Battle of Britain
Day 40
Weather - Starting fine with cloud due for rest of the day.
Combat - Known as the 'Hardest Day' due to bitter fighting when both sides suffer heavy losses, especially the Ju-87, Stuka, crews.
During the morning many reconnaissance flights were made by the Luftwaffe and one such raid, by an Me-110, is intercepted over the Thames Estuary by Spitfires of No: 54 Squadron scrambled from Hornchurch.
Just after midday a massive raid of over 300 aircraft approach the Kent coast and split off to their targets. Biggin Hill airfield is bombed by Do-17's and Ju-88's as Hurricanes of No: 32 Squadron and Spitfires of No: 610 Squadron engage the raiders. At the same time Kenley airfield is under attack and suffers severe damage before Hurricanes of No: 111 and 615 Squadrons can intercept. The airfields at Croydon and West Malling are also bombed. The Spitfires of No: 64 and 65 Squadrons and Hurricanes of No: 56 and 605 Squadrons are all by now engaging enemy aircraft with many dogfights spreading all over Kent and Sussex.
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At about 1400hrs a large raid approaches, between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, of Ju-87's and Ju-88's. As the Ju-88's bomb the airfield without interception, at Gosport, the Ju-87's attack the radar station at Poling and airfields at Ford and Thorney Island. The Ju-87's are not so fortunate, as Hurricanes of No: 43 and 601 Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 152 and 602 Squadrons attacked the bombers during their dives while the Spitfires of No: 234 Squadron engaged the Me109 escorts.
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As the afternoon progresses, a small raid of low flying Me-109's attack Manston airfield at about 1530hrs. Later at 1700hrs larger raids of Do-17's, He-111's, Me-110's and Me-109's, are plotted approaching the Kent coast. Spitfires of No: 54 Squadron, scramble from Hornchurch, are engaging Me-110's over the Thames Estuary while Hurricanes of No: 32, 46, 56, 151, 257 and 501 Squadrons all make interceptions as the bombers spread across Kent, randomly dropping their bombs.
The last combat of the day involves Hurricanes of No: 501 Squadron intercepting Me-110's off Eastchurch at about 1930hrs.
During the night several raids are plotted around the country with bombs dropped along the Thames Estuary.
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RAF Losses: 51 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 10 pilots killed or missing and 16 wounded.
Luftwaffe Losses: 96 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 125 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 24 wounded.
NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.
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]Diplomatic Relations
Canada, which is at war with Germany, and the U.S., which is not, sign the Odgensburg Agreement which establishes a joint defense board. Included will be both military and civilian members. The purpose of this board will be to 'consider in the broad sense the defense of the northern half of the Western Hemisphere'.
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