So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

7th August 1940

616 Sqd, Leconfield
Fighter Command Losses lists one fatal
ATB lists no fatal Fighter Command losses for this day

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Whirlwind (P6966)
3 Spitfires
3 Hurricanes
1 Blenheim

0 in Combat - 8 in Accidents/Unknown/Collisions

3/Erprobungs Gruppe 210
Me 109E-4. Crashed into the sea of Denain on local flight. Circumstances unknown. Hptmn Valesi killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 He 115
1 Hs 126
4 Me 109
1 Do 17
1 Ju 52
1 Ju 88

 

7th August 1940

7th Aug 1940

No.206 Sqn daily losses continue. Hudson overshot landing on return from Patrol SA.4/A u/c collapsed slewing aircraft into another aircraft before bombload exploded. Crew escaped safely.

No.224 sqn Hudson shot down by Feldwebel Ladwein of II/ZG76 off Bergen, Norway after attacking escort ship. All onboard killed.
P/O R B Forbes
Sgt J M Oliver
Sgt G D Tennant
Sgt S Grant

No.248 Sqn Blenheim ditched after being lost in bad weather and running out of fuel on recce to Trondheim. Crew picked up by trawler and landed at South Shields.

Coastal Command visual searches also included daily tasking to detect threat of invasion towards Shetland and North of Scotland.

On 4th July a review of Bombing Policy had set down Coastal Command priority as:
1. Recce for invasion forces at sea
2. Bombing of major barge, small craft and shipping concentrations at sea, in enemy ports and waterways.
3. A wide variety of land targets as secondary objectives.

With the majority of the force overstretched by the Recce task, AOCs of Coastal Command tasked their patrol aircraft with also attacking shipping targets where found during the recce patrols.

This meant aircraft taking off and returning with full bomb loads and an increase in landing accidents due to the high all up weights and FTR losses due to flak and fighters.

Summary of Cat E for Coastal Command this day:
3 on Ops

Ross

 

8th August 1940

64 Sqd, Kenley
Spitfire L1039.
Caught fire during combat with Me 109s of JG51 north of Dover 12.05pm. Crashed and burned out near West Langdon. P/O P.F. Kennard-Davis baled out seriously wounded but died two days later in Royal Victoria Hospital, Dover. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

2 Blenheim
19 Hurricanes
11 Spitfires

28 in Combat - 4 in Accidents/Unknown

4/StG77
Ju 87B (5600). Shot down by P/O Parrott 145 Sqd during operations over the Channel. Forced landed at St Lawrence, Isle of Wight 5.40pm. Uffz Pittroff captured. Uffz Schubert killed. Aircraft S2+LM a write off.

18 Me 109
2 He 111
2 Ju 88
8 Me 110
19 Ju 87

Note: An escalation in combat in the first day of high combat losses.

 

9th August 1940

605 Sqd, Drem
Hurricane L2103.
Developed glycol leak during section patrol off the east coast and crashed into the sea one mile off Dunbar, East Lothian 4.45pm. Sgt R.D. Ritchie presumed overcome by fumes and neck broken in crash. Picked up by the Eunmara. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

4 Spitfires
2 Hurricanes
1 Blenheim

3 in Combat - 4 in Accidents/MF/Friendly Fire

I/JG53
Me 109E-1. Emergency forced landing at Guernsey following engine failure during operational sortie. Collided with flak emplacement killing three men and injuring two others. Pilot severely injured. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Do 17
4 Ju 88
1 Me 109
1 Me 110
1 Ar 66
2 He 111

 

10th August 1940

10th August 1940

No Coastal Command Cat E losses recorded in the UK.

Ross

 

10th August 1940

No Fatal Fighter Command Losses

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

2 Blenheims
1 Spitfire

0 in Combat - 3 in Accidents/MF

5/JG2
Me 109E-4. Hit an obstruction shortly after take off from Beaumont Le Roger on local flight. Uffz Graf Stollberg killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Hs 126
4 Ju 88
3 Me 109
1 He 111

 

11th Aug 1940

No.217 Sqn Anson on Patrol SA.12 presumed lost after enemy attack. All 4 crew killed.
P/O A Gordon-Peiniger
P/O R M Coulman
Sgt E K Mellody
Sgt E Hopperton

No.53 Sqn Blenheim missing off coast of France on Patrol Dundee 2.
P/O P J Coleson - Evaded
Sgt I Inskip
P/O G M Bardolph - died later from wounds

Summary of Coastal Command Cat E losses for day:
2 Op losses.

Ross

INSKIP, IVOR

Rank:
Sergeant
Service No:
581339
Date of Death:
11/08/1940
Age:
22
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force

53 Sqdn.
Panel Reference
Panel 15.
Memorial
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Lawrence and Frances Inskip, of Taibach, Glamorgan.

 

12th August 1940








August 12th Monday
145 Sqd, Westhampnett
Hurricane R4180.
Missing following combat with Ju 88s and Me 110s south of the Isle of Wight 12.30pm. P/O J.H. Harrison missing. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

23 Hurricanes
1 Whirlwind
1 Blenheim
17 Spitfires

34 in Combat - 8 in Accidents/MF/Ground Attack

8/KG51
Ju 88A-1. Failed to return from operational sortie over southern England. Oberfw Kessel, Fw Gundlach and Fw Velten killed. Oblt Noelker missing. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 He 115
13 Me 110
17 Me 109
4 He 111
15 Ju 88
2 Ju 87

HARRISON, JOHN HOWARD

Rank:
Pilot Officer
Service No:
76577
Date of Death:
12/08/1940
Age:
22
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

145 Sqdn.
Panel Reference
Panel 8.
Memorial
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Dr. Arthur William Harrison, M.D., and Lilian Jane Harrison.

 

An Aussie in the RAF killed same day same place.

The oldest Aussie to be killed in the Battle of Britain.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/all-anniversaries/22664-memoriam-those-air-force-pilots-crews-who-died-day-ww2-18.html#post522234

 

August 13th - Adlertag
87 Sqd, Exeter
Hurricane P3387.
Hit by return fire from Ju 88 engaged south of Selsey Bill 8.00am crashed in sea. F/O R.L. Glyde missing. Aircraft lost.
See Also: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/all-anniversaries/22664-memoriam-those-air-force-pilots-crews-who-died-day-ww2-26.html#post422703

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

24 Hurricanes
8 Spifires

28 in Combat - 4 in Accidents/MF/Bombing/Unknown

3/ZG26
Me 110C. Shot down by F/O Weaver 56 Sqd in combat over the Thames Estuary. Crashed at Warden Bay, Sheppey 4.05pm. Oblt Fuchs and Uffz Ebben both killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

4 He 111
1 Ju 52
13 Do 17
14 Me 109
21 Ju 88
25 Me 110
8 Ju 87

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/all-anniversaries/22664-memoriam-those-air-force-pilots-crews-who-died-day-ww2-26.html#post422703

 

13th August 1940 - BoB pilot F/O Richard Lindsay Glyde RAF (DFC)
F/O R.L.Glyde an Australian of No 87 Squadron was shot down and killed on the 13th of August 1940 in his Hurricane I (P3387) by a Ju 88 off Selsey Bill, at 08:00hrs.

Quote:
39983 FO GLYDE, RICHARD LINDSAY, DFC.
(Born in W.Aust – Enlisted/served in the Royal Air Force – missing on 13/8/1940)
REFERENCES :
(1) AWM 76 (B204) – The following summarises the material on this file which
includes a letter (undated) from Glyde’s mother who was living at Claremont WA,
and a statement of Glyde’s service in the RAF from the Air Ministry, London.
Statement of Service :
Flying Officer Richard Lindsay Glyde, DFC (39983)
Place & Date of Birth : Perth, WA. 29..1.1914
Prewar profession or calling : Royal Air Force Pilot.
Appointments and Promotions :
Granted Short Service Commission in the General Duties Branch RAF.
Acting as Pilot Officer on Probation. 9.8.1937
Confirmed as Pilot Officer on 24.5.1938
Flying Officer 24.11.1939
Death presumed on 13.8.1940.
Principal Postings
Unit Duties From To
No 3 Flying Training School Flying 21.8.37 25.3.38
No 1 Anti-Aircraft Coop Unit Flying 26.3.38 23.10.38
No 87 (Fighter) Squadron Flying 24.10.38 8.9.39
No 87 Sqn, Combined fighter force Flying 9.9.39 13.8.40
Missing 13.8.40 -
Missing in Flying Battle. Death Presumed on 13.8.1940
Last known address of mother : Mrs P.N.Clyde, 1 George Avenue, Claremont,
W.Aust.
Extracts from mother’s undated letter :
“On 6/9/39 my son went with his Squadron to France. About mid October 1939 whilst
formating on his Squadron Leader who lost his direction and had to land in Belgium,
they were both interned first at the Headquarters of the Gendarmerie in Brussels, and
then transferred to a mediaeval fortress outside Antwerp, where about 40 RAF
personnel, namely bomber crew, were interned.
He received high commendation from the Air Ministry for his part in planning and
carrying out the escape of his Sqn Leader, another 87 Sqn pilot and himself. In what
had to date been looked at as an impenetrable fortress. They were helped by British
agents,
and returned to their squadron in France, in disguise after being hidden in various
parts of Brussels while the search went on. He remained with 87 Sqn until its
remnants returned individually as best they could after the fall of France.
After a short posting to Yorkshire, he operated from Exeter during the Battle of
Britain and as you know was shot down in combat over the English Channel on
13/8/1940.
His DFC was won before leaving France”.
10
(2) AWM Commemorative Roll Database : Name : Glyde, Richard Lindsay, DFC.
Service No : 39983. Rank : Flying Officer. Unit : No 87 Squadron.
Service : Royal Air Force. Date of Death : 13/8/1940.
(3) Commonwealth War Graves Commission : Glyde, Richard Lindsay.
Date of Death : 13/8/1940. Son of Frank Cave Glyde and Phyllis Napier Glyde of
Claremont. W Aust.
Name commemorated on Runnymede memorial, Panel 5, Surrey, UK.
This Memorial overlooks the River Thames on Cooper’s Hill at Englefield Green
between Windsor and Egham on the A308, four minutes from Windsor.
(4) AWM Honours and Awards (Gazetted) Database.
Glyde, Richard Lindsay, DFC, London Gazette of 4 June 1940, Page 3353, Position 1
(5) NAA : A705, 163/34/110 : RAAF Casualty file in the name of Glyde R C.
Glyde died in combat with a German bomber, which was shot down by his comrades.
Glyde had 9 confirmed victories and had destroyed at least 5 other aircraft. He fell
with his plane in the English Channel off Portland Bill, UK.
(Note : At the time 87 Sqn was operating Hurricane aircraft, and was based at Exeter,
with detachments at Bibury and Hullavington. UK.)
Citation :
The Citation for the DFC awarded to FO Glyde of 87 Sqn RAF is as follows :
“This officer showed great dash and offensive spirit and has accounted for four enemy
aircraft. London Gazette 4/6/1940, page 3353.”

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/all-anniversaries/22664-memoriam-those-air-force-pilots-crews-who-died-day-ww2-26.html#post422703

 

Thanks for posting Clive.

Another one of the many young RAAF Australians who were already in Britain on short service commissions with the RAF when war was declared and never to see their homeland again.

 

To the Germans, the Battle of Britain began on 13 August, Adlertag or "Eagle Day" as they called it. On this day, waves of strong attacks at different times over a ten hour period came in against Essex and Kent, Sussex and Hampshire.

Adlertag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

14th August 1940
14th August 1940

After a few days of respite the losses for No.206 Squadron resume

No.206 Sqn Hudson crashes just after take off at 03:15 hrs on Patrol SA.4. One survivor.

P/O H G Ballantyne
P/O J O L Stephenson
Sgt J Steel
Sgt E Fitzgerald

Summary of Coastal Command Cat E losses for day:
1 on Ops

Ross

 

14th August 1940
609 Sqd, Warmwell
Spitfire N3024.
Missing following sporadic independent actions of the south coast 5.30pm. F/O H. McD. Goodwin killed. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

4 Blenheims
10 Hurricanes
7 Spitfires

17 in Combat - 4 in Accidents/Bombing

2/Erprobungs Gruppe 210
Me 110D. Collided with another aircraft from Erp.Gr. 210 crippled by flak and crashed at Manston 12.10pm. Uffz Steding killed, Gefr Schank baled out wounded and captured. Aircraft S9+MK a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

3 Me 110
8 Me 109
12 He 111
3 Ju 88
2 Ju 87

 

14th August 1940

GOODWIN, HENRY MACDONALD

Rank:
Flying Officer
Service No:
90269
Date of Death:
14/08/1940
Age:
25
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)

609 Sqdn.
Grave Reference
N.W. corner of churchyard.
Cemetery
CHADDESLEY CORBETT (ST. CASSIAN) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information:
Son of Laughton and Jessie Goodwin, of Hagley.

F/O H.MacD Goodwin of No 609 Squadron was shot down and killed in hs Spitfire I (N3024) on the 14th of August 1940 over Bournemouth at 17:30hrs.
Ma-pilots

 

16th August 1940
601 Sqd, Tangmere
Hurricane P3358.
Damaged by return fire from Ju 87 over Bognor and forced landed in flames back at base 1.00pm. P/O W.M.L Fiske badly burned admitted to hospital but died of shock and injuries the next day. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

25 Hurricanes
20 Spitfires
1 Blenheim

40 in Combat - 6 in Bombing-Strafing

6/ZG2
Me 110C. Crashed into the grounds of Aldro school, Eastbourne 5.30pm following fighter attack. Oblt Hollekamp and Fw Schurk both killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

7 Ju 88
1 Do 24
21 Me 109
4 Do 17
10 He 111
6 Ju 88
17 Ju 87
8 Me 110

 

17th August 1940

No fatal Fighter Command losses

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

2 Hurricanes
1 Blenheim

0 in Combat - 3 in MF/Accident

4/NJG 1
Ju 88. Failed to return from mission over England. Shot down in the sea off Spurn Head 3.00am. Briefed to intrude over the Wash. Shot down by P/O Rhodes and Sgt Gregory in Blenheim night fighter 29 Sqd. Oberfw Zenkel, Fw Schramm and Gefr Roth all missing. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Ar 196
1 He 111
2 Me 109
2 Ju 88

 

18th August 1940
18th August 1940

No.235 Sqn has a Blenheim damaged by return fire from an ememy aircraft while on afternoon Defensive Patrol from Thorney Island.

Returned with crew safe but later Struck Off Charge as too damaged to repair.

Summary of Coastal Command Cat E loss for day.

1 on Ops

Ross

 

18th August 1940
The Hardest Day

501 Sqd, Gravesend
Hurricane P3208.
Crashed at Calcott Hill, Sturry following attack by Oblt G Schoepfel of JG26 1.05pm. P/O J.W Bland killed. Aircraft SD-T a write off.
Note: Picture included shows SD-T & N taking off. Both were shot down by Schoepfel on this day.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

42 Hurricanes
20 Spitfires


48 in Combat - 13 in Accident/Strafing

9/KG76
Do 17Z-2. Forced landed at Calais due to damage suffered during low level attack on Kenley and engagement with 111 Sqd at 1.25pm. Fw Stephani and another NCO both wounded. One NCO killed. Aircraft 50% damaged.

Fw Stephani was hotly engaged in a 180mph salom over the Surrey countryside by three Hurricanes. The navigator announced, 'The flight engineer is dead and the radio operator severely wounded!' They stayed low for that was their only chance of survival. Stephani only just made it back across the Channel on two battered engines. To lighten the aircraft everything moveable was jettisoned, including the body of the flight engineer. The pilot managed to land the aircraft on the sand of the French coast with the wheels up. The navigator, Uffz Groemmer, who alone in the crew had escaped unscathed, later walked around the Dornier counting the bullet holes; when he reached two hundred he gave up.
Note: Price says that the radio operator died of his wounds.
Taken from: The Hardest Day - Alfred Price.