The Battle Of Britain Weather Diary

[Coast]

28th August 1940.

Cloud clearing overnight giving way to clearer conditions over most of Britain. Cloud persisted generally over the south east corner of England the Channel. Most areas experienced colder conditions throughout the day as southerly winds kept temperatures down.

Dowding and Park were hoping that the tranquillity of the previous day would continue. But the day began fine, with scattered cloud, the rain and drizzle of the previous day completely gone.

When the weather was fine, and conditions ideal for flying, it concerned us if the enemy decided not to launch an attack upon us. We would wonder as to what they were up to, everyone would come up with suggestions as to why it was so unusually quiet, but no one really knew

Air Vice Marshal Keith Park

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group Bombing - industrial targets at Dortmund and Dusseldorf - airframe factory at Dessau. 10 Sqn. Two aircraft each to Dortmund and Dusseldorf. All bombed primaries. 102 Sqn. Seven aircraft to Dessau. All bombed primary. RAF Bomber Command again dropped bombs on the city of Berlin killing ten people. Hitler in a speech to the people called the RAF murderers, while the German press outlawed the British attacks as 'Cowardly' and called Bomber Command 'British Air Pirates' (conveniently forgetting the hundreds of people killed so far in British cities)

RAF Fighter Command

0845hrs: A number of German bomber formations were detected building up off the French coast west of Dunkirk. It was a large formation, 50 plus Do17 bombers escorted by as many Bf109s and Bf110s. Fighter Command again "scrambled" 79 Sqn (Biggin Hill), 85 Squadron (Croydon), 615 Squadron (Kenley) and 264 Sqn (Hornchurch) who were using the satellite station of Manston and were preparing to disband and withdraw the squadron up north to Kirton on Lyndsay.

264 Sqn at Kirton on Lyndsay

0900hrs: The bomber formations were again targeting the airfields of Fighter Command. This time Manston received only minor damage as did Eastchurch again mistakenly thought to be a front line Fighter Command airfield, although the bombing was regarded as being heavy with a couple of Fairy Battles destroyed, more hangars damaged and the airfield generally suffering from numerous bomb craters. Sadly, 264's Defiants, which were involved in combat over the area proved no match for the Luftwaffe fighters - three of the twelve that were originally scrambled were shot down. 85 Sqn (Croydon) found getting through the German fighter escort quite difficult and trying to get at the bombers was proving even more of a task. But, they managed to mix it with the fighters and in this combat, 85 Sqn managed to down six Bf109s, with one of them going to the C.O. S/L Peter Townsend.

"Stand by for head on attack and watch out for those little fellows above," I called. Then I brought the squadron round steadily in a wide turn, moving it into echelon as we levelled out about two miles ahead on a collision course. Ease the throttle to reduce the closing speed - which anyway allowed only a few seconds' fire. Get a bead on them right away, hold it, and never mind the streams of tracer darting overhead. Just keep on pressing the button until you think your going to collide - then stick hard forward. Under the shock of 'negative G" your stomach jumps into your mouth, dust and muck fly up from the cockpit floor into your eyes and your head cracks on the roof as you break away below.

S/L Peter Townsend 85 Sqn

1230hrs: A second raid some two hours later by Do17s from 1/KG2 attacked the southern Essex airfield at Rochford for the second time that day but did little damage and the airfield remained operational. All squadrons at Rochford were made airborne and Fl/Lt Al Deere of 54 Sqn (Hornchurch) who had been returned to Hornchurch from Rochford had been hit for the third time during the Battle of Britain and again was forced to bale out. But it was the third raid of the day that angered Keith Park. Bf109s and 110s that were again on a supposedly decoy run over the Channel were met by seven squadrons and a combat battle, fighter to fighter combat took place. Although six Bf109s were lost, five Spitfires and Hurricanes were shot down. Park told his Squadron Controllers in no uncertain terms that unless these enemy formations were proving a threat, they must not allow valuable fighter squadrons to be drawn into fighter to fighter combat. But these attacks on the RAF airfields were by and large really only nuisance attacks. None of them had done any major damage and all the targets remained operational.

During the afternoon, Winston Churchill was visiting Dover and was staying at Dover Castle. It was while he was there, the air raid siren sounded and Churchill and his entourage watched as fighters clashed with German bombers over the town. A spokesman for the War Office stated later: It was while we were at Dover, that we saw the approaching German bombers and just a short distance away they were met by British fighters. Mr Churchill seemed mesmerized as the air battle took place almost overhead. We saw maybe two German bombers crash into the sea and some fighters with smoke trailing from them as they spiralled away from the main dogfight. Later that afternoon, we had to drive to Ramsgate and on the way we saw a smouldering aircraft in a field, and Churchill asked the driver to pull off the road and get as close to the wreckage as he could. There were firemen, soldiers and ARP men standing around and I walked with the Prime Minister towards the aircraft. Even though I warned Mr Churchill about the dangers of being out in the open during an air raid, he said that he must have a look, and when he saw the tangled mess he said 'Dear God, I hope it isn't a British plane.' He was reassured that it was not

Attributed to Inspector W Thompson, Churchill's bodyguard

But the real attacks came again during the hours of darkness. 2200hrs: The first of the mass night bombing raids commenced by ‘beam-riding’ He111s of KGr 100. Operations include an attempt to pathfind to Liverpool, Birkenhead and Sealand RAF base near Chester. However, even with a massive antenna, it is very difficult to obtain a radio beam width much narrower than 5 degrees, with the radio frequencies in use at that time. At a distance of 150 miles, a 5-degree wide beam would be 13 miles wide - not really good enough to find a town let-alone a specific factory and again, the Germans created a blunder in their accuracy.

More bombs fell on untargeted areas than did on the actual target, in fact villages and houses were hit that were over 150 miles away from Liverpool. One stick of bombs fell on houses in the Midlands. But on Liverpool and Birkenhead themselves, most of the damage was caused in the surrounding areas, as bombs feel far wide of their target. Although a small number of people in the Merseyside region were killed, the German crews were reporting that the target areas had been hit - German reconnaissance photographs showed that the dockland areas received only slight damage and did not back up the claims made by the crews.

A page from a German bombing targets book showing the entrance to Gladstone Dock Liverpool

The Scotland Road/Vauxhall district of Liverpool was directly in the 'line of fire' being so close to the docks

This was to be the first night of bombing by the Luftwaffe for a period of five consecutive nights. Each night in excess of 100 tons of bombs would fall nightly on the Merseyside city. It did now appear that a pattern was now being adopted. The German heavy bombers were coming over in large waves on night attacks on British cities and industrial areas / docks. By day they were attacking the RAF airfields and as time went on, would only increase in ferocity while at night, their attention was turned to cities, docks and industrial targets.

At 2.55 am on Willingdon Golf Link just outside of Eastbourne, 30 incendiary bombs were dropped causing slight damage to housing. At Avonmouth the Shell Mex installations and the National Smelting Co. works were hit, Coventry shops and houses were damaged and in Altrincham Cheshire, a 50,000 gallon oil tank at the Anglo-American oil depot caught fire. Bombs also fell at Whitley Bay in Northumberland, Warden Law, Herrington Burn and West Hartlepool in Co Durham.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 30

RAF

54 Sqn Spitfire R6832 A.C.Deere uninjured and Spitfire X4053 D.O.Findlay bailed out

56 Sqn Hurricane R4117 M.H.C.Maxwell crash landed Hearne Bay, Hurricane R4198 F.B.Sutton bailed out seriuoly injured and Hurricane I N2523 G.Smythe bailed out

79 Sqn Hurricane P2718 A.R.’Zat’ Zatonski shot down and treated for burns

151 Sqn Hurricane L2005 J.N.E.Alexander shot down, badly burnt

249 Sqn Hurricane N2523 unknown pilot

264 Sqn Defiant N1574 D.Whitley and R.C.Turner shot down and killed off Thanet, Defiant L7026 P.L.Kenner and C.E.Johnson also shot down and killed off Thanet Defiant L7021 G.D.Garvin and R.C.V.Ash. shot down and killed near Faversham

603 Sqn Spitfire R6751 J.L.G.Cunningham was shot down and killed, Spitfire L1046 D.K.MacDonald was shot down and killed over Dover, Spitfire R6989 I.S.Ritchie wounded and Spitfire N3105 N.J.V.Benson was shot down and killed over Tenterden

610 Sqn Spitfire P9511 K.H.Cox shot down and killed over Dover

615 Sqn Hurricane R4116 S.J.Madle force landed and was injured near Sandwich

[Coast]

29th August 1940.

Low cloud and showers in the morning in most areas, clearing to sunny periods with the exception of the Channel where cloud continued. Most areas saw a continuation of cooler temperatures. Because of the weather, enemy activity was very light with only the occasional reconnaissance aircraft along the east coast and Fighter Command decided to leave them alone leaving the map boards at both headquarters completely clear. The Chief of Kesselring's fighter organisation claims unlimited fighter superiority has been achieved.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group Bombing - oil plant at Wesseling - petrol store at Ludwigshaven. 51 Sqn. Seven aircraft to Wesseling. Very bad weather. One bombed primary, two bombed alternative targets. 78 Sqn. Five aircraft to Ludwigshaven. Two returned early, one bombed primary, two bombed alternative targets.

RAF Fighter Command

1445hrs: A radar plot was picked up by south coast radar of a formation that again was coming in from the Channel towards the Kent coast. A mixture of Bf109s and Bf110s from JG3, JG26, JG51, ZG26 and ZG76. At first, the radar sent through the message of 700 plus bandits approaching, and Park ordered no less that 13 fighter squadrons of 11 Group into the air. This figure was later amended and confirmed by the Observer Corps that it was in fact a formation of some 650 aircraft. 1530hrs: 85 Sqn (Croydon) was the first on the scene and straight away got caught into combat with the Bf109s. Three of their Hurricanes were shot down with two of them destroyed although no pilots were lost. 603 Sqn (Hornchurch) were also on the scene and two of these were damaged by German fighters. 610 Sqn (Biggin Hill) also lost two aircraft with one of their pilots killed. Park immediately saw that the British fighters would have no choice that to mix it with the huge number of 109s and could see no point in fighter to fighter combat and called for all Squadrons to abort.

1915hrs: Again a number of squadrons were dispatched to intercept German fighters again trying to lure RAF fighters into combat. Again, Keith Park would not fall to the bait and sent only minimal squadrons to meet the German fighters. 85 Sqn, 501 Sqn (Gravesend) and 603 Sqn (Hornchurch) were involved and although all squadrons suffered casualties, four Bf109s were shot down. F/L Richard Hillary of 603 Sqn made his debut with the squadron in spectacular fashion by destroying one Bf109 over Manston and claiming a probable Bf109 over Deal. Unfortunately, losing sight of his own squadron he came upon a formation of Hurricanes of 85 Sqn and decided to tag along as a "tail end Charlie", but an unseen Bf109 fired a volley of shots at him and damaged his engine. He tried to make it to Lympne, but with smoke pouring out of his engine and missing badly he decided to make a forced landing in a field in Kent.

At about the same time, 501 Sqn were either attacked in the rear or hit by AA shells over Elham and two planes were shot down before the squadron scattered. Bill Green was in one of the Hurricanes that went down. He recalled later. " Without warning a hole appeared in the 1/4" plate windscreen as big as a tennis ball and the noise of the splinters shattering around the cockpit will always remain with me. I was immediately covered with glycol liquid and the control column was just like a piece of stick disconnected to anything and quite useless. The engine stopped and I realised that I had to get out".

Sliding back the hood and pulling the pin from his Sutton harness, Green stood up and found himself free from the aircraft and rotating forward with his legs apart. Both flying boots came off and a considerable time passed as he fumbled for his rip-cord. When he pulled it he saw the little pilot chute deploy and detach itself from the main chute, which started to come between his legs - still folded like a roller - towel. He pushed and tugged, resorted to prayer and thought about his wife Bertha, with whom he'd spent the previous night - she had knitted the warm socks he was wearing. As he realised he was only seconds away from oblivion, there was a jolt and a secondary tug as the parachute lines ripped from the tangled pack and he floated free. After the terror of the fall with rushing air and flapping silk the silence was "noisier than any noise I have ever heard". He saw electricity poles, relaxed and thudded down on a hill overlooking Elham

An extract from the book Harvest of Messerschmitts by Dennis Knight, a chronicle of the village of Elham Kent during 1940 based on the diary of Mary Smith, who lived in King Post, Elham.

Dusk raids penetrated East Anglia, the main objectives apparently being Debden and Duxford, but from 2300 hrs onwards, there was singularly little activity east of a line Brighton to Flamborough Head until 0230 hrs when fresh raids appeared along the East Coast, apparently mine laying, but a few crossing inland. Three main areas were attacked: South West and up to South Wales, Industrial Midlands up to Liverpool where there are heavy raids against Merseyside (176 sorties) and Manchester - a few raids going as far as Carlisle. Bombs fell at Whitley Bay in Northumberland, Warden Law, Herrington Burn and West Hartlepool in Co Durham, an enemy aircraft downed at Hartley

At 2430hrs a Heinkel He111 was shot down by a Spitfire of 92 Sqn stationed at Pembrey. It is believed that the bomber crashed into a house in or near Fordingbridge. The raids on the South East an West crossed the coast in a steady stream, mostly one aircraft each, but between Shoreham and Lyme Bay some were of greater strength. A few of these appeared to concentrate on the Portsmouth area. Mine laying was suspected off Plymouth. During the night 44 sorties were reported elsewhere including at 0210hrs, in Friday Street Eastbourne, slight damage to electricity cables caused by 5 high explosive bombs. The site is about 500 yards from my house but no signs remain now!!!

Losses

Luftwaffe – 17

RAF

85 Sqn Hurricane L1915 flown by J.H.M.Ellis crashed at Ashburnham, Kent at 1:00hrs after he was shot down by a Bf 109. He baled out safely. Hurricane V7350 R.F.Walker-Smith was wounded in the foot at 1630hrs after being shot at by a Bf 109 over the Sussex coast and he baled out. Hurricane V6623 H.R.Hamilton was shot down and killed at 1815hrs by a Bf 109 near Rye

151 Sqn Hurricane P3882 A.G.Wainwright baled out during a routine patrol at 1940hrs near Basildon, Essex. He broke several ribs on landing.

501 Sqn Hurricane R4223 W.J.’Bill’ Green baled out at Elham Kent 1920hrs and in Hurricane P3102, J.A.A.Gibson baled out safely after combat with a Ju 87 over Hawkinge at 11:30hrs

603 Sqn Spitfire R6753 D.J.C.Pinckney as wounded at 1840hrs after he had been in combat with a Bf 109 near Dymchurch. He was slightly burned. Spitfire L1021 R.H.Hillary was shot down by a Bf 109 on at 1900hrs. He crash landed near Lympne but was unhurt

610 Sqn Spitfire X4011 A.C.Baker was shot down and killed during combat with Bf109s over Hurst Green while the Spitfire flown by E.Manton was shot down and he was killed over Mayfield at 16:00hrs.

312 (Czech) Sqn came into being as the second Czechoslovak fighter unit and was formed on 29th August 1940 at the Czech aircrew depot at RAF Cosford. The home base of the squadron was RAF Duxford, the same airfield where 310 (Czech) Sqn was based. Two days later the first nine used Hurricanes were flown into Duxford and on the 4th September 1940 a Miles Master joined them. Czech airmen, flying personnel and ground staff, arrived at RAF Duxford during afternoon of the 5th September 1940. The squadron was based around experienced pilots, who already had combat experience during the Battle of France and many of whom already had more then one victory.

[Coast]

30th August 1940.

Much improved conditions prevailed throughout the British Isles. Temperatures werte slightly higher than the previous days and conditions remained fine with cloudy periods in all Channel areas.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group Bombing - 58 Sqn. Nine aircraft. One returned early, seven bombed primary, one bombed an alternative target.

RAF Fighter Command

Despite the fine weather of the morning period, the only raids were on shipping in the Thames Estuary. These shipping strikes had been left alone for the last couple of weeks and Fighter Command regarded them as once again being lures to attract RAF fighters into the air. Park was in no way going to be tempted, sending up squadrons of fighters would weaken his defences of his airfields that seemed to be the targets of enemy action of the last few days.

Leading the days assault, 100+ aircraft arrived in the Deal-Dungeness area at 0736hrs, Do17s escorted by Bf110’s of ZG 76 headed for a convoy sailing from the Thames at Methil.151 Sqn engaged the Heinkels, claiming three for the loss of two Hurricanes before 85 Sqn made head-on attacks, widely splitting the bomber formation. Two escorting Bf110s were then shot down, and another Hurricane lost.

Then at 1030hrs three Gruppen of Bf109s coming in over the Kent coast, paved the way for 40 He-111s, 30 Do 17s and another 90 fighters which were picked up initially off Cape Griz Nez. The cloud base was down to about 7,000 feet and the Observer Corps had difficulty in estimating their numbers as the German formation was flying at about 14,000 to 15,000 feet, and reported an escort of Bf109s. The Luftwaffe were now, for the first time using a smaller number of Bf109s as close escort, and with a larger number flying at about 25,000 feet.

1050hrs: 43 Sqn (Tangmere), 79 Sqn (Biggin Hill), 85 Sqn (Croydon), 111 Sqn (Debden), 222 Sqn (Hornchurch) 253 Sqn (Kenley), 603 Sqn (Hornchurch), 610 Sqn (Biggin Hill) and 616 Sqn (Kenley) were released by Fighter Command to cope with the incoming formations. Park dispatched his squadrons in two waves, as the German bombers were coming across the Channel in three separate formations. 43, 79, 253, and 603 Sqn’s went in first to intercept the first wave of bombers just prior to them reaching the English coast between Deal and Folkestone. 85 Sqn met up with the leading Heinkels and decided on a head on attack. This was a manoeuvre that Dowding did not agree with, stating that it was far too dangerous and that many of the more novice pilots would want to copy their more experienced counterparts with possible fatal results. But nevertheless, squadron commanders generally encouraged it, because performed properly, it allowed the bomber formation to scatter in all directions, while at the same time a squadron following would then attack the bombers while they were pre-occupied with avoiding hitting the first squadron that caused them to scatter in the first place.

South African pilot, Pilot Officer E.J.Morris went into a head on attack with a Heinkel. He knew this form of attack although he himself had never tried it. 79 Sqn engaged a formation of Heinkel 111s and while some peeled of to exert their attack from above, many decided to make a head on attack. Morris was one of them. He pressed the firing button, banked sharply only for the Heinkel to ram the underbelly of his Hurricane. His aircraft was cut to pieces, but Morris, still strapped in his seat managed to pull the ripcord and parachuted to safety. His injuries were just a broken leg...and a bit of confidence. He said afterwards, "I thought they were supposed to break formation if we pressed home a frontal attack". He was told that '...not if the pilot is dead, you are supposed to make allowances for that'. Morris replied, "Then how the hell are you supposed to know if he is dead or not?" The way you did, he was politely told.

S/L Tom Gleave of 253 Sqn was another who saw action this day. At 32 years of age, Gleave wanted to command the squadron, but was told politely that RAF regulations did not permit commanding officers above the age of 26. But somehow, Tom Gleave managed to get part of his way by smooth talking his way into sharing the command with the newly appointed commanding officer. It seemed that this day Tom Gleave was 'Hun Hungry’. Afterwards Gleave learned of the RAF hierarchy "Bullsh*t" for want of a better word as he calls it. When he made his claim for the four Bf109s, they stated that it was an impossibility to shoot them down in as many minutes. As a compromise, they allowed his claim as four probables.

1115hrs: Observer Corps further reported that 40 plus Heinkel He111s and 30 Do17s escorted by 100 plus Bf109s and Bf110s were approaching the coast. By now, the first wave over bombers had pushed on over Ashford still in combat with the British fighters. With the first wave of He110s and Do17s crossing the Kent coast, what radar was working was picking up sightings that stretched right back to the French coast. Keith Park at Fighter Command Group HQ decides to act, and places nearly sixteen squadrons at readiness with two squadrons from 12 Group sent in to give cover to Biggin Hill and Kenley. 1130hrs: One of the first squadrons to intercept the enemy formation is 79 Sqn Green section and Blue section move in to attack the Heinkel's:

1145hrs: The second wave of German bombers and their Bf109 escorts were now entangled with more RAF fighters. 85, 111, 222 and 616 Sqn’s, just like the first squadrons to engage the bombers they were to have their hands full. Keith Park now had to act, and dispersed sixteen squadrons. But by the time that they managed to take off and gain height, the German bomber formation was well over Kent and heading towards London. The He111s and the Do17s break into two formations, and once again Park is quick to realize that his Sector Stations are under attack once more. One eyewitness said of this day, that no matter where you looked over Kent, Surrey or South London, you could see nothing but bombers and fighter planes fighting it out. Vapour trails were everywhere and it was believed that Germany had sent over the whole dammed Luftwaffe.

Scattered groups of bombers produced another confusing and dangerous situation, prompting Park to order part of 253 Sqn to guard Kenley, whose fighters were scrambled. 253 Sqn then found themselves attacking three formations each of nine Ju88s with 30 fighters providing top cover. Aided by 43 Sqn and newcomers of 222 Sqn they destroyed six enemy aircraft, but for the cost of ten RAF aircraft and five pilots.

The pressure was building and before the squadrons completed their turn-rounds Kesselring dispatched more groups of bombers protected by many fighters and crossing the Kent coast from 1300hrs at around 15,000 feet at 20-minute intervals, and largely unplotted because power supplies to radar stations had been cut during morning raids. For over two hours the enemy roamed over south-east England. Twelve of 222 Sqn's Spitfires on patrol at 16,000 feet over Lympne sighted 15 escorted He-111s near Canterbury and as they attacked were set upon by the Messerschmitts. They claimed a Bf 110 damaged but P/O Asheton was forced to land on the obstructed Bekesbourne airfield, Sgt Baxter had to put down at Eastchurch and P/O Carpenter baled out of P9378 near Rochford. 222 Sqn was to operate three times during the day, have eight of its Spitfires put out of use, lose five, have a pilot killed and two injured.

Two squadrons that had been covering Biggin Hill were moved forward into the attack, and Park called on 12 Group to send squadrons down covering Biggin Hill and Kenley. 1215hrs: Once again, Biggin Hill was hit, the two squadrons from 12 Group fail to sight the Ju88s coming in from the south, but only few of the bombs actually fall on the airfields doing damage to a hangar and putting the telephone system out of action. Many of the bombs fell wide and the town of Biggin Hill suffered as did the village of Keston. Kenley suffered much the same fate with many buildings hit and many stationery wounded aircraft on the ground received further damage. 79 Sqn along with 74 Sqn pulled back to guard the aerodromes of Biggin and Kenley because once again, the 12 Group squadrons had failed to show. Two sections of Hurricanes tried to keep the Bf109s occupied, while two sections engaged the bombers. One Hurricane was lost as it failed to pull out of a dive on its target and collided with a He111 which went down in flames. The pilot of the Hurricane was seen to bale out. 79 Sqn, as well as 610 Sqn, both from Biggin Hill between them, claim 10 enemy aircraft shot down. As well as Biggin Hill and Kenley suffering badly in the raid, the airfields of Croydon and Detling were also hit.

1300hrs: It had been one of Fighter Commands busier days, every squadron in 11 Group had at least been called up for one sortie. Again Keith Park was on the phone to 12 Group asking '...where in the hell were your fighters that were supposed to have protected my airfields." The answer was that the 12 Group fighters could not find the enemy, to which Park 'politely' told them that they were not supposed to be going looking for the enemy, they were supposed to be at the South London airfields waiting for the enemy to come to them. 1315hrs: Many of the original He111s, Do17s and Bf109s were heading for home, that is, if they hadn't been shot down, as another wave of bombers crossed the coast between Deal and Dungeness again. This time, their strength was much smaller. Coming in three waves ten minutes apart, they all veered into different direction once over the Kent coastline heading for their own particular target. These attacked the forward airfields of Hawkinge and Manston. 43 Sqn (Tangmere) engaged the bombers and many of the British fighter pilots see the He113 fighter for the first time. Although the airfield received minor damage, all the bombers made just the single run before turning back over the Channel. F/L R.C.Reynell of 43 Sqn is caught between five He113 fighters who have the advantage of height. Reynell evades the German fighters with an extraordinary display of combat aerobatics with more manoeuvrable Hurricane, but because the German tactics was to send one He113 into a combat dive after Reynell's Hurricane, the others positioned themselves to block any exit Reynell may have had in mind. This cat and mouse action continued for eight to ten minutes before the enemy had to break off the engagement because of their fuel situation and return for home, and a relieved Reynell flies back to base.

1600hrs: More waves of heavy German bombers came across the Kent countryside and from the direction of the Thames Estuary. 56 Sqn (North Weald), 79 Sqn, 222 Sqn 253 Sqn, 501 Sqn (Gravesend) and 603 Sqn (Hornchurch) were among the squadrons dispatched to intercept, many of these squadrons had been in combat practically non stop since 1030hrs. Keith Park, for the second time this day, had every one of his squadrons airborne and called in 12 Group - this time requested them to engage in combat and not just protect 11 Group airfields.

Since the start of the Battle 12 Group's Coltishall-based 242 Sqn, led by Sqn Ldr. Douglas Bader, had been flying convoy patrols off the East Anglian coast and seen little fighting. Bader who had just brought his squadron down from Coltishall that morning had been longing for action for months, but up until now had not seen any (with the exception of intercepting a lone aircraft while on patrol). According to Douglas Bader, "that’s not action, my twelve Hurricanes against fifteen or so of theirs, that's what I call action." So if Bader called fifteen enemy aircraft action, then he was now going to be thrown right into it as being vectored close to North Weald there were seventy enemy aircraft. Led by Bader in P3061 they tackled raid X33, a diamond formation of KG 1’s He 111s which had already braved 54 rounds of heavy AA fire, and shot down two. Before returning to Coltishall that evening 242 operated on two occasions

The biggest, potentially most damaging operation so far, had to be ferociously dealt with using as many aircraft as possible. The first bombing incidents came at Lambeth. Soon after a group of fewer than ten Ju88s made low and fast for Sheppey, suddenly veering south at around 1800hrsand for the second time that day, Biggin Hill was bombed and almost put out of action. Detling airfield was hit by at least fifty H.E. bombs, oil tanks were hit and set ablaze, the main electricity cable was hit and cut the power to all buildings and with hangars and roadways cratered it was anticipated that the airfield would be out of action for at least two days. Nine Ju88 bombers manage to get though the British defences and took everybody by surprise and struck Biggin Hill with a low level bombing attack dropping 1000 lb bombs causing mayhem and delivering a devastating blow on the station smashing the workshops, barrack blocks, MT Section, WAAF quarters, the transport yard, storerooms, the armoury, both officers and sergeants messes. Two hangars were wrecked earlier in the day and now another hanger was almost flattened and on top of all that telephone and communication lines were severed, gas and water mains were ruptured. Too late, six Hurricanes of 79 Sqn arrived, chasing after the Ju88s and claiming two of them. Casualties amounted to thirty-nine personnel killed and thirty-five injured.

Around 1610hrs, 20 He-111s of II/KG 1 escorted by Bf110s flew across Southend and then North Weald bound for Luton's industrial area.

The Luton air raid of 30th August

Despite spirited efforts by Hurricanes of 1, 56, 242 and 501 Sqns – No’s. 1 and 56 each destroying a Heinkel - the raiders reached Luton, where at 1640hrs they carried out the five minutes of bombing during which 207 HEs fell, may on Vauxhall Motors factory. No public warning had sounded and horrific scenes followed the destruction of the factory's main internal stairway. Casualties totalled 59 killed and 141 injured. Over 60 bombs fell very wide of the target, 18 of them in Whipsnade Zoo.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 36

RAF

32 Sqn Hurricane N2540 Destroyed on ground

43 Sqn Hurricane V6548 J.V.C.Badger

56 Sqn Hurricane N2668 R.E.P.Brooker and Hurricane R2689 E.J.Gracie

66 Sqn Spitfire R6715 J.H.T.Pickering

74 Sqn Spitfire X4022 W.M.Skinner

79 Sqn Hurricane V6624 J.E.Marshall

151 Sqn Hurricane V7369 E.B.King and Hurricane R4213 F.Gmur

222 Sqn Spitfire P9325 S.Baxter, Spitfire P9375 J.M.Carpenter, Spitfire K9826 H.P.M.Edridge, Spitfire R6628 J.I.Johnson, Spitfire P9443 G.C.Matheson and Spitfire P9323 A.W.P.Spears

253 Sqn Hurricane P3802 G.A.Brown, Hurricane L1965 C.D.Francis, Hurricane P9321 D.N.O.Jenkins, Hurricane P3213 J.H.Dickinson and Hurricane P2631 S.F.Cooper

603 Sqn Spitfire L1067 G.L.Denholm and Spitfire R7021 A.R.Sarre

616 Sqn Spitfire X4248 J.S.Bell

43 Sqn Hurricane P3179 Dennis Noble. Noble was killed having been shot down by a Bf 109 over the Sussex coast, his plane crashing adjacent to the eastern footpath of Woodhouse Road and on the boundary of waste land to the east of Portland Gate, Hove at 1150hrs - he was 20. His body was apparently recovered and buried in East Retford Cemetery. However, in July 1996, a wartime Hurricane crash-site was excavated, the pilot's remains were found and positively identified as being those of Sgt Noble. This raised the question of who was actually buried in his grave.

[media}

[Coast]

31st August 1940.

Fair conditions prevailed over most of the country with higher temperatures. Clear and fine in the south, hazy in the Thames Estuary and Channel areas near Dover.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group Bombing - oil plant at Wesseling 10 Sqn. Six aircraft. All bombed primary. Raids on Berlin - one of the RAF bomber pilots reported:

"When we arrived we found the target well on fire. We could see it when we were 25 minutes flying time away. We put our stick of bombs down just to the left of this big fire. Then four more fires started. Altogether we were cruising around over Berlin for about half an hour.

RAF Fighter Command

At 0755hrs radar picked up one plot over the Thames Estuary, another plot was picked up over the Channel and heading towards the Dover and Dungeness area and within a few minutes it was confirmed that three formations were approaching from the Thames Estuary while the fourth was approaching over Dover and many a remark was made, "they just don't give up do they." and "blimey, not again." But Park, realizing that he had dispatched his fighters far too late the previous day, was taking no chances this time. Two squadrons were "scrambled" and were vectored to the Margate and Thames Estuary area. This first wave of enemy aircraft was identified as Bf109s and flying at some 25,000 feet where their performance was better than that of the Spitfire. Park sent out the order for them to return to their bases as he was not wanting to involve fighter to fighter combat. 253 Sqn (Kenley) received the message and headed for home. But the other squadron, 1st Canadian Squadron RCAF (they had not been allocated a RAF Squadron number at this time) did not receive the message and got caught up with the Bf109s and three of their aircraft were destroyed. F/O G.C.Hyde baled out of his aircraft but sustained severe burns, F/Lt V.B.Corbett suffered the same fate. There is no information on the third Canadian pilot. Realizing that Fighter Command was not to be tempted, the Bf109s decided to attack the barrage balloons around the Dover area.

0815hrs: Three more waves of enemy aircraft had been detected by radar approaching the Thames Estuary again. The Observer Corps reported them to be a formation of 200+ enemy bombers, which consisted of a mixture of He111s and Do17s escorted by 60 Bf110s. Keith Park makes the decision to "scramble" 13 squadrons from 11 Group in the London area, leaving only two or three squadrons to guard the city. But reaching the mouth of the Thames, the German aircraft break and go into several formations, each heading for a separate target. North Weald was hit and sustained considerable damage, Hornchurch also received a few hits, the RAF fighters here doing a swell job at keeping most of the bombers away from the airfield. 0825hrs: A formation of 40 Do17s heads towards Duxford with the escorting Bf110s as protection. 12 Group is taken by surprise and the Group Controller there sends out an urgent appeal to 11 Group for assistance. Park responded immediately and diverted 111 Sqn (Croydon) to make an interception. 111 Sqn flew due north-east in an effort to cut off the formation, then turning south met the Dornier Do17s head on. They managed to scatter the formation but could only destroy only one bomber. With most of the RAF fighters holding the bombers at bay around the London area, and 111 Sqn already dispersing the other formation from attacking Duxford, it left a third formation completely unopposed at attacking Debden airfield which suffered badly where over 100 bombs fell causing serious damage to three barracks, storerooms and pot holing the airfield badly. 18 personnel were injured in this attack as well as a number of aircraft parked on the base.

The returning Dorniers and Heinkels ran into 19 Sqn (Fowlmere) where two enemy bombers are shot down at the expense of two of the Spitfires. One pilot, F/O J.B.Coward had his aircraft shot up by an Bf109 and had his leg torn off just below the knee, but he managed to bale out and was safely taken to a base hospital. 0900hrs, The Luftwaffe launch another attack, this time two waves approach from the Thames Estuary again. One Dornier formation diverts to Eastchurch where the airfield receives minor damage, as does Detling airfield, which was attacked by Bf110s. By this time, Fighter Command was feeling the strain of many days of hard combat. Fighters were being lost in greater numbers than they were being replaced, but what was more important was the fact that the pilots were becoming tired. Many were going up on four sorties a day and at the moment with 11 Group under constant attack they were not in a position to be given the rest that was so badly needed.

From Group Headquarters, AVM Keith Park issues another order further cementing the order that no fighter aircraft are to be sent to intercept formations where the Observer Corps have recognized the enemy as being only formations of German fighter aircraft. At around 1215hrs, 100 bombers with a heavy escort was detected coming across the coast at Dungeness. Breaking into two separate formations but both seemed to be taking different routes towards London. Confirmation comes through that one of the formations consists of Dornier Do17s while the other is made up of Heinkel He111’s, which also splits up into two more formations. In this attack, Biggin Hill was again attacked just after 79 Sqn is "scrambled". Hornchurch "scrambles" 603 Sqn, which had just recently come down from Scotland.

79 Sqn is ordered to patrol over Biggin Hill and to expect a raid by Heinkels on the airfield again. This time they cannot get to the bombers because of the strong cover by the fighter escort. Three Bf109s are shot down, during the fierce combat but the bombers get through and again Biggin Hill suffers considerably. The airfield was cratered so badly that squadrons that had previously taken off there had to be diverted to Kenley and Croydon. Now, all the telephone lines at Biggin Hill had been put out of action. The attack on Hornchurch continued. A squadron managed to take off before the approaching Dorniers dropped their first bombs, but three Spitfires didn't make it:

Squadron Leader Tom Gleave

1300hrs: During the afternoon, waves of Bf110s come over the coast from Cape Griz Nez and attack the radar stations once again. Foreness CHL also came under attack, but although damage was caused, it was not enough to put any of them out of action and by nightfall, all radar stations were working as normal. The Observer Corps report that some 150 plus enemy aircraft and cross the coast between Dover and the Thames Estuary. Fighter Command were to release 85 Sqn (Croydon), 253 Sqn (Kenley), 310 Sqn (Duxford), 501 Sqn (Gravesend) and 601 Sqn (Debden). Squadron Leader Tom Gleave of 253 Sqn, who had the previous day shot down four enemy aircraft in as many minutes, was now a casualty himself. When the squadron was scrambled, Tom Gleave led what was left of his squadron, just seven serviceable Hurricanes and attacked a formation of Ju88 bombers. He was just about to return to Kenley, when a Bf109 dived down behind him, then pulled up firing at the Hurricane. Gleave’s machine was hit underneath the fuselage and in the tail section. At the same time, the reserve fuel tank which was between the instrument panel and the engine burst into flames and some twenty-eight gallons of high octane fuel splashed all over Tom Gleave’s body. With his clothing alight, and flames licking every part of the cockpit of the Hurricane, he rolled the aircraft over on its back and managed to unbuckle his harness and fall out of the open canopy, which luckily was in the locked open position as he had been in the process of preparing to land. With his clothes on fire, he chose not to open his parachute in case the chute caught fire, and fell for at least 2,000 feet before deciding to pull the ripcord. His body had been badly burned, so too his face. His eyelids had practically been melted together and he was falling blind as he heard the closing sound of a Messerschmitt, then the sound of the Merlin engine of a Spitfire followed by the rat-a tat of Browning machine guns, and he knew he was safe as the Bf109 pulled away. He landed in a wood, and with his eyelids now peeled open and his trousers burnt away he saw that his legs had terrible burns with the skin coming away like sheets of wafer thin pieces of paper. His gloves too had been burnt off revealing a pair of skinless hands and bloodstained flesh.

1515hrs: All available aircraft at Biggin Hill and Hornchurch are scrambled as another large formation makes its way in from the Thames Estuary. Hornchurch receives only slight damage and one of the personnel is reported killed. But as it had been in the past, heavier attacks seemed more prevalent at Biggin Hill where again the damage was more serious. The operations room was hit and once again the telephone system was out of action. The concrete roof of the ops room caves in and the plotting table is smashed to pieces. Two hangars, the officer’s mess and a number of workshops were destroyed, as well as concrete runways and roads that had received direct hits. Despite the ferocity of the attack, not one member of the RAF was killed – though a member of the local Boys Brigade was. With its operations block destroyed, the base commander operated out of a shop in Biggin Hill village. 72 Sqn had to move to Croydon while 79 Sqn still managed to fly out of the base – the result of rapidly filled in bomb craters.

Depiction of P/O Harold 'Birdy' Bird-Wilson of 17 Sqn in combat with Oberleutnant Hasso von Perthes of 3/LG2, 31st August 1940. Von Perthes baled out and was captured at Oxted, Surrey. His Me109 crashed at Crowhurst.

Later that evening, some 160 bombers again attacked the Merseyside cities of Liverpool and Birkenhead, this being the fourth successive night of bombing. There were a number of nuisance raids around the country. Duxford also was attacked, but with no serious damage. In all, it had been a terrible day for the RAF. Since first light, the airfields of 11 Group had been under relentless attack. But the already tired pilots were hanging out, and as one pilot had said, "this is about as bad as it can get, because after today, it just cannot get any worse."

By evening, the sun went down closing another month and Fighter Command was taking a rather grim view of the situation. The last couple of days had taken a toll on pilots, including many experienced commanders and now many squadrons were being led by junior officers and even in some cases by non-commisioned officer pilots. Sgt J.H (Ginger) Lacey of 501 Sqn was one of them. S/L P.W.Townsend of 85 Sqn was another experienced pilot that was a casualty of the battle, his place being taken by P/O G.Allard. Sgt A.(Archie) McDowell had his moment of glory when he took command of 602 Sqn. 151 Sqn that had lost six pilots in three days was now down to twelve pilots to fly ten serviceable aircraft and was withdrawn from 11 Group duties. 43 Sqn lost two of its commanders and by early September a third, S/L C.B.Hull, a South African was killed. From now on, it seemed that the Royal Air Force was to rely heavily on the young and inexperienced pilots of Fighter Command.

In all, the Germans had lost over sixty aircraft that had been shot down, and with most of them being fighters the amount of personnel killed, injured or taken prisoner was a serious blow to the Luftwaffe. The German pilots like the British were becoming tired, and by now disillusionment was setting in. They had been promised by German High Command that the attacks on the British Fighter Command would be a swift action, and that to knock them out in the air as well as on the ground would be nothing but a formality. But the Luftwaffe had found that this was not to be so, they felt that on many occasions they were being misinformed by their own intelligence service because they were constantly underestimating the strength both in pilots and aircraft of Fighter Command. They also felt that the RAF’s strength as the war progressed was in the skill of the fighter pilot, the young British pilots were learning tactics fast. But, the number of losses in the Luftwaffe was now causing great concern, not only to the German High Command but also to the pilots themselves

Losses – ‘our blackest day’

Luftwaffe – 41

RAF (including losses on the ground)

1 Sqn Hurricane V7375 H.J.Merchant

1 (R.C.A.F.) Sqn Hurricane P2971 G.C.Hyde, Hurricane P3858 unknown pilot, Hurricane N2530 J.P.J.Desloges and Hurricane P3869 V.B.Corbett

19 Sqn Spitfire X4231 J.B.Coward, Spitfire R6958 F.N.Brinsden and Spitfire R6912 R.A.C.Aeberhardt

54 Sqn Spitfire R6895 A.C ‘Al’ Deere, Spitfire X4236 E.F.Edsall, Spitfire N3110 J.Davis and Spitfire X4054 D.G.Gibbins

56 Sqn Hurricane R4197 M.H.Mounsdon, Hurricane V6628 C.Whitehead, Hurricane V7378 P.S.Weaver and Hurricane V7341 I.B.Wesmacott

72 Sqn Spitfire P9438 F.M.Smith and Spitfire P9547 E.J.Wilcox

79 Sqn Hurricane N2345 G.H.Nelson-Edwards, Hurricane V7200 H.A.Bolton, Hurricane P3050 W.H.Millington and Hurricane P3877 E.J.Morris

85 Sqn Hurricane P3166 P.Townsend and Hurricane V6581 P.A.Worrall

111 Sqn Hurricane P2888 J.T.Craig

151 Sqn Hurricane P3312 J.L.W.Ellecombe and Hurricane P3301 F.Czajkowski

222 Sqn Spitfire P9337 G.G.A.Davies and Spitfire P3960 D.O.G (destroyed on ground).

253 Sqn Hurricane L1830 H.M.Starr andHurricane P3115 T.P.Gleave

257 Sqn Hurricane V6601 J.A.M.Henderson and Hurricane P3175 G.H.Maffett

80814, P/O Gerard Hamilton Maffett’s Hurricane was shot down over Walton-on-the-Naze after his squadron intercepted enemy aircraft returning from a bombing raid on Fighter Command airfields. Maffett, 24, managed to bale out of his stricken plane – but was too low to save himself. His aircraft ended up on the saltings at the north end of what used to be the Naze Golf Course and is now a public open space.

Seventy years on, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) commemorated the incident on 27th August 2010. A Hurricane, Spitfire and Lancaster made a dedicated flypast at the Naze Tower after taking part in the Clacton Air Show.

310 Sqn Hurricane P3159 J.Sterbacek and Hurricane P8814 M.Kredba

501 Sqn Hurricane V6540 A.Glowacki

601 Sqn Hurricane P3735 R.N.Taylor and Hurricane R4215 M.D.Doulton

603 Squadron Spitfire V7260 H.T.Gilbert, Spitfire X4273 R.M.Waterson and Spitfire X4271 G.K.Gilroy

The above list does really not reflect on the ferocity of the days fighting. In addition to those killed are:

41 Hurricanes and Spitfires either written off of lost at sea.

11 Pilots who baled out of their aircraft suffered from burns.

22 Pilots in total had to bale out of their damaged aircraft.

19 of the aircraft hit by enemy gunfire either returned to base of made a forced landing.

It was felt that now the Luftwaffe really meant business. Germany had launched a total of 1,310 sorties against Britain. It appeared that Kesselring was intent on attacking with everything that he had. One direct hit on the power supply line took out the radar stations at Dover, Rye, Pevensey, Foreness, Beachy Head and Whitstable and they were off the air for a critical three hours. The forward airfields of Hawkinge, Lympne and Manston had received considerable damage the day before, but they were regarded as still being operational. The main airfields of Gravesend, Croydon, Kenley, Hornchurch and Duxford also had received serious damage. Biggin Hill was attacked twice by 109s and Ju88s within a few hours and major damage was done with the result that some 40 people were killed. But Biggin, who had the day before made a statement that they were temporarily out of action, made all out effort by ground crews (and some pilots) overnight and in the early hours of the morning, they declared themselves operational Kenley, Shoreham, Tangmere and Rochford were also targeted where the story was much the same. Hangars, buildings and the airfields themselves receiving devastating damage.

Many times, fighter sweeps by Bf109s failed to attract Fighter Command into the air, Park was not going to be drawn into unnecessary fighter combat. So Kesselring sent over fast Ju88 bombers and working in conjunction with the Bf109s was adamant that somehow he would get the RAF fighters into the air. At one time, a mass formation of over 200 bombers droned over the Kent coast only to break into separate formations with each one targeting the RAF airfields. Biggin Hill was attacked again, as was Kenley, Gravesend, Hornchurch, Debden, North Weald, in fact every RAF airfield from Duxford to the south coast was attacked in one way or another. Fighter Command was forced to get some of its fighters into the air. The selective targets were to 'get the bombers'. The skies over the south coast became a pattern of vapour trails as some of the RAF fighters got tangled up with 109s, it was impossible to avoid them. Most of the fighters tried in vain to straffe the bombers, but it all became a melee. The casualties started to fall from the sky, Spitfires, Bf 109s, Hurricanes, Heinkels and Dorniers. Many were badly shot up, others just collided into each other. Deliberate, or accidental, the ramming and/or colliding with aircraft was a common occurrence, especially when many of the pilots were adopting the head on attack attitude. Carried out correctly, it was a successful method of attack. Mostly used on attack on bombers, it was also used frequently in fighter combat.

Brushing aside the misgivings of his generals and admirals, Hitler had given orders for Operation Sealion, the invasion of England, to go ahead. Göring promised to destroy the fighter defences in the south of England in four days and the rest of the RAF in two or three weeks. So the Fuhrer stated that he would decide on the invasion date in the following fortnight. The transfer of shipping to the Channel ports was beginning, and plans for a feint attack against the east coast of Britain had been made. But Hitler had still not resolved a bitter dispute between the army and navy over the deployment of the invasion force.

The army was planned a landing on a 200-mile front from Ramsgate to Lyme Regis, throwing into action 1,722 barges, 1,161 motorboats, 470 tugs and 155 transports. Grand Admiral Erich Raeder said that it is quite impossible for his navy to protect such a vast and widely dispersed force. He told Hitler that the navy would risk having all its ships sunk by the British. Raeder, who was made a Grand Admiral by Hitler on 1 April 1939, said that the army should concentrate on a narrow front between Folkestone and Eastbourne, "Complete suicide," General Halder, the chief of staff, responded furiously. The British would hit them with overwhelming force. "I might just as well put the troops through a sausage machine."

During a strategy meeting at Hitler’s Obersalzburg retreat, Hitler asked Raeder to give his opinion. "All things considered," Raeder said, "the best time for the operation would be May 1941." This certainly was not the answer the Fuhrer wanted. By next year the British would have had even longer to prepare plans to counter an invasion, the British Army would have recovered from its Dunkirk defeat, and the German Kriegsmarine would still not be able to challenge the Royal Navy.

Moving the Bf109s to Calais so that they could spend more time escorting the bombers was a good tactical move, it still did not allow them the amount of time over England as they would have liked. Buy the time that they had crossed the coast of England, and including take off, they had used up over a third of their fuel. If they had engaged in a dogfight and with throttles wide open excessive fuel would be used and this was one of the main reasons for having to break away and retreat from combat because they had to allow for enough fuel for the return journey. Many German fighters were shot down trying to get back to their bases because they could not afford to get involved in any more dogfights.

They knew, that in the last couple of days in August 1940, they had pounded the RAF airfields almost to oblivion, and they were being given figures that indicated that they were destroying more and more RAF fighters every day, but each time that they went in on a mission escorting the bombers, there always seemed to be more Hurricanes and Spitfires than ever before. Many German fighter pilots had by now grown to "hate' the Channel, they started to call it the 'sewer' because any more time spent in combat than ten minutes, then they knew that a forced landing in the Channel was inevitable. But even if they were tired and morale was at an all time low, they were to prove in the month ahead that they still had enough strength to practically 'set England alight' with constant day and night raids that would, as Goering stated "for once and for all we will now pound them into submission".

Squadron Leader Peter Townsend of 85 Sqn was shot down on this day and wrote:

While the Luftwaffe were attacking more and more strategic targets under the cover of darkness, during daytime it was throwing everything it could into an all out effort to destroy the RAF day-fighter bases defending London. On the 30th and 31st August the day battle reached an unprecedented ferocity. The 31st was our blackest day.........

I was one of the casualties on the 31st. As Dornier bombers swept over Croydon, demolishing hangars and technical buildings, I led my squadron off through the smoke and dust against the attackers. Twenty minutes later, after a sharp cut and thrust combat with a swarm of escorting Messerschmitts, my Hurricane was hit. So was I. Once again my parachute saved me. That night in Croydon General Hospital, the surgeon took a 20mm cannon-shell out of my foot, as I passed out under the anaesthetic I could faintly hear the sirens wailing. The Luftwaffe were closing in on London.

Peter Townsend from his book 'Duel in the Dark'

SUMMARY FOR AUGUST

The first few days of the month were a continuation of the July raids by the Luftwaffe. The weather controlled most of the activities but the raids continued on the Channel convoys. Hitler issued his famous Directive No.17 in which he stated that he has decided to wage war against Great Britain. The plan was that an all out air attack against Britain was planned for August 13th, but in the meantime the convoy attacks continued through until August 12th.

The day that "Adler Tag" was implemented, August 13th, got off to a clumsy start for the Luftwaffe. Some of the bomber formations had taken off before the actual order had reached their respective units. Some of these until managed to rendezvous with their fighter escort only to find that after a short period the fighters peeled away and returned to base. A communication breakdown had caused the bomber formations not to receive radio signals because the wrong frequency had been given to them. They continued their attack and a misunderstanding by British radar which advised of "a few bandits approaching" so only one fighter squadron was sent up. The Dorniers made a successful attack on Eastchurch aerodrome. The attacks on Fighter Command airfields was under way, although a large planned attack was supposed to have been made on the afternoon of the 13th, weather conditions did not permit this and Adler Tag was delayed.

Night activity was also increased by the Luftwaffe. Up until now they had been quite content with mine laying operations. Now they were venturing further and with more purpose. Attacks commenced on Merseyside, in the Midlands, and towns along the east coast. By August 15th, formations of bombers from Luftflotte 5 based at Stavanger in Norway attempted an attack on the north east of England with disastrous results, so much so that no further attempts were made to attack from Scandinavia again. But during the afternoon, radar stations along the southern coast as well as Lympne, Hawkinge and Manston airfields. It was clear by August 15th that the Luftwaffe plans were to make all out attacks on Fighter Command airfields.

By the 18th of the month, the Battle of Britain was on in earnest. Biggin Hill, Kenley and Croydon were almost devastated. Poling radar station was almost destroyed; Coastal Command and naval aerodromes suffered damage, as was many areas in north Kent. Casualty figures started to rise on both sides. Göring thought that he would have inflicted enough damage to Fighter Command that the way would be clear for Hitler’s planned invasion, but this was not to be so. They thought that this would be an easy victory, but after the day’s events, their moral lowered and such a high loss rate the invasion date was set back until September 17th.

Through until the end of the month, the Luftwaffe maintained its pressure on the RAF airfields. Hardly any of the aerodromes escaped severe bombing attacks. Fighter Command was losing pilots as well as aircraft, and Dowding acknowledged that he was losing pilots and aircraft quicker than they could be replaced. The Luftwaffe continued to make blunders that were to cost them more bombers as well as aircrew. They had not learned from earlier mistakes and a number of occasions saw fighter escorts ordered to turn back without notifying the bomber formations. Now Fighter Command were losing not only new and inexperienced pilots, they were losing pilots with many years experience and who held high rank. On a number of occasions junior officers were given command of squadrons because of the loss of squadron commanders.

CASUALTIES FOR AUGUST

Fighter Command

Hurricane: 211 destroyed, 44 damaged

Pilots: 85 killed, 1 missing, 68 wounded

Spitfire: 113 destroyed, 40 damaged

Pilots: 41 killed, 3 missing, 38 wounded

Blenheim: 13 destroyed, 10 damaged

Crew: 6 killed, 3 missing, 0 wounded

Defiant: 7 destroyed, 3 damaged

Crew: 7 killed, unknown amount missing, 4 wounded

TOTAL AIRCRAFT: 344 destroyed, 97 damaged

TOTAL PERSONNEL: 139 killed, 7 missing, 110 wounded

Luftwaffe

Dornier Do 17: 71 destroyed, 30 damaged

Personnel: 70 killed, 129 missing, 57 wounded

Heinkel He 111: 89 destroyed, 15 damaged

Personnel: 113 killed, 204 missing, 35 wounded

Junkers Ju 88: 89 destroyed, 32 damaged

Personnel: 94 killed, 182 missing, 19 wounded

Junkers Ju 87: 57 destroyed, 16 damaged

Personnel: 35 killed, 58 missing, 19 wounded

Messerschmitt Bf 109: 217 destroyed, 45 damaged

Personnel: 54 killed, 91 missing, 39 wounded

Messerschmitt Bf 110: 119 destroyed, 40 damaged

Personnel: 80 killed, 113 missing, 22 wounded

Other: 27 destroyed, 4 damaged

Personnel: 17 killed, 27 missing, 10 wounded

TOTAL AIRCRAFT: 669 destroyed, 182 damaged

TOTAL PERSONNEL: 463 killed, 804 missing, 201 wounded

[Coast]

1st September 1940.

The country was under cloudy patches for most of the morning with some sunny periods. Temperatures were a little higher than average, with the cloud burning off about midday giving way to fine and sunny conditions.

RAF Bomber Command

For the first week of September, the only Blenheim sorties were the anti-shipping patrols. In fact, the majority of daylight operations were of this nature and rarely featured more than a dozen aircraft. Airfields were becoming secondary targets as the Command sought to disrupt Hitler's invasion plans by targeting the barges moored along the length of the Channel coast. The nighttime operations were of a completely different nature. The numbers of aircraft used was starting to increase. On fourteen nights the total number of aircraft on operations exceeded 100, and for six nights in the middle of September between 92 and 194, the highest of any night so far, concentrated on the Channel ports with minor operations against German targets.

4 Group Bombing - industrial targets at Milan, Turin, Munich and south-east Germany. 51 Sqn. Three aircraft to Fiat works at Turin. All bombed. Three aircraft to Munich marshalling yards. All bombed. 78 Sqn. Three aircraft to Milan. One bombed primary, one bombed French airfield. Two aircraft to BMW works at Munich. One bombed primary, one bombed alternative.

RAF Fighter Command

1015hrs: The day held the same usual pattern as did many of the preceding days, quiet early, but at mid morning a build up of enemy aircraft was detected by the radar stations at Dover, Foreness and Pevensey. The Luftwaffe kept to their standard pattern of sending in a small formation of Bf109s first as a diversionary, but as usual they are ignored by Fighter Command. These are followed by 60+ bombers that consisted of formations of Dornier Do17s and Bf110s with the fighter escort of Bf109s at higher altitude. Just prior to reaching the Kent coast, they broke up into a number of smaller formations, each designated to a different target. Again it was the airfields of Fighter Command that bore the brunt of the Luftwaffe attacks, Eastchurch, Rochford, Detling and once again Biggin Hill. A total of ten squadrons were given the order to readiness, and once again, it seemed as though 11 Group would be stretched to the limit as the German bombers were heading for four different areas at the same time.

1025hrs: Keith Park was still cautious as he viewed the large map table below him at Group HQ, forty Bf109s were positioned off the coast to the west, and seemed quite content at staying there, but he was more concerned with the three other formations positioned eastwards on the map table. Park, like Hugh Dowding, relied heavily on radar and had great faith in the radar operators and the Observer Corps. When the bomber formations were 'X' number of miles off the English coast, that's when he would want the squadrons to scramble to intercept them. If the squadrons left too early, they would be in combat action over the waters of the Channel; Fighter Command knew that there was only a 20% recovery rate for pilots downed in the Channel. If the squadrons left too late, then they could not attain the height and position required to launch a successful attack on the incoming enemy formations. The timing had to be correct.

Fourteen squadrons were scrambled and were vectored to intercept the enemy formations as they crossed the coast from Dungeness to Margate, and as others entered the Thames Estuary and headed due west along the River Thames heading towards London. At around 1100hrs fierce dogfights occurred over the eastern half of Kent. Most of these were in separate pockets scattered in different areas. 54 Sqn (Hornchurch) and 72 Sqn (Croydon) are vectored towards the Maidstone area. Here, they engage a formation of Dorniers after they had crossed the coast near Beachy Head. 72 Sqn had just arrived at the Biggin Hill sector but because of the damage sustained at Biggin Hill, the squadron were posted to Croydon and were immediately thrown into the action. 1130hrs: As 54 Sqn intercept the Dornier formation, they are joined by 1 Squadron (Northolt) while 72 Sqn made their approach on the enemy from the west and as they lined up their attack, they were jumped on by Bf109s who tore into the squadron with deadly accuracy. The dock areas of London now come under attack by enemy bombers that had managed to get through. Park ordered a number of squadrons at Hornchurch, Biggin Hill and Kenley to be at readiness to protect the main sector station including 79 Sqn (Biggin Hill).

F/O Desmond Sheen watches as one of his squadron is attacked by a Bf109 as he prepared to line up a Dornier, he calls out but gets little or no response as Sgt. M.Pocock takes a hit and dives earthwards. Soon after, Desmond Sheen is hit himself as five or six Bf109s bear down on him. His engine bursts into flames and he is forced to bale out. 1330hrs: The fighters of the morning raid had hardly returned to their bases, rearmed and refuelled when they were once again placed at readiness as a large formation had been detected again coming in over Dover. It was all a carbon copy of the earlier raid and the enemy bombers again broke into smaller groups with some approaching London over Dover and Ashford while another headed north and came in following the Thames.

Again Keith Park put up as many squadrons as he could while at the same time keeping enough back at the sector stations for close protection. 1 (RCAF) Sqn (Northolt), 54 Sqn, 72 Sqn, 85 Sqn (Croydon), 253 Sqn and 616 Sqn (Kenley) were among many of the squadrons scrambled to intercept. At 1345hrs the first interceptions were made between Folkestone and Hastings and 85 Squadron made contact near Lympne. P/O G.Allard was about to make an attack when his aircraft developed a loss in oil pressure. He decided that he would make a landing at nearby Lympne airfield when the engine started to cough and splutter. As he was about to touch down, he was losing enough power that the Hurricane became hard to control but he managed to land the aircraft safely just as bombs started to fall on the airfield. P/O Allard managed to get out of the aircraft which was damaged by bomb fragments as it lay parked on the airfield. 72 Sqn made their interception over Dungeness, 616 Sqn) followed soon after. 85 Sqn stayed with the combat but could do nothing to slow down the advance of the German bombers which had been reported as being 150 plus strong and consisted of Do17s, Bf110 and Bf109s.

The squadrons protecting the sector stations, including 79 Sqn were scrambled at 1400hrs as the bombers approached. This was now the sixth raid on Biggin Hill in three days. During the day, they had been trying to hold a funeral service at a cemetery just outside the airfield for the fifty or so personnel that were killed in earlier raids on the station. All the coffins were lined up next to the graves, some were draped with the flags, but many were not as there were not enough of them to go round. The service is in progress as the air raid siren sounds, and 79 Sqn is immediately put into the air once again. The airfield is hit yet once again, and Group Captain Grice, the Station Commander wonders when it is all going to stop.

Inside the airfield, everything seemed to be in disaster mode. Hangars are hit, as are mess halls, workshops and the telecommunications system. Bf110s come in low and bomb with accuracy; Do17s at higher altitude drop high explosive bombs. Damage is extensive. The attack continues on to Kenley where Do17s come in low. One of them is shot down by the Hurricanes of 85 Squadron. It tries to return towards the coast hoping that it could get back to base, but with both engines now in flames the bomber crashes near Dungeness. Three of the crew managed to bale out and were captured, but a fourth was killed when the aircraft crashed. P/O Colin Gray of 54 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) managed to hit a Bf109 which with a damaged engine had to make a forced landing in a field near Rye. The pilot was also captured. A Bf110 after completing its bombing run on Biggin Hill, was shot down by P/O P.F.Mayhew of 79 Sqn and it exploded as it hit the ground at Brasted killing both crew on board. Another Bf110 was attacked by the Hurricanes of 85 Sqn over Biggin Hill. Damaged by machine gun fire, it managed to keep flying and a Spitfire of 616 Sqn went in to assist. It was finally shot down by P/O C.E.English of 85 Sqn hitting the 110 in its only remaining engine and it made a forced landing at Ham Street where both of the crew were captured.

But the experience of 85 Sqn was to be short lived. At around 1415hrs Over the Kenley area, they were jumped on by a number of Bf109s cutting the squadron to pieces. First to be hit was P/O A.V.Gowers who managed to bale out of his burning Hurricane and received severe burns. Next was Sgt. G.B.Booth whose aircraft caught fire after an attack by a Bf109. The flames spread rapidly and Sgt. Booth baled out, but his parachute pack had been burnt and he fell without an open parachute to the ground. He survived the impact, but broke his back in the process. (After five months of agonizing pain and hospitalization he died of his injuries on February 7th 1941). F/O P.P.Woods-Scawen who was leading the squadron also baled out and his parachute failed to open as well and was killed on impact with the ground. (His body was not discovered until six days later in scrub in Kenley Lane Kenley). The Hurricane of P/O A.G.Lewis was badly shot up over Kenley and he had to make a wheels up landing after he suffered a jammed undercarriage. Sgt. J.H.M.Ellis was also believed to have been killed as he never returned to base. His body has never been found.

Hurricanes of 32 Sqn here depicted at ‘The Bump’ (Biggin Hill) in 1940

1530hrs: In the two attacks of the day by German bomber formations, RAF fighter stations had suffered badly. Although Biggin Hill and Kenley had taken the brunt of the damage, Hornchurch, North Weald, Gravesend and Detling also took a battering. Targets at Tilbury also suffered as did the London Docks. Now, for the third time for the day, 100 plus aircraft came across the coast intent on doing further damage. Their course was the same as the two earlier raids. This time they started to bomb targets along the way. One formation dropped bombs on Hawkinge and Lympne airfields while another formation and making their attack on Detling and Chatham. Bf110s also decided to strafe the Dover balloon barrage along the way. A formation of Do17 bombers headed towards South London and it was at 1730hrs that Biggin Hill realized that they were again to be the target.

Luftwaffe map of Biggin Hill

1800hrs: A direct hit on the operations rooms put them completely out of action. All telephone lines were cut and the Teleprinter Network was destroyed by a single 500lb bomb. One of the workshops was on fire and four Spitfires were destroyed on the ground and the station armoury was ablaze. In fact, two of the women at Biggin Hill, for their actions that day were awarded the Military Medal. F/O Elspeth Henderson and Sergeant Helen Turner, both members of the Womens Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) Already the previous day when Biggin Hill was attacked, both women along with Assistant Section Officer Felicity Hanbury went along to the women’s trenches at the request of the station chaplain. The trenches were close to the stores and the Guardroom and had received a direct hit. The Station Officer was already there and ordered that everybody grab a shovel and dig like mad. Its not a pretty sight to see your first dead person, and although most of the girls were only shaken or had minor injuries, the dead had to be laid out and their bodies covered with blankets. Now, the station was under attack again. Could it be that the girls would have to go through it all again?

Sergeant Joan E (Elizabeth) Mortimer, F/O Elspeth C Henderson and Sergeant Helen E Turner, recipients of the Military Medal for gallantry, standing outside damaged buildings at Biggin Hill, Kent. All three were WAAF teleprinter operators who stayed at their posts and continued to work the defence lines during the heavy Luftwaffe attacks on Biggin Hill

Biggin again is declared un-operational temporarily, six squadrons of RAF fighters could not stop this final attack, although 603 Sqn managed to claim one Bf109 that crashed at Chilham and 79 Sqn is diverted to Croydon because Biggin Hill is temporarily declared inoperable. Work began immediately on rebuilding the operations room. Men that were normally AA gunners and fitters during the day, were instructed to assist in the clean up and re-establishment of the airfield. Post Office engineers worked throughout the night to repair damaged and severed telephone cables. Ruptured gas and water mains made many nighttime repairs hazardous and many of these were delayed until first light the next morning. Work had already been undertaken on many of the telephone cables from earlier raids, one of which was the main cable that engineers worked throughout the hours of darkness, even through an air raid, but much of this work was undone with this last evening attack.

Spitfires of 222 and 603 Squadrons at Hornchurch, 1st September 1940

Bombs fell at Tynemouth, Bedlington, Rothbury, Netherton, Bebside, Stannington, Dudley, Killingworth, Tritlington and Camperdown in Northumberland, Quebec, Beamish and West Hartlepool in Co Durham to the North. The first ‘blitz’ on Swansea, oil tanks at Llandarcy hit. Swansea's town centre was targeted with a blitz which lasted several hours. (251 High Explosive bombs and over 1000 incendiaries dropped covering the region during the largest raid in Swansea to date). A deadly mixture of High Explosive and incendiary bombs fell on the shopping centre causing a red glare in the sky as a number of buildings burnt to destruction. One shopping street in particular was badly damaged and other buildings were totally gutted by the fires, whilst Parachute Flares silently and menacingly hung in the area lighting the devastation for miles around. Rescue efforts were carried out using torchlight only to avoid the area from further targeting. 33 people were killed and 115 were injured.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 14

RAF

1 Sqn (RAF) Hurricane IP3276 flown by F.G.’Fred’ Berry was involved in a dogfight with Bf-109's and was shot down and killed, crashing at Brisley Farm, Ruckinge, Kent. He is buried at Pinner New Cemetary, Harrow, Middlesex, Hurricane P3963 B.V.Kerwin and Hurricane R4171 of A.Yuile

72 Sqn Spitfire flown by R.A.Thompson, Spitfire P9458 Oswald.StJohn Pigg killed (failed to bale out after his aircraft was shot down during combat with Bf109 near Pluckley Kent), Spitfire L1056 M.H.Pocock and Spitfire X4109 D.F.B.Sheen

85 Sqn Hurricane V7343 A.V.Gowers, Hurricane L2071 G.B.Booth (Baled out of burning aircraft but burnt parachute failed to open over Tunbridge Wells), Hurricane P3150 P.P.Woods-Scawen (Shot down by Bf109, baled out but parachute failed to open over Kenley) and Hurricane P2673 flown by J.H.M.’Hugh’ Ellis who was last seen in combat with Bf109s but failed to return to base. It was not until 1993 that his subsequently recovered remains were positively identified at the crash site beside Warren Road, Chelsfield, Kent

253 Sqn Hurricane P5185 J.K.G.’Curly’ Clifton was shot down in combat with Do215 and Bf110s and failed to bale out

603 Sqn Spitfire L1020 P.M.Cardell

616 Sqn Spitfire R6778 L.H.Casson

When asked later about the general situation, Keith Park simply stated "we are holding our own...just".

By this period, the Luftwaffe pilots were reporting that the British fighter defence was not as intense as it had been previously. Pilots attached to 11/KG 1 on reporting after a mission over the dockland areas of East London officially placed in their report that 'Only slight enemy fighter resistance easily countered by own escort'. The British were suffering badly, they were losing more aircraft than were being produced, which meant that if things continued like this, the resources of Fighter Command would soon be depleted. Pilots too were becoming an even more serious issue. Since the Battle of Britain had begun, Dowding had lost some 75% of his squadron commanders; nearly 400 pilots had either been killed or seriously wounded. Air Vice Marshal Dowding had for some time been under pressure to include the two hundred or more Czechs, Poles and a few other European pilots into operational service. But so far, Dowding had resisted. Now with the situation that could only be classed as critical, he now had to consider that anyone who could fly a fighter plane, be put into operational service. This also included drawing on pilots from both Bomber and Coastal Commands.

Now, new pilots were being attached to squadrons with as little as fifteen or twenty hours flying experience on either Spitfires or Hurricanes. This posed new problems for Dowding and Park. The new English pilots were young and enthusiastic, the Czechs and the Poles were using their native language that was to cause immense problems as far as communications were concerned and those from Bomber and Coastal Commands had to get used to a new way of fighting. But these problems also had effects down through the chain of command. Station and squadron commanders tried to give some of the new pilots additional training, but by pushing through inexperienced men seriously weakened the effectiveness of many of the squadrons. It also put additional pressure on the more experienced who found themselves flying sortie after sortie until they could barely stand up.

Figures now started to indicate that aircraft as well as pilots had been a source of concern for Fighter Command. Prior to August, many new pilots straight from OTC units were thrown into the fray will very little flying experience and definitely no combat experience at all. Combat training for them was being thrown into action and most had to learn by their mistakes, but this was also to place additional pressure on the squadron commanders who had to carry them through their first operational sorties. But as many of these pilots were shot down, it also meant a loss of yet another aircraft for Fighter Command. Aircraft were being repaired as fast as they could, and aircraft production had been increasing slowly, but the fact remained, aircraft were being shot down as fast as the factories could produce them. Furthermore, with the constant raids on the airfields Fighter Command had to make the necessary arrangements regarding their maintenance. Without constant and ongoing repair work being done it would be so easy for an airfield top become un-operational. The whole structure of communications, defence, supplies and organization was of utmost priority. Things like damaged hangars could possibly wait until the more important tasks such as telephone lines and the rebuilding or relocation of ops rooms had been accomplished.

When many of the service blocks had been destroyed or damaged, it was not uncommon to see many of the ground personnel going about their duties under canvas tents, even much of the cooking had been done out of doors. But some tasks could not be fully functional in some circumstances. Biggin Hill made use of a local chemists shop a couple of miles down the road, and within a period of twelve hours had converted it into a fully functional operations room.

Towards the end of the Battle I had just taken about as much as I could bear. My nerves were in ribbons and I was scared stiff that one day I would pull out and avoid combat. That frightened me more than the Germans and I pleaded with my C.O. for a rest. He was sympathetic but quite adamant that until he got replacements I would have to carry on. I am glad now that he was unable to let me go. If I had been allowed to leave the squadron, feeling as I did, I am sure that I would never have flown again

Sgt J.H (Ginger) Lacey 501 Sqn

In Germany, propaganda radio station NBBS declares that 'Dover is already practically German territory.'

“This Gentleman, is England’s thank you to France.†– a Nazi cartoon suggests that England is not being very kind to its former ally.

[Coast]

2nd September 1940.

Anti cyclonic weather starts with areas of early morning mist and scattered fog inland giving way to clear skies, which continued for the rest of the day. Temperatures were again higher than average. Cloud drifted in from the North Sea later in the afternoon in Northern England and Scotland.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group Bombing - - industrial targets at Genoa - oil plant at Frankfurt. 58 Sqn. Six aircraft to Genoa. Five got off, three bombed primary, two bombed alternatives. Two ditched on return, crews safe. 77 Sqn. Six aircraft to Frankfurt. Five got off, all bombed.

RAF Fighter Command

Up until 0715hrs, the CRT screens at radar stations had remained clear of any activity. Normally, the Luftwaffe tactics was sending single early morning reconnaissance aircraft patrolling the southern and eastern coastlines. Instead, now what looked like a large build up of aircraft was taking place in the Calais and Cape Griz Nez areas. The reason that the reconnaissance aircraft did not show was probably due to the fact that the Luftwaffe was going to take advantage of the perfect conditions. At 0730hrs the radar stations from Foreness to Rye reported to Fighter Command HQ that two separate formations were heading towards Dungeness and the Thames Estuary and soon after the Observer Corps confirmed that 40 plus and 30 plus Do17s from KG3 had crossed the coast both with 50 plus Bf110 aircraft in close escort and Bf109s at higher altitude. The Dornier formations parted near Maidstone and headed for Rochford, North Weald, Biggin Hill and Gravesend; at the latter 11 bombs fell around the airfield at 0800hrs. At the same time 48 bombs caused considerable damage to houses at Rochester and 20 minutes later Chatham received ten HEs.

72 Sqn (Croydon) which earlier had been stationed to the north at Acklington, were at Croydon for the time and were immediately called into action over the northern coast of Kent and followed the Dornier bombers towards Biggin Hill. 92 Sqn (Biggin Hill) were also sent to assist but failled in protecting Biggin from yet another attack, however this time the British fighters had done enough to put the Do17s off their bombing run and little further damage was done. 222 and 603 Sqns (Hornchurch) and 249 Sqn (North Weald) engage the Dornier formation that head northwest inland from the Thames Estuary. Two of the Hurricanes are damaged by gunfire from Me110s and one is shot down in flames from gunfire from a Bf110 but one of the Do17s is shot down and another peels away belching smoke, but again, North Weald sustains only slight damage. One of the Spitfires of 603 Squadron engaged a Bf110 over Hawkinge and had difficulty in lining up the 110 enough to get a clear aim, but the aircraft was hit by gunfire from the German fighter that smashed the Perspex hood and the upper fuselage, the pilot managed to return to base.

Of the two raids, only two targets sustained damage. Enough bombers managed to escape the marauding British fighters to make a strike on the Short Brothers aircraft factory at Rochester where a number of buildings were destroyed and a number of civilians were killed. Another formation managed to attack the old motor racing circuit of Brooklands near Weybridge where Vickers Wellington bombers were being produced. Sources mention that Fighter Command put up eleven squadrons this morning, but records indicate that only the squadrons listed above made contact with the enemy. 603 Sqn took the honours in this first combat action of the day when they took on the Bf109s and after a spiralling, twisting dogfight over the North Kent coast they chased the 109s out to sea where they managed to shoot down four of them. 1300hrs: With many aircraft at Fighter Commands airfields still rearming and refuelling after the morning raid, another large formation was detected on the radar. The first detection was while the enemy was still over the French coast, but as they approached the Channel smaller formations joined in and soon contingents of over 225 bombers were approaching the Kent coast. Park gave the order for his squadrons to "get up" as he was not going to be caught napping as he was earlier in the day. "Get to them before they split." he ordered, in the hope that his fighters could spread-eagle the bombers before they had a chance to form individual groups and head off in different directions.

Again, 72 Sqn were back in action and sight the enemy to the north of Rochester. 603 Sqn also find no rest as they too are "scrambled" and they make contact with the enemy just east of Sheerness where they are surprised when they get caught up in a dogfight with over 70 Messerschmitt Bf109s. Other squadrons are released: 43 Sqn (Tangmere) are brought in from their Sussex base, 111 Sqn (Debden) recently moved from Croydon and 253 Sqn (Kenley), but all a little late to stop the German bomber formations from splitting up over the coast near Dover. One of the Bf109s piloted by Oberleutnant Ekkehard Schelcher, Gruppenstab officer of JG54, was in combat with 603 Sqn over the Isle of Sheppey and was shot down by (possibly) P/O J.S.Morton and crashed near Chilham. His body lay in the wreckage of his aircraft for 37 years until his crash site was investigated in 1977 and his remains discovered. The German authorities classified the site as a recognised war grave before the body was interred at the German war cemetery at Cannock Chase.

The Observer Corps estimate some 250 plus aircraft in total and keep track of them as they break into separate groups at approximately 1330hrs. 43 Sqn and 253 Sqn are vectored to cover the Dungeness area while 613 Sqn was vectored a little more to the east. 72 Sqn and 111 Sqn (Debden) are vectored to cover the Thames Estuary. 72 Sqn is one of the first to make contact. Intercepting a formation of Do17s and Bf110s over the Isle of Thanet a fierce combat takes place over the towns of Margate and Herne Bay. For nearly twenty minutes, the twisting and spiralling shapes of aircraft weaving this way and that fill the skies. It is now nothing new to the residents below. They were now used to the dogfights that were occurring almost daily above their towns. F/L E. Graham of 72 Sqn swings around to line up a Dornier in his gunsight; suddenly a Bf110 comes in from the side firing at the Spitfire. The Flight Lieutenant breaks off the engagement with the bomber and takes evasive action, pulling hard up as the 110 flies past below him and he pulls the stick hard to starboard and now finds himself hard on the heels of the twin engined fighter bomber. The Bf110 weaves left and then right but the Spitfire, more manoeuvrable sticks to him like glue and closing in starts a series of three to four second bursts. Pieces start to fly off the doomed 110 then another short burst and the bomber sheds smoke and descends sharply. The gunner is seen to bale out, but the pilot manages to make a crash landing at Hougham just north of Dover and sets fire to the aircraft before the authorities capture him.

In the meantime, one of the Spitfires is damaged by gunfire from one of the Dorniers. The action now is over Herne Bay. Another of 72 Sqn's Spitfires is attacked by a Bf110 and shot down, but this time is crashes into the ground and burst into flames. The dog fighting grows in intensity as more than 80 Bf109s swoop down and into the combat over Herne Bay and Margate. 603 Sqn arrived to assist. By now, most of the action is between the fighters, the bombers managed to carry on leaving the fighters to break up into their own small groups and a series of individual dogfights emerged. By 1345hrs the German fighters managed to hold the fighters of the RAF even though the casualty rate on the German side was the greater. Some started to retreat, and one of them was tailed by Australian F/O R.H.Hillary back across the Channel – it’s not until reaching the French coast that Hillary managed to damage the 109. Then on the way back he ran into a dozen patrolling Bf109s. He came down at full throttle and opened up, hitting one 109 sending it blazing down into the Channel before he made a quick exit back to base.

Radar at Dover, Pevensey and Foreness picked up a number of formations building up across the Channel near Calais at 1700hrs. As was often the case, the accumulate into one large formation then break away into smaller formations again with each going to its own designated target. 46 Sqn (Stapleford) are vectored to the Thames Estuary as is 72 Sqn, 111 Sqn, 222 and 603 Sqn (Hornchurch), and 616 Sqn (Kenley). 1715hrs: A large dogfight started to develop over the Thames Estuary, but not before some of the bombers managed to get through the defences and make their attack on the aerodromes of Detling and Eastchurch. Damage at Detling was considerable with an estimated 100 bombs being dropped on the airfield causing many craters and wrecking one of the main hangars. Detling was non-operational for the next three hours. Eastchurch, which earlier had administration buildings damaged, the NAAFI destroyed and water and sewage pipes ruptured, now came under another attack and this time another hangar was destroyed as well as more buildings. Suffering severe damage, Eastchurch was later declared un-operational and while most of the station was moved to Wymswold Warden, the base hospital and sickbay was transferred into the village.

Some 50 bombers and an escort of about 40 Bf109s managed to get through to Hornchurch at around 1725hrs. 603 Sqn are pulled back to protect the airfield. Under the harassment, many of the bombs drop wide of their target and damage to the aerodrome is only minimal. F/O Hillary in Spitfire X4277 who had already destroyed two aircraft and one damaged, lined up yet another and fire a series of short bursts, but is forced to return to base and can only claim it as a probable. 72 Sqn, already having become involved in the combat lands, refuels and rearms and is back again in the action calling it "a hell of a day" but squadron records show that it claims 18 victories. 303 Sqn (Northolt) have been pulled into the combat to assist tired and weary squadrons already in the air and are vectored to the Dover/Deal area. Many of the enemy aircraft have decided to turn back and 303 Sqn meet them on their return. The manage to damage a couple of Bf109s and a Do17 but one their own receives damage and has to make a forced landing in open ground outside Dover.

The evening brought a little relief, but just after midnight the bombers came over in small formations, first over the Essex coast, then later on the south coast. Swanage was attacked, bombs fell at Leighton Buzzard, and in the north Merseyside was attacked and in the Midlands the areas of Birmingham and Wolverhampton failed to escape bomb damage.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 35

RAF

43 Sqn Hurricane P3903 Sqn/Ldr D.A.R.G. 'Danny' Le Roy Du Vivier. During a 'melee' above Sidcup, Le Roy du Vivier who was in pursuit of a German fighter found himself under fire at 3000 feet altitude and was shot down in flames. He was able to bail out and landed in the garden of a young girls school He was immediately surrounded by intrigued students armed with brooms, forks and shovels he was asked if he was British or not? Having difficulties talking English he decided to play dead, being afraid that his heavy Brussels accent would make him look like a German. He stayed like this until the arrival of a police constable who could verify his identity and get him to hospital.

43 Sqn Hurricane P3786 M.K.Carswell, Hurricane V7420 C.A.Woods-Scawen (aircraft caught fire after combat with Bf109 and pilot baled out too low over Ivychurch, Kent) and Hurricane P3067 J.C.L.D.Bailey (shot down while engaged in combat with enemy, was not seen to bale out)

72 Sqn Spitfire K9938 R.N.Norfolk crash landed at 13:00hrs after combat over Herne Bay, Spitfire X4262 L E. Graham, safe after being shot down over Lympne, making a forced landing at 1610hrs, Spitfire K9840 R.B.Lees Wounded after being damaged in combat over Lympne - crash landed at 1615 hrs. and Spitfire R6806 A.R.Collins - wounded, believed written off after combat over Thames Estuary at 1730 hrs.

111 Sqn Hurricane P3875 W.L.Dymond was shot down while in combat over the Thames Estuary, his body never found

222 Sqn Spitfire X4280 A.I.Robinson was wounded in the leg on the at 17:45hrs.

249 Sqn Hurricane V7352 R.E.N.Wynn and Hurricane P2988 H.J.S.Beazley

253 Sqn Hurricane P2946 J.Metham and Hurricane V6640D.B.Bell-Salter

501 Sqn Hurricane L1578 A.T.Rose-Price somewhere around Dymchurch (failed to return to base after combat)

603 Sqn Spitfire N3056 J.Stokoe was wounded at 17:25hrs. He had been in combat with fighters and baled out

616 Sqn Spitfire X4181 D.E.Gillam baled out at 16:35hrs. He had been in combat with a Bf 110 over Tonbridge, Kent. He was unhurt.

It had not been a kind day to Fighter Command. Just about every squadron in 11 Group had been airborne, some had been up three or four times, and in all over 750 sorties had been flown. But the price was heavy. Even though 35 German aircraft had been shot down, 33 RAF fighters had been shot down with 13 of these destroyed. But the day brought two remarkable achievements. That of P/O Richard Hillary that has been described above, and that of F/O Harborne Stephen flying with 74 Squadron who managed to claim five enemy shot down in one morning. At daybreak, he managed to shoot down to Bf109s, then landed and went and had breakfast. An hour later he was involved with an attack on a formation of Bf110s over the Channel where he claimed one more to his days tally. By mid morning he downed another Bf110 which was making an attack on a Spitfire. Then just prior to midday, he made an attack on Bf109s escorting Ju87s on a Channel raid and sent one crashing onto a south coast beach.

The intense fighting was having a serious effect on both German fighter and bomber crews. Like the pilots of Fighter Command, no sooner had they landed, refuelled and rearmed, they were up again having to prolong the long journey across the Channel before the RAF could be engaged. The Bf109s, although operating from just across the narrowest part of the Channel, pilots were still staying too long in combat with the British that many ran out of fuel before reaching the coast of France, and the result was a crash landing in the choppy waters of the Channel. For the first time, British losses were heavier than the Germans, but Germany could afford this as they had more planes and for a while, it seemed that victory was not in sight for the British and that Germany was at last getting the upper hand of the battle. Biggin, Hornchurch, Croydon, North Weald, Debden, Detling, Eastchurch and Hawkinge were all damaged, and although still operational they were not at full capacity or working with the efficiency that was hoped, only Tangmere and Kenley had escaped much of the constant bombing.

Albert Kesselring pictured wearing his Knight's Cross in 1940

Hugo Sperrle

Göering, Sperrle and Kesselring could now see that, at long last the tide was turning in their favour. German intelligence reports had stated that a number of the British airfields were now, because of the constant bombing, non-operational. Goering also stated to his commanders, that the time was right for a preparation to the forthcoming invasion. We must now continually bomb London and the surrounding aircraft factories, and the London Docks.

It was announced that from today the butter ration would be cut from 6oz to 4oz. People who normally take margarine instead of the butter ration would be unaffected by the cut.

Winston Churchill’s engagement diary for September 1940

[Coast]

3rd September 1940.

After early morning mist, especially in low lying areas, the south and southeast saw a warm and fine day with some haze in many Channel areas. In the north, most areas had low cloud and drizzle with scattered heavy falls along the northeast coast and southern Scotland.

RAF Bomber Command

Since the day before a total of 84 RAF bombers have attacked a U-boat base at Lorient in France and tried to set forests alight in South Germany. 4 Group Bombing 51 Sqn. 1 aircraft crashed on take-off from Dishforth on operations. Crew injured. 10 Sqn. 1 aircraft damaged by Flak. Crew unhurt. 1 aircraft bellylanded at Nether Stilton, near Northallerton, on return from Berlin. Crew unhurt. Bombing - oil plants at Berlin.

10 Sqn. Seven aircraft. All bombed. One damaged by Flak and one crashed on return, crew safe.

RAF Fighter Command

The day’s events started at 0830hrs with a large build-up forming over the Pas de Calais. Again, Bf109 fighters advance ahead of the Dornier Do17s and Messerschmitt Bf110 bombers. Fighter Command refuse to engage the leading fighters, instead timing their take offs to engage the main bomber force at the latest possible moment, this way, the leading Bf109s have used up valuable fuel and it would not be long before they had to return back towards their bases. At approximately 0930hrs the Do17 bombers flying up the Thames and just off of Canvey Island make their turn north-west. It becomes obvious; that the targets would be North Weald or Debden, although Park was taking no chances that the German bombers could come in towards London from the north. 603 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) was given the order to "scramble", and it was clear now that the German formation consisted of 50+ Dornier Do17s, 80 Bf110s and 40+ Bf109s. 249 Sqn (North Weald) and 17 Sqn (Debden) were also "scrambled" and between them done all in their power to abort any attack by the German bombers.

Dornier DO17, U5+AN, (Werke No 3450) 5/KG2 crashed in the Pyefleet Channel . It had jettisoned its bombs and then been caught by Green Section of 17 Sqn, who had just moved back to nearby Debden the previous day. P/O H. A. C. Bird-Wilson, P/O J. K. Ross, and Sergeant D.A. Sewell flew the Hurricanes, which shot the Dornier down. Of the Dornier's crew of 4, only Feldwebel Kreigl, who baled out was saved. He was rescued by one of the Brightlingsea based launches. The others, who died were Leutnant Heinz Günter Schildt, Unteroffizier E. Swindek and Gefreiter P. Niegisch

The crater left where Dornier U5+AN crashed close to Langenhoe Hall, nr Colchester

Squadron Leader Richard Hillary of 603 Sqn had just had a new canopy fitted to his Spitfire and for some reason as the "scramble" call sounded, he and a Corporal on the ground staff tried desperately to free it by grinding, filing and oiling, but it was stuck fast. But with sheer determination, they manage to get it open halfway, Hillary climbed in, took off and flew the rest of the sortie with the canopy half open. In another incident, two Blenheims returning to North Weald were accidently mistaken for Bf110s by a couple of Hurricane pilots. They opened fire on the helpless fighter bombers only to shoot down and destroy one of their own aircraft. It is estimated that over 150 bombs fell on North Weald, many of them delayed-action which caused substantial damage. The hangars belonging to 25 and 151 Sqns were severely damages by bombs and the fire that broke out afterwards. A number of buildings were hit also the main stores depot. The new sector operations room got a direct hit and although suffering severe damage managed to continue operations. Communications with the Observer Corps was severed with the exception of just one line. In the attack, four personnel on the ground are killed with twenty injured.

0945hrs: Hornchurch and Debden also received considerable damage, but all stations remained operational. From Duxford, 310 Czech Sqn encountered a formation of Bf110s of 1Z/G2 and surprised the German pilots with outrageous manoeuvres and daredevil antics. They screamed in for the kill with throttles wide open, calling and shouting excitedly in their own language. On their return to base, they were all given a dressing down by their station commander, who stated that their rather unusual methods of attacking not only caused a danger to themselves, but to all those that shared the sky with them. They were also told that such unconventional methods must cease immediately. The station commander then finished off by reading a memorandum from Fighter Command who congratulated them on their actions and in the shooting down and destruction of 4 Bf110s and their crews.

Park had ordered as many as eleven squadrons up. Including assistance from 12 Group who sent the Czech 310 Sqn to provide assistance cover at North Weald. Coming in from the northeast they were immediately thrown into the action. They met the Bf110s of I/ZG2 and as the fighter-bombers weaved, intent on completing their attack on the airfield, the Czech squadron managed to claim four Bf110s. In total, five Bf110s of ZG2 were destroyed. The first was when a Bf110 (3M+EK) collided with another Bf110 (3M+HL) attempting to take evasive action and crashed and exploded in flames at Harlow north of North Weald at 1045hrs.

The Bf110 (3M+HL) was at the time being pursued by Hurricanes of 310 Sqn when it collided with 3M+EK. The impact smashed the rudder and the port wingtip, and the plane crashed and burnt out at Rye Hill. The pilot, Oberleutnant Karl Müller, managed to bale out unhurt landing close to the Epping Road He had thrown away his pistol and flying equipment when he was captured by some local farm labourers assisted by the shotgun wielding proprietor of the Cross Keys Café at Thornwood. UnterOffizier Johann Korn was not so lucky; he was killed instantly when the aircraft crashed in Brown’s field. The site of the crash at Rye Hill was excavated in the 1980’s and various items were found such as one of the Daimler Benz DB601 engines, a 20mm MGF cannon and a 7.92mm MG17 machine gun together with smaller items. They are now on display at the Battle of Britain Museum

The official report states:

Crashed at Harlow, one mile east of Main Epping Road on 3/9 at 1045 hrs. No identification markings visible, but plate shows aircraft was constructed by Gothaer W.F. Gotha Baumuster, B.F. 110C dated 1939. Aircraft crashed after fighter action hitting the ground at high speed and exploding fifty minutes after impact and is completely destroyed. Crew of 2 dead. Wreckage not worth salving.

The other aircraft met a similar fate. BF110C-4 (3M+EK no.2065) was from the same Squadron, its pilot was Feldwebel Karl Wagenbreth, his crewman / rear gunner - Unter Offizier Adolph Schubarth. Their aircraft immediately spun out of control, losing height quickly and witness remembers the tail section falling off, and though both men managed to bale out built they were too low for their parachutes to open sufficiently and they were killed instantly as they came to earth in the grounds of Hubbards Hall, near Churchgate Street. The aircraft itself crashed in the grounds of Feltimores, a private house at Hobbs Cross belonging to the local squire Burke Burrows

Although 310 Sqn made a claim for this Bf110 it really could not be accepted. Also at 1045hrs, prior to attacking North Weald, a Bf110 (3M+BK) was attacked by Spitfires of 222 Sqn and shot down at Reculver. Both crew baled out and were captured by motor boat crew off Herne Bay. At 1100hrs, P/O J.M.V.Carpenter of 222 Sqn, Sgt. B.Furst of 310 Sqn and Sgt. G.C.Unwin of 19 Sqn all laid claims for the destruction of Bf110 (3M+CB) which crashed at Stow Maries nr Chelmsford. At 1118hrs, a Bf110 (3M+EL) was shot down (possibly) by F/O Count M.B.Czernin of 17 Sqn and crashed at Canewden Essex

Air raid damage, Clacton-on-Sea

In addition to the above, Bf110s of ZG26 also on escort duty to Do17 bombers, came under attack over the southern coast of Essex. One of them was damaged by British fighters over Southend where it had to make a crash landing. P/O Count Czernin of 17 Sqn claimed another when he shot down another Bf110 over Wickford at 1030hrs, although claims for this aircraft was also made by Sub Lt J.C.Carpenter of 46 Squadron. Then Spitfires of 54 Sqn attacked another Bf110 over the Thames Estuary at 1038hrs and partially disabled it. F/O B.van Menz of 222 Sqn finally shot it down over Southend where it crashed at North Shoebury House.

1000hrs: With the damage done, and North Weald in a shambles, Hornchurch damaged but only regarded as minor and parts of Tilbury and the London Docks also damaged by H.E and I.B, the raiders began their retreat back eastwards. 19 Sqn and 310 Sqn managed to intercept about 50 Do17s with about 100 Bf109s returning after their raids on East London. S/L P.C.Pinkham had taken 19 Sqn up to 20,000 feet and managed to look down on the returning enemy with a still burning North Weald as a backdrop. Three of the aircraft that swooped down on the enemy formation suffered with jammed guns. Green section fared better and managed to down two Bf110s and another was seen to be trying to escape by flying at about 50 above the waters of the Thames Estuary towards Whitstable.

Meanwhile, 603 Sqn (Hornchurch) are warned by the Hornchurch controller that they have about 50 plus bandits above them. 603 Sqn decide to go in line astern and at the same time the 109s dive towards the Spitfires. The British fighters have no time to gain height, and the climb is aborted so as to attempt to gain speed. But the Bf109s in their dive already have the momentum and their speed is far greater than that of the Spitfires. With defensive actions, 603 Squadron turn and meet the 109s and a dogfight that means every man for himself. P/O R.H.Hillary lined up a target and fired short bursts, but the Messerschmitt failed to go down. How much more punishment can it take. Richard Hillary gave it another four second burst, smoke starts to appear, it gets thicker then suddenly the 109 explodes into flame and fell towards the sea.

Just as the Bf109 exploded, Hillary's Spitfire vibrates as he himself has taken a hit from the 109 of Hauptmann Erich Bode, Kommodore of 11 JG26. In an instant, the cockpit of the Spitfire bursts into flames, Hillary tries to open the cockpit hood, but it is stuck fast. The new hood has given nothing but trouble ever since it was fitted. He undoes his harness in an attempt to gain better leverage. Flames are now licking all over him. He gives every ounce of his strength to open the jammed canopy and it slides slowly, he has to release his hold as he is near exhaustion. He tries to grab the control column to turn the Spitfire on its back, but the heat is far too intense and raises his hands over his face for protection but faints in the process. The Spitfire starts to spin and somehow as it rolls over on its back during an uncontrollable roll, P/O Richard Hillary, still in an unconscious state falls from the plane at about 10,000 feet.

The cold air slowly brought him out of unconsciousness. He realized where he was, out of the burning plane and free falling. He pulled the ripcord, and his body suddenly came to a thump as the canopy of silk takes effect and he glided slowly down towards the sea off the town of Margate. Many observe him coming down in the sea, but the Margate lifeboat has difficulty in locating him and searched for three hours. Eventually he is picked up, suffering serious burns to his face and body, and never to see action in the Battle of Britain again.

Hermann Göring arranged a meeting at 1030hrs with his Air Fleet Commanders at The Hague, with the usual introductions of wine, delicacies and light hearted humour before getting down to the serious business of discussing the current situation as it stood at the moment. (Göring was a lover of good food and wine and nearly all meetings organized commenced or ended with a fine banquet). The Luftwaffe Commander-in-Chief told his commanders that there were a number of reasons that progress had been slow and that he makes no apologies that Adlerangriff had not yet been completed. He told the commanders that the attacks on the RAF airfields had not been heavy enough, that they had made concentrated attacks on Biggin Hill and that although it was still operational; its efficiency had been greatly reduced. We cannot ease up on these attacks he stated, and that we must continue with our unleashing power to continue, with greater number of aircraft, make more use of the Bf110 because of its greater range than the Bf109, which should be used as an advance fighter do draw the British fighters into the air.

After the success of the mornings attack, the Luftwaffe attempted another series of raids at around 1400hrs, and following the same course and pattern as they had done just five hours previously. However, this was a light-hearted affair in comparison with the morning raids. Fighter Command put up the usual strong opposition once the attackers had crossed the coast. More squadrons, and a request for 12 Group to give protection to North Weald again, were put up and this time Keith Park was prepared. But most of the raids were aborted and many of the RAF fighter squadron began chasing the enemy back towards their own coastline. No damage was recorded.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 16

RAF

1 Sqn Hurricane P3782 R.H.Shaw Listed as missing (crashed from unknown circumstances, pilot killed in aircraft) Aviation archaeologist Andrew Saunders uncovered the name of this ‘missing pilot’ in 1990. It was Saunders that discovered that the unknown pilot was a man called Robert Shaw and that his plane had crashed in a field near the village of Chart Sutton in Kent during the morning. Hurricane P3044 H.B.L.Hillcoat Listed as missing (failed to return from standard squadron patrol)

17 Sqn Hurricane P3673 D.Fopp was wounded at 1030hrs. He baled out of his aircraft after being attacked by a Bf 110 and the Hurricane flown by D.H.W.Hanson who was killed at 1055hrs. He baled out of his Hurricane after shooting down a Do 17. He struggled to get out of his aircraft and when he did, he was too low and his parachute failed to deploy. He hit the ground from around a hundred feet on Foulness Island.

25 Sqn Blenheim L1512 D.W.Hogg killed at 1115hrs after being mistakenly shot down by a Hurricane over North Weald. Gunner, W.Powell baled out safely

46 Sqn Hurricane flown by H.Morgan-Gray At 10:30hrs baled out of his aircraft wounded after being attacked by a Bf 109 over Rochford., Hurricane P3064 G.H.Edworthy Listed as missing (believed to have crashed in a river after combat over the Essex coast) and Hurricane P3063 E.Bloor was injured at 1045hrs. He baled out with slight burns over Canewdon Nr Rochford Essex.

222 Sqn Spitfire L1010 R.B.Johnson was injured when his aircraft suffered a Glycol leak and he baled out over Burnham on Crouch at 0730hrs.

253 Sqn Hurricane P3610 L.C.Murch was unhurt when he crashed at Nonnington, Kent when his engine cut during a forced landing at 0700hrs

Bon Seigneur on the left playing Dominos

257 Sqn Hurricane P3518 – Canadian, Camille Robespierre Bon Signeur, 22 years old, shot down and killed after baling out at Ingatestone Essex. On 10th August 1974, the then Essex Historical Aircraft Society carried out their first major excavation the remains of which are displayed at the Thameside Aviation museum.

257 Sqn Hurricane L1585 D.W.Hunt was shot down; he succeeded in baling out when his cockpit was on fire. He was taken to Billericay Hospital suffering from severe burns.

310 Sqn Hurricane P8811 J.Kopriva wrote off his aircraft at 1000hrs. He was shot down by a Bf 110 but escaped injury.

603 Sqn Spitfire X4277 was shot down by Hauptmann Erich Bode of JG26. Pilot R.H.Hillary bailed out of his burning aircraft and survived after he was picked up from the sea by the Margate Lifeboat and Spitfire X4158 D.Stewart-Clarke who baled out at 1010hrs, wounded after being attacked by a Bf109 of JG 26 off Margate.

As a footnote to the Blenheims ‘ friendly fire’ incident. Three Blenheims of 601 Sqn drew gunfire from British anti-aircraft batteries near Biggin Hill on the 3rd, fortunately all shots missed.

AVM Keith Park (Commander of 11 Group) was concerned about the lack of serviceable aircraft, but even more so, the lack of fully trained pilots to fly the aircraft. At Bentley Priory, ACM Hugh Dowding agreed, stating that the situation was grim and that things may get worse before they get better. Throughout the month of August 1940, the number of aircraft that was available for operations remained steady in number even accounting for some terrible losses, and thanks to Canadian Lord Beaverbrook, the Minister for Aircraft Production for the effort in continuing being able to produce aircraft under strenuous circumstances. But for Park and Dowding, the figures were not good. The month of July 1940 produced more aircraft than was planned, but during the following months, even though a considerable number of aircraft rolled off the production lines, it was still below the number of aircraft planned.

According to his biographer, Keith Park knew that the ultimate target for the Nazi’s, London, was not too far off. But as he had informed Hugh Dowding and Lord Beaverbrook, as long as we can show strength and dominance in the defence of southern England, we can hold off, but if a high attrition rate occurs, the time left that would be available to them will be drastically shortened. In these first few days of September, Park brought to the attention of Hugh Dowding, that he believed that the squadrons transferred to 11 Group from 12 Group were not highly trained pilots and compared these with those that had been transferred from 13 Group. He made a comparison that showed that squadrons transferred from 13 Group had been credited with forty-three aircraft destroyed at a cost of two pilots missing and two wounded, while those transferred from 12 Group had brought down only seventeen aircraft and had lost a total of thirteen pilots for the same period. Park claimed that AVM Richard Saul always chose experienced squadrons to be transferred to units in the south, where AVM Leigh-Mallory did not.

The attrition rate was exceptionally high, and this must have had some sort of impact on crews and on morale. Pilot losses for August were disproportionally high compared to actual aircraft losses, undoubtedly reflecting the fact that most of the air fighting occurred over the Channel or over British territory.

On the German side, even though no was prepared to admit it, the state of affairs was in reality even worse. The RAF claims at the time regarding the number of enemy aircraft shot down was well above the actual true figure. This was partly due to the antiquated way of establishing a day’s tally. If many of the pilots were a little more truthful about their claims a more realistic figure may have been reached. Pilots were asked at the end of a mission if they had any 'kills' to report, many pilots claimed for enemy aircraft that they shot at, went down bellowing smoke, but did not see them actually crash, often due to the fact that they had become locked in combat with another enemy aircraft. Many were honest and claimed it as a probable, but it was often the case that is was claimed as a 'kill'. In a number of cases pilots were asked to describe any markings, and when these were given, they were told that two other pilots had also claimed that aircraft. Was there another way, possibly not, but the high figure given had done wonders for public morale.

On June 29th 1940, the Luftwaffe possessed, a total aircraft strength of 4,482 aircraft. During the period July-September 1940 the total destroyed both on operations and on non-operations was 1,636 that is 37% of the total strength destroyed. Of these, the highest casualty rate was for the Bf110 twin engined fighter which at June 29th had a total of 357 and in the July-September period lost 235 in total and of this 214 were due to enemy action, 66% of all Bf110s had been destroyed. Next highest on the list was the Bf109. Out of 1,107 aircraft, 518 were destroyed, that is 47% of their original number. Looking at the number of aircraft damaged, things do not get any better. Of the original 4,482 aircraft available on June 29th 1940, 697 aircraft had been damaged in some way. That is a staggering 52% if you combine the destroyed and damaged totals together

Williamson Murray, author of “Strategy for Defeatâ€

Göring stated that he believed that he was under pressure to make preparations for an all out attack on British cities including London itself. But, the British air force is still giving London full protection, and Germany would be foolhardy to yet make any attack on the capital. "We must," he emphasised, "completely demoralise and destroy the British Royal Air Force before any major raids can be launched. And that, we have almost achieved, as the reports that I have at hand state that the enemy is now down to its reserves." To continue these attacks the way will soon be open for all out raids on their cities in safety.

Albert Kesselring commander of Luflotten (Air Fleet) 2 while in agreeance with his commander that the Royal Air Force was low on machines and pilots and believed that the raids on British cities including London should commence at once as German intelligence were convinced that the RAF had very few fighter aircraft left. Hugo Sperrle, commander of Luftflotten 3 based in Paris was a little more apprehensive. He stated that he could not agree that the RAF was down to its last reserves, and that his sources state that the British Royal Air Force still had in excess of 600 aircraft based on operations in the southern portion of England and that a further reinforcement of 400 aircraft could be called upon from areas in the north and west bringing a total of 1000 fighters. Sperrle was really closer to the truth than Göring or Kesselring.

The cabinet approves compensation of up to £2000 for each house destroyed by Luftwaffe air raids.

Lydd, Kent: Mabel Cole, the wife of the publican of the Rising Sun, had every reason to be suspicious when a well-dressed young man knocked on the door at nine o'clock in the morning and asked for a glass of cider. He spoke with a foreign accent in a prohibited area - and he was plainly ignorant of English licensing laws. Mrs Cole sent him across the road to Tilbey's stores to buy some cigarettes as she went to tip off a local RAF officer. The visitor failed to produce a required permit permitting him to travel freely along the coastline, and was handed over to the local Police. One of the four spies was caught and it was discovered he had hidden radio equipment in a tree not far from the Lydd to Dungeness road. At least three of them were sentenced to death by hanging at Pentonville prison and two of them proved to be Dutch in origin, recruited as spies as a result of their complicity in currency smuggling.

The young man, a Dutchman, was one of four well-dressed spies - two of them German - who landed on the beach here today 70 years ago, before being arrested.

[Coast]

4th September 1940.

Southern England was fine and warm, skies were mainly clear with occasional cloud. The Channel areas remained fine with good visibility. The north of England and most of Scotland had rain periods with some heavy falls and strong winds.

RAF Bomber Command

51 Sqn. 1 aircraft missing from Berlin, ditched off Holland. 1 crew drowned, rest PoW. Bombing - power station at Berlin - oil tanks at Magdeburg - 'Razzling'. 51 Sqn. Six aircraft to Berlin. Five bombed and 'Razzled', one FTR. 78 Sqn. Six aircraft to Magdeburg. Five bombed primary, one bombed Bremen.

RAF Fighter Command

Formations of enemy aircraft were detected coming across the narrow part of the Channel between Dover and Folkestone at 0830hrs. Again formations were divided as another had been detected coming in over the Thames Estuary. 66 Sqn (Kenley) were vectored to the Thames Estuary as was 72 Sqn and 111 Sqn (Croydon). Most of the action commenced from 0900hrs onwards as the British fighters engaged a mixture of Bf110s and Bf109s. 0930hrs: The Bf109s stuck to their task well, keeping the Hurricanes and Spitfires at bay and allowing a number of the Bf110s to get the Eastchurch where again the airfield was hit.

Fighter Command released a number of squadrons towards the Dover area but some excellent defensive action by the British fighters stopped most of the Bf110s from getting through, although the harbour and the barrage balloons came under fire. But most of the Damage was at Lympne where a number of bombs hit buildings and again the aerodrome was cratered - the balloons at Dover continued to be shot up. 111 Sqn did lose two of their pilots even though they forced the Bf109s to retreat over the Channel off Folkestone. Eastchurch also became a target and a number of bombs made deep craters in the runway and some stores were damaged.

Radar at Dover and Rye detected a wide formation coming across the Channel at 1230hrs for the midday attack. Some 300 enemy aircraft were detected crossing the coast in the vicinity of Folkestone and Beachy Head. This consisted of 50+ Heinkel He111s, 30+ Dornier Do17s and 200 Bf109s. Again they split into groups and headed towards five different targets. A total of fourteen squadrons of Fighter Command were to be placed at readiness. More enemy aircraft were spotted coming in from the Channel close to Brighton and Worthing. All anticipated the positioning of the enemy bombers meant that their plan again was the break into two separate formations as seemed the usual tactics of the Luftwaffe over the previous few days.

Spitfire of 222 Sqn, 4th September 1940

Keith Park again was to take no chances placing half his squadrons at readiness from Tangmere to Debden, and the other half on standby. At 1300hrs, 43 Sqn (Tangmere) were ordered up giving protection along the Sussex coast. 46 Sqn (Stapleford) were to patrol the Thames Estuary, 66 Sqn (Kenley) who had already been up once that morning, 72 Sqn (Croydon) also up for a second time, 79 Sqn (Biggin) 222 Sqn (Hornchurch), 249 Sqn (North Weald), 234 Sqn (Middle Wallop), 253 Sqn (Kenley), 601 Squadron (Tangmere), 602 Sqn (Westhampnet) and 603 Sqn (Hornchurch) were all scrambled for this biggest build up of the day. 11 Group were further reinforced by 73 Sqn who had been transferred from Church Fenton to Debden, 41 Sqn came down from Catterick to Hornchurch. With all personnel fresh and rested, it would not be long before their services were put to good use. At 1315hrs Squadrons were divided as two separate formations came in from two different parts of the English coast. Heavy action took place over north Kent and as was usual in the Thames Estuary with the skies over Kent and Sussex were chaos, vapour trails now hung like heavy white clouds as two thirds of 11 Group battled it out at 20,000 feet.

A small group of low-flying, bomb-carrying Bf110’s of ZG 76 crossed the coast at Littlehampton and made for Weybridge - radar failed to pick up the formation that were following the railway line from Hindhead, until it was too late. The Bf110s managed to get through the British defences and were not intercepted until just north of Guildford where they were met by 253 Sqn who had reasonable success, however a few of the Bf110s did get through. Although the target was the Hawker factory at Brooklands, they were mistakenly to hit the Vickers facility. As it was just around lunchtime, employees at both Vickers and Hawker’s at Brooklands were either sitting outside on their break or waiting to clock in for their afternoon shift. At 1324hrs, several of the 110s suddenly blasted out of the sun, raining down bombs on the Vickers factory. The Hurricanes of 253 Sqn (Kenley) who were patrolling near Guildford swooped upon the '110s, destroying six with another nine destroyed as they turned for home.

Confusion overtook the remainder as they hurled six, 500-kg bombs at the Vickers Wellington factory, killing 83 and causing over 400 casualties as a result of heavy machinery, materials and glass being hurled around factory shops. From reports, it appears that five or six direct hits on buildings were made and other heavy calibre bombs dropped outside hangars causing some damage. One scored a direct hit on an air-raid shelter, another hit the old racing grandstand and a third fell inside a repair hanger but it is considered that casualties would have been greater but for the fact that the attack was made during the lunch hour.

One of the bombs crashed through the stairwell leading from the first-floor canteen. It landed on top of a heavy press in the machine shop and exploded close to the time clock killing many queuing workers. Although it was all over in three minutes, it was the worst single civilian incident of the Battle of Britain so far. It appears that bombs dropped before the red warning was received. The full extent of the effect on production was not at that point ascertained, but it is gathered that considerable delays in production of Wellingtons occurred for a few days. While repairs to the factory were talking place, local shops, garages and other premises were used including the Sound City film studios at Laleham.

AVM Park instructed that a squadron patrol the sector station to the south of London at 1320hrs and also a squadron was to patrol the sector station of North Weald who was still trying to repair the damage of the previous day. While all this was going on, the crack Bf110 ErpGr 210 group crossed the coast almost unnoticed and attacked the radar station at Poling, but not before a Spitfire squadron had been instructed to intercept.

German aircraft had now crossed all along the south coast, and Tangmere was then brought into the action as Ventnor radar had picked up enemy formations coming in from the Channel:

The remains of the severed engine of Bf-110-4, serial 3254, Unit 7.ZG 76, Code 2N+BM, that crashed with such force that it almost buried itself in the ground on the north side of the High Salvington hillside in Cote Street above Findon Village, Sussex. Its twin tail section was completely cut off by the Royal Air Force machine-gun bullets from the Hurricane of P/O Upton of 43 Sqn (Tangmere). The two crewmembers, Oberleutnant Walter Schiller (Staffelführer of 7 Staffe) and Feldwebel Helmut Winkler (gunner/wireless operator), escaped by baling out and were both taken prisoner of war (one by a 13 year old boy after landing in a tree!)

By nightfall, the Luftwaffe changed from the bombing of Fighter Commands airfields and aircraft producing factories, to the bombing of large towns and cities. Night bombing raids were made on Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tilbury Docks. In South Wales, large oil storage tanks received direct hits and the red glow lit up the dark night sky that it was a wonder that they couldn't see it from London. In all, for the day, the RAF had shot down 20 German aircraft which consisted of 6 Bf109s, 1 Heinkel He111 and 13 Bf110s.

Fighter Command lost fifteen valuable aircraft, 9 Spitfires and 6 Hurricanes. 6 RAF pilots were killed.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 25

Messerschmitt Bf ll0C-4, serial number 2116, crashed landed at Mill Hill on the nearby Shoreham Downs, Sussex after a confrontation with fighters from 43, 601 and 602 Sqs. The crew were Oberleutnant Wilhelm Schäfer (pilot and Adjudant) and Oberleutnant Wilhelm Unteroffizier Heinz Bendjus (wireless operator). Both were taken prisoners of war, the aircraft was a complete write off.

RAF

46 Sqn Hurricane P3502 R.P.Plummer and Hurricane P3066 C.F.Ambrose killed (crashed into a crane during take off on ferry flight)

66 Sqn Spitfire P9316 A.R.N.L.Appleford, Spitfire N3048 A.D.Smith died of injuries 6.9.40 and Spitfire R6689 C.A.Cooke

72 Sqn Spitfire R6971 E.E.Males and Spitfire R.D.Elliott

79 Sqn Hurricane P3676 J.Wright died of injuries 5.9.40 after being Shot down by Bf110 over base and crash landed aircraft at Surbiton

111 Sqn Hurricane R4172 D.C.Bruce listed as missing (crashed into Channel after combat with Bf109) and Hurricane Z2309 J.Macinski listed as missing (shot down by Bf109 and pilot baled out but body was never found)

152 Sqn Spitfire J.K.Barker Possibly shot down by Do17 over Channel. Body washed up on French coast

222 Sqn Spitfire P9378 J.M.Carpenter, Spitfire X4278 J.W.Cutts and Spitfire K9962 J.W.Ramshaw crashed after combat with Bf109s. Was dead on arrival at West Kent Hospital

253 Sqn Hurricane V6638 A.A.G.Trueman shot down and killed during combat action over Kenley aerodrome

601 Sqn Hurricane R4214 J.S.Jankiewicz

A Bristol Beaufighter Mk IF assigned to the Fighter Interception Unit at Tangmere, Sussex, makes its debut in the night fighter role during the night of 4/5 September.

[Coast]

5th September 1940.

After a clear night, the morning period all over Britain was clear with good to excellent visibility and temperatures slightly above average. Cloud increased over the eastern coast north of East Anglia during the afternoon. The north of England and Scotland had 60% cloud cover, which increased during the afternoon although this was high cloud with no rain. The Channel areas remained clear and fine for most of the day.

The day proved to be an ideal day for combat, the weather was clear with only a slight breeze. Conditions for flying were ideal, although Fighter Command were praying for rain and inclement weather. Dowding wanted some breathing space, some respite for the fighter airfields, especially those of 11 Group. Just a few days would relieve the pressure on the British pilots.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group: Bombing - oil target at Regensburg - Fiat works at Turin - 'razzling'. 58 Sqn. Bombing - nine aircraft to Regensburg. Five bombed primary, four bombed alternatives and 'razzling'. 77 Sqn. Six aircraft. Five got off and bombed, claiming good results. 2 Group: Blenheims of 15 and 40 Sqns raid barges in Boulogne, Calais, Dunkirk, Antwerp, Ostend and Flushing. RAF Bomber Command is busy. On one mission 85 bombers spent two hours over Berlin causing considerable damage, which did not please the German High Command.

Other targets for Bomber Command were the oil refineries at Stettin, and although they were inconvenienced by some very accurate anti-aircraft fire, the mission was a success.

RAF Fighter Command

Although the directive had gone out that the Luftwaffe were to bomb the British cities, it was no doubt that this day arrangements were already being made for the annihilation of London and the industrial centres of the Midlands. In the meantime, the Luftwaffe were resting many of their heavy bombers and quite a number had been moved from airfields further south to more strategic airfields closer to the French coast. For the time being, the Luftwaffe would continue its attacks of RAF airfields and aircraft factories in an effort to wear down Fighter Command.

1000hrs: German bombers are detected approaching at two points, one wave crosses the coast between Dover and Folkestone while the other comes in from the Thames Estuary, both formations are from Kesselrings Luftflotte 2. It is estimated that the whole attack is represented by no less that twenty separate small formations. 41 Sqn (Hornchurch), which had spent a considerable amount of time at Catterick, had now been moved down to Hornchurch and they were immediately sent to the satellite station at Manston and were despatched to intercept the enemy over the Thames Estuary. 111 Sqn (Croydon) had an early "scramble" and were directed to intercept at Dover. 253 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes) were also despatched as was 501 Sqn (Gravesend) and 603 Sqn (Hornchurch).

The Manston based 41 Sqn immediately make their presence felt. F/L J.T.Webster came hard down on a Bf109 over South London that was about to engage one of the Hurricanes. A couple of short bursts miss, the Bf109 took evasive action but F/L Webster weaves and sways keeping the 109 in his gunsight. Another short burst and smoke trailled from the Messerschmitt and it glided down finally making a forced landing just outside the village of Adlington Kent. F/L J.T.Webster is also thought to have shot down another Bf109 while over the South London area. The Bf109 (6+) withdrew, losing height and finally made a forced landing near Faversham in Kent. The Bf109 of Oberlt Franz von Werra - Gruppe Adjutant of Staab II/JG3 was shot down at Loves Farm, Winchet Hill Marden in Kent by P/O Graham.’Stampe’ Stapleton of 603 Sqn, although it is believed that the Bf109 sustained original damage after being hit by gunfire from the Spitfire of P/O G.H.Bennions of 41 Sq (Hornchurch).

Bf 109E-4 of the infamous Oberleutnant Franz von Werra shot down on the 5 September 1940, pictured at Winchet Hill, Love's Farm, Marsden, Kent.

A painting depicting P/O Stapleton of.603 Sqn racing past his victim, Franz von Werra

Croydon was attacked at 1030hrs, as was Biggin Hill, Eastchurch, Lympne and North Weald. More damage is sustained, but only Biggin Hill again gives cause for concern. 79 Sqn is the only squadron operating from Biggin, 72 Sqn is told to remain at Croydon for the time being. A formation of Do17s and Bf109 escorts come in from the Thames Estuary and head in the direction of South London. Too far to the south to be targeting London, for some reason the target is again Biggin Hill. 79 Sqn is scrambled and with some miraculous flying breaks up the Dorniers and they drop their bombs well off target.

Most of the morning’s raids were confined to the north Kent coast, the aerodromes of Biggin Hill and Croydon with Hornchurch and scattered raids across Essex as far as Harwich. Other areas that came under attack were targets of no importance across mid Kent where it is believed that German bombers dropped their bombloads at random on the return journey. Biggin Hill is again a shambles and Group Captain Grice states that he now has only one hangar left standing, and even that is nothing but a burnt out shell and the commander issues orders to place explosive charges in it and destroy it at the next raid.1225hrs: Another huge formation is detected, again coming in from the Thames Estuary. They are at high altitude,(approx 20,000 feet) and quite a number of formations were so high that the were undetected by both radar and the Observer Corps. One of the formations is intercepted by 72 Sqn (Croydon) at 1300 hrs, the formation consists of about 50 plus Ju88s and Heinkel 111s escorted by about 100 Bf109s. The main target is the oil storage tanks at Thameshaven, which causes serious damage. Giant palls of thick arid black smoke can be seen for miles. 72 Sqn is joined by 73 Sqn (Debden), and both squadrons are attacked by a recently arrived formation of Bf109s. Some of the Hurricanes are jumped on by surprise and four of them are shot down with one of the pilots killed. 43 Sqn (Tangmere) operating out of Kenley also mixes it with the Bf109s with only one Bf109 being shot down.

A depiction of Eric Lock, Red 2, 41 Sqn flying in formation with the rest of the squadron when they intercepted two HeIII’s and a Bf109, about 15,000ft over Sheppey

1400hrs: Many of the bomber formations manage to get through Fighter Commands defences although a number of Bf109s were casualties of the afternoon battle. Many of the airfields and towns along the Thames were still cleaning up after the mornings raids when now, almost mid-afternoon they were witnessing German bombers making their way to their targets and the tell tale spirals of fighter dog fighting high above. 1500hrs: The afternoon raid was almost a couple of hours old and still damage was being recorded and aircraft were being shot down, but this last hour of the battle was the most active of the afternoon. Most squadrons were either only recently arrived replacing those that had returned to their bases to refuel and rearm or had been recalled back into the skirmish. 41 Sqn (Manston) were now back into the affray, as was 66 Sqn (Kenley) that had been called in to relieve squadrons returning to base. One of the squadrons that had been in the thick of the action since just after midday was 72 Sqn and they were just about to return to base to refuel and rearm, 73 Sqn were despatched to the Essex coast after a formation of Ju88s had been detected, 111 Sqn (Croydon) and 253 Sqn (Kenley), both equipped with Hurricanes became involved in combat over the Thames Estuary.

In the meantime, S/L Zdzislaw Krasnodebski's 303 Sqn (Northolt) was in action over the south coast even though the squadrons actions was deemed 'questionable' even by AVM Keith Park since they had commenced an impressive record from August 30th when the squadron had made their first claim. Even the Northolt Commander Group Captain Vincent was a little wary of the number of claims being made by the Poles, and told the base intelligence officer to 'treat the Poles claims very carefully and go through them with a fine tooth comb.' Vincent was beginning to believe that each of the Poles were organising false and fake claims, and when the squadron was despatched to Tilbury and Thameshaven he decided that he, along with S/L Ronald Kellett who had assisted in the formation of the squadron, go up and see the Poles in action for themselves.

As the German bombers made their way home, Staffels of Bf109s came out across the Channel at 1600hrs to provide escort on a day that although it may have seemed impressive, was not all that claimed to be by the Luftwaffe. Thameshaven was the only target which they claimed was a success, and just about the last nail had been hammered home in Biggin Hill's coffin, but other than that any damage done was not to have any effect on Fighter Command. The Hawker factory at Brooklands was hit, but damage was only slight and the casualties were few. Maidstone was hit and demolished a part of one street and the attacks on Detling and Eastchurch were by no means going to affect Fighter Command. For those that were keeping score, it was 23 German planes down for 20 RAF fighters, a fairly even score sheet.

Winston Churchill inspecting air raid damage in Battersea in September 1940

As the darkness of night closes in on the evening of September 5th, British radar tracks a large formation of bombers heading towards the city of London. The night fighters of the RAF are not up to the task of attacking the bombers, the British are not experienced in night fighting. Hundreds of searchlights light up the night sky and the bombers are lit up like small white specks. Anti-aircraft fire follows but the bombers maintain their course. Other formations attack Manchester and Liverpool causing damage, but all cities receive only the one air raid to which by now, most of the residents are getting used to the hit and run tactics of the night attacks. Numerous other towns were placed under a Red Alert and scattered attacks were made by German bomber formations.

The Casino billiard hall on Beech Street, Liverpool suffered damage

Because of the attacks being made on the aircraft factories and assembly lines, Keith Park was to take the necessary steps to provide cover for these establishments. Following a recommendation from AVM Hugh Dowding, Park was to give maximum protection possible to the Hawker factories at Kingston and Brooklands, and to the Supermarine works at Southampton. 12 Group was informed, that if 11 Group was to provide additional cover for Weybridge and Brooklands, he would need the support of 12 Group and that they would be called upon at short notice. The same was passed on to 10 Group, that they provide patrols from Brooklands to Croydon whenever there was heavy enemy activity in the area, although Park new that 12 Group was fairly heavily committed by having to cover the Essex and Norfolk coasts where a number of enemy formations had recently been keeping 12 Group busy. Knowing that 12 Group would hastily respond to his request, AVM Quintin-Brand made available four extra squadrons that could cover the Southampton-Portsmouth area as soon as heavy raids had been detected. Park also brought down 504 Sqn who had been resting at Catterick and posted them to Hendon.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 23

RAF

19 Sqn Spitfire P9422 P.C.Pinkham was shot down by Bf109 while in combat over Channel. Pilot went down with aircraft at 1015hrs over Birling Kent

Spitfire R6635 J.T.Webster collided with P9428 of H.R.L.Hood, Webster baled out but was killed, his aircraft crashed at Laindon Essex. Webster was listed as missing, his aircraft disintegrated over Wickford at 1525hrs. Spitfire X4021 R.W.Wallens was wounded in the leg at 15:30hrs. He crash landed after combat with a Bf 109 over the Thames Estuary and Spitfire R6885 A.D.J.Lovell who was shot down over the Thames Estuary, and baled out unhurt. His Spitfire crashed and burned out in Kimberley Road, South Benfleet. The next day, he claimed a Bf 110 in defiance!

66 Sqn Spitfire flown by P.J.C.King was shot down at 1600hrs over Rochester by Bf109s, he baled out but his parachute failed to open and Spitfire K9944 G.P.Christie was wounded at 1600hrs

72 Sqn Spitfire X4013 D.C.Winter was shot down by Bf109 and tried to abandon aircraft at too low an altitude – he was killed, Spitfire N3093 Sgt M.Gray crashed after combat with Bf109s, aircraft seen to crash into Eltham Park Wood at 1425hrs and Spitfire X4034 D.F.B.Sheen was wounded in combat with a Bf 109 at 14:25hrs. He baled out near to Hawkinge.

73 Sqn Hurricane P3110 R.D.Rutter landed damaged at Debden, with the pilot safe and Hurricane P3224 A.L.McNay was missing after being shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed at North Fambridge Essex (The Crash site has been excavated and although portions of pilots harness and remains of parachute silk were discovered in aircraft remains there was no evidence of a human remains at crash site)

222 Sqn Spitfire X4057 D.J.Chipping was killed 1500hrs. His aircraft was shot down by A.A. fire over Dover while he was in combat.

249 Sqn Hurricane V6625 R.A.Barton was wounded at 1530hrs. He was shot down over Shell Haven, Essex by a Bf 109.

S/Ldr. Wacllaw Lapkowski second from right.

303 Sqn Hurricane P2985 W.Lapkowski shot down by a Bf 109 over Gillingham and bailed out with a broken leg and burns

501 Sqn Hurricane V6644 Stanislaw Skalski:

I was flying in Hogan's Hurricane V6644, squadron code SD-B. I got one He-111 and two Bf109s and still had ammunition, so I went off to do some hunting by myself. I didn't know who shot me down until he made a slow roll in front of me--by then I was already on fire. He had come up from below and behind me. He hit my reserve tank, located behind the engine, but I would have been even less fortunate if he had hit my main tank. I preferred to use the main tanks first; if I used up the fuel in the reserve tank, there would be fumes left in it, and if a bullet hit it, it could have exploded and I would have been killed. As it was, I was on fire, including my tunic and other clothing. I used to fly without goggles--I put my hands over my eyes and opened the cockpit, but the pressure kept me in my seat. I used my right hand to try to get out while the plane dove from 28,000 feet at 600 mph. Once my head was out of the cockpit, the wind pulled me out. I probably collided with the right fuselage or tail. My hand is still injured - I can't play tennis and my knee also hurts. I was probably unconscious after hitting the airplane, but a sixth sense told me not to open my parachute until the fire was out. Three years ago, I found out in a medical journal that when you are between life and death, something in your head tells you what you have to do. When I opened my eyes, I was floating 200 feet above the ground. I landed in a field, and a police car came from the bushes. The policemen asked me, "German?" "No," I said, "I'm from Poland." They took me down to a hospital with a Canadian unit. A few weeks later, I was visited by a squadron mate, Sergeant James H. "Ginger" Lacey, who would become a 28-victory ace. I asked him to fill out a report on my claims that day for the intelligence officer, which he promised to do, but for some reason the three victories I scored that day were not officially confirmed.

Full text of the interview with Skalski here

603 Sqn Spitfire X4261 F.W.Rushmer was posted ‘missing’ having crashed at Buckmans Green Farm, Smarden Kent at 0950 hrs. The pilot from X4261was buried as ‘Unknown’ in All Saints churchyard, Staplehurst on 11th September. An investigation of the crash site in 1970 failed to establish the pilot’s identity. Rushmer had his name is on the Runnymede Memorial, however a campaign to prove that it was him began in 1989 and his three surviving sisters were traced. Positive identification of Rushmer was established by a pocket watch found at the site in 1970, this being recognised by the dead airman’s sisters. In May 1989 a named headstone replaced the original and a service of dedication was held. Spitfire X4264 W.P.H.Rafter

After months of negotiations, an agreement is announced for the transfer of 50 old but valuable US destroyers to the Royal Navy in exchange for bases in the West Indies and British Guinea. The first of them arrive in Britain towards the end of the month.

[Coast]

6h September 1940.

The fine weather of the previous days continued with the cloud in the north dispersing overnight and bringing fine weather to all areas. Temperatures were a little lower, but still slightly above average.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group (Whitley). 10 Sqn. 1 aircraft missing from Berlin. Crew killed. Bombing - oil targets at Berlin.

10 Sqn. Five aircraft. All bombed. Opposition severe, one FTR

RAF Fighter Command

The success of Bomber Command on the previous night would no doubt raise anger in the German halls of officialdom. Hugh Dowding and Keith Park knew by instinct that the overnight raids on Berlin especially, would bring about instant retaliation.

Radar and observation detected a number of single Bf109s over factories and industrial areas at 0800hrs. Park requests that Air Vice Marshal Brand of 10 Group to cover the number of factories at Weybridge and the upper reaches of the River Thames with a squadron of fighters. Brand gives this task to 609 Sqn (Warmwell). 609 patrol the area, without incident but while they return to refuel, a formation of Bf110s get through and manage an attack on Brooklands. This time their aim is accurate and the Hawker factory it hit but only minor damage is caused 0845hrs at Thameshaven (still ablaze from the previous days bombing) is again the target for another attack, but although 73 Sqn (Debden) intercepts, they are engaged by the escorting Bf109s with P/O H.W.Eliot being hit by gunfire from one of the Bf109s and he is forced to bale out leaving some of the bombers to add fuel to an already burning Thameshaven.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 Werke/Nr. 2146 Code: U8 + CL crashed at Cannons Hill, Coulsdon, Surrey having been shot down by the Hurricanes of 111 Sqn, during an escort sortie for ErproGr210 over Kenley. The Pilot, Unteroffizier Christoph Kiehn was Killed and the gunner, Unteroffizier E. Neusz taken POW

A number of squadrons were despatched into combat areas in the south at 0910hrs. 1 Sqn (Northolt), 73 Sqn (Debden) were busy over the north Kent coast and the Thames Estuary. 111 Sqn (Croydon), 303 Sqn (Northolt) and 501 Sqn (Gravesend) were kept busy in engagements over the aerodromes of Kenley and Biggin Hill, while 249 Sqn (North Weald) and 601 Sqn (Tangmere) were kept busy over Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Rochester.

William ’Scotty’ Gordon of 234 Sqn began his last sortie at approximately 0840hrs. He was one of twelve Spitfires taking off from the base mobilised with the task of patrolling five miles south-east of Brooklands, Weybridge. The aerodrome there was the site of an aircraft factory and had been attacked by the Luftwaffe only two days earlier. At the initiative of the squadrons C.O. (Sqn Ldr O’Brien) the formation climbed to 24,000 feet. Six Bf109 fighters were sighted off Beachy Head. However, on closing in, it became clear the aircraft were part of a much larger force of Messerschmitts escorting Dornier bombers. 234 Sqn attacked without hesitation and became embroiled in a melee ranging between Eastbourne and Dover. His spitfire was apparently downed during a dogfight with three Bf 109’s at 0910hrs. Post war records indicate a strong possibility that he was shot-down (as claimed) by future Knights Cross holder Gustav Sprick of Jagdgeschwader 26. At twenty years old, P/O Gordon had been shot-down just two weeks after claiming his first kill during fierce battles over southern England. An RAF recovery team probed the smoking crater, collected any salvage, made the area good and recovered Gordon’s remains at farmland near Uckfield, Sussex and subsequently buried in the family grave near Moray, Scotland.

63 years later a group of archaeologists undertook the excavation of Gordon’s Spitfire X4035 (AZ – G) at Howbourne Farm, Hadlow Down East Sussex, having won full permission and being granted a license for the project to go-ahead. This usually follows a strict procedure by the MOD to check records in advance for possible war grave status (crew still missing). Merely expecting to uncover artefacts from the wrecked Spitfire beneath the meadow beside the River Uck; instead there was a macabre discovery of Gordon still strapped into the armour plating around the back of the pilots seat.

The unexpected remains also included his service tunic, lifejacket, harness straps and parachute. A further search yielded his RAF identity disc, which ultimately proved conclusive. In accordance with the family wishes, these were also buried in the family grave. A second burial for a RAF hero was organised by the MOD at Mortlach Church, Dufftown , Moray on 26th June 2003.

Near the extreme reach of the excavator at around 22 feet, the largest of all items were found such as the smashed Merlin engine, a crumpled supercharger and a manual-cranking handle. Various other components were exposed including: the pilots oxygen bottle; some flattened cockpit instruments and a broken rudder pedal. By means of several Supermarine labels also found it was now possible to this Spitfires true identify as X4035 (date of manufacture confirmed as July 1940) and not as previously thought X4036. Coupled with the fact that the aircraft was only in service some eight weeks, and the inert nature of the soil, the recovered parts were in remarkably un-corroded condition.

In the war memorial gardens on the outskirts of town, his name is emblazoned on the cenotaph along with those of the rest of the fallen of two world wars. But the mix-up over the burial will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of local people. The Rev Hugh Smith, the minister at Mortlach Church, said that there would have to be an exhumation. “It’s the first one we have had here in the 21 years I’ve been in charge,†he said. “It will have to be done of course. We don’t know what, or who, is buried down there. “These things must have happened frequently during the war. If there are some stones in that coffin, it was probably done with the best intentions — that of the family’s comfort.†Steve Hall, a retired builder from Brighton who led the archaeological team, said yesterday: “We were very surprised to find the tunic, as we had been assured that all human remains had been removed and buried in 1940. “We had been following the rules of our licence very carefully, and when the bones appeared we looked at them reverently and immediately took them to Brighton police station.†Another member of the team said: “You can imagine the horror of stumbling on this so unexpectedly. But there is pride, too, in finding him after 63 years. One of the team removed the bones to the shade of an oak tree and as he passed he involuntarily removed his cap in respect.â€

The RAF’s records show that P/O Gordon died after the Spitfires of 234 Sqn were attacked by Messerschmitts at 24,000ft. The squadron claimed eight enemy kills and two “probablesâ€, and Gordon was the only casualty of the day. The wife of the farmer at Howbourne Farm, where his Spitfire crashed, described in a letter that was passed to the young airman’s father how she had watched “a dog-fight high in the sky with three enemy fighters and one of ours engagedâ€. She went on: “There were sharp bursts of machinegun fire and the machine your son was piloting then suddenly nose-dived and came down almost vertically to crash into the earth the pilot was most probably killed in the air as the machine came down apparently quite out of control.†A spokeswoman for the Hailsham Coroner said that no inquest would be held into Pilot Officer Gordon’s death, and that the RAF was responsible for his remains.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said attempts would be made to find any surviving relatives, who could then decide whether to bury the remains in the grave at Mortlach or elsewhere. One of Pilot Officer Gordon’s comrades, who flew beside him that day, still lives almost within sight of the crash site, at Crowborough, East Sussex. Bob Doe, who had served as a wing commander, recalled: “I remember Scotty as a very quiet, retiring chap, who had been with us ever since we formed the squadron. When he was shot down, I remember that I was trying to avoid the yellow-nosed Messerschmitts and concentrate on shooting down a Dornier bomber.†Wing Commander Doe and the rest of 234 Sqn could not have known that victory was just days away when Pilot Officer Gordon died.

www.timesonline.co.uk

Back to 1940 and Sgt M.C.Boddington came in astern of a Bf109 and gave chase, and it is not until over Ashford that the Bf109 is brought down by Boddington. F/L Pat Hughes tagged onto a weaving Bf109 that had been escorting a damaged Bf110 and fired a short burst. The 109 banked and weaved trying to escape from the Australian but Hughes stuck to him like glue. Smoke emitted from the enemy fighter over Beachy Head as Pat Hughes next burst finds its target, but Hughes is forced to disengage as he himself comes under fire from other Bf109s. P/O J.Zurakowski took over and it is uncertain if he managed to hit the Messerschmitt but it crashed in flames near Old Romney.

British troops were quick to get to the burning Bf109 finding the pilot still in the blazing cockpit. The heat was so intense that there was no way that they could get at the German pilot and pull him clear. Instead, they pulled their rifles and shot the pilot as an act of humanity so as to stop any undue suffering. There is a grave at the New Folkestone Cemetery marked "Unknown German Airman" This is probably the remains of that pilot who was shot by British troops. Research has discovered that the burnt remains were taken to the New Folkestone Cemetery, but as the German authorities claim that only two pilots did not return that day that were on operations in the area with the unit. They were Gefr Karl Bieker and Gefr Peter Holzapel, although the latter in German records state that his death occurred on January 7th 1941. So it is still not certain as to who lies in the grave dedicated to an "Unknown German Airman" at Folkestone.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 44

RAF

1 Sqn Hurricane P2686 G.E.Goodman from Palestine baled out of his Hurricane at 0930hrs after combat with a Bf 110 south of Penshurst, Kent. He was not hurt.

64 Sqn Spitfire K9903 H.D.Charnock crashed near Ternhill, Shropshire at 0830hrs. He was unhurt but the aircraft was a write off

72 Sqn Spitfire N3070 R.D.Elliott blacked out when his oxygen supply failed, came round as the aircraft reached 1,000 ft and he was just able to recover and land the aircraft, although it needed rebuilding

73 Sqn Hurricane P2875 H.W.Eliot wounded at 09:20hrs having baled out of his after combat over the Thames Estuary.

234 Sqn Spitfire X4035 W.H.G.Gordon (see above), Spitfire X4183 W.H.Hornby wounded at 0910hrs. He was shot down by a Bf 109 over Northiam East Sussex and Spitfire N3061 P.W.Horton injured while trying to shoot down a Ju 88 off Portland at 1345hrs. He baled out

249 Sqn Hurricane R4229 J.Grandy at 08:45hrs he was wounded and baled out after combat with a Bf 109 over Maidstone. Grandy later became Chief of the Air Staff.

253 Sqn Hurricane P3032 W.P.Cambridge Circumstances unknown, baled out of aircraft but dead when found at 0915 hrs

303 Sqn Hurricane V7290 S.Karubin crash landed unhurt near Pembury damaged by He111 return fire and Hurricane P3974 Z.Krasnodebski crashed on West Wickham golf course, parachuted to safety but was badly burned

501 Sqn Hurricane V6612 H.C.Adams shot down and killed during combat and crashed at Eltham at 0900hrs, Hurricane V6646 O.V.Houghton Shot down and killed during combat and crashed at Charing 0900hrs and Hurricane P3516 G.W.Pearson Shot down and killed in combat and crashed at Hothfield at 0900hrs

601 Sqn Hurricane V6647 H.T.Gilbert was wounded in combat with a Bf 109 over Mayfield at 09:30hrs having baled out, Hurricane P3382 J.Topolnicki was wounded at 09:30hrs after baling out over Mayfield.

Hurricane P3363 C.R.Davis was shot down by Bf109. and killed when his aircraft crashed inverted into the garden of Canterbury Cottage, Matfield near Tunbridge Wells at 0930hrs. He was 29. Hurricane P8818 W.H.Rhodes-Moorhouse killed as he crashed at Southborough after combat with Bf109s at 0930hrs

602 Sqn Spitfire N3227 G.A.Whipps baled out at 13:30hrs after combat with a Bf 109 he was unhurt.

603 Sqn Spitfire X4260 J.R.Caister Captured and made PoW after being shot down by Bf109 and force landed behind Calais

Hugh Dowding felt that now the situation was critical and called for Park and Leigh-Mallory. He informed them of the situation to which it was of no surprise that they were fully aware of that. But Dowding said that we are now at a stage where we have squadrons who are tired, others are just about out to it, while we have others up north that could relieve many of these exhausted pilots. He explained that he must now categorise all squadrons. "A" will consist of all those squadrons in the front line of defence, which would include all squadrons in 11 Group plus those in 10 and 12 Groups that would most likely find themselves also in the front line. "B" would be those squadrons that were not in the front line but were prepared and ready to be transferred to a front line airfield, and "C" would be all those squadrons that have reached exhaustion or have not yet reached the level required for operations in the front line.

"We have squadrons that have been involved in combat from first light right through until dusk, they have operated like this for days on end," said Dowding, "and that includes many of our experienced squadrons. These men are not immortal, they are human beings, day after day of prolonged combat has made them tired and they are exhausted." He went on to say that these men must be replaced by men who are fresh. We cannot win if we have pilots who cannot even stand up.

By now, the British commanders were at their lowest ebb, exhausted pilots and squadrons; Spitfires and Hurricanes were still being lost at a far greater rate than they were being replaced. In just two weeks Fighter Command had lost 295 planes with 171 badly damaged. 103 pilots had been killed while 128 had been wounded. Squadrons were now weakened by only having 16 pilots attached instead of the normal 26. As far as the airfields were concerned, Lympne and Manston were out of action while Biggin Hill, which had suffered immensely, could only operate one squadron at a time. Radar stations were being patched up the best that they can, and communications was only at 75% efficiency. They knew that once they stopped intercepting the German formations, Göering would immediately know that he had achieved his first objective, that he had destroyed the RAF and that there was no stopping now, the cities could be bombed and the invasion could commence. As the Group leaders left, Dowding said quietly, "...we must pull together .we must win".

That night, from the office of the War Ministry, the Home Forces HQ issued its preliminary Alert No.3, "Invasion probable within three days".

During the early morning darkness, a German aircraft drops a parachutist in Nottinghamshire. No one hears or sees the aircraft or notices the parachute silently gliding earthwards.

At 3.00 am, Gösta Catroli, a Swedish national trained by the German Secret Service "Abwerh", parachuted from a Dornier Bomber and landed near Yardley-Hastings in Northamptonshire. Catroli's mission was to report by means of his radio, on conditions in Britain. He was arrested during the evening on the day he arrived. Later that month Ronald Thomas ‘Ronnie’ Reed, a BBC radio engineer who became an MI5 officer, was requested to go on an assignment. This turned out to be a visit to Wormwood Scrubs prison, which is where MI5 had its headquarters at the beginning of the War. He was taken to a cell in which there was a German spy who had just landed. This was Agent ‘Summer’, real name Gösta Caroli. His interrogators wanted Ronnie to help supervise this agent's first broadcast back to Germany, in which he would tell them he had landed safely. Ronnie then supervised other double agents, such as Tate, real name Wolf Schmidt, during the rest of the War. He was permanently seconded to MI5, which dealt with countering subversion, where he ran a number of agents, including ‘Zigzag’ Eddie Chapman

[Coast]

7th September 1940 – The start of the Blitz

High cloud early giving way to light cloud but remaining fine throughout the south. Channel areas had early morning haze which quickly disappeared leaving clear skies. Temperatures were normal. The north had mid to high level cloud with good visibility.

The British War Office and Air Ministry were advised that after consultation with the meteorological office that the tides and moon favoured a date between the 8th and 10th of September for the commencement of the German invasion. A meeting that was called by the British Chiefs of Staff and was to commence that day at 5.30pm to discuss whether or not the "Alert No.1" should be issued. At this stage, Dowding and Park had no idea as to the change in tactics that the Luftwaffe was to implement later this day.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group 51 Sqn. One aircraft crashed near Wells, Norfolk on return from Boulogne. Crew unhurt, aircraft wrecked. Bombing - invasion fleet at Ostend and Boulogne. 51 Sqn. Four aircraft. Three got off but none bombed due to adverse weather. One crashed on return, crew safe. 78 Sqn. Three aircraft. None bombed due to weather.

RAF Fighter Command

On the day before, at a railroad siding between Calais and Boulogne, in his special train, Göering gave a banquet for his air fleet commanders. He offered them the choicest of French wines and they ate the finest of French table food. He told his guests, that from this day, he would be taking personal command of the battle, and that he would settle for nothing less than victory. On September 7th 1940, Göering stood on the forward observation post at Cape Gris-Nez and watched as wave upon wave of German bombers roar across the English Channel, their destination - London.

A strange deadly quiet was experienced by all the radar stations along the south coast first thing. The CRTs were all blank, not a sign of the enemy. For the first time the WAAFs could have breakfast in peace, and there were more calls for another 'cuppa' than usual. Some took advantage of the mild balmy early morning to stroll outside, something that had not been done for weeks. But it was at Wittering that the first contact had been made with the enemy. A single blip had been detected and 266 Sqn that had just been transferred to Wittering for a rest after being in the battle zone was sent to intercept. Three Spitfires took off and made for their vectored position at twenty-eight thousand. All three aircraft were at full boost trying to catch the enemy aircraft, and one of them had to turn back because the engine started to become erratic. The enemy aircraft was a Dornier 215 and it was not until they were well out over the North Sea close to the Dutch border that they managed to make their first attack. Their shots went wide and they came under some accurate gunfire from the German aircraft. A second attack was more successful with the Dornier exploding in a ball of flame.

Across the Channel. Göring, commander of II Fliegerkorps Bruno Loerzer and Albert Kesselring drive through the French countryside towards the township of St Omer. Göring, who had now pronounced himself as the leader of the Luftwaffe operations wanted to see for himself the beginning of the final stage of the battle, and had invited Loerzer and Kesselring along. They were to position themselves at the closest point of the French mainland to the English coast, as it would be from here that they could witness what they thought would be the greatest onslaught that Britain would ever endure.

Along the way they found time to have breakfast, and called in to some of the Luftwaffe fighter stations one of them being the Lehrgeschwader of Bf109s based at Calais-Marck, where a midday banquet was held.

Here, Göring in his open heavy leather coat that displayed all his war medals talked and chatted with the many pilots. He spoke of his days as a fighter pilot when air combat was fought with open cockpit biplanes. He was in a sort of jovial, yet somewhat cocky mood. After lunch, the procession of three Mercedes escorted by motorcycle police made their way to the high picnic grounds at Cap Nez, where a team of non-commissioned officers with almost a precision like mentality set out tables and white table linen, and hastily set out the sandwiches, biscuits and champagne. There was a war on, the British were lazily sitting around almost bored with themselves, the German pilots were preparing to deploy themselves on the greatest attack yet, and Göring was going to have a picnic.

The radar at Dover and Pevensey picked up the first blips of the day at 1155hrs, a small formation just off the coast. They appeared to be content on staying just within striking distance of the English coastline but made sure that they would not cross the coast. 66 Sqn (Kenley) who were on a routine patrol were sent to intercept. It was a small formation of Bf109s possibly trying to draw the British fighters out, just as they had done during the early Channel attacks in July. Being as the enemy was content in staying out there, Fighter Command decided that as long as they kept their distance from the coast, no other squadrons would be sent to intercept.

The windscreen of P/O C.A.W.Bodie’s Spitfire

66 Sqn engaged combat, but after two of its aircraft had to return to base, decided to break off the action. One of the Spitfires did not make it back to Kenley, instead the pilot P/O C.A.W.Bodie decided to crash land the aircraft close to Hawkinge when he was losing height rapidly. The other Spitfire is believed to have made it back to Kenley and also made a crash landing.1300hrs: On the other side of the Channel German ground personnel were busy putting the finishing touches to new airfields that were positioned very near to the French coast. Many new gun emplacements were being constructed, and word broke through to British intelligence that heavy bombers were being moved into readiness. More amphibious landing craft were still arriving at the Channel ports.

AVM Keith Park issues the statement to all his controllers and squadron commanders to obey the orders from Group Operations "exactly, and without any modification". This instruction was made because squadrons were often too high to successfully make an interception of enemy bombers without engaging combat with the escorting fighters. The instruction also ordered that two squadrons were to operate together, and that because of there better high altitude performance, the Spitfires should engage the escorting fighters while the Hurricanes make contact with the bombers. "We must harass and destroy they as many bombers as possible†he said.

1400hrs: Across the Channel, Göring and his party of invited guests started to take their positions on the cliff edge. Everyone is relaxed, talking and smiling with a sort of waiting in anticipation. Suddenly, in the distance the dull drone of engines could be heard, it was coming from the south. Shortly, the same sounds could be heard to the north, an eerie sort of sound yet they could not see anything. After about ten minutes, one of the Major's called and pointed to the south. The first of the huge formations could just barely be seen coming over the high ground behind them. All eyes were at straining point; some members of the party were on tiptoes stretching their necks to get the first glimpses of the great armada of bombers that were soon to fill the sky. As hundreds of bombers formed a sheet of black cross like figures in the sky above, the smile on Göring's face went from cheek to cheek, he excitedly placed his hands on a Major's shoulder and shook it, and pointing towards the mass of aircraft high above. The noise was deafening. Other formations, again Heinkels, Dorniers and intermixed with Bf110s came in from the east, and as the main formation passed over the French coastline high above Göring's head, more formations could be seen way back over the mainland to the west. The total blanket of bombers and fighters now covered an area that was at least 800 square miles, and still the excitable Göring could hardly control himself as the huge formation of droning bombers headed towards the English coast.

At 1540hr the coastal radar stations, that had been extra quiet all day, suddenly could not believe their eyes. At first, it was just a few blips off the French coast that slowly appeared to join and increase in size like a formidable cancer. The radar station at Foreness was the first to detect the appearance of the enemy on the CRT screen. A WAAF corporal could not explain the size of the formation and she called for one of her superior officers. Within moments, Dover had also picked the giant build up, as did Rye. Those that had been relaxing outside in the late afternoon sun were called in, cigarettes were stubbed in the already full ashtrays as everybody's attention was turned to the armada that was crossing the Channel and coming towards them. 1550hrs: All personnel at Bentley Priory were in the relaxed mood as they had been all day. It had been a day that had been a blessing to all as everyone took advantage of the peace and quiet of this late September day. The Officer-in-Charge even strolled about casually on the mezzanine level of the Operations Room known as the "Balcony" the WAAFs below sat casually around an empty map table as they had done since daybreak. Some sat sipping cups of tea, some were reading newspapers or just casually chatting to one of the others. One could be forgiven in thinking that this was the nerve centre of Fighter Command. Even though most were indulging in this relaxed mood, many of the WAAFs maintained their headsets on 'just in case'. Little did they know then, that within a couple of minutes the "Hole" as the Operations Room at headquarters was known, would take on a sudden transformation.

The message came through from the radar stations at 1554hrs. The Filter Room at 'the hole' was the first to receive such messages and one of the Tellers there passed the initial position sighted of the enemy to the plotters at the large map table below the balcony. One of the Plotters reached for her long rake that had a battery powered magnetic tip, then reached into the tray at the edge of the table picking up one of the coloured arrows and placing it on the small plaque that were placed a letter, either "H" for hostile, "X" for an unidentified aircraft, "F" for fighter aircraft or "C" for Coastal Command aircraft. A number was placed beside the letter, which indicated the number of aircraft in the formation. Another number was placed below this to indicate the height of the enemy.

One of the Plotters commenced placing a plaque just off the French coast, then just alongside another Plotter placed another plaque. At first, until confirmation of its identity could be made, the letter "X" was placed on the plaque together with the number of aircraft. An arrow would also be placed giving the direction of flight as well as the grid letter and the grid position. 1600hrs: The plots on the large map show that the build up of enemy aircraft is increasing and covering a wider area. The information was passed on to Group HQ, but at this stage no reports of squadrons being scrambled are recorded. The usual procedure of the Luftwaffe attacks was after the Channel crossing, the formations would split up upon reaching the English coast, and it was presumed that this would be no different. 1615hrs: The huge armada of German aircraft were now over the coast and within the range of the Observer Corps posts. They report in to the Maidstone HQ that "Enemy sighted, 100 plus, 20,000," within moments, they would lift the telephone again, "Further to my last report, make that 200 plus," and so it continued. In reality, a total of some 1,100 aircraft were crossing the English coastline consisting of 300 medium-heavy bombers, 200 Bf110s with bomb loads and about 600 Bf109s flying as escorts.

With Park not at Group HQ at Uxbridge he was not able to control squadron and fighter units, but in his absence this task was left to his senior controller John Willoughby de Broke with whom Keith Park had every confidence. Quite often he would let his controllers make the early decisions and he would act on these making the final decisions later based on his natural instinct. Immediately orders eleven squadrons to scramble, he is of the belief that once and for all the Luftwaffe are intent on completely destroying his airfields. Seeing the size of the approaching formation, he orders every squadron covering London into the air. The dispersal's at Northolt, Kenley, Croydon, Hendon, North Weald and Hornchurch all become an immediate hub of activity.

By 1620hrs, 1 Sqn (Northolt) completes its scramble, as did 303 Sqn (Northolt), 504 Sqn (Hendon) and 501 Squadron (Gravesend). Expecting the assault to be directed at the sector airfields, all squadrons are ordered into positions to that would provide protection for the important sector stations and such installations as the oil refinery at Thameshaven. 43 Sqn (Tangmere) were ordered by their controller in a variety of directions but keeping the south coast within sight. Eventually they see a formation of Dorniers 1,500 feet below. The leader orders the bulk of his squadron to attack the escorting Bf109s while he and another section leader move in on the Dorniers. They open fire on the bombers for all they are worth until their ammunition is nearly exhausted, then turn sharply in front of descending Bf109s. Both Hurricanes are shot down, one pilot is trapped in his diving plane, while the other manages to bale out, but his parachute failed to open.

Once over the Kent coast, the huge armada of German bombers and their escorts break into separate groups with each one seemingly heading for a different target. Fighter Command becomes bewildered as the change in direction sees many of the bombers heading away from the sector airfields and away from patrolling RAF fighters. One large formation starts to head towards west of London, while another turns to the northeast as if to go up the east coast of Essex and Suffolk. Although Willoughby de Broke was to direct and vector the squadrons to their respective areas, he would have been in communication with Keith Park at FCHQ. Instructions would have been given to de Broke as to where to place the various squadrons and also to notify Duxford that their assistance would be required and the area that they were to cover. Keith Park knew that his senior controller could control operations from there, and what was to happen in the next couple of hours, de Broke was well capable of taking control of.

1620hrs: Four squadrons had initially been scrambled. 1 Sqn, the Poles that so far had more than proved themselves with 303 Sqn, 504 Sqn and 501 Sqn. The station controller were still undecided as to which were really the targets, but the general feeling was that the fighter station surrounding London would be the first targets. It was of no surprise when the first squadrons scrambled were directed to give cover to the all-important airfields. Within thirty minutes, Fighter Command had twenty three squadrons in the air, most had been vectored to cover the aerodromes around London while others had been vectored towards the Thames Estuary to meet the of aircraft, one and a half miles high and covering nearly 800 square miles sky.

Douglas Bader’s flying log for September 1940

The 20-minute length of time that it took the "Big Wing" to gain formation was again far too long. Bader's 242 Sqn took off first with 310 Sqn close behind, then they had to throttle back, losing valuable time while waiting for 19 Sqn to catch up. Then they had to climb to a height of 20,000 feet to put them in an advantageous position. The outcome was, was that they were attacked by Bf109s while still climbing, and because of this, they could not make contact with the enemy bombers at their vectored position near Maidstone. They did however manage to make contact with an enemy formation over the Thames Estuary and again their results were more than favourable. As the numerous German formations spread-eagled their way over Britain, it now became apparent that they were after something other than the airfields of Fighter Command. One group that headed west of London had bypassed the airfields of Biggin Hill and Kenley. It was reported that between Brooklands and Windsor there were over 200 bombers in this group. Flight Lieutenant James McArthur of 609 Sqn sighted them first. German bombers and their Bf109 escorts began forming over inland France from 1500hrs onwards. Slowly, as other groups took off, they joined forces with other formations, with each formation flying at a different altitude, and flying some minutes either above or below the formation in front.

From the French coast, they flew in a direct line across the Channel towards the Kent coast, just as they had done on previous occasions. The flight pattern used was also the same as had been done previously, and it was this that had Fighter Command fooled as they were to believe that the airfields were again to be attacked. But on reaching the English coastline, many formations broke into smaller groups, and at their varying altitudes changed direction criss-crossing the flight paths of the formations below them. One group, flew almost north-west, then once over the Guildford area turned north flying over Windsor and Maidenhead, then making a circle around the city of London and headed towards their target of the dock area and industrial borough of West Ham. Two other groups, once over the coast near Beachy Head turned north as if to make towards the coast of Essex, but over the Thames close to the Isle of Sheppey, turned west following the River Thames until they reached the London docks and West Ham. Another group took the direct line and from the coast of Kent flew direct towards the east end of London. For the Luftwaffe, a well though out plan. They succeeded in confusing Fighter Command who had no idea that the Luftwaffe target was London's dockland area and the industrial and heavily populated east end.

Keith Park watched the action developing with Dowding in the ops room at Bentley Priory. There was little that they could do, except watch the huge map below as their fighters tried to penetrate the fighter escorts and disrupt the bombers. 501 Sqn Gravesend (Hurricanes) and 249 Squadron North Weald (Hurricanes) made some inroads to the north of Rochester, but the first load of bombs had already been unleashed on the oil storage tanks at Thameshaven which was still burning from the raid the previous day. There was little chance that they could get near to the bombers as they were outnumbered by ten to one by the Bf109 escorts. Park wanted to know where the Duxford wing had got to, he remarked that they should have intercepted the enemy bombers in the vicinity of Rochford and Maidstone, where the addition of thirty-six fighters could have assisted 501 and 249 Sqns and made more of an impact on splitting up the bomber formation. There was no way now that Park could offer assistance 501 and 249, the map board below showed him that another formation was approaching the east end from the north and that another formation coming up from the south was already almost at the target area.

Over 300 Heinkels and Dorniers with an escort of some 600 Bf109s and Bf110s continued the path along the Thames although many of the escorts had previously had to turn back because of their fuel situation, some of the bombers had turned back after unleashing their bombes on Thameshaven, but as many as 230 continued on towards London with no British fighters there to infiltrate or stop their progress. With the Spitfires and Hurricanes kept busy on the fringes of their flight path, the German bombers flew at a much higher altitude than normal escaping the bursting shells from the anti aircraft fire down below. The bombers flew towards London as if in a great procession, with different formations flying at different levels. Sightseers on the ground had never seen such an armada of aircraft before, never had such an onslaught been aimed at the British capital. While this huge formation continues its course along the Thames, the other large formation that is approaching from the south is intercepted by 609 Sqn over Dartford in Kent and slightly to the south-east of London. The mixture of Dorniers and Heinkels is again protected by their Bf109 escorts. The 609 Sqn leader positioned his squadron in a positioned to attack when suddenly the bombers change direction ready for their attack on the dockland area of London. The coordinated attack by 609 is now off guard, so Squadron Leader J.Curchin instructs his men to make individual attacks. Many manage to out manoeuvre some of the 109s and line up one of the bombers in their sights.

It appeared that Fighter Command were not going to gain the upper hand. There were just far too many bombers and escorts. 609 Squadron managed to destroy 2 Dorniers, 2 Bf 110s and a Bf 109 and surprisingly without loss to themselves. An impressive victory to 609, but against 200+ bombers it was not even the skin off of the custard. The greatest success came from the combined efforts of 603 Sqn (Hornchurch), 1 Sqn (Northolt) and 303 Sqn (Polish) who manages to destroy a total of 11 Dorniers. One of the pilots of 603 Sqn said, that these Poles went in with great determination and ferocity and screamed idle chit chat in their own native tongue, but who cares, they were there to rip into the Germans and destroy them, and that's just what they went and done.

1730hrs: A vast mixture of Dornier Do17s, Heinkel He111s and Junkers Ju88s first dropped their bombs with great accuracy on Woolwich Arsenal on the south side of the River Thames and the entrance to London's dockland. The huge factory of Harland and Woolfe suffered almost total destruction, and the munitions factory at Woolwich was also hit. Here the shells for the Army were manufactured, and just one hit and the gunpowder storage bins erupted causing great sheets of flame to rise hundreds of feet into the air. Another wave of bombers rained their bomb loads down on the Royal docks at North Woolwich. Queen Victoria dock, King George V dock, Royal Albert dock and many backwaters blazed from end to end. Large ships that had brought in supplies were hit and they were on fire. Other important docks at Millwall, Wapping right up to St Katherine's dock near Tower Bridge were ablaze. Some forty miles of warehouses along the Thames had been hit and were a blazing fury.

But it was not just the docks themselves that suffered this unforeseen onslaught. The heavily populated area of London's east end was regarded as the poorer side of the city. These were the battling workers, the slums, a different class of people that resided to the south and to the west of London. West Ham, Silvertown, Canning Town, East Ham, Poplar, Stratford, Wapping and Whitechapel all became enveloped in a blazing fury. Factories and terraced houses were destroyed. The fire brigades in all the suburbs were fighting a losing battle that was to continue on for another four hours as wave after wave of German bombers came over and dropped, instantaneous, incendiaries, 2 - 4 hour delayed action bombs.

Lydia Street, Tower Hamlets just after the raid of 7th September 1940

If it was to be any advantage to Fighter Command, while the bombers were over the east end of London, their Bf109 escorts had long since made the return trip back to their bases because of the fuel situation. This was to be the one of the longest and busiest days so far for the pilots. Time and time again the had to return back to base for refuelling and rearming. Two, three, four even maybe five sorties in one day. But as the bombers turned back and headed for home, the Spitfires and Hurricanes tore into the defenceless and unescorted bombers. Ironically, Hornchurch, some forty miles away from the docks, was practically closed down because of the drifting smoke from the blazing east end enveloped the airfield. Leigh-Mallory's "Big Wing" that had missed the interception of the incoming bombers, managed to attack the first wave after they had dropped their bombload and headed for home. All squadrons were still airborne even as light started to fade and eventually Fighter Command had to be content in letting the bombers return unmolested in the dark.

But it was not finished. At 2022hrs, as many of the attacking bombers were returning home, another wave was crossing the Kent coast at Beachy Head. They could hardly be seen against the night sky, and what a target they would have been if Fighter Command had an effective night fighter squadron available, as this formation did not have the protection of a Bf109 escort. Two planes of 213 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes) were sent up, but were ordered not to intercept. It had been a formidable day for Fighter Command, their defences had been stretched to the limit. Just about every squadron in 11 Group had been called upon as well as reinforcements from 10 Group and 12 Group.

As the evening wore on, the German bomber made up from Gruppes from Hugo Sperle's Luftflotte 3, most of the daytime bombers had landed. The commanders made out their reports which were more than favourable. The result were immediately posted to Göring, who for once felt satisfied when he learnt of the devastation that his bombers had done, and that most of London was ablaze with the report also that the east end had been totally destroyed. So pleased with himself, that Göring immediately telegraphed his wife Emmy and told her that "the English have had enough". He also broadcast on German radio to the German people, that this being the first blow while he had been in charge of the battle, over half of London now lay in ruins and that he had struck a serious blow - straight at the enemy's heart.

The bombing continued well into the night, in fact the total bombing lasted for seven hours. The weather, which had been a glorious late summer's day, and it seemed only right, that it should end with a 'most beautiful sunset', until it was realised that the sun was setting in the wrong direction, the red glow that they saw was the reflection in the evening sky of the burning East End. In all, over three hundred tons of bombs were dropped, and by midnight, the whole of London's East End was engulfed in flames. 490 London civilians were killed, 1,200 more were injured and to add fuel to the fire, a report comes in that Germans have landed on the South Coast of England.

The signal for this alert is "Cromwell", a code name that was used only by the Army. One of those Army battalions that were alerted was the 18th Australian Infantry that was based at Amesbury Abbey. The report came through at about 9.30pm. The 18th Infantry Brigade was at this time, only at about half strength because half of the brigade was on leave, many of them now trapped in London because of the bombing. But was hard to keep such a secret, church bells started to peel, road blocks were set up and even plans were put in place for the blowing up of some of the bridges. For those that were on duty, they were told to stand by for an immediate move. By midnight, no further information or orders had been received so the men were allowed to return to their billets, but were to be prepared to move at one hours notice should the invasion be confirmed.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 41

RAF

Killed

43 Sqn Hurricane V6641, C.B.Hull Shot down in combat with Bf109 and crashed in grounds of Purley High School at 1645hrs and Hurricane V7257 R.C.Reynell baled out after being shot down by Bf109. Died on landing at 1645hrs

54 Sqn Spitfire R6901 W.Krepski listed as missing. Believed crashed into sea during operational flight at 1430hrs

73 Sqn Hurricane P3234 R.E.’Eric’Lovett Shot down by enemy aircraft during combat operations at 1700hrs

234 Sqn Spitfire P9466 J.S.O'Brien Shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed near Biggin Hill at 1825hrs and Spitfire X4009 P.C.Hughes believed crashed into Do17 wreckage after he shot it during combat at 1830hrs

242 Sqn Hurricane P2962 J.Benzie a Canadian was killed 1700hrs, while on patrol over the Thames Estuary

249 Sqn Hurricane R4114 R.D.S.Fleming Shot down by Bf109s during combat operations at 1700hrs

257 Sqn Hurricane P3049 H.R.A.Beresford aircraft crashed on Isle of Sheppey at 1730hrs. and Hurricane V7254 L.R.G.Mitchell last seen in action in combat. Believed crashed into sea at 1700hrs

504 Sqn Hurricane L1615 K.V.Wendell Shot down over Estuary but crashed in flames at Faversham at 1700hrs

602 Sqn Spitfire W.H.Coverley baled out with severe burns but died of injuries after being shot down and crashing in flames at 1730hrs and Spitfire X4256 H.W.Moody failed to return to base after combat operation around 1730hrs

The following aircraft crashed or damaged but pilots were declared safe:

1230hrs: P/O C.W.A Bodie 66 Sq Kenley. Forced landing at Hawkinge after combat. (Uninjured)

1235hrs: P/O I.J.A.Cruikshanks 66 Sqn. Forced landed after combat operations. (U)

1615hrs: P/O G.H.Bennions 41 Sqn Hornchurch. Undercarriage collapsed Rochford after combat (U)

1645hrs: Sgt A.L.M.Deller 43 Sqn Baled out of unhurt after combat over the Ashford, Kent (U)

1700hrs: S/L D.R.S.Bader 242 Sqn Coltishall. Seriously damaged in combat over Thames Estuary. (U)

1700hrs: Fl/L R.J.Cork 242 Sqn l. Landed at Duxford badly damaged in combat. (Injured/Slight)

1700hrs: P/O J.Daszewski 303 Sq Northolt. Shot down by Bf109s. Thames Estuary. (Bailed/Out Severely Wounded)

1700hrs: Fl/L A.S.Forbes 303 Sqn. Returned to base. Damaged by Do17. (W)

1700hrs: F/O Z.Henneberg 303 Sqn Damaged by Bf109s. Returned to base. (U)

1700hrs: Sgt R.Smithson 249 Sqn North Weald. Shot down by Bf109 over Maidstone. Crashed. (W)

1705hrs: P/O R.G.A.Barclay 249 Sqn. Crash landed from gunfire He111 Maidstone. (U)

1705hrs: Sgt F.W.Killingback 249 Sqn. Shot down by Bf109 over Maidstone. (B/O:W)

1705hrs: F/O M.Pisarek 303 Sqn. Crashed into back garden at Loughton. B/O:U)

1710hrs: Sgt B.M.Bush 504 Sqn Hendon. Damaged by Bf109. Forced landed Eastchurch. (Sev)

1720hrs: Sgt A.E.Marshall 73 Sqn Debden. Damaged by Bf110 Forced landing Burnham. (Inj/Sl)

1720hrs: P/O A.P.Pease 603 Sqn Damaged over London. Crash landed at base. (U)

1720hrs: F/O P.H.V.Wells 249 Sqn North Weald. Caught fire during attack on He111. (B/O:W)

1725hrs: P/O D.W.Cowley-Milling 242 Sqn Coltishall. Forced landing at Stow-St-Maries. (U)

1730hrs: P/O E.W.Aries 602 Sqn Westhampnett. Crash landed Wrotham Damaged by Do17. (U)

1730hrs: S/L D.L.Denholm 603 Sqn Damaged over S London. Forced landed at base. (U)

1730hrs: P/O O.V.Hanbury 600 Sqn. Returned to base. Damaged by Do17 Sth London. (U)

1730hrs: Sgt A.R.Sarre 603 Sqn Shot down over Thames during combat (B/O:W)

1730hrs: P/O B.G.Stapleton 603 Sqn. Damaged by Bf109s S London. Force landed (U)

1745hrs: Sgt R.C.Ford 41 Sqn Hornchurch. Forced landing Werst Hanningfield Essex (U)

1745hrs: P/O A.K.Ogilvie 609 Sqn Warmwell. Damaged over S London. Returned to base. (U)

1745hrs: P/O D.W.A.Stones 79 Sqn Biggin Hill. A/C damaged by Bf109 over base. (Sl/W)

1745hrs: F/O B.Van Mentz 222 Sqn Hornchurch. Cooling system damaged in combat Rochester (U)

1750hrs: P/O J.D.Bisdee 609 Sqn Damaged over S London. Returned to base. (U)

1800hrs: P/O N.leC.Agazarian 609 Sqn. Dam by He111. Forced landed White Waltham. (U)

1800hrs: Sgt J.M.B.Beard 249 Squadron North Weald. Shot down by friendly AA gunfire. B/O:U)

1808hrs: Sgt J.McAdam 41 Squadron Hornchurch. Crashed on farm after combat operations. (U)

1810hrs: Sgt J.Koukal 310 Squadron Duxford. Crashed at Harty Marshes after combat over Estuary. B/O:Bu)

1815hrs: Sgt J.White 72 Squadron Croydon. Forced landed after combat over Thames Estuary. (Inj/Sl)

1820hrs: F/O T.A.F.Elsdon 72 Squadron Croydon. Crash landed at Biggin Hill after combat. (Inj/Ser)

1820hrs: P/O V.Goth 310 Squadron Duxford. Damaged by Bf110 Southend. Forced landed Purleigh. (U)

1820hrs: P/O O.B.Morrough-Ryan 41 Squadron Hornchurch. Forced landing Great Wakering. (U)

1825hrs: Sgt J.H.H.Burgess 222 Squadron Hornchurch. Damaged over Maidstone and force landed. (U)

1830hrs: Sgt P.T.Robinson 257 Squadron Debden. Aircraft damaged in combat Over Thames Estuary. (U)

1830hrs: Sgt T.Y.Wallace 111 Squadron Croydon. Shot down by Bf109 over Ashford. (B/O:U)

1835hrs: Sgt D.J.Hulbert 257 Squadron Debden. Forced landed at Sittingbourne. Damaged by Bf109. (U)

London's dockland was on fire after a massive daylight raid in which more than 300 tons of high explosive and incendiary bombs rained on the capital, with the RAF seemingly unable to stop the death and destruction which fell from a stately procession of bombers onto the streets of East London. Göring directed the attack from a cliff top at Cape Gris-Nez, where he watched 350 bombers escorted by 650 fighters stream across the Channel. Broadcasting from his HQ, he said he could see waves of planes heading for England.

It seems that the RAF had been wrong-footed this time, despite Enigma warnings of an attack on London. There were raids on Hawkinge airfield in the morning and thinking that the new wave of raiders were heading for airfields north of London, the 11 Group controller kept his squadrons north of the capital not realising that London was the target until it was too late. Eventually 21 out of 23 squadrons airborne managed to get into action and shot down 41 German planes for the loss of 25, but by then the damage had been done.

The first bombs set fire to bonded warehouses. Blazing rum, paint and sugar floated on the Thames. Many people had to be evacuated by boat. "Send all the pumps you've got," pleaded one fire officer, "the whole bloody world's on fire." One of the problems facing the fire fighters was that the level of the Thames had fallen in the dry summer and they had difficulty in getting their pumps to work. Later the sirens sounded again, and in the night 247 German aircraft attacked the capital, dropping 352 tons of high explosive and 440 canisters of incendiary bombs. Mr Albert Ernest Dolphin, a porter, died when he flung himself under a falling wall, saving the life of a nurse trapped after a bomb hit the South-Eastern Hospital, New Cross. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross.

A few hours later, with 2,000 Londoners dead or injured and the whole area engulfed by flames, all railway links south were blocked, and the decision was taken at GHQ Home Forces to send out the code word "Cromwell": invasion imminent. Home Guard and regular troops were called out, church bells rung and some bridges blown. Churchill had been warning the chiefs of staff that if an invasion is to be tried it cannot be long delayed, because the weather may break at any time. For the past few weeks hundreds of self-propelled barges have been observed moving down from German and Dutch harbours to ports of northern France. They have come under heavy bombardment from the RAF and the Royal Navy. But the massive bombing attack on London docks, which British forces interpreted as a prelude to an attempted German landing, does not appear to have been followed up by any movement of the invasion fleet. One theory is that the Germans hope that their air raids on civilian targets will cause such panic and chaos that invasion will be unnecessary.

But did ACM Hugh Dowding or AVM Keith Park have any idea that the German tactics were about to change? Ever since the attacks commenced on the aerodromes of 11 Group, both men believed that the assault would continue until most airfields were virtually unoperational. They firmly believed that the German plan was to strike a severe a blow on the sector organization as soon as possible, and both men knew, that as August drew on and went into September, they were succeeding. My belief is that the answer was yes, they did know. Fighter Command had the advantage of 'Ultra' and the 'Y' Service (RAF Radio Intelligence). Between these two intelligence sources Fighter Command could listen in on the German communications system, and not only be forewarned of any impeding attacks or strategic tactics ordered by the German High Command. Prior to the Battle of Britain, a listening station was situated at Hawkinge where German linguists of the RAF could translate messages and forward these to Fighter Command HQ. Later, this task was given to selected members of the WAAF who worked on six-hour shifts.

Because of the importance of Hawkinge and its vulnerability to attack, more suitable premises was located at Hollywood Manor at Kingsdown near Wrotham in Kent, and this became the official operations centre for radio-telephony monitoring of German messages and instructions for the duration of the war. All messages received, were sent to RAF commands as well as to the navy and the army. A number of sources state how Dowding and Park were prepared for other attacks especially during September and the initial raid on September 7th 1940 was no exception. Dowding and Park had received knowledge of an impeding raid that was to be targeted at East London on September 5th. They knew that it was to take place within a few days, and calculating the time that it would take to bring the number of units forward and organize such a large raid, it was estimated that the attack on London would be either September 7th or the 8th. According to John Terraine the Air Ministry had also informed them of Invasion Alert No.1 signifying "an attack is imminent:"

Removal of signs as part of anti-invasion measures

ACM Hugh Dowding knew the situation, he knew that if the RAF was at all to gain the upper hand, then his pilots would have to shoot down the German planes at a rate of three to one, a task which at this stage when his airfields were almost un-operational, and his pilots were tired and many were near to exhaustion.

Dowding said in his office at Bentley Priory, "all we can do now is to pray to God, because only a miracle can save us now."

Bentley Priory today

[Coast]

Pilots, firefighters, nurses and ambulance workers who battled through the bombing raids of the Blitz have gathered at St Paul's Cathedral.

A remembrance service at the cathedral is marking the 70th anniversary of the start of the raids.

www.bbc.co.uk/news

Alf Morris revisits the site of his wartime home, which was bombed in the Blitz of 1940

[Coast]

8th September 1940

After a clear night, clouds developed over most of Britain and remained at 80% for most of the day. Although cloudy, the day remained dry with only far northern Scotland getting a shower or two. Temperatures were a little cooler because of the cloud cover but this cloud broke up late in the afternoon.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group Whitleys. Bombing - Dockyards at Bremen - invasion fleet at Ostend. 10 Sqn. Six aircraft to Ostend. Filthy weather, only one bombed. One crashed on return, crew safe. 58 Sqn. Three aircraft to Ostend. None bombed due to weather. Six aircraft to Bremen. One returned early, four bombed primary, one bombed an alternative. 77 Sqn. Two aircraft to Ostend. None bombed due to weather. Nine aircraft to Bremen. One returned early, seven bombed primary, one failed to bomb. 2 Group: Three crews of 82 Sqn. ordered to reconnoitre the Dutch harbours, one Blenheim returns, bombing Dunkirk on the way. 51 Sqn. 1 aircraft overshot on landing at Dishforth. Crew safe. 10 Sqn. 1 aircraft overshot Leeming on return from Ostend, aircraft burnt 1 crew injured, rest safe. 58 Sqn. 1 aircraft undershot Linton-on-Ouse on operations. Crew safe.

RAF Fighter Command

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH4Ibru7BTY

As the first light of September 8th 1940 started to break through, the picture of the experiences of the late afternoon bombing and the continued onslaught throughout the night began to emerge. The East End probably suffered the worst, but serious damage was done to areas south of the River Thames as well as the outer city areas between Aldgate and Ludgate Hill. Fires were still raging in bond stores and the dock areas around North Woolwich, nothing escaped the tons of bombs and incendiaries that were dropped. The Royal Albert Dock, Queen Victoria Dock and King George V Dock were burning infernos, ships were damaged and the industrial areas of Custom House, Silvertown and Canning Town were still burning fiercely as raw materials added fuel to the timbers and structure of the many buildings. Places like John Knights (Soapworks), Tate and Lyles (Sugar refiners) and Silvertown Rubber Works were among the factories badly hit. Others included an ink factory, a tarpaulin company and a fuel depot. On the other side of the road, now called Silvertown Way that separates the industrial factories from the residential areas, homes were demolished and others so badly damaged that they became uninhabitable. The damage went as far inland as Barking, East Ham, West Ham and Bethnal Green, areas that were highly populated and classed as residential. South of the Thames, the situation was almost as bad, and what made this worse, was the fact that most of the south side was residential until reaching Deptford. Again, as north of the Thames, houses were demolished, others became unrecognisable as walls and roofs lie in shambles in back gardens and in roadway

The huge pall of smoke bellowing from the warehouses and docks could be seen for miles. Fires raged right up to London's Tower Bridge where the St. Katherine's Dock, which lies almost adjacent, was engulfed in flame. The area of Wapping where hundreds of bond stores and shipwright stores are built on top of each other separated only by a network of narrow streets. Firemen and ambulance men had a terrible time in this area as many of the streets had been blocked by fallen brick walls and burst water mains To many Londoners' this had been the first time that they had really experienced the effects of saturation bombing. It had been a sleepless night for most as the bombing attacks that commenced during the afternoon of the previous day carried on through the night. Anderson shelters rocked as each bomb exploded, dust managed to find its way into every hole and crack, children were screaming and crying, mothers were doing their best to comfort them. It had been a night that 'terror ran amok' and by the early morning light of September 8th after the last of the enemy bombers had returned back to their bases, most would have said 'We never want to go through another night like that ever'. Little did they know that soon, London would come under heavy bombardment for fifty-seven consecutive nights, just like the experience on the night of September 7th - 8th.

From the outcome of the meeting on the previous day with Hugh Dowding, Parks issued fresh orders that were to be effective immediately. Figures stated at the meeting was that during the last four weeks, pilot casualties amounted to 348, although Keith Park states that pilot casualties in 11 Group amount to nearly 100 per week. One of the problems was that because of pilot shortage in 11 Group, many pilots straight out of OTU (Operational Training Units) were being posted to fully operational squadrons that were in some of the busiest areas of 11 Group. Keith Park made the suggestion that pilots straight out of OTU should be posted to squadrons that were in the north where they can be drawn into combat operations slowly. This way they would receive additional training with a squadron rested from top combat duties.

Squadrons would also be re-classified. Up until now, Park had been able to call upon squadrons that were located at the most suitable locations for any given attack. It was quite feasible that one of those squadrons called on may have not had the combat operational experience required and therefore they would be going into an attack very 'green' and not only putting themselves at risk, but the more valuable and experienced pilots as well. The re-classification of squadrons was as follows:

Class A - All those squadrons that are to be based within 11 Group, and those that are in both 10 and 12 Groups which might be called upon by AVM Keith Park that are to provide a first line of reinforcements.

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Class B - Squadrons of all Groups other than those of 11 Group that are fully established in men and machines, which the southern Groups can call into action with consideration to fatigue or lack of combat experience.

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Class C - All the remaining squadrons, which although possessing combat experience, have suffered crippling losses in action and are obviously overdue for rest and the training of new pilots. Experienced airmen will be 'milked' from these squadrons after a short rest to provide replacements for those in Class A and Class B.

The last of the German bombers leave London at 0430hrs and head for home hoping to cross the Channel before the first light of day emerges. With the exception of the hour just before 2000hrs, London had been subjected to nearly twelve hours of continuous bombing. The departure of the bombers was observed by radar, but Park was to let them go and no squadrons had been despatched. Daylight revealed more than was first thought. Reports came in that three of London's main railway termini were out of action, London Bridge, Victoria and Waterloo stations were closed until further notice. Ironically, all these three railway stations were on the same Southern Railway network. Reports came in that at least ten of London’s other railway stations had been damaged, but after clearing operations they were seen fit to operate. One of the two road tunnels under the River Thames, Rotherhithe suffered considerable damage on the northern approaches and the tunnel would be closed for an indefinite period of time.

0930hrs: Air Vice Marshal Keith Park taxied his personal Hurricane across Northolt, he took off and headed towards the other side of London to see first hand the damage done to the East End and to other areas that sustained damage the previous night. He was astounded at what he saw. Warehouses and stores from Tower Bridge to a point as far east as Woolwich were still burning. He saw streets flattened as a result of the attack, but he could not help himself from thinking that if the Luftwaffe keep up these attacks on London and not his vital airfields, it would give him the time that he needed to rebuild aerodromes and restock his fighter supply.

"It was burning all down the river. It was a horrid sight. But I looked down and said 'Thank God for that', because I knew that the Nazis had switched their attack from the fighter stations thinking that they were knocked out. They weren't, but they were pretty groggy"

Keith Park after flying over the devastated area of London.

1030hrs: 43 Sqn departed from Tangmere. They had been under pressure for an extraordinary length of time, and their involvement on September 7th over Kent and South London did not help their cause. Like many other squadrons, they were tired, and Park ordered them to make haste and head for Usworth for a rest. One of their Hurricanes, during the ferry flight north, had the engine seize up over Gedney Dye in Lincolnshire. P/O C.K.Gray managed to make a forced landing and saved the aircraft from destruction. 607 Sqn flying Hurricanes is based at Usworth, and is ordered to exchange places with 43 Sqn. 607 Sqn, although having seen action in France during May 1940, and also the attacks on North-East England by Luftfotte 5, had never seen action in the south of England during the Battle of Britain were now to see for themselves at Tangmere why so many squadrons were being sent back north. Other squadrons on the move during the morning were 111 Sqn who were to move from Croydon to Drem, 79 Sqn (who were also busy the previous day) are moved from Biggin Hill across to the South Wales airfield at Pembrey. 92 Sqn, who had been having a rather busy time for an isolated aerodrome, were moved closer to the action at Biggin Hill.

1130hrs: Radar detected a formation over the Channel as it headed on a northwesterly course crossing the coast near Deal. 41 Squadron (Hornchurch) already on routine patrol are vectored towards the Dover area, while 46 Sqn (Stapleford), 222 Sqn (Hornchurch) and 605 Sqn (Croydon) were scrambled to intercept. Target is identified as 20 plus Do17 bombers with 30 Bf109s as escort. 1215hrs: 41 Squadron (Hornchurch) is first on the scene as the formation began crossing the coast at Deal. They dive in to attack the bombers but the Bf109s are soon onto them and they are forced to engage combat with the 109s while the bomber formation continues across Kent. One of the Bf109s took a hit but does not crash. One Spitfire is seen to leave a trail of smoke, although it is not close enough to establish any identity, and it disappeared from the scene. Soon, they were forced to leave the combat because of their fuel situation.

1230hrs: 41 Sqn were hopelessly outnumbered fighting the Bf109s on their own, but they were relieved when 46 Sqn arrived followed soon after by 605 Sqn. One of the Hurricanes of 46 Sqn receives damage caused by a Bf109 and is forced to break off and return to base. Within minutes while over the Isle of Sheppey another Hurricane of 46 Sq is shot down, the pilot manages to bale out but is dead when found by wardens, his aircraft crashed at Bearsted. One of the Hurricanes of 605 Sqn becomes involved with a Bf109 over Tunbridge and is on the wrong end of its canon fire. The pilot manages to bale out and the aircraft crashes and exploded in flames at Trottiscliffe. The Bf109s sweep again, and in quick succession claim two more Hurricanes of 46 Sqn. Although badly mauled, 46 Sqn keeps up the attack, and at 1240hrs, together with 222 Sqn and 605 Sqn chase one of the Bf109s and shoot it down near Sevenoaks while two Hurricanes moved in and finally brought down one of the Do17s over Maidstone. Forcing the scattered Dorniers inland, many come under attack by AA gunfire in which it is claimed that two more of the bombers are brought down, both near Maidstone

The air raid sirens sound again as London is placed under a Red Alert. Hundreds flock to whatever shelters they could find, anything that seemed to provide a strong cover over their heads was regarded as safe, but nowhere was safe if a direct hit occurs. It was now almost dark, too late for Fighter Command to do anything about it. Around 1945hrs the first visitors of Luftlotte 3 including Do17s, He111 and Ju88 start leaving the Le Havre area and an hour later, steady streams were overflying Selsey and Shoreham and soon a continuous average of five raiders was over the IAZ (the Inner Artillery Zone – an air defence area designated over the heart of London) until 0500hrs - except for a brief lull around 0100hrs.

Clearing up in Beckton Road E16, after an air raid, September 7th 1940. By the end of the war in 1945 over 27% of houses in the borough had been destroyed.

Every Metropolitan borough and 60 local authority areas reported bomb damage, large fires overtaking Berger Paints in Homerton, Madame Tussauds and Baker Street. Three hospitals were hit, Fulham Power Station was set on fire and many bombs dropped indiscriminately fell close to the Thames. Major incidents occurred at Acton, Leyton, Poplar and at Broad Street Station. The Embankment was flooded at Chelsea. Many of the warehouses along the Thames again became targets, and buildings that were still burning were re-stoked, the inferno was to light up once again, hundreds of fires, many joining together to become one. The damage was to be more widespread on this night as bombers targeted more inland residential areas, while others again went for railway stations and city buildings. The casualty rate on this night totalled 412 people dead with 747 injured. Compared to the previous night, that was more people killed, but the injured list was much lighter.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 15

RAF

41 Sqn Spitfire R6756 W.J.Scott shot down and killed off Dover by a Bf 109 at 1215hrs.

46 Sqn Hurricane P3053 P/O P R McGregor crashed at Meopham Green, pilot as who was unhurt the aircraft was damaged but repairable,

46 Sqn Hurricane P3201 J.C.Carpenter, 21 years old, was shot down during an attack on enemy aircraft over Sheppey, he baled out but fell dead. His Hurricane crashed at Bearsted, Maidstone. Hurricane V6631 N.W.Burnnett was wounded at 1230hrs. He crashed after combat over Sheppey.

600 Sq Blenheim L1111 H.B.L.Hough became lost during a night patrol following the failure of his plane's R/T, and he and his crew (E.C.Barnard & A.Smith) were forced to bale out once their fuel was exhausted.

605 Sqn Hurricane L2061 J.Fleming He was shot down and wounded at 1230hrs.

[Coast]

9th September 1940

Cloud overnight becoming showery with the thunderstorms in the east. Rain periods in the west while the north and Scotland remained cloudy but dry. Showers cleared from Channel areas by midday.

RAF Bomber Command

As well as bombing Berlin, Bomber Command were now targeting Hamburg, Bremen and Emden. Overnight a total of 133 bombers crossed into enemy territory to drop bombs on a number of towns and cities regarded as ports where Germany has vital shipping activity. The heaviest raid was by 49 Hampdens on the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hambourg where considerable damage was done. But it was not without loss. Two Wellingtons of 149 Sqn and five Blenheims of were shot down over Boulogne and Ostend, while one Hampden of 61 Sqn was lost over Hamburg. 78 Sqn: 1 aircraft crashed on landing at Linton-on-Ouse. Crew safe. 51 Sqn. 1 aircraft ditched 120 miles off Firth of Forth on return from Bremen. 1 crew member killed, over 5 safe. .Bombing - Bremen shipyards - industrial targets at Berlin.51 Sqn. Nine aircraft to Bremen. One returned early, six bombed primary. One badly damaged and ditched on return, four rescued, one drowned.58 Sqn. Four aircraft. Three bombed primary, one bombed Wesermunde. 78 Sqn. Four aircraft to Berlin. Two bombed primary, two bombed alternatives. Three aircraft to Bremen, all bombed successfully. 2 Group: 101 Sqn. Invasion barges at Antwerp. 1 aircraft FTR. Two crew saved.

RAF Fighter Command

All the radar stations along the Kent coast picked up signals on their CRTs of formations that were located in different areas, but most of them were massing in the Calais-Boulogne area at 1620hrs. The information was immediately sent to Fighter Command and the Group Headquarters. Park exclaimed to his controllers, "When will they ever learn - same time, same course and the same target I would say." Park called a number of squadrons to 'readiness' this time he was going to be ready for them. He knew just how long it would take then to cross the coast, he knew just how long it would take them to manoeuvre to get into place for their run to the target.

1650hrs: At the various Observer Corps posts along the Kent coast from Folkestone to Margate, all eyes were glued out to sea and across the Channel looking high into the sky for any hint of enemy formations. The weather was clearing so they had little trouble, although Bf109s at high altitude were always to pose a problem. One by one, the formations were detected. A number of Bf109s were slightly ahead of the main bomber force, hoping that they would draw British fighters into the air. Park instructed that the advance party of Bf109s were to be left alone. The observer Corps reported that there were four groups of 50 plus, 30 plus, 20 plus and 12 plus, the fighter escort cover was estimated at 60 plus, but were too high for an accurate reading.

A depiction of a 92 Sqn Spitfire during September 1940 by Anthony Saunders

1700hrs: With the German bombers following a similar course as they had just two days previously, it seemed obvious that the target was again London. 66 Sqn (Kenley) and 92 Sqn (Biggin Hill) were ordered to patrol over South London keeping both aerodromes within sight. 222 Sqn (Hornchurch), 253 Sqn (Kenley) and 605 Sqn were to cover the northern section of Kent, while later 303 Sqn (Northolt) were ordered to patrol from Tonbridge to Folkestone. From Tangmere, 607 Sqn were ordered towards Guildford to cover the area over Surrey as far as Biggin Hill. Up at 12 Group, Douglas Bader kept an ear to the radio listening to what was going on down south. He got to a point of no return and telephoned Woodall at Duxford requesting in no uncertain terms that the 12 Group squadrons should be airborne and on the way down. Finally Duxford released 19 Sqn, 242 Sqn (Coltishall) and 310 Sqn and they were vectored to a point between Hornchurch and North Weald and at 20,000 feet providing close protection in the absence of the 11 Group fighters. Again Bader was to ignore orders. The late afternoon sun was setting in the west by the time they were near London, and he wanted to make an attack with the sun behind him so he ordered the squadrons to the west of London and climb to 22,000 feet.

Bader's wartime log book records fighting at the height of the Battle of Britain. His note on 9 September reads: Patrolled London with Wing - 242, 310, 19 [squadrons] (242 leading). Intercepted Enemy Aircraft Bombers and Fighters South of Thames. Wing Destroyed 20 E/A. 242 Squadron got 11. I got the leader - a Do 215 in flames. Pilot Officer Sclanders killed Sergeant Lonsdale baled out OK 2 Hurricanes of 310 collided - 1 pilot OK. Baled out

607 Sqn were one of the first squadrons to make contact at 1730hrs. A leading formation of He111s and Do17s with Bf109 escort were just to the east of Guildford heading towards Weybridge and Brooklands. They lined up the formation and went in before the escorts could get down at them. Coming in just in time was 605 Sqn who also commenced an attack on the bombers. One Do17 was brought down by 607 Sqn, but one of the Hurricanes of 605 Squadron collided with a He111 shearing off a portion of wing while taking evasive action in trying to avoid gunfire from both the 607 Sqn and the bombers and Bf109s. The Heinkel was believed to have crashed at Alton in Hampshire. Another Hurricane of 605 Sqn was hit by crossfire and the pilot baled out safely. The German raid was aborted.

F/Lt J. A. Kent, 303 Sqn, 9th September

A number of German bomber formations were approaching London from the east at 1745hrs when they were intercepted by 222 Sqn and 242 Sqn. The German formation consisted of Do17s and Bf110s with Bf109 escorts. 222 Sqn make their attack and claim a damaged Do17 but P/O Tim Vigors was attacked by Bf109s and found his engine shattered when hit by canon fire and was forced to crash land his aircraft. Douglas Bader took his squadron into his first attack for the day, he called on 19 Sqn to follow him in line astern, but the Squadron had been scattered. When 19 Sqn reformed, it was joined by 310 Sqn and the "Big Wing" was in place and about to show how 33 fighter aircraft could cause havoc amongst the Germans. Between them, they were to claim 21 German aircraft destroyed with many others damaged and a few claimed as ‘probables’. If Bader had adhered to orders, they would have been flying helplessly around North Weald and Hornchurch - neither was attacked because German formations had turned back under relentless defence from Fighter Command. Park would have lodged an official complaint for the Duxford Wing disobeying orders, but in light of its success, no complaint was ever lodged.

1800hrs: While the combat action by the Duxford Wing over South London was still in progress, most of the squadrons were still in the air scattering the bomber formations from Thames Haven to West London. But the great significance of the day was that very few bombers got through to their targets. The remnant of the formations made the most of their retreat back across the Channel and although Fighter Command did sustain a number of losses, it could only be claimed as being not only a tactical victory for the RAF but a morale boosting one as well.

The after dark attacks continued. What Kesselring's Luftflotte 2 had failed to do during the day, Sperrle’s Luftflotte 3 succeeded at night. By 2000hrs, 250 bombers again came over and attacked the city. Fires were burning around St Pauls and buildings on both sides of Ludgate Hill were ablaze. The area around the Guildhall and the Bank of England suffered considerably, while a women’s hospital suffered many casualties when it was hit. In the East End again bombs fell on the dockland area and a number of nearby residential houses were destroyed including a school which was being used as a temporary shelter to homeless families. Altogether, over 400 people were killed on this nights attack and 1,400 people were injured. The toll was steadily mounting.

Thousands of people took up night quarters in Tube stations, at first they were driven out by officialdom. But the pressures of fear and need were too great, the authorities bowed to the inevitable, and began to provide bunks and hammocks, such as these for children. Underground nights became the norm for many people for many weeks.

The people of London were now experiencing the heaviest raids of the entire war which was now just a few days over a year old. All the precautions and training by the defence forces were now being put into practice, but at a cost. Police, firemen, civil defence workers, nurses, gas and electricity workers were all now being put to the test.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 28

RAF

1 (R.C.A.F.) Sqn Hurricane P3081 W.B.M.Miller was wounded, he baled out after combat near Northolt, badly burned.

66 Sqn Spitfire N3049 G.H.Corbett was wounded at 18:00hrs. He baled out of his over East Grinstead after being shot down by a Bf 109.

92 Sqn Spitfire L1077 C.H.Saunders crash landed near Rye after being attacked by a Bf 109 and Spitfire P9372 W.C.Watling who was wounded at 17:30hrs. He baled out near Biggin Hill

242 Sqn Hurricane P3087 K.M.Sclanders died at 17:30hrs. He crash landed near Rye after being attacked by a Bf 109 and Hurricane P2831 R.V.H.Lonsdale baled out safely

303 Sqn Hurricane P3700 K.Wunsche slightly burned at 17:55hrs having baled out wounded after combat with a Bf 109 over Beachy Head

310 Sqn Hurricane P3888 J.F.Boulton killed at 17:35hrs. His Hurricane collided with Hurricane R4084 flown by G.L.Sinclair of the same squadron and then into a Do 17 whilst in combat over Croydon, both aircraft crashing on the Purley Way

602 Sqn Spitfire K9910 P.C.Webb was injured at 17:30hrs. He was badly shot up by three 109’s and was forced down to almost ground level, his rudder shot away, with no aileron controls and too low to bale out he had to fly on until he hit the ground. As it was he flew straight into a small wood at Box Grove, Sussex where he cut a swathe through the corpse leaving parts of his Spitfire along the way, until the cockpit section finished up jammed against a hedge. Paul Webb was discovered semi- conscious and swearing like a trooper. He was lucky to escape with a broken wrist, four inoperative fingers and a bad gash on his head- enough to keep him off flying for a while.

605 Sqn Hurricane P2765 J.S.Humphreys shot down by a German Heinkel 111 bomber over Farnborough, Kent, Humphreys bailed out and Hurricane L2059 G.M.Forrester who was killed after being caught in enemy crossfire and collided with another He111 losing part of wing at 1730hrs over Mayfield, East Sussex

607 Sqn Hurricane P3574 S.B.Parnell Hurricane P3117 shot down and killed during combat with Do17s and Bf109s. Crashed at Cranbrook at 1735hrs, J.D.Lenaham Hurricane P2728 Crashed at Cranbrook and was killed having been shot down by a Bf109 during attack on Do17 at 1745hrs, G.J.Drake killed having engaged combat with enemy aircraft and shot down over Mayfield at 1730hrs and Hurricane P2680 R.A.Spyer was wounded at 17:30hrs. His Hurricane crashed and was written off after combat with Bf 109's and Dornier Do 17's over Mayfield (again)

Hitler postpones the invasion of England until 24 September

The Luftwaffe General Staff announces that the demise of Fighter Command is near, and issues new instructions for the systematic destruction of London. Luftflotte 2 will undertake daylight raids against key military and commercial targets in Greater London, while Luftflotte 3 would bomb the areas of government and docks.

For Fighter Command, the Battle of Britain was going through a lull. The only combat action taking place was during the late afternoon when the first waves of German bombers crossed the Channel with sights set on the London docks and surrounding industrial targets. Most of these had to be aborted because Fighter Command was well up to the task. But Park knew, that night bombing could only be done discriminately, they would be guided in by the fires still burning as a result of previous raids, but sooner or later, Göring would have to turn to daylight raids which would allow him far more accurate bombing of British targets.

Keith Park was willing to wait, while in the meantime his airfields and men were slowly nearing full operational strength, which in Parks view would be "his greatest mistake, and one that would cost Göring the Battle of Britain." It was obvious to Dowding and Park that the Luftwaffe was going to leave the 11 Group aerodromes alone for the time being. The personnel that had been toiling both night and day busily rebuilding to make all airfields fully operational again could ease off a little. Aircraft and supplies had been replenished and although Fighter Command was nowhere yet back to full strength; they were a lot stronger than they were just seven days ago.

Again, no enemy formations were detected during the morning or the early and mid afternoon sessions. Park shared with his chief controller Willoughby de Broke and also so Dowding by telephone, that the Luftwaffe tactics when targeting the aerodromes, commenced generally with a morning attack, with the last few days, when his aerodromes had been left alone, there had been no early morning attacks. Bombing raids on London seemed be forming a pattern of commencing a few hours after midday. Park issued the order that Hornchurch, Biggin Hill and Kenley push some of their squadrons forward to their satellite stations.

In the early morning of 9th September, a bomb fell within the grounds of Buckingham Palace. It was quickly located, intact. Because of the inherent danger of moving an unexploded bomb (UXB) and the simple lack of somewhere to take it, the only thing that could be done was to clear the area and place a wall of sandbags around the explosive to try to mitigate damage. In this case, it wasn’t until late that night that the bomb finally detonated. In addition to structural damage to one of the Palace wings, the North Wing had nearly all its windows blown out and a recently installed swimming pool and its adjacent water mains were partly destroyed.

[Coast]

10th September 1940

Clear during the early hours but cloud moved in from the North Sea during the early morning and this gave rain over most areas during the day. The low cloud and periods of heavy rain over Northern Europe stopped any form of Luftwaffe air activity and any operations planned against England were cancelled.

RAF Bomber Command

Bomber Command also took advantage of the weather conditions..

248 Sqn (Blenheims) was sent on a mission to Norway but this had to be aborted because of deteriorating weather conditions over the North Sea. 77 Sqn - 1 aircraft crashed at Hardenburg, Holland, crew all PoW. 1 aircraft crashed on landing at Linton-on-Ouse, crew safe, 2 aircraft damaged by flak, crew safe. 58 Sqn. 1 aircraft missing over Bremen, crew PoW. Bombing - Bremen shipyards and industrial targets at Berlin. 58 Sqn sent six aircraft to Bremen. Weather bad, all bombed alternatives, one FTR. Four aircraft to Berlin, all bombed - very successful attack. 77 Sqn. Four aircraft to Bremen, three bombed primary, one bombed alternative, one damaged by Flak. Four aircraft to Berlin. Two got off, both bombed primary and both hit by flak, one FTR. 17 Whitley’s attack the Pottsdamer railway station at Berlin causing considerable damage; a Blenheim squadron attacked the important bomber aerodrome at Eindhoven in Holland and eight Heinkel He111 bombers were destroyed, two were badly damaged and another was damaged when it crashed into craters upon landing later.

The British War Cabinet instructs RAF bombers over Germany not to return home with their bombs if they failed to locate their original targets. Instead, they were to drop their bombs "anywhere" if unable to reach their targets. This order was given in light of the destruction and terror inflicted on Londoners during the previous two nights by a succession of Luftwaffe bombing raids.

RAF Fighter Command

A few German aircraft were detected in and around the southern and eastern coastline of England, but most of these were on either weather or reconnaissance patrols. Fighter Command decided to leave them alone. A flight from 236 Sqn St Eval (Blenheims) was placed on escort duty for the steamship Scillonian and the mission is successfully completed. With cloud cover persisting during the late afternoon, radar picks up various single aircraft coming across the Channel from 1700hrs onwards. With Fighter Command again not responding, a number of attacks were made by the Luftwaffe. A couple of lone bombers ventured into 10 Group territory and made some nuisance drops. Another lone raider attacked West Malling again but causing no serious damage. Tangmere reported that it had come under machine-gun strafing with nearby Portsmouth was attacked by single Do17s.

72 Sqn (Croydon) was one of the few squadrons scrambled and attacked one of the Do215s and one was believed to have been brought down, although one of the Spitfires was hit by return gunfire from the bomber and had to make a forced landing at Etchingham, Kent. Just after 1800hrs, a small formation crossed the coast near Dungeness and targeted Biggin Hill aerodrome, but were intercepted by British fighters and one of the Dorniers of 9/KG76 was shot down and the mission aborted. By nightfall, the Luftwaffe was again targeting London and this time they were making full use of the cloud cover. Also taking advantage of the weather attacks were also made on industrial areas of South Wales and on the Lancashire area of Merseyside. London was though, the main target where over 150 bombers pounded the city once again.

South Hallsville School, Canning Town, where 400 civilians perished (many of them mothers and children who were waiting to be evacuated) following an air raid on 10th September 1940.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 4

RAF

72 Sqn E.E.Males made a forced landing in Spitfire K9841 at 1730hrs after being damaged in combat.

312 Sqn Hurricane L1644 J.Keprt, a Czech, was flying his Hurricane when it caught fire near Cambridge – he was unhurt.

For Fighter Command the day was nothing but a rest day and pilots and command leaders were trying to work out as to why Germany had decided to turn its attacks against London. If an invasion was Germany's highest priority, why the decision to bomb London. For an invasion to be successful, Germany would have to knock out as many military establishments as possible. As ACM Keith Park stated after the war, "The decision to bomb London was germany's greatest mistake, in those first few days of September our airfields were a shambles, pilot and aircraft strength was still at an all time low. By switching tactics and concentrating on London he will give us the time we need to strengthen our forces." There were many reasons as to why Park could do with some respite from his airfields becoming targets, the aerodromes were now functioning better than they had been for a number of weeks, aircraft factories were still operating as normal and military hardware was still pouring out of the factories. The radar was functioning at full capacity and Fighter Command HQ as well as Bentley Priory was operating normally. These should be the targets if Germany was to continue with its plan to make an invasion of Britain. Even the German Naval Staff could not understand the situation.

[Coast]

11th September 1940

Heavy cloud cover dispersed overnight giving way to a fine day in most areas, occasional cloud and some local showers in the midlands and the north with the exception of the English Channel and south-eastern England where cloud continued.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group (Whitley): 10 Sqn. (P4941). Rear gunner bailed out over Germany on night operations. Flt Lt D.G. Tomlinson and rest of crew returned safely. 51 Sqn. One aircraft damaged by Flak. Bombing - shipyards and fuel stocks at Bremen - industrial targets at Berlin. 10 Sqn. Seven aircraft to Bremen. All bombed. One tail-gunner 'lost' over target. 51 Sqn. Four aircraft to Berlin. All bombed primary, one damaged by Flak. Four aircraft to Bremen. All bombed. 78 Sqn. Five aircraft to Berlin. One returned early, two bombed primary, two bombed alternatives.

RAF Fighter Command

The morning period was just as quiet as previous mornings of the last four days, and it appeared that things were to take the usual practice of large formations of bombers coming over at about 1700hrs. It was a fine morning, not as warm as many other mornings but pleasant, and many pilots just lazed around outside their dispersal's doing what they usually done. Some read old newspapers or magazines; many tried to write letters home while the rest fell asleep taking full advantage of the lull in activities. But after lunch, their afternoon 'siesta' was interrupted by radar detection of a large build-up from Calais to Ostend.

1445hrs: Most of the radar stations along the Kent coast detected and followed the course patterns of a number of German formations building up from Calais along to Ostend. Information was quickly dispatched to Fighter Command headquarters and to 11 Group, where Keith Park ordered his sector controllers to place a number of their squadrons at readiness. As on previous occasions, the Duxford Wing of 19, 242 and 310 Sqns were also placed at readiness. At 1515hrs, after the crossing of the Channel, large formations are sighted by the Observer Corps at Foreness, Dover, Folkestone and Bognor. The largest of these crosses the coast near Ramsgate. Estimated as two large formations of one hundred and fifty bombers each making a total of three hundred in total, escorted by Bf109s and Bf110s head towards the Thames Estuary and the River Thames. One formation crosses between Ramsgate and Deal while the other is further out over the sea. The Observer Corps also report of a large formation of bombers and escorts that appear to be heading towards Portsmouth or Southampton. Park releases squadrons at Tangmere and Westhampnet from 11 Group activities so that 10 Group can deal with the impending operations over Southampton and Portsmouth.

By 1530hrs most of 11 Group squadrons were airborne. 1(RCAF) Sqn (Northolt) along with 222 Sqn (Hornchurch) and 238 Sqn (Middle Wallop) were in action over central Kent, 17 Sqn (Debden), 46 Sqn (Stapleford), Spitfires of 72 Sqn and Hurricanes of 73 Sqn (Debden) 249 Sqn (North Weald) and 266 Sqn (Wittering) were involved in heavy combat action spread over the Thames Estuary. 19 Sqn (Duxford), 74 Sqn (Coltishall) and 266 Sqn had been brought down as usual from 12 Group to protect Hornchurch and North Weald and all of them became involved in action over southern and eastern areas of London. 41 Sqn (Hornchurch) covered a large area between the Thames Estuary and the Channel while 92 Sqn (Biggin Hill) (Spitfires) gave cover to the Channel areas over Dover and Folkestone. Other squadrons airborne were 253 Sqn (Kenley), 303 Sqn (Northolt) and 605 Sqn (Croydon).

11th September; the Grand Hotel, Dover destroyed by bombing

It had been estimated that over 300 enemy aircraft in two separate formations and both covered by their Bf109 escorts flying at higher altitude had crossed the coast between Deal and Foreness then turned 45 degrees over the Thames Estuary and followed the usual pattern of using the River Thames as their flight path. Over the Estuary between Herne Bay and Shoeburyness and Gravesend and Tilbury and huge melee of high altitude dogfights began to develop creating long twisting spirals of vapour trails. Many of the bombers continued on towards London escorted mainly by Bf110s, the Bf109s being contained by British fighters. But time was on the side of Parks fighters, the 109s were now at the critical stage of their fuel supply. The leading bombers had been spotted by the fighters from 12 Group. At 23,000 feet, they could then attack with the required height advantage. Bader's 242 Sqn had been given a rest, so now it was up to 19, 74 and 266 Sqns to fly the flag for Leigh-Mallory's group.

Between London and Gravesend, AA fire drew their attention to an enemy force of some 150 aircraft flying generally north at 20,000 feet. The Germans were flying in waves of tight formations of Dorniers, Heinkels and Junkers 88s, with protecting fighters Bf 110s were behind the bombers and a formidable force of Bf 109s behind them at about 24,000 feet. It had been arranged that the two Spitfire squadrons in the lead (composite 19/266 and 611) were to attack the fighter escort, while 74 Sqn aimed at the bombers. As 74 Sqn went for the force of Junkers 88s, they met fighters diving on them, but they gamely continued their policy of striking for the main formation. For once, Douglas Bader was not in the scrap!

Eight aircraft of 19 Sqn and six of 266 Sqn were leading the Wing. They dived in line astern for a head-on attack on the leading Heinkel 111s and their screening Messerschmitt 110s. After this first insurgence, Red 1, Sqn Ldr B.E. Lane, broke off to port and saw the enemy turning southeast over Sittingbourne in Kent. He went for the nearer of two 110s, blowing bits off its starboard engine and then setting it alight, the other Bf110 opened its throttle and left.

Discretion being the better part, Red 1 tried for the Heinkels and saw some flames emerging jaggedly from one, but nothing more.

Sergeant Jennings as Red 2 finished off a Heinkel, and moved on to the end one of 15 Bf110s. It fell out of the force and crashed in a wood somewhere remote between Sittingbourne and Maidstone. Red 3 was Sergeant H.A.C. Roden. He took on 30 Bf110s, endeavouring to form a circle. Pieces flew from the port main plane of one and it took a shallow dive — inconclusively. Flt Sgt Hawin at Red 4 knocked lumps off both engines of a Heinkel 111 from a mere 50 yards. The bomber went into a tell-tale spiral. Then a Dornier decided to go for him — unlikely but true. It shattered his windscreen and registered a hit on his engine. The Spitfire was not in good shape. Hawin switched off his engine and forced-landed in Kent with no drastic damage to either the fighter or himself.

In the melee, Green Section did not have the best of luck. F/O L.A.Haines flying Green 1 climbed to attack some 40 Bf110s at a higher altitude than the Heinkels. As usual they went into a defensive circle, but F/O Lane decided to go straight into one of them. As he did so, a Bf109 came down on him and the Spitfire was hit in both mainplanes and was forced to crash land his aircraft. Green 2 was F/O F.Dolezal and he took aim at one of the Bf109s, and as it went into a slow dive belching black smoke Dolezal followed it down but was hit by a descending Bf109 and its gunfire ripped open the side of the Spitfire and the pilot sustained injuries in the knee and leg. He managed to get the aircraft back to base and land safely.

In the meantime, two heavily escorted Luftflotte 3 formations from Cherbourg and Seine Bay were heading towards Southampton and Portsmouth and 10 Group released squadrons from Tangmere, Westhampnett and a flight from Middle Wallop. Most of the British fighters intercepted the enemy off the coast at Selsey Bill and intense combat ensued. Although some of the bombers managed to get through the fighter defence, both the towns of Portsmouth and Southampton received bomb damage. But most of the formations and their escorts were scattered and were forced to turn back.

In all, it had not been the best of days to either side. RAF Fighter Command would have to be commended for the effort that they put in defence, but it came at a price. For the first time, Fighter Command casualties exceeded that of the Luftwaffe. Many of the bombers managed to get through with London again suffering considerable damage. The Woolwich Arsenal was hit as well as much of the dockland areas again. Finsbury, Holborn, Bermondsey and Central London were hit once again.

London was pounded again by night bombing from 2100hrs until 0430hrs the following morning, and still the RAF had no answer to these night attacks. Hundreds of searchlights picked out the invading bombers but it all seemed in a lost cause because of the high altitudes that they were flying at. London's dockland is again hit as well as parts of Central London and Buckingham Palace sustains more damage and gives reason for the then Queen to state "now the palace has been bombed, I feel now that I can look at the people of the East End straight in the eye".

But the attack on London was a disaster for the Luftwaffe. A formation of He 111s from KG 26 were bombing the northern areas of London, notably Paddington, Finsbury and Islington when they were intercepted by Hurricanes and Spitfires from 249 Sqn (North Weald), 609 Sqn and 41 Sqn (Hornchurch) The fighters broke up the formation who tried desperately to evade the deadly Spitfires while the Hurricanes kept the Bf 110 escort at bay and who were fighting for their own survival. 7 Heinkels were shot down in this battle, while 12 more limped back towards home nursing burning aircraft, smoking engines and air conditioned cockpits.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 25

RAF

1(RCAF)Sqn Hurricane P3534 T.B.Little shot down during an attack on He 111's over Tonbridge on the at 16:15hrs, he baled out of and was wounded in the leg and with burns and Hurricane V6670 P.W.Lochnan was unhurt when he crash near Romney, Kent at 16:0hrs. He had been in combat with some He 111's and was hit by return fire.

41 Sqn Spitfire X4325 G.A.Langley baled out safely after combat with a Ju 88 over Sevenoaks

46 Sqn Hurricane P3525 S.Andrew killed, Hurricane V6549 R.E. deCannart-d'Hamale (Belgian) baled out unhurt at1530hrs over Bodiam East Sussex, Hurricane V7232 W.A.Peacock listed as missing. (Failed to return after combat action, presumed crashed into the sea) and Hurricane P3094 P.R.McGregor injured at 1540hrs as he crash landed near Staplecross, East Sussex.

72 Sqn Spitfire R6710 B.Douthwaite was wounded at 1600hrs in combat over Gravesend - he had to force land due to battle damage.

73 Sqn Hurricane P2796 H.G.Webster baled out safely at 1610hrs after being was shot at by a Bf 110 over Sheppey

92 Sqn Spitfire K9793 F.N.Hargreaves listed as missing. (Failed to return after combat action. presumed crashed into the sea), Spitfire R6613 J.A.Paterson injured at 1850hrs in combat with a Bf 109 over Folkestone and he crash landed and Spitfire P9464 H.D.Edwards who was killed at 1900hrs having been in combat with some Bf 109's, he crashed near Smeeth (Ashford) Kent.

213 Sqn Hurricane V6667 A.Wojcicki listed as missing (shot down in Channel during combat with Bf110s. Body never recovered) and Hurricane P3780 J.E.J.Sing baled out safely at 1600hrs over Selsey

229 Sqn Hurricane P3038 M.Ravenhill baled safely out over Biggin Hill at 1600hrs and Hurricane N2466 K.M.Carver baled out at 1620hrs. He was wounded during an attack on a He 111 over Maidstone in Kent

235 Sqn Blenheim L9396 P.C.Wickings-Smith was flying escort to Fairey Albacores from the Fleet Air Arm and became involved in a raid on Calais at 1730hrs and was shot down. Crew members A.W.V.Green and R.D.H.Watts also died. The Blenheim of F.W.Flood was shot down by a Bf 109, crew Sgt B.R.Sharp and N.B.Shorrocks were also killed flying escort to the Fairey Albacores in the raid on Calais at 1730hrs

238 Sqn Hurricane P3096 W.Tower-Perkins was wounded at 1610hrs. He baled out with burns after combat with a Ju 88 near to Tunbridge Wells, Hurricane V7240 D.P.Hughes listed as missing. (Last seen intercepting Ju88s, failed to return to base) and Hurricane R2682 S.Duszynski listed as missing (last seen pursuing Ju88 over Romney at 1615hrs

249 Sqn Hurricane V6682 W.L.Davis was wounded having been shot down during an attack on a He 111 over Benenden Kent

266 Sqn Spitfire P7313 R.J.B.Roach baled out at 16:0hrs over Billericay unhurt

303 Sqn Hurricane V6665 A.Cebrzynski died of injuries 19.9.40 (Shot down during combat, made a failed attempted crash landing) and Hurricane V7465 A.S.Forbes was wounded on the at 16:30 in his aircraft which was shot up and damaged south of London.

501 Sqn Hurricane P5200 T.P.Pickering was shot down 1:45 over Maidstone, Kent

504 Sqn Hurricane P3770 A.W.Clarke Shot down in combat over Kent Coast 1600hrs, crashed and killed south of Rookelands, near Newchurch: Site excavated by the Kent Battle of Britain Museum and remains of shattered Rolls-Royce engine unearthed together with many fragments including the map storage box containing a complete set of maps, pilot's silk inner gloves and pocket handkerchief marked 'CLARKE' in indelible pencil. Site also investigated by the Historical Aircraft Archaeology Group which collected many surface fragments. Next-of-kin decided that his remains should be left undisturbed and that a memorial should be erected close to the crash site. This memorial was dedicated on September 11 1986.

602 Sqn Spitfire N3282 M.H.Sprague was shot down and killed over Selsey by a Bf 110 at 1620hrs.

611 Sqn Spitfire P7298 F.E.R.Shepherd killed. (Caught fire during combat, pilot baled out but aircraft crashed into houses)

This was the day that Hitler had planned to invade Britain. But in reality, Germany was nowhere nearer ready for an invasion than they were three or four weeks previously. Britain's coastal defences still stood firm along the southern and eastern coastlines, naval ports and other small seaports that were being used by the Royal Navy along the southern coast of England were still intact and most of Britain's Civil Defence forces were just waiting for the word that would put them into action. On top of this, RAF Bomber Command had been continually bombing ports from Calais to Boulogne and along the Dutch coast destroying many of the barges that were to be used in "Operation Sealion".

At the time, the potential postponement of Sealion by Hitler was not widely known, because as stated by Churchill to the people - an attempted invasion was imminent. The sector controllers had received notification from Keith Park that it was obvious to him that the Germans had changed tactics from two or three separate attacks during the course of the day, to mass raids of 300 to 400 aircraft coming across the Channel in two waves in quick succession. He further informed them that with this change in tactics, that they were not to place too many squadrons to intercept the first wave, and that enough aircraft had to be held back to intercept the second wave which so far had proven to be larger in number than the first.

He told the controllers that paired squadrons were to be used wherever possible. Spitfires were to concentrate of the enemy fighters that were at higher altitude while the Hurricanes are to attack the bombers and close fighter escort. With the two German waves, generally only fifteen minutes apart, Park ordered that those squadrons brought to 'readiness' first were to attack the first wave and their escorts. The squadrons available and at "Readiness fifteen minutes" were to attack the second wave. Squadrons held in reserve and 'Available thirty minutes" were to be vectored to reinforcements to those squadron requiring assistance and to provide protection to industrial centres and sector airfields.

A general evacuation of Eastbourne started today due to threat of German Invasion, my Grandparents and Father went to stay with relatives in Gloucester.

[Coast]

12th September 1940

Cloud cover in all areas and showers turning to rain for most of the country. Low cloud persisted over the Channel areas and most of the south coast had showers that were heavy at times. The bad weather was another welcome break from the campaign on both sides.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group. 10 OTU Whitley P4997 abandoned by four of crew in bad weather. Flt Sgt L.F. East landed undamaged aircraft near St. Neots and flew out the next day. Blenheims of 2 Group and Battles of 1 Group attack invasion barges in Ostend harbour, sinking 80. 40 Wellingtons from 214 sqn were sent to attack dock and railway targets in Germany and Belgium.

The crew of Wellington BU-G (G-George) successfully found their target - perhaps by homing in on its transmitter. Staying well above the German barrage balloons at 3,500 feet, they were unable to avoid its accurate anti-aircraft defences. 'G-George' was hit in three places. Fortunately no one was wounded and no serious damage done and they landed safely back at Stradishall after a memorable five and a half hour second trip. Part of 'G-George's' fabric, holed by the ack-ack, was preserved as a memento of their brush with the German anti-aircraft battery, which occurred, in the early hours of Friday the 13th.

RAF Fighter Command

It wasn’t until midday that a few small formations were detected; some of these broke up into individual raids consisting of only one or two aircraft. In 10 Group, Warmwell despatches just one section of 152 Sqn to intercept a sighting out from Swanage, the bandit is recognised as a lone Ju88 but it makes full use of the low cloud and disappears. Shortly after, another enemy sighting is made and 238 Squn at St Eval are scrambled. The squadron records show that one Ju88 is destroyed and another had been damaged. 605 Sqn stationed in the north at Drem also claim one enemy aircraft destroyed, possibly a reconnaissance aircraft that had ventured too close to the coast. 213 Sqn (Exeter) and 602 Sqn (Westhampnett) both claim to have damaged at least one enemy aircraft in spasmodic and isolated actions. Looking at these figures, it can be seen that the Luftwaffe at this time was keeping well clear of London and all these isolated incidents took place either in the west country or up north in Scotland.

One unfortunate incident that happened was with Wing Commander J.S.'Johnie' Dewar who was commander of the airfield at Exeter. Taking advantage of the lull in combat activity, he was to fly over to Tangmere to visit friends there. He never arrived and it seems obvious that his Hurricane had been shot down after he had encountered some enemy aircraft and he decided to bale out. On the way down it is believed he was strafed by German plane or planes and shot to pieces as he dangled helplessly underneath his descending parachute. Dewar was the highest ranking officer to be killed during the Battle of Britain.

Around Harrogate's Majestic Hotel HEs exploded injuring 15 people during an attack on an area where the Ministry of Aircraft Production had their offices. GWR main line services to Reading are interrupted but another attack fails to hit the Northern Aluminium's Banbury factory. In late afternoon Tunbridge Wells is raided, incendiaries causing house fires and destroying the ambulance station. Seven HEs fell at Hornchurch, damaging the emergency operations room and hitting nearby dwellings.

The bombers of III/KG51 and I/KG54 did not attack London until late in the evening, and even then was on a far reduced scale than on previous occasions. The night bombers on previous attacks often numbered between two and three hundred, but this time barely fifty made the dismal trek across the Channel in rather murky conditions. No serious damage was done, although bombs fell in the commercial area of Aldgate, Mansion House and Holborn, but the most serious threat was a H.E. delayed action bomb which fell just to the north of St Pauls Cathedral, deep under the pavement. It buried itself some thirty feet into the ground and the two officers who defused the bomb; Lieutenant R.Davies and Sapper J. Wylie of the Royal Engineers became the first military personnel to receive the George Cross for their actions.

Other spasmodic and isolated raids occurred at Hull in Yorkshire, an area north of Wolverhampton and a number of small ports along the east coast of Suffolk and Essex. An Fw 200 attacked a ship off the Isle of Man and KG54 mounted a small raid on Rugby. Liverpool was bombed but little damage was caused, but more seriously a lone low-flying raider bombed North Station Blackpool killing a mother of two young boys.

S/L E.A. McNab (centre) and pilots of No.1 (F) Squadron, RCAF. Northolt. September 12th, 1940

Losses

Luftwaffe – 4

RAF

213 Sqn J.S.Dewar killed in Hurricane V7306 over Exeter (body washed ashore at Kingston Gorse, Sussex 30.9.40)

[Coast]

13th September 1940

There was no sign in an improvement in the weather, and it remained unsettled with rain in all areas. In the south and east there were a few breaks in the cloud giving sunny periods. Over the Channel, the heavy cloud and rain gave way to lighter, higher cloud during the day. The weather was by now, severely hampering enemy operations.

Weather conditions seemed to be closing in and with a deteriorating situation; it appeared that any chance of a successful invasion was out of the question if Hitler could make up his mind. Already, the date previously set for Operation Sealion, September 11th had been postponed, and Hitler had said that he favoured September 24th as the most likely date. But if the situation continued as it was, it would be an impossibility for the barges to cross the Channel should the expected winds, prevalent at that time of the year, accompany the heavy cloud and rain squalls.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - invasion fleet at Calais and Dunkirk. 58 Sqn. Nine aircraft to Dunkirk. All bombed, causing large fires. 77 Sqn. Nine aircraft to Calais and Dunkirk. All bombed with good results. All forces of Bomber Command, day and night, attack invasion ports and continue during the next fortnight.

RAF Fighter Command

As on the previous day, air activities were held back by bad weather and the Luftwaffe took advantage of this by sending single aircraft deeper into Britain than they had done during other daylight attacks on the enemy. The large railway junction just outside Reading had been bombed the previous day causing disruptions on the Great Western line, and the first raids on Northern Ireland occurred. Small raids did occur during the morning period when two German bombers flying single missions towards London and coming from different directions penetrated the defences and dropped a small number of bombs which fell on Whitehall and a part of Downing Street while the other aircraft dropped bombs on the Chelsea Hospital and another fell in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, the third time the Royal Palace had been attacked and this time damaged had been sustained to the Royal Chapel.

At around 1200hrs, Keith Park at 11 Group Headquarters had been alerted from a message that originated from the Radio Interception Unit, that German weather reconnaissance aircraft had radioed back to their bases that there was seven tenths cloud at 1,500 metres and stated that attacks could be made possible between 1,500 and 2,500 metres. The assessment that Park made was, he believed that under the circumstances the Luftwaffe would make spasmodic raids and have the advantage of using the cloud as a cover. He alerted the commanders of selected airfields to place at least one squadron at readiness: A number of squadrons were scrambled at 1330hrs after reports came through that radar had picked up enemy aircraft, and that the general direction was London. Using the cloud to their advantage, it was difficult for the Observer Corps to keep track, but it did appear that the target were Biggin Hill, Kenley or Croydon. One of the squadrons scrambled was 501 Sqn (Kenley) who intercepted a small force of He111 bombers and attacked. Most decided to abort but not before one of the Heinkels was shot down by ‘Ginger’ Lacy. At the same time, another small raid was centred on Tangmere. One enemy bomber was shot down by 609 Sqn (Warmwell). Again, the raid was aborted and no damage was sustained on Tangmere aerodrome. At 1545hrs, in South Street Eastbourne, Christ Church School was gutted by 10 High Explosive bombs killing 2 people and injuring a further 22. At West Ham, London the Ravenshill School where homeless were being accommodated is hit mid-morning and 50 casualties result.

It had not been a good day for the Luftwaffe. Although only a small number of aircraft were destroyed, there was no real reason that they needed to have made any missions at all. The first aircraft lost was at 0330hrs while on a raid on South Wales, a He111 hit the cables of a barrage balloon and crashed in the town of Newport. A He111 of 2/KG1 was badly damaged during an operational mission over England - it crashed landed back at its home airfield. Another He111 crashed on German soil after a bombing mission, due to serious damage cause by AA gunfire and from an attack made by a British fighter. One of the Ju88s that attempted to attack Tangmere was badly damaged and crashed into the ground on landing at its home base. As well as these aircraft destroyed and two others that crashed on English soil, twenty German aircrew were killed. The main eight-hour raid on London commences at 2045hrs. Although only five night fighter sorties are flown, F/O M.J. Herrick in Blenheim ZK-A of 25 Sqn managed to bring down a He-111 H 5J+BL of 3/KG 4 near North Weald. The only British casualty during the German attacks was the Hurricane of ‘Ginger’ Lacy who baled out over Maidstone, unhurt.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 20

RAF

248 Sqn (Sumburgh) Blenheim L9451W.J.Garfield was killed along with his crew B.W.Mesner and A.Kay. Their aircraft went missing during a sortie off the Norwegian coast.

501 Sqn Hurricane P2793 J.H.’Ginger’ Lacy baled out uninjured after being hit by return fire from a He 111 over Maidstone. However, Lacey had already claimed the He 111 that bombed the Royal Chapel at Buckingham Palace earlier that day.

F.I.U. (Fighter Interception Unit, Shoreham) Blenheim Z5721 R.G.Ker-Ramsey on night patrol over the French coast near Calais on. He and his crew G.Dixon & E.L.Byrne baled out and became PoW's.

The Fighter Interception Unit was initially set up to counter increasing night raids by the Luftwaffe, and thus to evaluate technological advances such as airborne interception (radar) equipment and other proposed operational innovations. The unit was formed at RAF Tangmere in April 1940 under the command of Squadron Leader George Philip (known as Peter) Chamberlain, with a strength of 5 Blenheims equipped with A.I.Mark III, the latest variant of Airborne Interception radar. Operations initially consisted of daytime practice interceptions and operational night defence flights. The night fighter Blenheims were directed several times to possible targets, in the early days of Ground Control Interception it proved difficult to both acquire and then maintain a radar contact and successfully intercept.

A meeting had been called in Berlin to commence at lunchtime, and as was usual a banquet was organised prior to the serious meeting between Hitler, Göring, Milch, Kesselring and Jodl being the most notable commanders in attendance. The Führer outlined the present situation. He made mention of the fact that the Luftwaffe still had not yet attained air superiority over the Royal Air Force, which was a rather hypocritical statement being as he had ordered Göring to concentrate his attacks on London earlier in September at the expense of continuing the raids on RAF airfields. He also made mention that more and more barges were being unloaded along the Dutch and Belgian coasts in readiness. Soon, he said, we will be moving our armies to these northern ports, armies of specially trained men, all will be ready. But, he stated, our bombers have justly tore the heart out of the British populace. London is a city burning night after night and the British air force is still terribly weak and we can continue to hit the British where it so terribly hurts, at their ‘beloved capital’.

The Führer spoke at length on the bombing of London, and only outlined preparations of any forthcoming invasion - the commanders started to consider that Adolph Hitler was now more concerned with the total destruction of London and that they were beginning to think that their leader was having second thoughts about any invasion of England. By the time that the meeting was over, all that the commanders had learnt was the thoughts that were coming out of the mind of the Führer, there were no fresh orders and he failed to ask for any reports on the current situation.

[Snowangel-MK]

This is such a good and interesting read Robin, well done for all your hard work putting it together

I've been to Bletchley Park this morning for the Discover Milton Keynes heritage day, I hope you don't mind but I thought I would add some information about the codebreakers vital part in the sucessful campaign.

While the Battle of Britain raged on, code breakers at Bletchley Park were busy playing an unseen but vital role in deciding the outcome of the war, also know as Station X, Bletchley Park was the site of the UK's main decryption establishment, the Government Code and Cypher School. Ciphers and codes of several countries were decrypted there, most importantly ciphers generated by the German Enigma machines.

With control of the skies still hanging in the balance intelligence produced at Bletchley provided vital assistance to the Allies, giving RAF pilots the edge over their counterparts in the Luftwaffe.

The importance of the role played by staff at the Government Code and Cipher School can not be underestimated at almost every turn, British intelligence was superior to that of the Germans, what was achieved at Bletchley Park was of huge significance to the outcome of the war. Hitler knew he could not invade Britain unless he could bring our navy into check, and that meant gaining control of the skies. From that perspective, The Battle of Britain was of huge significance and operatives at Station X, worked around the clock to crack German codes and ciphers. Deciphering the complex codes helped to establish not only the strength and composition of the Luftwaffe''s formations, but also the aims of the commanders, giving early warning of some of the raids.

The high level intelligence procuced at Bletchley Park, codenamed Ultra, provided crucial assistance to the Allied war effort and is credited with having shortened the war by two years, so saving many lives. During the Battle of Britain, Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding Commander-in -Chief of fighter Command received Ultra Intelligence reports, and had a teleprinter like from Bletchley Park to his headquarters at Bentley Priory. Ultra intelligence kept him informed of the German strategy, of the strength and location of various Luftwaffe units and often provided advanced warning of bombing raids, these contributed to the British success.

　

[Coast]

I hope you don't mind but I thought I would add some information about the codebreakers vital part in the sucessful campaign.

Thank you very much for that, great 'behind the scenes' information!

14th September 1940

Again no sign in an improvement in the weather, and it remained unsettled with rain periods and thunderstorms in all areas. Over the Channel, the heavy cloud and rain gave way to lighter higher cloud during the day, but the showers persisted.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group. 10 Sqn, Whitley P4966 ditched off Spurn Head. Sqn Ldr K.F. Ferguson and Sgt’s C.S. Rogers, W. Fraser, E. Cummings and M. Niman all rescued by HMS Kurd. 78 Sqn. N1478 missing from Antwerp, P/O C.S Robson and Sgt’s L.J. Furze, R.M. Heyworth, J. Kelly and J.C. Grieg all killed. Bombing - invasion fleet at Antwerp.

10 Sqn. Ten aircraft. All bombed causing fires. One fighter seen, but did not attack. One ditched, crew rescued.

51 Sqn. Twelve aircraft. Only one bombed due to severe weather and electrical storms. 78 Sqn. Eight aircraft. None bombed, one FTR

The French coast was so well lit up by burning barges that the RAF bomber pilots call it “Blackpool Frontâ€.

RAF Fighter Command

The days operations started at 1200hrs as the Germans attempt to jam the British radar with electronic interference. A few aircraft managed to cross the Channel on weather reconnaissance missions. One or two raiders bombed some of the coastal resorts in the vicinity of Eastbourne and at 1.20 pm, in Southfields Road a Dornier D17 dropped High Explosive bombs killing 6 and causing 57 casualties and extensive damage to buildings. In Kemp Town, Brighton some sixty civilians were either killed or seriously hurt. A small formation was detected over Selsey Bill and one German aircraft was reported to have been shot down. Others probed the areas of South London and bombs fell on residential areas of Croydon and Mitcham killing over fifty people. At 1515hrs German raiders were detected crossing the coast at both the Thames Estuary and in the Deal and Folkestone areas. Bf109s escorting Do17s, He111 and Ju88 bombers, the enemy strength did not exceed 100 in both areas and a mini aerial combat session developed within 30 minutes. Again, as was becoming a common occurrence, people along the coastal stretches from Folkestone, round 'Hell Corner' to Margate saw the twisting and snaking black dots against the grey overcast with many cheered if they recognised a German plane spiral down into the sea.

Park had reshuffled a number of his squadrons during the lull of the last few days so that Hurricanes and Spitfires could work in pairs. With most of the German raids following a similar pattern whenever crossing the Channel on a bombing mission, Park was now better prepared than ever for any raid coming in from the Thames Estuary or over the Channel between Dungeness and Ramsgate. This, coupled with the fact that most aerodromes had now been repaired and were 95% operational, radar stations were all back to normal, and all telephone lines connecting the radar stations, Observer Corps, Fighter Command HQ and 11 Group HQ were all repaired and functioning properly. Vectored to the Thames Estuary were 41 Sqn (Hornchurch), 66 Sqn (Gravesend), 73 Sqn (Debden), 222 Sqn (Hornchurch), 504 Sqn (Hendon) and 1RCAF (Northolt). Vectored to the Kent coast near Deal were 72 Sqn (Biggin Hill), 92 Sqn (Biggin Hill), 229 Sqn (Northolt) and 253 Sqn (Kenley)

14th September 1940: Hurricanes taking off from Gravesend, after being refuelled and rearmed

1600hrs: Most of the action took place over the Estuary or over north Kent near Maidstone by the time that the British fighters made contact with the enemy. Even though the raids were small by previous standards, it was noticed that there were more Bf109s than usual indicating that the Luftwaffe were trying to draw as many fighters in the air as possible. A number of Do17s were shot down but also quite a few Bf109s also suffered. I/KGr.606 was to suffer most when two Dorniers were classed as write offs, while two others were damaged. For Fighter Command, 73 Sqn was to suffer most after losing three aircraft and four others were damaged but were repairable, but only one pilot was killed. There were casualties amongst other squadrons.

There had been a sighting over Bournmouth at 1800hrs just prior to the evening attack, but they turned back before any British fighters could intercept. Now a number of separate raids seemed to be approaching the coast in formations of 10+, 12+, 15+, 20+ and 30+. All aircraft were detected at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet. Many of Fighter Commands squadrons had only been back a short while after the afternoon raids when they were scrambled again. The formations were intercepted just as they crossed the southern coastline and a running battle took place as far as London, but many of the raiders had turned back before their destination had been reached.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 14

RAF

19 Sqn Spitfire R6625 F.Marek crashed during routine patrol. Possibly oxygen failure, no other details

41 Sqn Spitfire R6605 R.C.F.Lister baled out uninjured

66 Sqn Spitfire X4327 R.H.Robbins was shot down by a Bf 109 over Maidstone at 1600hrs and was admitted to Leeds Castle Hospital with serious injuries.

72 Sqn Spitfire K9960 H.J.Bell-Walker baled out safely after combat over Ashford, Kent at 1830hrs

73 Sqn Hurricane L2039 M.W.S.Robinson was shot down (believed by Spitfires) forcing him to bale out, suffering wounds to his right eye, left wrist and left leg. He was taken to the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells and recorded as 'missing' by the squadron Intelligence Officer as no one had seen him bale out. The IO kept the news from Robinson's wife until 1900hrs when he had the unpleasant task of informing her, but half an hour later was able to give her the glad tidings that he was safe after receiving contact from the hospital. Robinson's Hurricane, TP-F was later found destroyed at Newenden. An enquiry looked into these events but with no positive result, except to suggest that the 'Spitfires' may have been He111’s.

73 Sqn Hurricane J.J.Griffin baled out after combat over Maidstone at 16:05hrs and Hurricane P2542 J.J.Brimble who was hot down by enemy aircraft and crashed at Parkhurst Farm, Chart Sutton.

92 Sqn Spitfire R6624 H.W.McGowan was wounded as he baled out of after combat with a Bf 109 over Faversham at 1900hrs.

222 Sqn Spitfire X4275 S.Baxter badly damaged by gunfire from Bf109s and crashed attempting to land at 1620hrs near Orsett Essex. Spitfire X4249 R.B.Johnson was shot down and baled out after combat with a Bf 109 over Aveley, Essex at 1620hrs. He escaped unhurt.

253 Sqn Hurricane P3804 J.A.Anderson and Hurricane P5148 W.B.Higgins who shot down in flames after combat with Bf109 at 1800hrs, he did not bale out

Keith Park and Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding confer (by telephone as there is no record of any meeting between them on this day) and they discuss the constant postponements of the intended invasion by Germany. Park again points out that he could not understand why the switch to bombing London was made when the situation at the time was a critical one for Fighter Command, and there was every chance that the Luftwaffe could have finished off with the continued bombing of the airfields. The only thing standing in the way between Germany and the invasion was Fighter Command, now, Fighter Command was almost back to full operational strength and Göring would have to start all over again if he wants to destroy the Command. Dowding mentions, that the bombing of London was his biggest mistake, and one that could cost him the war.

In Berlin, Hitler called a rush conference ordering all his naval, air force and army commanders-in-chiefs to attend. This time, he made little mention on the bombing of London of the last seven days. Instead, he presented to them his plans for the all-out invasion of Britain. At last, Operation Sealion looked as though it was all systems go. The Führer was excited and full of eagerness, but nothing was said that was not already known - except the exact date of any planned invasion.

Hitler pointed out that the naval preparations for "Operation Sealion" was now almost complete. "All our barges are now in place, and we have more held in reserve along river banks," he said which was borne out by one of the British Observer Groups which had the day previous seen up to ten large enemy transport ships town a number of barges from Calais to Cape Griz Nez. Spitfires of the PRU had also flown over the Belgian and Dutch coasts and had also reported and photographed the collection of barges. But there again, based on the PRU intelligence, Bomber Command had bombed many of the barge installations at an average of every second night, so what was Hitler trying to pull when he said "All our barges are in place." Maybe he forgot to add that at least one third of them were submerged at their moorings.

"If we plan now, the invasion date can be set for one week from now, given that we need five days of good weather to achieve the desired results." "All I need was five days preparation and we will be ready for the day of the Eagle."

Hitler then went on to state that in the preparation we must make sure that the Luftwaffe has complete air superiority over the Channel and over southern England. But that remark that had been heard before, when issuing the order to Göring prior to Adler Tag. Finally, the on again, off again "Operation Sealion" was at last given as September 17th, which should have been September 19th if Hitler estimated that it would take five days of preparation. Orders were given for a full-scale attack to be made prior to the lead up of the invasion, and again this was placed in the hands of Hermann Göring. An alternative date, as was mentioned earlier by the Führer could be given as September 27th.

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15th September 1940

The largest ever German formations over London and southeast, in two big raids. Mainly broken up by 24 Fighter Command Sqns operating on this day 70 years ago, since known as:

Battle of Britain Day.

Heavy cloud and rain periods overnight cleared and the forecast for the day was fine in most areas with patchy cloud. No rain was forecast but some areas had an odd shower. The fine conditions of the morning gave way to incoming cloud although it remained dry. Cloud was stratocumulus providing about 8/10ths cover at a height of 5,000 feet. Wind was slight and from the northwest.

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group. 77 Sqn. Whitley P4917 crashed landing at Tholthorpe on night operations. Sgt E.E. Fenning and crew safe. Bombing - invasion fleet at Ostend and Dunkirk - Hamburg docks - industrial targets at Berlin. 58 Sqn. Three aircraft to Berlin. All bombed alternatives. Three aircraft to Hamburg. All bombed alternatives. Three aircraft to Ostend. All bombed.77 Sqn. Bombing - eight aircraft to Dunkirk and Ostend. One bombed and strafed Ostend docks. Two aircraft to Berlin, both bombed.

RAF Fighter Command

This was the day Winston Churchill visited 11 Group's headquarters at Uxbridge and met Park's famous answer to his question about reserves: "There are NONE".

It was 0900hrs and during the morning visit, Churchill, accompanied by his wife and one of his private secretaries had no wish to disturb anyone he said, but as he happened to be passing he thought he would call in to see if anything was up. If not, ‘I’ll just sit in the car and do my homework.’ Naturally, Park welcomed the Prime Minister and his companions and escorted them down to the bombproof operations room, fifty feet below ground level. Churchill sensed that something important might happen that day. (Park’s wife had the same sense: when he apologised at breakfast for forgetting that 15th September was her birthday, she replied that a good bag of German aircraft would be an excellent present.)

Once they were in the operations room, Park tactfully explained to Churchill (not for the first time) that the air conditioning could not cope with cigar smoke. As the day’s dramatic events unfolded, the Prime Minister was therefore obliged to observe them with no better consolation than a dead cigar between his teeth. He had met Park several times and regarded him highly, recognizing (as he wrote after the war) that his was the group:

on which our fate largely depended. From the beginning of Dunkirk all the daylight actions in the South of England had already been conducted by him, and all his arrangements and apparatus had been brought to the highest perfection.

Sunday September 15th 1940, was not only the turning point of the Battle of Britain, it was the turning point of the whole war. Every Fighter Command aerodrome in 11 Group was in some way involved, every squadron within 11 Group participated as well as the Duxford Wing from 12 Group and a number of squadrons in 10 Group were called upon to protect areas in the southwest. Ground crews at all 11 Group airfields had to make efficiency a top priority in getting aircraft refuelled and rearmed in between sorties, while at 11 Group Headquarters Air Vice Marshal Keith Park busily controlled the situation drawing on all his experience and expertise under the watchful eye of visiting Winston Churchill who saw first hand the development of activities on this important day. Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding remained at Fighter Command Headquarters keeping silent vigil over the large map below indicating to him the events and the unfolding battle that was taking place over the southeast of England.

A depiction of Sgt. Bill Rolls of 72 Sqn as he attacked He 111 bombers over the Thames on the 15th September 1940

At 0930hrs two Luftwaffe formations had spread themselves out and were detected near the coasts off Dover, Harwich and in the Thames Estuary. Squadrons were dispatched from Hornchurch, Gravesend and Croydon. But most of the German formations were ordered to turn back. The Fighter Command squadrons were recalled. The only other activity was just off the Devon coast were a lone reconnaissance aircraft was detected and a flight from 87 Sqn Exeter was "Scrambled". It turned out to be a He111 on weather reconnaissance and was shot down by P/O D.T.Jay. 1030hrs: New formations were detected positioned between the towns of Calais and Boulogne. The markers on the map table at 11 Group HQ indicated that the enemy strength was 100 plus, but within moments; another marker was placed just behind the first and indicated 150 plus. It appeared that the German formations were in no great hurry and were forming up very slowly, this worked to the advantage of Keith Park as it gave him the chance to organize his defence forces. "This, Mr. Prime Minister looks like the big one." said Park, eyes glued to the map. The C-in-C gave a few orders then asked for someone to get Observer Corps HQ on the telephone, then he ordered his assistants with him to get the various sector station controllers "on the blower" with the order for all squadrons to, "Stand By". During a lull in Parks orders, Winston Churchill, standing beside him said quietly, "There appear to be many aircraft coming in." Keith Park answered in the same low tone "And we are ready for them, there'll be someone there to meet them." Around 1100hrs the picture of the morning attack was clearer. There was at least 200 plus bombers and an unknown number of Bf109 and Bf110 escorts just off the coast near Calais. They were flying in a North - Northwest direction and in a straight line this would allow them to cross the English coast in the vicinity of Dungeness. The expected time over the English coast would be between 1145 and 1200hrs if they were carrying heavy bomb loads, which it was expected they were.

Park was expecting a heavy engagement, but the map showed no other detection of enemy aircraft, just this one coming towards Dungeness, and this was big enough. He asked his assistants to get the sector controllers on the phone again and in the next thirty minutes, the following squadrons were scrambled:

1105hrs 72 Sqn Biggin Hill Spitfires

1105hrs 92 Sqn Biggin Hill Spitfires

1115hrs 229 Sqn Northolt Hurricanes

1115hrs 303 Sqn Northolt Hurricanes

1115hrs 253 Sqn Kenley Hurricanes

1115hrs 501 Sqn Kenley Hurricanes

1115hrs 17 Sqn Debden Hurricanes

1115hrs 73 Sqn Debden Hurricanes

1120hrs 504 Sqn Hendon Hurricanes

1120hrs 257 Sqn Martlesham Hurricanes

1120hrs 603 Sqn Hornchurch Spitfires

1120hrs 609 Sqn Warmwell Spitfires

Just as the first Fighter Command squadrons approached the southern coast of Kent at 1130hrs, the leaders of the German formation still had a few miles to go before they crossed the tall cliffs of the British coastline. The enemy bombers consisted of practically the whole of 1/KG76 flying Dornier Do17s, these had met up with the Do17s of 111/KG76 and KG3 behind Calais and now the combined force, escorted by Bf109 escorts formed a vast armada almost two miles wide crossing the coast. All the enemy aircraft were thought to have departed from bases in the Brussels and Antwerp areas. The heights of the enemy formations were between 15,000 and 26,000 feet and the Observer Corps reported that they were crossing the coast just north of Dungeness, to the south of Dover and at Ramsgate. The bombers came across the coastline in a number of vic formations, some of these consisted of three aircraft, some in five while others were in vics of seven, but as they crossed the tall cliffs they looked something like a giant herringbone. The bombers, which consisted of Dorniers, Heinkels and Junkers, were escorted by Bf110 aircraft flying in close support while the Bf109s flew top cover high above the bombers.

Keith Park reckoned that the advance squadrons should make the initial interception and slow the advancing formation down. He knew that it would be asking too much to turn such a large force around and it would be obvious that these squadrons would have to be replaced as fuel and ammunition became low. The relieving squadrons then would leave London defenseless so Park decided to bring in the 'Duxford Wing' from 12 Group and wanted to vector them to be over London just prior to the estimated ETA of the enemy formation should they manage to get through. In the next fifteen minutes, the following squadrons were scrambled:

1140hrs 41 Sqn Hornchurch Spitfires

1135hrs 242 Sqn Duxford Hurricanes

1135hrs 302 Sqn Duxford Hurricanes

1135hrs 310 Sqn Duxford Hurricanes

1135hrs 19 Sqn Duxford Spitfires

1135hrs 611 Sqn Digby Spitfires

1135hrs 249 Sqn North Weald Hurricanes

1135hrs 46 Sqn Stapleford Hurricanes

1140hrs 1(RCAF) Sqn Northolt Hurricanes

1140hrs 605 Sqn Croydon Hurricanes

1142hrs 66 Sqn Gravesend Spitfires

The German formation was making slow progress and 72 Sqn and 92 Sqn were vectored at 1200hrs to intercept the enemy between Maidstone and Ashford. Some of the other squadrons that had been vectored further south were now re-vectored. These included the Hurricanes of 253 Sqn and 501 Squadron Kenley, with the Spitfires of 66 Sqn Gravesend, 603 Sqn Hornchurch and 609 Sqn Warmwell and within minutes reinforced 72 and 92 Sqs. Soon after the initial interception, 229 Sqn and 303 Squadron Northolt met the raiders between Rochester and South London while 17 Sqn and 73 Squadron Debden met the bombers over Maidstone. Fighter Command had eleven squadrons engaging the German armada. The heavy bomber formation was still stepped between 15,000 and 25,000 feet with a massive Bf109 fighter escort above and slightly to the rear of the main formation.

The combat action was exceptionally heavy, and most of the defending British fighters managed to keep the Messerschmitt escorts from providing the cover for the bombers. The using of paired squadrons as requested by Keith Park was working. The Spitfires harassed the Bf109s, criss-crossing them at every opportunity, and one by one they were sent spiralling towards earth trailing plumes of smoke. The Bf109s tried to continue to escort the bombers who now were being attacked by the Hurricane squadrons. The British fighter pilots were slowly breaking up the formation with a steady application of force causing the bombers to straggle out of formation. The hundreds of Bf109s covered a wide area and they too were having their successes. Two Hurricanes of 229 Sqn were shot down over the Sevenoaks area, with P/O G.Doutrepont aircraft being shot up badly and he was killed as the Hurricane went down and crashed on Staplehurst Railway Station. Another member of the squadron, P/O R.Smith managed to bale out of his bullet riddled aircraft also over Sevenoaks and he suffered severe leg injuries. Over Tunbridge Wells, F/O A.D.Nesbitt of 1 (RCAF) Squadron was swooped on by Bf109s and he baled out as his aircraft spiralled to earth. F/O R.Smither was not so lucky, as he went down with his aircraft also over Tunbridge Wells.

The combat area now covered a wide area, and as the minutes ticked by, the intensity of the battle increased as more fighters of Fighter Command arrived on the scene. 501 Squadron Kenley was one of them. They intercepted the enemy over northern Kent and mixed it with both bombers and fighter escort. The Bf109s were being held over the northern area of Kent with only a few managing to escape the onslaught by the Spitfires. The bombers which consisted of He111, Do17s and Do215s were being harassed by the Hurricanes, and one by one they began to turn away smoke trailing from engines and desperately trying to evade any further attack by the British fighters. Others dropped their bombs at random. Some of the more courageous tried in vain to make it to their target, riddled with bullets, crewmen either dead or injured at their posts. But more was in store for them as they approached London. Keith Parks timing of requesting the Duxford Wing to cover the airfields of Hornchurch and North Weald was to perfection, as was everything else that was taking place

As the German bomber formation, with about only one third of its Bf109 escorts, approached the outskirts of London the enemy was in disarray. The Bf109s peeled away one by one, some had sustained damage but most were now low on fuel. With the city in their sights, the most awesome sight of the four squadrons of the Duxford Wing confronted them. Three squadrons of Hurricanes with the two Spitfire squadrons about 5,000 feet higher. As the Duxford Wing closed in, 41 Sqn Hornchurch 46 Sqn North Weald 504 Sqn Hendon and 609 Sqn Warmwell joined them. The Bombers were confronted by British fighters on all sides, and one of the biggest combat actions ever seen over London developed.

Where everything was running in favour of 11 Group, for once, Douglas Bader's 'Duxford Wing' also ran to perfection and in unison. Bader stated later, that being called up with time to spare made all the difference. His squadrons were able to take off as ordered, and the formation collected perfectly over Duxford and 56 fighter aircraft made the steady climb towards their vectored area, and had time to position themselves at the correct height and head towards Gravesend. As they approached the Thames, the Hurricanes stepped between 25,000 and 26,000 feet with 19 and 611 Sqn Spitfires at the rear climbing to 27,000 feet, they could see the little black specks, like a small formation of little ants in the sky. Douglas Bader led his 'wing' in a partial semi-circle allowing them to arrive at Gravesend with the morning sun behind them, and the Germans in front. But it was not until reaching the western boroughs of London did the 'Duxford Wing' manage to engage the enemy.

Perfectly positioned, with the bombers 3,000 feet below them they were about to make their attack, when a formation of Bf109s came out of the sun. Bader immediately ordered the Spitfires of 19 and 611 Sqs to take on the German fighters, which they did so effectively, scattering them by a surprise attack that they left the bomber formation and flew off to the southeast. While the 'Duxford Wing' was holding, the Hurricanes of 257 Sqn Martlesham and 504 Squadron Hendon attacked the German bombers. Bader waited for them to complete their sweep, then instructed his three Hurricane squadrons to fall into line astern and prepare to attack. Bader selected the most westerly of the three enemy formations; while 302 Sqn took on the middle formation while the remaining formation was left to 310 Sqn.

There was not much for the bombers to do, the pressure on them was intense. They would be attacked by a couple of squadrons of RAF fighters and then as soon as they broke off the engagement, another couple of squadrons were ready to pounce at an already decimated enemy force. The bombers began to drop their bomb loads at random hoping that this would lighten their load and they could make as hasty retreat as possible without any further damage to their aircraft. South London was the worst affected, with Lewisham, Lambeth, Camberwell and a couple of the bridges across the River Thames all recording bomb damage. One high explosive bomb fell in the grounds of Buckingham Palace causing slight structural damage to the building but a bigger hole in the lawns at the rear as it failed to explode. A power station in Beckenham was also hit.

The German formations headed out towards the west, turning south near Weybridge. 609 Sqn chased them as they headed for the coast and took on 15 Dornier Do17s, a formation of Bf109s saw the desperate situation that their bombers were in and joined in, as did a few Bf110s. Over Ewhurst in Surrey, 605 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes) came in to assist and as the mêlée continued fierce action over the town of Billingshurst just west of Horsham they were joined by 1(RCAF) Sqn who took on the troublesome Bf109s. In the other direction, some eighty German bombers were trying to make good their escape towards the Thames Estuary. Fighter Command attacked in large numbers with squadrons attacking any of the escorts while others took on the merciless bombers. The first, and the morning battle had been a disaster for the Luftwaffe, many cashed and others blew up in mid-air, while the remainder struggled for the safety of the French coast.

For the Germans, after about ten minutes over London, there was now no such thing as the formation. German bombers were at all levels of altitude and most were scattered over an area fifteen miles wide. To give an example of the intensity of this morning battle, the combat area was approximately 80 miles long by 38 miles wide, and up to six miles high. Total combat actions numbered as many as 200, one third of these were settled within the combat area with one of the aircraft submitting either by being destroyed by his enemy or a disabled aircraft managing to break away and head for safer pastures. The other third was with German aircraft being chased away from the combat area by British fighters and often crashing on English soil or going down into the watery graveyard of the English Channel. Because of the intensity and aggression shown by the pilots of Fighter Command, the bombers dropped most of their bombs randomly over a wide area. Damage was done, but not as much as was intended by the Luftwaffe commanders. For the Luftwaffe, the raid was doomed to failure the moment that the first formations had crossed the Channel. This time, everything had gone right for Fighter Command and 11 Group. Timing, position and height was all on the side of the RAF. Keith Park and his pilots had won the first round of the day.

As the clocks in Britain showed 12.30pm, the first battle of the day had finished. Most of the German bombers who had intentions of again dropping hundreds of tons of bombs on the city had been fought off by Fighter Command. In scattered areas of Kent and Sussex the odd skirmish still took place as patrolling squadrons observed a few Dorniers and Heinkels desperately trying to make their way back to their bases in northern France and Belgium. The pilots of the Hurricanes and Spitfires showed no mercy. It made no difference whether the bombers were crippled or not, some, which it was obvious that they would never make it back, were shot down, the broken hulks of German aircraft could be seen from the outskirts of London to the Channel coast. To many Londoners, many were out and about on this fine day in September, and went about their business as usual, the dog- fighting high above being little more than entertainment value.

The radar stations along the Kent coast pick up movements across the Channel around 1300hrs, it was the commencement of German bombers busily forming up for yet another raid on the British capital. Fighter Command were notified, but as there was no indication that the bombers were heading across the coast, it was just a 'wait and see' game, and Keith Park was content at that stage just to know the various squadron strength after the mornings combat action. It became evident that there was a massive build up west of the Calais-Boulogne area, and it seemed that this was to be a repeat of the Luftwaffe's morning performance. The question was would the Luftwaffe use a greater number of bombers for this second raid? After all, the mornings raid was nothing short of a disgraceful attempt, although full credit to Fighter Command in forcing the Luftwaffe to submit and return back to their bases.

If the Luftwaffe were to use greater numbers in the afternoons raid, they would have to use a maximum fighter escort not only all the way on the outward journey, but on the homeward leg as well. They should stay in position higher and behind the bombers for the duration of the raid at the expense of the usual feints that were normally carried out, as this would only consume additional fuel, which, for the Bf109s was a precious commodity. The German shortage of fighters compelled the division of the attack, so that some would be used twice and so that the second attack could, and with lick, catch many of Park's fighters on the ground, re-arming and refuelling All squadrons that had been involved with the mornings action, were again placed at readiness and this included the Duxford Wing and the two squadrons from 10 Group. As time progressed, radar had reported that the formation had broken into three distinct groups, and that it was possible that each group was following a short distance behind another.

Even though all the squadrons had been brought to readiness, some squadrons, especially those some distance from London were still being re-armed and refuelled at 1400hrs and quite a few pilots were not with their squadrons. These had been shot down or baled out of their stricken aircraft and had made their way to other airfields and had telephoned in to their home bases, while some were being ferried back but had not yet arrived. Those that had got back, found the time to have a bit of lunch while their aircraft were in the hands of the ground crews. This was one of the reasons that the Luftwaffe had made this second raid so soon after midday, as they knew that it would take Fighter Command to take at least two hours to get all their squadrons back to full strength. The hoped that by the time that they crossed the English coast that most of the RAF fighters would still be on the ground.

The German formations that were approaching the Kent coast was made up of three distinct formations. All consisted of Dornier Do17s, Heinkel He111s and Dornier 215s from KG/2, KG/53 and KG/76. Smaller gruppes came from KG/1, KG/4 and KG/26, which made up a total bomber force of 170 aircraft. These were supported by Bf110 and Bf109s as escorts and their number was in excess of 300 Most of the bomber formations had come from airfields in the Beauvais and Antwerp areas. Park scrambled squadrons in almost the same order as he had done so only three hours earlier, but because the German formation had taken less time in 'forming up' the 11 Group commander had less time to get his fighters into the air, coupled with the fact that some squadrons were still re-arming and refuelling, the efficiency was not as good as it had been during the morning period.

1410hrs: Keith Park could see the incoming raid building up quickly and immediately his sector controllers of the afternoon raid. The station controllers then notified the squadrons who were placed on "standby". 12 Group were called up by 11 Group who again requested maximum assistance just as they had done during the morning period. The same applied to 10 Group. Within a couple of minutes, following a similar pattern that had proved so successful during the morning, 11 Group "scrambled " eleven squadrons and placed the rest on "standby". At the same time, Wing Commander Woodall at Duxford "scrambled " his Duxford Wing, which comprised 19 Sqn, 242 Sqn, 302 Sqn, 310 Sqn and 611 Sqn. The only change that Park made that differed from the morning attack, was that he held more of his fighters back giving orders that they patrol areas to the east, south and west of London. The squadrons that were vectored to the forward areas were mainly instructed to attack the enemy fighters. This was probably due to the fact that by forcing the enemy escorts into combat early, they would use up far more fuel, and the morning raid had showed him that the bombers were far more vulnerable when the reached the outskirts of London, and the net result was that Fighter Command inflicted far more damage to aircraft over London than over the Kent coast.

The first of the bomber formations crossed the Kent coast between Dungeness and Dover at 1415hrs, with the other formations behind and flying at 15 minute intervals. The combined formation was mainly He111s, Do17s and Do215s. The Observer Corps estimated that the total enemy bomber force was between 150 and 200 bombers. The escorts flying, as close escort and high altitude cover, were the usual Bf110s and Bf109s and it is estimated that these numbered approximately 400. In total, a combined force of 600 plus aircraft heading north towards London on a front some thirty miles wide.

The first engagements took place over Kent at 1430hrs. Squadrons from Hornchurch intercepted a large formation of Dorniers south of Canterbury. Diving down in line astern they managed to destroy two of the bombers and another couple were wheeling away leaving behind a trail of thick black smoke. But they were jumped upon by Bf109s and intense combat took place between the fighters of both sides allowing the Do17s to continue their journey. Two aircraft of the Hornchurch squadrons were damaged. Another formation consisting of Dornier Do17s and Heinkel He111s was detected south of Maidstone, and without any Bf109 protection, they became the targets for 73 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes) who managed to destroy three of the bombers without loss to themselves. West of this attack near Dartford, 66 Sqn Gravesend and 72 Sqn Croydon intercepted another column of enemy aircraft where again, as with the others the combat action was intense. The Spitfires weaved in and out of the bombers managing to avoid collision in the huge traffic jam that was forming. Bombers started to take evasive action by banking either left or right. Just as another bomber formation was approaching from the south, 249 Sqn North Weald and 504 Sqn Hendon joined the mêlée and the large colossus of enemy bombers went into a frantic flight pattern. 73 Sqn who had engaged the formation from the outset, had now been entwined into the huge dogfight as well as 253 Sqn Kenley.

A Do 17 of KG3 crashes to earth on 15th September 1940

The western flank saw Do17s, He111s and Ju88s which numbered about eighty curve right from Kent, across the outskirts of Surrey and heading towards the western side of London. A terrific battle ensued as fighters from 213 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes) and 607 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes), which had been vectored to cover Biggin Hill, intercepted the large formation. Again, Bf109s were seen to the south of London, but decided not to come to the aid of the bomber formation which managed to get mauled by the Hurricane squadrons. This was one of the most intense battles. The British fighter tore into the enemy like hungry cats to a flock of wounded birds.

Even though most of the attacking bombers had been thrown off their planned flight path, many of them managed to get through to the southern areas of London. If they thought that most of Fighter Commands fighters were behind them and still engaged in combat over Kent and Surrey, they were in for a big surprise. Now, as in the morning session, they were met by 49 fighters of Bader's "Duxford Wing". Along with a number of other squadrons that had followed the leading bombers and two other squadrons that had just joined the action, a total of some 150 more fighters awaited them.

Again, Bader ordered the Spitfires to attack the Bf109s, who for some strange reason had not left their bombers early as on previous occasions, while the Hurricanes attacked the bombers. They were at a disadvantage as they were still climbing and had not had the time to get into position. The "Duxford Wing" leader complained later that it was the case again of being called on far too late, but the real reason this time was that the Germans had formed up much quicker this time that almost caught even Keith Park off guard.

But this was not to be the best of afternoons for Bader. The Wing was scrambled again to patrol North Weald, and Bader led them through a gap in the clouds. At 16,000 feet, flak bursts ahead, and in moments he saw the bombers; about forty of them, some 4,000 feet above the Hurricanes. Damn! Everything risked again because they were scrambled too late. Throttle hard on, the thundering Hurricane had her nose steeply lifted, nearly hanging on her propeller at about 100 m.p.h. A voice screamed: “109’s behind.†Over his shoulder the yellow spinners were diving on them and he yelled as he steep-turned, “Break up!†Around him the sky was full of wheeling Hurricanes and 109’s. A yellow spinner was sitting behind his tail, and as he yanked harder back on the stick an aeroplane shot by, feet away. Bader hit its slipstream and the Hurricane shuddered, stalled and spun off the turn. He let it spin a few turns to shake off the 109 and came out of it at 5,000 feet. All clear behind. Far above a lone Dornier was heading for France, and he climbed and chased it a long way, hanging on his propeller nearly at stalling speed again. Near the coast he was just about in range and fired a three-second burst, but the recoil of the guns slowed the floundering Hurricane till she suddenly stalled and spun off again. He pulled out and searched the sky but the enemy had vanished.

When Bader had first spun out, he almost collided with P/O Denis Crowley-Milling, and it was while in Crowley-Milling's slipstream that he went into the spin and did not pull out until 5,000 feet. Bader was annoyed, possibly only with himself that it had happened, but not being able to gain height to attack another bomber only rubbed salt into the wound. The combat action over the southern and southwestern areas of London was intense. The formation that had been intercepted as far away as Maidstone somehow managed to straggle through, many of the Bf109s managed to stay as long as they could, but with fuel tanks getting into the danger zone, they had to break off and leave many of the bombers at the mercy of the British fighters. The German bombers, who had intended to drop their bomb loads on London itself, had jettisoned them in scattered areas in London's eastern and southern suburbs that suffered most. The most severe damage was done in West Ham, East Ham, Stratford, Stepney, Hackney, Erith, Dartford and Penge. Fighter Command now had everything that they possessed in the air, even the Station Commander of Northolt Group Captain S.F.Vincent.

303 Sqn had been ordered up at Northolt at 1420hrs and were vectored to cover the north Kent coast along the Thames. The squadron consisted of nine Hurricanes and was led by S/L R.Kellett when they sighted a large formation coming towards them. Interception was made over Gravesend. 303 Sqn was in the air just one hour and ten minutes before they returned back to Northolt. In this time, they had destroyed three Dornier Do215's, two Messerschmitt Bf110's and one Bf109. One Do215 was seen to break away from the combat action trailing smoke and losing altitude, but its fate is not known and the squadron was also credited with a probable. But only seven of the nine Hurricanes returned, with one pilot missing and another Hurricane crashing near Dartford with the pilot managing to bale out of his aircraft. Flying Officer R.H.Oxspring of 66 Sqn said later that every squadron in 11 Group and the five squadrons from Duxford had in some way intercepted raiders and engaged combat. For the enemy bomber crews, it was now a no win situation. They were outnumbered over their target area, so much so that accurate bombing was virtually impossible. More and more squadrons were moving into areas to cut off any retreat so that when they did decide to abort, trying to get into the protection of the cloud cover would be their only hope of survival

Dornier 17 of 8/KG76 hit terra firma at 1210hrs on 15th September 1940 after being attacked by Spitfires (one being P/O 'Red' Tobin) crash-landed on the side of a hill above Castle Farm, Shoreham, Kent above the A225 Dartford/Sevenoaks road. The bomber's pilot, Feldwebel Heitsch and his crew were attacked by two Spitfires from 609 Sqn over North Kent. After a low-level pursuit along the Darenth Valley

Sgt P.R Eyles 92 Squadron Biggin Hill (Spitfires) picked up a Do17 heading south and attacked. A short burst at first has no impact and he has to circle round and decided to have another attack. He gained a little height then sweeps down preparing to make an astern attack. Another short burst and pieces fly off the starboard side of the bomber and the tell tale smoke from the starboard engine indicates damage. As the Spitfire banked away a Bf109 jumped him on from above but the Biggin Hill pilot reacted quickly and took evasive action. He started to climb and having lost sight of the German fighter, looked for the crippled Dornier below. Continuing its journey it could not have suffered too much damage, as it was still flying straight and level.

The sergeant lined up his Spitfire to make another attack when he spotted the Bf109 on his port side coming at him. He turned and attempted a beam attack on the 109. As they close in at an impact speed of something over five hundred miles an hour, both seem to fire at the same time, the Spitfire vibrates slightly, but does not seem to be damaged too severely, it was still responsive and all dials and controls seemed to be behaving normally. Smoke poured from the engine area of the Messerschmitt and it started to lose altitude in graceful fashion then levelled out. Sgt Eyles pulled back on the stick and gained altitude. The recognizable wake of smoke heading out over the Kent coastline indicates the Dornier is making progress. The Spitfire headed in that direction, gaining height all the time. No other aircraft seem to be in the area to impede the next attack. His combat report states that he was well across the Channel before he caught up with the bomber where he made another attack and saw more pieces fly off the fuselage and the other engine catch fire, but seeing a number of small specs coming at him from the French coast, decided to call it a day and head back towards base only claiming the Do17 as a probable

Meanwhile, Flight Lieutenant W.G.Clouston of 19 Sqn Duxford took the two sections of his squadron to attack a formation of Do17s over Shoeburyness. Making their attack in line astern they made their attacks before any Bf109s arrived. F/L Couston lined up one, and gave a series of short bursts, one of the engines of the Dornier exploded in flame and smoke. Before he lost sight of it, ten feet of the bombers wing broke away and fell earthwards causing the bomber to roll over and spiral down to a watery grave below. As the last of the bombers were being chased back across the Channel at around 1600hrs, many of the squadrons who has fought one of the heaviest air combats of the Battle of Britain retired to their respective aerodromes. However another small raid had been detected and was approaching the Dorset town of Portland. It was just a small force of about ten He111s and 10 Group scrambled 152 Sqn, 607 Sqn and 609 Sqn. The enemy target was the Woolston Spitfire factory, which was hit, the bombing was not accurate and severe damage was kept to a minimum. 602 and 609 Sqns both intercepted after the bombers attacked their target, and both claimed that they had destroyed two aircraft each.

At approximately 1800hrs, a small formation of Bf110s from Erpro 210, once the crack dive bombing gruppe of the Luftwaffe, made an attack again on the Woolston factory complex. Most of the British fighters that had been up on constant sorties during the afternoon had returned to their bases and by this time were busy being rearmed, refuelled and many were undergoing their usual repairs from damage sustained during the hectic afternoon. Therefore the Bf110s were free from any attack or interception by Hurricanes or Spitfires. The task of defence was by the AA gun batteries who put up a tremendous fight in defence with accurate gunfire, which although they did not shoot down any enemy aircraft, the barrage that they put up was so aggressive that not a single bomb was dropped onto the Spitfire factory.

As the afternoon attack came slowly to an end, one by one the often tired and exhausted pilots returned to their bases. It had been a long and hectic day, Many of the pilots stated that 'they had very close to buying it' but such was their determination that saw them through, yet each one still had to remember that he was not invincible, the thought of death was still a reality, but many put it to the back of their minds. But the day belonged to Royal Air Force Fighter Command, they were unaware of it then, but they had achieved something on September 15th 1940 that would go down in world history. Their guts, determination and courage was at long last to pay off, they would turn the tide in controlling the skies over southeast England.

This time, for a change, we outnumbered ‘the hun’, and believe me, no more than eight got home from that party. At one time you could see planes going down on fire all over the place, and the sky seemed full of parachutes. It was sudden death that morning, for our fighters shot them to blazes.

Squadron Leader Douglas Bader 242 Sqn RAF Fighter Command

Losses

Luftwaffe – 60

RAF

1 (R.C.A.F.) Sqn Hurricane P3080 A.D.Nesbitt, wounded. Shot down by Bf109, baled out over Tunbridge Wells at 1210hrsHurricane P3876 R.Smither killed. Attacked and shot down by Bf109, pilot failed to bale out at 1210hrs over Tunbridge Wells and Hurricane L1973 A.Yule wounded. Returned to base with severe damage after combat with He111 and poss Bf109

19 Sqn Spitfire X4070 J.A.Potter taken POW. Ditched damage aircraft at 1505hrs off French coast and captured by German military and Spitfire P9431 H.A.C.Roden slight injuries. Crash landed after combat with Bf109 over the Channel

41 Sqn Spitfire P9324 G.A.Langley killed. Crashed into building after being shot down by Bf109s over Thurrock at 1230hrs

56 Sqn T.R.Tweed Hurricane P3660 killed. (Failed to come out of spin during dogfight practice over Boscombe Down

73 Sqn Hurricane P3865 R.A.Marchand killed. Crashed into farm at Teynham Kent after being shot down by Bf109s at 1220hrs

92 Sqn Spitfire R.H.Holland slight injuries. Injuries sustained on landing after baling out of damaged aircraft at 1450hrs near Ashford

213 Sqn Hurricane P3113 R.T.Llewellyn badly wounded. Shot down in combat with Bf110s and baled out at Hawkhurst at 1500hrs

229 Sqn Hurricane N2537 G.L.J.Doutrepont killed. Crashed onto Staplehurst Railway Station after being shot down by Bf109s at 1150hrs and Hurricane V6616 R.R.Smith wounds to leg. Baled out after combat with Do215 and Bf110s over Sevenoaks at 1200hrs

238 Sqn Hurricane P2836 L.Pidd killed. Baled out after being shot down by enemy aircraft but was dead on landing at 1500hrs near Kenley

242 Sqn Hurricane P2884 G.Powell-Sheddon slight injuries. Shot down by Bf109 while attacking Do17 and baled out at 1440hrs near Rye.

249 Sqn Hurricane V6566 K.T.Lofts unhurt. Crash landed at West Malling after attacked by Bf109 while attacking He111 at 1435hrs in S.E.London.

302 Sqn Hurricane P2954 T.P.Chopik killed. Shot down by enemy aircraft, baled out but died on landing at 1445hrs at North Weald

303 Sqn Hurricane P2903 W.Lokuciewski - received leg wounds. Returned to base after damage by Bf109 at 1245hrs, Hurricane P3939 T.Andruszkow unhurt. Baled out after being hit by gunfire from Bf109 and Hurricane P3577 M.Brzezowski Listed as missing. Believed crashed in Estuary off Gravesend after combat with Bf109s at 1505hrs.

310 Sqn Hurricane R4085 A.Hess unhurt. unhurt. Shot down in flames by enemy aircraft and pilot baled out safely over the Thames Estuary at 1445hrs Hurricane R4087 J.Hubacek slight injuries. Baled out over the Thames Estuary after his aircraft was hit by Bf109 gunfire at 1430hrs

501 Sqn Hurricane P2760 A.E.A.Hove d'Ertsenrijck killed after being hit by gunfire from Bf109 and while attempting to force-land his damaged Hurricane at Bilting, Kent. Sadly, as he approached his chosen field, with a thin wisp of smoke trailing out behind, he stalled off a turn and struck a substantial tree before the wreckage fell into the River Stour killing him outright at 1235hrs and Hurricane P2725 R.T.Holmes unhurt. Baled out after aircraft damaged by Bf109 crashed in Buckingham Palace Rd at 1215hrs. Hurricane N2481 J.V.Gurteen killed. Shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed at full throttle into residential house at 1258hrs in London and Hurricane N2705 M.Jebb died of injuries 19.9.40. (Crashed at Dartford after combat with enemy aircraft)

603 Sqn Spitfire X4324 A.P.Pease killed at Kingswood at 1505hrs. Shot down by unknown enemy aircraft. Pilot did not bale out and Spitfire I R7019 G.L.Denholm unhurt. Hit by gunfire from Do17. Baled out of damaged aircraft at 1510hrs.

605 Sqn Hurricane L2122 R.E.Jones unhurt. Shot down in combat with Do17s and Bf109s. Pilot baled out of damaged aircraft at 1140hrs over Croydon and Hurricane L2012 T.P.M.Cooper-Slipper injured. Hit by gunfire from Do17. Collided with enemy aircraft losing wing. Pilot baled out over Marden Kent at 1430hrs

607 Sqn Hurricane V6688 P.J.T.Stephenson injured. Collided with enemy aircraft after attack on Do17. Pilot baled out over Appledore Kent.

609 Sqn Spitfire R6690 G.N.Gaunt killed. Crashed in flames near Kenley after being hit by gunfire from Bf110 at 1230hrs over London

There is no doubt, that again the Luftwaffe were their own worst enemy on the morning raid. Too many aircraft being despatched from a rather enclosed area of Calais, the manner in which they organized their formations over the Channel, it was too cumbersome and too slow, and again, Göring did not value the worth that radar had for the British. All the time the enemy bombers and their escorts were forming up, Fighter Command had a birds-eye view of the proceedings that was going on across the Channel. It allowed Keith Park the time he needed to organize his squadrons, paying particular attention to which squadron was to be vectored where. Of course, it also allowed him to call on the 'Duxford Wing' giving them more than the time required to form and be in the right position at the right time when they made their interception.

Fighter Command had to contend with bomber formations with their close escorts plus the fact that almost twice as many enemy fighters may have been flying as top cover. The Luftwaffe on the other hand, all they had to do was to contend with the British fighters. And the odds; in most cases it was between three and five to one in favour of the Luftwaffe. Then, if we take a look at the total of daily victories, up until the 15th, there was only four occasions where British casualties exceeded the British.

It is hard to believe that the pilots of Fighter Command were disorganised, scrappy and uncoordinated. If there was any disorganisation or lack of coordination, it was within the ranks of the German hierarchy. The Luftwaffe could not win the air war by using the same flight paths, the same tactics, and on many occasions forgetting to send escorts to cover bombers on many of the raids.

By September 15th, Fighter Command was in fact a far stronger force than the German High Command was to appreciate. Keith Park had fresh pilots; squadrons now at almost full strength and all of them well positioned at Sector Stations, satellite stations and at forward airfields. They lay in waiting for a Luftwaffe that was still at sixes and sevens. Hitler wanted London bombed once and for all, and ordered Goring to mass the largest contingent of bombers ever assembled to participate in the first daylight raid for a week, to flatten London in preparation to the invasion (Operation Sealion) which it was planned would take place two days later. Goring on the other hand still wanted to attack Fighter Command airfields, factories and anything else that would destroy the RAF.

Memories of an Uxbridge WAAF

[Coast]

At last, Keith Park gets the recognition he deserves:

A bronze statue of Battle of Britain hero Sir Keith Park will be unveiled later at Waterloo Place.

www.bbc.co.uk/news

70 years on, Battle of Britain pilots remember

www.google.com/hostednews

[Coast]

16h September 1940

There were much cooler conditions coming in from the North Sea. Most areas had heavy cloud cover and rain in all districts that was heavy at times.

RAF Bomber Command

No Operations recorded

RAF Fighter Command

Radar picked up a medium plot coming in from the Channel at 0730hrs as it spread out along the Kent coastline. This was confirmed as 100 plus, but turned out to be Bf109s, probably looking for targets of opportunity rather than any pre-planned raid. Hurricanes of 605 Sqn are scrambled at 0745hrs to intercept, but most of the enemy fighters had turned back and the squadron engaged in combat with the last remaining Bf109s. 605 Sqn appear to damage two of the German fighters, but Major Werner Mölders attacked the Hurricane of P/O E.J.Watson and caused enough damage for it to make an emergency landing at Detling. Around 1020hrs a few German aircraft were detected off the Suffolk coast, but made no attempt to cross. One of these was a Junkers Ju88 that had been chased by a Spitfire of 616 Sqn who, after damaging the enemy bomber by gunfire, aborted the chase because of a critical fuel situation. The Spitfire ran out of fuel about 20 miles north of Cromer and Sgt T.C.Iveson was forced to abandon the aircraft. While the Spitfire sank in the North Sea, the pilot was picked up by a Navy motor torpedo boat and brought ashore at Great Yarmouth.

73 Sqn and 257 Sqn (Debden), and 504 Sqn (Hendon) were ordered to patrol the north Kent coast in the vicinity of Gravesend. They returned after about one hour and the official record book of 257 Sqn stated that there was no contact made with the enemy. It is hard to ascertain as to who shot whom down on this day. Besides a few squadrons on training flights, only two RAF squadrons were reported to have flown on operational duty. Yet some statistics indicate that nine German aircraft were shot down.

1940hrs to 0430hrs on Tuesday: A number of night bombing raids took place starting a little earlier than normal. Wave after wave approached the city of London with very little respite. In all, 170 German aircraft dropped over 200 tons of high explosive. The targets followed a pattern very similar to that of the early bombing raids, and that was the London dock area, the residential districts of West Ham, East Ham, Hackney, Bethnal Green and Shoreditch. Others dropped their loads on the southern boroughs of Southwark, Bermondsey and Brixton, and in the west at Finchley, Willesden and Stanmore. More formations of German bombers made their way to Liverpool and Manchester, while others targeted Coventry, Birmingham and Bristol.

The people of Britain were now to take the night bombing in their stride, from now on, the evening movement down to the shelter was to become a part of the daily ritual, for it was in these often cold and damp places, often cramped that people were to spend as much time down in their 'Anderson' as they did in their home. In London itself, the deep underground stations of the 'tube' became the nighttime mecca for thousands. Beds and bunks lined the station platforms, and this too became so much a ritual for thousands, many of the voluntary services brought down pots of tea and plates of food, and as time went on entertainers and bands joined in and many an enjoyable concert was held deep down below the surface of London. In other towns and cities, the story was very much the same. The lifestyles of the people was now beginning to change, but the thing was now, for how long could the people last. The intense period of the "Blitz" was about to begin.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 9 to 11 (depending on sources!)

RAF

616 Sqn A Iveson Spitfire L1036, forced to ditch into the sea after running out of fuel following a pursuit of a Ju88 bomber. He ditched 20 miles off Cromer in Norfolk, and he was picked up by an MTB.

By the time that most people had either emerged from their Anderson's or had risen after another rather uncomfortable nights sleep; the daily newspapers were busy informing them of the events of the previous day. The 'Daily Telegraph' stated that "Of the 350 to 400 enemy planes launched in two waves against the capital and south-east England, 175, or nearly 50 per cent were shot down according to returns. The Germans loss of the day before was their highest since Aug 15th, when 180 were shot down. On Aug 18th they lost 153. In personnel their loss the day before was over 500 airmen against 20 RAF pilots.' The 'Daily Herald' told a similar story, but added that AA gunfire had brought down four of the 175 German planes. On the subject of the RAF victory, they went on to say that in both of the raids, the gallant pilots and squadrons of the RAF harassed the bombers so much that those that were not shot down, were harried and chased right back to the Channel. The Germans had encountered their most gruelling reception so far.

Of course, the figures had done wonders for British morale, newspapers and radio had a field day, but just like their German counterparts, all the figures had been completely blown out of all proportion. We have now learned that the true figure was that 56 German aircraft had been shot down and the Royal Air Force lost 27 Hurricanes and Spitfires. But if the British public really wanted proof that day, they only had to go down to the open fields of Kent and Sussex to see the scattered remains of bent and broken aircraft, and most of them were German. But at the meetings held this morning, on both sides of the Channel, two completely different attitudes were emerging over the analysis of the previous days combat actions.

Even though the success of the previous days events had exhilarated him, Keith Park still felt that improvements could be made, he was not going to rest on his laurels as there was always the chance that Goring would send his Luftwaffe over again with an if not stronger force. He was concerned that individual squadrons were failing to rendezvous at the right times at given vectored positions. That paired squadrons were meeting up with each other far early and too low for that matter. And he also showed concern that paired squadrons were not committing themselves to the task that paired squadrons were supposed to do. 'In paired squadrons' he said, 'Hurricanes are to go after the bombers and the Spitfires must attack the fighter top cover.' Reports had got back to the 11 Group commander many Spitfires had been seen attacking the bombers while in other instances Hurricanes had been struggling with Bf109s.

The new instruction sent to squadrons was that Spitfire squadrons, especially those at Biggin Hill and Hornchurch should rendezvous in pairs, at height if the weather was clear and below the cloud base if the weather was overcast, then increase altitude to meet and attack the enemy high fighter screen. He wanted several pairs of these Spitfire squadrons to be put up, while there should be ample Hurricane squadrons to be assembled in pairs close to the sector airfields. Further to this, the Northolt and Tangmere squadrons should be dispatched as three squadron wings to intercept the second and third waves of the attacking bombers. With instructions like this, we begin to see a hint of a smaller version of the 'Big Wing' that Park and Dowding were so very much against.

[Coast]

17h September 1940

Overcast with squally showers with drizzle and low cloud

RAF Bomber Command

4 Group. 78 Sqn. Whitley P4964 damaged by flak, Sgt R. Graham, rear gunner, wounded. Sgt A.S. Ennis and remainder of crew unhurt.10 Sqn. Ten aircraft. Nine got off, one returned early, nine bombed. Severe opposition at Hamburg. 51 Sqn. Ten aircraft. One returned early, nine attacked Zeebrugge successfully. 78 Sqn. Eight aircraft. Seven bombed primary, one bombed alternative. One damaged by Flak, one of the crew was wounded. An estimated 84 invasion barges are sunk.

RAF Fighter Command

During the morning, just as the Luftflotten commanders were giving instruction of the impending days raids, and the crews were being briefed, a communiqué came through stating that "Operation Seelöwe" had yet again been postponed. It was due to the present circumstances, and the message was obviously under the direction of Hitler, he being the only one who could announce such a decision. Later, the German General Staff sent a message by radio to the commanding officer handling the loading and supply of troop-carrying aircraft in Holland. It gave the commanding officer the authorization to dismantle all of the air-loading equipment at all the Dutch airfields. Without this vital equipment, there could be no such invasion, and by the withdrawal of the air-loading equipment and possibly the barges at Antwerp, it appeared that this postponement was more like abandonment.

In the deciphering rooms at Bletchley Park, (thanks again MKSA!) the message was intercepted by ‘Ultra’ loud and clear. Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newhall stated to his ministry that with this great news of the air-loading equipment being ordered to disband, and with the unreliable weather conditions that could be expected for the remainder of the year, any planned invasion would now not take place, not in 1940 anyway. Again the Air Ministry put this down to their success of September 15th. In Germany, Hitler's new directive stated that Operation Sealion could still be expected, even as late as October, but only if the air and weather conditions permitted, otherwise such an invasion could not now take place until 1941.

There was very little activity during the morning period. Radar had picked up several small blips over the Channel, but these being either enemy aircraft flying singularly or in pairs were ignored by Fighter Command as they were probably just weather or photo-reconnaissance aircraft and caused no threat. One enemy bomber came very close over the town of Dover and the air raid warning sounded but the bomber flew along the coastline for a while before turning back out over the Channel towards its base.

A formation of Ju88s was detected heading in a northerly direction over Bristol at 1400hrs.There target was believed to be the factory areas of north of Bristol. 152 Sqn Warmwell were scrambled to intercept. One of the Ju88s was hit and the Spitfires further harassed until it crashed near Warminster. The pilot was killed while three others were captured, one of them being a Gruppe Commander. With the brightening of the weather allowing better visibility, a large formation was detected crossing the Channel from Calais at 1500hrs. As they crossed the coastline between Dover and Dungeness, the Observer Corps had trouble identifying them reporting that it was a large formation at great height. They could very well be forgiven, because the enemy formation was only flying at 15,000 feet, but they were a large contingent of Bf109s heading across the Kent coast.

11 Group dispatched at varying times a number of squadrons, most of them Hurricanes. 1RCAF Squadron Northolt 19 Sqn Duxford, 41 Sqn and 603 Sqn Hornchurch 17 Sqn, 73 Sqn and 257 Sqn Debden, 213 Sqn and 607 Sqn Tangmere, 303 Sqn Northolt and 501 Sqn Kenley. Some sources state that up to twenty squadrons were dispatched, but records were not available. While it is not actually known where the target area was to be, the formation of Bf109s, accompanied by a small number of Ju88 bombers were heading in the general direction of Sheerness and Tilbury, and over the Kent countryside, quite a number of bombs were dropped indiscriminately indicating that a number of these Bf109s had taken to a new role of carrying bombs.

But over various areas of mid Kent, heavy air combat actions began to take place. 17 Sqn, 73 Sqn and 253 Sqn, the all Hurricane squadrons from Debden were vectored to the Hendon and Northolt area. Orders were to patrol Hendon at 20,000 feet. Apparently no contact was made with the enemy, and only 73 Sqn reported that a visual sighting was made, but the enemy was flying at approximately 33.000 feet and did not appear to be escorting any bombers. The Debden controller instructed 73 Sqn not to increase height and stay at 20,000 in the patrol area. On arrival at base later, all squadrons reported that no contact was made with the enemy. 1530hrs: One of the combat areas was in the Dover area. Heavily involved was 41 Sqn Hornchurch who took on a large formation of Bf109s. Two of the 109s became sandwiched between 41 Sqn Spitfires and trailing smoke dived down to low levels in a bid to make good their escape. Both of these managed to return to Wissant without any further attack being made on them.

303 Sqn were patrolling with 1 RCAF Sqn. They saw Bf 109's over the Thames estuary, but at 27,000ft and they were too hard to catch. Later, Mirek Wojciechowski saw a Hurricane being pursued by three Messerschmitts. He flew to engage them at 17,000 ft and shot one down. According to his combat report (above), he "could not follow the aircraft down, as he was engaged with the others". However, Mirek did succeed in starting a fire in the cockpit of the second 109 but was again "unable to follow him down, as I had another of them on my tail". According to Robert Gretzyngier, Mirek "probably saved the life of the Hurricane pilot, F/O E.C. Briese of 1 RCAF who was chased by the Messerschmitts; the oil system of his aircraft suffered damage which prevented him from being able to reach Northolt and he had to force land at High Halstow, Rochester".

Over "Hellfire Corner" another Bf109 was to break away and attempted to return to its base after receiving damage, but the damage was too severe and it had to make a forced landing, but three other 109s were not so lucky. Two were shot down and crashed into the Channel, another was destroyed when it crashed near Deal, but not after the squadron sustained some bruising from the German fighters. At 1535hrs, F/O J.G.Boyle's Spitfire was hit by gunfire from a 109 over Manston, and had to return to Hornchurch. At 1540hrs, P/O J.N.Mackenzie's Spitfire was severely damaged and while the pilot was unhurt, it is believed that his aircraft was beyond repair after it crash landed. P/O H.H.Chalder was another who had to return to base while P/O H.C.Baker had to make a forced landing at Stelling Minnis after he took a hit while in combat over Manston.

The action was with 501 Sqn around 1540hrs who took on some Bf109s over Ashford. 501 Sqn was to lose two Hurricanes in this engagement. One of them was Sgt J.H.’Ginger’ Lacey who managed to bale out of his stricken aircraft, while the other was Sgt E.J.Egan who went down with his Hurricane that had burst into flames. Both incidents occurred over Ashford. 19 Sqn also got into the action and over north Kent was credited with two destroyed Messerschmitts, both were shot down by Sub Lt "Tony" Blake, who turned out to be the Navy's highest scoring fighter pilot.

The usual raids commenced at about 2000hrs. The first raids were on London where continuous waves of bombers pounded the city. A bomb hit Marble Arch Underground station killing 17 people. Later in the evening, Junkers Ju88s went on a bombing spree over Merseyside.

Again, the bombing was either not accurate or the Germans just dropped their bombs anywhere as long as they were over the city. There were plenty of industrial and dock areas that could be bombed, but the residential areas were also taking a beating and again, many lives were lost. The cities of Newcastle and Durham were also hit, but many houses were damaged and destroyed. Bombs landing in open country were again reported well away from towns and cities. However victory came at 2345hrs to one of the Defiants of 141 Sqn, converted to night fighter operations and based at Biggin Hill. A number of Junkers Ju88s were detected crossing the coast near Dover and 11 Group dispatched a flight from 141 Sqn. Interception was made north of Ashford and Sgt Lawrence and Sgt Chard began their attack on B3+OL. The badly damaged bomber finally crashed in a residential street in Maidstone killing all the aircrew.

Losses

Luftwaffe – 8

RAF

41 Sqn Spitfire I R6887 J.N.MacKenzie uninjured, aircraft written off

151 Sqn Hurricane R4185 J.Winstanley injured as he hit the ground at Biscathorpe, Lincs, chasing a He 111 through low cloud, at 17:30hrs

501 Sqn Hurricane V7357 J.H.Lacey bailed out over Ashford and Hurricane P3820 of E.J.Egan - killed. Shot down in sudden attack at 1540hrs over Ashford by Bf109. Aircraft burst into flames. Pilot did not bale out

504 Sqn Hurricane D.A.Helcke killed, lost control during attacking practice and failed to bale out

607 Sqn Hurricane J.Lansdell killed. Shot down during combat with Bf109 at 1600hrs over Belting Kent. Failed to bale out.

Night raiders use 1000-kg blast bombs for the first time. Adapted from sea mines these cylindrical objects are about eight feet long and two feet in diameter. Each descends suspended from a 27-foot diameter silk parachute. Thin case and large charge combine to produce a colossal hollow bang, tremendous shock waves and extensive blast damage over a quarter mile radius.

London fireman Harry Errington rescued two trapped colleagues after a direct hit on a building, which was being used as a shelter by auxiliary firemen he was awarded the George Cross.

Even before the Blitz began in England in September 1940, New York City officials had feared German air attacks. Knowing that his city would be a prime target, Mayor La Guardia believed it was imperative that New York City began taking steps to protect itself. In addition to 62,000 air-raid wardens, the mayor was asking for 28,000 specially trained volunteers to manually turn off the city lights in the event of a blackout. A fire auxiliary force was already being trained, and volunteer ‘spotters’ who would remain on rooftops should enemy planes attack—were being canvassed.

[Coast]

18h September 1940

Conditions were similar to the previous day except that the low to medium cloud that brought the rain periods disappeared. The day was bright and clear although the squally winds would continue.

RAF Bomber Command

During the early hours of the morning, Bomber Command flew a number of sorties which comprised of some 194 aircraft. Seventy-five per cent of the bombers were attacking the Channel ports as they had done throughout September, with special emphasis on Antwerp targeting the barges that would be used in any impending invasion. 187 of the bombers despatched reported successful missions with only two Hampdens being lost during the night operations

4 Group. 58 Sqn. Whitley P5008M missing from Hamm. Crashed at Groenlo, Holland. P/O E. Ford and Sgts A.E.E. Crossland, C.F. Marshall, R.E. Salisbury and W.D. Austen killed. 77 Sqn. P4992: missing from Antwerp. P/O R.P. Brayne and W.M. Douglas and Sgts J.A. Raper, J. Baguley and D.V. Hughes all killed. 77 Sqn. N1425:E missing from Soest. P/O P.E. Eldridge, S/Lt Williams and Sgts V.C. Cowley, F. Crawford and R.C. Dawson all killed. Bombing - invasion fleet at Zeebrugge and Antwerp - marshalling yards at Krefeld, Mannheim, Soest and Hamm. 58 Sqn. Eight aircraft to Zeebrugge. All bombed. Three aircraft to Krefeld. Two bombed. Three aircraft to Hamm.Two bombed, one FTR. 77 Sqn. Thirteen aircraft to Antwerp, Mannheim and Soest. Eleven bombed successfully. One FTR from Antwerp and one FTR from Mannheim.

RAF Fighter Command

Radar stations from Pevensey to Foreness detect a formation building up just off the Channel coast at Calais around 0900hrs. The information is passed on to FCHQ immediately. At 0920hrs Keith Park was ready to issue orders to his station commanders after a meeting with Hugh Dowding the previous day. But the news of another detection allowed him to delay the new instructions. The Observer Corps reported tiny specks at high altitude, which indicated that it was a formation of fighters flying at heights in the region of 20,000 feet between Folkestone and North Foreland.

At varying intervals, a total of fifteen squadrons of Fighter Command were scrambled to intercept. The enemy fighters reached Maidstone at 0940hrs and broke up into two separate formations. One headed towards Sheerness while the other veered north towards the open waters of the Thames Estuary. Only six of the fifteen Fighter Command squadrons make contact between Maidstone and Chatham. These were 17 Sqn Debden, 46 Sqn Stapleford, 73 Sqn and 257 Sqn Debden, 501 Sqn Kenley and 603 Sqn Hornchurch. Most of these squadrons, once they observed that the enemy was all Bf109 fighters, made their presence felt but broke off any form of attack in accordance with Parks instructions not to be drawn into combat with German fighters unless they were escorting their bombers.

A couple of flights from both 501 Sqn and 603 Sqn did become involved in combat after being jumped by Bf109s. One pilot baled out of his Hurricane over Staplehurst while Spitfire pilot of 603 Sqn was killed after his aircraft was shot up and crashed near Ashford. No sooner had the squadrons landed that others were scrambled and vectored to intercept enemy formations detected over Dover and over the Thames Estuary. Some of the squadrons that were scrambled earlier were vectored to new locations while more were released.

Keith Park back at Uxbridge watched his large map table below as squadrons moved into position. These had been carefully despatched from various airfields to be vectored to intercepting positions. He takes the opportunity in contacting his station commanders with instructions regarding any invasion attempt of Britain. His own fighters were to give protection to naval forces and their bases and also to provide cover for Bomber and Coastal Command operations. They are to distract enemy dive-bombers from attack on ships that are engaging enemy vessels and destroy enemy aircraft carrying troops or tanks. They would attack the barges and landing craft and protect British troops from dive-bombers. RAF personnel would combine with the Army and jointly defend forward aerodromes. Demolition of installations and withdrawal would take place only as a last resort, pending the arrival of Army mobile forces. Other instructions were; inland aerodromes must not be evacuated and were to be held at all costs, Group control would be maintained as long as sector operation rooms were still intact and telephone links to and from them was still possible. In the event that group control became impossible, then the sector commanders would take charge, and if the sector control failed, then it would be up to senior officers to act on their own initiative. He emphasized that an invasion would be defeated in seventy-two hours at the most, and that both pilots and ground crews would expect a 'hard time'.

A number of the squadrons engage the enemy over the Estuary and a number of individual combat actions take place at various locations at the mouth of the River Thames. 1(RCAF) Sqn becomes involved and has one of its fighters shot down, but P/O E.W.B.Beardmore bales out and receives slight injuries. 66 Sqn Gravesend engage Bf109s over North Kent and one of the Spitfires is hit and the pilot, Sgt D.F.Corfe sustains injuries after he managed to crash land the aircraft at Perham. 72 Sqn manage to turn a formation of Bf109s around while over Sheerness and continue the chase as the enemy fighters head towards Dover and the Channel. Three Spitfires are damaged with two of their pilots receiving injuries while the third in unhurt. The first German bombing raid is detected coming in north of Dover at 1200hrs. It consists of about 70 Junkers Ju88s escorted by 100 Bf109 fighters. Fighter Command despatches another twelve squadrons who engage, but not before many bombs fall on the dockyards and surrounding areas of Chatham. Many of the bombers scatter going in all different directions, but it is estimated that 60 manage to get though and head towards London. Most bombs fell on the central area of the city, but within forty minutes most of the bombers were heading back towards the coast. 1530hrs: More contacts were made by the south coast radar stations. The Germans were forming up position again over Calais, where two separate formations were detected. Early sightings indicated that there were between one hundred and one hundred and fifty aircraft heading towards the English coast and the Observer Corps reported that they were crossing the coastline between Dungeness and Folkestone and towards Ashford and Chatham. This time, it was reported that there were no sign of fighter escorts, and that the formation was made up of mainly Do17 and Ju88 bombers. Fighter Command put up at least ten squadrons where most of the action taking places over Maidstone and Chatham.

By 1630hrs, a number of squadrons had engaged the enemy over the north Kent coast with many squadrons that had left aerodromes in the protective area around London. Park again called on 12 Group and in response Woodhall scrambled the 'Duxford Wing' to patrol the area from London to Gravesend. Bader decided that it would be best to keep below the cloud layer of 24,000 feet and stepped his squadrons at altitudes between 18,000 and 20,000 feet. Although no indication was given over the R/T, Bader saw the tell tale puffs of AA Gunfire just south of the Thames in the vicinity of Maidstone. The wing found two formations south of the river below Gravesend and Northfleet and ordered his squadrons to attack. Immediately they broke up the formations with Bader's 242 Sqn diving into the centre with all guns: The 'Big Wing' continued its success in the combat. Against the white of the cloud base the enemy bombers stood out almost beckoning to be picked out one by one. The sky was a kaleidoscope of frantically weaving bombers and marauding fighters leaving trails in the air of criss-crossing vapour trails. One by one the bombers went down in flames and by 1730hrs the action was still continuing to the south of London. Debden who earlier had released three of its squadrons towards the combat area failed to make contact with the enemy.

At 1800 hrs many civilians were making the most of their evening mealtime in London and other main cities in Britain, before the now routine trek down to their Anderson shelters for evening protection. Others close to larger shelters and Underground stations also made the nightly haul to places where they believed would render them safe. By 1930hrs, the first of the bombers came over and the first of the raids began. London was again hit bad and many buildings, which had just their fires extinguished where hit again and it started all over. As one formation arrived, dropped its bomb load, another formation was approaching lining up in the queue to add further destruction as the other formation left. Other targets were Liverpool and Manchester where the Merseyside docks received some heavy attacks. Although other bombs were dropped in various areas of Kent, Surrey, Hertfordshire and Middlesex, it is believed that they were bombs from aircraft dropped at random to lighten the load for the return journey. Some of London's most famous landmarks had been destroyed or damaged. Eight City churches were hit. One bomb, weighing a ton, lay, unexploded, outside the West door of St. Paul's Cathedral, where Royal Engineers bomb disposal experts worked on it. The West End, Downing Street, the Law Courts, and the House of Lords were all hit by either high explosives or incendiaries - the Lambeth Walk was destroyed as was the John Lewis department store in Oxford Street.

But it is the ordinary people who were taking the brunt of the attack. Sheltering in the Underground, they raise the Union Jack over the rubble of their homes or declare "Business as usual" on hand-written signs nailed to the wreckage of their shops and businesses.

The King and Queen, who have been bombed twice in Buckingham Palace, have made several visits to the East End where they have been greeted sympathetically as fellow sufferers from German bombing. When Churchill, cigar clenched in his teeth, visited the bombed-out areas he got a clear message from the people: "Give it 'em back."

Losses

Luftwaffe – 20

RAF

603 Sqn Spitfire X4323 P.Howes killed. Shot down in combat with Bf109s. Pilot did not bale out at 0950hrs over Ashford.

46 Sqn Hurricane V7442 G.W.Jeffries killed. Shot down by enemy aircraft, baled out but parachute failed to open at 1230hrs over Chatham

249 Sqn Hurricane V6685 D.G.Parnall killed. Crashed and burnt out at 1325hrs over Margaretting after combat with enemy aircraft.

Four patrols carried out during the day, The first two in the morning , the others during the afternoon. During the first, enemy fighters seen high up, but no contact made. During the second patrol ( Gravesend area ) a head-on attack was carried out against 15 He 111s, two were damaged but no other definite results were seen. F/LtParnall ( V6694 ) returned soon after the squadron had left with trouble with his air pressure system and gun firing mechanism, and immediately took off in another aircraft ( V6685 ).Since then he has not returned and has been reported missing

It now appeared that the Royal Air Force were starting to gain the upper hand, but even though London suffered serious damage and hundreds of casualties from September 7th onwards, the battle was far from being over, although the turning point could be said, happened on September 15th. Adolf Hitler may have postponed the invasion once again, but the intensity of day and especially night raids were about to increase. Keith Park was now under pressure to pursue the tactics of flying his squadrons in pairs. The instruction was given by the Air Ministry, mainly under pressure by those in favour of the "Big Wing" theory and as it had turned out, that the British tactical position had improved greatly. The flying of squadrons in pairs was more of a compromise on the part of Park who refused to send up the number of squadrons as Douglas Bader and Leigh-Mallory had wanted, although Bader's "Big Wing" was destroying large numbers of enemy aircraft when given the opportunity. The combination of the "Big Wing" and other squadrons flying in pairs proved how successful the method was during the British victory on September 15th. We were not to see the last of paired squadrons yet.

Göring was under instructions to continue bombing attacks on the British capital although personally, he would have like to revert back to destroying the fighters, the airfields and ground support installations of the RAF, but unlike the British chain of command, he was under instructions from Hitler personally. Daytime attacks would still continue and by increasing Bf109 and Bf110 escort duties to the bombers, he could hopefully destroy at least some of Fighter Command by forcing them to send fighters into the air. But with instructions to concentrate on the industrial areas of London's East End and bombing London itself, it was going to be a big ask if the targets were not the fighter aerodromes themselves. Night-time bombing would continue, and this was to become more widespread with greater intensity and with more high explosive bombs followed by thousands of incendiary bombs.

By order of the Fuhrer, enemy air raids on Germany should be played up on a large scale in future, even when relatively little damage has occurred. Attention should also be paid to treating raids on other German cities as of equal importance to attacks on the capital.

Major raids on Clydeside badly damage heavy cruiser HMS Sussex as she refits. Sussex was so heavily damaged she settled on the bottom and was partly capsized. Due to priority need to repair destroyers, etc, it was a low repair priority for a while she was not back in service until August 1942