Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 25th September 1940

• Weather: Fair to fine in most areas. Cool.
• Day: Bristol and Plymouth bombed.
• Night: London, North Wales and Lancashire attacked.

Enemy action by day

With the exception of attacks on Filton and Portland during the morning and an attack on Plymouth in the afternoon enemy activity has been confined to small raids chiefly in the South Eastern area. About one hundred aircraft had massed in the Calais area by 0900 hours but an attack did not materialise.

During the day our fighters destroyed twenty-two enemy aircraft (plus eight probables and ten damaged). In addition anti aircraft destroyed three enemy aircraft (plus two damaged). Our losses were four aircraft with one pilot missing and one died of wounds.

In the main attacks, the proportion of fighters to bombers appears to have been approximately equal.

Attack on Filton

At 1148 hours, about sixty enemy aircraft consisting of twenty seven bombers with fighter escort, which had crossed the coast near Weymouth, attacked the Bristol Aeroplane Company's Works at Filton. The attack was made from 11,000 feet and all bombs were dropped simultaneously. Three Squadrons plus one section were despatched to intercept and all of them engaged, though only one Squadron succeeded in doing so before the enemy aircraft reached the target. Eighteen enemy aircraft - chiefly bombers - were destroyed (plus six probables and seven damaged). Anti aircraft destroyed three enemy (plus two damaged). Our losses were four aircraft and one pilot (died of wounds).

Attack on Portland

It is reported by AA Command that seven Ju88s broke away from the main body flying to Filton, and made an unsuccessful dive bombing attack down to 500 feet on the oil tanks at Portland.

Attack on Plymouth

Approximately twenty-four enemy bombers with an escort of twelve Me110s crossed the coast at Start Point and attacked the Plymouth area at 1647 hours. Two sections of fighters intercepted and dispersed this formation. One enemy bomber was destroyed (plus two aircraft probably destroyed and one damaged) without loss to our fighters.

Reconnaissances and Patrols

Hostile reconnaissances - mostly of single aircraft - were plotted during the day as follows:

• Over three convoys - one of which is reported to have been attacked.
• London (three), Thames Estuary, Luton, Hatfield, Farnborough, Northolt, Kent, Sussex Coast, Bristol Channel, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and east of Yarmouth.

Some interceptions were effected and casualties inflicted.

Patrols by enemy aircraft were frequent in the Straits.

Night Operations - 25th/26th September 1940

Enemy activity in the London area was widespread and steadily maintained throughout the night.

1930 to 2100 Hours

Shortly after 1930 hours, raids began doming out of Le Havre towards Portsmouth and made for London. These were followed by others from Cherbourg which entered along the coast Westward from Beachy Head. Other raids from Holland came in over the Norfolk Coast and the Wash. Some of the later made a wide sweep and approached London from the North West.

During this period, about twenty-five raids crossed our Coast, some of which flew to South Wales and one over Derby.

Anti-aircraft in the Rochford area claim to have destroyed on JU88 at 1940 hours which is reported to have fallen into the sea.

2100 to 0100 Hours

About 100 enemy aircraft came inland, nineteen of which proceeded to the Midlands (as far North as the Mersey) and to the West Country and South Wales.

After 2300 hours, raids ceased to approach London from East Anglia, the points of entry being between Dungeness and the Isle of Wight. Many raids appeared to return via the Estuary to the Dutch Coast.

After midnight, about nine aircraft from the Dutch Coast circled in the outer Thames Estuary and may have been engaged on a shipping search or minelaying operations.

0100 to 0500 Hours

At 0115 hours, a new series of about twenty raids started approaching from Holland and made for the London Area, but some remained in the Thames Estuary and these, to, may have been minelaying.

By 0530 hours, the last raids from the London area had recrossed the South Coast.

In addition to the activity mentioned above, there have been a few raids in Lincolnshire, the Humber area and in the South West. There has been no activity in the North of England or in Scotland.

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 25th September 1940

• Blenheim - 48
• Spitfire - 218
• Hurricane - 376
• Defiant - 19
• Gladiator - 8
• Total - 669

Casualties:

• Own:
  • Four aircraft with two pilots killed or missing.

Patrols:

• Own
  • During the night of 24th/25th September - 46 patrols involving 50 sorties.
  • During the day of 25th September - 137 patrols involving 668 sorties.

• Enemy
  • It is estimated that about 150 enemy aircraft operated over or near our coasts during the night 24th/25th September and 280 during the day of 25th September.

Balloons:

• No report.

Aerodromes:

• Prestwick is unserviceable by night.

Organisation:

• No report.

Air Intelligence Reports

• A reliable source reports that in South Germany and Austria some malicious satisfaction is being expressed at the bombing of Berlin.
• Italy: Transfer of Italian aircraft to German occupied territory.
  • 36 CR42 Fighters and 36 G50 Fighters are being transferred as complete units (2 Gruppos) to Melsbrouck on the Western Front.
  • 72 BR20 Bombers and 5 Cant1007 Bombers are also being transferred and a number of transport aircraft are to accompany them.

Home Security Reports

• General Summary
  • Date: 25th September 1940
    • During the day enemy activity was principally centred over Bristol and South West England, and in the evening indiscriminate bombing took place at Coastal Towns from Margate to Worthing and the South East area of Essex.
    • Night activity commenced at 2020 hours, the main force of the attack being directed against London, East and South East England, and the Midlands as far North as Liverpool, South Wales and the Bristol Channel areas were also visited.

• Detailed Summary
  • RAF Stations
    • Filton: at 1148 hours a heavy attack was delivered by enemy aircraft, when many HE, IB and Delayed Action bombs were dropped, in spite of which there were no casualties amongst RAF Personnel and serviceability was not affected.
    • Worthy Down: HE bombs were dropped near the married quarters at 2200 hours, damaging the camp water main. There were no casualties.
    • North Weald: It is reported that there were that there is an unexploded bomb on the Aerodrome.

  • London Area Night of 25th/26th September 1940
    • It would appear that railway property in and around London was one of the enemy's main objectives during this period. Damage and traffic interference being caused as follows:
      • At 2240 hours a crater was made on the GWR Line near Ruislip Garden Station.
      • HE bombs were dropped on the GW and LMS (London Joint) Railway at Kensington at 0500 hour, lines being completely blocked by debris.
      • The railway bridge over Thames Road, Chiswick, was hit by HE at 0055 hours.
      • A small crater is reported on the LMS down track near Acton Central Station, electric cables were severed and the presence of an unexploded bomb was suspected.
      • The track and an overhead footbridge, belonging to the Southern Railway Company, between Kew Bridge and Grove Park Stations was damaged.
      • Hendon was attacked at 2045 hours and again at 2250 hours, resulting in the Station at Collingdale being hit.
    • Fires.
      • Major fires were started at Wandsworth, Edmonton, Tottenham, Old Kent Road and Hammersmith.
      • During these fires damage was caused to British Oxygen Co's plant at Edmonton, and the GWR sheds at Hammersmith.

  • Elsewhere
    • Bristol: A severe attack was made by a large force of enemy aircraft soon after 1130 hours, considerable damage being caused at the Rodney Works of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, where the casualties so far reported amount to 60 killed and 150 injured. The Aeroengines Factory and Flight shed were also hit and production seriously affected. Damage to house property, gas and water mains was experienced over a wide locality including Filton village, Westbury-on-Trim, South Mead and Chipping Sodbury.
    • Portland: A large amount of damage was caused to house property, water mains, electric supply and telephone wires when an attack was made by enemy aircraft at 1120 hours. It is further reported that owing to the fractured water mains a serious situation would develop should water be needed for fire-fighting.
    • Plymouth: At 1700 hours four HE bombs were dropped, causing an oil main to burst and the destruction of a crane; also damage to railway trucks, jetty and carriage shed.

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