Appendix 13: The Battle of Britain: The First Phase Summary of Operations, 13th to 23rd August 1940
Date
Main Events
Day Sorties by Fighter Command
British fighter losses (24 hours)
German losses (24 hours)
13th August
‘Eagle Day.’ Luftwaffe flew 1,485 sorties. Co-ordinated attacks on aerodromes and other
targets in South and South-East England.
700
13
45
14th August
Luftwaffe flew 489 sorties. Widespread attacks on aerodromes from Kent to Merseyside, including
Manston and Middle Wallop.
494
8
19
15th August
Luftwaffe flew 1,786 sorties. Co-ordinated attacks by three Luftflotten on aerodromes and other
targets in South, South-East and North-East England. Considerable damage at Lympne, Hawkinge, Martlesham, Driffield
(Bomber Command), Middle Wallop, West Mailing, and to operations room at Croydon.
974
34
75
16th August
Luftwaffe flew 1,715 sorties. Attacks on aerodromes in South and South-East England. Considerable
damage at Tangmere.
776
21
45
17th August
Little activity.
288
–
3
18th August
Co-ordinated attacks on aerodromes in South and South-East England. Considerable damage at Kenley and
at Poling radar station. No. 1 (Royal Canadian Air Force) Squadron made first operational patrol but were not in
combat.