Date: 25 July 1940
- Weather: Fine day with haze in the Straits of Dover. Winds north-westerly and light.
- Day: Convoys and shipping in the Channel raided.
- Night: Minelaying in the Firth of Forth and Thames Estuary. Reconnaissance over Bristol and Channel area.
Enemy action by day
Enemy activity by day was again concentrated on attacks on shipping and convoys in the Channel, the major engagement taking place off Dover. A few raids penetrated inland and dropped bombs without inflicting any serious damage.
North and North-East
A meteorological flight was plotted in the Wick area at 0730 hours. A WT [wireless/telegraphy - radio] intercept suggested that this flight had a dual purpose, reference being made to "dropping carried out" at 0704 GMT. Later a He111 was shot down between the Orkneys and Kinnaird's Head. In the evening, an unidentified raid was plotted over Scapa.
East and South-East
During the early morning, an attack was made on a convoy off Spurn Point. This raid was intercepted and the He111s are claimed as probable casualties. Another attack was made on this convoy in the evening but no damage is reported.
From about 1127 hours, when a large raid was plotted approaching Dover from the Calais area, attacks interspersed by reconnaissances continued in waves against Dover harbour and shipping until 1930 hours. Bombs were dropped in the harbour and near a RAF experimental station. Ships in convoy and naval units are reported to have been hit. The first attack at 1207 hours was directed against Dover harbour and plotted as 50+ aircraft. This was quickly followed up by an additional raid of 40+ - probably the escorting fighters. Three and a half squadrons of our fighters engaged the enemy. Later, an attack of two or three waves of some 12+, 20+ and 30 aircraft was made on a convoy off Dover at approximately 15-minute intervals. Fighters again intercepted and inflicted casualties. No sooner had the tracks indicate that these raids had returned to France than other enemy aircraft commenced to congregate behind Gris Nez and a further attack on the convoy was made. Large formations of enemy aircraft continued to be plotted in the Channel up to 1930 hours.
During the period of these attacks, our fighters successfully accounted for 14 enemy aircraft confirmed and an additional 11 probable against a loss of only four Spitfires. In addition, AA claim one confirmed enemy casualty.
Ten or eleven fast coastal motor boats with fighter escort were spotted by a pilot of No 111 Squadron off Gris Nez in the afternoon.
South and West
In the early morning, two raids approached Portland but turned back - possibly on hearing the volume of our fighter's RT engaged in escorting naval units. Later, two raids of 30 and 12+ approached Portsmouth and three fighter squadrons were despatched to meet them. These raids approached the Needles and then moved westward towards Portland; trawlers were reported to have been bombed. Our fighters intercepted and shot down six enemy aircraft with the loss of one Spitfire. A later raid off Portsmouth was intercepted and one enemy aircraft was confirmed as being shot down and another is probable.
In the afternoon, two raids - probably of single aircraft - crossed the coast near Poole and were intercepted in the Stroud area. One Hurricane was shot down by a Ju88 which in turn was shot down by a training aircraft and the other enemy aircraft was accounted for by AA fire. Bombs were dropped at about this time near Cowley, Gloucestershire, and near South Cerney but no damage is reported. Later a raid of 12+ approached Ventnor, but turned south on the despatch of our fighters.
France
The usual Gris Nez patrols were reported between 0900 and 1100 hours. These raids totalling 15+ aircraft were unusually active north of Cherbourg between 1200 and 1230 hours.
By night
Several raids started from the Cherbourg district and crossed the coast of Dorset en-route for the Bristol Channel and South Wales but no bombing has been reported from this area. AA claim an enemy aircraft shot down in flames near Milford Haven.
There appeared to be considerable minelaying activity in the Firth of Forth (where some 28 were also dropped into the sea) and the Newcastle area. Harwich and Lowestoft were also visited by raiders, bombs being dropped at Bungay (Norfolk) and near Harlestown. Minelaying was also being carried out in the Thames Estuary and the Downs by approximately ten aircraft.
Two aircraft appeared off Trevose Head and were tracked down the west coast of Cornwall and faded south west of Land's End. These aircraft may have laid mines in the Bristol Channel.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 25 July 1940
- Blenheim - 56
- Spitfire - 234
- Hurricane - 316
- Defiant - 25
- Gladiator - 8 (1 Flight only)
- Total – 639
Casualties:
- Enemy: Fighters - 14 confirmed 11 unconfirmed; Bombers - 11 confirmed 3 unconfirmed. 1 unknown aircraft type also confirmed as shot down.
- Own: 5 Spitfires 1 Hurricane.
- AA claims 3 confirmed in the above totals.
Patrols:
- 171 patrols despatched involving 684 aircraft.
Balloons:
- Flying - 1237 Casualties - 30.
Aerodromes:
- All serviceable.
Organisation:
- No 141 (Defiant) Squadron is now operational by day and night at Prestwick.
Air Intelligence Reports
- Chance-Vought dive-bomber aircraft (ex French Air Force) were operating against shipping on the 24th July. One or probably two were shot down.
Home Security Reports
- 24th/25th July 1940.
- General Summary
- With reference to the report of 24th July, it is now reported that a further six HE bombs one one unexploded were dropped in the Glasgow area in open fields by an aircraft which had arrived without being plotted. This was at 0640 hours on the 24th July. On the previous day an unidentified aircraft was over Glasgow and not plotted until over the city.
- There has been very little enemy activity over the land, but extensive raids have been made on convoys in the Channel in the neighbourhood of Dover.
- Detailed Summary
- At 1530 hours bombs were dropped off St Catherine's Point (Isle of Wight) which struck a steamer beached there on 21st July.
- Bombs were dropped at Dover Harbour but no damage was done, and at Swing Gate aerodrome near Dover, where posts at the aerodrome were machine-gunned, windows and fences were damaged but no casualties have been reported.
- Bombs were also dropped near South Cerney aerodrome, Cowley (Gloucestershire) and Scarning (Norfolk) but all fell in fields and no damage has been reported.