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Battle of Britain Campaign
Diary
Date: 19th October 1940
- Weather: Cloudy in Channel, mist in
northern France clearing later.
- Day: Isolated patrols and reconnaissance.
- Night: Raids on London, Liverpool,
the Midlands and Bristol.
Enemy action by day
Enemy activity was on a reduced scale, being limited to one attack
by fighters on London and reconnaissance activity off the South and
East Coasts, a few of which penetrated inland. Our fighters destroyed
two aircraft (plus one damaged) and we lost two aircraft and one
pilot missing.
Attack on London
At 1430 hours, two enemy raids totalling abut 60 aircraft flew over
Dungeness and Maidstone and into the Inner Artillery Zone, some penetrating
to Central London, with plots also at Biggin Hill and near Hornchurch.
The raids are reported to have been composed of fighters, some carrying
bombs. They turned about and returned to France on a reciprocal course,
the country being again clear at 1510 hours. Five Squadrons were
despatched to meet this attack; three reported having sighted the
enemy. Our losses were two aircraft and one pilot missing.
Reconnaissances
East: In the morning several reconnaissances were plotted off East
Anglia and one flew across Suffolk to Coventry area. A section of
fighters sighted this aircraft, but it escaped in cloud.
South East: During the morning reconnaissances were plotted at intervals
in the Straits, a few penetrating inland, and one Ju88 was destroyed
near Maidstone. After the attack on London reported above patrols
in the Straits were particularly active.
South and West: A few reconnaissances appeared between Cherbourg
and the Isle of Wight, one of which was damaged by fighters. Slight
activity continued, and late in the afternoon a Ju88 was destroyed
near Falmouth.
Night Operations - 19th/20th October 1940
Activity commenced at dusk and for the first four hours was abnormally
heavy, then continuing on a large but more usual scale. The main
attacks were against the London area, but Liverpool, Manchester and
Coventry districts received considerable attention.
1900 Hours to 2100 Hours
Hostile raiders were extremely active, 14 from Le Havre, 33 from
Dieppe, 20 from Belgium, 14 from Holland, and 18 from Baie de la
Seine concentrating on London and its suburbs during this period.
In addition, at least 10 raids from Cherbourg penetrated to Liverpool
and Manchester, Birmingham and Coventry, with plots also showing
over Bristol and South Wales. Three raids from Holland also visited
North Eastern areas.
2100 Hours to 2200 Hours
17 raids from France over Kent and Sussex, and 23 from Holland and
Belgium via the Thames Estuary, concentrating on London, with a few
raids in East Anglia. Seven further raids from Cherbourg flew to
the Coventry and Liverpool areas, with plots as far North as Barrow,
and at Bradford.
2100 Hours to 2300 Hours
A few additional raids entered from Cherbourg, the Midlands and
Lancashire, 12 from France and 9 from Holland to London, and six
from Holland to East Anglia and Lincolnshire.
2300 Hours to 0200 Hours 20/10/40
During this period no fresh raids were plotted to the Midlands,
all new activity concentrating on London and East Anglia. About 40
raids were plotted, 26 from France and 14 from Holland. From considerable
initial volume numbers gradually decreased and at 0100 only three
fresh incoming raids were plotted. The South-East gradually cleared
and at 0200 hours all hostile aircraft were leaving.
0200 Hours to 0600 Hours
Activity was resumed at 0220 hours, single enemy aircraft alternating
from the Somme and Belgium every twenty minutes. Those from Belgium
flying by the Estuary, over London, and to the Somme, those from
the Somme reversing the procedure. This well organised activity continued
steadily until 0550 hours, when the country was reported clear.
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 19th October
1940
- Blenheim - 47
- Spitfire - 233
- Hurricane - 412
- Defiant - 22
- Gladiator - 7
- Total - 721
Casualties:
| Enemy Losses |
| By Fighters - By Day |
| Destroyed |
Probable |
Damaged |
| 2 Ju88 |
|
1 Ju88 |
| 2 |
Nil |
1 |
- Own:
- Two aircraft. One pilot missing.
Patrols:
- Own
- During the night of 18th / 19th October - 2 patrols involving
2 sorties.
- During the day of 19th October - 63 patrols involving 286
sorties.
- Enemy
- It is estimated that about 230 enemy aircraft operated over
or near our coasts during the day of 19th October.
Balloons:
Serviceability of Aerodromes:
Organisation:
Home Security Reports
- General Summary
- Date: 19th October 1940
- There has been little enemy air activity during the
day except for one ineffective attack on London. A number
of houses were damaged in Coventry and the By Pass Road
machine-gunned. There are only minor incidents to report
in Essex, Surrey and Kent.
- As soon as darkness fell, a particularly vicious attack
was launched against London and surrounding suburbs.
Railway communications appeared to be the main objective
and considerable damage was done. The Dockyards were
attacked by damage was not as great as at first thought,
owing to a large number of bombs falling either on empty
sheds or on warehouses already destroyed. There were
numerous fires But all are now under control.
- In the Midlands attacks were concentrated on Coventry.
Districts in and around Liverpool & Birkenhead were also
attacked but on the whole damage to factories and residential
quarters was not as great as at first feared.
- Detailed Summary
- RAF Stations 19th October 1940
- Hatfield: attacked at 2210 hours on the 17th. Four
incendiary bombs which dropped on the Aerodrome were
immediately extinguished.
- Kidbrooke: Attacked at 0030 hours on the 18th and slight
structural damage was caused but no casualties.
- Heston: Attacked with HE and IB at 2155 hours on the
19th and these bombs fell on the Airport Field. All fires
are extinguished.
- Bombs were dropped in the vicinity of Pembrey and Luton.
- Other damage
- Coventry: At 1205 hours on the 19th a single enemy
aircraft dropped 10 HE in the Coundon and Keresley District.
Gas mains and 27 houses were damaged but no casualties
are reported. The Coventry By Pass was machine gunned
presumably by the same machine. After dark, attacks caused
considerable damage and people have been evacuated in
Built-up areas owing to the presence of approximately
40 unexploded bombs. The centre of the town was not affected
and business premises and shops have not suffered greatly
in consequence. Reports of slight damage appear to have
been sustained by Dunlop's and the Riley Motor Co and
Armstrong Siddeley, Parkside received a direct hit on
the Surgery but it is also reported that there are two
unexploded bombs located outside the works.
- A fire was reported at the Humber Works but it appears
that there was a great deal of smoke and with no apparent
flame. However, there are twelve pumps in attendance.
- Margate: Eighteen HE were dropped in the Central District
at 1145 hours on the 19th. Four houses and two workshops
were demolished. Fourteen houses and water mains badly
damaged. A few casualties are reported.
- Southwark: The South Eastern Post Office was damaged.
The loading bank and sorting rooms on the first and second
floors in Swan street were mostly affected. It is reported
that the ordinary mail was damaged but registered mail
is intact.
- Acton: The Dubilier Condenser Co was badly damaged.
The Electrolytic Condenser shop was completely wrecked
by a direct hit. The spray shop, impregnation shop and
other departments were less severely damaged. No casualties
reported.
- Stepney: At 2125 hours on the 19th HE partially demolished
'D' Block of the Mile End Hospital.
- Railways
- Euston Station: Damage by fire was caused to Large
Hall on the Station and bombs fell on Nos 2 and 3 roads.
Coaches were derailed but some electric services are
available.
- Hampstead Heath Station: A direct hit was obtained
on the station which is strewn over the tracks blocking
all lines.
- Wimbledon: Bombs fell near Durnsford Power Station
and 30 casualties have been reported, some of which may
be trapped in passenger train.
- Poplar: A direct hit was registered on the District
railway at Foot Bridge.
- Deptford: Bombs fell through SR Arch at Filwood Street
causing major damage.
- Brentford: HE fell on the SR track south of Chiswick
Station.
- Woolwich: Wellhall Station damaged by fire.
- Sundry Damage
- Two coaches overturned blocking all tracks between
Richmond and North Sheen.
- Lines blocked between Kentish Town Junction and
Canonbury Station.
- The Southern Railway arch at Windmill Walk damaged.
- GWR bridge adjacent to Central London Railway
Bridge reported to be unsafe.
- No damage was caused when eight IB fell on Lordship
Lane SR Station and permanent way.
- Docks
- London Dock: Bombs fell on the Western end of Denmark
Shed and No 9 Warehouse. The bridge between No 9 Warehouse
and 'F' Warehouse collapsed in Nightingale Lane. Fires
are under control.
- St Leonards Wharf: It is reported that owing to damage
to Olisal Oil tank, oil is running into the roadway and
entering sewers.
- Royal Albert Dock: No 17 Shed (empty) was partially
demolished.
- Surrey Commercial Dock: HE dropped in the ruins of
Nos 2 and 15 Warehouses and also in water of Greenland
Dock and South Dock.
- Bombs were also dropped in St Catherines, King George
V No 12 Shed, Lavender Yard and Downing Wharf.
- Fires
- Reports of a 20 pump fire at Smeed Road, Bow.
- Reports of a 50 pump fire at Goswell Road, Clerkenwell.
- Reports of a 30 pump fire at Gas Works, Poplar.
- Reports of a 20 pump fire at Hopton Street, Southwark.
- Reports of a 20 pump fire at Medical College, Charterhouse
Square.
- Reports of a 20 pump fire at College Hall, St Bartholomew's
Hospital.
- It is now reported that all these fires are all either
out or well under control.
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