Battle of Britain
Day 37
Weather - Early cloud changing to fine warm weather later, throughout all areas, with some cloud in the Channel.
Combat - This day became known to the Luftwaffe as 'Black Thursday' due to heavy losses suffered during some of their raids.
The first raid of the morning sees Ju-88's and; Do-17's approach Portsmouth at about 0700hrs and are met by Spitfires of No: 602 Squadron. Later at around 1130hrs, a large raid of Ju-87's and Me-109's attack and bomb Hawkinge airfield. Spitfires of No: 54 Squadron and Hurricanes of No: 501 Squadron intercept and are subsequently attacked themselves by the Me-109 escort. During this raid about 10 Me-110's attack Manston airfield inflicting significant damage.
At 1230hrs, a massive raid of up to 100 aircraft (He-111's of KG26 and Me-110's of ZG76) approach the North East coast off Newcastle and Sunderland. Spitfires of No: 72 Squadron and Hurricanes of No: 605 Squadron engage the raiders first and are followed by Hurricanes of No: 79 Squadron with heavy losses suffered by the Luftwaffe. At the same time further down the coast off Flamborough Head a large raid of Ju-88's is met by Spitfires of No: 616 Squadron and Hurricanes of No: 73 Squadron as they attack the Bomber Command airfield at Driffield.
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Just after 1400hrs a raid of Me-110's and Me-109's attacked and bombed the airfield at Martlesham Heath. Hurricanes of No: 1 and 17 Squadrons scramble to intercept. At about 1430hrs a large raid of 90 Do-17's and 130 Me-109's approach the Kent coast as another 60 Me-109's cross Dover to give the bombers a very tight escort cover. Rochester is heavily bombed along with Hawkinge airfield, Dover, Maidstone, Rye and the radar station at Foreness. Hurricanes of No: 111 and 151 Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 64 Sqaudron are scrambled to intercept but are heavily engaged by the Me-109's.
Late afternoon and early evening sees more large raids against Southern England. The first, of about 100 Ju-88's and Me-110's, approach the Hampshire coast and manage to bomb the airfields at Middle Wallop, Worthy Down and Odiham. Interceptions are made by Hurricanes of No: 43, 249 and 601 Squadrons and Spitfires of 609 Squadron. Another raid of Ju-87's, Me-109's and Me-110's attack Portland and a bitter dogfight breaks out with Hurricanes of No: 87 and 213 Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 234 Squadron. The last main raid comes at 1830hrs when Do-17's escorted by Me-109's cross the Kent coast and severely bomb the airfields at Croydon and West Malling. Hurricanes of No: 32 and 111 Squadrons are scrambled to intercept as Hurricanes of No: 151 Squadron are engaging the enemy over Harwich and off the Kent coast.
During the night only a few small raids are plotted around the country.
Göring makes two important and misguided decisions. He decides that because the RAF has been so reduced in strength it is wasting effort to continue to attack any radar stations. This seems to contradict his other decision that the escorting fighters must fly a considerable portion of their strength very close to the bomber formations because of bomber casualties and poor morale among their crews. This drastically reduces the fighters' effectiveness and increases the number needed to escort each raid. It is strongly resented by the fighter pilots.
R.A.F. Losses: 43 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 11 pilots killed or missing and 12 wounded.
Luftwaffe Losses: 90 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 163 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 9 wounded.
NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.
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]Battle of the Atlantic
- The British steamer Braxton sinks on a mine east of England. All of the crew are rescued.
- U-A sinks the Greek steamer Aspasia northwest of Morocco with the loss of her entire crew of 19.
- U-51 sinks the British tanker Sylvafield (5709t), a straggler from HX-62, 190 miles west northwest of Rockall with the loss of 3 of her crew. 36 survivors are picked up by the British minesweeping trawler Newland.
| ]East Africa
The British forces pull out of their positions around the Tug Argan Pass in British Somaliland after a notable defense.
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Mediterranean
- The Greek cruiser Helle sinks in mysterious circumstances off Tinos Island, while the crew are attending Mass. Fragments indicate that the torpedoes are of Italian manufacture. Italy denies responsibility, but later admits that a 'mistake' may have been made. Fearing the Italians, Athens makes no protest though proof of the aggressive act is irrefutable.
Greek Cruiser Helle
- The submarines Pandora and Proteus carry essential supplies to Malta.
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