On 25 July 1940, at 07:00, Convoy CW.8 sails from Southend-on-Sea for Falmouth. The convoy naturally attracts German attention, and the RAF is to provide protection[1].

At 12:00, eleven Hawker Hurricanes take off for a patrol over Hawkinge. At the same time, the British ships are attacked by Ju.87s of IV./LG 1, escorted by Bf 109s of III./JG 52[2].

Red Section (Flight Lieutenant Lionel M. Gaunce, Flying Officer Anthony P. Gray, and Pilot Officer Petrus H. Hugo) engages four Bf 109 over Dover. Two pilots each claim a victory. Flight Lieutenant Lionel M. Gaunce claims a Bf 109 shot down, which crashes into the sea in flames (confirmed by Pilot Officer Petrus H. Hugo)[3]. As for the latter, he claims a second enemy aircraft damaged, its engine emitting thick black smoke. For his part, Flying Officer Anthony Gray also hits a Bf 109 but is unable to observe the result.

The other pilots do not witness the engagement, with the exception of Pilot Officer Cecil R. Young, who engages in a brief exchange of fire with an enemy aircraft.

All pilots land at Kenley at about 13:20, apart from one who puts down at Hawkinge. The reason is unknown, but the aircraft does not appear too badly damaged, as it returns to Kenley at 14:00[4].

No.615 Squadron is not alone, as twelve Spitfires of No.65 Squadron and nine Hurricanes of No.32 Squadron also take part in the engagement. Two further Bf 109 are claimed by No.32 Squadron (Flight Lieutenant Michael N. Crossley) and No.65 Squadron (Flight Sergeant William H. Franklin). A Hurricane of No.32 Squadron (P3677) force-lands at East Langdon (Pilot Officer Victor G. Draw wounded in the leg) following the combat[5]. During the day III./ JG 52 loses four Bf 109. While Unteroffizier Max Reiss (8./JG 52) manages to force-land at Elvington Court (Eythorn), the three other pilots—Oberleutnant Willy Bielefeld (7./JG 52), Oberleutnant Wilhelm Keidel (7./JG 52), Leutnant Hans Schmidt (Stab III./JG 52)—are not so fortunate. These losses appear, however, to be linked to the subsequent engagement with No.610 Squadron between 14:15 and 14:50[6].

Convoy CW.8 suffers heavy losses during the day: five merchant ships are sunk (Corhaven, Henry Moon, Leo, Polgrange and Portslade), and the destroyers HMS Boreas and Brilliant are damaged in the evening[7].

Later in the afternoon (18:30–20:20), six aircraft are tasked with a further patrol over the convoy, but this time without incident.

Pilots and Aircrafts :

Flight Lieutenant James G. Sanders (P3487), Sergeant Derrick W. Halton (P3158), Pilot Officer Keith T. Lofts (P3111), Flight Lieutenant Herbert S. Giddings (P2801), Pilot Officer David Evans (P2578[8]), Flight Lieutenant Lionel M. Gaunce (P3109), Flying Officer Anthony P. Gray (P3160), Pilot Officer Petrus H. Hugo (N2328), Flying Officer John R.H. Gayner (P3380), Flying Officer Peter Collard (P2768), Pilot Officer Cecil R. Young (N2337) [Patrouille Hawkinge : 12h00 – 13h20]

Flight Lieutenant Herbert S. Giddings (P2801), Flying Officer Richard D. Pexton (P3158), Flying Officer Anthony Eyre (P3111), Flying Officer John R.H. Gayner (P3380), Pilot Officer Cecil R. Montgomery (P3160), Pilot Officer Petrus H. Hugo (P3487) [Patrouille Dover : 18h30 – 20h20]

Revendications :

Flight Lieutenant Lionel M. Gaunce (P3109) : un Bf 109 (III./JG 52) au-dessus de Dover (12h00 – 13h20)

Pilot Officer Petrus H. Hugo (N2328) : un Bf 109 (III./JG 52) au-dessus de Dover (12h00 – 13h20)

This day also sees the arrival of Pilot Officer William Geoffrey Eatherley (28251) as Engineer Officer[9]. He is not a newcomer, having first joined the RAF in 1929[10], before resigning his Short Service Commission on 4 February 1931 for health reasons[11].