Battle of Britain Campaign
Diary
Date: 14 July 1940
- Weather: Fair all day.
- Day: Shipping attacks off Dover and
Swanage.
- Night: Bristol area, Isle of Wight,
Kent and Suffolk raided.
Enemy action by day
Fighter engagements with the enemy were on a smaller scale due to
a reduction of enemy activity near our coasts. What activity there
was, however, was almost entirely directed towards attacks on shipping.
Bombs damaged convoys off Dover and a naval unit was bombed off Swanage.
No damage reported. A convoy off the Norfolk Coast was also reconnoitred,
and one raid approached the coast of Montrose. Patrols were maintained
over convoys at periods during the day; one enemy aircraft in reporting
the position of a convoy, mentioned our fighter escort and no attack
resulted.
South and South-West Coasts
From 0600 to 0900 hours very little activity occurred. One raid
went through the Straits and disappeared north of Boulogne. An intercepting
attempt was unsuccessful. One raid near Poole went inland and back
over the sea again sections, and at 0900 hours no reports of bombs
dropped or interceptions had been made. Between 0900 and 1100 hours
five raids were plotted over the Channel from Start Point to Dungenness.
Shortly after 1100 hours two raids approached Swanage and a naval
unit reported having been bombed. No reports were received regarding
any damage. Hostile aircraft were tracked intermittently between
Start Point and Land's End searching for shipping, but no convoys
were in the area. Between 1300 and 1400 hours several raids were
over convoys near Dover. Our fighters were on escort duty and the
raiders turned back.
At about 1500 hours, a number of raids were plotted, assembling
behind Calais. In consequence, 3 fighter squadrons proceeded to investigate
and intercepted an enemy force of 40 Ju87s, escorted by a number
of Me109s over Dover and the Channel. Our aircraft shot down 3 Ju87s,
3 Me109s, and probably destroyed 1 Ju87 and 1 Me109. Our loss was
one Hurricane. During this combat, a Hurricane which failed to answer
a challenge was attacked by our fighters, whereupon it dived towards
sea level and flew off towards France. Two merchant vessels were
attacked and a naval unit hit during this engagement.
East Coast
Very little activity was reported off the East Coast. A few isolated
enemy reconnaissances were made off Cromer, Skegness and Lowestoft
areas, and over a convoy east of Harwich. Two squadrons were sent
to investigate, but no contact was made.
Scotland
One raid approached the coast near Montrose at 4,000ft and was reported
to be a Dornier. This did not cross the coast but disappeared in
a south-easterly direction.
South of Ireland
It was reported that enemy aircraft made reconnaissances as far
west as a point south-south-west of Mizen Head.
By night
Several raids were reported over the country from 2200 hours. Bombs
were dropped in the Bristol area, north- northwest of the Isle of
Wight, Kent and Suffolk. Some 18 raids appeared off the Thames Estuary
and Harwich and are suspected of minelaying.
Statistics
Casualties:
- Enemy:
- Fighters - 3 confirmed 1 unconfirmed
- Bombers - 3 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed
- AA claims destruction of one bomber in above totals
- Own:
Patrols:
- 163 patrols despatched involving 612 aircraft.
Balloons:
- Flying 1097. Casualties 23.
Aerodromes:
Organisation:
- No. 141 Squadron (Defiant) became operational at 1300 hours at
West Malling
- No. 79 Squadron (Hurricane) at Acklington. Not yet operational.
- No. 73 Squadron (Hurricane) operational by day only.
Air Intelligence Reports
- British pilots again report Messerschmitt 109 fitted with cannon
firing aft.
Home Security Reports
- Period: 13/14th July 1940
- General Summary
- There was very little enemy activity over Great Britain
during the night of 13/14th July but in a number of districts
warnings were given owing to the presence of enemy aircraft
out at sea, particularly in the Thames Estuary.
- Detailed Summary
- All unexploded bombs in the Badminton area gave been
dealt with.
- Subsequent reports on the bombing attack at Hamble
(Southampton area) at 1350 hours on the 12th July state
that four HE were dropped. It was stated by the military
that they were 250 kilo bombs and that many houses were
slightly damaged.
- Hostile aircraft flew over Portland at 1446 hours and
Plymouth at 1700 hours on the 14th July but no bombs
were dropped.
- At 2256 hours 14th July, bombs were dropped at Avonmouth
causing damage to the railway line and docks line; also
a signal box was wrecked. Later, a second raid was carried
out when bombs dropped on wasteland within the National
Smelting Works.
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