pilots piecemeal into the battle and the German fighters, denied a worthwhile target to justify breaking from their position, remained high above the battle and did not surrender it until the Ju 88s were in danger of decimation. Ten Ju 88s were shot down. ZG 2 lost three Bf 110s and four damaged while ZG 76 reported on loss and two damaged. ZG 76 were engaged by No. 609 Squadron. On 13 August Operation Eagle Attack began with Adlertag. The official go-ahead was given at 14:00. 52 Ju 87s from StG 1 and StG 2 who were to strike at RAF Warmwell and Yeovil. II., and III./JG 53 and III./ZG 76 flew escort for the Ju 87s. Virtually all of No. 10 Group RAF scrambled to intercept. One staffel from II./StG 2 was badly hit by No. 609 Squadron; six out of nine Ju 87s were shot down. StG 1 and 2 gave up on their original targets owing to clouds. Both headed for Portland. Erprobungsgruppe 210 was sent further east for an operation to attack targets near Southend. They took off at 15:15 and were escorted by ZG 76. They found unbroken cloud over Essex. No. 56 Squadron intercepted, and Erprobungsgruppe 210 dropped their bombs over Canterbury. ZG 76 reported two losses during the mission; apparently elements of the gruppe spotted and attacked RAF Manston and lost two crews to ground fire. On 15 August Luftflotte 5 joined the battle as the Luftwaffe attacked Fighter Command from the south, east and north. I./ZG 76 was still based in Norway and provided escort for Heinkel He 111s from I. and III./KG 26. The bombers headed for Newcastle but were intercepted by No. 605, No. 72, No. 69 and No. 41 Squadrons. Heinkel He 115 floatplanes from and 1 and 3 /506 flew toward Montrose but a three degree error by the leading He 111s caused the German formation to fly a parallel track which proved disastrous. No. 13 Group RAF were able to concentrate against the intruders. Eight He 111s from KG 26 were shot down. Seven I./ZG 26 Bf 110s were shot down protecting them. Gruppenkommandeur Hauptmann Restemeyer was killed in action. Stab, II. and III./ZG 76 lost 12 Bf 110s between them in the southeast flying escort for elements of LG 1 against RAF Worthy Down. Gruppenkommandeur Hauptmann Dickore, III./ZG 26 was killed—two group commanders were lost this