Battle of Britain Campaign
Diary
Date: 17 July 1940
- Weather: Dull with occasional rain.
- Day: Search for shipping off Scottish
and east coasts.
- Night: Targets attacked in south-west.
Minelaying.
Enemy action by day
Weather hampered our fighters in their action against enemy air
activity which was again on a reduced scale. Raids were plotted off
the Scottish, East and South coasts, apparently searching for shipping.
An attack was made on shipping off Dundee and trawlers were attcked
off Beachy Head. One or two raids crossed the coast and bombs were
dropped in Surrey, Kent, at Portland and in Ayrshire.
South and South-West
A number of raids apparently in search of shipping were plotted
during the day and a vessel was reported attacked 13 miles from Dartmouth
at 1540 hours. One raid, a Do17, crossed the coasts at 1136 hours
and came inland as far as Kenley. It was intercepted and chased out
to sea over Pevensey, being damaged by our fighters. This raid dropped
bombs near Kenley. Two attacks were reported on trawlers off Beachy
Head, and three aircraft plotted South East of this point at 1515
hours are reported to be responsible for the bombs which were dropped
near Ashford and Lydd. At 1540 hours three Heinkels were reported
over Portland and appeared to attack the Mere Oil Fuel Depot, dropping
six bombs. Slight damage was done to a railway and cloud enabled
the raiders to achieve surprise. Although our fighters encountered
a Junkers 88, which they attacked, off the Isle of Wight. Two of
our Hurricanes were damaged during the day and one Spitfire which
was on patrol off Beachy Head is reported missing.
East Coast
Up to 2100 hours eight raids were plotted off the East Coast and
a reconnaissance of a convoy was made although no subsequent attack
on this convoy is reported. Two of the raids crossed the coast in
the Humber area.
Scotland
Four raids were plotted off the Scottish Coast and Orkneys. One
crossed from Peterhead to the west Coast and dropped bombs at Ardeer
ICI factory doing little damage. Of the remainder two carried out
a reconnaissance of the Orkneys at 0721 hours and were intercepted
but without successful results.
French Coast
Tracks were frequently reported coming into or going out from the
Cherbourg peninsular. These tracks were not seen any distance out
to see. It seems probable that aircraft are going to and coming from
an unknown destination in the west as the tracks frequently start
or stop at short distances off the Cherbourg peninsular.
By night
At 2232 hours nine raids, which first of all proceeded towards Cherbourg,
having come over the coasts of Northern France, Belgium and Holland,
turned northwards heading towards south-west England. Some of the
raids crossed the coast covering the Bristol Channel area. At 0026
hours a further number of raids approached South West England, some
again crossing to the Bristol Channel area. Bombs are reported to
have been dropped at Port Talbot, and near Swansea and near Radstock.
Mine laying is suspected in the Bristol Channel and off the Plymouth
coast. Between 2200 and 0235 hours some 19 raids were plotted off
the east coast, of which probably seven were minelaying. None reported
further north than the Wash. A few crossed the coast and bombs are
reported to have been dropped at Queenborough near Rochester, Felixstowe,
Harwich, Chatham, near Barking and at Gillingham. Not more than 40
in all enemy aircraft are estimated to have operated during the night.
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 17 July 1940
- Blenheim - 67
- Spitfire - 237
- Hurricane - 331
- Defiant - 20
- Total - 659
Casualties:
- Enemy: Fighters - nil; Bombers - 2 unconfirmed.
- Own: 2 Hurricanes (Nos. 145 and 615 Squadrons), 1 Spitfire (No.
64 Squadron); category unknown, pilot wounded.
Patrols:
- 70 patrols despatched involving 266 aircraft.
Balloons:
- Flying 1166. Casualties 20.
Aerodromes:
Organisation:
-
- No 238 Squadron from Middle Wallop to Warmwell.
- No 32 Squadron from Biggin Hill to Hawkinge
- No 65 Squadron from Hornchurch to Manston.
Air Intelligence Reports
Home Security Reports
- 16th/17th July 1940
- General Summary
- During the 17th July there was little enemy activity.
Slight bomb dropping was widely dispersed but no serious
damage has been reported.
- Detailed Summary
- Further information on 3 HE dropped at Fraserburgh
is that damage was done to a small naval store and contents.
Casualties at Fraserburgh and Portsoy now number 26.
- No reports have been received of bombs dropped on aerodromes
during the 17th July.
- Near Ashford (Kent) bombs dropped demolished three
houses and damaged the railway track which was, however,
quickly repaired.
- Considerable damage was done to the ICI works at Ardeer
(Ayrshire) but there is no serious interference with
production.
| Images |
 |
 |
|
