Battle of Britain diary

[stona]

Tuesday 23 July

The weather is more settled with scattered showers across the UK.

It’s another quiet day.

No.603 Squadron up in Scotland continue their successful personal campaign against German raiders and reconnaissance aircraft, shooting down a Do 17 off Peterhead. This became an almost daily event and is one of the reasons that many sensible historians who properly analyse the available data reckon this squadron to have been the most successful of the Battle (nobody shot down 126 aircraft in a few weeks).

F/Lt G S Powell-Sheddon of No.242 Squadron was on a lone patrol of the Norfolk coast when he spotted a ‘Ju 88 with unusual markings’ and attacked, expending all his ammunition. The attacked aircraft fired off blue flares and its identity is not certain. It may have been a Do 17Z of 2./KG3 which returned to its base damaged and with two men wounded.

[stona]

Wednesday 24 July

The weather was still variable, with fog over the hills and costs, but clearing later with bright intervals. There were still showers over most of the UK.

Today was a busy day, and as on future occasions a broader brush will be required!

My friends at No. 603 Squadron in Scotland again intercepted a lone raider, damaging an He 111 from 3./KG 26 which was lucky to make it home on one engine and with two wounded crew members.

A little later 3 Spitfires from No. 92 Squadron and 2 Hurricanes from No. 87 Squadron ganged up on a Ju 88 from 3./LG 1 shooting it down between Ilfracombe and Minehead.

At 0.900 hours a lone Fleet Air Arm pilot, Sub/Lt F Dawson, flying a Spitfire with No. 64 Squadron, intercepted 6 ‘Do 215s’ (probably Do 17s) over the Goodwin Sands, claiming one. There were no Luftwaffe losses.

Shortly before midday, 6 Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron tangle with 3 Bf 109s in the Straits of Dover, claiming 2 shot down and 1 damaged. Again, there were no Luftwaffe losses.

Between 12.25 and 12.45 a huge aerial battle takes place off the north Kent coast. In a sign of things to come, 12 Spitfires of No. 54 Squadron and 6 from No. 65 Squadron intercept a force of 18 Do 17s of KG 2 escorted by approximately 90 (that’s ninety) Bf 109s which was attempting to attack shipping in the Thames estuary. 6 of the Bf 109s were shot down, including that of Obltn. Werner Bartels*, and another crashed on its return to base, killing the pilot, Hptm. Erich Noack, Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26. 2 Do 17s were also damaged. The RAF lost 1 Spitfire from No. 54 Squadron, F/O J L Allen was killed, and two returned damaged.

The Battle of Britain is usually portrayed in terms of the attack on Fighter Command followed by the attacks on London, which became the Blitz. In this first month it was no such thing. In what the Germans called the ‘Channel Battle’ the Luftwaffe was attempting to close the English Channel to vital British shipping. It’s tactics were evolving, and the battle today was the first in which an overwhelming force of fighters attempted to protect a significant force of bombers.

Of note on this day was the ditching of a Fw 200 ‘Condor’, F8+BH, of 1./KG 40, fifteen miles of the coast of County Antrim. The crew stated that they were on a reconnaissance mission, but the British thought that they were minelaying. The pilot had switched off his engines, to glide silently over the target area, but then could not get them started again! The pilot blamed the ground crew for not properly fuelling the aircraft. Two of the crew were killed in the ditching.

*Bartels made a good forced landing on North Down, near Margate. His aircraft was only slightly damaged, though he was badly wounded and would be repatriated to Germany in 1943. It was a re-conditioned Bf 109 E-1 though it had not been upgraded to cannon armament, retaining just the four machine guns of the E-1 standard. It was the first examined by the British to have the new head armour described as ‘forming a back shield and hood behind and above the pilot’s seat’. Anyone modelling this aircraft would note from the many photographs taken of it, both at the crash site and when it was publicly displayed for the Spitfire Fund, that the canopy frame and cockpit were in a very dark colour, presumably RLM 66, it’s certainly not RLM 02.

[AlanG]

Wednesday 24 July

Between 12.25 and 12.45 a huge aerial battle takes place off the north Kent coast. In a sign of things to come, 12 Spitfires of No. 54 Squadron and 6 from No. 65 Squadron intercept a force of 18 Do 17s of KG 2 escorted by approximately 90 (that’s ninety) Bf 109s which was attempting to attack shipping in the Thames estuary. 6 of the Bf 109s were shot down, including that of Obltn. Werner Bartels*, and another crashed on its return to base, killing the pilot, Hptm. Erich Noack, Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26. 2 Do 17s were also damaged. The RAF lost 1 Spitfire from No. 54 Squadron, F/O J L Allen was killed, and two returned damaged

This action was the first over England for the German ace, Adolf Galland. He was leading III./JG26. He shot down F/O Allen and said his Spitfire went down vertically. According to Galland, F/O Allen bailed out but his parachute unfortunately failed to open and his body hit the water.

Galland returned to his base were he and his fellow pilots looked gravel at each other. In his own words "He and his comrades were no longer in doubt that the RAF would prove a formidable opponent"

[Tim Marlow]

Great thread this, full of historical interest!

[stona]

This action was the first over England for the German ace, Adolf Galland. He was leading III./JG26. He shot down F/O Allen and said his Spitfire went down vertically. According to Galland, F/O Allen bailed out but his parachute unfortunately failed to open and his body hit the water.

I'm not sure who Galland saw hit the water!

Allen was killed when he attempted a forced landing near Manston. He hit a building in Northdown Road, Cliftonville. The Flying Accident Report from 54 Squadron noted that

"Pilot Officer Allen, in company with his squadron intercepted and engaged a large formation of enemy aircraft off North Foreland. This pilot, leading Yellow Section, was acting as a rearguard patrol behind the remainder of the squadron, and it is presumed was surprised by enemy fighters. It is thought that during this action Pilot Officer Allen was wounded and his engine put out of action. In attempting to force land his aircraft near Manston, he crashed his aeroplane, which caught fire and the pilot was killed..."

54 Squadron had another Spitfire crash land, when Sgt G R Collett ran out of fuel, and another flown by P/O H K F Mathews returned damaged by Bf 109s, though he was unhurt.

JG 26 and Galland claimed 5 Spitfires, though two were disallowed. Galland was credited with one, but no Spitfire went into the sea during this engagement. It is another warning to be very careful with pilot accounts and combat reports from all sides. Above and beyond that, I would take anything that Galland claims he said, or later wrote, with a very, very large pinch of salt.

It's sometimes easy to forget the people behind the names, so here is a picture of John Allen, taken in illustrious company at a medal ceremony on 27 June 1940.



Allen is on the left, then from left to right we have, F/Lt Bob Stanford-Tuck, F/Lt Al Deere, F/Lt 'Sailor' Malan and S/Ldr James Leathart. It is likely that John Allen would be as well remembered as some of the others, had he survived.

[AlanG]

Thank for the info Steve. Just took the info from comments that Galland made about the combat you mentioned. He said it was a Spitfire he shot down and the pilot bailed out but his parachute failed to open. As you say. Post war accounts can be a bit "grey" with truth. Pierre Closterman's book for another example.

[stona]

Thank for the info Steve. Just took the info from comments that Galland made about the combat you mentioned. He said it was a Spitfire he shot down and the pilot bailed out but his parachute failed to open. As you say. Post war accounts can be a bit "grey" with truth. Pierre Closterman's book for another example.

Yes indeed. Obviously there was a lot of confusion in aerial combat, and it is quite possible that Galland has conflated events that happened on different days.

My problem with Galland is not related to what is probably a perfectly honest mistake about the events of 24 July, but that he had a post war agenda to exonerate himself from any blame for any of the Luftwaffe's manifest failures. This he pushed relentlessly at the expense of people who were usually dead and unable to defend themselves. He even enrolled his former adversaries into his effort and he promoted this agenda with no regard for historical accuracy at a time when few people bothered to do what we would now call 'fact check'.

Right, I'll get off my soapbox now

Clostermann's book, Le Grand Cirque/The Big Show, is a great read if a little economical with the truth. You could argue it was self promotion, but there was no larger agenda driving it. Now you've mentioned it, I might have to read it again!

[stona]

Thursday 25 July

It was raining overnight, but the day dawned fine with just a thin layer of high cloud.

Today was the battle for Convoy CW.8.

The Luftwaffe mounted several attacks on the convoy using heavily escorted Ju 87s, and mounted fighter sweeps to clear the British fighters. In the evening S-Boats torpedoed the convoy and two destroyers which attempted to intervene (HMS Boreas and Brilliant) were both hit by bombs. Of the 25 merchant ships involved, 9 were sunk and another 4 damaged. The Germans would probably reckon this a success, but it came at a price.

In the first attack, at 12.45, off Deal, 30 Ju 87s, escorted by a similar number of Bf 109s were intercepted by 12 Spitfires of No. 65 Squadron, 12 Hurricanes of No. 615 Squadron and 9 Hurricanes of No. 32 Squadron. P/O Daw was shot down, managing to make a successful forced landing near Dover with a wound to ‘the fleshy part of the leg’.

The second attack took place at 14.50, with the convoy now off Dover. This time 20 Ju 87s escorted by 40 Bf 109s were intercepted by 9 Spitfires from No. 54 Squadron, 9 from No. 610 Squadron and 11 from No. 64 Squadron. They were joined by 12 Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron. The RAF lost four Spitfires (one of which stalled on landing at Hawkinge, killing pilot S/Ldr A T Smith).

At 16.30 8 Spitfires of No. 64 Squadron and 6 of No. 74 Squadron were sent to intercept more E/A over the convoy. They tangled with 10 Bf 109s of JG 51. Fleet Air Arm pilot Sub Lt F Dawson Paul, flying with 64 Squadron, baled out into the sea, severely wounded. He was picked up by a German E-Boat and taken prisoner. Sadly, he died of his wounds five days later. 2 other Spitfires returned damaged.

A third major attack on the convoy was made at 18.50 off Folkestone. 20 Ju 87s and 4 Ju 88s escorted by 24 Bf 109s were intercepted by 10 Spitfires of No. 54 Squadron and 7 of No. 610 Squadron with 9 Hurricanes from No. 56 Squadron. The RAF lost one Spitfire, P/O A Finnie was killed, but the Luftwaffe lost 3 Bf 109s and 2 Ju 87s, with another Ju 87 damaged.

The only other major action of the day had occurred at 11.00 when a force of 18 Ju 87s escorted by 12 Bf 109s attacked shipping off Portland. Somehow a Do 17 on a reconnaissance mission got involved in the battle. 12 Spitfires of No.152 Squadron and 7 Hurricanes of No.87 Squadron intervened, shooting down the Do 17, which crashed on the Dorset coast, killing two of its crew. 2 Ju 87s returned damaged, another crashed into the sea of Cherbourg, only the pilot survived. F/O E C Deansley was shot down, ditching his Spitfire five miles off Portland. He was picked up, wounded, by the SS Empire Henchman after an hour in the water, and taken to Lyme Regis.

One strange even was the interception of a Ju 88 by a Spitfire of 55 OTU and 2 Hurricanes of No. 5 MU. The Ju 88 was on a solo mission to attack the Gloucester aircraft factory at Hucclecote. It was shot down by the three supposedly non-operational pilots, but P/O C A Bird was killed when he lost control of his Hurricane, probably after he collided with the bomber. The Germans abandoned their aircraft, Uffz Walter Thiener died when his parachute failed to function.

[AlanG]

Thursday 11 July

Squadron Leader Townsend was ordered off at 05.30 to investigate a raid, but drew a blank. He continued patrolling a line between Martlesham and Felixstowe and, at 06.30 spotted a Do 17 ahead and above him. Townsend found he could not overtake the Dornier and attacked from behind. He claimed the Dornier damaged, but was himself shot down by return fire from the rear gunner. Townsend abandoned his Hurricane and parachuted into the sea, three miles off Felixstowe. He was picked up by RN trawler ‘Cap Finisterre’ and taken to Yarmouth. The Do 17, U5+GM of 4./KG2, returned to base with 50% damage and three wounded crew.

One of the ships sunk in convoy CW.8 was RN Trawler 'Cap Finisterre'. A sad loss to S/L Townsend.

[stona]

Friday 26 July

Low cloud over the Channel with heavy rain. Clearing later with some sunny spells.

Today was a relatively quiet day.

At 09.45 6 Hurricanes of No. 601 Squadron intercepted 12 Bf 109s from JG 27. P/O P Chaloner Lindsay was shot down into the sea two miles of St Catherine’s Point and perished.

At midday the tables were turned when 11 Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron intercepted 3 Bf 109s over the sea between Swanage and Portland. 1 Bf 109 was shot down, by F/Lt S C Walch. This must have been the Bf 109 E-3 of 2./JG 27 which went into the sea 25 miles south of Portland, killing Fw Boer (according to my cross referencing!)

Of note today was a successful night time interception made by a Hurricane of No. 87 Squadron. An He 111 of 1./KG 4 was shot down at 23.15 crashing at Longfield Farm, near Honiton in Devon. Here is P/O J Cock’s combat report:

“On patrol when I saw enemy aircraft caught in searchlight at 8,000 feet proceeding west. I followed e/a and climbed to attack and came within range at 17,000 feet. I fired first burst four seconds, at 250 yards gradually closing to 150 yards and also fired several successive short bursts. Rear gunner of enemy aircraft fired several bursts and then stopped, apparently hit. Starboard engine stopped on the third burst and enemy aircraft went into steep right hand spiral. One person left by parachute. Under surface of enemy aircraft painted greeny blue. Black crosses at wing tip extremities.”

The person who left by parachute was the pilot, Uffz. Georg Strickstock who was wounded. The other four aircrew died.

[stona]

Saturday 27 July

A cloudy day with occasional showers over the south east and most of the UK.

We are still in the early skirmishes of the Battle. To put that into perspective, one of my references has 250 pages covering the period from 23 July to 8 August. Later in August one 250 page volume will cover just one day.

At 09.45 two large raids of 30 and 24 Ju 87s respectively, escorted by at least 24 Bf 109s attempted to attack convoy ‘Bacon’ in Weymouth Bay. They were intercepted by 25 fighters of Nos. 145, 238 and 609 Squadrons. 1 Ju 87 was shot down into the sea with the loss of its crew, and one Spitfire of 609 Squadron suffered a similar fate, P/O JR Buchanan was killed.

The second major action of the day had serious consequences. During the afternoon, bomb carrying Bf 109s of 3./ErprGr 210 made a low level cross Channel attack on shipping in Dover harbour. They damaged the destroyer HMS Walpole. They were not intercepted. They repeated the attack in the evening, this time breaking the back of the destroyer HMS Codrington, which was damaged beyond repair and run aground, and damaging the depot ship Sandhurst. As a result the Royal Navy temporarily withdrew its destroyers from the English Channel.

Of note was the continued refusal of the British to recognise the He 59s of the Luftwaffe’s ASR service as protected. In a very one sided combat 12 Hurricanes of No.615 Squadron chased and shot down an He 59 of Seenotflugdo 3. Four of the five crew were killed, one, Uffz Josef Buess was rescued, wounded.

[Neil Merryweather]

This is excellent stuff, Steve, thanks for sharing

[AlanG]

July 27 1940

'Onkel' Theo Osterkamp was moved from Kommodore of JG51 and takes up the appointment of Jagdfliegerfuhrer 2,in charge of the fighter forces in Airfleet 2. Werner Junck takes up the post in charge of Airfleet 3. This was to ensure effective co-ordination of the fighter forces. This was a similar role to what the RAF had already being using with the Group Controllers at Uxbridge.
JG51 was taken over by Werner 'Vati' Molders, who was at the time, Germany's leading fighter ace.

[stona]

Sunday 28 July

The day dawned sunny and clear, but clouded up by midday with heavy cloud developing in the evening.

At 05.25 3 Spitfires of No. 234 Squadron shot down a Ju 88 of 5./LG 1 into the sea off Plymouth with the loss of the entire crew.

At 14.00 a large raid of 16 Ju 87s escorted by at leat 20 Bf 109s was intercepted as it approached Dover. The No 41 Squadron lost 1 Spitfire which went down in the Channel, killing the pilot, P/O JHR Young; No 74 Squadron lost another when Sgt E A Mould abandoned it over Dover. Mould must have been injured as the squadron noted that he was sent to Dover Military Hospital. 3 other Spitfires and 1 Hurricane were damaged. The Luftwaffe lost 1 Bf 109 from 2./JG 51 when Gefr Martin Gelberg was shot down into the sea and killed. 2 others were damaged including that of the Geschwader Kommodore of JG 51, Maj Werner Molders who belly landed at St Inglevert in France, his aircraft 80% damaged. Molders was wounded and very nearly a victim of F/Lt J T Webster of No. 41 Squadron.

At 15.05 four Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron attacked 2 ASR He 59s of Boulogne. One of Seenotflug Kdo 3 was shot down wounding two of the crew and killing the other two. A second He 59 landed to rescue the surviving crew and was itself attacked by the Hurricanes, sustaining 60% damage and wounding two of its crew. Some pilots did have reservations about attacking these aircraft. 111 Squadron’s intelligence report states that at least two pilots noticed the prominent red crosses and did not attack. The first was shot down by Sgt Robinson who ‘only noticed black swastika on red roundel on fin’, but P/O Wilson ‘circled the enemy a/c as he perceived a red cross on the fin, a large red cross on the fuselage, and another red cross, position of which he did not note’. The second aircraft was ‘riddled’ with bullets from ‘800 yards, closing to point blank range’ by F/O Ferris. His colleague on the other hand saw the markings. ‘P/O Fisher, after a short burst held his fire, as he saw a Red Cross marked on fuselage of enemy aircraft’.

It was 80 years ago, and these young men were fighting a war, you make of that what you will but with the benefit of hindsight not afforded those making the decisions at the time.

[Tim Marlow]

More interesting stuff. Seems to me that the most dangerous job in the Luftwaffe was recon crew......
As to shooting up the ASR, the aim of the fighter pilot was to destroy aircraft or kill crew so they could not come back and do the same to you or yours at a later date. There are a lot of reports of bailed pilots being shot at on the way down by parachute, and this is really no different. Doesn’t make it right, but war isn’t right in the first place. You can’t put people into an inhumane situation and expect them to act humanely....that the majority do anyway is a testament to the human condition.