Date: 5th September 1940
- Weather: Continuing fine and warm with cloud developing later.
- Day: Airfield attacks in two phases. Park (CinC No 11 Group) orders special cover for fighter factories.
- Night: Continuous activity over southern England.
Enemy action by day
The enemy launched two attacks in the East Kent and Thames Estuary area. Activity apart from this was limited to a few reconnaissance flights mainly off the East Coast. During engagements with the enemy our fighters destroyed 36 aircraft (plus 22 probable and 17 damaged). Our casualties amounted to 23 aircraft of which 11 pilots, killed or missing.
East
One raid passed near a convoy off East Anglia and then flew inland as far as Newmarket. Later in the day and during the second attack in the South east, an aircraft reported as a four engine bomber was plotted from the Harwich area across the Estuary and out over Ramsgate. In the evening some six raids were plotted off the Coast between the Wash and the Humber.
South East
After two early reconnaissance flights in the Dungeness/Deal area, raids began to mass behind Calais. At 0935 hours these aircraft, some 70 in all, crossed the cost at Dungeness and proceeded towards Biggin Hill, returning via the Maidstone district. These aircraft were closely followed by some 50 aircraft, which flew to the Isle of Shelly and split towards Hornchurch and Harwich. At 1050 hours 12 Me109 attacked the Dover Balloons. Dover guns opened fire destroying one enemy aircraft and damaging another. Scattered raids were active inland in east Kent until about 1215 hours.
After a high reconnaissance over the North Foreland, another attack in force was made on Kent. This was opened at 1456 hours by two raids of some 112+ aircraft. Some 100 of these approached Biggin Hill but appeared to turn back short of this objective; another small split raid approached Hornchurch. A mass of plots containing elements of these raids and our fighters was tracked eastwards from the Estuary at 1530 hours. At this time another raid of 50+ aircraft was intercepted when attempting to cross the coast near Dungeness. Thereafter up to 1630 hours strong enemy formations (up to 70+) patrolled the Straits of Dover and a seaplane was reported to have rescued a German crew off Ramsgate. Nos 10 and 12 Groups assisted No 11 Group during this attack by providing patrols over Tangmere and North Weald.
South
An early reconnaissance of 3+ aircraft approached Worthing but turned back when fighters were despatched to intercept. One raid from Cherbourg flew on reconnaissance to the Bristol area and another made a reconnaissance over the Isle of Wight.
West
A "help" signal was received from a convoy off Anglesey.
By night
Enemy activity commenced soon after 2030 hours. Raids to the South Wales/Midlands/Manchester and Liverpool and West Riding areas came in between Portland and Bournemouth, and there was also activity in the South East of Scotland, and in the Tees district as far inland as Catterick. A number of raids coming from the Thames Estuary and from the South Coast, over a considerable period, remained within the London area. There were also scattered raids in Essex/Kent/Surrey and Sussex. At 0100 hours two raids were being plotted in the Irish Sea between Dublin and Belfast and between Kintyre and the Irish Coast.
By 0230 hours activity had decreased and less than a dozen raids were still being plotted inland.
Mine-laying was suspected in Lyme Bay, Thames Estuary and between Amble and St Abb's Head. Also increased activity of this nature in the Firth of Forth.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 5th September 1940
- Blenheim - 49
- Spitfire - 214
- Hurricane - 422
- Defiant - 25
- Gladiator - 9
- Total – 719
Casualties:
Enemy Losses By Fighters Destroyed Probable Damaged 30 Me109 12 Me109 6 Me109 1 Me110 1 He113 3 Do17 4 Do215 3 Do215 4 Ju88 2 Ju88 3 Ju88 1 He111 3 He111 2 Type unspecified 36 22 17 By Anti-Aircraft Destroyed Probable Damaged 1 E/A? type 1 E/A? type 1 1 - Own:
- 23 aircraft with 11 pilots killed or missing.
Patrols:
- Own
- During the night of 4th/5th September - 20 patrols involving 20 sorties.
- During the day of 5th September - 121 patrols involving 672 sorties.
- Enemy
- It is estimated that about 200 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain during the night 4th/5th September and 450 during the day of 5th September.
Balloons:
- Barrage will be flying at Kingston-upon-Thames, as from 2230 hours, 5th September 1940.
Aerodromes:
- Biggin Hill, Abbotsinch and Hartlepool serviceable by day only.
Attacks on Aerodromes
- Aston Down, Detling, Biggin Hill.
Organisation:
- No 73 Squadron moved from Church Fenton to Debden.
- No 85 Squadron moved from Debden to Church Fenton.
- No 504 Squadron moved from Catterick to Hendon.
Home Security Reports
- Date: 5th September 1940
- General Summary
- Raids were again made on two separate occasions during the day and bombs were dropped in South Eastern districts.
- During the first raid between 1015 and 1100 hours bombs were dropped on some South Eastern suburbs of London and in parts of Kent. The main line from Charing Cross South via Chislehurst was temporarily blocked at this place.
- During the second raid from about 1515 to 1630 hours oil fires started but at a late hour this morning it was reported that fires were under control and only one tank was then burning.
- An attack was made on Detling Aerodrome without damage of a serious nature resulting. Not many casualties have been reported as a result of the day raids.
- During the night of 5th/6th September raids extending over a number of hours have taken place and according to reports it would appear that the London area has received a large proportion of the enemy attacks.
- Detailed Summary
- Liverpool Area: Damage has been caused at Walton where one HE fell on Dunlop Works which it is reported has resulted in production being affected 50%. One week is said to be required to repair. The Mersey Docks and Harbour Board have suffered some damage of a fairly widespread nature but not reported to be very serious.
- Gloucestershire: The number of bombs confirmed as having been dropped during the 24 hours ended 2140 on 5th September was 162 HE and a number of IB.
- Flintshire: Considerable damage was done to Courtaulds Works by a direct hit of a "Flamenburg". All work suspended, road blocked and buildings and supplies in the vicinity have been affected. This was at Greenfield.
- London Area:
- Hammersmith: Damage was caused during the night of 5th/6th September to a water main which it is reported may affect parts of West London.
- Woolwich: Major damage is reported to houses, roads and services but details are not available.
- Dartford: The County Hospital was hit, two wards being damaged, three houses destroyed and casualties believed to exceed 50 resulted.
- Leyton: Several fires were caused and water mains damaged causing flooding at Lea Bridge Road.
- Ilford: The Up and Down Railway lines were blocked owing to debris.
- Edith: Many houses were damaged and water, gas, electricity mains and sewers also damaged.
- Casualties on the Ground by Enemy Action:
- To RAF Personnel - Nil killed, 2 injured.
- To others - 35 killed, 282 injured approximately.