Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 9th September 1940

• Weather: Scattered showers, thundery in the east. Channel fair.
• Day: Unsuccessful attacks on London, Thames Estuary and aircraft factories.
• Night: Main target is London, including the City and West End.

nemy action by day

One main attack was made in the afternoon by some 300 aircraft in direction of Thames Estuary/South London and Biggin Hill but only a section penetrated to Central London. During the resulting engagements our fighters destroyed 50 enemy aircraft (plus 9 probable and 13 damaged) and Anti-Aircraft fire accounted for 2 destroyed and 2 probable. Our casualties amounted to 20 aircraft of which 5 pilots killed or missing.

There were also a number of enemy reconnaissances, mostly over Convoys on East Coast.

East

One raid is reported to have made an early morning attack on a Trawler, 25 miles East of Lowestoft. Four raids made a reconnaissance of convoys off East Anglian Coast, of which one also penetrated to Bury St Edmunds. Two raids crossed Lincolnshire Coast. Interception was made by without success.

South East

One early raid to Clacton and another from Beachy Head to Central London and back over Hastings. Later in the morning a raid of three aircraft approached the Kent coast. Fighters unsuccessfully attempted interception. Apart from patrols in Calais/Boulogne area, there was little enemy activity until 1605 hours when formations began to mass in Calais/Boulogne area. From 1655 hours an attack in force on the South East crossed the Coast between North Foreland and Cover. Enemy strength is estimated at some 300 aircraft amongst which there are reported to have been 6 four-engined aircraft with strong fighter escort. Up to 1730 hours the main trend was towards the Estuary and South London, though one raid of about 35 aircraft penetrated to Central London.

A general drift Westwards then developed, and small raids were plotted as far West as Salisbury. The enemy withdrew in small groups and during this period Dover was shelled. 24 Squadrons of fighters were detailed to this attack, inflicting heavy casualties, and an intercepted instruction from Gruppe Headquarters read "Break off task if fighter opposition is too strong". Later it was reported that shipping off Dover was attacked by enemy seaplanes with fighter escort.

By night

The usual stream of raids started to come out of Cherbourg and the Somme about 2000 hours, crossing the coast between Isle of Wight and Dungeness, all proceeding to the London area, where again four to five raids were maintained for most of the period.

From about 0230 hours the method of approach changed and activity increased. Raids had by this time practically ceased to come out of French Coast and were replaced by a larger series of raids from the Dutch Islands via the Thames Estuary into the London area, homing over Dungeness.

Soon after 0430 hours the last raids were leaving the London Area and by 0455 hours the country was clear of enemy raids.

There were a few raids before midnight in South Wales, Bristol, Midlands and one to Liverpool, and later raids spread up the East Coast with a few penetrations inland. Minelaying was suspected between Newcastle and Middlesborough.

Dover was reported to have been shelled several times during the night.

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 9th September 1940

• Blenheim - 55
• Spitfire - 220
• Hurricane - 392
• Defiant - 22
• Gladiator - 8
• Total - 697

Casualties:

• Own:
  • 20 aircraft with 5 pilots killed or missing.

Patrols:

• Own
  • During the night of 8th/9th September - 24 patrols involving 25 sorties.
  • During the day of 9th September - 68 patrols involving 466 sorties.

• Enemy
  • It is estimated that about 200 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain during the night 8th/9th September and 400 during the day of 9th September.

Balloons:

• No report.

Aerodromes:

• No report.

Organisation:

• No 229 Squadron from Wittering to Northolt.
• No 1 Squadron from Northolt to Wittering.
• No 616 Squadron from Coltishall to Kirton.
• No 74 Squadron from Kirton to Coltishall.
• No 303 (Polish) Squadron (Hurr) is now operational at Northolt.

Air Intelligence Reports:

• Press sources report that all Berlin householders have received printed instructions urging them to stay at home and retire early to enable them to sleep for several hours before midnight. They are asked to set their alarm clocks for midnight and to remain dressed.

Home Security Reports

• General Summary
  • Date: Night of 8th/9th September (supplementary)
    • Reports show that very considerable damage has been done to rail and road communications and many serious fires occurred. Three hospitals were hit and Fulham Power Station was set on fire. The heaviest bombing was in the Riverside districts but minor indiscriminate bombing was widespread.
    • Sixty Local Authority areas, including every Metropolitan Borough, were bombed during that night. Major damage was dine at Acton, Leyton and Poplar. All lines were blocked at Broad Street station. The Embankment is flooded by a burst main at Chelsea. Serious fires occurred at Chiltern Court and Madame Tussauds (Baker Street). At Southgate the Metal Box Company's factory and the Lindley Aircraft Company's Works were damaged, affecting Government contracts and a Paint Works at Homerton was hit.

  • Date: 9th September
    • There was very little enemy activity during the day until after 1700 hours when a large force of aircraft approached London. Some bombs wee dropped but for the most part in Suburbs South of the River. Bombs were also dropped in Kent, notably at Canterbury. No reports of serious damage have been received and casualties appear to have been few.

  • Date: Night of 9th/10th September
    • Enemy aircraft visited the areas of Birmingham, Liverpool, Derby and Nottingham about midnight but no reports of any major damage have been received. The Lancashire Steel Corporation's Works were hit and a Blast Furnace damaged but work is proceeding.
    • Bombs were dropped in the New Forest area North of Ringwood where large fires are reported to have been started.
    • Another intense attack was made on the London Area and lasted several hours. A large number of bombs ere dropped mainly in the City - in the East End - in the South-Eastern and Southern districts. Many very serious fires were started and it is feared that some were spreading. Attacks appear to have been directed again at railway centres as well as industrial areas.

• Detailed Summary
  • RAF Stations
    • Date: 8th/9th September 1940
      • Mildenhall: Ten IB were dropped nut no damage has been reported.
      • Hawkinge: It is not yet ascertained that any damage was done when an attack was made and two HE bombs were dropped in the neighbourhood.
    • Date: 9th/10th September 1940
      • Cottesmore: Eight HE bombs were dropped nut no damage resulted.

  • Elsewhere
    • Date: 8th/9th September 1940
      • City: There were major fires in Great Arthur and King William Streets, and serious fires resulting in extensive damage to property near Bank of England and Mansion House.
      • Shoreditch: Railway lines blocked - Public Shelter hit - slight casualties - severe fires.
      • Stepney: Very dangerous fire at British Oil and & Cake Mills at Sun Wharf. Telephone exchange hit and roads blocked.
      • Hackney: Two factories were hit and seriously damaged.
      • Stoke Newington: Serious flooding.
      • Islington: Major damage to roads, cables, gas and water mains and sewers.
      • St Pancras Station: Line blocked.
      • Westminster: Severe fire at Odham's Press. Law Courts hit.
      • Knightsbridge: Barracks hit.
      • Green Park and St James's Park: Unexploded bombs in Constitution Hill and in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace.
      • Battersea: Delayed action bombs exploded putting out of use all up and down lines between Queens Road and Clapham Junction.
      • Kensington: Natural history Museum fired.
      • Reduced gas pressure due to bombing has seriously affected production at Desoutter's and Osram's Works.

    • Date: 9th September 1940
      • Kingston: By-pass has been blocked in four places and small fires broke out in Richmond, Barnes, Epson, Malden and Purley. Bombs were also dropped in Wandsworth, Norbiton, Surbiton and Lambeth. A few HE bombs were also dropped North of the River, notably at West Ham, at Fulham and at Chelsea.

    • Date: 9th/10th September 1940
      • City: Major fires reported in Barbican, Ludgate Hill, Cheapside to Cannon Street (where building collapsed), Bow, Blackwall and Southwark.
      • Lambeth: Major damage reported - water mains - road blocked - railway lines - Nine Elms Goods Yard and Embankment.
      • Canning Town: 20 houses demolished.
      • Greenwich: Bridge blocked.
      • Southwark: Serious fire in Boro' High Street, St George's Road and New Kent Road.
      • Westminster: Some major damage.
      • Charing Cross: Station hit. Bomb penetrated platform to street below.

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