Manston attacked on ‘The Hardest Day’, 18th August 1940
“The Hardest Day”
Described by many as “The Hardest Day”, Manston escaped most of what the Luftwaffe would today throw at the RAF. The air battles that day were amongst the largest aerial engagements in history at that time and both sides suffered very heavy losses.
The Luftwaffe had been ordered to destroy Fighter Command before the planned invasion of Britain could take place. Manston was hit by the first wave of this assault on 12th August 1940 https://www.manstonhistory.org.uk/manston-takes-the-full-force-of-luftwaffe-attack-against-airfields-12th-august-1940/
On 17th August, German intelligence suggested that the RAF was down to just 300 serviceable fighters, formed from reports of German pilots’ claims and estimates of British production capabilities. In reality there were 855 aircraft serviceable, 289 at storage units and 84 at training units. The Luftwaffe expected a weakened opposition when in fact fighter numbers were twice as many in number as at the beginning of July 1940.
The largest attacks were against the main fighter sector bases from which operations were controlled, but German intelligence only identified them as the largest ones known to be operating fighters. The targets were the airfields at Kenley, Biggin Hill, Gosport, Ford, Thorney Island, Hornchurch and North Weald and the radar station at Poling.
Fighters from Manston were involved in defending against the attackers’ 850 sorties, involving 2200 Luftwaffe aircrew.
Attack on Manston
At 1530 hrs, Hauptmann Wolfgang Ewald, a German Luftwaffe ace, led what is reported to be between twelve and sixteen aircraft of his 2./JG 52 (52nd Fighter Wing), armed with Messerschmitt Bf 109s in a strafing attack on Manston. Ewald’s attention had been caught by a group of Spitfires bunched together on the ground refuelling and being serviced between sorties, where craters caused by previous attacks on the airfield forced the aircraft to be closer than normal. These were Spitfires of No.266 Squadron.
Note that other records suggest the raid was at 1415hrs, so there may be a difference in reports between British Summer Time and the time zone of the Luftwaffe records.
After two passes, the attackers claimed the destruction of at least ten fighters with three Blenheim’s thrown in for good measure. In fact, just two of No.266 Squadron’s Spitfires X4061 and X4066 were totally written off, with another six being severely damaged including X4063, but repairable. Sgt Griffiths’ Hurricane (although this isn’t mentioned in the official Station records) was also destroyed. Spitfire N3127 and K9850 of 266 Squadron were also hit. Sgt Griffiths would appear to be Sgt Glyn Griffiths, but this is yet to be confirmed.
Groundcrew in the open, mainly part of the Servicing Flight were cut to pieces, with one killed, and 15 injured.
Aircraftman 1st Class Sydney Thomas Philbrick, aged 23 was killed and is buried in Brighton City Cemetery.
Among those injured were: Aircraftman T C Croxton, Aircraftman E B Davies, Aircraftman H H Valentine, Sergeant W Jones, Sergeant D E Kingaby.
Note that other records suggest the raid was at 1415hrs, so there may be a difference in reports between British Summer Time and the time zone of the Luftwaffe records.
The Fictitious Heinkel He 113
The Station ORB recorded that the attacking aircraft were Heinkel He 113, a fictitious aircraft that was publicised by the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels.
Manston Station ORB:
“Another attack made on the aerodrome by twelve H.E.113’s with cannon and machine gun fire. Two Spitfires were destroyed on the ground.
1 airman killed and 15 injured, mostly on the Servicing Flight.”
ENDS
Results of the Day
The RAF and Fleet Air Arm lost altogether 68 aircraft with 31 in air combat. 69 German aircraft were destroyed or damaged beyond repair. Both side suffered more losses on this date that on any other day during the Battle of Britain, but although the outcome of the battle didn’t strategically favour either side, neither side would have been able to sustain such continued losses.
German personnel losses stood at 94 killed, 40 captured and 25 returned with wounds. For the RAF, 10 fighter pilots were killed on the day, another died of wounds. 19 pilots were wounded, 11 serious enough that they did not take part in the rest of the battle.
Image:
EVENING REFLECTION by Richard Taylor. © The Military Gallery www.militarygallery.com
With soft evening sunlight radiant behind them, Hauptmann Wolfgang Ewald, Gruppenkommandeur of 1./JG52, leads a swarm of Bf109s back to their base near Calais after another hectic encounter with pilots of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, September 1940. Hauptmann Wolfgang Ewald let the attack on Manston on 18th August 1940.
References:
Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten, By John Weal, Osprey Publishing
First published in 2016.
Last Updated: .
