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http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/04.htm

September 4th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM:
RAF Bomber Command:
4 Group (Whitley).51 Sqn. 1 aircraft missing from Berlin, ditched off Holland. 1 crew drowned, rest PoW.
Bombing - power station at Berlin - oil tanks at Magdeburg - ‘Razzling’.
51 Sqn. Six aircraft to Berlin. Five bombed and ‘Razzled’, one FTR.
78 Sqn. Six aircraft to Magdeburg. Five bombed primary, one bombed Bremen.

Battle of Britain:
RAF Fighter Command: Airfields at Bradwell, Lympne and Eastchurch (twice) are bombed.

Medway towns and Shorts aircraft factory at Rochester and Vickers at Weybridge are bombed.

At night Liverpool, Bristol, south-east England are raided.

A small group of low-flying, bomb-carrying Bf110s of ZG 76 crossed the coast at Littlehampton, then made for Brooklands Hurricane factory. Hurricanes of 253 Squadron patrolling near Guildford and using Observer Corps information swooped upon the ‘110s, destroying six. Confusion overtook the remainder as they hurled 500-kg bombs at the Vickers Wellington factory, killing 88 and causing over 700 casualties as a result of heavy machinery, materials and glass being hurled around factory shops.

The intention was that Bf110s and ‘109s of Erpro 210 after attacking Poling CH (Chain Home radar) station, would provide withdrawal cover for ZG 76. Instead, RAF fighters also dealt effectively with the escort, picking off its Gruppenkommandeur and forcing ZG 76 to find its own way home.

Losses: Luftwaffe, 25; RAF, 17.

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

Corvettes HMS Marigold and Tulip launched.
Corvette HMS Coltsfoot laid down.

Minelayer HMS Welshman launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

GERMANY: Berlin: “I have tried to spare the British ... they have replied by murdering German women and children,” says Hitler, threatening savage reprisals on British cities. “When they declare that they will attack our cities in great strength, then we will erase theirs.”

U-656 is laid down. U-142 is commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Fleet Air Arm Swordfish aircraft from Illustrious and Eagle mounted an air strike against airfields on the island of Rhodes. (Dave Shirlaw)

CANADA: Corvette HMCS Levis launched Lauzon, Province of Quebec. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.A.: The US government warns the Japanese government against making aggressive moves in Indochina.

Submarine USS Grayling launched.
Destroyer USS Corry laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Destroyer HMCS St Laurnet and corvette HMS Godetia rescued survivors from merchant ship Titan (9,035 GRT). Titan was sunk by U-47, KKpt Günther Prien Knights Cross, Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, CO. She was in ballast at the time of her sinking. Six crewmembers were lost from her crew. Titan had been a member of the 27-ship Methil Roads (Thames Estuary) north bound to Liverpool convoy OA-207. The convoy departed on 31 Aug 40 and Titan was the only ship lost. (Dave Shirlaw)

U-46 sinks the SS Luimneach. (Dave Shirlaw)