Weather: heavy cloud and poor visibility.

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

  • Blenheim – 61
  • Spitfire – 242
  • Hurricane – 318
  • Defiant – 26
  • Gladiator – 8 (1 Flight only)
  • Total – 655

Shipping near the Isle of Wight was attacked. The German aircraft were, however, intercepted by 601 Squadron fighters, with a later raid being met by 238 Squadron. 1 of the German aircraft was shot down with the loss of 2 RAF fighters. However, a further 2 German aircraft were lost later on that day. 581 sorties were flown. In widespread sporadic raids on Hastings, Essex, Monmouth and Gloucestershire minor damage was caused.

On this day, the Admiralty stopped further daylight shipping from passing through the Straits of Dover.

PO DH Wissler – Diary, 26 July
P/O Pittman and I went to Lord and Lady Fitzgerald’s for the day and night, we had a very quiet time, but it was a rest although very much without action. We had a fine night and a late breakfast.
(Reproduced with kind permission of the Imperial War Museum and Copyright holder)

Today’s theme: The Squadrons – 19 Squadron