Air War: Heavy German raids on shipping off English South Coast, radar stations (inc. Ventnor), and airfields.
Losses: German, 32; British, 21.

Picture from this day from the harbour in Portsmouth with exploding high-explosive and incendiary bombs.

5 Hampdens (2 lost) attack heavily defended Dortmund-Ems Canal with delayed-action bombs; Flt.-Lt. Learoyd, V.C., secures vital hit, which stops passage of invasion craft for 10 days (night August 12-13).

Picture from this day at the French coast near Cape Griz Nez, the staff of Luftflotte 3 waves to a Stuka dive-bomber.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1940

Air War: (MAIN EVENT) ADLER TAG (EAGLE DAY). Launching of great Luftwaffe offensive planned to destroy RAF Fighter Command in four days begins amid confusion. Goring postpones morning raids at last minute, but 70 unescorted Dornier Do17s bomb Eastchurch airfield (Thames Estuary). Ju88s sent to Farnborough fail to find target. Afternoon raid more successful, but Spitfire squadron destroys 9 Stukas over Hants. Ju88s start fires in Southampton Docks.
Losses: German, 42 aircraft, British RAF 13 fighters.
Elite German night-bomber group K.Gr.100 (He111s) bomb Spitfire 'shadow factory' at Castle Bromwich and Shorts' bomber factory at Belfast.

Picture: Spitfire pilots 'scramble' on Eagle Day.

Royal Air Force on Eagle Day

Home Front Australia: Two Cabinet Ministers and COGS killed in air crash near Canberra.

Secret War: Parachutist Scare. German aircraft drop parachutes over South England, and southern Scotland (August 13 and 14), which carry bogus 'ops. orders', intended to create impression that invasion has begun.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1940

Air War, Battle of Britain (Day 36): Widespread small raids on airfields and railway lines. Me109s strafe Dover balloon barrage; E. Goodwin lightship bombed.
Losses: German, 19, British, 4.

Sea War: Evacuation of Berbera (capital of British Somaliland) begins. British and Australian warships take 5,700 troops, 1,500 civilians and sick to Aden and bombard advancing Italian forces who occupy the town on August 19.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1940

Air War, Battle of Britain (Day 37): GORING EMPLOYS THREE 'AIR FLEETS' (Luftflotten 2, 3 and 5) IN MASSED DAYLIGHT RAIDS on airfields from Portsmouth to Tyne. RAF defeat attacks by Luftflotte 5 from Scandinavian bases, but Ju88s destroy 10 Whitleys at Driffield (Yorks), Elite fighter-bomber group Erpr.Gr.210 attacks Croydon Airport (62 killed), but loses 6 Me110s and its Commander. Goring forbids further attacks on British radar stations.
Losses: German, 76; British, 50.

Sea War, Mediterranean: The Helle Incident. Greek cruiser Helle sinks in mysterious circumstances off Tinos Islands, while crew are attending Mass. Fragments indicate that torpedoes are of Italian manufacture. Italy denies responsibility (August 16), but later admits 'mistake' may have occurred.
HM submarines Pandora and Proteus carry essential supplies to Malta.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1940

Air War: Stukas (7 lost) wreck Tangmere Airfield (Hants); seven other airfields bombed.

Picture: A Junkers Ju87 Stuka dive-bomber shortly before it was shot down by a RAF fighter.

Secret War: Luftwaffe Command Staff estimate that RAF now have only 300 fighters (actual total is 700).

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1940

Sea War, Mediterranean: Battleships Warspite, Malaya and Ramillies bombard Bardia and Fort Capuzzo, Libya. Italian bombers (12 lost) attack bombardment force, August 18.

Diplomacy: Germany announces 'total blockade' of British Isles; in reply to the 'British hunger blockade against German women and children'. All ships - Allied and neutral - in British waters are to be sunk on sight.

Home Front West Indies: Duke of Windsor sworn in as Governor of Bahamas.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 1940

Air War: Heavy raids on RAF bases and other targets in south and southeast England. 19 Stukas lost; 8 of 50 escorting Me109s also destroyed at cost of 4 Hurricanes and 2 Spitfires.
Losses: German, 62; British, 34.

Picture: This Dornier Do17 bomber was a victim of this day.