Date: 13 August 1940
- Weather: Mainly fair. Early morning mist and slight drizzle in places and some cloud in the Channel.
- Day: Opening of 'Eagle Day' misfires. Heavy raid on Eastchurch followed by afternoon raids on Portland, Southampton and airfields in Kent and Hampshire. 1,485 German sorties.
- Night: Light attacks on Midlands, Wales and the West Country.
'Adler Tag' ('Eagle Day') - the original date set by Hitler for the invasion of Britain.
Enemy action by day
The main effort of the enemy was directed to attacks all along the South Coast from Weymouth to the Thames Estuary. Heavy attacks were made:
- i. About 0530 hours on the South East Coast. Aircraft crossed the coast from Dungeness to North Foreland and some penetrated to the Thames Estuary.
- ii. At 0600 hours, when the coast was crossed west of Beachy Head. These raids split up into several sections which flew about 25 miles inland.
- iii. At 0612 hours on Southampton and its vicinity. The attack lasted for one hour.
- iv. Commencing at 1525 hours from Portland along the coast to the Thames Estuary. Massed attacks appear to have been timed to take place simultaneously at 1600 hours.
All these raids were intercepted by our fighters which suffered very few losses but inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.
South West and South
At 0612 hours, four raids totalling 250 aircraft made for Portsmouth on a front stretching from the Isle of Wight to Selsey Bill. The attack lasted for one hour and the aircraft finally dispersed at 0720 hours. Fighters intercepted and casualties were inflicted.
At 1205 hours, a raid of ten aircraft came in east of Portland at 20,000 feet and was joined by another raid of 12 aircraft and went inland for about five miles. Casualties were again inflicted by our fighters.
At 1600 hours, six raids, consisting of some 150 aircraft, approached Poole, Portland and Portsmouth. These aircraft flew towards Middle Wallop and around the district and one raid flew on to Bristol. These raids were made in conjunction with other s further east (see South East below). A big battle ensued and the enemy suffered severely.
Southampton is reported to have been heavily bombed and an attack was also made on Andover Aerodrome.
South East
At about 0530 hours, raids crossed the coast between Dungeness and North Foreland, some aircraft flying up the Thames Estuary and towards a convoy.
At 0600 hours, other raids crossed the coast west of Beachy Head where they split up into sections which flew inland some 25 miles on a northerly and north-westerly course.
At 0951 hours, a reconnaissance was made off Dungeness.
At 1600 hours, some 150 aircraft in conjunction with the raids further west (see South West and South above) made for Deal and Dover. Many aircraft passed inland and were active over the East Kent area. Detling Aerodrome was attacked by dive bombers and Eastchurch Aerodrome was also bombed. Damage was also caused to both places.
Elsewhere inland, material damage was also inflicted. Oil bombs with a splash of 75 yards are reported to have been dropped at Ramsgate. Fighters intercepted these raids with good effect.
At 1839 hours, a raid was tracked into the Thames Estuary as far as Sheppey but the aircraft, after being pursued by fighters, evaded them in clouds.
At 1920 hours, a report was received that seaplanes were flying very low in the neighbourhood of Dover, probably searching for surface vessels.
East
Between 0935 and 0955 hours, the reconnaissance flights were plotted off East Anglia.
At 1725 hours, a convoy was shadowed off Flamborough Head but the enemy aircraft evaded fighters in the clouds.
At 1936 hours, enemy aircraft which attacked a convoy off East Anglia were engaged by our fighters.
By night
Many small raids of 1 and 1+ aircraft were distributed over most parts of the country. One raid crossed the coast near Cromer and made an extensive patrol over North Norfolk and Digby districts. There were about 11 raids in an area north east of Duncansby Head to Kinnaird's Head and Aberdeen and about 10 raids were in the Thames Estuary and the area south of Harwich. Raids were also over Wiltshire and the Birmingham districts and one or two penetrated into Wales. At 035 hours, a "Help" signal was received from a convoy 5 miles north of Kinnaird's Head.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 13 August 1940
- Blenheim - 71
- Spitfire - 226
- Hurricane - 353
- Defiant - 26
- Gladiator - 2
- Total – 678
Casualties:
Enemy Losses By Squadron No. Destroyed Probable Damaged Time 74 Sqn (Spitfires) 4 Do17 3 Do17 2 Do17 0535 2 Do215 43 Sqn (Hurricanes) 1 He111 2 Ju88 1 Me110 0625 1 Me109 1 Do17 5 Ju88 3 Ju88 1 Do17 64 Sqn (Spitfires) 1 Do215 2 Do215 0640 151 Sqn (Hurricanes) 3 Do215 1 Do215 0521 601 Sqn (Hurricanes) 3 Ju88 7 Ju88 4 Ju88 0630 5 Do215 111 Sqn (Hurricanes) 5 Do215 5 Do215 0630 257 Sqn (Hurricanes) 1 Ju88 0617 601 Sqn (Hurricanes) 5 Me110 3 Me110 6 Me110 1150 145 Sqn (Hurricanes) 1 Ju88 1617 65 Sqn (Spitfires) 3 Me109 3 Me109 3 Me109 1455 56 Sqn (Hurricanes) 4 Me110 5 Me110 1550 43 Sqn (Hurricanes) 1 Ju88 5 Me110 1600 1 Do17 257 Sqn (Hurricanes) 1 Ju88 1509 601 Sqn (Hurricanes) 5 Me110 4 Me110 2 Me110 1535 1 Ju88 1 He113 87 Sqn (Hurricanes) 1 Ju88 0642 213 Sqn (Hurricanes) 1 Ju88 1158 1 Me109 238 Sqn (Hurricanes) 4 Me110 2 Me110 1155 213 Sqn (Hurricanes) 3 Me109 1 Me109 1526 1 Me110 238 Sqn (Hurricanes) 3 Me110 4 Me110 1528 1 Me109 609 Sqn (Spitfires) 4 Me109 2 Ju87 2 Ju87 1533 9 Ju87 1 Me109 1 Me110 1 Me109 152 Sqn (Spitfires) 1 Me110 2 Me110 1500 92 Sqn (Spitfires) 1 Ju88 1545 By AA 2 Ju86 2 unknown 2 unknown TOTAL 78 33 49 - Own:
- No 74 Squadron - 2 Spitfires, pilots safe
- No 43 Squadron - 1 Hurricane, pilot safe
- No 601 Squadron - 1 Hurricane, pilot safe
- No 56 Squadron - 4 Hurricanes, 2 pilots safe, 2 pilots wounded
- No 238 Squadron - 3 Hurricanes, 2 pilots safe
- No 87 Squadron - 1 Hurricane
- No 213 Squadron - 1 Hurricane
Patrols:
- 192 patrols despatched involving 916 aircraft.
Balloons:
- Flying 1501. Casualties 41.
Aerodromes:
- Abbotsinch and Hartlepool are unserviceable by night.
Organisation:
- No 602 Squadron has moved from Drem to Tangmere
- No 607 Squadron is operational by day only
Air Intelligence Reports
- No reports.
Home Security Reports
- Date: 13 August 1940
- General Summary
- Since early on the 13th August, enemy aircraft activity over this country has been on a scale far in excess of anything hitherto carried out. It extended over a wide area from Aberdeenshire to Wigtownshire as far west as Stranaer - possibly to Belfast - to Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Devonshire and South Wales.
- Attacks continued from the first hours of that day throughout the early morning and were renewed in the afternoon and again renewed at approximately 2200 hours and continued into the early hours of the 14th August.
- Aerodromes, shipping and industrial centres have been the principal targets and attacks have been attended with probably more enemy success than hitherto, although not considered to be proportionate to the reported number of aircraft engaged.
- Apart from aerodromes attacked, it would appear that the most serious effect of bombing has occurred at Southampton and in the neighbourhood of Birmingham where the Nuffield Aero Works has suffered considerable damage.
- Detailed Summary
- The absence of fully detailed information precludes a reliable account of the effect of enemy attacks.
- Southampton
- At 1623 hours on the 13th August, major damage was caused to the docks and several fires were started in which were involved Pickford's Depository, Raleigh Cycle Works and the cold storage depot at the Old Docks; the latter is understood to be completely destroyed. Casualties so far reported to be very slight.
- Erdington (Birmingham)
- The Nuffield Aeroplane Factory was hit by several bombs reported to have been dropped by 10 Heinkel aircraft at 2310 hours on the 13th. Considerable damage was caused to three blocks of buildings but to what extent is not yet fully known nor is the result on production yet ascertained. Casualties reported to be approximately 30.
- Aerodromes
- It would appear from reports to hand that Detling suffered the most severely. Several buildings were hit - 8 Blenheims are reported to have been destroyed and the casualties are said to be 10 killed and more than 40 injured.
- Andover was also attacked at 1700 hours on the 13th when approximately 12 bombs were dropped. Headquarters offices and officer's quarters were extensively damaged. One aircraft also damaged. The casualties are reported to be 2 killed and 1 injured.
- Eastchurch
- A heavy scale attack was reported and approximately 12 large craters and 6 small ones were made on the aerodrome. Aircraft at dispersal points were undamaged.
- Further reports will be issued as and when details are to hand.
- Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
- To RAF Personnel - 12 killed, 41 injured.
- To others - 23 killed, 177 injured.
