1 July

In Luftflotte 5, a pilot of II./JG 186 named Müller took off in “aircraft W6077” for Vaernes, despite an exhaustive search he had still not been found five days later. (A)

2 July

KG 2’s Technical Officer reported to the Chief Engineer that serviceablility was affected by aircraft undergoing a special check for the repair of bullet holes. Repair shops were very congested.

5 July

KG 1 dispatched four He 111 on armed reconnaissance between 02.10 and 09.00; three broke off in the face of bad weather and one failed to return.

6 July

An He 111 of Fliegerkorps I which took off at 03.15 was reported missing.

3.(F)/123 reported six Do 17 P, six Ju 88 and a Ju 52 ready for action. Its casualties had included: one Do 17 P crashed on landing and one damaged by enemy fire; and one Ju 88 crashed.

7 July

At 1800, Fliegerkorps VIII reported that its reconnaissance that day though badly hindered by weather, had revealed little traffic in the Channel and no attacks had been made. Two long-range reconnaissance aircraft of KG 28 had force landed at Lessay with two NCOs injured. Two Do 217 of 2.(F)/123 were missing and British analysts thought that these might be the two Do 17 reported by the BBC at 20.00 to as shot down by Hurricanes over the Channel. At 18.12 next day the Germans signalled that these aircraft had not returned.

8 July

Do 17 6M+AK of [2.(F)/11] of Fliegerkorps VIII, Luftflotte 2 crashed in flames during the morning, 5 km west of Rouen. The pilot and two crew members were seriously injured.

Oberleutnant Mayer of LG 1 (Ju 88, L1+DA) was reported missing at 20.00. He had been on a flight from Cherbourg to the Bristol Channel. The aircraft was still unaccounted for 10 days later.

A Ju 87 crashed and caught fire at Heiligenstadt, both crewmen being killed. Fliegerhorst Kommandantur Eschwege was to hold an enquiry.

9 July

“ … there was talk of sabotage in connection with a Bf 110, CH (white), of first Staffel of I./ZG 2. a strict investigation was to be held.”

Fliegerkorps IV operations on 9 July:

[One?] Ju 88 of II./LG 1 attacked the aerodrome at “Pembroke-Car” [Carew-Cheriton?] (Zielnummer: 10290) from 1500 metres with 4 x 250 kg bombs. Petrol tanks in front of the hangars were set on fire, and aircraft were probably damaged (it was reported that the aerodrome was occupied by 10 single-engined and 20 multi-engined machines). An attack by two Spitfires south of Bristol was ineffective but one machine was forced to return with a damaged engine.

V.(Z)/LG 1 escorted bombers and while escorting 10 Stukas on a raid to Portland Bill, made contact with five Spitfires, two of which were shot down; one Bf 110 was forced down into the sea.

On 12 July the RLM asked for a short report on the last operation of the Kommandeur of I./St.G 77, Major Dalwigk [Shot down on 9 July by a Spitfire of No. 609 Sqn. during an attack on a convoy off Portland]. The report was required by Göring.

10 July

During the morning a Do 17 Z, F1+BA, [Stab/KG 76] made a forced landing at Le Touquet after being attacked by four Spitfires over Folkestone. Apparently a second machine with its undercarriage shot away made a forced landing at Beck [sic: Berck-sur-Mer?]; the observer was killed and the W/T operator wounded but the pilot was unharmed.

11 July

At 0700 it was learned that an He 111 had come down in the Channel in Planquadrat [Map Square] 4020.

At 1030 it was learned that a Ju 88 belonging to Fl.Kps. 4 was down in the sea at a point described as Planquadrat 4010 or 4020. Immediate assistance was requested.

At 1400, after a combat south of Portland, four aircraft of Fliegerkorps 4 were overdue. One was known to have been shot down and Luftflotte 3 asked the Seenotdienst to act at once.

During the evening a report was made by Hptm. Ernst Ott, Gruppenkommandeur of I./ZG 2, on a raid carried out that day. Bombers flew over the Isle of Wight in a dispersed formation. 20–30 Spitfires and Hurricanes were engaged, with two Spitfires shot down. Meanwhile the bombers flew out of sight and a fire was seen in Portsmouth harbour. There were no losses among the 18 German fighters employed but three turned back over the Channel owing to engine trouble.

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