Posted on Aug 18, 2021
The Hardest Day | History of the Battle of Britain | Exhibitions & Displays | Research | RAF...
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On August 18, 1940, the air battle known as "The Hardest Day" occurred. The Luftwaffe lost approximately 69 aircraft and the RAF lost 68 in one of the largest air battles ever. An excerpt from the article:
"The Hardest Day
18th August 1940
Sunday 15th September is celebrated officially as the climax of the Battle of Britain, when London had become the Luftwaffe’s main target. Over 100 Bf 109s from JG 27 and 53 had provided close support protection to the Ju 87s but 55 aircraft from JG 2 Richthofen mounted a sweep over Portsmouth hoping to draw British fighters up and away from the dive bombers. They failed in their mission and lost two of their number. This German unit was immensely proud of their association with the famous First World War ace and the initial letter R was incorporated into their unit badge.
However post-war studies of British and German records have shown that the hardest fought day of the Battle was Sunday 18th August. On this day the Luftwaffe tried its utmost to destroy our fighter airfields flying 850 sorties involving 2200 aircrew. The RAF resisted with equal vigour flying 927 sorties involving 600 aircrew.
Between lunchtime and teatime, three big Luftwaffe raids were attempted, the first and third by mixed groups of Dornier Do 17, Junkers Ju 88 and Heinkel He 111 bombers, escorted by Messerschmitt Bf 109 and B 110 fighters, and a second by Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers, also escorted by Bf 109s. RAF aircraft armourerThe targets were the airfields at Kenley, Biggin Hill, Gosport, Ford, Thorney Island, Hornchurch and North Weald, and the radar station at Poling. Although the last wave failed to reach its targets, which were obscured by cloud, the fighting was no less fierce along the route.
The RAF and Fleet Air Arm lost altogether 68 aircraft, 31 in air combat. 69 German aircraft were destroyed or damaged beyond repair."
"The Hardest Day
18th August 1940
Sunday 15th September is celebrated officially as the climax of the Battle of Britain, when London had become the Luftwaffe’s main target. Over 100 Bf 109s from JG 27 and 53 had provided close support protection to the Ju 87s but 55 aircraft from JG 2 Richthofen mounted a sweep over Portsmouth hoping to draw British fighters up and away from the dive bombers. They failed in their mission and lost two of their number. This German unit was immensely proud of their association with the famous First World War ace and the initial letter R was incorporated into their unit badge.
However post-war studies of British and German records have shown that the hardest fought day of the Battle was Sunday 18th August. On this day the Luftwaffe tried its utmost to destroy our fighter airfields flying 850 sorties involving 2200 aircrew. The RAF resisted with equal vigour flying 927 sorties involving 600 aircrew.
Between lunchtime and teatime, three big Luftwaffe raids were attempted, the first and third by mixed groups of Dornier Do 17, Junkers Ju 88 and Heinkel He 111 bombers, escorted by Messerschmitt Bf 109 and B 110 fighters, and a second by Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers, also escorted by Bf 109s. RAF aircraft armourerThe targets were the airfields at Kenley, Biggin Hill, Gosport, Ford, Thorney Island, Hornchurch and North Weald, and the radar station at Poling. Although the last wave failed to reach its targets, which were obscured by cloud, the fighting was no less fierce along the route.
The RAF and Fleet Air Arm lost altogether 68 aircraft, 31 in air combat. 69 German aircraft were destroyed or damaged beyond repair."
The Hardest Day | History of the Battle of Britain | Exhibitions & Displays | Research | RAF...
Posted from rafmuseum.org.uk
WWII World War Two
World History
Military History
Combat
Warfare
Posted >1 y ago
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SGT (Join to see) awesome read/share keep on doing what you do much appreciated everyday my friend.
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Thank you brother SGT (Join to see) for the early morning history lesson, a lot that I never heard about, I learn about here.
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The Battle of Britain was the most intense period of air combat that had been experienced to that date. The participants had only rudimentary instruments that only enabled combat under VFR conditions, so aircrews had to see their targets. It’s a wonder any of them survived.
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