Battle of  Britain - Opening Phase

July 10th-August 7th, 1940

 

Wednesday, July 10th : Attack on Channel convoy, a 70 bomber raid on Swansea and Falmouth. RAF Martlesham Heath in Suffolk was bombed.
Night: Scotland, east and south-east coasts were raided.

 

Thursday, July 11th : An attack on a convoy by Ju 87's and Bf 110's was intercepted by Hurricanes. In the afternoon, Sptifires intercepted Bf 109's, two of each were shot down. Hurricanes attacked 12 Heinkel 111's over the Isle of Wight. 
Night: Portsmouth and north-west were bombed.

 

Friday, July 12th : Convoys were attacked off southern England. Many small raids were intercepted over a wide area. 
Night: Bristol and South Wales were bombed.

 

Saturday, July 13th : Two convoys were attacked off Harwich ; two raids on Dover were driven off by RAF fighters. Weather generally restricted operations. 
Night: The Thames estuary was mined.

 

Sunday,  July 14th : A convoy near Dover was damaged. British announced intention to attack German planes bearing red cross as these had been used for reconnaissance. 
Night: Bombers over south, west and east England.

 

Monday,  July 15th : The Westland Aircraft factory at Yeovil was bombed. Hurricanes spoilt an attack on a convoy by light force of Do 17's. 
Night: Mining, but no bombing.

 

Tuesday,  July 16th : Convoys were attacked off south-east coast of England and north-east coast of Scotland. Westland was attacked again. 
Night: Mines were laid.

 

Wednesday, July 17th : Bad weather halted most operations. Some attacks on shipping off the east coast. 
Night: Mines were dropped off the Welsh coast and in the Thames.

 

Thursday, July 18th : Goodwin Lightship was sunk. A coastguard station at St. Margaret's Bay was bombed. Minor attacks on convoys. 28 Bf 109's were intercepted by 15 Spitfires.

 

Friday, July 19th : 9 Defiants of N°141 Squadron were attacked by 20 Bf 109's. 6 Defiants were shot down. A 70 bomber raid on Dover was intercepted by 35 Spitfires and Hurricanes. 
Night: Raids on Harwich, Plymouth and Thames Estuary.

 

Saturday, July 20th : Ju 87's escorted by Bf 109's attacking a convoy were intercepted by Spitfires of 501 Squadron.. Ginger Lacey, highest scoring RAF ace of the Battle, made his first Battle of Britain kill. 
Night: The east coast was mined.

 

Sunday,  July 21st : Convoys in Channel were attacked. Three squadrons drove off a raid by 20 Ju 87's and Bf 109's.                       

Night: Merseyside was bombed.

 

Monday, July 22nd : Minor attacks on Channel shipping. 
Night: The east coast from Kent to north-east Scotland was mined.

 

Tuesday,  July 23rd : East coast shipping was attacked. There was generally little activity. 
Night: The east coast was mined.

 

Wednesday, July 24th : Adolf Galland led his Geschwader over England for the first time. A convoy in Thames Estuary and another near Dover were attacked. 
Night: No activity.

 

Thursday, July 25th : 60 Ju 87's escorted by Bf 109's attacked a convoy of 23 ships. Five ships were sunk and five damaged. Five Spitfires and a squadron of Hurricanes intercepted the raid. In 15 minutes four German fighters were shot down. 
Night: Mines were laid in Thames and Firth of Forth.

 

Friday, July 26th : Shipping off the Isle of Wight was attacked.
Night: Mines were laid in the Severn and Thames.

 

Saturday, July 27th : Dover harbour was attacked twice. Belfast, Wick and Plymouth were bombed. 
Night: South-west England was attacked.

 

Sunday,  July 28th : An attack on Dover by 50 enemy bombers and 50 fighters was driven off by two Hurricane and two Spitfire squadrons. South coast ports were bombed. 
Night: Attacks on Wales, Scotland, Midlands and north of England.

 

 

Monday,  July 29th : An attack on a convoy by 30 Ju 87's and 50 Bf 109's was driven off. A Harwich attack was intercepted. 
Night: Light raids.

 

Tuesday,  July 30th : Bad weather hampered enemy activity. Convoys off Suffolk and Essex were attacked. 
Night: Midlands and South Wales were bombed.

 

Wednesday, July 31st : A Dover balloon barrage and south coast convoys were attacked. 
Night: Thames Estuary and South Wales were bombed.

 

Thursday, August 1st : Norwich was bombed. Two raids were intercepted off the south coast. 
Night: Mines were laid off the north-east coast of Scotland. Bombers dropped propaganda leaflets all over Britain urging the British people to make peace.

 

Friday, August 2nd : Channel and east coast convoys were attacked. 
Night: Forth Bridge was attacked. Airfields from Catterick in Yorkshire to Romford in Essex were bombed.

 

Saturday, August 3rd : There were no ships in the Channel, therefore no raids or interceptions. 
Night: Bradford, Crewe, Liverpool, South Wales, Firth of Forth and Orkneys were bombed

 

Sunday,  August 4th : Reconnaissance of Bristol Channel and south coast by the Germans. 
Night: No raids

 

Monday,  August 5th : Germans were searching Channel in strength looking for shipping. 
Night: The East coast was mined.

 

Tuesday, August 6th : Reconnaissance of the Channel by Germans. 
Night: East and south-east coasts were mined.

 

Wednesday, August 7th : A convoy was attacked off east coast. More reconnaissance of the Channel. 
Night: Many areas of Scotland and England were bombed.

 

Total aircraft losses from July 10th to August 7th : 

RAF 73 / Luftwaffe 157    

 

back to top