Date: 11 August 1940
Enemy action by day
There was very considerable activity during the day, the main features of which were a heavy attack on Portland at 1030 hours, four attacks on the Dover Balloon Barrage between 0730 and 1210 hours and attacks by large formations on convoys in the Thames Estuary and off East Anglia at about 1130 hours.
Sixteen squadrons were in action (some as many as four times) and shot down 32 (plus 46 unconfirmed) enemy aircraft while AA guns shot down a further 5 (plus one unconfirmed). In addition, a further 28 enemy aircraft are reported damaged. Our losses were 25 aircraft (20 pilots missing and 2 killed).
Portland Area
At about 1030 hours, 5 raids totalling approximately 200 aircraft approached Portland and Weymouth Bay on a 20 mile front and of these about 150 crossed the coast and caused considerable damage to Portland. The attack was made both from high level and by dive bombers. These raids were met by 7 fighter squadrons which shot down 23 (plus 22 unconfirmed) enemy aircraft against our losses of 16.
At 1920 hours, one enemy aircraft visited Portland evidently on reconnaissance. AA guns opened fire but no results are reported.
Dover Area
The Balloon Barrage at Dover was attacked on four occasions between 0730 and 120 hours by enemy fighters in formations of 15 aircraft and upwards. Seven balloons were shot down
Attacks on Convoys
At 1148 hours, an attack on a convoy in the Thames Estuary developed and spread to a second off Harwich. This attack came over in two waves and about 100 aircraft were plotted. A number of ships are reported to have been hit.
Other Activity
At about 1455 hours, a raid of six aircraft appeared 15 miles south east of Clacton flying west; a section was sent up but the raid turned away.
At 1705 hours, a raid appeared 10 miles off Yarmouth and patrolled off the coast from Cromer to Lowestoft. This raid was not intercepted.
From 1705 hours onwards, several raids were plotted off the Norfolk and Suffolk Coasts and reports were received of single hostile aircraft shadowing convoys in the vicinity but no attacks materialised.
At 1915 hours, a Ju88 approached Church Fenton and then returned to just north of Whitby where it was shot down on the shore.
By night
Four raids approached Start Point from the south east but did not cross the coast. Seven raids crossed the South and South East Coasts at Portland, Isle of Wight, Southwold and Deal. Further raids were in the Cardiff area, mid Wales, Liverpool and Market Harborough.
Three raids approached the Tyne area at about 2300 hours which were probably minelaying. A raid also patrolled the Downs and may also have been minelaying. Considerable minelaying activity occurred between Flamborough Head and Farne Island. One raid crossed the coast at Farne Island and continued up to Carlisle. Further raids were over Cardiff, Bristol, Newport and Gloucester and the number of enemy aircraft in this vicinity indicated a concentrated attack which, however, did not materialise. One raid crossed the coast near Portland, proceeded over Gloucester to Liverpool thence down to Reading and out to sea by Shoreham.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 11 August 1940
Casualties:
Enemy Losses | ||
---|---|---|
By Squadron No. | Confirmed | Unconfirmed |
74 Sqn (Spitfires) | 1 Me109 | 5 Me109 |
64 Sqn (Spitfires) | 2 Me109 | |
145 Sqn (Hurricanes) | 3 Me109 | |
4 Me109 | ||
1 Sqn (Hurricanes) | 1 Me110 | |
1 Do17 | ||
74 Sqn (Spitfires) | 2 Me109 | |
601 Sqn (Hurricanes) | 9 Me110 | |
3 Me109 | ||
85 Sqn (Hurricanes) | 1 Me110 | |
64 Sqn (Spitfires) | 2 Me109 | |
74 Sqn (Spitfires) | 2 Me110 | 10 Me110 |
17 Sqn (Hurricanes) | 1 Me110 | 1 Me110 |
111 Sqn (Hurricanes) | 1 Me109 | |
74 Sqn (Spitfires) | 1 Me109 | 3 Me109 |
238 Sqn (Hurricanes) | 1 He111 | |
152 Sqn (Spitfires) | 1 Me109 | |
609 Sqn (Spitfires) | 5 Me110 | |
87 Sqn (Hurricanes) | 2 Me109 | 1 Me109 |
1 Ju88 ? | ||
213 Sqn (Hurricanes) | 7 Ju88 | 2 Ju88 |
1 Me109 | ||
238 Sqn (Hurricanes) | 3 Me109 | |
41 Sqn (Spitfires) | 1 Ju88 | 1 Me109 |
By AA Guns | 5 Me109 | 1 Me109 |
TOTAL | 37 | 47 |
Patrols:
Balloons:
Aerodromes:
Organisation:
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