Battle of Britain

Oberon · 07-01-10, 04:52 PM

25th July 1940

Luftwaffe target: Convoy CW8 in Hellfire corner

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.
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.

The 109s coming at us from above as we still struggled for height — Way* being hit and falling away out of sight [he was dead]. I remember the 109 attacking me from the port side, my trying to turn in towards him, the loud bangs of his cannon-shells striking my Spitfire as he hit me from an almost full deflection angle; and even through the pounding fear that I felt, admiring his marksmanship. A few seconds later, with my aeroplane miraculously still answering apparently normally to the controls, finding myself behind two Me 109s, aligning my sight on one, pressing the gun button — and the guns failing to fire; then diving out of the fight to return to base.’
*F/L B.H.(Wonky) Way 54 Squadron Hornchurch
Pilot Officer D.R.Turley-George 54 Squadron RAF

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.

07-01-10, 04:52 PM	#25
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	25th July 1940 Luftwaffe target: Convoy CW8 in Hellfire corner 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. 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. The 109s coming at us from above as we still struggled for height — Way* being hit and falling away out of sight [he was dead]. I remember the 109 attacking me from the port side, my trying to turn in towards him, the loud bangs of his cannon-shells striking my Spitfire as he hit me from an almost full deflection angle; and even through the pounding fear that I felt, admiring his marksmanship. A few seconds later, with my aeroplane miraculously still answering apparently normally to the controls, finding myself behind two Me 109s, aligning my sight on one, pressing the gun button — and the guns failing to fire; then diving out of the fight to return to base.’ F/L B.H.(Wonky) Way 54 Squadron Hornchurch Pilot Officer D.R.Turley-George 54 Squadron RAF* 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.