Interesting post. Thanks for posting this.
Notice the “Paris Fooled Into Giving Nazi Salute” article.
Oooh, there was a “Foyle’s War” episode about this, too!
Date: 5 August 1940
Enemy action by day
A number of enemy shipping reconnaissance flights were plotted off the east and south east coasts during the day; although convoys in these areas were reported no attacks on them developed. Raids approached Dover but were driven off with losses.
Large formations patrolling the Straits and Gris Nez area was a feature of the afternoon.
North and North East
One raid was detected in this area. It approached the Firth of Tay and proceeded to the Turnhouse area. Reports were received of a Heinkel with white roundels on the fuselage but without the usual German markings.
Some ten raids were plotted off the East Coast. Two raids crossed the coast, one over Bempton, fading 100 miles east of Whitby; the other between Hartlepool and Tees. The remainder were possibly shipping reconnaissances and several approached convoys off East Anglia.
South East
A raid approaching Dover turned when fighters were ordered to intercept. This was followed by four raids which formed in the Calais-Gris Nez area and approached Dover at about 0830 hours. These raids were plotted as a total of fifty-three plus aircraft. Four squadrons and one section were despatched to intercept and the enemy turned for home when our fighters were approaching. Two squadrons of Spitfires managed to catch up with the enemy; they claim three Me109s (certain) and four Me109s (probable); one Spitfire has failed to return.
Later in the day other raids approached a convoy during its passage between Hastings and the North Foreland but no attack developed.
South and West Coasts
One raid approached the Isle of Wight but turned back when 45 miles from Ventnor. Another approached to within 10 miles of Bournemouth but turned south before an interception could be made.
W/T [radio] intercepts indicated enemy activity in the Bristol Channel area but no reports of plots off the West Coast have been received.
France
Between 1300 and 1700 hours eleven raids totalling eighty-three plus aircraft were detected in the Gris Nez area. Later, aircraft in this area appeared to be massing for an attack on a convoy off the Downs, but this did not develop. A squadron of Hurricanes intercepted a raid in this area, and claim one Me109 (certain).
By night
Activity has only been slight. Minelaying appears to have been the main objective and only a few raids were plotted as crossing inland.
At 2125 hours a raid crossed inland near Dover, over Kent up to the Estuary (London purple), and back on a similar course. Two other raids later followed on similar tracks.
The main area of activity appears to have been between the Wash and the Tay where minelaying is suspected. Five raids were tracked down Channel towards Cherbourg and later plotted towards Dorset, but only two appeared to carry on towards Cardiff and Swansea.
Four other raids were plotted for short periods off the Pembrokeshire coast.
At 2210 hours one of our bombers reported seeing an Me110 in position 77 degrees North Walsham 18 miles at 10,000 feet.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 5 August 1940
Casualties:
Patrols:
Balloons:
Aerodromes:
Organisation:
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