Date: 28th September 1940 
- Weather: The Channel, Straits and Thames Estuary cloudy otherwise generally fair to fine.
- Day: Raids on London and the Solent area.
- Night: Continued attacks on London.
Enemy action by day
Enemy activity consisted of a few isolated raids and three main attacks, of which two were delivered over Kent towards London and one was directed against the Portsmouth area. Two attacks on convoys are reported.
The number of enemy fighters employed appears to have greatly exceeded the number of bombers. Enemy aircraft are reported to have been stepped up to a great height and to have attacked our fighters from above and out of the sun. In some cases, slight haze hindered interception of raids.
Our fighters destroyed 6 enemy aircraft (plus 4 probable and one damaged). 16 of our fighters are lost or missing but 7 pilots are safe.
First Main Attack
At 0955 hours, raids totalling 120+ aircraft approached the Kent Coast, of which 70 penetrated inland in two waves. The first wave of 30 aircraft flew to Biggin Hill and about 6 of these reached Central London. The second wave did not penetrate further West than Maidstone. 17 Squadrons ere despatched to intercept these raids which finally dispersed at about 1040 hours. Enemy patrols were unusually active in the Straits during this attack.
Second Main Attack
At 1330 hours, about 160 aircraft of which about 35 were bombers, crossed the coast between Dungeness and Lympne and flew towards Maidstone and the Thames Estuary. These raids spread out over Kent but did not penetrate further West than a line Beachy Head - Maidstone - Isle of Sheppey. All operational squadrons of No 11 Group were employed against this attack and five Squadrons of No 12 Group patrolled Hornchurch and North Weald. By 1410 hours, enemy aircraft were flying back towards France.
Third Main Attack
At 1415 hours, some 60 enemy aircraft flew from Cherbourg towards Portsmouth. Some turned towards the Tangmere - Thorney Island area. The raids were met by five Squadrons of No 11 Group which were diverted from the Kent attack, and by four Squadrons of No 10 Group. Four Squadrons sighted the enemy. It is reported that none of the enemy crossed the Coast and that they jettisoned their bombs into the sea.
Other Activity
At about 1000 hours, raids of 1 and 1+ aircraft were plotted over Liverpool and a single enemy aircraft crossed the Coast at Shoreham and flew over Uxbridge. This latter track faded South of Kenley.
At 1515 hours, an attack on a convoy off Spurn Head was reported.
At 1610 hours, a raid of one aircraft was plotted over Bristol.
At 1730 hours, an attack on a convoy near the Thames Estuary was reported.
At 1732 hours, A Naval Unit is reported to have been attacked.
At 1920 hours, a single enemy aircraft attacked Dover.
Patrols and Reconnaissances
During the morning and again between 1700 and 1930 hours, patrols were active in the Straits.
Reconnaissances were plotted off St Abb's Head, North Foreland and the Thames Estuary, Beachy Head and the Isle of Wight.
Night Operations - 28th/29th September 1940
Enemy activity commenced at about 2000 hours when the first raids crossed the Sussex Coast and approached London. At the same time, raids which appeared to originate from the Dutch Islands crossed the Coast in the Wash area and penetrated over Lincolnshire and Norfolk to Digby, Peterborough and Nottingham. Raids were also plotted into the Liverpool area, returning over Wales.
At 2100 hours, a concentration of raids on London was plotted, crossing the Coast near Portsmouth and also between Beachy Head and Shoreham.
After midnight, activity spread westwards to include an area Selsey Bill - St Albans Head and North to Middle Wallop, but the main objective of most raids still appeared to be London and its Western suburbs. Two isolated raids were plotted in Oxfordshire, and two in the Bristol Channel.
By 0230 hours, raids were less in number but were still approaching London from the Coast of Sussex. Two raids were plotted in the Derby area.
At 0345 hours, a fresh stream of raids came from Dieppe towards London and activity over this area continued until 0550 hours.
During the course of the night, considerable minelaying was suspected off North Foreland and in the Thames Estuary.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 28th September 1940
- Blenheim - 57
- Spitfire - 214
- Hurricane - 390
- Defiant - 12
- Gladiator - 8
- Total – 681
Casualties:
Enemy Losses By Fighters Destroyed Probable Damaged 3 Me109 3 Me109 3 Me110 1 Ju88 1 E/A 6 4 1 - Own:
- 16 aircraft with 9 pilots killed or missing.
Patrols:
- Own
- During the night of 27th/28th September - 27 patrols involving 27 sorties.
- During the day of 28th September - 110 patrols involving 770 sorties.
- Enemy
- It is estimated that about 200 enemy aircraft operated over or near our coasts during the night 27th/28th September and 300 during the day of 28th September.
Balloons:
- No report.
Aerodromes:
- No report.
Organisation:
- No report.
Home Security Reports
- General Summary
- Date: 28th September 1940
- Enemy aircraft activity was on a much reduced scale, but a small number penetrated to London and bombs ere dropped in Poplar, Deptford and Woolwich shortly after 1000 hours.
- Three other efforts of little consequence were made during the afternoon over Hastings, Ramsgate, Folkestone, Eastbourne, Portsmouth and Southampton, and no bombs are reported as having been dropped at the last two mentioned places.
- Night activity commenced at about 2000 hours which was widespread, although London appeared to be the main objective, but the following areas were also visited, South and South East of England, East Anglia as far North as Lincolnshire, Nottingham, Derby, Liverpool and South Wales.
- Detailed Summary
- RAF Stations - 28th September
- Digby: An attack was made at 2234 hours when six incendiary bombs were dropped near the married quarters and Sergeants' Mess. The fires were extinguished and there was no damage.
- Railway Communications - Night 28th/29th September 1940
- These appear to be one of the main objectives and damage occurred as follows:-
- Crater between Twickenham and Strawberry Hill. Down line blocked.
- Suspected unexploded bomb stopping freight trains between Feltham and Neasden.
- Main up and down lines blocked by HE between Brentford and Chiswick.
- Up and down lines between Mortlake and North Cheam blocked by crater.
- HE blocking both lines at Hounslow.
- Guildford to West Clandon closed owing to mine.
- Southern Railway Crystal Place line blocked at Drewstead Road owing to HE.
- One track on Dorking-Horsham line blocked by incendiary bomb.
- Acton Lane Bridge damaged. Up and down electric line blocked.
- Down line from Barkson East - Honington unsafe to work owing to damage by HE.
- IB between Leatherhead and Effingham. Traffic suspended.
- Four railway tracks uprooted and bridge over railway rendered unsafe at Eastbourne.
- Southern Railway blocked West of Twickenham Station.
- Unexploded bomb affecting GWR main line at Acton.
- Factories - Night 28th/29th September 1940
- Major damage is reported at the factory of Messrs W Ottway & Co Ltd, Orion Works, Ealing, through an incendiary bomb which was dropped at 0008 hours and caused a fire, which is now believed to be under control.
- 200 IB and 20 HE bombs were dropped opposite the works of Messrs Vickers Armstrong at Weybridge, causing the road to be blocked, but it is reported that there is no damage to the factory.
- At 2340 hours HE was dropped at the Acton works of Messrs S & G Brown Ltd, causing severe damage to the offices and the destruction of part of the factory roof. No information is yet available as to the effect on production.
- Hospitals - Night 28th/29th September 1940
- Several hospitals were hit including West Middlesex Heston, Staines Emergency, St Bernards (Uxbridge) and Barnes Isolation.
- Elsewhere - 26th/27th September 1940
- At 0100 hours on 29th September 6 HE were dropped between Somerford Bridge and The Air Defence Experimental Establishment.