Battle of Britain

Day 46

Weather - Mainly fine in the South and Channel but overcast and cloudy in the North.

Combat - Just before 0900hrs a large raid of over 40 Ju-88's and Do-17's, escorted by over 60 Me-109's, head for Dover. Many Squadrons are scrambled to intercept but only the Hurricanes of No: 85 and 501 Squadrons along with Spitfires of No: 610 Squadron manage to engage the raiders. Later that morning, further raids attack Dover and the airfield at Manston as Hurricanes of No: 151 Squadron along with Spitfires of No: 54 and 610 Squadrons make interceptions.

The early afternoon produces more raids and at about 1315hrs an attack is made, by Ju-88's and He-111's, on Hornchurch airfield. Hurricanes of No: 501 Squadron, scrambling from Gravesend and Defiants of No: 264 Squadron, scrambling from Manston, intercept the raid as it heads back across Kent.

Between 1500hrs and 1630hrs He-111's, Do-17's and Me-110's, make a large raid against the airfield at North Weald. Hurricanes of No: 56, 111, 151, 501 and 615 Squadrons engage the bombers whilst Spitfires of No: 19 Squadron scrambling from Duxford and those of No: 610 Squadron scrambling from Biggin Hill, give chase to the Me-110's and Me-109 escorts resulting in many large dogfights over Essex, the Thames Estuary and into Kent. Later during the raid, Hurricanes of No: 32 Squadron are scrambled from Hawkinge to engage Me-109's south of London.

At around 1630hrs to 1700hrs, 50 Ju-88's and 50 Me-110's, appear over the Isle of Wight and head for Portsmouth. Spitfires of No: 234 and 609 Squadrons are scrambled from Middle Wallop and join Hurricanes of No: 249 Squadron to intercept the enemy, but not before extensive damage has been done to the Naval docks at Portsmouth by the bombers.

One more raid is plotted approaching Dungeness and Dover at about 1830 hrs but return to France after several R.A.F. fighter Squadrons are scrambled to intercept.

During the night many bombing raids are reported around the country across Southern England, South Wales, the Midlands, Liverpool, Middlesborough, Sheffield, Hull and East Anglia. One particular raid is to change the course of tactics for the rest of the Battle of Britain. Against Luftwaffe High Command orders, bombs are accidentally dropped on areas of London.

The Night Hitler Lost the War

R.A.F. Losses: 32 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 10 pilots killed or missing and 10 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 48 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 47 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 5 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-37 sinks the British steamer Brookwood (5100t) from convoy OA-200 south of Iceland with the loss of 1 crewman.
• U-48 sinks the British tanker La Brea (6665t), a straggler from convoy HX-65, west-northwest of Rockall with the loss of 2 crewmen. There are 31 survivors.
• U-57 attacks ships in convoy OB-202 and sinks the British steamers Saint Dunstan (5681t) and Cumberland (10,939t) north of Ireland. 14 are lost on the Saint Dunstan with 49 survivors and 4 are lost on the Cumberland with 54 survivors.

German Raiders

The German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis sinks the British steamer King City (4744t) in the Indian Ocean with the loss of 6 crewmen.

Germany, Home Front

The battleship Bismarck is commissioned.

Mediterranean

The Italian steamer Leopardi (3298t) hits a mine and sinks east of Tolmeita, Cyrenaica. This is in a minefield laid by the British submarine Rorqual on 21 July.