Battle of Britain

Day 50

Weather - Generally fine over most of the country with some cloud in the Channel.

Combat - At 0830hrs a large raid of Do-17's, He-111's and Me-109's, approach the Kent coast near Deal. The Dorniers head for the airfield at Eastchurch while the Heinkels make for Rochford. Hurricanes of No: 79, 501 and 615 Squadrons, Spitfires of No: 54 Squadron and Defiants of No: 264 Squadron are scrambled and successfully intercept the raiders, but could not prevent either of the targets from being bombed. The Defiants of No: 264 Squadron suffer badly again, losing 7 aircraft and are withdrawn from any more daylight combat during the Battle of Britain.

Just after 1230hrs another raid is made on the airfields of Eastchurch and Rochford which is met by Hurricanes of No: 1 and 56 Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 54 Squadron. As this battle subsides, another raid by Me-109's and Me-110's streak across Kent at about 1600hrs. The Hurricanes of No: 85 Squadron, led by Sqn. Ldr. Townsend, attack the Me-109's before Spitfires of No: 54 and 610 Squadrons and Hurricanes of No: 56 and 151 Squadrons (both from North Weald) join the "dogfighting".

It was at about 1700hrs when the Spitfires of No: 603 Squadron are scrambled from Hornchurch to intercept an incoming raid. They engage a number of Me-109's over Dover in bitter fighting and suffer the loss of four aircraft and three pilots.

During the night bombing raids are made on Liverpool, Sheffield, Birmingham, Coventry, Manchester and South Yorkshire areas. Mines are also dropped off Sealand, in the Bristol Channel, Thames Estuary and off East Anglia.

R.A.F. Losses: 22 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 9 pilots and aircrew (Defiants) killed or missing and 8 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 44 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 53 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 19 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-28 sinks the British steamer Kyno (3946t) from convoy HX-66 about 30 miles north-northeast of Rockall with the loss of 4 crewmen. 33 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Queen Maud.
• U-101 sinks the Finnish steamer Elle (3868t) from convoy SC-1 with the loss of 2 crewmen. The 27 survivors are picked up by the British sloop Leith.

Britain, Planning

Liaison officers of the army and the Royal Navy, who had been serving in Dakar, French West Africa, before the collapse of France, arrive in London.

Occupied France

Free French forces take over Brazzaville in the French Congo.