Date: 26 July 1940
- Weather: Heavy cloud with rain and poor visibility.
- Day: Shipping off the south coast attacked.
- Night: Minelaying in Thames Estuary and off the Norfolk coast. Bristol area.
Enemy action by day
Enemy activity was on a much-reduced scale. Reconnaissances were made of shipping and the few raids which penetrated inland only inflicted minor damage. The chief feature was the lack of determination of the enemy to press home attacks. Several times, raids - whether small or large size up to 50 aircraft - turned away when 10-20 miles from the coast when our fighter squadrons were sent up.
North and North-East
A meteorological flight took place in the early morning off the Orkneys. Of two other raids plotted, one crossed to Glasgow and dropped bombs near Kilmarnock.
East and South-East
Two raids occurred off Orfordness, one of which successfully bombed a naval unit. Four other raids were in the Yarmouth-Cromer area flying at about 18,000 feet. One of these raids approached to within 20 miles of the coast and the others to about 50 miles.
South and West
At about 0603 hours, a single aircraft crossed the coast at Beachy Head and flew inland via Uckfield, Maidstone, Crowborough, Lingfield, Sevenoaks, East Grinstead and back to Hastings and Abbeville. Bombs were dropped at Mayfield and Hastings. Fighters failed to intercept.
At about 0900 hours, three raids consisting of 21+ aircraft in all approached Swanage. In each case as the fighters were sent to intercept, the raiders turned away not less than 10 miles from the coast.
At about 0945 hours, No 601 Squadron when on patrol off the Isle of Wight, intercepted a formation and a Me109 is a probable casualty. One Hurricane fell into the sea and the pilot is lost.
Between 1100 and 1300 hours, twenty enemy aircraft approached Portland but turned back when some distance from the coast on the approach of our fighters. No 238 Squadron shot down one Me109 (confirmed).
At 1530 hours, eight raids consisting of fifty aircraft assembled in the Bay of Seine and flew towards the Isle of Wight. Three fighter squadrons ordered to patrol at heights between 10,000 - 20,000 feet turned the enemy force which split and flew to within 30 miles of the Isle of Wight whence it returned to its rendezvous area. One raid crossed the coast north of Dungeness and No 65 Squadron shot down one Me109 (confirmed) off Dover.
A force of 24+ aircraft (and probably considerably more) appeared in the Cherbourg area at 1848 hours. The formation was plotted on a 10-mile front, flying in layers at an average height of 16,000 feet. It turned west towards Portland and then broke into separate raids and returned direct to Cherbourg. Squadrons off Portland failed to sight the enemy.
West Coast
Two unidentified raids appeared off the Pembroke coast and at 1700 hours, No 92 Squadron whilst on patrol off this coast, shot down one Ju88 (unconfirmed).
France
Early in the day there were the normal enemy reconnaissances off the French coast bit later, a continuous patrol was kept up, but a few aircraft ventured out to sea.
By night
At 2128 hours, an enemy aircraft was plotted from 12 miles south of Dunkirk to North Foreland, Shoeburyness, Kent and north over Hornchurch and to within 8 miles of North Weald, re-crossing the coast at Mersea Island. It crashed into the sea of Brightlingsea. This raid is reported to have dropped bombs in Kent and Essex. No definite report as to why this enemy aircraft crashed has yet come to hand.
At 2205 hours, a hostile raid of one aircraft at 10,000 feet was plotted 50 miles east-north-east of Hazeburgh. This raid eventually faded without crossing the coast and was either a meteorological flight or hoping to intercept our out-going bombers. One raid of 2+ aircraft was plotted on patrol from east-north-east of North Foreland to south of Rye. No convoys were in this vicinity.
Between 2230 and 0100 hours, enemy aircraft were active over a widespread area. Thirteen raids approached and crossed the coast in the vicinity of Portland, flying north-north-east and some continued to the Bristol area. Bombs are reported to have been dropped without causing serious damage. Ten raids were plotted in the Thames Estuary between Deal and Harwich and the majority appeared to be minelaying. Three raids were plotted near the Tyne in the vicinity of two convoys and were probably mainelaying. Seven raids appeared near Aberdeen of which the majority flew over convoys in the vicinity and some minelaying is suspected. Bombs are also reported to have been dropped at Rosehearty, south of Frazerburgh and on Dyce aerodrome, but no damage is reported. Peterhead is reported to have been machine-gunned by low-flying aircraft. Single tracks were also plotted over the coast between the Humber and Whitby and may also have been engaged in minelaying.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 26 July 1940
- Blenheim - 61
- Spitfire - 242
- Hurricane - 318
- Defiant - 26
- Gladiator - 8 (1 Flight only)
- Total – 655
Casualties:
- Enemy: Fighters - 3 confirmed 1 unconfirmed; Bombers - 1 confirmed 1 unconfirmed. 1 unknown aircraft type also confirmed as shot down.
- Own: 1 Hurricane.
Patrols:
- 144 patrols despatched involving 612 aircraft.
Balloons:
- Flying - 1239 Casualties - 19.
Aerodromes:
- Abbotsinch, Sumburgh and Hartlepool serviceable by day only.
Organisation:
- No. 111 Squadron from Hawkinge to Croydon.
- No. 54 Squadron from Hornchurch to Catterick.
- No. 41 Squadron from Catterick to Hornchurch.
- No. 501 Squadron from Middle Wallop to Gravesend.
- No. 56 Squadron is now at North Weald and is operational.
Air Intelligence Reports
- It is reliably reported that the RAF's night bombing of Germany is most effective and is worrying the German High Command. It is also reported from another source that the RAF raids are causing serious damage. The Germans are stated to be considerably worried by these raids and our delayed action bombs are particularly unpopular.
Home Security Reports
- 25th/26th July 1940
- General Summary
- Enemy activity overland was again on a small scale. Bombs were dropped in East Sussex and over a considerable area in Essex, but casualties were few and damage slight. At Hastings, it is reported that some of the bombs dropped were of the "whistling" variety.
- Detailed Summary
- On 26th July, bombs were dropped at Hastings and neighbouring portions of East Sussex. At Hastings five houses were demolished and others damaged, and small damage was also caused to gas and water mains and electric cables. Casualties were slight.
- Small quantities of bombs were also dropped over a wide area in Essex but the damage reported to be negligible.
- Bombs were also dropped at Poole (Dorset), Weymouth and in Monmouth and Gloucestershire, but no damage has been reported.
- At 0030 hours on 27th July, bombs were dropped on Dyce aerodrome, Aberdeen, but it is reported that no damage was caused.