the headquarters of the German navy states that a landing on the British coast will not be possible until the second half of September, and that even then the navy will not be able to support it from the sea. The Chief of Staff of the Kriegsmarine, Adm Otto Schniewind, says that 'It is impossible to accept responsibility for any such operation during the current year... The prospect looks very doubtful.'

Vichy France

The Vichy Government establishes a Supreme Court to try former leaders of the French Third Republic on 'war-guilt' charges.