15 August 1940 was the hardest day for Group 13 Fighter Command. But it was also the Greatest for the RAF and the Battle of Britain. It was the third day of the Luftwaffe’s Adlerangriff (Eagle Attack) which was their main attack on the RAF and its defences. The offensive intended to cripple and destroy the RAF to gain air superiority over Britain in advance of possible invasion.
The campaign was ferocious from the start but for the Luftwaffe, the 15 August is known as Schwarzer Donnerstag, Black Thursday. Their intelligence was wrong!
Adlertag (Eagle Day) launched the Eagle Attack offensive on the 13th August 1940. Chain Home, a link of radar stations that laid down a defensive warning net from the north East of Scotland right down to the south east of England, received a number of attacks. The Luftwaffe wanted to destroy the British early warning system but their attacks lacked follow-up and radar towers proved difficult to target. Though some were put temporarily out of action, they were soon back up and running. On the afternoon of the 13th, Luftflotte 2 and 3 attempted 485 bomber and 1000 fighter sorties.
Between 13 and 15 August many raids were made by the Luftwaffe on airfields and aircraft factories trying to cripple the RAF. 13 Group not only guarded the north but also provided reserve squadrons, pilots and aircraft to the more beleaguered 11 Group in the south. This led the Luftwaffe to believe that 13 Group was weak, with few fighters in operation to maintain a defence.
On 15 August, whilst Luftflotte 2 and 3 mounted attacks on the south of England they also co-coordinated with Luftflotte 5 that sent raiding sorties from Denmark and Norway. With diversionary flights made into Scotland, the Luftwaffe flew bombing sorties into north east England and towards the RAF airfields. They wanted to push in from the side. A potentially crippling, out-flanking manoeuvre that thanks to 13 Group was never successful. This proved very costly to the Luftwaffe and of vital importance to the British in winning the Battle of Britain and keeping Britain from imminent invasion.
For 13 Group it was the hardest day and for Britain it was the Greatest Day. The Luftwaffe never again tried to attack 13 Group airspace with such force and the 15 August will always be remembered as a major turning point in the Battle of Britain.
What follows is a timeline of select events of 15 August 1940 for 13 Group and the squadrons under its command. The timeline was developed from original 13 Group logbook entries.
Image Attributions:
Images above may be artistic derivatives of the originals.
In order of appearance, top to bottom:
- Heinkel He 115 - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Heinkel_He_115_plane_on_crane_c1940.jpg
1) Crown Copyright Expiration, This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following: It is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957; or It was commercially published prior to 1963; or It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created by the United Kingdom Government prior to 1963. HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide (ref: HMSO Email Reply)
- Ju 88A dropping bombs over Britain 1940 - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Junkers_Ju_88A_dropping_bombs_over_Britain_1940.jpg
1) Crown Copyright Expiration, This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following: It is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957; or It was commercially published prior to 1963; or It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created by the United Kingdom Government prior to 1963. HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide (ref: HMSO Email Reply)
- Dornier 215B in flight c1940 - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dornier_Do_215B_in_flight_c1940.jpg
1) Crown Copyright Expiration, This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following: It is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957; or It was commercially published prior to 1963; or It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created by the United Kingdom Government prior to 1963. HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide (ref: HMSO Email Reply)
- 609 Squadron gun activated camera image - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Spitfires_camera_gun_film_shows_tracer_ammunition.jpg - Made by: No. 609 Squadron RAF.
CH1823 from Imperial War Museums (collection no. 4700-16)
1) Crown Copyright Expiration, This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following: It is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957; or It was commercially published prior to 1963; or It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created by the United Kingdom Government prior to 1963. HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide (ref: HMSO Email Reply)
- Heinkel He 111 during the Battle of Britain - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heinkel_He_111_during_the_Battle_of_Britain.jpg
MH6547 from Imperial War Museums (collection no. 4700-05).
1) Crown Copyright Expiration, This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following: It is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957; or It was commercially published prior to 1963; or It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created by the United Kingdom Government prior to 1963. HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide (ref: HMSO Email Reply)
- Spitfires of 41 Squadron - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Supermarine_Spitfire_F_Mk_XIIs_of_41_Sqn.jpg
1) Crown Copyright Expiration, This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following: It is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957; or It was commercially published prior to 1963; or It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created by the United Kingdom Government prior to 1963. HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide (ref: HMSO Email Reply)
- Bristol Blenheim I - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aircraft_Ofthe_Royal_Air_Force,_1939-1941-_Bristol_Type_142m_Blenheim_I._CH655.jpg
1) Crown Copyright Expiration, This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. This is because it is one of the following: It is a photograph created by the United Kingdom Government and taken prior to 1 June 1957; or It was commercially published prior to 1963; or It is an artistic work other than a photograph or engraving (e.g. a painting) which was created by the United Kingdom Government prior to 1963. HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide (ref: HMSO Email Reply)
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