Date: 27th September 1940
- Weather: Fair in the extreme south and south-west. Cloudy in the Channel with light rain over southern England.
- Day: Heavy attacks on London and Bristol.
- Night: Further raids on London, Merseyside and the Midlands.
Enemy action by day
During the day, there were three major attacks on London and South-East England, and one smaller attack on Filton. Balloons were attacked at Dover.
Our fighters destroyed 131 enemy aircraft (plus 33 probable and 52 damaged) and AA guns shot down two (plus two probable). Our losses were 27 aircraft of which 18 pilots are killed or missing.
First Major Attack
About 0900 hours, some 180 enemy aircraft (100 fighters and 80 bombers) crossed the Coast between Folkestone and Dover in six formations at heights varying from 15,00 to 20,000 feet. No 11 Group sent up 13 Squadrons to meet this attack and 11 of these Squadrons intercepted. No 12 Group provided 4 Squadrons to patrol North Weald and Hornchurch. The attack was halted in the Maidstone - Tonbridge area but some enemy aircraft penetrated to Central and West London. By 0943 hours, raids were dispersing over the Coast from Shoreham to Dungeness.
Second Major Attack
Between 1147 and 1215 hours, six formations totalling 300 enemy aircraft crossed the coast between Dover and Lympne at heights varying from 12,000 to 29,000 feet, and headed towards the Chatham area. Twenty Squadrons were sent up and the main engagements took place over Kent and East Sussex. Enemy formations encountered were principally composed of fighters. Enemy dispersal commenced at 1230 hours and was practically completed by 1300 hours.
Third Major Attack
Between 1500 and 1526 hours, nine formations totalling about 160 enemy aircraft, of which probably half were bombers, crossed the coast between Dover and Brighton at an average height of 22,000 feet, and flew towards South London. The enemy formations were intercepted but about 20 aircraft appeared to penetrate to the Central London area. The last raids had recrossed the coast by about 1600 hours.
Attack on Filton
At 1120 hours two formations consisting of about 25 bombers escorted by 45 Me110s and some Me109s, crossed the coast near Swanage and flew to Filton. At Frome, the Me109s turned back. Eight Squadrons were despatched to meet the attack, one of which intercepted and dispersed the enemy formations before they reached the Bristol Aeroplane Co's Works, but Filton RAF Station was attacked from 11,000 feet. Formations were also intercepted on their return journey.
Dover
At 1143 hours, Dover Balloons were unsuccessfully attacked by three Me109s.
Patrols and Reconnaissances
During the greater part of the day, the enemy maintained patrols in the Channel.
In the evening, there was some reconnaissance activity off the South-East Coast, in the Estuary, and off East Anglia, the last probably being shipping reconnaissances over a convoy.
Night Operations - 27th/28th September 1940
Enemy activity was chiefly directed towards London from the French Coast and lasted from 1940 hours to 0600 hours, with a brief lull from 0215 to 0315 hours. Edinburgh was visited just after dusk and there were scattered raids in the Liverpool District, Birmingham and Nottingham, mostly up to midnight.
1930 to 2100 Hours
There were 18 raids to the London area which originated from Dieppe and Le Havre. Nine raids from Cherbourg crossed the Coast between Swanage and Selsey and made for the Bristol Channel area, some proceeding to Liverpool.
Four raids from the direction of Denmark crossed the coast North of St Abb's Head and proceeded to Edinburgh, after visiting a convoy.
2100 to 0100 Hours
55 raids were plotted of which the majority proceeded to London from Cherbourg and Dieppe. A few of these went as far North as Duxford.
Two or three raids visited the Liverpool district as well as one each to Birmingham and Nottingham.
No minelaying operations are suspected.
By 2300 hours the Western half of the Country was clear.
0100 to 0600 Hours
Raids continued to come in fairly steadily from the French Coast to the London area until 0215 hours.
Activity in the remainder of the Country was very slight.
At 0315 hours, there was renewed activity from the Abbeville area to London crossing the coast between Bexhill and Hastings. This stream continued until about 0600 hours when the last raids were recrossing the coast.
________________________________________
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 27th September 1940
- Blenheim - 53
- Spitfire - 214
- Hurricane - 391
- Defiant - 19
- Gladiator - 7
- Total – 684
Casualties:
Enemy Losses By Fighters 44 Me109 9 Me109 13 Me109 47 Me110 12 Me110 18 Me110 18 Ju88 6 Ju88 5 Ju88 7 Do215 2 Do215 7 Do215 3 Do17 2 Do17 5 Do17 1 Do? 1 Do? 11 He111 2 He111 3 He111 131 33 52 By Anti-Aircraft 2 E/A 2 E/A 2 2 Nil - Own:
- 27 aircraft with 18 pilots killed or missing.
Patrols:
- Own
- During the night of 26th/27th September - 34 patrols involving 34 sorties.
- During the day of 27th September - 138 patrols involving 939 sorties.
- Enemy
- It is estimated that about 350 enemy aircraft operated over or near our coasts during the night 26th/27th September and 850 during the day of 27th September.
Balloons:
- No report.
Aerodromes:
- No report.
Organisation:
- No report.
Air Intelligence Reports
- The Fuhrer has expressed a personal wish that all damage from future bombing should be made good immediately. It is stated that citizens suffering most must be the first to be freed from their material troubles and that all signs of bomb and fire damage should be removed as quickly as possible. This work was to be regarded as important war work (Source AA Stockholm).
- A neutral official recently returned from Berlin stated that night life has been considerably affected by the recent bombing, and all transport services both above and underground now cease at either 11 or 11.30 pm (Source AA Stockholm).
Home Security Reports
- General Summary
- Date: 27th September 1940
- During the day, enemy aircraft activity was on a much larger scale than usual, London, South East Coast and Bristol being the areas principally attacked. Night activity commenced at about 2017 hours, the Capital receiving most attention. South East England, Bristol Channel, South Wales, Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham and Edinburgh were also visited.
- Detailed Summary
- RAF Stations - 25th September
- Hendon: At 2245 hours approximately 300 incendiary bombs were dropped on the aerodrome which were promptly extinguished, causing only slight damage. An oil bomb weighing approximately 100 lbs was dropped and rebounded off a hangar and exploded but did not ignite. There was some damage.
- RAF Stations - 27th September
- Filton: A large enemy force attacked this aerodrome at 1136 hours, 2 bombs falling near the Operations Room, one on perimeter of dispersal tack and 5 in fields near the North corner of the landing ground. Serviceability was not affected and only damage was to one hangar, water pipe to hydrant and the field telephone. There was no damage to service aircraft.
- Penhurst, Speke, Burtonwood, Ringway and Mount Batten were also ineffectively attacked.
- London Area - Night 27th/28th September 1940
- It appears that damage was of a less serious nature than on previous night although communications were again affected and several fires started, but all these are now reported to be out or under control. A fire was started at The Thames Ammunitions Works but the damage was negligible.
- Dover
- At 1340 hours shelling commenced as a result of which 20 fell in the Harbour and along the sea front, causing little damage and only one casualty.
- Elsewhere - 26th/27th September 1940
- Southampton: Further information received regarding the attack made on 26th September indicates the following:-
- The Gas, Light and Coke Co: At best the production of gas will be suspended till Monday. After that time hope for 40-50 per cent of normal output half of which will be reserved for key points, bakeries, and installations of national importance. This will supply them with all they require.
- The Supermarine Aviation Co: Damage to both Woolston and Itchen Works sheds very widespread. However damage to plant, aircraft in course of construction and stores not estimated at more than 33 per cent. Restricted production however is continuing in subsidiary workshops.
- Birmingham: At 1735 hours on 27th September HE bombs were dropped in the grounds of the Dunlop Rubber Co Ltd, but very slight damage to the Works is reported.
- Coventry: Further to the attack made on the Standard Motor Co on 26th September, details now received state that the enamelling shop was completely wrecked and the car assembly and finishing shops temporarily affected. Other workshops suffered slight damage and the production of armoured cars and mine sinkers will probably be suspended for a considerable time. 200 employees are laid off and the damage is estimated at £100,000.