966 Balloon Squadron scores a balloon barrages first victory when a Heinkel He 111 crashes near Newport, Wales. During this period, RAF airfields are hammered with the loss of 200 fighters. The Luftwaffe attack British shipping convoys off Aberdeen and the Isle of Wight. During the six months that followed the UK would suffer 135 major or heavy attacks with London being targeted the most, suffering a particularly devastating attack on the
This will cover Northern Ireland and the North West of England and will be headed by Air Vice-Marshal After fighting for sixty two days Norway surrenders to Germany whilst Tilbury and Southampton come under attack during the day whilst at night London is attacked again. Germany begins Fall Rot (Case Red) which sees them attack across the Aisne and Somme rivers for the second part of their invasion of France. 9 Group, RAF Fighter Command is formed. At least 30,000 merchant ships are destroyed during this period.The first attacks on RAF airfields and radar stations are conducted by German fighters and bombers. Further large scale attacks take place by the Luftwaffe as RAF airfields come under attack in the South and South East. Over Dunkirk the RAF control fighter operations for the first time using VHF radiotelephone. 114 and 139 Squadron, RAF when in France, May 1940The Tiger Moth was used by the RAF to train its pilotsSupermarine Spitfire Mk IA - This variant was extensively used during the battleGladiator Mk I - This was the last bi-plane fighter ordered by the Royal Air ForceCurtiss Hawk 75A-1 - Used by the Armee de L'Air, these were outclassed by the Bf 109No. Italy's Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) will take part in the Battle of Britain. After the bombing of London over 70 bombers comprising Vickers Wellingtons, Whilst 263 Squadrons Gladiators at Bardufoss. The British Government takes the decision to evacuate remaining troops and aircraft currently in Norway. 46 Squadrons Hurricanes join No. This day would also be the Defiant's last as a day fighter as it would now operate as a night fighter. London again comes under attack by the Luftwaffe during the night. Coastal towns and targets of interest come under attack during the day from Luftwaffe fighter-bombers. The Battle of Britain was the intense air battle between the Germans and the British over Great Britain's airspace from July 1940 to May 1941, with the heaviest fighting from July to October 1940. This timeline covers the period from 10th May 1940 to the 31st October 1940 and includes a number of Battle of Britain facts. Operating from Belgium around 200 aircraft will become part of the Regia Aeronautica air expeditionary force which is formed for this purpose and called the Shipping is attacked off Ordforness, Clacton and Harwich. The Luftwaffe launch an attack in a bid to finally overcome the Royal Air Force and win the battle for air superiority. Southampton and Portland were also targeted, whilst during the night a further raid on London occurred. Germany intends on destroying RAF air supremacy before attempting its land invasion.Hitler delivers Fuhrer Directive 17 as Operation Sea Lion - the land invasion of the British mainland to occur between September 19th and September 26th.
The Battle of Britain. During the night Liverpool was targeted again. London again comes under attack during the day and night. During the day London, the Midlands and the North East Coast come under attack, whilst during the night Liverpool suffers a heavy attack. nights. Adolf Hitler declares that the 15th September 1940 is the latest date for 'Operation Sealion' to take place. As the evacuation of Dunkirk enters its fourth day Later that evening a force of 99 RAF targeting cities with the intention to weaken civilian morale as a continuation of the Blitz. No. 610 Squadron, RAF Spitfires in Vic formation © 175 Westland Lysanders took part in the Battle of France, 118 were lostBristol Blenheim Mk IF - One of the RAF's first night fightersHawker Hurricane Mk IA - Alongside the Spitfire the pair formed a formidable partnershipThe Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the main Luftwaffe fighter used during the battle. As the German advance continues Allied Comander-in-Chief These include Over the skies of Britain during the summer months of 1940 the first battle to be fought solely in the air took place between the Royal Air Force and Luftwaffe. Royal Navy ships are to stop daylight movements in the Straits of Dover under new Admiralty orders During an air raid the shelter housing people and visitors from the Peabody Estate, Whitechapel As a result of intelligence obtained by the Royal Air Force showing preparations for invasion were continuing, an alert to prepare for invasion is issued. Coastal areas start to come under attack as Portland, Poole and other areas in the south of Britain are targeted. France request peace negations with Germany begin. The Luftwaffe raid a number of areas across the United Kingdom including During the night Liverpool suffers its fourth consecutive day of bombing. 46 and 263 Squadron in Norway board Weymouth, Kent and London come under attack during the day. In an effort to entice Royal Air Force fighters into combat, airfields mainly in No.
At 10:15 the Dutch Army surrenders. The Fiat headquarters and manufacturing plant in Turin are bombed by Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys of the Royal Air Force, they miss the target and kill 14 civilians. The airfields of RAF Fighter Command come under heavy attack with Biggin Hill being damaged so much it would be classed as non-operational for a short period.
Hitler orders preliminary plans for the invasion of Britain to be drawn up. The process to begin the evacuation of Allied troops still in Narvik, Norway known as 'Operation Alphabet' begins. 11 Group, RAF Fighter Command, headed by Air Vice-Marshal With the Luftwaffe's failure to gain air superiority over Southern Britain the invasion cannot take place during 1940. On the same day Paris is declared an open city by the French military governor there General Hering 'Operation Cycle' ends with 3,321 British and French soldiers evacuated but over 6,000 are taken prisoner. The Luftwaffe starts to target British ports and harbours.