Battle of Britain

Day 52

Weather - Generally fine in all areas.

Combat - A spell of fine weather enables the Luftwaffe to launch an increase in large-scale attacks, therefore the day starts early at 0700hrs for Fighter Command as Hurricanes of No: 111 Squadron and Spitfires of No: 54 Squadron engage Do-17's and Me-110's over the Thames Estuary.

From 1030hrs to just after midday, three successive waves of bombers and fighter escorts make raids against targets in the South East of England. The first is a sweep across Kent by about 60 Me-109's just before He-111's, Do-17's and Me-110's approach the Kent coastline. Hurricanes of No: 151 Squadron intercept the He-111's and Me-110's as the Hurricanes of No: 85 Squadron make a head-on attack to split up the formation.

As more raids cross the coast at about 1130hrs, the previous battles are still raging over Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Ju-88's attack the airfield at Biggin Hill whilst another raid heads for Kenley. By now, Hurricanes of No: 43, 85, 151 and 253 Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 222 and 616 Squadrons are heavily engaged in dogfights covering the Southeast.

During this period of combat, one pilot stands out for his courageous actions. Squadron Leader Tom Gleave, flying a Hurricane of No: 253 Squadron, scrambles from Kenley with two other pilots, Flt. Lt. George Brown and Plt. Off. Douglas Francis. As they gain height above Maidstone, he catches sight of a massive formation of Me-109's. The Hurricanes dive and attack directly at the Me-109's without loss to themselves. It is during the resulting dogfights, that Sqn. Ldr. Gleave successfully shoots down 5 Me-109's.

The next raid approaches just after 1300hrs and continues in sequential waves for several hours. Due to the radar stations at Dover, Pevensey, Beachy Head, Foreness, Rye, Whitstable and Fairlight being out of action, insufficient fighters are scrambled to deal with these raids. However, Hurricanes of No: 151 and 242 Squadrons manage to engage the He-111's and Me-110's while the Spitfires of No: 222 Squadron intercept the Me-109's.

Just after 1600hrs a massive raid crosses the Kent coast, splits up and heads for their targets. Yet again, Biggin Hill is seriously bombed by Ju-88's and suffers heavy casualties. Hurricanes of No: 79 Squadron manage to scramble and intercept the raiders after their bombing run. A raid, by He-111's and Me-110's, is successfully made on Luton despite the efforts from the Hurricanes of No: 56 and 242 Squadrons. Over the next 2 hours, many targets are approached at Radlett, Kenley, North Weald, Detling, Lympne, Oxford and Slough. By 1830hrs, furious battles have been fought over most of southern England by Hurricanes of No: 1, 43, 56, 151, 242, 253, 501 and 601 Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 66, 222, 610 and 616 Squadrons.

During the night, bombing raids are made against the Midlands, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bradford, Leeds, Bristol and Cardiff.

R.A.F. Losses: 25 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 13 pilots killed or missing and 5 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 49 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 73 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 13 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-32 attacks convoy HX-66A sinking the British steamer Mill Hill (4318t) and Chelsea (4804t) and the Norwegian steamer Norne (3971t) about 60 miles west-northwest of Cape Wrath. All 34 of the crew from the Mill Hill are lost, 24 are lost from the Chelsea with 11 survovors being picked up by the British armed trawler Lord Cecil and 17 are lost from the Norne with 11 survivors being picked up by the British corvette Hibiscus.
• The Norwegian steamer Marstenen (1832t) from convoy WN-11 is sunk by German bombing off Duncansby Head. The entire crew is rescued by the British destroyer Cattistock.

Diplomatic Relations

• In the Balkans, Hungary and Bulgaria have been recently trying to pick a quarrel with Rumania so that, following the example of the Soviet Union, they can seize portions of Rumanian territory. The Germans do not wish their grain and oil supplies to be threatened by a Balkan war and, therefore, intervene to adjudicate the dispute. A conference is called at Vienna and by the Vienna Award Hungary is given a large part of Transylvania, about 12,370 square miles, and Bulgaria is given southern Dobruja. Rumania can only acquiesce.
• French authorities agree to permit Japanese occupation of all ports, airfields, and railroads in northern Indochina.