Date: 24 July 1940
- Weather: Channel and Straits of Dover cloudy. Coastal and hill fog in western districts spreading east. Rain in most districts.
- Day: Convoys and shipping in the Channel attacked.
- Night: Nil.
Enemy action by day
The main activity was centred in the Channel. A combat involving approximately 90 aircraft took place at midday off Deal and North Foreland. Convoys and shipping were the main objectives. A few raids penetrated inland and dropped bombs without inflicting any serious damage except near Glasgow where a printing works was practically demolished.
North and North-East
At 0630 hours, hostile aircraft appeared over Glasgow and bombed the Hillingdon district where a printing works was seriously damaged. Some windows of the Rolls Royce factory were broken and a few minor casualties are reported. This aircraft was intercepted and it is reported that the rear gunner was killed and one engine put out of action. The enemy aircraft dived into clouds and was lost but it is doubtful if it will reach home. In the afternoon, several reconnaissances were plotted in the Aberdeen area.
East and South-East
Numerous hostile reconnaissances were carried out off the East and South-East coasts and in four cases were followed by attacks on shipping. One Do215 was shot down.
Just before midday, a large force of enemy aircraft assembled behind Calais and then approached two convoys off the North Foreland and the Downs. Three squadrons were up ready to intercept. A battle ensued in which approximately fifty enemy aircraft were involved with thirty-six of our fighters. The enemy aircraft were driven off after - it is reported - having sunk two trawlers and damaged two more. Enemy losses reported in this combat are reported as 10 confirmed (including one by AA) and sixteen unconfirmed against the loss of two of our Spitfires.
At 1503 hours, an enemy aircraft crossed the coast west of Shoreham and dropped bombs on the Vickers landing ground at Weybridge and on the gas works at Walton on Thames and at Byfleet. Little damage is reported and production has not been affected. There was no interception by our fighters.
At 1727 hours, three enemy aircraft bombed ships off Dover. No 74 Squadron report that one Do215 was shot down (unconfirmed) off Manston.
At 1950 hours, a hostile track appeared 20 miles south of Hastings and is reported to have machine-gunned inshore patrols. Weather conditions were too bad for fighter action to be taken.
At 2050 hours, one Spitfire of No 66 Squadron whilst on patrol, came down in the sea 30 miles north-east of Cromer but the pilot was rescued.
South and West
At 0730 hours, a Ju88 which approached Portcawl and bombed shipping was shot down by No 92 Squadron. Several raids approached Bournemouth and Portland but faded without and attack being made. Considerable enemy reconnaissance activity was plotted in the Channel.
By night
No enemy activity is reported with the exception of one track which was possibly minelaying off Bamburgh.
________________________________________
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 24 July 1940
- Blenheim - 56
- Spitfire - 238
- Hurricane - 294
- Defiant - 15
- Total - 603
Casualties:
- Enemy: Fighters - 9 confirmed, 13 unconfirmed; Bombers - 3 confirmed, 4 unconfirmed.
- Own: 2 Spitfires 1 Hurricane.
- AA claims one Do215 confirmed.
- In addition it is now reported that a further four Spitfires are unserviceable owing to enemy action.
Patrols:
- 191 patrols despatched involving 591 aircraft.
Balloons:
- Flying - 1211 Casualties - 30.
Aerodromes:
- All serviceable.
Organisation:
- No. 607 Squadron is now operational by day only at Usworth.
Air Intelligence Reports
- A Me110 brought down near Goodwood on 21 July belonged to a reconnaissance gruppe and carried a camera in place of cannons.
Home Security Reports
- 23rd/24th July 1940
- General Summary
- During the early morning of July 24, enemy bombing attacks were confined to the Scottish areas of East Lothian, Fifeshire, Aberdeenshire and the Glasgow district. Only in the last-named was material damage caused.
- During the day, bombs were dropped on Suffolk and Norfolk without effect, but an attack was made on the Walton and Weybridge district, details of which follow.
- Enemy bombing attacks during the night of July 24/25 have been negligible.
- Detailed Summary
- It is now reported that the HE bomb that fell on Montrose at 0043 (23 July) damaged one aircraft considerably and two aircraft slightly.
- At 0640 hours, an attack was made by a single enemy aircraft on the Scottish Industrial Estate, Hillington, Glasgow, where 4 HE and 40 Ibs did considerable damage. A small printing and stationary factory was almost destroyed and a sugar and oilcake factory was damaged. Many windows were broken. Casualties were confined to 18 injured, one seriously.
- At 1515 hours, one enemy aircraft dropped 18 HE bombs in the Weybridge-Walton-Byfleet district. Six bombs fell near the Wandsworth Gas Company's containers, Walton, causing four slight casualties and broken glass, but production was not affected. Six, of which one did not explode, fell on the Vickers-Armstrong landing ground without causing any damage, and six were dropped at St George's Hill without effect.
- Great Yarmouth report two bombs at 1818 hours; these failed to explode.
- At 1820 hours, 17 small HE bombs were dropped at Wherstead near Ipswich without causing damage or casualties.