Weather: Slight haze in the Channel otherwise fine.
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 63
- Spitfire – 257
- Hurricane – 373
- Defiant – 26
- Total – 719
Early that morning, Spitfires patrolling over the Straits of Dover ran into a group of Me109s, as a result of which one Me109 was shot down into the sea and one of the Spitfire pilots was shot down and killed. Later that day, a Squadron of Hurricanes was similarly engaged with Me109s and Ju88s and further enemy losses were inflicted. 402 sorties were flown.
266 Squadron Operational Record Book, 5 August
Warm and close – sky overcast – visibility moderate. “B” Flight at readiness. “A” Flight available. Practices included Fighter Attacks and affiliation exercise with Blenheim aircraft of no. 110 Squadron from West Raynham.
Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 5th August 1940):
* Enemy: 4 confirmed (2 by No 65 Squadron, 1 each by Nos. 64 and 151 Squadrons), 2 unconfirmed (1 each by Nos. 64 and 65 Squadrons); Bombers – nil.
* Own: 1 Spitfire (No 64 Squadron)
Todays’s theme: Unsung Heroes – the Controllers
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August 5, 2010 at 1:57 pm
John Blake
Day by day, this reads like a thriller, as indeed it is. Are there any charts available that track daily and cumulative RAF losses vs. Luftwaffe? Wonder how British aircraft production kept pace with incremental drain of capability.
Might emphasize role of newly-invented radar, plus U.K.’s network of theatre communications with local controllers functioning as nodes. From 1938, Bletchley Park’s cryptographers were active as “Captain Ridley’s shooting party”… any input there?
August 5, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Heather
There has often been speculation that Dowding was privy to the top secret Ultra decoded material, but I think that’s pretty much been denied. (Sorry, not got the reference handy. I may have to find it and post back.)
August 5, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Joe in Pittsburgh
This is such an interesting site! Keep up the great work.