New Jersey transiting the Panama Canal in 1984.
Plus a special guest map from Michael Korda’s, “With Wings Like Eagles,” showing the air defenses of England and Wales, August 1940.
New Jersey transiting the Panama Canal in 1984.
Homer, Though I don’t respond very often I really appreciate the threads. It’s fascinating to see history through the eyes of the times rather than through the lens of “historians” who often bring a biased view. Today, the story of Wilkie warning of dictatorship if FDR wins is interesting. I wonder what would have happened if FDR was actually not sickly and lived another 10 years or so. Would he have continued to run for Pres? What would a 25 year reign have done to democracy? What would happen today if we repealed term limits. Interesting mental exercise.
Date: 17th September 1940
Enemy action by day
Seemingly on account of weather conditions, reconnaissance activity was on a reduced scale, but a big attack was launched in the East Kent area about 1530 hours. This was met by 23 Fighter Squadrons some of which made successful interceptions and casualties were inflicted.
During the day our fighters destroyed 5 enemy aircraft (plus 4 probable and 2 damaged). In addition AA destroyed 2 enemy aircraft.
Own casualties 5 of which one pilot.
East Coast
Reconnaissances by single aircraft were made off the Wash and East Anglian Coast, and one of these aircraft approached North-East London.
South-East
Between 0730 and 1300 hours thirteen reconnaissances by single aircraft were made in East Kent, four of these up to 0930 hours flew towards Kenley, Biggin Hill and London. At about 1530 hours a series of formations totalling about 300 aircraft crossed the Coast at Lympne, Dover and Deal. The leading raid of 110 plus aircraft flew as far West as Maidstone, the remainder spread out over East Kent. The area of activity was bounded on the West by a line running North and South through Maidstone, and on the North by the Estuary which was not crossed. The Inner Artillery Zone was not penetrated. No 11 Group detailed 23 Squadrons to meet the attack while No 12 Group had 5 Squadrons patrolling at 15,000 to 20,000 feet north of the Estuary. From 1700 hours reconnaissance activity continued in the Dungeness area.
South and West
A few reconnaissances were made along the South Coast. In the course of these an inconclusive interception was made at 123 hours near Brighton, while a Ju88 which flew North to Filton from Portland was intercepted and shot down near Warminster.
One enemy aircraft flew across the Bristol Channel to North Wales and Liverpool area. Its return flight was made via Stoke and Oxford.
By night
Enemy activity was again concentrated mainly on the London area and the South-eastern Counties, with a few raids penetrating to Wales.
At about 1930 hours, the first hostile raids were plotted out of Cherbourg, Seine Bay and Dieppe areas, after which a steady stream of raids, mostly single aircraft, crossed the Coast between Selsey Bill and Dungeness. The majority flew towards the London area, but many of them turned South again without penetrating the AA barrage.
Between 2100 and 0030 hours, a number of raids flew to South Wales, some of which penetrated to the Liverpool area.
Raids were also plotted over East Anglia and in the Digby, Middlesborough and Glasgow areas.
Minelaying was suspected in the Thames Estuary and off Southwold and Foreness.
After 0100 hours, activity was almost entirely confined to London area, East Anglia and the South-eastern counties. Intensity slackened at 0230 hours but increased again at 0345 hours when further raids became active originating from the Dieppe area.
Some of the night raiders were plotted returning in the direction of Ostend and the Dutch Islands.
During the night, one Ju88 was destroyed by a Defiant of No 141 Squadron. AA guns claim to have destroyed 5 enemy aircraft but only two of these have so far been confirmed.
The Country was not free of raids at the close of this report.
________________________________________
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 17th September 1940
Casualties:
| Enemy Losses | ||
| By Fighters by Day | ||
| Destroyed | Probable | Damaged |
| 4 Me109 | 4 Me109 | 1 Me109 |
| 1 Ju88 | 1 Ju88 | |
| 5 | 4 | 2 |
| By Fighters by Night | ||
| 1 Ju88 | ||
| 1 | Nil | Nil |
| By Anti-Aircraft by Day | ||
| 2 Me109 | ||
| 2 | Nil | Nil |
| By Anti-Aircraft by Night | ||
| 2 E/A | ||
| 2 | Nil | Nil |
Patrols:
Balloons:
Aerodromes:
Organisation:
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