[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

[CougarGA7]

Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 13th September 1940

• Weather: Unsettled.
• Day: Small raids mainly against London. Hitler in conference, discussing the German air offensive and invasion plans.
• Night: Renewed attacks against London.

  Enemy action by day

  Enemy activity was on a light scale, but during the morning small raids were continuously active over Kent and the London area. Bad visibility hindered interception by our fighters, but one enemy aircraft was destroyed and three others were damaged.

  East

  As a result of an SOS a fighter sweep was carried out 20 miles North-east of Kinnairds Head, but no reports of interception have been received.

  South East

  From 0730 hours, a number of raids, mostly by single aircraft, crossed the Coast between Hastings and Beachy Head and penetrated to the Thames Estuary and London area. Up to 0930 hours some six such raids were reported, but thereafter a steady stream of raids developed, most of which originated from the Dieppe area. It was reported that enemy aircraft crossed the Coast at the rate of one about every 8 minutes. One raid penetrated to

  Chelmsford, but practically all the others proceeded to the South London area, returning to Dieppe.

  Between 1300 and 1500 hours, these scattered raids continued and appeared to have as their objectives, Biggin Hill and targets in mid Kent. One raid was plotted towards Rochford, and one raid, reported to be a long-nosed Blenheim, attacked Dover Harbour.

  From 1500 hours until night operations began, enemy activity consisted chiefly of reconnaissance flights between North Foreland and Beachy Head.

  South and South West

  In the early morning, one raid flew parallel to the Coast from 15 miles South of Selsey Bill, westwards into Lyme Bay.

  Between 1300 and 1500 hours, three raids were active from Selsey Bill to Tangmere, and there were three reconnaissances in the Straits between Dungeness and Foreness.

  At 1800 hours, one reconnaissance was made from Boulogne along the Coast to the Isle of Wight.

  West

  A vessel was attacked off Copeland Light (Near Belfast) at 0650 hours, by an aircraft reported to be a four-engined bomber.

  By night

  Enemy activity commences at about 2045 hours when hostile raids were plotted leaving the Cherbourg area. From 2100 to 0030 hours, raids originated from the Cherbourg, Dieppe and Calais/Boulogne areas. The main objective was London but a few raids were active over East Anglia and Duxford area. One raid was plotted in the Firth of Forth.

  Between 2300 and 0100 hours, about four raids from the Channel Islands flew to Bristol Channel and South Wales.

  By 0130 hours, activity had practically ceased, but at 0200 hours a second wave originating from the Dutch Islands approached London from the North-east, having crossed the Coast between Clacton and Harwich. Enemy activity continued over London and North of the Thames Estuary until 0525 hours when all raids had finally withdrawn.

  One enemy aircraft was destroyed by a Blenheim of No 25 Squadron near North Weald, and another was shot down by AA near Hendon.

  

  ________________________________________

  Statistics

  Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 13th September 1940

• Blenheim - 51
• Spitfire - 208
• Hurricane - 393
• Defiant - 18
• Gladiator - 8
• Total – 678

  Casualties:

  	Enemy Losses
  	By Fighters
  1 He111		1 He111
  1 E/A		2 Ju88
  2	Nil	3
  	By Anti-Aircraft
  1 E/A
  1	Nil	Nil

• Own:

• 1 Hurricane of which the pilot is safe.

  Patrols:

• Own

• During the night of 12th/13th September - 5 patrols involving 5 sorties.
• During the day of 13th September - 98 patrols involving 209 sorties.

• Enemy

• It is estimated that about 120 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain during the night 12th/13th September and 90 during the day of 13th September.

  Balloons:

• No report.

  Aerodromes:

• No report.

  Organisation:

• Corrigendum: Cancel the move of No 616 Squadron from Kirton in Lindsey to Ford recorded on 12th September.

  Home Security Reports

• General Summary

• Date: 13th September 1940

• Throughout the day enemy bombing activity was concentrated on the London area, and on the counties of Essex, Surrey, Kent and Sussex where damage was spread over a wide area, without being in any case severe.
• In London, West Ham, Battersea, St Pancras and Marylebone were among the districts attacked, and several casualties resulted; bombs fell just before noon at Buckingham Palace, and at Whitehall, but only superficial damage was done.
• During the night of 13th/14th September, bombs again fell on the London area, Westminster, Battersea, Mitcham, Clapham Junction, Wembley and Hammersmith being chiefly affected. Bombs are also reported to have fallen during the night in districts of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Essex and Cambridgeshire, where little damage was done and in Cardiff, where a cold storage plant was gutted by fire, and other industrial damage caused.

• Detailed Summary

• Northern Ireland

• At 0700 hours a single enemy aircraft unsuccessfully attacked shipping in Belfast Lough, and then dropped incendiary bombs on Bangor, County Down. Two small fires were started but were quickly put out.

• RAF Stations

• A single enemy aircraft dropped bombs at Hornchurch early in the morning without inflicting serious damage.
• At 1530 hours an unsuccessful attack was made on Colerne.
• Nazeing was also bombed at this period but no report of damage has been received.

• London Area

• Buckingham Palace: HE bombs fell at 1110 hours in the quadrangle, on the chapel, and outside the forecourt, without damaging the palace itself, while the Victoria Memorial was slightly damaged. Four slight casualties were caused.
• Whitehall: Just before noon incendiary bombs caused slight damage at Scotland Yard, the Admiralty and the War Office.
• St Pancras and Marylebone: A fire at Great Titchfield Street was started, and the Euston Road was blocked as a result of HE bombs which fell at 1550 hours. Fifty-nine casualties are reported.
• Battersea: At 1134 hours a public library was wrecked and water mains damaged by HE bombs, and incendiary bombs were dropped early on 14th September at the Borough Council Electricity Generating Station, Lombard Road. A Delayed Action Bomb exploded at the Telephone Exchange at 0255 hours, 14th September but the Exchange is reported functioning at 0400 hours. Major damage is reported at the GPO Sorting Office Lavender Hill, by HE bombs at 0300 hours.
• West Ham: At 1043 hours Ravenshill School which was occupied by families evacuated from their homes was demolished by HE bombs. Fifty casualties have so far been reported.
• Mitcham: At 2140 hours HE bombs fell near the Town Hall, as a result of which, the London Road is closed to traffic.
• Wembley: Severe damage to the Carrier Engineering Company's Works by fire resulted from incendiary bombs dropped at 2211 hours.
• Westminster: Victoria Street was blocked by debris caused by an HE bomb at 2200 hours.
• Clapham Junction: HE bombs were dropped early on 14th September, near the station demolishing three houses; the station's closed owing to the presence of unexploded bombs near the track.
• Hammersmith: At 0250 hours HE bombs fell at Westway and the road is blocked by debris.

• Elsewhere

• Eastbourne: At 1535 hours ten HE bombs were dropped in the centre of the town, and a large fire at a school as well as several smaller fires were started. Utility mains were damaged and one person was killed and 19 injured.
• Maidstone: Nine houses were demolished and four people were killed by HE bombs which fell at 1445 hours.
• Cardiff: At 0030 hours 14th September, the Cardiff Pure Ice and Cold Storage Plant was hit by HE bombs and gutted by the fire that resulted. Curran's Works were also hit but only slightly damaged and bombs also fell in the Docks Area partially demolishing the Albion Box Works.

  Battle of Britain