Date: 18th September 1940
- Weather: Bright and squally.
- Day: London and Merseyside bombed.
- Night: Heavy damage to London.
East Coast
3+ enemy aircraft appeared off Dover and after approaching Yarmouth, flew in and out along the coast line to Clacton finally escaping eastwards. At 1640 hours one section of Fighters was despatched to a convoy of Orfordness.
South-East Coast
Between 0700 and 0800 hours one aircraft entered by Shoreham and flew over London. Between 0800 and 0900 hours one aircraft, first noticed over Kent flew over London and returned out to sea by Dungeness.
First Major Attack
At 0900 hours 150 enemy aircraft were plotted concentrating in the Calais area. At 0927 hours 50+ aircraft crossed the coast near Hythe followed by another 50+. A further 50+ crossed the coast at North Foreland and entered Thames Estuary. One raid split and made North West across Kent, was driven back North East towards East Kent except for one portion which entered the London area. Another raid remained mostly in Kent with a split over Herne Bay going to Essex. The third raid split behind North Foreland, part being intercepted and driven back and part going across the Estuary to Hornchurch.
Second Major Attack
At 1215 hours enemy aircraft were again concentrating in the Calais area. At 1237 a raid of 100+ crossed the coast North of Dover and penetrated to Maidstone.
Another raid of 50+ followed, then further raids crossed the coast at Deal and also proceeded to Maidstone. These three movements constituted the first wave. At 1245 hours the second wave consisting of three raids of 54 aircraft crossed the coast near Dover leaving 12+ aircraft circling in the Straits. At 1300 hours, two raids totalling approximately 60+ aircraft were already in the London area with another 120+ distributed from Rye to the Mouth of the Thames. At 1300 hours enemy aircraft started to return home and by 1345 hours, the majority had left.
Third Major Attack
This attack started with about 100 enemy aircraft entering East Kent. At 1545 hours one half passed via the Thames Estuary and Shoreham to Detling, the other half went East to Maidstone leaving the coast at 1630 hours. By 1640 hours about 100 enemy aircraft crossed the coast in the Dover/Deal area and by 1700 hours seven more raids totalling about 200+ had followed, covering the Sheppey mid-Kent and Medway areas. These were rapidly repulsed by our fighters and driven back to the South-east coast by 1730 hours.
South and West
One enemy raid of 1+ aircraft left Cherbourg at 0900 hours and entering East of Portland flew to Bristol and left by the Needles. A convoy off Selsey Bill asked for help at 1711 hours and at 1735 hours the raid was intercepted and one enemy aircraft was destroyed.
By night
At 1955 hours London Central was given a "red" warning. Approximately 200 aircraft were plotted approaching Dungeness. This is the first time that such formations of aircraft have been plotted at night. Two raids came from the Dutch coast and proceeded to the North East Coast where they split three raids entering between Humber and Newcastle and two raids continuing to the East Coast towards Scotland. From 2100 hours onwards a steady flow of enemy aircraft were mainly concentrated on the London area. Enemy aircraft were plotted from many directions and not only from the usual areas. It is estimated that a greater number than usual were operative. The Liverpool area and the North East Coast had a number of raids, the Bristol area fewer than usual. Minelaying was suspected off the Norfolk Coast to the Wash and Spurn Head to St Abbs. At 0307 hours the London district was clear of enemy aircraft but at 0325 hours a fresh stream of enemy aircraft were approaching London from the Le Havre/Dieppe area.
At 0434 hours a further phase developed in the Thames Estuary from the Ostend area and at 0530 London received the "all clear". The rest of the country was also free of raids at this same time.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 18th September 1940
- Blenheim - 51
- Spitfire - 212
- Hurricane - 362
- Defiant - 25
- Gladiator - 5
- Total – 655
Casualties:
Enemy Losses Destroyed Probable Damaged 9 Me109 11 Me109 12 Me109 1 Me110 6 Do215 2 Do215 14 Do17 2 Do17 1 Do17 11 Ju88 2 Ju88 1 Ju88 5 He111 1 He111 3 He111 33 16 19 - Own:
- Twelve aircraft of which nine pilots are safe.
Patrols:
- Own
- During the night of 17th/18th September - 44 patrols involving 45 sorties.
- During the day of 18th September - 200 patrols involving 1210 sorties.
- Enemy
- It is estimated that about 200 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain during the night 17th/18th September and 800 during the day of 18th September.
Balloons:
- No report.
Aerodromes:
- No report.
Organisation:
- No 232 Squadron moved from Sumburgh to Wick on 17th September.
Home Security Reports
- General Summary
- Date: 18th September 1940
- Enemy bombing activity during the day of September 18th was confined to the Thames Estuary, where attacks were made on Tilbury (twice) and Port Victoria (Isle of Grain), and on several towns in Essex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The important targets at these points were not hit, but some civil damage and casualties resulted.
- After dark, and during the night of September 18th/19th, the attack was again concentrated on the capital, where many HE bombs and incendiaries were dropped in Central London and the surrounding districts. Little industrial damage such as would interfere with production has been caused, but some damage to buildings and communications, and some fires have been reported. Increasing use is being made by the enemy of parachute mines, the explosion of which produces an exceptionally severe blast, but casualties caused by this weapon appear to be comparatively moderate.
- Bombs also fell during the night in the Home Counties and isolated raids were made in Lincolnshire, Northumberland and Durham, and in Cornwall, but the damage caused in these attacks does not appear to have been heavy.
- Detailed Summary
- Tilbury: The town was heavily bombed at 0953 hours, when some houses were demolished, and again at 1720 hours when HE bombs fell in the civic square and further damage was done to property and utility services.
- Isle of Grain: The Medway Oil Company, Port Victoria, was attacked at 1615 hours; no damage was done to the Oil Company's premises, but an Admiralty Tank was set on fire and soon under control.
- Gillingham (Kent): Seven houses were demolished by HE bombs at 1255 hours, but casualties were confined to two killed and six seriously injured.
- London Area
- Ilford: The Plessey Company Works were hit by HE bombs at 2130 hours, and a fire was started, extensively damaging plant. No casualties were caused.
- Waltham Holy Cross: A fire in the Cordite section of the ICI Gunpowder Factory was caused by bombs at 2114 hours, but control was obtained at 2240 hours.
- Southall: At 2030 hours bombs fell at the Gas Light & Coke Co.'s premises, causing the fracture of a 30" coal gas main.
- Enfield: At 2058 hours unexploded HE bombs fell near the Royal Small Arms Factory and near a gun position.
- Acton: At 2230 hours a fire was caused by incendiary bombs at the I B Beaton & Sons' works. HE bombs caused some damage at the G A V Factory, but this is not considered serious.
- Westminster: A 30 pump fire was started at The County Hall, and it is believed that this was caused by a parachute mine which exploded at about 2330 hours. The fire was brought under control soon after midnight.
- Battersea: Incendiary bombs fell at the Morgan Crucible Co. at 2330 hours, but the only damage caused by the resulting fire was to a dust filter, which will have no effect on production.
- Fires
- Taylor's Depository, Pimlico (30 pumps)
- County Hall, Westminster (30 pumps) - in hand
- Hackney (20 pumps)
- Millwall (20 pumps) - in hand
- Waltham Holy Cross (8 pumps) - in hand.