Date: 20th July 1940
- Weather: Occasional thunderstorms. Straits of Dover cloudy clearing to bright intervals.
- Day: Convoys off shipping at Dover attacked.
- Night: Widespread minelaying from the Needles, Isle of Wight, to Land's End; Bristol Channel and eastern coastal waters.
Enemy action by day
Our fighters were again mainly engaged in the south against enemy formations despatched to attack convoys and shipping in Dover Harbour. These attacks were preceded by reconnaissance flights up to mid-day. Our fighters engaged the enemy, inflicting casualties and turning him away from his objective before serious damage could be done. On several occasions, however, the enemy did not wait to meet our fighters but turned back on sighting them or on hearing our RT.
South and South-West
Several raids were plotted along the south coast during the morning. Fighter patrols were flown over the convoys and two attacks were made on convoys in this area during the afternoon. The enemy were engaged by our fighters on each occasion. 3 Me109s and one seaplane were shot down for certain and 3 Me109s probable. 3 of our aircraft are missing. In addition, one He59 was probably shot down off the Isle of Wight during the afternoon. One raid plotted from Shrewsbury out over the Isle of Wight was reported as a four-engined Dornier.
South-East Coast
At 0900 hours, 4 raids, each consisting of 3+ aircraft approached the Kent coast. Fighters were despatched and the tracks became confused. No combat reports have been received. Just after 1500 hours dive-bombers escorted by Messerschmitts carried out an attack on Dover Harbour. These were intercepted and one Jaguar-ME was shot down for certain and one probable. Pilots of No. 32 Squadron responsible for this success report that they caught up the enemy aircraft in a straight chase at 2-3,000 feet within 12 miles. Our aircraft were flying at full boost at about 300 miles per hour and were not fitted with Rotol Air Screws. The enemy aircraft were camouflaged pale and dark blue and silver. Later in the afternoon 2 raids of 30+ and 20+ approached Dover from Calais but turned back on perceiving our fighters. One, however, made a quick attack on a convoy and was engaged. 2 Me109s were shot down for certain, 3 Me109s and 3 Jaguar-ME's were possible casualties. 3 of our own aircraft were lost.
East Coast
Up to mid-day, several reconnaissance flights were made off the Norfolk coast and one Ju88 was shot down. At about 1315 hours, three raids apparently attacked a convoy but no bombing reports have been received. Fighters were despatched and one Do17 was a probable casualty.
North-East Coast
Only three raids were plotted in this area. One approached Peterhead and turned back on the arrival of our fighters. The remaining two were probably meteorological flights. One was intercepted and a Do17 shot down off Kinnaird's Head.
France
Normal activity in the Cap Gris Nez area was reported during the day.
By night
Very extensive mining operations were carried out by the enemy between 2200 and 0200 hours, and included the areas of the Needles to Land's End - Bristol Channel - Norfolk - Suffolk - Humber, Tees with special concentration upon Harwich and the Thames Estuary. One raid crossed to the Mersey. Some enemy activity took place between the Orkneys and Kinnaird's Head, probably in search of shipping, but no reports of attacks have been received. A few raids came inland and bombs were are reported to have been dropped on Hartlepool, Silloth, Rochford, Eastchurch, Swansea and near Wells, Lechlade and Chatham; but no reports of serious damage have been received. One enemy aircraft is reported shot down 3 miles off Margate.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 20 July 1940
- Blenheim - 62
- Spitfire - 224
- Hurricane - 308
- Defiant - 11
- Total – 605
Casualties:
- Enemy: Fighters - 6 confirmed, 10 unconfirmed; Bombers - 2 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed; Seaplanes -1 confirmed, 1 unconfirmed; Type unknown - 1 unconfirmed.
- Own: 5 Hurricanes confirmed (Nos. 32 (2 aircraft), 43, 238 and 501 Squadrons), 1 Spitfire confirmed (No. 610 Squadron).
- AA claims one bomber confirmed in above totals.
Patrols:
- 191 patrols despatched involving 655 aircraft.
Balloons:
- Flying 1168. Casualties 44.
Aerodromes:
- Catterick aerodrome unserviceable during the hours of darkness.
Organisation:
- No. 229 Squadron (Hurricane) moved from Wittering to Turnhouse.
- No. 3 Squadron (Hurricane) "B" Flight moved from Wick to Sumburgh.
- No. 64 Squadron (Spitfire) Red and Blue Sections are non-operational at Kenley.
- No. 245 Squadron (Hurricane) moved from Turnhouse to Aldergrove.
- No. 141 Squadron (Defiants) non-operational at West Malling.
Air Intelligence Reports
- None.
Home Security Reports
- 19th/20th July 1940
- General Summary
- Enemy activity during the day of the 20th July was mainly in the Straits of Dover and over Dover Harbour, where bombs dropped, fell in the harbour and sea and only minor damage was caused.
- During the night 20th/21st July, enemy aircraft were reported at West Hartlepool, and in the Sunderland area, near Lowestoft, Harwich and Barling (Essex). In South Wales, Mountain Ash and Jersey Marine were targets attacked. In no case has serious damage been reported.
- Detailed Summary
- With reference to the bomb attacks on 19th July in the Plymouth area, it is now believed that a total of 24 HE bombs were dropped, of which five did not explode.
- Further reports of damage by bombs which fell on Stirling at 0220 hours on 20th July, state that damage was done to three sheds and some vehicles at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Forthside.