This day during The Battle of Britain, Day 15.
By R.T. Bickers
Wednesday, July 24:
Fog spreading across the country from the West. Clouds over the Channel.
Day: An unexpected interval of fair weather gave Adolf Galland - promoted to Major on July 18 - the opportunity to lead his Geschwader in action over England for the first time when they escorted bomber on a raid against a convoy in the Thames Estuary. Flight Lieutenant Alan Deere led a section when No. 54 Sqd. was scrambled to intercept. At 20,000 ft they saw that a second mass of enemy aircraft was attacking another convoy, near Dover. On instructions from the ground, the squadron split and sent one flight (two sections) to tackle each enemy formation, while reinforcing fighters were ordered off. Gallang reports, "We made a surprise attack with height advantage. I glued myself to the tail of a Spitfire and during a right turn managed to get in a long burst. It went down almost vertically." He saw the pilot bale out and crash to his death when his parachute failed to open. His comment in retrospect was, "On landing we were no longer in doubt that the RAF would prove a formidable opponent."
At Brooklands, where the first flight in Britain was made, in 1909, and which became the cradle of British aviation, there was a small aircraft factory. A solitary Ju 88 joined in the circuit with several aeroplanes that were landing there and bombed the buildings but did little harm.
Night: No activity.
Aircraft losses: RAF 3, Luftwaffe 8.
Another account from Battle-of-Britain.com:
24th July
Weather Forecast
Cloudy over the Channel. Fog in western areas spreading east. Rain expected in most areas.
Combat Report
The morning saw little action. At about 0630hrs a raid bombed an area of Glasgow and one hour later Spitfires of No: 92 Squadron shot down a Ju88 over the southwest of England. The largest raid materialised just before midday when Do17's, escorted by Me109's commanded by Adolf Galland, approached Dover and was met by Spitfires of No: 54 (Rochford), 65 (Manston) & 610 (Biggin Hill) Squadrons. A long dogfight followed which covered Kent from Dover up to Margate.
Late afternoon and early evening had very little action apart from a few intrusions over the coast at Dover & Hastings with Spitfires of No: 66 & 74 Squadrons scrambled without interception.
During the night there was no reported raids.
Statistics
R.A.F. Losses: 6 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 4 pilots killed or missing and 1 wounded.
Luftwaffe Losses: 14 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 21 pilots & aircrew killed or missing and 4 wounded.
NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and other accidents.
Battle of Britain by OZZY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3iHlum6n18
The Few
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTrn1XlWsJE
From R.T. Bicker's BOB
Hurricane LE-H was used by 242 Squadron and often flown by Denis Crowley-Milling. Structurally less advanced than the Spitfire, the Hurricane was a tough and Manoevrable dogfighter.
Future to be, Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling, KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC, AE, flew with with 242 Squadron under Douglas Bader's command during the Battle of Britain. Here he is posing with the windscreen of his aircraft after it was hit by defensive fire from a Ju 88.
By July 1940, German fighter pilots had triumphed over poland, Norway, France, Holland and Belgium. They had no reason to believe that they would not meet with similar success over Britain.
While the Hurricane provided the bulk of the RAF's fighter strength, the Spitfire has come to symbolise the Battle in the popular mind. These ar two Mk Is serving with 616 fighter Squadron.
The Battle of Britain was a people's was with civilians also in the front line. Spitfire Funds boosted public morale by allowing ordinary people to contribute to the purchase of individual aircraft.
The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka gained early laurels in Poland and France in the close air support role. Events were to show that it could only be successful in conditions of local air superiority.
Shay
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Semper Fortis
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