figures had slipped to 107 and 69 percent. On 31 May KG 76 reported 85 bombers with 58 operational (68 percent). The Geschwader took part in Operation Paula, a concentrated attack on airfields around Paris, which began on 3 June as a prelude to Fall Rot. 76 also attacked targets in the Normandy and Brittany area from 6–12 June but the results of these bombing raids are not recorded. KG 76 is known to have supported offensives in the Aumale and Amiens area on 8 June. The German units were now operating at the limit of their range. II. Gruppe moved to forward-airfields at Saint-Léger-des-Aubées. Following the French campaign, II./KG 76 was disbanded and merged into III./KG 28 on 9 July 1940. However, oddly, the Gruppe was reformed on the very same day, as it was decided to rename III./KG 28 back to II./KG 76. The unit also converted to the Ju 88 at this time. Battle of Britain KG 76 moved into Belgium and France following the end of the campaign in Western Europe. The German Wehrmacht began preparations for Operation Sea Lion, the proposed but risky plan to invade the United Kingdom. Throughout July and early August 1940, the Luftwaffe began a series of attacks on shipping in the English Channel, known as the Kanalkampf phase of what became known as the Battle of Britain. 76 was placed under the control of Albert Kesselring's Luftflotte 2 based in Brussels. A fourth unit, Lehrstaffel (training squadron) was added, and based at Beaumont-le-Roger. While the Geschwader prepared for the main air offensive to begin, it carried out preliminary attacks on southern England. III. Gruppe moved to Cormeilles-en-Vexin. The formation flew very few sorties in July 1940. One reason for this was the conversion and re-training of crews onto the Ju 88A-4. The first recorded loss of this type occurred over Dungeness on 29 July. II. Gruppe moved to Creil on 9 July. It joined III./KG 76 in anti-shipping operations on 29 July. On 13 August II./KG 76 reported 28 of 36 Ju 88s operational. III./KG 76 could muster only 19 from 32 Do 17s on 29 July. I. Gruppe transferred to Beauvais–Tillé Airport and reported all 29 Do 17s operational on 13 August—the earliest known operational readiness report. On the night of the 25/26 July 1940, KG 76 flew via Land's End and bombed Southampton. On 29 July III./KG 76