So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/tuesday-27-august-1940/

TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 1940
Reconnaissance mainly in the Portsmouth – Southampton area.
Night: Widespread attacks on industry and airfields from Lincolnshire to Portsmouth.

Weather: Rain in central and eastern England. Some cloud in the Channel and haze over Dover Straits.

Main Activity:

The Tuesday morning dawned dull and hazy, but no Luftflotte 2 major raids developed. The main effort was devoted to small attacks and photographic reconnaissance at very high altitude to assess the damage done to date.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 12 | Aircraft: 11

British Losses
Airmen: 4 | Aircraft: 7

Blenheim, No. 248 Squadron
P/O C.J. Arthur listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ArthurCJ.htm
Sgt. E.A. Ringwood listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Ringwood.htm
Sgt. R.C.R. Cox killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/CoxRCR.htm
Crashed into the sea while on routine flight.

Hurricane N2336, No. 213 Squadron
Sub/Lt W.J.M. Moss listed as missing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/MossWJM.htm
Believed lost control of his aircraft during patrol and crashed into sea.

 

Wednesday 28 August 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
WEDNESDAY 28 AUGUST 1940
Three-phase attack on airfields in Kent, Essex and Suffolk.
Night: First major attack on Liverpool (150 bombers). Further harassing attacks over London, the Midlands and north-east coast.

Weather: Fine and fair but cold. Cloud in Dover Straits.

Main Activity:

Once more the Luftwaffe divided its main efforts into three phases. The first began at 0830 hours with a heavy build-up over Cap Gris Nez which became a mass of 100+ , the larger proportion being fighters escorting two groups of Dorniers.

One section of the raid, consisting of twenty Dorniers, headed for Eastchurch, while the other with twenty-seven bombers flew to Rochford. Four 11 Group squadrons made desperate attempts to get through the escort screen of the Eastchurch raiders but without success and with the loss of eight aircraft and six pilots, two of which were from the ill-fated No. 264 Squadron with its two-seat Defiants.

The Coastal Command light-bomber station of Eastchurch therefore suffered yet another attack at eight minutes past nine, with two Fairey Battles destroyed on the ground and numerous craters on the airfield. Despite this the station remained serviceable for restricted day flying and there were no casualties.

At 1230 hours the second raid developed, with the main objective as Rochford aerodrome near Southend. No. 264 Squadron were again forced to take off, with danger imminent, but fortunately before the bombs began to fall. Several squadrons out of thirteen on patrol intercepted, but the defensive screen was too strong, and most of the bombers reached their target. Despite thirty craters little serious damage was done to Rochford, which continued serviceable. While this was going on, Winston Churchill visited the battered station at Manston to view the damage.

The third attack consisted of large fighter formation sweeps over Kent and the Estuary at 25,000 feet. Seven RAF squadrons attempted to intercept at various times but lost nine aircraft. On this occasion Park’s principle of avoiding combat with German fighters was not adhered to, and the day’s losses of twenty Hurricanes and Spitfires was heavy in comparison with German losses of thirty-one for the whole twenty-four hours, although these included twelve bombers. Curiously, the Fighter Command assessment of German casualties was the most accurate of the period at twenty-eight.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 46 | Aircraft: 32

British Losses
Airmen: 10 | Aircraft: 15

Defiant N1574, No. 264 Squadron
P/O D. Whitley killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Whitley.htm
Sgt. R.C. Turner killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/TurnerRC.htm
Shot down by Bf 109 during combat.

Defiant L7026, No. 264 Squadron
P/O P.L. Kenner killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Kenner.htm
P/O C.E. Johnson killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/JohnsonCE.htm
Shot down by Bf 109 during combat.

Defiant L7021, No. 264 Squadron
F/L R.C.V. Ash killed. Shot down by Bf 109 and crashed in flames. Pilot baled out unhurt.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Ash.htm

Spitfire R6751, No. 603 Squadron
F/L J.L.G. Cunningham listed as missing. Failed to return to base. Possibly shot down into sea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/CunninghamJLG.htm

Spitfire L1046, No. 603 Squadron
P/O D.K. MacDonald listed as missing. Failed to return to base. Possibly shot down into sea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/MacDonaldDK.htm

Spitfire P9511, No. 610 Squadron
P/O K.H. Cox killed. Shot down by Bf 109 and crashed into a house in village outside Dover.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/CoxKH.htm

Spitfire N3105, No. 603 Squadron
P/O N.J.V. Benson killed. Shot down by Bf 109 and crashed in flames.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BensonNJV.htm

 

Thursday 29 August 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

THURSDAY 29 AUGUST 1940
Quiet in the morning, airfield attacks in the south and south-east later in the day.
Night: Further attack on Liverpool with diversionary raids in the Midlands.

Weather: Showers and bright intervals. Cloud in the Channel and Straits.

Main Activity:

After the feverish activity of the previous night, the Thursday morning was dull but peaceful. Little activity was reported until after lunch, when at 1500 hours radar picked up formations at Cap Gris Nez, Boulogne and the mouth of the Somme. Brightening weather had led Luftflotte 2 to put up massive fighter sweeps in the hope of attracting British fighters to the slaughter. Jafus 1 and 2 operated over Kent with 564 Bf 109s and 159 Bf 110s respectively.

No. 11 Group sent up forward patrols, expecting a renewal of bomber raids. Thirteen squadrons were despatched and some were involved in combats, but in the main the pilots adhered to Park’s order of the 19th and retired when it was clear that no bombers were involved. This incident was particularly noted by the Luftwaffe operations and intelligence staffs who correctly deduced that the RAF was avoiding wastage in fighter versus fighter battles. The tactics paid, as Fighter Command losses were only nine machines and German casualties were seventeen for the twenty-four-hour period, of which five were Bf 109s from JG 3.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 45 | Aircraft: 24

British Losses
Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 10

Hurricane V6623. No. 85 Squadron
F/L H.R. Hamilton killed. Shot down over Winchelsea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/HamiltonHR.htm

Spitfire R6629, No. 610 Squadron
Sgt. E. Manton killed. Shot down during combat with Bf 109s over Hurst Green and crashed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/MantonE.htm

 

https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/friday-30-august-1940/
FRIDAY 30 AUGUST 1940
Dummy raids on shipping then heavy attacks on south-eastern airfields. Luton attacked.
Night: Third raid on Liverpool. Single raids over wide area.

Weather: Fair.

Main Activity:

The day began with a renewal of shipping raids, this time in the Thames Estuary, designed to act as feints for the main assault which was picked up by radar over Cap Gris Nez at 1030 hours. Three waves totaling 100 aircraft came at half-hour intervals at 14,000 feet.

A cloud-layer at about 7,000 feet meant that the Observer Corps had to rely on sound plotting and it was not until an hour after the build-up over France that the 11 Group controller realised that forces were heading for Kent and Surrey sector stations. Sixteen squadrons were despatched to intercept, of which two, to guard Kenley and Biggin Hill, became involved in a dog-fight over Surrey. One formation of German bombers, which had split off from the main group, attacked Biggin Hill at noon and was not seen by the 12 Group Squadron flying on airfield protection patrol. From high altitude delayed-action bombs were dropped which damaged the airfield surface and the village but once again did not render the former unserviceable.

A second mass attack began at 1330 hours when raids of 6 + , 12 + and 20 + crossed the coast between Dover and Dungeness, and then split up, sections heading for Biggin Hill, Shoreham, Kenley and Tangmere. Eight squadrons of fighters were ordered up and the raids retreated just before four o’clock. During this attack the radar stations at Dover, Pevensey, Rye, Foreness, Fairlight, Whitstable and Beachy Head were out of action due to a mains supply failure.

No sooner was this over than a third attack developed from Dover in waves, the objectives being Kenley, Biggin Hill, North Weald, Slough, Oxford and a convoy code-named ‘Bacon’.

Detling airfield was hit by forty to fifty bombs which set fire to oil-tanks, cut the mains cable, cratered the roads and damaged one Blenheim. It was estimated that the station would not be serviceable until 0800 hours on the 31st.

Far worse than this, one small raid of less than ten confused the defences by flying to the Thames Estuary and then turning south to Biggin Hill where at six o’clock, by low-level bombing with 1,000-pounders, the airfield was reduced to a shambles. Workshops, the transport yard, stores, barracks, the met. office, the armoury, WAAF quarters, and another hangar were wrecked; the power, gas and water mains were severed and all telephone lines north of the camp were cut in three places. Amid the rubble and fires casualties were very heavy, with thirty-nine dead and twenty-six injured — a number of them in a shelter trench which received a direct hit. Somehow the mess was cleared up and the station put back on an operational footing.

During the period another raid had come in over Sheppey, and, although intercepted, part of the force managed to reach Luton, where ten bombs were dropped and one hit the Vauxhall motor works, the total casualties including over fifty dead.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 57 | Aircraft: 40

British Losses
Airmen: 9 | Aircraft: 25

Hurricane L1965, No. 253 Squadron
P/O C.D. Francis killed. Shot down during combat with Bf 109.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/FrancisCD.htm

Hurricane P3921, No. 253 Squadron
P/O D.N.O. Jenkins killed. Baled out when aircraft hit by gunfire from Bf 109.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Jenkins.htm

Hurricane P3179, No. 43 Squadron
Sgt. D. Noble killed. Shot down by Bf 109 in combat over Sussex coast. Crashed near Brighton/Hove.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Noble.htm

Hurricane V7369, No. 151 Squadron
S/L E.B. King killed. Crashed and exploded in flames during routine patrol. No cause known.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/KingEB.htm

Spitfire X4248, No. 616 Squadron
F/O J.S. Bell killed. Shot down during attack on Bf 109. Crashed and burnt out.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BellJS.htm

Hurricane P3213, No. 253 Squadron
Sgt. J.H. Dickinson killed. Shot down by Bf 109, baled out but was killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Dickinson.htm

Hurricane V6548, No. 43 Squadron
S/L J.V.C. Badger died of wounds 30/6/1941. Shot down by Bf 109 over Romney Marshes.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BadgerJVC.htm

Spitfire R6628, No. 222 Squadron
Sgt. J.I. Johnson killed. Shot down by Bf 109. Crashed and burnt out.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/JohnsonJI.htm

 

https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/saturday-31-august-1940/
SATURDAY 31 AUGUST 1940
Fighter Command suffers its heaviest losses. Airfields in the south and south-east raided.
Night: Liverpool once again the main target with lesser attacks covering the north-east coast to Plymouth.

Weather: Mainly fair with haze over the Thames Estuary and Dover Straits.

Main Activity:

The odds were weighted even more heavily against Fighter Command on this Saturday and its losses were the heaviest of the whole battle — thirty-nine fighters shot down with fourteen pilots killed. The Germans almost achieved parity, as they lost forty-one aircraft in the whole twenty-four-hour period.

Raiding began at 0800 hours with waves coming in over Kent and the Estuary, Bf 109s amusing themselves shooting down all the Dover balloons both land and water based. Once again airfields such as North Weald, Duxford and Debden were the main targets. Debden received about one hundred high-explosive and incendiary bombs from a formation of Dorniers, the sick quarters and barrack block receiving direct hits and other buildings being damaged. The operations rooms continued, however, to operate right through the attack. The raid steering for Duxford was intercepted by 111 Squadron from Croydon and did not reach its target.

Less than an hour later over 100 machines advanced from Calais and concentrated on Eastchurch where the airfield remained serviceable despite cratering and damage to buildings. Detling received a heavy quota of machine-gun bullets but no bombs.

The third attack, which began soon after noon, was to be the most serious of the day. Over 100 aircraft crossed the coast at Dungeness and flew up two clearly defined corridors.

One section attacked Croydon and Biggin Hill. At the former airfield twelve bombers came in at 2,000 feet demolishing a hangar, damaging other buildings and causing casualties. At Biggin Hill the bombing came from high altitude and to the long-suffering occupants of the airfield it seemed that they must be the A1 priority target for the whole Luftwaffe. Further extensive damage was done to hangars and buildings, the married quarters and officers’ mess were bombed and the operations block received a direct hit, extinguishing the lights and filling the rooms with acrid fumes, dust and smoke from the fires which broke out. The temporary telephone lines and power cables put in after the raid on the 30th were destroyed.

At 1835 hours Kenley aerodrome advised the Observer centre at Bromley that all lines to Biggin Hill were dead and that the frequency and call-signs of Biggin’s 72 and 79 Squadrons were urgently required. Lines from Bromley to Biggin Hill were also found to be out of action, and finally a despatch-rider had to be sent to get the information.

The raiders approaching up the second air corridor over Dungeness headed for Hornchurch, and there they caught 54 Squadron in the act of taking off. Two sections got airborne but the last was blown into the air by explosions. One machine was hurled into a field, another was thrown across the airfield to land on its belly, while the third, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Deere, was blown upside down. Miraculously all three pilots emerged shaken but uninjured and were back on operations the following morning. The thirty Dorniers involved dropped about 100 bombs which left a string of craters and cut the main power cable. Four Do 17s were shot down.

During the course of these sorties, other German aircraft made a sharp attack on coastal radar stations, damaging Pevensey, Dunkirk, Rye, Foreness, Whitstable and Beachy Head C.H.s. The advantage was not, however, pressed home and the stations were left to recuperate.

The fourth and last attack of the day was delivered at 1730 hours by several groups of Ju 88s and bomb-carrying Bf 110s which cratered runways and perimeter tracks, particularly at Hornchurch, where two more Spitfires were destroyed on the ground. Both Hornchurch and Biggin Hill were serviceable again the following morning.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 21 | Aircraft: 39

British Losses
Airmen: 9 | Aircraft: 41

Hurricane L1830, No. 253 Squadron
S/L H.M. Starr killed. Shot down by Bf 109s. Died beside crashed aircraft in brickworks at Eastry.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Starr.htm

Spitfire R6912, No. 19 Squadron
P/O R.A.C. Aeberhardt killed. Crashed and burnt out on landing after flaps were damaged in combat.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Aeberhardt.htm

Hurricane V7378, No. 56 Squadron
F/L P.S. Weaver listed as missing. Crashed into River Blackwater after being hit by Bf 109 gunfire.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Weaver.htm

Hurricane P3175, No. 257 Squadron
P/O G.H. Maffett killed. Engaged in combat and shot down by Bf 110. Aircraft crashed at Walton-on-Naze.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Maffett.htm

Hurricane P3159, No. 310 Squadron
P/O J. Sterbacek listed as missing. Shot down by Bf 109 while attacking a Do 215.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Sterbacek.htm

Hurricane R4215, No. 601 Squadron
F/O M.D. Doulton listed as missing. Shot down by Bf 109 and crashed into sea.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Doulton.htm

Hurricane V7200, No. 79 Squadron
Sgt H.A. Bolton killed. Crashed making forced landing with battle damage after combat action.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Bolton.htm

Spitfire X4273, No. 603 Squadron
F/O R McG Waterston killed. Shot down by Bf 109 and aircraft broke up before crashing in Woolwhich.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Waterston.htm

Spitfire P9457, No. 72 Squadron
F/O E.J. Wilcox killed. Shot down by enemy aircraft over Dungeness.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Wilcox.htm

 

August 30th - Saturday August 31st 1940

SATURDAY AUGUST 31st 1940

WEATHER:

Fair conditions were expected to prevail over most of the country with higher temperatures. Clear and fine in the south with hazy conditions in the Thames Estuary and Channel areas near Dover.
OPERATIONS IN DETAIL:

It was now felt that the Luftwaffe really now meant business. 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, Biggin Hill, Hornchurch and Duxford also had received serious damage. Biggin Hill, who had the day before, made a statement that they were temporarily out of action, but with an all out effort by the ground crews (and some pilots) overnight and in the early hours of the morning, they declared themselves operational.
Movements within Fighter Command were 610 Squadron (Spitfires) who had been operation out of Biggin Hill were transferred north to Acklington where it was hoped they would indulge in a well earned rest. 72 Squadron (Spitfires) under the command of S/Ldr A.R. Collins moved down from Acklington to Biggin Hill.

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 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes) 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 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes) to make an interception. 111 Squadron 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 Squadron 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 Squadron Fowlmere (Spitfires) 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.

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 which also splits up into two more formations. In this attack, Biggin Hill is again attacked just after 79 Squadron (Hurricanes) is "scrambled". Hornchurch "scrambles" 603 Squadron (Spitfires) which had just recently come down from Scotland.

One section attacked Croydon and Biggin Hill. At the former airfield twelve bombers came in at 2,000 feet demolishing a hangar, damaging other buildings and causing casualties. At Biggin Hill, the bombing came from high altitude and to the long suffering occupants of the airfield it seemed that they must be the A1 priority target for the whole Luftwaffe. Further extensive damage was done to hangars and buildings, the married quarters and the officers' mess were bombed and the operations block received a direct hit, extinguishing the lights and filling the rooms with acrid fumes, dust and smoke from the fires which broke out. The temporary telephone lines and power cables put in after the raid on the 30th were destroyed.
Wood and Dempster The Narrow Margin Hutchinson 1961 p315Of the action over Hornchurch, Dennis Newton writes of an action of this combat:
Similarly 603 Squadron is scrambled from Hornchurch. The squadron is still using sections of three planes with Red Section leading and Blue and Green Sections to right and left. The last three machines form a rear-guard section above and behind. Richard Hillary is Blue 2.
By 12.40 p.m. the squadron is at 28,000 feet (8,500 m) and searching. Someone calls 'Tally ho' as 20 German fighters are spotted below. For once the Spitfires have a height advantage but: they have obviously been seen because the Germans form a defensive circle. Hillary picks out one machine and sees his tracer bullets converging on the Messerschmitt's nose but: then he has to pull back on the control column.

When he looks again the German circle has broken up but: he cannot see the plane he had attacked. Seconds later the sky is empty.

Hillary is of two minds. He realizes that to fly about alone in a hostile sky is to ask for trouble but he is still carrying ammunition which might be put to good use. Over Dungeness about 40 Hurricanes are on patrol and he climbs to join them. Suddenly he realizes that there are too many planes . . . Looking closely at the aircraft in front of him he discovers to his horror that there is a swastika on its tail. He is alone with 40 Messerschmitt Bf 109s! Luckily the Germans do not know that he is there and, seizing the chance, he closes in on the last 109 and fires.
The stricken plane flicks over and spins down our of sight. Hillary heads as fast as he can for Hornchurch and supposed safety.

Dennis Newton A Few of the Few Australian War Memorial 1990 p139
79 Squadron Biggin Hill (Spitfires) 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:

We were informed that a large enemy formation approaching our airfield, I looked out but could not see them. The Spitfires of 54 Squadron were scrambled and they just managed to get airborne and start to gain height before the first of the bombers became visible. I could see them now, it was like a lot of dots in the sky like a swarm of regimented bee's coming straight for the aerodrome. It was still quiet when three more Spitfires began to gain speed across the airfield, I watch them as slowly and one by one they clear the ground almost at the same time as the Dorniers who were now above us had let their bombs go.
There were terrific explosions and vibrations as the bombs made contact with the ground, and one of the bombs must have fell just in front of the leading Spitfire being piloted by Flight Lieutenant Alan Deere, because a huge explosion seemed to erupt directly below them. They all got caught up in the blast of this bomb, and I saw all of them being blown in different directions. Alan's aircraft had one of its wings blown off and I saw his propeller spinning off in another direction as the Spitfire crashes to the ground. Another of the planes spins around as his wing tip hits the ground and he lands headfirst into the grass on his airscrew, while the other Spitfire had both wings completely sheered off. Luckily all three of the pilots were only slightly injured.

The airfield is full of craters, and the station commander orders that the airfield be repaired at once. Everything is covered in dust and dirt including my aircraft that had been standing stationary, and after inspection found everything to be okay."

F/Lt Richard Hillary 603 Squadron Fighter Command
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 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes), 253 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes),
310 Squadron Duxford (Hurricanes), 501 Squadron Gravesend (Hurricanes) and 601 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes).
Squadron Leader Tom Gleave of 253 Squadron Kenley, 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. Gleaves machine was hit underneath the fuselage and in the tail section. Tom Gleave stated later that:

It was all very quiet as I was returning back to base when suddenly the whole instrument panel disappeared with a terrifying crash, I knew at once that I had been hit.
S/L T.P. Gleave 253 Squadron RAF Fighter Command
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 Gleaves 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 blood-stained 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 is hit and once again the telephone system is out of action. The concrete roof of the ops room caves in and the plotting table is smashed to pieces. Two hangars, the officers mess and a number of workshops are destroyed, as well as concrete runways and roads that had received direct hits.
Squadron Leader Peter Townsend of 85 Squadron (Hurricanes) was shot down on this day and he writes in his book:

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.

Group Captain Peter Townsend Duel in the Dark Harrap, London 1986This same incident is mentioned in Dennis Newton's book:
Peter Townsend of 85 Squadron has been shot down. Now he is transported to Hawkhurst Cottage Hospital and then to Croydon General Hospital but on the way, as demanded by some newly-made tradition, his driver conducts him to the Royal Oak Tavern where the locals toast him as a hero and raise their tankards to the damnation of the enemy. Later a short, chubby Australian in his dark blue uniform, is brought in and, despite the obvious discomfort of burns and a wounded thigh, he introduces himself as 'Bill Millington'* and immediately has a pint thrust into his outstretched hand. The airmen are warmed by the hospitality of the people.
Dennis Newton Few of the Few Australian War Memorial 1990 p142* Pilot Officer W. Millington 79 Squadron RAF


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-commissioned officer pilots. Sgt J.H (Ginger) Lacey of 501 Squadron was one of them. S/L P.W. Townsend of 85 Squadron 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 Squadron. 151 Squadron 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 Squadron 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 RAFs 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 to the pilots themselves. [ Document 41 ]

But even 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".
September will decide if an invasion of England would at all be possible.

CASUALTIES:
0825hrs: Grove Ferry. Hurricane L1830. 253 Squadron Kenley
S/L H.M. Starr killed. (Shot down by Bf109s. Died beside crashed aircraft in brickworks at Eastry)
0850hrs: Fowlmere. Spitfire R6912. 19 Squadron Duxford
P/O R.A.C. Aeberhardt killed. (Crashed and burnt out on landing after flaps were damaged in combat)
0845hrs: Colchester. Hurricane V7378. 56 Squadron North Weald
F/L P.S. Weaver listed as missing. (Crashed into River Blackwater after being hit by Bf109 gunfire)
0856hrs: Clacton. Hurricane P3175. 257 Squadron Debden
P/O G.H. Maffett killed. (Engaged in combat and shot down by Bf110. Aircraft crashed at Walton-on-Naze)
1330hrs: Thames Estuary. Hurricane P3159. 310 Squadron Duxford
P/O J. Sterbacek listed as missing. (Shot down by Bf109 while attacking a Do215)
1335hrs: Thames Estuary. Hurricane R4215. 601 Squadron Debden
F/O M.D. Doulton listed as missing. (Shot down by Bf109 and crashed into sea)
1600hrs: Kenley. Hurricane V7200. 79 Squadron Biggin Hill
Sgt H.A. Bolton killed. (Crashed making forced landing with battle damage after combat action)
1830hrs: S.E. London. Spitfire X4273. 603 Squadron Hornchurch
F/O R.M. Waterston killed. (Shot down by Bf109 and aircraft broke up before crashing in Woolwhich)
1910hrs: Staplehurst. Spitfire P9457. 72 Squadron Biggin Hill
F/O E.J. Wilcox killed. (Shot down by enemy aircraft over Dungeness)

The above casualty 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.



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 days 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

R.A.F. 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, ? missing, 4 wounded

TOTAL AIRCRAFT: 344 destroyed, 97 damaged
TOTAL PERSONNEL: 139 killed, 7 missing, 110 wounded

The 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
Peter G. Cooksley The Battle of Britain Ian Allan 1990

 

Sunday 1 September 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

SUNDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 1940
Heavy damage to Fighter Command airfields following four major attacks.
Night: Liverpool attacked again. Smaller raids in the Midlands and South Wales.

Weather: Fair with cloudy patches during the morning, clearing during the afternoon.

Main Activity:

As September opened, a Fighter Command diarist noted that ‘the month of August saw the beginning of a war of attrition’. Dowding’s forces were now suffering from accumulated fatigue and the mounting losses in pilots. The Luftwaffe was continuing its time-table concentration on sector airfields, many of which looked on the surface to be complete wrecks: it had become a question of just how long the organisation and the squadrons could continue to operate under continuous bombardment.

During the day, which was warm and sunny, four major attacks developed and these were aimed at Fighter Command airfields. Some 450 aircraft of Luftflotte 2 took part. The first signs of activity came at 1015 hours when radar plotted raids of 20 +, 30 +, and 12 + forming up over the French coast. Once assembled this force became eleven formations, totalling 120 machines, which flew over Dover and split up to attack Biggin Hill, Eastchurch, Detling and Tilbury Docks. Fourteen and a half Fighter Squadrons were sent up to meet them.

For Biggin Hill it was the sixth raid in three days. No. 610 Squadron had been ordered to Acklington for a rest, but the ground crews were waiting to embus on the north side, and they smartly took cover in the woods, despite the exhortations of an over-zealous officer brandishing a revolver. One pilot of 610, who had been waiting for a final check on his machine, watched from a shelter as his Spitfire blew up.

The small formation of Dorniers in this action bombed from 12,000 feet and pitted the runways with craters, rendering the airfield unserviceable until the afternoon. No. 79 Squadron’s Hurricanes, returning from the fray, were forced to land at Croydon.

At 1300 hours the usual signs of aircraft taking-off behind Calais were recorded by the gun-laying radar at Dover, and shortly afterwards the C.H. radar reported a concentration of approximately 150 + aircraft over Cap Gris Nez. These followed the same course as the morning raid and headed for the same targets.

The third and fourth attacks in the late afternoon were launched simultaneously, one mixed formation of fifty aircraft bombing Hawkinge and Lympne and another fifty raiding Detling and firing on the Dover balloon barrage. Small formations split off and one of these, consisting of Dorniers, headed for Biggin Hill where it was now realised that 6 p.m. was the regular allotted time for the last daylight Luftwaffe visitation.

The runways were again hit, but, far more serious, the sector operations room was reduced to a shambles, all lines except one out of 13 being severed, and the Defence Teleprinter Network wrecked by a 500 lb. bomb which bounced off a steel safe. Two W.A.A.F. telephone operators, Sergeant Helen Turner and Corporal Elspeth Henderson, worked on until the last moment and then flung themselves flat in time to avoid flying steel, glass and blast. Both received the Military Medal for bravery.

When the crew crawled out of the remains of sector operations they found that four Spitfires had been destroyed, and the armoury was on fire.

First priority was to get the operations room reestablished in some form, and here the Post Office engineers came to the rescue. On the night of the 30th the main London-Biggin Hill-Westerham telephone cable had been cut by bombs north of the airfield. The station Post Office maintenance officer, although blown out of a slit trench himself, had made his way through the raid and had got a message to Tunbridge Wells maintenance control. An inspector and six men volunteered to repair the cable, and despite warnings from the Sevenoaks police that an air raid was still in progress they reached the crater after darkness had fallen.

Nothing could be done until dawn due to the presence of both gas and water in the crater. On September 1st the party started work. Despite the morning attack, the effects of coal-gas fumes and lack of food and drink they got the cable restored in seven hours.

Before they had finished, however, the operations room had been smashed, and every G.P.O. engineer was needed to get an emergency set-up working in a village shop. Within an hour some measure of control was once more at the disposal of Biggin Hill Sector, and working through the night, the engineers had by the following day rigged two new switch-boards and restored the telephone services. Meanwhile, the main cable was again severed, but the tireless engineers repaired it and reconnected several Observer posts which had lost their communications.

In daylight on the 1st. Fighter Command sent up 147 patrols involving 700 machines, and suffered fifteen aircraft casualties from which nine pilots were saved. The Luftwaffe reported the loss of fourteen aircraft including night operations which for the first time gave them an advantage on the score card.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 15 | Aircraft: 16

British Losses
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 13

Spitfire P9458, No. 72 Squadron
F/O O.St J. Pigg killed. Failed to bale out after his aircraft was shot down during combat with Bf 109s.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Pigg.htm

Hurricane P3276, No. 1 Squadron
F/Sgt F.G. Berry killed. Shot down by Bf 109s during combat action over Kent.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BerryFG.htm

Hurricane P5185, No. 253 Squadron
P/O J.K.G. Clifton killed. Shot down in combat with Do 215 and Bf 110s. Failed to bale out.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Clifton.htm

Hurricane L2071, No. 85 Squadron
Sgt. G.B. Booth died of injuries 7-2-1941. Baled out of burning aircraft but burnt parachute failed to open.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BoothGB.htm

Hurricane P2673, No. 85 Squadron
Sgt. J.H.M. Ellis listed as missing. Last seen in combat with Bf 109s. Failed to return to base.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/EllisJHM.htm

Hurricane P3150, No. 85 Squadron
F/O P.P. Woods-Scawen killed. Shot down by Bf 109, baled out but parachute failed to open.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Woods-ScawenPP.htm

 

Just to add another act of bravery by a woman who received a medal for her part.

Lasting tribute to war hero Elizabeth

 

Sergeant Joan E Mortimer, Flight... - Colourising History

 

https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/monday-2-september-1940/
MONDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 1940
Once again four main phases of airfield attacks.
Night: Scattered raids on Liverpool, the Midlands and South Wales.

Weather: Continuing fine and warm. Early-morning mist and fog patches.

Main Activity:

Once again the early morning was warm and hazy, although there were occasional patches of low cloud.

The Luftwaffe stepped up the tempo, determined to eradicate the southern airfields as a source of RAF defence. The day’s operations were divided into four main phases intended to stretch No. 11 Group to the maximum. Over 750 aircraft were despatched and the German Air Force mounted 972 daylight sorties—332 more than the previous day.

Instead of the early-morning reconnaissance aircraft which usually preceded attacks later in the morning formations of 30 +, 40 +, etc., to the tune of 100 aircraft were building up over Calais at 7.15 a.m. These resolved into 40 bombers escorted by about 60 fighters stepped-up from 12,000 to 20,000 feet east of Dover. The formations split and separate raids attacked Eastchurch, North Weald, Rochford and Biggin Hill. 11 Group despatched eleven squadrons, but of these only five made contact.

The problems of dealing with low raids were again brought out during these sorties and special orders were issued from Sectors to the Observer Corps giving priority to low-flying aircraft. The Bromley Observer Centre diary recorded: ‘Biggin Hill was caught by a low flight while everybody’s attention including our Corps was absorbed by heavy work in dealing with high flights.’

The second attack began to form up over France at noon and at about 12.35 some 250 fighters and bombers converged on Dover and then split up. All the raids were accurately tracked by the Observer Corps over the Isle of Sheppey and the Thames Estuary, but one of them severely damaged Debden aerodrome.

By 3.15 yet another build-up was shown on the radar screens over Calais. Two hundred and fifty German machines transitted Dover and then spread fanwise over Kent. One raid penetrated to Biggin Hill, Kenley and Brooklands. At Detling a hangar was hit and damage was caused at both Eastchurch and Hornchurch. At the latter, successful interceptions broke up the raid to such an extent that only six out of a hundred bombs dropped fell within the airfield boundary. Bombs fell at random on other places including Herne Bay, where one crater measured 200 feet across.

Finally at five o’clock in the afternoon a large raid and several small diversions appeared over Dungeness, their targets again being airfields.

Damage to airfields had been considerable with Detling and Eastchurch the worst hit. At Detling thirty aircraft wrecked ‘C’ Flight hangar and rendered the aerodrome unserviceable for several hours. Eastchurch received two attacks, the first by eighteen aircraft which exploded a dump of three hundred and fifty 250 lb. bombs, wrecked the NAAFI and admin, buildings, smashed water mains and sewers, destroyed five aeroplanes and put most of the communications out of action, including the Defence Teleprinter Network. In the second raid another hangar was hit, and it was decided on the following day to remove GHQ and the accounts section. The camp was transferred to Wymswold Warden and the sick quarters to Eastchurch village. Total casualties for the day at the station were four killed and twelve wounded.

To meet this phased effort against its stations, 11 Group had put up 751 sorties and had lost thirty-one aircraft to the Luftwaffe’s thirty-five, eight RAF pilots had been killed and seven wounded. Once again ErprobungsGruppe 210 had suffered, with eight Bf 110s destroyed. On one bomber shot down were found supplies of hand grenades intended to be thrown out at pursuing fighters. A coastal raid in the north left two steamers off Aberdeenshire damaged, one of which was burned out.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 31 | Aircraft: 37

British Losses
Airmen: 4 | Aircraft: 14

Hurricane P3875, No. 111 Squadron
Sgt. Sgt W.L. Dymond. Listed as missing. Shot down while in combat. Body never found.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Dymond.htm

Hurricane V7420, No. 43 Squadron
P/O C.A. Woods-Scawen killed. Aircraft caught fire after combat with Bf 109 and pilot baled out too low.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Woods-ScawenCA.htm

Hurricane L1578, No 501 Squadron
F/O A.T. Rose-Price Listed as missing. Failed to return to base after combat action.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Rose-Price.htm

Hurricane P3067, No. 46 Squadron
P/O J.C.L.D. Bailey killed. Shot down while engaged in combat with enemy. Was not seen to bale out.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BaileyJCLD.htm

 

Tuesday 3 September 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
TUESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 1940
Further heavy airfield attacks.
Night: Liverpool bombed once again. Harassing raids on South Wales and the south-west coast.

Weather: Fine and warm. Some cloud and drizzle in the north, haze in the Channel and Straits.

Main Activity:

At eight o’clock in the morning Luftflotte 2 began the familiar pattern of building up formations over Calais, and one by one the blips appeared on the cathode-ray tubes at the C.H. and gun-laying radar stations at Dover.

The targets were Hornchurch, North Weald and Debden, but through a series of disjointed dog-fights only one intact formation reached its target, North Weald. Here about thirty Dorniers escorted by Bf 110s did severe damage. Fire broke out in Nos. 151 and 25 Squadrons hangars, the motor transport yard was badly hit and several other buildings including the main stores were damaged. The new sector operations block received a direct hit but survived, although all communications with the Observer Corps were severed except for one line to Watford Centre. The airfield Tannoy system was destroyed and the vital high-frequency relay system for communication between aircraft and base was cut between the receiver and transmitter. Despite all this and a liberal sowing of delayed-action bombs, the aerodrome remained serviceable for day operations.

One of the pilots from 603 Squadron shot down in this operation was Pilot Officer Richard Hillary, later to write the best seller ‘The Last Enemy’. His cockpit in flames Hillary had difficulty in getting the Spitfire’s hood open. When at last he succeeded he fell, badly burned, into the sea. After over an hour of pain and misery he, like so many other pilots, was picked up by an R.N.L.I. lifeboat, the J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at Margate.

In the afternoon a second attack developed in the same area which was beaten off, and in which action the Czech pilots of No. 310 Squadron, Duxford, played a significant part.

Due to continuing bomber losses, the Luftwaffe had been experimenting with new tactics on this day. Previously the plan had been to advance in stepped formations, but this was temporarily replaced by (a) fighters and bombers flying at the same level and (b) mixed groups of fighters and bombers. Neither of these was found to be satisfactory, and a few days later there was a general resumption of stepped formations. Freiejagd, or freelance patrols of Bf 109s and Bf 110s, continued to fly in and then orbit in attempts to draw RAF fighters away from the main attack.

The losses of the 3rd were nevertheless an ominous portent for the RAF. Sixteen fighters were shot down with eight pilots saved, while the German casualties for the whole twenty-four-hour period were also sixteen—the Luftwaffe had achieved parity for the second time.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 21 | Aircraft: 20

British Losses
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 15

Hurricane P3064, No. 46 Squadron
Sgt G.H. Edworthy. Listed as missing. Believed to have crashed in river after combat over Essex coast.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Edworthy.htm

Hurricane P3518, No. 257 Squadron
P/O C.R. Bon Seigneur killed. Shot down by E/A. Baled out but died soon after landing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Bonseigneur.htm

Hurricane P3539, No. 17 Squadron
F/O D.H.W. Hanson killed. Shot down but baled out of aircraft at 100 feet. Killed on impact.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Hanson.htm

Blenheim L1512, No. 25 Squadron
P/O D. Hogg killed. Thought to have been Bf 110 and shot down by Hurricane. Sgt E. Powel baled out unhurt.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/HoggDW.htm

Hurricane P3782, No. 1 Squadron
P/O R.H. Shaw. Listed as missing. Crashed due to unknown circumstances. Pilot killed in aircraft.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ShawRH.htm

Hurricane P3044, No. 1 Squadron
F/Lt H.B.L. Hillcoat. Listed as missing. Failed to return from squadron patrol.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Hillcoat.htm

 

Wednesday 4 September 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
WEDNESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 1940
Two major attacks on airfields. Serious damage to the Vickers Works at Brooklands.
Night: Further raid on Liverpool.

Weather: Fine and warm with haze in the Channel and Straits. Occasional rain and strong winds in the north.

Main Activity:

On September 1st the Luftwaffe Operations Staff IA had issued an order to the Luftflotten covering the destruction (if possible) of thirty British factories making aircraft, aero engines, propellers and ancillary equipment. This was an attempt to halt a seemingly endless flow of fighter equipment to the RAF, despite Intelligence IC statements that the aircraft were either destroyed or non-existent. The order covered both fighter and bomber production, and the necessary target briefings had been completed by September 3rd.

Accordingly on the 4th the raids by Luftflotte 2 were divided, with both sector airfields and factories as their targets.

The first big attack of the day concentrated on airfields, coming in via the Estuary and over Dover. At Eastchurch bombs from eighteen aircraft demolished the ration store and produced six craters in the runway, but there were no casualties. Lympne was shot up, as were the Dover Balloons.

At lunchtime successive waves of bombers with fighter escort totaling about 300 crossed the coast at Dover, Folkestone, Hastings and Beachy Head. Fourteen squadrons rose to do battle, and nine of them intercepted. In the ensuing confusion at 1.30 p.m. fourteen Bf 110s of 5/LG 1 slipped through at low level and followed the Southern Railway line over Guildford, Surrey, to the Vickers Armstrong factory at Brooklands, where two-thirds of the RAF’s Wellington bombers were produced.

The adjacent sector and Observer Corps operations tables were ‘saturated’ with raid plots and the formation ‘Bradshawing’ up the railway went unnoticed until the last moment. Due to an unusually quick piece of recognition by the sergeant in charge of the airfield guns, the two leading aircraft were shot down almost immediately and several others jettisoned their bombs outside the target area when intercepted by No. 253 Squadron’s Hurricanes over the village of Clandon. The bombs dropped, however, scored direct hits on the machine and erecting shops. Many workers were buried under rubble and girders while hundreds more were injured by blast and flying splinters. From the six bombs in the works area eighty-eight people were killed and 600 injured, while factory output almost ceased for four days.

Other small groups of raiders got through to Rochester, Eastchurch, Shoeburyness, Canterbury, Faversham and Reigate. At Rochester the target was again the Short Brothers factory engaged in initial production of the Sterling four-motor heavy bombers.

In these fierce engagements of the morning and afternoon. Fighter Command put up a total 678 sorties and lost seventeen fighters against German losses of twenty-five—the balance was beginning to improve slightly.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 24 | Aircraft: 28

British Losses
Airmen: 12 | Aircraft: 17

Hurricane R4172, No. 111 Squadron
F/L D.C. Bruce listed as missing. Crashed into Channel after combat with Bf 109.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Bruce.htm

Hurricane Z2309, No. 111 Squadron
P/O J. Macinski listed as missing. Shot down by Bf 109. Pilot bailed out but body was never found.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Macinski.htm

Spitfire N3048, No. 66 Squadron
Sgt A.D. Smith died of injuries 6/9/40. Bailed out with serious injuries after combat with enemy aircraft.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/SmithAD.htm

Hurricane V6638, No. 253 Squadron
F/O A.A.G. Trueman killed. Shot down during combat action over Kenley aerodrome.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Trueman.htm

Hurricane P3052, No. 46 Squadron
F/O R.P. Plummer died of injuries 14/9/40. Shot down in flames by Bf 110. Pilot bailed out with serious burns.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Plummer.htm

Spitfire X4278, No. 222 Squadron
P/O J.W. Cutts killed. Shot down by Bf 109. Aircraft crashed at Sutton Farm. Originally listed as missing but body fragments discovered at excavation of crash site. Now listed as KIA.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Cutts.htm

Spitfire K9962, No. 222 Squadron
Sgt J.W. Ramshaw killed. Crashed after combat with Bf 109s. Was dead on arrival at West Kent Hospital.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Ramshaw.htm

Hurricane P3676, No. 79 Squadron
Sgt J. Wright died of injuries 5/9/40. Shot down by Bf 110 over base. Pilot crash-landed aircraft at Surbiton.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WrightJ.htm

Defiant N1628, No. 264 Squadron
F/O D.K.C. O’Malley killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/OMalley.htm
Sgt L.A.W. Rasmussen killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Rasmussen.htm
Aircraft crashed during night landing practice.

Hurricane V7406, No. 151 Squadron
P/O R. Ambrose killed. Crashed into a crane during take off on ferry flight. Aircraft burnt out.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/AmbroseR.htm

Spitfire R6909, No. 151 Squadron
Sgt J.K. Barker killed. Possibly shot down by return fire from Do 17 over Channel. Body washed up on French coast.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BarkerJK.htm

 

September 5th - September 6th 1940

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5th 1940

WEATHER:

After a clear night, the morning period all over Britain should be clear with good to excellent visibility and temperatures slightly above average. Cloud was expected to increase over the eastern coast north of East Anglia during the afternoon. The north of England and Scotland should have six tenths cloud cover and was expected to increase during the afternoon although this was to be high cloud with no rain expected. The Channel areas were expected to remain clear and fine for most of the day.
OPERATIONS IN DETAIL:

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.
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. But 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 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) 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 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes) had an early "scramble" and were directed to intercept at Dover. 253 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes) were also despatched as was 501 Squadron Gravesend (Hurricanes) and 603 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires).

The Manston based 41 Squadron immediately make their presence felt. F/L J.T. Webster comes hard down on a Bf109 over South London who was about to engage one of the Hurricanes. A couple of short bursts miss, the Bf109 takes evasive action but F/L Webster weaves and sways keeping the 109 in his gunsight. Another short burst and smoke trails from the Messerschmitt and it glides 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 and 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 over Marden in Kent by P/O B.G. Stapleton of 603 Squadron Hornchurch, 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 Squadron Hornchurch.
Oberlt Franz von Werrra was captured and taken to the authorities and finally transferred to a prisoner of war camp in Canada where he made good his escape by making his way to the USA and finally by boat to Europe where he re-joined his unit and flew again against Fighter Command.

This man is believed by many to be the German ace, Oblt Franz von Werra. The bravado von Werra displayed as a fighter ace among his comrades remained with him as a POW. He proved difficult to hold and made numerous escape attempts.
With other prisoners, he was transferred to Canada. In Nova Scotia the prisoners were transported by rail from Halifax to their new camp and en route von Werra forced open a window and jumped from the moving train. This time he was not recaptured and made good his escape by crossing the nearby border into the United States which was still neutral.
He was the only German aviator to escape from British custody and return to fight for his country again.

Concerning the combat which resulted in von Werra's fall into British hands, there is confusion. That he crash landed on 5th September at Winchet Hill is not disputed but other circumstances surrounding the incident are open to question.

After returning to Germany, von Werra eventually became commanding officer of 1/JG 53 on the Russian front. He shot down 13 Russian planes to bring his tally to 21 but on 25 October 1941 the engine of his Bf109 failed and it plunged into the sea near Vlissingen. He was drowned.

Denis Newton A Few of the Few Australian War Memorial Canberra 1990 p157
1030hrs: Croydon was attacked, as was Biggin Hill, Eastchurch, Lympne and North Weald. More damage is sustained, but only Biggin Hill again gives cause for concern. 79 Squadron (Hurricanes) is the only squadron operating from Biggin, 72 Squadron Biggin Hill (Spitfires) 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 that of.....Biggin Hill. 79 Squadron is scrambled and with some miraculous flying breaks up the Dorniers and they drop their bombs well off target.

Most of the mornings 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 bomb loads 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. [1]
1225hrs: Another huge formation is detected, again coming in from the Thames Estuary. The are at high altitude, some 20,000 feet, and quite a number of formations were so high that the were undetected by both radar and the Observer Corps.

1300hrs: One of the formations is intercepted by 72 Squadron Croydon (Spitfires) it is found that the formation consists of about 50 plus Ju88s and Heinkel 111s escorted by about 100 Bf109s as escorts. The main target is the oil storage tanks at Thameshaven causing serious damage. Giant palls of thick arid black smoke can be seen for miles. 72 Squadron Croydon (Spitfires) is joined by 73 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes), 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 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes) operating out of Kenley also mixes it with the Bf109s with only one Bf109 being shot down.

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 dogfighting 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 Squadron Manston (Spitfires) were now back into the affray, as was 66 Squadron Kenley (Spitfires) 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 Squadron Croydon (Spitfires) and they were just about to return to base to refuel and rearm, 73 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes) were despatched to the Essex coast after a formation of Ju88s had been detected, 111 Squadron Croydon and 253 Squadron Kenley, both equipped with Hurricanes became involved in combat over the Thames Estuary.

In the meantime, S/L Zdzislaw Krasnodebski's 303 Squadron Northolt (Hurricanes) 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.

What Vincent saw, at 21,000 feet over Thameshaven, astern of the Poles and 1,000 feet below, was a sight he would remember till he died — tier upon tier of glinting, well-drilled Dorniers, two Hurricanes, poised 1,000 feet above, suddenly crash diving into space with near-suicidal impetus, a sudden ripple of agitation running through the mighty horde as the leading Dorniers, foreseeing head-on collision, turned and broke. This was the spearhead. As the bombers scattered, Pole after Pole was diving — holding their fire until twenty yards distant, accepting the awful risk that the last great explosion would destroy them, too. Amazed, Vincent saw planes and parachutes fluttering like charred paper through the sky. Kellett, an Me 109 and Sergeant Kazimierz Wunsche fought only 100 yards apart, the sergeant closing to sixty yards to save Kellett’s life. Flying Officer Waclaw Lapkowski baled out with a broken arm. Polish fighters angrily nosed Vincent’s Hurricane aside, grudging him so much as one chance shot at a crippled bomber. Back at Northolt, fevered with excitement, Vincent sent for the intelligence officer: My God, they are doing it; it isn’t just imagination.’
Richard Collier Eagle Day-The Story of the Battle of Britain Hodder & Staughton 1966 p177
1600hrs: As the German bombers made their way home, Staffels of Bf109s came out across the Channel 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 in reality.
Hitler had ordered "crush" the RAF, it was evident that the RAF was so far uncrushable. Fighter Command was attacking Berlin and lashing out nightly against the German invasion fleet - to the discomfort of the Kriegsmarine which Hitler counted on to transport his invasion troops to England's shores.
Peter Townsend 85 Squadron from his book The Odds Against Us


Will not the British ever learn. Their bombers come and kill innocent German people, and I have given them fair warning. We have told you before, that the nights when the British bombers do not attack our capital, our glorious Luftwaffe has forcibly stopped the British bombers in their tracks and they have had to turn for home. But now, the time is right, the British air force is down to its last reserves, they cry for pity, and I will give them pity for I will wipe London from the face of the earth. I want fire everywhere, thousands of them and then they will unite in one gigantic area of conflagration.
Adolph Hitler September 1940 on deciding that London should be bombed.


The statement of the High Command obviously forced upon it by Hitler himself--he often takes a hand in writing the official army communiqués deliberately perpetrates the lie that Germany has only decided to bomb London as a result of the British first bombing Berlin. And the German people will fall for this, as they fall for almost everything they’re told nowadays. Certainly never before in modern times — since the press, and later the radio, made it theoretically possible for the mass of mankind to learn what was going on in the world — have a great people been so misled, so unscrupulously lied to, as the Germans under this regime.
And so tonight the High Command, which all good Germans believe tells only the gospel truth, issued a special communiqué saying that as reprisal for the British raids on Berlin, London was attacked with strong forces for the first time today As a result of this reprisal attack, it says, “one great cloud of smoke tonight stretches from the middle of London to the mouth of the Thames.”

To give American radio listeners an idea of the kind of propaganda (though I couldn’t label it as such) which the German people are being subjected to now, I read in my broadcast tonight the following quotation from today’s Berlin newspaper, the Biirsen Zeitung: “While the attack of the German air force is made on purely military objectives this fact is recognized by both the British press and radio — the RAF knows nothing better to do than continually attack non-military objectives in Germany. A perfect example of this was the criminal attack on the middle of Berlin last night. In this attack only lodging-houses were hit; not a single military objective.”

The German people have no inkling — because the Nazi press and radio have carefully suppressed the story — that in August alone more than one thousand English civilians were killed by the Luftwaffe's attacks on British "military objectives."

William L. Shirer The Rise of the Third Reich 1940-41 p214
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.

But RAF Bomber Command are busy too. On one mission 85 bombers spent two hours over Berlin causing considerable damage, which I daresay did not please the German High Command one bit.
Other targets for Bomber Command were the oil refinery at Stettin, and although they were inconvenienced by some very accurate anti-aircraft fire, the mission was a success.

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 Squadron who had been resting at Catterick and posted them to Hendon.

CASUALTIES:
1015hrs: Birling Kent. Spitfire P9432. 19 Squadron Duxford
S/L P.C. Pinkham killed. (Shot down by Bf109 while in combat over Channel. Pilot went down with Aircraft)
1425hrs: Eltham. Spitfire N3093. 72 Squadron Croydon
Sgt M. Gray killed. (Crashed after combat with Bf109s. Aircraft seen to crash into Eltham Park Wood)
1425hrs: Eltham. Spitfire X4013. 72 Squadron Croydon
P/O D.C. Winter killed. (Shot down by Bf109 and tried to abandon aircraft at too low an altitude)
1525hrs: Thames Estuary. Spitfire R6635. 41 Squadron Hornchurch (based at Manston)
F/L J.T. Webster killed. (Collided with P9428. Pilot baled out but killed. Aircraft crashed at Laindon Essex)
1525hrs: Thames Estuary. Spitfire P9428. 41 Squadron Hornchurch (based at Manston)
S/L H.R.L. Hood listed as missing. (Collided with R6635. Aircraft disintegrated over Wickford)
1530hrs: Burnham Essex. Hurricane P3234. 73 Squadron Debden
Sgt A.L. McNey listed as missing. (Shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed at Nth Fambridge)
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.
1600hrs: Rochester. Spitfire R6885. 66 Squadron Kenley
F/O P.J.C. King killed. (Shot down by Bf109s. Pilot baled out but parachute failed to open)

 

September 5th - September 6th 1940

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6th 1940

WEATHER:

The fine weather of the previous days was expected to continue with the cloud in the north dispersing overnight and bringing fine weather to all areas. Temperatures could be a little lower, but still slightly above average.
OPERATIONS IN DETAIL:

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.
0300hrs: 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.

0800hrs: Radar and observation detected a number of single Bf109s over factories and industrial areas.
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 Squadron Warmwell (Spitfires). 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: Thameshaven, still ablaze from the previous days bombing is again the target for another attack, but although 73 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes) 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 add fuel to an already burning Thameshaven.

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

Dover is also hit once again, and fifteen Bf110s escorted by twenty-five Bf109s are intercepted by 234 Squadron Middle Wallop (Spitfires). Sgt M.C. Boddington comes in astern of a Bf109 and gives chase, and it is not until over Ashford that the Bf109 is brought down by Sgt Boddington. F/L Pat Hughes tags onto a weaving Bf109 that had been escorting a damaged Bf110 and fires a short burst. The 109 still banks and weaves trying to escape from the Australian but Hughes sticks to him like glue. Smoke emits 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 takes 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 who were on operations in that 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.

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 who 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".

.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.
We will find out next, that on the 7th September, Göering will stand on the forward
observation post at Cap Gris-Nez and watch as wave upon wave of German bombers
roar across the English Channel........their destination......London.


CASUALTIES:
0900hrs: Ashford. Hurricane V6612. 501 Squadron Gravesend
P/O H.C. Adams killed. (Shot down during combat and crashed at Eltham)
0900hrs: Ashford. Hurricane V6646. 501 Squadron Gravesend
Sgt O.V. Houghton killed. (Shot down during combat and crashed at Charing)
0900hrs: Ashford. Hurricane P3516. 501 Squadron Gravesend
Sgt G.W. Pearson killed. (Shot down in combat and crashed at Hothfield. Originally unidentified. Crash site now certified)
0910hrs: Hadlow Down (Kent). Spitfire X4036. 234 Squadron Middle Wallop
P/O W.H.G. Gordon killed. (Shot down by Bf109 and crashed on farm at Hadlow Down)
0915hrs: Kingsnorth (Kent). Hurricane P3032. 253 Squadron Kenley
S/L W.P. Cambridge killed. (Circumstances unknown. Baled out of aircraft but dead when found)
0930hrs: Tunbridge Wells. Hurricane P3363. 601 Squadron Tangmere
F/L C.R. Davis killed. (Shot down by Bf109. Crashed and burnt out in back garden of cottage)
0930hrs: Tunbridge Wells. Hurricane P8818. 601 Squadron Tangmere
F/L W.H. Rhodes-Moorehouse killed. (Crashed at Southborough after combat with Bf109s.)
1330hrs: Calais. Spitfire X4260. 603 Squadron Hornchurch
P/O J.R Caister Captured and made PoW. (Shot down by Bf109. Force landed behind Calais)

 

September 7th 1940
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7th 1940

WEATHER:

High cloud early giving way to light cloud but remaining fine throughout the south. Channel areas can expect early morning haze which should quickly disappear leaving clear skies. Temperatures were expected to be normal. The north could expect mid to high level cloud with good visibility.
OPERATIONS IN DETAIL:

The day previous was a day when extreme pressure was brought upon Fighter Command. Six of the seven sector airfields had suffered considerable damage, and five of the advanced air bases along the Kent coast feared no better. Losses of aircraft again exceeded production and pilot strength was now down to about seven hundred in all.
The Luftwaffe had pounded and pounded at the RAF, and now it appeared that victory was now within their grasp. It had taken the German war machine much longer than they had anticipated, mainly due to their own mistakes, but slowly they were grinding away at Fighter Command, and slowly Fighter Command was weakening. Even on September 6th, the heads at the War Office were ready to implement the order of 'Invasion Alert No.1' It had already been served as a warning only to all RAF Commands, but as yet had not been released as 'official' to the public.

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 non-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."

What was to happen on September 7th 1940, goes back to the night of August 24th / 25th when German bombers targeted a number of British cities and towns. Birmingham had about four raids in as many hours, Liverpool came under a Red Alert when it was bombed as was Hull and Sheffield. But it was the German bombers that were supposed to drop their bombs on Thameshaven and Rochester, but dropped them in the heart of London instead, the Luftwaffe crew claiming that they had lost their bearings. The British War Cabinet sanctioned, as a retaliation, an attack on Berlin on the following night of August 25th/26th. About 50 British bombers made up of Wellington's and Hampdens were to carry out the attack. But according to Bomber Command, heavy cloud covered the German capital and only half of the bombers dropped their bombs, but most fell wide of the city doing little damage. The only bombs to fall within the city limits damaged a summer house in the Berlin suburb of Rosenthal and only two people were injured and no deaths were recorded.

But a different picture was painted by William L. Shirer who was in Berlin at the time of the raid. He was due to make his evening broadcast to America at the time of the raid. Today his diary reads:

Today the bombing is the one topic of conversation among Berliners. Its especially amusing therefore to see that Goebbels has permitted the local newspapers to publish only a six-line communiqué about it, to the effect that enemy planes flew over the capital, dropped a few incendiary bombs on two suburbs, and damaged one wooden hut in a garden. There is not a line about the explosive bombs which we all plainly heard. Nor is there a word about the three streets in Berlin which have been roped off all day today to prevent the curious from seeing what a bomb can do to a house. It will be interesting to watch the reaction of the Berliners to the efforts of the authorities to hush up the extent of the raid.
Berlin Diary William L. Shirer 1940
Interesting to note that Bomber Command reported only the garden shed in the suburbs and no mention of the dropping of any high explosive bombs in Berlin itself. The next raid on Berlin according to RAF Bomber Command was on the night of August 28th / 29th and stated that Berlin would now be bombed on regular routine missions into Germany. Yet William Shirer states in his diary that Berlin was again bombed the following night after the first initial raid.
So it was on the night of September 4th 1940, that Hitler, in his speech at the Berlin Sportpalast stated amongst the cheers of the partisan audience, "...the people in Britain ask, but why doesn't he come?" and Hitler gave his reply "Calm yourselves, be calm, for he is coming! He is coming!" At the meeting on August 30th with Göring Hitler stated then that he had decided that he would withdraw his ban on the bombing of London and showed that he was now keen on regular attacks on the British capital in retaliation for the consistent attacks on Berlin by the RAF.

As mentioned earlier, that on September 3rd Göring called a meeting at the Hague with two of his commanders, Kesselring and Sperle. Kesselring agreed that the attacks should be switched from fighter airfields to the city of London, but Sperle did not agree stating that the RAF had more reserves than they were led to believe. From Berlin, Adolph Hitler gave the order that plans for attacks on London should begin immediately. He was now firm in his beliefs that by concentrating on an all out bombing campaign on the British capital would bring Britain to its knees, and that the bombing should continue until Britain submits under the strain. In between missions to England by day and by night during September 5th and the 6th, the Luftwaffe was busy in its preparations of strengthening all bomber units and moving Bf110 and Bf109 units to specific locations close to the French coast. An all out bombing campaign on London was to commence on September 7th 1940.

.[ 1] Dennis Newton A Few Of The Few Australian War Memorial p156

Saturday 7 September 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline

 

September 8th - September 9th 1940

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8th 1940



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 amoke' 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 what they had just experienced on the night of September 7th - 8th.
But as the first light of Sunday emerged, a strange phenomenon took place, quite different from that of the previous twelve hours as London's "Daily Telegraph" reports:

After a sleepless night, while their Anderson shelters rocked with the explosion of bombs and the crash of guns, the people of East London carried on to-day with their usual amazing spirit.
Several hundred began their search for new homes as soon as the "all clear" sounded. Whole streets had been destroyed and many other houses demolished. But people gathered their possessions together and piled them into perambulators. With children in their arms, they started their walk to friends or relatives.

Their morale was astonishing. As they were walking to their new homes many were laughing and joking among themselves.

Some families took care of children whose parents were dead or injured, and made long journeys across London to escort them to the homes of relatives.

Women went on preparing the Sunday dinner, even though they had no water or gas. They borrowed water from more fortunate neighbours and lit fires to roast the joints. One of them, Mrs. W. Johnson, who had spent the night in a shelter, was preparing her meal in a house where the dividing wall between dining-room and drawing-room lay in chunks across the floors.

In a dockland tavern, where every window bad been blown out by a bomb which fell across the road, they were collecting for a Spitfire fund.

The licensee of a hotel gave up his saloon bar for housing people whose houses were no longer tenable. In several streets neighbours were making a whip-round for those who had lost their belongings.

"It was an experience far worse than the Silvertown explosion in the last war," Mrs. Cook, who with her husband and five children escaped injury, said to me. "The heat from the fires was terrific. We do not intend moving from the district, despite this ghastly raid."

The morale of the people was summed up in the words of one Mayor, who said: "They have taken it on the chin."

At 8 p.m. another all-night raid began, while London's anti-aircraft guns put up a terrific barrage.
London Daily Telegraph of Sunday September 8th 1940



But for those at Fighter Command, and at the sector and satelite stations, today was to be just 'another day at the office'.
WEATHER:

After a clear night, clouds were expected to develop over most of Britain and remain at eight tenths for most of the day. Although cloudy, it was antcipated that the day would remain dry with only far northern Scotland expecting a shower or two. Temperatures were expected to be a little cooler because of the cloud cover but this cloud was expected to break up late in the afternoon.
OPERATIONS:

After almost twelve hours on non stop continuous bombing, the people emerge from from shelters, basements and underground stations, wherever they thought that may have been safe. Many had heard on the radio overnight that "German Military forces have been reported to have landed on the south coast of England....." and that many were afraid to emerge. But on the early morning news broadcasts it was confirmed that no enemy paratroop sightings had been made, nor had any German ships or barges crossed the Channel during the night and that it was perfectly safe with no need to confine oneself into an air raid shelter.
From the outcome of the meeeting on the previous day with Hugh Dowding, Parks issued fresh orders that were to be efective immeadiately. 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 is that because of pilot shortage in 11 Group, many pilots straight out of OTU (Operational Training Units) are being posted to fully operational squadrons that are in some of the busiest areas of 11 Group. Keith Park makes the suggestion that pilots straight out of OTU should be posted to squadrons that are 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 has been able to call upon squadrons that have been 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 is 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.
.
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.
.
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.
Francis K. Mason Battle over Britain 1969 p355


During the night of September 7th and 8th 1940, while London was under its first constant day and night attack, Bomber Command sent 92 aircraft including the Fairy Battle to various targets along the Channel coast attacking many targets that were bases for numerous invasion barges and barge installations. Other attacks were made in many of the forest areas and to the Ruhr Dam area. Dunkirk and Calais come under heavy attack from Bomber Command. They return just prior to daybreak without loss.
Clouds started to roll in on this day, and this was possibly the reason that Lufwaffe activity was relitively quiet. Park also issued the order that paired squadrons would be used for the purpose of intercepting the enemy. The first squadrons using this pairing was 253 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes) and 605 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes). They had intecepted a small formation that approached from the Thames Estuary and although West Malling and Detling were attacked, no serious damage was done.

OPERATIONS IN DETAIL:

0430hrs: The last of the German bombers leave London 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 nealy 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 now 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 Londons 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, Rotherithe suffered considerable damage on the northen approaches and the tunnel would be closed for an indefinate period of time.
0930hrs: Air Vice Marshal Keith Park taxis his personal Hurricane across Northolt, takes off and heads 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 is astounded to 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"
Air Vice Marshal Keith Park AOC 11 Group flying over the devasted area of London.
1030hrs: 43 Squadron departs 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 make for Usworth for a rest. One of their Hurricanes, during the ferry flight north, had the engine seize up over Gedney Dye in Lincolnshire. Pilot Officer C.K.Gray managed to make a forced landing and saved the aircraft from desruction.
607 Squadron flying Hurricanes is based at Usworth, and is ordered to exchange places with 43 Squadron. 607 Squadron, 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 Squadron who were to move from Croydon to Drem, 79 Squadron who were also busy the previous day are moved from Biggin Hill across to the South Wales airfield at Pembrey. 92 Squadron, who had been having a rather busy time for an isolated aerodrome, were moved closer to the action at Biggin Hill.

1130hrs: Radar detects a formation over the Channel as it heads on a north-westerly course crossing the coast near Deal. 41 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) already on routine patrol are vectored towards the Dover area, while 46 Squadron Stapleford (Hurricanes), 222 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) and 605 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes) were scrambled to intercept. Target is identified as 20 plus Do17 bombers with 30 Bf109s as escort.

1215hrs: 41 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) is first on the scene as the formation begin 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 takes 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 identidy, and disappears from the scene. Soon, they will be forced to leave the combat because of their fuel situation.

1230hrs: 41 Squadron Hornchurch were hopelessly outnumbered fighting the Bf109s on their own, but they were relieved when 46 Squadron Stapleford (Hurricanes) arrived followed soon after by 605 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes). One of the Hurricanes of 46 Squadron receives damage caused by a Bf109 and is forced to break off and return to base. Within minutes while over the Isle of Sheppy another Hurricane of 46 Squadron 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 Squadron Croydon 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 explodes in flames at Trottiscliffe. The Bf109s sweep again, and in quick succession claim two more Hurricanes of 46 Squadron.

1240hrs: Although badly mauled, 46 Squadron keeps up the attack, and together with 222 Squadron and 605 Squadron chase one of the Bf109s and shoots it down near Sevenoaks while two Hurricanes move in and finally bring 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.

REST OF THE DAY:

The formation fail to reach their target which was thought to be London, and are turned back. Things were not good for the Stapleford squadron losing two aircraft and damaging two others, but only one pilot was posted as missing.
The afternoon period was quiet, with no activity at all. Personnel at all of the aerodromes were now working in far more pleasant circumstances to repair damaged airfields. It had been two whole days, and not one of Fighter Commands aerodromes had suffered any enemy attack, it was just what Park wanted. Airfield damage had been repaired, damaged buildings were being made habitable and aircraft were either being repaired or undergoing minor servicing thus building up squadron strength.

But it was a far different story in bomb raged London during the day. There was a mixture of frustration, helplessness, sorrow and heartbreak, but one could not help to notice the inner feelings of most people. despite their own ordeals, they would bend over backwards to help neighbours , friends or even strangers who may have lived in the next street. They may have lost their homes and possessions, but not their morale.

Hundreds of people, especially in the East End were still looking for cherished possessions and piling them into carts and perambulators and were making their way to friends or relatives. While streets had been destroyed and they searched through the debris to gather whatever they could. Some broke down beside the roadway, many cried, but as soon as they found friends and loved ones, a sudden change came over them and they walked away from demolished homes laughing and joking some of them making long journeys across London.

Those that stayed, made the most of what they had, improvisation was the key. It was Sunday, and in the East End, Sunday isn't Sunday without the Sunday roast. So the women went on preparing the Sunday dinner, there was no water or gas, the mains had blown the previous night, but a couple of streets away someone may have been lucky enough to have their water still on, so they shared. There was plenty of demolished houses now, and plenty of firewood, so they made fires, rumaged through what may have been somebody's kitchen once, and they cooked. The children, what there was of them, had a ball as well. They were told to go and search for some salt shakers or maybe a bottle of sauce, scrumping the kids called it, but once the treasure was found, it was shared by one and all.

One licensee of one of the dockland pubs, although most of the windows had been blown in invited anybody who had lost their home to come to the pub as he closed two of the bars, collected matresses, lined, beds and housed whoever wanted a roof over their head, and he still continued to collect for the Spitfire Fund!! But where most articles and books often depicts the brave a generous side to the civilians, there were also stories of horror and despair.

After one of the raids, we energed from our Anderson shelter. The first thing you seem to look for is your house, you just pray that it is still standing. Then we looked up the street from our back garden to see where the 'big one' had gone off. We had heard it and the shelter shook and pieces of earth dropped down out of the joints, we knew that it had been close. Then we saw the Harbutt's house three doors up the road, they were lifelong friends of ours, we had grown up in the same street together, even gone to the same school. Now, the house had been flattened and small areas of flame could be seen, then a portion of the front wall and floor collapsed bringing down the bed and wardrobe smashing it to pieces.
We ran up to the debris, that was all was now and looked for the Harbutt's, there was no sign of them. 'God I hope that they were not in house' I thought, the shelter, at the back. We rushed around but all was quiet, not a sign of anybody, but it was dark so another neighbour who had thought to bring a torch shone it inside. It was terrible, there was no damage, but all had burns to their exposed skin many still tight against their bones, the young girl had blood coming from her mouth and ears. They were just killed by the force of such a close blast.

Enid Turner East Ham London.

It was the most shocking time when London was bombed. I had nightmares for many years afterwards. I saw hysterical people, men as well as women, I saw streets completely gone, how many people would have died I have no idea. Then they sing and joke, I could not come to grips with that, because tomorrow hundreds more would be dead.
Shirley Jones Southwark London.

I suppose it was oppertunity really. You are in an organisation that has a duty to perform, but is it temptation that gets hold of you or what? I saw in one place crates of beer and spirits, well, they won't be any good to anybody else, so two trips and I had my beer and wine supply for a month.
Jimmy Coughlan Whitechapel Civil Defence London.1930hrs:
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 your head was regarded as safe, but of course, nowhere was safe if a direct hit occurs. It is now almost dark, too late for Fighter Command to do anything about it, as bombers from Luftflotte 3 including Do17s, He111 and Ju88s. Again, as it was the previous night all loaded with high explosive bombs, delayed action bombs and incediaries. The poeople were subject to the steady, dull drone of the engines of some 250 bombers overhead, then, the drone was broken by the sudden shrill whistling sound as sticks of bombs came down, the whistle getting louder as the bombs got to a few hundred feet above them.
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.

CASUALTIES:
1215hrs: Dover. Spitfire R6756. 41 Squadron Hornchurch
F/O W.J. Scott killed. (Possibly shot down by Bf109. Crashed in flames)
1230hrs: Isle of Sheppy. Hurricane P3201. 46 Squadron Stapleford
Sub/Lt J.C. Carpenter killed. (Shot down by E/A. Pilot baled out but killed. Aircraft crashed at Maidstone)

 

https://battleofbritain1940.com/entry/sunday-8-september-1940/
SUNDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 1940
Slight activity. Some small attacks on airfields.
Night: Heavy raid on London, mainly in the east.

Weather: Fair early morning and evening, cloudy for the remainder of the day.

Main Activity:

While Fighter Command examined the records of the London attack the day before, the Luftwaffe somewhat reduced the scale of its efforts on the 8th, partly through fatigue and partly due to bad weather.

Between 1100 and 1230 hours Luftflotte 2 put in several raids over Kent with airfields once more the chief objectives. Some fifteen formations of varying size dropped bombs on Sevenoaks, West Mailing, Detling, Hornchurch, Dover and Gravesend. Eleven fighter squadrons were sent up and many of the enemy were turned back, doing little damage. Compared with its 817 sorties of the 7th, Fighter Command flew 305 on the 8th and lost only two aircraft, the pilot of one returning safely. In contrast Luftwaffe losses for the twenty-four-hour period were fifteen.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 29 | Aircraft: 16

British Losses
Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 5

Spitfire R6756, No. 41 Squadron
F/O W.J. Scott killed. Possibly shot down by Bf 109. Crashed in flames.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ScottWJM.htm

Hurricane P3201, No. 46 Squadron
Sub/Lt J.C. Carpenter killed. Shot down by E/A. Pilot baled out but killed. Aircraft crashed at Maidstone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/CarpenterJC.htm

 

Monday 9 September 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 1940

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Unsuccessful attacks on London, Thames Estuary and aircraft factories.
Night: Main target is London, including the City and West End.

Weather: Scattered showers, thundery in the east. Channel fair.

Main Activity:

Once more the morning brought respite, and attacks did not develop until the afternoon, when formations began massing in the area Calais-Boulogne. Raids of 30+, 50+, 15+ and 12+ were plotted by the radar stations, and appeared over the coast as groups of escorted and unescorted bombers. A high-flying screen of fighters attempted to draw off British interceptors just before the raids developed.

This time 11 Group were not caught napping. At five o’clock, when the raids began to come in, nine 11 Group squadrons were in position, while units from 10 Group and 12 Group guarded factories and north Thames airfields respectively.

It was the German intention to attack targets in London, the Thames Estuary and the factories at Brooklands, but the fighter interceptions were so successful that most of the formations were broken up long before they reached them. German aircraft sent out a number of distress signals and radio control stations on the French coast ordered formation leaders to break off the attacks ‘if the defences are too strong, or if fighter protection is too weak’. These messages were heard with great interest by British radio monitoring receivers in Kent.

Bombs were jettisoned over a wide area, including Canterbury, Kingston, Epsom, Surbiton, Norbiton and Purley, while in central London itself a few fell on Wandsworth, Lambeth and Chelsea.

After the enemy had retired the RAF could show twenty-eight German aircraft destroyed for the loss of nineteen British fighters from which six pilots were recovered. London had been saved from a further onslaught, and the German bomber air crew complained bitterly at their de-briefing of the sudden upsurge of the defences and the apparent shortcomings of their Messerschmitt escorts.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 38 | Aircraft: 30

British Losses
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 17

Hurricane P2728, No. 607 Squadron
P/O G.J. Drake killed. Engaged combat with enemy aircraft and shot down over Mayfield.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/as-drakegj.htm

Hurricane L2059, No. 605 Squadron
P/O G.M. Forrester killed. Caught in enemy crossfire and collided with He 111 losing part of wing.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Forrester.htm

Hurricane P3574, No. 607 Squadron
P/O S.B. Parnall killed. Shot down during combat with Do 17s and Bf 109s. Crashed at Cranbrook.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ParnallSB.htm

Hurricane P3888, No. 310 Squadron
F/O J.E. Boulton killed. Collided with Hurricane of No. 310 Sqn during attack on enemy aircraft.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Boulton.htm

Hurricane P3117, No. 607 Squadron
P/O J.D. Lenahan killed. Shot down by Bf 109 during attack on Do 17. Crashed at Cranbrook.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Lenahan.htm

Hurricane P3087, No. 242 Squadron
P/O K.M. Sclanders killed. Shot down in combat with Do 17s and Bf 110s. Crashed at Caterham Surrey.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Sclanders.htm

 

September 10th - September 11th 1940

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 10th 1940

WEATHER:

Clear duringthe early hours but cloud was expected to move in from the North Sea duringthe early morning and this would give rain over most areas during the day.
OPERATIONSIN DETAIL:

Low cloud andperiods of heavy rain over Northern Europe stopped any form of Luftwaffeair activity and any operations planned against England had to be cancelled.For Fighter Command the day was nothing but a rest day and pilots and commandleaders were trying to work out as to why Germany had decided to turn itsattacks 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 toknock 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 numberof weeks, aircraft factories were still operating as normal and militaryhardware was still pouring out of the factories. The radar was functioningat full capacity and Fighter Command HQ as well as Bentley Priory wereoperating normally. These should be the targets if Germany was to continuewith its plan to make an invasion of Britain. Even the German Naval Staffcould not understand the situation, as described in their diary:
Thereis no sign of the defeat of the enemy's Air Force over southern Englandand in the Channel area, and this is vital to a further judgment of thesituation. The preliminary attacks by the Luftwaffe have indeed achieveda noticeable weakening of the enemy's fighter defences, so that considerableGerman fighter superiority can be assumed over the English area.
However.....wehave not yet attained the operational conditions which the Naval Staffstipulated to the Supreme Command as being essential for the enterprise,namely, undisputed air superiority in the Channel area and the eliminationof the enemy's air activity in the assembly area of the German naval forcesand ancillary shipping.....It would be in conformity with the timetablepreparations for Sealion if the Luftwaffe now concentrated less on Londonand more on Portsmouth and Dover, as well as on the naval ports in andnear the operational area....
Excerptfrom the German Naval Staff Diary [1]
So why turn itsattack on London. True the oil storage tanks at Thameshaven had sufferedbadly as did the London Docks, but these would have no opposition to anyplanned invasion. Suffering most were civilian properties and inconveniencecaused to the inhabitants, especially those in the East End, all majorrailway stations had been damaged but had not been completely put out ofaction. Of the attacks of the previous nights, some newspapers made comparisonsto the blitzkrieg attacks on a number of towns and cities in northern Europe,and many of the Londoner's abbreviated the name and called the attackson their city as "The Blitz" and from then on, the name stuck.
A few Germanaircraft were detected in and around the southern and eastern coastlineof England, but most of these were on either weather or reconnaissancepatrols. Fighter Command decided to leave them alone. Bomber Command sent 248 Squadron (Blenheims) on a mission to Norway but this had to be abortedbecause of deteriorating weather conditions over the North Sea. A flightfrom 236 Squadron St Eval (Blenheims) is placed on escort duty for thesteamship Scillonian and the mission is successfully completed.

With cloud coverpersisting during the late afternoon, radar picks up various single aircraftcoming across the Channel from 1700hrs onwards. With Fighter Command againnot responding, a number of attacks were made by the Luftwaffe. A coupleof lone bombers ventured into 10 Group territory and made some nuisancedrops. Another lone raider attacked West Malling again but causing no seriousdamage. Tangmere reported that it had come under machine-gun strafing withnearby Portsmouth was attacked by single Do17s.

72 SquadronCroydon (Spitfires) was one of the few squadrons scrambled and attackedone of the Do215s and one was believed to have been brought down, althoughone of the Spitfires was hit by return gunfire from the bomber and hadto make a forced landing at Etchingham (Kent). Just after 1800hrs, a smallformation crossed the coast near Dungeness and targeted Biggin Hill aerodrome,but were intercepted by British fighters and one of the Dorniers of 9/KG76was shot down and the mission aborted.

By nightfall,the Luftwaffe was again targeting London and this time they were makingfull use of the cloud cover. Also taking advantage of the weather attackswere also made on industrial areas of South Wales and on the Lancashirearea of Merseyside. London was though, the main target where over 150 bomberspounded the city once again.

But RAF BomberCommand also took advantage of the weather conditions. 17 Whitleys attackthe Pottsdamer railway station at Berlin causing considerable damage, thenthey went on to attack the Bremen dock area while a Blenheim squadron attackedthe important bomber aerodrome at Eindhoven. Eight Heinkel He111 bomberswere destroyed, two were badly damaged and another was damaged when itcrashed into craters upon landing later.

CASUALTIES:
There wereno pilot casualties reported on this day.
One Spitfireof 72 Squadron Croydon was destroyed in combat.
Two fighterswere destroyed and three others damaged in training operations

 

Wednesday 11 September 1940 | The Battle of Britain Historical Timeline
WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 1940
Three large raids in the south-east, including London. Portsmouth and Southampton attacked. German invasion postponed again (till the 14th).
Night: London and Merseyside attacked.

Weather: Mainly fine with some local showers. Cloud in the Channel and Thames Estuary.

Main Activity:
After reconnaissance flights at lunchtime, Luftflotte 2 put up three big raids and Luftflotte 3 attacked Southampton. At 2.45 p.m. formations began building up over Calais and Ostend and aimed for London. At 3.45 another wave came in over Folkestone, and was shortly followed by a third. Bombs fell on the City, the docks, Islington and Paddington, and others on Biggin Hill, Kenley, Brooklands and Hornchurch.

Simultaneously two raids from Seine Bay and Cherbourg had linked up over Selsey Bill and despite harrying fighters dropped bombs on Southampton and Portsmouth.

An hour later waves of Bf 109s appeared over Kent, some attacking the Dover balloons. Another force attacked a convoy and single aircraft headed for Colerne, Kenley, Detling and Eastchurch. The convoy ‘Peewit’ was dive-bombed, its escort ‘Atherstone’ being disabled.

In all this widespread activity, Fighter Command flew 678 sorties. The scoreboard at the end of the day was in reality depressing, RAF losses being 29 aircraft, 17 pilots killed and 6 wounded, compared with German casualties for the 24 hours of 25 aircraft. KG 26 was the worst hit, with eight He 111s shot down. At the time it was estimated German losses were far higher, but the red in the British balance sheet on the final reckoning is accounted for by the fact that many squadrons became entangled with the escorting formations who attacked from above.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 35 | Aircraft: 29

British Losses
Airmen: 18 | Aircraft: 29

Hurricane P3525, No. 46 Squadron
Sgt S. Andrew killed. Crashed and burnt out for reasons unknown after an uneventful patrol.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. S Andrew

Hurricane V7232, No. 46 Squadron
Sgt W.A. Peacock listed as missing. Failed to return after combat action. Presumed crashed into the sea.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. W A Peacock

Hurricane P3770, No. 504 Squadron
P/O A.W. Clarke listed as missing. Crashed and burnt out near Newchurch after combat over coast.
Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O A W CLARKE

Spitfire P7298, No. 611 Squadron
Sgt F.E.R. Shepherd killed. Caught fire during combat. Pilot baled out but aircraft crashed into houses.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. F E R Shepherd

Hurricane V6667, No. 213 Squadron
Sgt A. Wojcicki listed as missing. Shot down in Channel during combat with Bf 110s. Body never recovered.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. A Wojcicki

Hurricane V6665, No. 303 Squadron
F/O A. Cebrzynski died of injuries 19/9/40. Shot down during combat. Made a failed attempted crash landing.
Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O A CEBRZYNSKI

Hurricane R2682, No. 238 Squadron
Sgt S. Duszynski listed as missing. Last seen pursuing Ju 88 over Romney. Aircraft crashed at Lydd.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. S Duszynski

Spitfire K9793, No. 92 Squadron
P/O F.N. Hargreaves listed as missing. Failed to return after combat action. Presumed crashed into the sea.
Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O F N Hargreaves

Hurricane V7240, No. 238 Squadron
Fl/Lt D.P. Hughes listed as missing. Last seen intercepting Ju 88s. Failed to return to base.
Battle of Britain London Monument - F/Lt. D P Hughes

Spitfire N3282, No. 602 Squadron
Sgt M.H. Sprague killed. Shot down by Bf 110s over Channel. Pilots body washed ashore at Brighton 10/10/40.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. M H Sprague

Hurricane V7242, No. 303 Squadron
Sgt S. Wojtowicz killed. Crashed and burnt out at Westerham after being shot down by Bf 109s.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. S Wojtowicz

Blenheim L9396, No. 235 Squadron
Believed shot down by Bf 109 during escort mission to Calais.
P/O P.C. Wickings-Smith listed as missing.
Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O P C Wickings-Smith
P/O A.W.V. Green listed as missing
Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O A W V Green
Sgt R.D.H. Watts listed as missing.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. R D H Watts

Blenheim Z5725, No. 235 Squadron
Failed to return from escort mission to Calais.
P/O N.B. Shorrocks listed as missing.
Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O N B Shorrocks
F/Lt F.W. Flood listed as missing
Battle of Britain London Monument - F/Lt. F W Flood
Sgt. B.R. Sharp listed as missing.
Battle of Britain London Monument - Sgt. B R Sharp

Spitfire P9464, No. 92 Squadron
P/O H.D. Edwards killed. Shot down by Bf 109 during combat action and crashed into woods.
Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O H D Edwards