12 August 1940: In preparation for Eagle Day (the start of attacks on airfields), a large formation of 110s and 109s attacked British radar stations. A lot of damage was done, but not as much as the Luftwaffe had hoped. Further attacks were launched later in the day, with Ventnor station on the Isle of Wight (as well as nearby Portsmouth) an especially sought-after target. As an indication of what was to come, the southeasterly airfield of Manston was also hit in the mid-afternoon. As with yesterday, both sides took heavy losses: 31 German and 22 British. Aircrew deaths were much fewer, however (11 versus 25 yesterday) - possibly because more fighting occurred over land? Pilot Officer Robert Beley, 151 Squadron (Canadian) (shot down over the Channel; rescued, but died soon after) Pilot Officer Douglas Shepley, 152 Squadron (shot down by Ju-88 gunners near Isle of Wight) Flight Lieutenant Latham Withall, 152 Squadron (Australian) (shot down by Ju-88 gunners near Isle of Wight) Pilot Officer John Harrison, 145 Squadron (shot down by Ju-88s & Bf-109s near Isle of Wight) Sergeant Jozef Kwiecinski, 145 Squadron (disappeared near Isle of Wight) Flight Lieutenant Wilhelm Pankratz, 145 Squadron (Polish) (shot down by Ju-88s & Bf-109s near Isle of Wight) Pilot Officer Dennis Ashton, 266 Squadron (shot down near Portsmouth) Sergeant Sidney Stuckey, 213 Squadron (shot down over the Channel) Sergeant Geoffrey Wilkes, 213 Squadron (disappeared over the Channel) Flying Officer Kazimierz Lukasziewicz, 501 Squadron (shot down over the Channel) Pilot Officer John Chomley, 257 Squadron (disappeared over the Channel)
Posted on: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 19:58:24 +0000