- Thread starter
- #81
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
Thanks tango!!!
This Day in the Battle of Britain
- Thread starter Njaco
- Start date
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timmo
Airman
How much of your excellent spiel is 'freehand', Njaco - how much out of (which) reference?
= Tim
= Tim
- Thread starter
- #83
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
about 1/4 is mine and the rest copied or reference.
timmo
Airman
How much of your excellent spiel is 'freehand', Njaco - how much out of which references?
= Tim
= Tim
- Thread starter
- #85
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
all the references listed at the beginning of the thread.
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Good stuff again Chris. I've been playing around with the satellite image maps, and it's looking promising. I just need to sort out scales, in order to show the areas clearly enough. I think I'm going to have to make four separate images; one showing the south coast of England up to London, in relation to the north coast of France, one of the English south coast, and two of the French coast. The latter due to the spread of the Luftwaffe units. Do you want me to do one of the whole of the UK, showing airfields and radar etc ?
timmo
Airman
Sorry, Njaco - didn't mean to repeat.
References - ah, yes! Should have remembered that they were all there.
= Tim
References - ah, yes! Should have remembered that they were all there.
= Tim
- Thread starter
- #88
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
Go for it Terry or as they say here in the colonies, "Get 'er Done"!
- Thread starter
- #89
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
28 JULY 1940 Sunday
UNITED KINGDOM: The weather was a carbon copy of the previous day, and Fighter Command expected stronger attacks by the Luftwaffe. Additional Fighter Command Squadrons were moved to forward bases as Dowding placed eight squadrons on forward airfields in readiness. But the morning proved too quiet. It turned out to be a disastrous day for the Luftwaffe. Their losses started at 0500 hours when a Ju 88 of 3./KG 51 on a mission to bomb Crewe in Lancashire lost its bearings and became hopelessly lost, then ran out of fuel and made a forced landing at Bexhill Sussex. The crew was not wounded and was made prisoners. Then at 0525 hours, 10 Group released a flight from RAF No.234 Squadron (Spitfires) to intercept Ju 88's approaching the Devon coast south of Plymouth. F/L Hughes, and P/O Horton all contributed in shooting down one Ju 88 east of Plymouth.
At 0630 hours, hostile aircraft appeared over Glasgow and bombed the Hillingdon district where a printing works was seriously damaged. Some windows of the Rolls Royce factory were broken and a few minor casualties were reported. At 0730 hours, a Ju 88 which approached Portcawl and bombed shipping was shot down by RAF No 92 Squadron. Several raids approached Bournemouth and Portland but faded without any attack being made.
The Luftwaffe fighters used a new tactic this morning that surprised the British defenders. Just past noon a large formation was detected to the west of Calais, and moments later another formation was picked up on the other side. But for some unknown reason the amalgamating formations seemed to hold their pattern, then when part way across the Channel turned back.
By 1330 hours another large formation built up in the vicinity of Calais and headed towards Dover. Slowly the German formation made its way towards the English coastline escorted by fighter elements from I and II./JG 51 and III./JG 26. As the German bombers with their escort approached the Kent coast, the British Observer Corps reported about sixty Heinkel's and forty Messerschmitts. Fighter Command released RAF No.41 Squadron (Spitfires), RAF No.74 Squadron (Spitfires), RAF No.111 Squadron (Hurricanes) and RAF No.257 Squadron (Hurricanes) to intercept.
The formation was just about over the coast when RAF No.74 Squadron was first on the scene, the other squadrons arriving moments later. As was usual practice, the Hurricanes attacked the bombers while the Spitfires engaged combat with the Bf 109 escort. A dozen Spitfires of 74 Sqn led by the famous South African 'Sailor' Malan (thus known from his merchant navy days) waded in among 36 Bf 109s of I./JG 51 over Dover, while Hawkinge's Hurricane squadrons set about the bombers. But here, where the new tactic during the morning failed, it was applied during this afternoon raid with tepid results. The German formations split up before reaching their objective and headed back to French bases, leaving the British fighters to engage only the escorting German fighters. The fighting was intense as JG 51 engaged first followed by Bf 109s of JG 26, up sun of RAF No 74 Sqd, who bounced on the unsuspecting Spitfires. The RAF lost five Spitfires against five fighter losses for the Luftwaffe. RAF No 74 Sqd had two fighters destroyed and two damaged while RAF No.41 Squadron lost one damaged. A Spitfire damaged from RAF No. 41 Squadron was done in by Gefr. Martin Gebhardt of 2./JG 51 but Gefr. Gebhardt was shot down and killed shortly after the battle over Dover. He was given no credit for the kill. Spitfire claims went to Ofw. Karl Schmid of 1./JG 51, Richard Leppla of 3./JG 51, and Fw. Arthur Haase of 6./JG 51. Four Hurricanes were credited as being shot down by 7./JG 26 including one by Oblt. Muncheberg.
During his first flight with his new unit Major Werner Mölders, the new Kommodore of JG 51, managed to shoot down a Spitfire, his twenty-sixth victory, but was wounded in the legs. Although in pain, he was able to land safely back in France, out of action for a month. Major Mölders reported on this battle over the Channel;
He 59 seaplanes arrived to rescue German survivors only to find RAF No.111 Squadron (Hurricanes). Because a number of German rescue and Red Cross planes had been detected on observation, photographic and possibly other missions as well as carrying out their primary roll as search and rescue aircraft, the Air Ministry on 14 July 1940 gave instructions for them to be shot down if they were seen near to allied shipping or close to the English coast. One of these Heinkel 59 rescue planes was spotted by No.111 Squadron and shot down about 10 miles to the east of Boulogne off the French coast. As the crew of the He 59 scrambled in the water another He 59 made a landing close by to rescue them and a Hurricane of RAF No.111 Squadron flown by F/O Ferris strafed the second He 59 causing damage, but it managed to take off and make for safety. Another He 59 was also shot down by RAF No.111 Squadron whilst on a search and rescue mission at approx 1530 hours.
In all, a total of eighteen German aircraft had been shot down during the day, and the shooting down of He 59 search and rescue planes caused Hitler to proclaim that the RAF in attacking unarmed aircraft with defenseless and injured personnel on board nothing but cold blooded murderers.
There was considerable German activity in most areas during the night. The main feature was the intense activity of minelaying from the Thames Estuary to the Humber, extending later as far north as Aberdeen. Inland raiding over the south and east coasts was very pronounced and nearly all areas of England, Scotland and Wales were involved. By 0130 hours, raids were mostly withdrawing and at 0145 hours the country was clear north and east of a line from Chester to London. By 0245, all inland raids had withdrawn to the coast.
At 2330 hours, He 111s of III./KG 55 attacked Rolls Royce Crewe. Kent and Sussex were bombed late at night. Near Edenbridge, houses and gas and water mains were slightly damaged. Sealand Aerodrome was bombed at 0230 hours and South Wales was also bombed and the railway track near Neath was damaged, and a road blocked at Pontaliw near Swansea.
GERMANY: The planes and crews of III./JG 2 moved from their base at Frankfurt-Rebstock and traveled to the airfield at Evreux-West. The Gruppe was led by Major Dr. Erich Mix. The 3rd Staffel of JG 77 left their airfield at Berlin-Tempelhof and transferred to Wyk-Föhr.
UNITED KINGDOM: The weather was a carbon copy of the previous day, and Fighter Command expected stronger attacks by the Luftwaffe. Additional Fighter Command Squadrons were moved to forward bases as Dowding placed eight squadrons on forward airfields in readiness. But the morning proved too quiet. It turned out to be a disastrous day for the Luftwaffe. Their losses started at 0500 hours when a Ju 88 of 3./KG 51 on a mission to bomb Crewe in Lancashire lost its bearings and became hopelessly lost, then ran out of fuel and made a forced landing at Bexhill Sussex. The crew was not wounded and was made prisoners. Then at 0525 hours, 10 Group released a flight from RAF No.234 Squadron (Spitfires) to intercept Ju 88's approaching the Devon coast south of Plymouth. F/L Hughes, and P/O Horton all contributed in shooting down one Ju 88 east of Plymouth.
At 0630 hours, hostile aircraft appeared over Glasgow and bombed the Hillingdon district where a printing works was seriously damaged. Some windows of the Rolls Royce factory were broken and a few minor casualties were reported. At 0730 hours, a Ju 88 which approached Portcawl and bombed shipping was shot down by RAF No 92 Squadron. Several raids approached Bournemouth and Portland but faded without any attack being made.
The Luftwaffe fighters used a new tactic this morning that surprised the British defenders. Just past noon a large formation was detected to the west of Calais, and moments later another formation was picked up on the other side. But for some unknown reason the amalgamating formations seemed to hold their pattern, then when part way across the Channel turned back.
By 1330 hours another large formation built up in the vicinity of Calais and headed towards Dover. Slowly the German formation made its way towards the English coastline escorted by fighter elements from I and II./JG 51 and III./JG 26. As the German bombers with their escort approached the Kent coast, the British Observer Corps reported about sixty Heinkel's and forty Messerschmitts. Fighter Command released RAF No.41 Squadron (Spitfires), RAF No.74 Squadron (Spitfires), RAF No.111 Squadron (Hurricanes) and RAF No.257 Squadron (Hurricanes) to intercept.
The formation was just about over the coast when RAF No.74 Squadron was first on the scene, the other squadrons arriving moments later. As was usual practice, the Hurricanes attacked the bombers while the Spitfires engaged combat with the Bf 109 escort. A dozen Spitfires of 74 Sqn led by the famous South African 'Sailor' Malan (thus known from his merchant navy days) waded in among 36 Bf 109s of I./JG 51 over Dover, while Hawkinge's Hurricane squadrons set about the bombers. But here, where the new tactic during the morning failed, it was applied during this afternoon raid with tepid results. The German formations split up before reaching their objective and headed back to French bases, leaving the British fighters to engage only the escorting German fighters. The fighting was intense as JG 51 engaged first followed by Bf 109s of JG 26, up sun of RAF No 74 Sqd, who bounced on the unsuspecting Spitfires. The RAF lost five Spitfires against five fighter losses for the Luftwaffe. RAF No 74 Sqd had two fighters destroyed and two damaged while RAF No.41 Squadron lost one damaged. A Spitfire damaged from RAF No. 41 Squadron was done in by Gefr. Martin Gebhardt of 2./JG 51 but Gefr. Gebhardt was shot down and killed shortly after the battle over Dover. He was given no credit for the kill. Spitfire claims went to Ofw. Karl Schmid of 1./JG 51, Richard Leppla of 3./JG 51, and Fw. Arthur Haase of 6./JG 51. Four Hurricanes were credited as being shot down by 7./JG 26 including one by Oblt. Muncheberg.
During his first flight with his new unit Major Werner Mölders, the new Kommodore of JG 51, managed to shoot down a Spitfire, his twenty-sixth victory, but was wounded in the legs. Although in pain, he was able to land safely back in France, out of action for a month. Major Mölders reported on this battle over the Channel;
Oblt. Richard Leppla of 1./ JG 51 claimed that the Spitfire he shot down, flown by F/L J. T. Webster, was the one that injured Mölders, but some controversy exists as Adolph 'Sailor' Malan of RAF No. 74 Squadron also claimed to have shot down Mölders even though Malan returned safely to his airbase - contrary to Leppla's report. Major Mölders' victim, F/O A.D.J. Lovell, managed to land his damaged aircraft at Hornchurch.
He 59 seaplanes arrived to rescue German survivors only to find RAF No.111 Squadron (Hurricanes). Because a number of German rescue and Red Cross planes had been detected on observation, photographic and possibly other missions as well as carrying out their primary roll as search and rescue aircraft, the Air Ministry on 14 July 1940 gave instructions for them to be shot down if they were seen near to allied shipping or close to the English coast. One of these Heinkel 59 rescue planes was spotted by No.111 Squadron and shot down about 10 miles to the east of Boulogne off the French coast. As the crew of the He 59 scrambled in the water another He 59 made a landing close by to rescue them and a Hurricane of RAF No.111 Squadron flown by F/O Ferris strafed the second He 59 causing damage, but it managed to take off and make for safety. Another He 59 was also shot down by RAF No.111 Squadron whilst on a search and rescue mission at approx 1530 hours.
In all, a total of eighteen German aircraft had been shot down during the day, and the shooting down of He 59 search and rescue planes caused Hitler to proclaim that the RAF in attacking unarmed aircraft with defenseless and injured personnel on board nothing but cold blooded murderers.
There was considerable German activity in most areas during the night. The main feature was the intense activity of minelaying from the Thames Estuary to the Humber, extending later as far north as Aberdeen. Inland raiding over the south and east coasts was very pronounced and nearly all areas of England, Scotland and Wales were involved. By 0130 hours, raids were mostly withdrawing and at 0145 hours the country was clear north and east of a line from Chester to London. By 0245, all inland raids had withdrawn to the coast.
At 2330 hours, He 111s of III./KG 55 attacked Rolls Royce Crewe. Kent and Sussex were bombed late at night. Near Edenbridge, houses and gas and water mains were slightly damaged. Sealand Aerodrome was bombed at 0230 hours and South Wales was also bombed and the railway track near Neath was damaged, and a road blocked at Pontaliw near Swansea.
GERMANY: The planes and crews of III./JG 2 moved from their base at Frankfurt-Rebstock and traveled to the airfield at Evreux-West. The Gruppe was led by Major Dr. Erich Mix. The 3rd Staffel of JG 77 left their airfield at Berlin-Tempelhof and transferred to Wyk-Föhr.
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vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Nice! (I love the last pic)
B-17engineer
Colonel
Last picture some books said is propaganda. Nice work Chris.
B-17engineer
Colonel
Chris also when I'm home later today I'll post some nice color pictures from BoB in the He-111.....if you'd like.
B-17engineer
Colonel
Here Chris
- Thread starter
- #94
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
I don't think they're from BoB - I believe thats Norway. I have those around here somewhere!!
- Thread starter
- #95
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
29 JULY 1940 Monday
UNITED KINGDOM: The weather was fine and it was expected that more attacks would be made by the Luftwaffe as flying conditions were as perfect as one could get. Slow to make their presence felt, it was not until 0700 hours that the first German formations were detected coming in across the Channel towards Dover. The observer Corps reported that the formation consisted of forty Ju 87 Stukas of II./LG 1 and II./StG 1, in two waves of 20 aircraft each and fifty Bf 109s of JG 51 and III./JG 26. Fighter Command sent up more squadrons than usual including RAF No.41 Squadron (Spitfires), RAF No.56 Squadron (Hurricanes), and RAF No.64 Squadron (Spitfires). RAF No. 41 Sqn began the proceedings with a 07:25 scramble to engage the enemy on his northern flank, leaving ten Hurricanes of RAF No. 501 Sqn. to race in from the sunward side. As they met the Luftwaffe they realised they were facing one of the largest formations yet of Bf 109s escorting two waves of Stukas.
The massed formations of Spitfires and Hurricanes arrived over the town of Dover just as the Ju 87s were making their first attacks at 0730 hours and the skies above the town became a swirling mass of weaving aircraft and vapor trails as an estimated number of 200 aircraft engaged in combat. 41 Sqn. went in after the Stukas but Bf 109s bore down upon the Spitfires. The squadron, forced to split, engaged both, and lost one aircraft in combat and four more in crash landings. 64 and 56 Sqns. were vectored to help. 501 Sqn. penetrated to the Stukas, shooting down two into the sea.
The concussion of bursting bombs shook buildings and broke windows all along the seafront, while waterspouts dropped tons of water onto ships in the harbour. Two Ju 87s from II./LG 1 and one Ju 87 from II./StG 1 were shot down into the sea while Fighter Command received a number of damaged aircraft including five Spitfires from RAF No.41 Squadron. Two RAF fighters were lost. Two other Stukas from II./StG 1 were damaged. Dover's AA guns added to the confusion and claimed RAF No. 501's Ju 87s.
Dover received slight damage as one merchant vessel (already damaged) and one small yacht were sunk and one naval unit was damaged. The Stuka's attack sank the steamer 'Gronland', which had been damaged on the 25th, and started a fire aboard a submarine depot ship. A naval auxiliary was sunk, and the oil pipeline broken, fuel gushed, then blazed upon the water. Buildings were damaged by splinters and blast. Patrol yacht 'Gulzar' (197grt) was sunk by German bombing in the submarine basin in Dover Harbour. The entire crew was rescued.
Several Experten made claims against the British aircraft. Hptm. Horst Tietzen of 5./JG 51 claimed his thirteenth kill while credit was given to Ofw. Fritz Beeck for his second and Fw. Eduard Hemmerling for his third. Both pilots were from 6./JG 51. Ofw. Karl Schmid of 1./JG 51 was credited with his ninth victory, a Spitfire over Dover. But JG 51 lost two pilots. Fw. Emmerling of 1./JG 51 was killed when he crash landed in the Channel off Calais as was Hptm. Erwin Aichele of 6./JG 51 when he crash-landed in France after the battle over the Channel.
Soon after midday attention switched to Channel convoys. Off Dungeness one was subjected to a low-level onslaught by Ju 88s of KG 76, whose lead aircraft hit a ships balloon cable.
Destroyer HMS "Delight" (Cdr M. Fogg-Elliot DSO) of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla departed Portsmouth at 1500 for the Clyde, but was sunk by German bombing off Portland. She was sailing in daylight, in contravention of local orders and placing herself at significant risk. After she had left the harbour, she was detected by German radar at Cherbourg, which directed German aircraft to attack the destroyer, by now some 20 miles (32 km) off Portland Bill. She attempted to fight them off, but was hit by a bomb on her fo'c'sle, which caused a major fire and a subsequent explosion. She finally sank in Portland harbour early the next morning, having lost six of her company in the attack.
At 1700 hours twenty He 111 and Do 17s attacked Harwich while Bf 110s of Epr.Gr 210 were sent from St. Omer to attack the port of Dover again. Convoy 'Agent' off Essex also came under attack by a mixture of 36 fighter and fighter-bomber Bf 110s. They were intercepted by RAF No.66 Squadron (Spitfires), RAF No.17 Squadron (Hurricanes) and RAF No.85 Squadron (Hurricanes) off the Essex coast near Harwich and two He 111's were shot down while RAF No.151 Squadron (Hurricanes) attacked the formation of Bf 110s off the coast at Orfordness. One He 111H-2 with 2./KG 53 was shot down by the RAF fighters of RAF No 17 Squadron, into the North Sea off Lowestoft. Six German planes in total were shot down while the British lost three fighters, Hurricanes were credited to pilots from 8./ZG 26. The Gruppenkommandeur of III./KG 26, Obstlt Adolf Genth was killed when his Do 17 was rammed by a Spitfire. Ofw Edmund Riebl and his crew were also killed when their Do 17 crashed at Paddock Wood. Two Hurricanes were damaged by accurate gunfire from the Bf 110s and both made forced landings at Martlesham and Rochford respectively. The day's activities resulted in four Luftwaffe fighters being severely damaged from anti-aircraft fire. In addition to the Bf 109s from JG 51 already mentioned, two other Messerschmitts lost, one each from II./JG 27 and 4./JG 51, crash-landed without injuries. Dover was left untouched.
On a night mission to attack the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton, an He 111 from 8./JG 55 was detected by searchlights and came under fire from AA gun batteries which managed to hit and damage the bomber. A fire started to engulf one of the engines believed to be the port engine, and soon the other engine began to lose power and the crew decided to abandon the aircraft. All baled out and were eventually captured. Two of the crew were at large for some 48 hours, but one crew member, Fw. J. Markl, managed to evade capture for nine days, believed to be the longest period of time that a German airman was "at large" before being captured. The oil tanks at Avonmouth were also attacked by the Heinkels.
A Hurricane from RAF No. 302 Squadron based at Leconfield airfield near Beverley, Yorkshire, was landing at base in a crosswind on a first familiarisation flight and damaged the aircraft. PO K. Lukaszewicz was unhurt, the aircraft was repairable.
Losses: Luftwaffe 13: Fighter Command 5.
WESTERN FRONT: The crew and Bf 109Es of Hptm. Siegfried von Eschwege's I./JG 52 were transferred again, this time from Zerbst to the airbase at Bönninghardt.
UNITED KINGDOM: The weather was fine and it was expected that more attacks would be made by the Luftwaffe as flying conditions were as perfect as one could get. Slow to make their presence felt, it was not until 0700 hours that the first German formations were detected coming in across the Channel towards Dover. The observer Corps reported that the formation consisted of forty Ju 87 Stukas of II./LG 1 and II./StG 1, in two waves of 20 aircraft each and fifty Bf 109s of JG 51 and III./JG 26. Fighter Command sent up more squadrons than usual including RAF No.41 Squadron (Spitfires), RAF No.56 Squadron (Hurricanes), and RAF No.64 Squadron (Spitfires). RAF No. 41 Sqn began the proceedings with a 07:25 scramble to engage the enemy on his northern flank, leaving ten Hurricanes of RAF No. 501 Sqn. to race in from the sunward side. As they met the Luftwaffe they realised they were facing one of the largest formations yet of Bf 109s escorting two waves of Stukas.
The massed formations of Spitfires and Hurricanes arrived over the town of Dover just as the Ju 87s were making their first attacks at 0730 hours and the skies above the town became a swirling mass of weaving aircraft and vapor trails as an estimated number of 200 aircraft engaged in combat. 41 Sqn. went in after the Stukas but Bf 109s bore down upon the Spitfires. The squadron, forced to split, engaged both, and lost one aircraft in combat and four more in crash landings. 64 and 56 Sqns. were vectored to help. 501 Sqn. penetrated to the Stukas, shooting down two into the sea.
The concussion of bursting bombs shook buildings and broke windows all along the seafront, while waterspouts dropped tons of water onto ships in the harbour. Two Ju 87s from II./LG 1 and one Ju 87 from II./StG 1 were shot down into the sea while Fighter Command received a number of damaged aircraft including five Spitfires from RAF No.41 Squadron. Two RAF fighters were lost. Two other Stukas from II./StG 1 were damaged. Dover's AA guns added to the confusion and claimed RAF No. 501's Ju 87s.
Dover received slight damage as one merchant vessel (already damaged) and one small yacht were sunk and one naval unit was damaged. The Stuka's attack sank the steamer 'Gronland', which had been damaged on the 25th, and started a fire aboard a submarine depot ship. A naval auxiliary was sunk, and the oil pipeline broken, fuel gushed, then blazed upon the water. Buildings were damaged by splinters and blast. Patrol yacht 'Gulzar' (197grt) was sunk by German bombing in the submarine basin in Dover Harbour. The entire crew was rescued.
Several Experten made claims against the British aircraft. Hptm. Horst Tietzen of 5./JG 51 claimed his thirteenth kill while credit was given to Ofw. Fritz Beeck for his second and Fw. Eduard Hemmerling for his third. Both pilots were from 6./JG 51. Ofw. Karl Schmid of 1./JG 51 was credited with his ninth victory, a Spitfire over Dover. But JG 51 lost two pilots. Fw. Emmerling of 1./JG 51 was killed when he crash landed in the Channel off Calais as was Hptm. Erwin Aichele of 6./JG 51 when he crash-landed in France after the battle over the Channel.
Soon after midday attention switched to Channel convoys. Off Dungeness one was subjected to a low-level onslaught by Ju 88s of KG 76, whose lead aircraft hit a ships balloon cable.
Destroyer HMS "Delight" (Cdr M. Fogg-Elliot DSO) of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla departed Portsmouth at 1500 for the Clyde, but was sunk by German bombing off Portland. She was sailing in daylight, in contravention of local orders and placing herself at significant risk. After she had left the harbour, she was detected by German radar at Cherbourg, which directed German aircraft to attack the destroyer, by now some 20 miles (32 km) off Portland Bill. She attempted to fight them off, but was hit by a bomb on her fo'c'sle, which caused a major fire and a subsequent explosion. She finally sank in Portland harbour early the next morning, having lost six of her company in the attack.
At 1700 hours twenty He 111 and Do 17s attacked Harwich while Bf 110s of Epr.Gr 210 were sent from St. Omer to attack the port of Dover again. Convoy 'Agent' off Essex also came under attack by a mixture of 36 fighter and fighter-bomber Bf 110s. They were intercepted by RAF No.66 Squadron (Spitfires), RAF No.17 Squadron (Hurricanes) and RAF No.85 Squadron (Hurricanes) off the Essex coast near Harwich and two He 111's were shot down while RAF No.151 Squadron (Hurricanes) attacked the formation of Bf 110s off the coast at Orfordness. One He 111H-2 with 2./KG 53 was shot down by the RAF fighters of RAF No 17 Squadron, into the North Sea off Lowestoft. Six German planes in total were shot down while the British lost three fighters, Hurricanes were credited to pilots from 8./ZG 26. The Gruppenkommandeur of III./KG 26, Obstlt Adolf Genth was killed when his Do 17 was rammed by a Spitfire. Ofw Edmund Riebl and his crew were also killed when their Do 17 crashed at Paddock Wood. Two Hurricanes were damaged by accurate gunfire from the Bf 110s and both made forced landings at Martlesham and Rochford respectively. The day's activities resulted in four Luftwaffe fighters being severely damaged from anti-aircraft fire. In addition to the Bf 109s from JG 51 already mentioned, two other Messerschmitts lost, one each from II./JG 27 and 4./JG 51, crash-landed without injuries. Dover was left untouched.
On a night mission to attack the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton, an He 111 from 8./JG 55 was detected by searchlights and came under fire from AA gun batteries which managed to hit and damage the bomber. A fire started to engulf one of the engines believed to be the port engine, and soon the other engine began to lose power and the crew decided to abandon the aircraft. All baled out and were eventually captured. Two of the crew were at large for some 48 hours, but one crew member, Fw. J. Markl, managed to evade capture for nine days, believed to be the longest period of time that a German airman was "at large" before being captured. The oil tanks at Avonmouth were also attacked by the Heinkels.
A Hurricane from RAF No. 302 Squadron based at Leconfield airfield near Beverley, Yorkshire, was landing at base in a crosswind on a first familiarisation flight and damaged the aircraft. PO K. Lukaszewicz was unhurt, the aircraft was repairable.
Losses: Luftwaffe 13: Fighter Command 5.
WESTERN FRONT: The crew and Bf 109Es of Hptm. Siegfried von Eschwege's I./JG 52 were transferred again, this time from Zerbst to the airbase at Bönninghardt.
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- Thread starter
- #96
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
30 JULY 1940 Tuesday
UNITED KINGDOM: The poor weather once again kept raids by the Luftwaffe to a minimum. Low cloud and light rain hampered the missions over the Channel. Attacks were on convoys off Orfordness, Clacton and Harwich. There were, however, a few engagements for Fighter Command with the first involving Spitfires of RAF No. 603 Squadron attacking a small raid of He 111's off Montrose with success just after midday. At about 0900 hours, three raids consisting of 21+ aircraft in all approached Swanage. In each case as the fighters were sent to intercept, the raiders turned away not less than 10 miles from the coast. At about 0945 hrs, RAF No. 601 Sqn when on patrol off the Isle of Wight, intercepted a formation and a Bf 109 was a probable casualty. One Hurricane is thought to fall into the sea and the pilot lost (this is difficult to substantiate and records conflict on this event, no pilots are named that I can see). Between 1100 and 1300 hrs, twenty enemy aircraft approached Portland but turned back when some distance from the coast on the approach of RAF fighters. RAF No. 238 Sqn shot down one Bf109 (confirmed). A He 111 that crashed north-east of Montrose was shot down by the defending Spitfires at 1212 hours. At 1100 hours Ju 88s attacked a convoy in the Channel without sinking a single ship. RAF No. 85 Squadron intercepted Bf 110's off the Suffolk coast and shot down one Bf 110, 10 miles east of Southwold at 1532 hours.
At 1530 hours, eight raids consisting of fifty aircraft assembled in the Bay of Seine and flew towards the Isle of Wight. Three fighter squadrons ordered to patrol at heights between 10,000 - 20,000 feet turned the enemy force which split and flew to within 30 miles of the Isle of Wight whence it returned to its rendezvous area. One raid crossed the coast north of Dungeness and No 65 Sqn shot down one Bf109 (confirmed) off Dover. A force of 24+ aircraft (and probably considerably more) appeared in the Cherbourg area at 1848 hours. The formation was plotted on a 10-mile front, flying in layers at an average height of 16,000 feet. It turned west towards Portland and then broke into separate raids and returned direct to Cherbourg. Squadrons off Portland failed to sight the enemy.
A small raid appeared over Surrey during the early evening with bombs being dropped on several areas near Esher, Chessington and Tolworth. The same raiders also attacked a balloon barrage. Bombs were dropped at Heysham (five miles south of Lancaster) from a raid coming in from the west. Other reports of bombs were received from Barry Docks and near Cwm Bargoed, where a railway track was damaged. The night-time activities also proved very quiet with raids plotted over Plymouth, Dorset, Devon, The Midlands and South Wales. During one of these raids, near Bristol, anti-aircraft fire claimed a He 111 bomber. The bombers of KG 55 continued with their attacks on the Bristol area. Beginning at 2300 hours until ending shortly after midnight, He 111s of I./KG 55 raided the Bristol Aeroplane Company and the oil tanks at Avonmouth.
Losses: Luftwaffe - 5, Fighter Command - 0
GERMANY: On 30 July, after a number of possible invasion dates that had come under heated debate and discussion, Hitler now had made it quite clear that no invasion could take place before 15 September, although it is believed that he personally did not want an invasion until at least early 1941. All his Generals did not favor this, the waiting period was too long, and it would also give Britain time to be better prepared and although at this stage the United States showed no signs of becoming involved with the war in Europe, that was always a consideration. But the question always remained, could Winston Churchill persuade Roosevelt to supply air and land forces to assist the British. If this happened, then Germany's chance at a successful invasion would be seriously hampered. Adolph Hitler had decided that before any such invasion take place, the British Royal Air Force must be eliminated both in the air and on the ground, and sent a message to Göring stating that he must have his forces in readiness to commence the great battle of the Luftwaffe against England within twelve hours notice. But arguments continued within the Wehrmacht regarding an invasion of Britain and how best it could be implemented. The Luftwaffe were deciding on the best method of action and the targets that would best hit hard on the Royal Air Force. The German Army and the Navy shared great differences as to where the invasion landings should take place. The Navy stating that to tranship hundreds of barges, invasion craft and transport carrying craft the narrow area of the Dover Straits would be best suited for this purpose. But the Army disagreed wanting the wider fronts of a number of landing beaches between Dover in the east through to Lyme Regis and Portland in the west.
It had been announced on German radio by Dr Joseph Goebbels who denounced the statement by the German Secretary of War that Britain would be overpowered in a short time and that British military forces would come under German control. He said;
UNITED KINGDOM: The poor weather once again kept raids by the Luftwaffe to a minimum. Low cloud and light rain hampered the missions over the Channel. Attacks were on convoys off Orfordness, Clacton and Harwich. There were, however, a few engagements for Fighter Command with the first involving Spitfires of RAF No. 603 Squadron attacking a small raid of He 111's off Montrose with success just after midday. At about 0900 hours, three raids consisting of 21+ aircraft in all approached Swanage. In each case as the fighters were sent to intercept, the raiders turned away not less than 10 miles from the coast. At about 0945 hrs, RAF No. 601 Sqn when on patrol off the Isle of Wight, intercepted a formation and a Bf 109 was a probable casualty. One Hurricane is thought to fall into the sea and the pilot lost (this is difficult to substantiate and records conflict on this event, no pilots are named that I can see). Between 1100 and 1300 hrs, twenty enemy aircraft approached Portland but turned back when some distance from the coast on the approach of RAF fighters. RAF No. 238 Sqn shot down one Bf109 (confirmed). A He 111 that crashed north-east of Montrose was shot down by the defending Spitfires at 1212 hours. At 1100 hours Ju 88s attacked a convoy in the Channel without sinking a single ship. RAF No. 85 Squadron intercepted Bf 110's off the Suffolk coast and shot down one Bf 110, 10 miles east of Southwold at 1532 hours.
At 1530 hours, eight raids consisting of fifty aircraft assembled in the Bay of Seine and flew towards the Isle of Wight. Three fighter squadrons ordered to patrol at heights between 10,000 - 20,000 feet turned the enemy force which split and flew to within 30 miles of the Isle of Wight whence it returned to its rendezvous area. One raid crossed the coast north of Dungeness and No 65 Sqn shot down one Bf109 (confirmed) off Dover. A force of 24+ aircraft (and probably considerably more) appeared in the Cherbourg area at 1848 hours. The formation was plotted on a 10-mile front, flying in layers at an average height of 16,000 feet. It turned west towards Portland and then broke into separate raids and returned direct to Cherbourg. Squadrons off Portland failed to sight the enemy.
A small raid appeared over Surrey during the early evening with bombs being dropped on several areas near Esher, Chessington and Tolworth. The same raiders also attacked a balloon barrage. Bombs were dropped at Heysham (five miles south of Lancaster) from a raid coming in from the west. Other reports of bombs were received from Barry Docks and near Cwm Bargoed, where a railway track was damaged. The night-time activities also proved very quiet with raids plotted over Plymouth, Dorset, Devon, The Midlands and South Wales. During one of these raids, near Bristol, anti-aircraft fire claimed a He 111 bomber. The bombers of KG 55 continued with their attacks on the Bristol area. Beginning at 2300 hours until ending shortly after midnight, He 111s of I./KG 55 raided the Bristol Aeroplane Company and the oil tanks at Avonmouth.
Losses: Luftwaffe - 5, Fighter Command - 0
GERMANY: On 30 July, after a number of possible invasion dates that had come under heated debate and discussion, Hitler now had made it quite clear that no invasion could take place before 15 September, although it is believed that he personally did not want an invasion until at least early 1941. All his Generals did not favor this, the waiting period was too long, and it would also give Britain time to be better prepared and although at this stage the United States showed no signs of becoming involved with the war in Europe, that was always a consideration. But the question always remained, could Winston Churchill persuade Roosevelt to supply air and land forces to assist the British. If this happened, then Germany's chance at a successful invasion would be seriously hampered. Adolph Hitler had decided that before any such invasion take place, the British Royal Air Force must be eliminated both in the air and on the ground, and sent a message to Göring stating that he must have his forces in readiness to commence the great battle of the Luftwaffe against England within twelve hours notice. But arguments continued within the Wehrmacht regarding an invasion of Britain and how best it could be implemented. The Luftwaffe were deciding on the best method of action and the targets that would best hit hard on the Royal Air Force. The German Army and the Navy shared great differences as to where the invasion landings should take place. The Navy stating that to tranship hundreds of barges, invasion craft and transport carrying craft the narrow area of the Dover Straits would be best suited for this purpose. But the Army disagreed wanting the wider fronts of a number of landing beaches between Dover in the east through to Lyme Regis and Portland in the west.
It had been announced on German radio by Dr Joseph Goebbels who denounced the statement by the German Secretary of War that Britain would be overpowered in a short time and that British military forces would come under German control. He said;
He went on to say that even the United States now had no intention on attempting to save Britain, and that soon, an invasion of Britain will be successful. Of course, Goebbels, Minister for Propaganda, was doing just that, trying to impress the German people that Germany was well under way in winning the war and that the German government would be taking up residence in Whitehall maybe by Christmas.
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Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
31 JULY 1940 Wednesday
UNITED KINGDOM: The day dawned as a typical summer's day with clear skies and higher temperatures and even a number of people braved the consequences and a number of seaside resorts reported bathers on many of their beaches. The first combat operation of the day was at Plymouth at 0855 hours when it was not Fighter Command that were involved, but a Short Sunderland flying boat of the 10 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force based at Mount Batten. It was flying escort to the merchant cruiser 'Mooltan' that was departing Plymouth after a refit. Three and a half hours out of Plymouth the Sunderland sighted a Ju 88 and intercepted, providing the necessary cover for the 'Mooltan'. The German bomber broke off the engagement and departed the scene. The only other morning combat was over the Channel at 1100 hours, when Ju 87's attacked small convoys, the Luftwaffe continuing with its mission of destroying Channel traffic. Bombs were reported to have been dropped near four ships off Lowestoft and near a naval unit in Yarmouth Roads. Three RAF sections dispatched at various times failed to make contact. After 1200 hours the Luftwaffe contents itself with reconnaissance flight and a few single raids over the North Sea. No aircraft on either side were shot down.
In the afternoon at about 1600 hours two Staffeln of Bf 109s from JG 2 shot at barrage balloons over Dover. As the Bf 109s concentrated on the balloons, Spitfires from RAF No. 74 Squadron attacked the Messerschmitts. Soon, more Messerschmitts from II./JG 51 joined in the battle and a dogfight ensued over the Dover area. Four Bf 109's were damaged in the combat with one Bf 109E damaged and crash-landing at Fecamp with a seized engine with the pilot unhurt. The British lost three Spitfires from RAF No. 74 Squadron with one badly damaged and crashed on landing. Credit for kills were given to Oblt. Josef Fözö and Lt. Erich Hohagen of the 4th Staffel and Hptm. Horst Tietzen of 5./JG 51 for his fourteenth kill.
Losses: Luftwaffe - 5, Fighter Command - 3
Not until during the night did raids increase, with bombs dropped on areas near Swansea and South Wales, the Hornchurch, Gravesend and Shoeburyness areas of Kent; Southend and Brentwood areas of Essex; Ipswich, Wattisham, and Martlesham areas of Suffolk and Croydon.
WESTERN FRONT: Upset that the Geschwaderkommodore of JG 53, Obstlt Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel had entered into a marriage whose family was not 100% Aryan, Reichsmarschall Göring this day ordered that all the unit's aircraft were to have its emblem, the "Ace of Spades", painted over and replaced with a simple red band, allegedly as an intelligence subterfuge. Most of the Geschwader's aircraft carried the red band across the front cowling while others had it placed underneath. Pilots within JG 53 responded in different ways to this slight - painting a huge 'question' mark on the red band where the unit badge was painted over, some painting over the whole cowling in the accepted recognition marking of all yellow. But III./JG 53, commanded by Hptm. Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke, painted out the swastikas on their tailfins and used the empty space to record aerial victories. Obstlt. von Cramon was never awarded the Ritterkreuz and was eventually sent to Scandinavia to serve as chief-of-staff to several local commands for the remainder of the war.
The Bf 109Es of I./JG 3 left their airbase at Grandvilliers and transferred to Colembert.
Hptm Erwin Röder became Gruppenkommandeur of IV.(Stuka)/LG 1 in place of Hptm Bernd von Brauchitsch. The unit was based at Hesdin.
CASUALTIES FOR JULY
R.A.F. Fighter Command
Hurricane: 33 destroyed, 17 damaged
Pilots: 23 killed, 0 missing, 11 wounded
Spitfire: 34 destroyed, 24 damaged
Pilots: 25 killed, 0 missing, 9 wounded
Blenheim: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Crew: 9 killed, 0 missing, 1 wounded
Defiant: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Crew: 10 killed, 0 missing, 2 wounded
TOTAL AIRCRAFT: 77 destroyed, 43 damaged
TOTAL PERSONNEL: 67 killed, 0 missing, 23 wounded
The Luftwaffe
Dornier Do 17: 39 destroyed, 13 damaged
Personnel: 30 killed, 74 missing, 19 wounded
Heinkel He 111: 32 destroyed, 3 damaged
Personnel: 52 killed, 85 missing, 6 wounded
Junkers Ju 88: 39 destroyed, 11 damaged
Personnel: 52 killed, 67 missing, 11 wounded
Junkers Ju 87: 13 destroyed, 11 damaged
Personnel: 10 killed, 12 missing, 3 wounded
Messerschmitt Bf 109: 48 destroyed, 14 damaged
Personnel: 17 killed, 14 missing, 13 wounded
Messerschmitt Bf 110: 18 destroyed, 4 damaged
Personnel: 13 killed, 17 missing, 2 wounded
Other: 27 destroyed, 1 damaged
Personnel: 19 killed, 33 missing, 15 wounded
TOTAL AIRCRAFT: 216 destroyed, 57 damaged
TOTAL PERSONNEL: 193 killed, 302 missing, 69 wounded
Peter G. Cooksley The Battle of Britain Ian Allan 1990
UNITED KINGDOM: The day dawned as a typical summer's day with clear skies and higher temperatures and even a number of people braved the consequences and a number of seaside resorts reported bathers on many of their beaches. The first combat operation of the day was at Plymouth at 0855 hours when it was not Fighter Command that were involved, but a Short Sunderland flying boat of the 10 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force based at Mount Batten. It was flying escort to the merchant cruiser 'Mooltan' that was departing Plymouth after a refit. Three and a half hours out of Plymouth the Sunderland sighted a Ju 88 and intercepted, providing the necessary cover for the 'Mooltan'. The German bomber broke off the engagement and departed the scene. The only other morning combat was over the Channel at 1100 hours, when Ju 87's attacked small convoys, the Luftwaffe continuing with its mission of destroying Channel traffic. Bombs were reported to have been dropped near four ships off Lowestoft and near a naval unit in Yarmouth Roads. Three RAF sections dispatched at various times failed to make contact. After 1200 hours the Luftwaffe contents itself with reconnaissance flight and a few single raids over the North Sea. No aircraft on either side were shot down.
In the afternoon at about 1600 hours two Staffeln of Bf 109s from JG 2 shot at barrage balloons over Dover. As the Bf 109s concentrated on the balloons, Spitfires from RAF No. 74 Squadron attacked the Messerschmitts. Soon, more Messerschmitts from II./JG 51 joined in the battle and a dogfight ensued over the Dover area. Four Bf 109's were damaged in the combat with one Bf 109E damaged and crash-landing at Fecamp with a seized engine with the pilot unhurt. The British lost three Spitfires from RAF No. 74 Squadron with one badly damaged and crashed on landing. Credit for kills were given to Oblt. Josef Fözö and Lt. Erich Hohagen of the 4th Staffel and Hptm. Horst Tietzen of 5./JG 51 for his fourteenth kill.
Losses: Luftwaffe - 5, Fighter Command - 3
Not until during the night did raids increase, with bombs dropped on areas near Swansea and South Wales, the Hornchurch, Gravesend and Shoeburyness areas of Kent; Southend and Brentwood areas of Essex; Ipswich, Wattisham, and Martlesham areas of Suffolk and Croydon.
WESTERN FRONT: Upset that the Geschwaderkommodore of JG 53, Obstlt Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel had entered into a marriage whose family was not 100% Aryan, Reichsmarschall Göring this day ordered that all the unit's aircraft were to have its emblem, the "Ace of Spades", painted over and replaced with a simple red band, allegedly as an intelligence subterfuge. Most of the Geschwader's aircraft carried the red band across the front cowling while others had it placed underneath. Pilots within JG 53 responded in different ways to this slight - painting a huge 'question' mark on the red band where the unit badge was painted over, some painting over the whole cowling in the accepted recognition marking of all yellow. But III./JG 53, commanded by Hptm. Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke, painted out the swastikas on their tailfins and used the empty space to record aerial victories. Obstlt. von Cramon was never awarded the Ritterkreuz and was eventually sent to Scandinavia to serve as chief-of-staff to several local commands for the remainder of the war.
The Bf 109Es of I./JG 3 left their airbase at Grandvilliers and transferred to Colembert.
Hptm Erwin Röder became Gruppenkommandeur of IV.(Stuka)/LG 1 in place of Hptm Bernd von Brauchitsch. The unit was based at Hesdin.
CASUALTIES FOR JULY
R.A.F. Fighter Command
Hurricane: 33 destroyed, 17 damaged
Pilots: 23 killed, 0 missing, 11 wounded
Spitfire: 34 destroyed, 24 damaged
Pilots: 25 killed, 0 missing, 9 wounded
Blenheim: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Crew: 9 killed, 0 missing, 1 wounded
Defiant: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Crew: 10 killed, 0 missing, 2 wounded
TOTAL AIRCRAFT: 77 destroyed, 43 damaged
TOTAL PERSONNEL: 67 killed, 0 missing, 23 wounded
The Luftwaffe
Dornier Do 17: 39 destroyed, 13 damaged
Personnel: 30 killed, 74 missing, 19 wounded
Heinkel He 111: 32 destroyed, 3 damaged
Personnel: 52 killed, 85 missing, 6 wounded
Junkers Ju 88: 39 destroyed, 11 damaged
Personnel: 52 killed, 67 missing, 11 wounded
Junkers Ju 87: 13 destroyed, 11 damaged
Personnel: 10 killed, 12 missing, 3 wounded
Messerschmitt Bf 109: 48 destroyed, 14 damaged
Personnel: 17 killed, 14 missing, 13 wounded
Messerschmitt Bf 110: 18 destroyed, 4 damaged
Personnel: 13 killed, 17 missing, 2 wounded
Other: 27 destroyed, 1 damaged
Personnel: 19 killed, 33 missing, 15 wounded
TOTAL AIRCRAFT: 216 destroyed, 57 damaged
TOTAL PERSONNEL: 193 killed, 302 missing, 69 wounded
Peter G. Cooksley The Battle of Britain Ian Allan 1990
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fastmongrel
1st Sergeant
Something we all forget in arguments on the merits of different aircraft. Virtually every battle resulted in deaths of fine young men. Doesnt matter where they were born or what uniform they wore, they were the brightest and best of there generation.
Glider
Captain
Seconded
syscom3
Pacific Historian
NJACO:
Luftwafee Numbers:
TOTAL PERSONNEL: 193 killed, 302 missing, 69 wounded ..... the 302 [missing] figures should show up in British figures for POW's. It should be a combination of POW's and true MIA (body not recovered)
Do you have anything to reconcile those numbers?
Luftwafee Numbers:
TOTAL PERSONNEL: 193 killed, 302 missing, 69 wounded ..... the 302 [missing] figures should show up in British figures for POW's. It should be a combination of POW's and true MIA (body not recovered)
Do you have anything to reconcile those numbers?
