Atlantic

He-115s and Ju-88s sink 1 large cargo ship and damage a second off Fraserburgh, Scotland.

Battle of Britain

Day 48

Weather - Cloudy in most areas but dry. Brighter weather in the South.

Combat - During the early part of the morning Ju-88 and Do-17 aircraft fly reconnaissance missions over South East areas, mainly over Group 11 airfields. It is at 1130hrs that the first large raid, consisting of He-111's, Do-17's, Me-110's and Me-109's, approach the coast at Dover and East Kent. Bombs are dropped on Folkstone and Dungeness before Spitfires of No: 616 Squadron arrived over the area where they are engaged by a large number of Me-109's. The Spitfires suffer high losses during the dogfight. The Defiants of No: 264 Squadron also suffer, at the hands of the Me-109's, as they engage Do-17's over Herne Bay. During this battle, Hurricanes of No: 1 and 56 Squadrons attack the bombers near Hornchurch while Spitfires of No: 610 Squadron engaged Me-109's over Folkestone.

Just after 1500hrs, another large raid, of Do-17's, Me-110's and; Me-109's, approach the Thames Estuary. Debden airfield is the main target and is heavily bombed as Hurricanes of No: 111, 310 (Czech pilots) and 615 Squadrons engage the raiders along with Spitfires of No: 65 Squadron. The remaining bombers split up and drop their bombs over Maidstone, Canterbury, Ashford and coastal areas during their return journey.

At around the same time, another raid of He-111's, Me-110's and Me-109's approach the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth area. Interception is made by Hurricanes of No: 43 Squadron scrambling from Tangmere, Hurricanes of No: 615 Squadron scrambling from Kenley, Spitfires of No: 234 Squadron scrambling from Middle Wallop and Spitfires of No: 602 Squadron scrambling from Westhampnett. Large dogfights ensue over the area preventing the bombers reaching their targets of Southampton and Portsmouth dockyards.

During the night, bombing raids are reported around the country at Birmingham, Coventry, Bristol, Devon, South Wales, Bournemouth and the North East areas. Mines are also dropped around the coastline at Plymouth, East Anglia, North Scotland and North East coast.

R.A.F. Losses: 34 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 7 pilots and; aircrew (Defiants) killed or missing and 13 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 51 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 81 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 14 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Remuera (11,445t) is sunk by German bombing off Kinnaird Head. The entire crew is rescued.
• The German steamer Lisbeth Cords (907t) sinks on a mine 10 miles from Kiel Light Ship.

German Raiders

The disguised German raider Penguin sinks or captures 5 merchant ships in the Indian Ocean over the next 2 weeks.

Mediterranean

The Italian submarine Dandolo sinks the British steamer Ilvington Court (5187t) off the Greek coast. The entire crew is rescued.