August 31

What happened on August 31 in aviation and space history.

• August 31, 1940

  The Bf 109 in the Battle of Britain: 871 E-series fighters on strength

  Milestone — On 31 August 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain, Luftwaffe fighter units (excluding JG 77) reported 375 Bf 109 E-1s, 125 E-3s, 339 E-4s and 32 E-7s on strength — 871 E-series fighters facing the RAF's Spitfires and Hurricanes.