July 18th 1940. On this day in the Battle of Britain 83 years ago.

July 18th 1940. On this day in the Battle of Britain 83 years ago.

Cloud over eastern Channel, showers in southern England. The Goodwin Lightship was sunk & bombs fell on the St Margaret's Bay (Kent) Coastguard Station.

FIGHTER COMMAND SERVICEABLE AIRCRAFT AS AT 0900 HOURS (For the defence of the whole of the United Kingdom including Ireland, Cornwall, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, the Industrial Midlands as well as the threatened Southern areas:

Blenheim – 62 (Unsuitable as a day fighter against fast Ju 88 and Me 109 and Me 110)

Spitfire – 232 (Split between North, East, West and South, not all in SE England)

Hurricane – 323 As above, split all over UK)

Defiant – 23 (Unsuitable in combat with Me 109 and Me 110)

Total – 640 for the whole UK, of which 555 were single seater Hurricanes and Spitfires and only around half used in South East England where most fighting occurred on a daily basis several times a day.

Just after 9 am Park ordered 12 Spitfires up of 610 Sqn from Biggin Hill to the Dover area on watching raids coming in to attack the convoys in the Channel. The squadron was attacked by 109s who dived right through the Spitfires and shot down and killed Pilot Officer Peter Litchfield who went into the sea. The Spitfires broke wildy and just managed some snap shooting at quickly diving 109s. The German raid coming in was composed of just these fighters. Kesselring had lured the RAF up in order to attack these in defending the convoy.

Three Heinkel 111 bombers had an unopposed raid take place by KG26 on RAF Montrose in Scotland at 10 am. Some hours later a convoy shadowing Dornier 215 was intercepted by 3 Spitfires of 603 Sqn at 4.25 pm and “Sheep” Gilroy, a prominent RAF ace (up to 21 victory claims including shared) was shot down by return fire and the bombers escaped. He force landed as recorded below.

The Dorner 215 was often confused in claims with the Dornier 17. The differences were the Do17 was the standard bomber, with a pair of Bramo 323A 1,000 hp radial engines and a crew of 4 or sometimes 5, capable of around 265 mph- depending on fuel, crew numbers and bomb load weight, height and winds or bad weather. The Dornier 215 could reach speeds in excess of 290 MPH at 16000 feet or 239 at sea level. The Dornier 215 was used as a fast recce aircraft with a crew of up to 4 , used also for coastal operations, often alone, relying on speed to get away as it had two inline DB601A engines, (two Messerschmitt BF109E engines, in effect) capable of 1100 hp each- rather than the slower radial engines of the Do 17Z . 

The Dornier 215 was rare and only 105 Do 215s were produced between 1939 and 1941 so possibly only just over 100 avilable in 1940. Most sightings would have been Do17 bombers. This however was one of the Do215 recce types.

A Miles Master taxied into a parked 603 Sqn Spitfire damaging both at Montrose in Scotland. J R Caistor of 603 squadron got some retribution for 603 Squadron`s woes by damaging a Junkers 88 Flown by Major Fritz Doensch of I Gruppe KG30 which forced landed at Aalborg.

Some 235 Squadron Blenheims, acting as part of the defence (but not- then strictly counted as part of Fighter Command) for patrol work as stop-gap fighters were intercepted by Hurricanes (and possibly in a friendly fire incident, due to the murky, cloudy weather) one was hit and failed to return.

248 Blenheim Squadron at Thorney Island was transferred out of Fighter Command back to Coastal Command but continued to fly coastal patrol defence flights also. One of these Blenheims also failed to return as listed below also.

Blenheims crew served valiantly in 1940 but suffered terrible losses added to those of the Battle of France, Battle of Britain or the later period of the Bliz in 1940 when used as a nightfighter, without and with radar. Many were used as bombers, mine laying aircraft by Coastal Command and Bomber Command or for airfield attacks and shipping attacks in 1940 besides the mark IF fighter variant with the belly pack strapped underneath with machine guns to add to one for rear defence and 1 in the wing firing forwards. All were firetraps if crashed and burned easily as they had no self sealing fuel tanks. Blenheim aircrew losses during 1940 alone make hard reading in the books: Men of the Battle of Britain by Kenneth Wynn, Battle of France-Then and Now by Peter Cornwell, Battle of Britain-Then and Now by Winston Ramsay and Blitzed! by Victor Bingham. Thei story is covered by Blenheim aircrew including: Six Weeks of Blenheim Summer by Air Commodore Alastair Panton DFC AFC, a friend of mine, who died a while back and Blenheim Boy by Richard Passmore, both have harrowing tales of Blenheim losses.

Back to 18th July 82 years ago:

A reconnaiscance of Boulogne harbour and area revealed the first indications of invasion craft build up and a strike by 18 Blenheims escorted by 24 Hurricanes of 111 and 615 Squadron achieved strikes on vessels and jetties nearby. A Henschel Hs126 was pounced on by the escort fighters and damaged.

Throughout the day convoy patrols in bad weather along the South coast occupied the Tangmere and Middle Wallop sector fighter pilots on these defence convoy escort duties who shot down an old Heinkel 111 and a Junkers 88. John Peel`s 145 Sqn got the He111 whose occupants included Oberst Georgi the GeschwaderKommodore of KG27 “Boelcke” who was killed.

The airfields at Wick in Northern Scotland and Church Fenton were flooded due to the recent bad weather and heavy rainfall so that the Hurricane squadrons of Numbers:3, 73, 249 were barely able to operate for several days.

The Luftwaffe curtailed many operations also due to bad drainage of taken over French and Belgian airfields, so raids in these few days were limited.

Some books show 3 RAF Fighter Command losses and 4 Luftwaffe but on researching, it appears at least 6 Luftwaffe aircraft were written off (and 2 very badly damaged others may later have been written off also?)

The major engagement was an attack by 28 Messerschmitt BF109E fighters over the straits of Dover met by Spitfires. The RAF lost 3 aircraft from Fighter Command but failed to shoot down any on this occasion. Later in the afternoon the coastguard station at St Margarets Bay was bombed and the Goodwin Lightship sunk. Four houses were destroyed in Gillingham.

Serviceable RAF Fighters totalled 640- spread all over Britain for her defence. Only 232 were Spitfires and 323 were Hurricanes of these.

RAF FIGHTER COMMAND VICTORY CLAIMS:1 DESTROYED, 1 UNCONFIRMED DESTROYED (PROBABLE) AND 2 DAMAGED. (SEE LOSSES THOUGH TO LUFTWAFFE AIRCRAFT THIS DAY)

111 Sqn-Hurricane “Blue Section”-Henschel HS126 Damaged-Channel 15.50

145 Sqn Hurricanes-HE111 Destroyed off Bognor 13.00 shared between: Peter Dunning-White, ANC Weir (Ace/poet/author-Later killed), Jas Sorrar (ace), A D McN. Boyd (Ace), and Peter Parrott (Ace-see book:The pilot in the poster by Rosemary Parrott).

609 Sqn Spitfires-JU 88 Unconfirmed, near Swanage 14.57 shared between: A R Edge (Ace), Frank Howell (Ace) and Sgt Alan Feary (Ace, later killed).

609 Sqn-JU 88 Damaged off Portland base, Dorset around 18.00 hours. Share between John Bisdee (Ace-later flew in Malta), C N “Teeny” Overton.

LUFTWAFFE LOSSES: (6 LOST AND POSSIBLY 2 MORE BADLY DAMAGED ENOUGH TO BE WRITTEN OFF ON ANOTHER DATE)

Stuka of Stuka Schul Staffel VIII Fliegercorps severely damaged when unable to pull out from practice dive bomber attack. Crew unhurt and Ju 87 Stuka at least 60% Damaged. Possibly written off?

JU52 of 2/606 Force landed following fire. 3 crew killed and 1 wounded. States aircraft repairable-but doubtful.

Erprobungs Gruppe 210. Messerschmitt BF110 crashed near Antwerp from dive, cause unknown. 1 NCO crew killed. Aircraft written off.

Messerschmitt BF109E-3 failed to return from operational sortie. Lt. Fuedwick wounded. Me109 of II/JG52 lost.

I/KG3 Heinkel 111 forced landed 20% Damaged near Lens due to engine failure. No crew losses.

Stab II/KG3 Dornier 17Z crashed and burnt out at Schweinfurt due to undercarriage failure. Aircraft written off, crew unhurt.

I/KG30 Junkers 88 Crash landed at Aalborg after operational sortie. 1 NCO wounded, aircraft 50% Damaged.

I/KG54 Ju88A failed to return. 2 NCO crew killed. 2 crew missing. Aircraft lost.

II/KG54 JU88 Crash landed following operation. No crew casualties. Junkers 35% Damaged.

II/LG1 Ju88 A failed to return from operation. 1 NCO killed and 3 crew Missing believed killed. Aircraft lost. Combat with fighters of the RAF.

II/LG1 Ju88 returned to base damaged after combat with RAF Fighters. One NCO killed. Aircraft repairable.

Stab St.G77 Dornier 17M failed to return from operation. 3 killed/Missing. Possible combat with RAF fighters.

RAF FIGHTER LOSSES:5 TOTAL LOST.

609 “West Riding of Yorkshire” Squadron Auxiliary Air Force at RAF Warmwell in Dorset-Spitfire Ia R6636 damaged in glycol system by return fire from a Junkers 88A bomber over Swanage in Dorset at 3.15 pm. Flying Officer A R Edge forced landed on Studland Beach-unhurt. Spitfire covered by sea at high tide. F/O Edge taken off by RN Launch. Spitfire apparently repairable.

609 Sqn-Spitfire Ia R6634 shot down by return fire from Ju 88 engaged 5 miles out to sea, off Swanage at 3.15 pm in same combat as above. Flight Lieutenant Frank Howell baled out and was rescued by Royal Navy Auxiliary boat. Spitfire lost in sea.

152 Sqn at Warmwell. Spitfire P9940 HIT IN WING BY Messerschmitt BF109E fighter during attack on Dornier 17 bombers off the Isle of Wight at 10.30 am. P/O C Warren unhurt. Spitfire damaged but repairable.

152 Sqn-serial not known. Damaged by BF109s over Isle of Wight area 10.30 am. F/O I N Bayles unhurt. Spitfire Repairable.

610 “County of Chester” Squadron Auxiliary Air Force from Biggin Hill. Spitfire P9452 shot down by Luftwaffe ace Hptmn. Horst Tietzen of II/JG51 in combat over the Channel, North of Calais at 10.00 am. Pilot Officer P. Litchfield missing believed killed. Spitfire coded DW-T (Some show as DW-Z) lost in sea. (Tietzen was also later killed in air combat on August 18th 1940).

Peter Litchfield was born in Croydon on 30th April 1915 and was at Jesus College Cambridge when he joined the RAFVR about December 1937 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 11 FTS Shawbury on No. 14 Course, which ran from 27th September to 18th November 1939.

He joined 611 Squadron at Digby on 20th November. Litchfield was commissioned on 1st December and joined 610 Squadron at Wittering on 11th December.

On 27th May 1940 he destroyed a Me110 over Dunkirk and on the 31st he destroyed another E of Dover.

On 3rd July Litchfield probably destroyed a Do17 and on the 14th he destroyed a Me109 and severely damaged another in an action off Dover. From one of the aircraft, the pilot baled out and the aircraft crashed near Boulogne.

On 18th July Litchfield was leading Green Section when he was shot down over the Channel N of Calais by Hauptmann Tietzen of II/JG 51, in Spitfire P9452.

Litchfield had previously been seen chasing a Me109 into cloud.

He was reported ‘Missing’, aged 25.

He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 9.

266 Sqn at Wittering-Spitfire N3170 collided with tractor and damaged. P/O D G Ashton unhurt. Spitfire repairable.

266 Sqn-Spitfire N3244 Forced Landed in cornfield at Heckington, Lincolnshire due to engine trouble. P/O R J B Roach unhurt. Spitfire repairable.

603 “City of Edinburgh” Squadron Auxiliary Air Force at Turnhouse in Scotland-Spitfire R6755 hit in glycol system by return fire from He111 over Aberdeen 4.40 pm. Forced Landed near Old Meldrum. Pilot Officer George “Sheep” Golroy (Ace) unhurt. Spitfire repairable.

603 Sqn-Spitfire L1049 collided with Miles Master advance trainer at Turnhouse in Scotland. Pilot unhurt. Spitfire and Master repairable.

145 Sqn at Tangmere in Sussex. Hurricane P3381 hit by return fire during attack on Heinkel 111 bomber 20 miles south of Bognor at 1.05 pm. Hurricane returned to base. Flt Lt. Adrian Boyd (16 victory ace) unhurt. Hurricane repairable. (Read:The Lonely Warrior by Jean Offenberg DFC of 145 Sqn).

235 Sqn at Bircham Newton-Blenheim N3541 failed to return. 10.00 am. P/O R L Patterson, Sgt r y Tucker and Sgt L H M Reece Missing believed killed. Blenheim lost.

236 Sqn at Thorney Island. Blenheim L6779 shot down by Major Schellmann of JG2 “Richthofen” in a Messerschmitt BF109E during recce mission over Le Havre at 12.15 pm. There was also bad weather and intense AA fire. P/O C R D Thomas killed and Sgt H D B Elsdon Missing belived killed. Blenheim lost in sea.

236 Sqn Blenheim L6639 Claimed by Oberfw. Schnell (Ace) of II/JG2 at 12.15 pm on recce mission over Le Havre. P/O R H Rigby and Sgt. D D MacKinnon killed. Blenheim lost.

Paul Davies.

July 18th 1940

1000hrs: Off Essex coast. Blenheim N3541. 235 Sqn Bircham Newton. (Aircraft lost)

P/O R.L. Patterson. Certified as missing. and

Sgt R.Y. Tucker. Certified as missing. and

Sgt L.H.M. Reece. Certified as missing. (Failed to return from operational flight)

1000hrs: Off Calais. Spitfire P9452. 610 Sqn Biggin Hill. (Aircraft destroyed)

P/O P. Litchfield Killed. (Shot down by Bf109 over Channel. Body never recovered)

1215hrs: Le Havre. Blenheim L6779 236 Sqn Thorney Island. (Aircraft destroyed)

P/O C.R.D. Thomas. Killed. and

Sgt H.D.B. Elsdon. Killed. (Shot down during photo-recon mission over Le Havre France)

1215hrs: Le Havre. Blenheim L6639 236 Sqn Thorney Island. (Aircraft destroyed)

P/O R.H. Rigby. Killed. and

Sgt D.D. Mackinnon. Killed. (Shot down by Bf109 during photo-recon mission over Le Havre France)

THANKS TO:

Battle of Britain Monument Site.

Battle of Britain Memorial Site.

Battle of Britain-Then and Now.Winston Ramsey.

Battle Over Britain.F K Mason.

The Narrow Margin,

Tony Rudd,Battle of Britain Blog.

Battle of Britain-The Jubilee History-Richard Hough and Dennis Richards.

My late friend, Mark Drinkall wrote the following, compiled from several sites and books:

266 Squadron Operational Record Book, 18 July 1940

Average temperature, visibility very good. Flying 17 hours 25 minutes. B Flight at readiness. Ac Flight available. Practices included interception and attacks, target and cine gun practice. Spitfire aircraft N.3170 collided with tractor on aerodrome whilst taxiing and badly damaged. Pilot PO D.G. Ashton uninjured. Spitfire aircraft N.3244 force landed in a cornfield at Heckington, Lincs., owing to engine trouble. Pilot PO R.J.B. Roach uninjured.

Thursday saw an increase in activity in spite of continuing poor weather. In northern France, more Luftwaffe units had finished their preparations & were becoming operational. It was dawning on the Germans that their raids were being 'seen' by radar & they started to take countermeasures. One method to try to fool the watchers into reacting to spoof attacks. (The tactic was to be adopted by the British themselves in their bombing campaign against Germany.)

Thursday also saw the first 'dummy raid'. As a convoy passed through the Dover Straits shortly before 9am, an enemy formation appeared on the radar moving towards it. No II Group chief Sir Keith Park ordered up a dozen Spitfires from 610 Sqn at Biggin Hill & they were duly vectored towards the raid. But it was a trap. Suddenly they were set upon by a Staffeln of 109s which shot down one of their number & then escaped unscathed into the low cloud. There were no bombers in attendance.

This was just the sort of combat that Dowding & Park were desperate to avoid. They had urged the pilots repeatedly to concentrate on bombers & avoid the temptation to tangle with their raiding Me109s. The instruction was usually heeded & fighter sweeps by Me109s would often go unchallenged as they roared over southern England & the Channel.

in the afternoon the bombers were back, though with several raids on convoys along the south coast & the squadrons at Tangmere & MIddle Wallop were in constant action. It was another hard day for 609 Sqn, which had a further 2 Spitfires shot down while taking on a formation of Ju88s. Both pilots survived. At one point in the afternoon, a large dogfight developed over Beachy Head, when 28 ME109s were engaged by Spitfires from 152 & 610 Squadrons. One aircraft from the latter was shot down, but no enemy fighters were hit. It had been an ominous day. For the first time since the start of the battle on the 10th July, the RAF lost more aircraft than the Germans.

With the increase of aircraft production, the loss of machines was less drastic than it would have been a month before. But if the trend continued, the potential impact on morale, civilian as well as military, would be considerable. The newspapers & the BBC were presenting the daily scores & it was important that the home side was to be seen to be on a winning streak. However the nerves were taught & the south of England was electrified by the prospect of imminent invasion.

.

Bombs were dropped on Aerodromes at St Athan and Crail, but did no damage of importance.

Montrose Aerodrome was attacked by one enemy aircraft at 1029 hours on July 18th. Eighteen lightweight HE bombs and eight incendiary bombs were dropped, most of which fell on the landing ground. There was some damage to aircraft on the ground and slight damage to the oil store.

Four houses were wrecked and others damaged at Gillingham in a raid at 0110 hours on July 18th.

At 0200 hours on 18th July bombs were dropped on Jersey Marine, near Swansea. Some damage was done to the railway, level crossing, electric cables and telegraph wires.

At 1152 hours bombs were dropped on Penarth causing damage to houses, telephones and water mains.

Bombs dropped at Leith at 1927 hours on July 18th caused damage to docks and telephone cables. Traffic is only slightly affected and repairs are being put in hand.

Time N/A: Location unknown. Spitfire K9916. (Aircraft lost)

F/O C.D.Peel. Certified as missing. (Failed to return from an operational flight)

Thanks also, for the latter part, to the late Mark Drinkall and sources used by him July 2019.

Paul Davies