July 18, 2010 in 266 Squadron, July 1940 | by Tony Rudd

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Day 9 – July 18th 1940 � Battle of Britain Day by Day:

"Weather: continuing poor

The only major engagement was an attack by 28 Me109s over the Straits of Dover which was met by Spitfires from 11 Group. The RAF lost 3 aircraft but failed to shoot down any of the enemy. Early that afternoon the coastguard station at St Margaret’s Bay was bombed and the Goodwin Lightship was sunk. 4 houses were destroyed during an afternoon attack on Gillingham.

266 Squadron Operational Record Book, 18 July
Average temperature, visibility very good. Flying 17 hours 25 minutes. B Flight at readiness. Ac Flight available. Practices included interception and attacks, target and cine gun practice. Spitfire aircraft N.3170 collided with tractor on aerodrome whilst taxiing and badly damaged. Pilot PO D.G. Ashton uninjured. Spitfire aircraft N.3244 force landed in a cornfield at Heckington, Lincs., owing to engine trouble. Pilot PO R.J.B. Roach uninjured."

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Battle of Britain Pilot's Blog - John Bisdee - RAF Museum

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Battle of Britain Pilot's Blog - John Bisdee - RAF Museum:
18 July 1940

"Had a crack at a Ju 88. Yellow [Section] Teeny[20], Self, Newbery[21] on patrol, saw AA from convoy. Teeny did steep climbing turn, loosed off a few rounds & 'ran out of lift', actually nearly span in. I chased the Ju 88 out to sea. Rear gunner opened up at 1000 yards, quite out of range. I gave burst at 600 yards & 400 yards, stopping top rear gunner. Closed in & damaged port engine, when e/a[22] climbed steeply. I had a fine plan view, but ran out of ammo. Was I sick! Still, I had had a crack.
Rest of month's flying very dull, except for a lump of our own AA in my tail.
Entertainment at [Middle] Wallop consists of drinking, mainly at the White Hart, Andover, and the Haunch of Venison, Salisbury."

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18th July 1940

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Stone & Stone: War Diary for 18 July 1940

Germany
RAF Coastal Command bombers attack Emden
Air operations in Northwest Europe, 1939-1944
Coastal Command

RAF Bomber Command sends 68 aircraft to attack targets in Germany overnight
Strategic bombing of Germany and occupied Europe
Air operations in Northwest Europe, 1939-1944
Bomber Command: Operations and missions

Netherlands
RAF Bomber Command sends aircraft to attack shipping and barges
Strategic bombing of Germany and occupied Europe
Bomber Command: Operations and missions
Air operations in Northwest Europe, 1939-1944

Belgium
RAF Bomber Command sends aircraft to attack shipping and barges
Strategic bombing of Germany and occupied Europe
Bomber Command: Operations and missions
Air operations in Northwest Europe, 1939-1944

France
RAF Coastal Command raid against Le Havre
Air operations in Northwest Europe, 1939-1944
Coastal Command

North Sea
Kriegsmarine ASW vessel UJ-126 sunk by RN submarine H31
Naval operations in Northwest European waters, 1939-1944

United Kingdom
Luftwaffe bombers attack British ports and shipping
Battle of Britain, 1940
Naval operations in Northwest European waters, 1939-1944
Air operations in Northwest Europe, 1939-1944

549 Fighter Command daylight sorties with 3 RAF fighters lost and 4 Luftwaffe losses
Battle of Britain, 1940
Air operations in Northwest Europe, 1939-1944
Fighter Command / 2nd Tactical Air Force: Operations and missions

Under pressure from Tokyo, British government announces agreement to close the Burma Road for transport of arms, ammunition, petroleum, and other strategic goods into China for three months
Sino-Japanese War, 1937-1945: Politics and diplomacy
Anglo-Japanese relations

Convoy OA 186 departs Methil
Atlantic convoys

Suez Canal
RN warships seize French merchant vessels
Naval operations in the Mediterranean, 1939-1942
Anglo-French relations

Gibraltar
French aircraft flying from Morocco bomb the Rock, killing three and injuring eleven
Air operations in North Africa and the Mediterranean, 1939-1942
Anglo-French relations
Gibraltar

Atlantic Ocean
British vessel Woodbury sunk by U-99
The U-Boat war, 1939-1945
U-99

Swedish vessel Gyda sunk by U-58
The U-Boat war, 1939-1945

Japan
Prince Konoye forms new government
Japan: Home front and occupation
Prince Fumimaro Konoye


Dates are local to the time zone in which the event occurred, but discrepancies and inconsistencies abound throughout the sources, especially when events ocurred shortly before or after midnight.

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Day 8 – July 17th 1940 � Battle of Britain Day by Day

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Day 8 – July 17th 1940 � Battle of Britain Day by Day

17th July 1940

Wednesday the 17th of July 1940

Day: The I.C.I. Factory at Ardeer, Ayrshire was bombed by a few He 111's of KG 26. Light attacks on the South East coast. Shipping attacks further up east coast and off Scotland.

The first Polish R.A.F. Squadron, No 302 Polish Squadron was formed on this day.
R.A.F. first sights 'Seelöwe' (Sealion) activity taking place in occupied Channel ports.

Night: Light raids in south west. Mine laying in the Thames Estuary and the Bristol Channel by He 115's of Fliegerdivision IX

Losses: Luftwaffe 4: Fighter Command 2.

Weather: Less cloudy with light rain at times.
R.A.F. Losses for Wednesday the 17th of July 1940

No 64 Squadron
Spitfire I P9507
D.M.Taylor

No 603 Squadron
Spitfire I K9916
C.D.Peel

battle of britain

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Tuesday the 16th of July 1940

Tuesday the 16th of July 1940

Pure Merlin Engine Sounds "Without Music"