Battle of the Thames Estuary
Text: Jan Bobek
Ilustrace: Piotr Forkasiewicz
Cat. No. 11197
The Battle of Britain was one of the decisive turning points of the Second World War. From the German perspective, it began on 8 August 1940 with the launch of the “intensified air war against England” and continued until the end of October.
During the preceding “contact phase” from early July to early August, the Luftwaffe sought to test RAF tactics and capabilities, gain air superiority over the Channel, and weaken British fighter forces. Most of these operations were carried out by JG 51 and several independent Jagdgruppen, flying bomber escorts against convoys and fighter sweeps that frequently reached the coast of south-eastern England.
As fighter strength in north-western France grew to twenty-five Jagdgruppen within eight Jagdgeschwader by early August, the Luftwaffe was about to discover how well prepared the defenders of Albion were. One of the largest clashes of this period occurred on 24 July 1940 and was later remembered by the pilots of No. 54 Squadron RAF as the “Battle of the Thames Estuary.”
At RAF Rochford, No. 54 Squadron stood ready with its Spitfires before noon. Earlier that morning, the squadron had already engaged Dornier Do 17s of II./KG 3, two British fighters were damaged by their defensive fire, but the convoy it protected escaped unharmed.
Shortly after midday, No. 54 Squadron scrambled against eighteen Do 17s of I./KG 2 heading to attack another convoy in the Thames Estuary. Twelve Spitfires patrolling over Deal at 7,000 feet soon sighted the bombers and their strong escort, called for reinforcements, and were quickly engaged by fighters identified as Bf 109s and He 113s.
Ahead of the bombers, ten Bf 109 Es of II./JG 26 were flying a free hunt mission. After encountering nine Spitfires from No. 610 Squadron, the commander of II./JG 26 mistakenly believed he was facing thirty fighters and broke off the mission. He was later killed in a landing accident in France.
The bombers were subsequently attacked by Spitfires of No. 65 Squadron. Despite skilful evasive manoeuvres and accurate mutual defensive fire by the German crews, RAF pilots were credited with four damaged bombers. In fact, only two German aircraft were damaged and two crewmen wounded, while the British convoy escaped unscathed.
Direct escort for the bombers was provided by approximately forty Bf 109 Es of III./JG 26 under the command of Maj. Adolf Galland. It was this formation that became engaged with No. 54 Squadron and six pilots from No. 65 Squadron. According to the diary of No. 54 Squadron, it was the most intense engagement since the fighting over Dunkirk. The Spitfires found themselves outnumbered roughly three to one. Combat took place among the clouds, partly in rain showers, and also at low altitude over the countryside. Galland’s Gruppe remained in action until its fuel reserves for the return flight to France were nearly exhausted, losing two Bf 109s and their pilots in the process. The Germans claimed two Spitfires destroyed; in reality, one damaged Spitfire crashed while returning to base and another landed with its canopy damaged. A further Spitfire of No. 54 Squadron was written off after running out of fuel while pursuing an opponent.
The return of the bombers was to be covered by III./JG 52, although it appears that only aircraft from the Stab and 7./JG 52 actually engaged the Spitfires. The pilots of 9./JG 52 took off approximately twenty minutes after their comrades but failed to make contact with the enemy. The Spitfires shot down the commander of III./JG 52 along with two pilots from 7./JG 52. Some accounts also associate the loss of the commander of 8./JG 52 with this action, but he in fact took part in another escort mission later that afternoon.
In this dramatic battle, No. 54 Squadron was credited with two confirmed victories by P/O Colin Gray and Sgt George Collett, while P/O H. K. F. Matthews claimed one damaged aircraft. Twelve additional claims for destroyed Bf 109s were not confirmed, including one by Red Leader F/Lt Alan C. Deere, whose aircraft is depicted on the box art. F/Lt J. Ellis of No. 610 Squadron was credited with one Bf 109 destroyed, while S/Ldr H. C. Sawyer of No. 65 Squadron had a victory claim rejected but was credited with three damaged Bf 109s.
The RAF's strict confirmation standards reflected both the intensity of the combat and poor weather conditions. Confusion was further caused by the Germans' split-S escape manoeuvre, which produced flames and smoke from the exhausts and often gave the impression of a fatally damaged aircraft.
That evening, Adolf Galland criticised the performance of his unit and acknowledged that the RAF had proven itself to be an exceptionally formidable opponent.