- Weather: Fine at the start and end of the day, cloudy in-between.
- Day: Reduced activity in the south-east and East Anglia.
- Night: Raids on London and Merseyside.
Enemy action by day
Apart from a sweep by enemy fighters through Kent westwards, and as far as Reading by one element, the day's activities consisted of reconnaissances, attacks on shipping and some inland flights.
Our fighters destroyed 3 enemy aircraft (plus 3 probable and 2 damaged), and in addition one was destroyed by Lewis Guns at Dover.
East Coast
Reconnaissances were made throughout the day off East Anglia, and in one instance to Duxford, and between 1300 and 1700 hours one convoy was attacked and two inspected by enemy aircraft.
Bombs are reported to have been dropped at Felixstowe.
At dusk an enemy aircraft with British markings is reported to have been minelaying near Farne Islands and to have fired at a Naval Unit with a torpedo.
South-East Coast
In the morning extensive reconnaissances took place off-shore in the East Kent and Thames Estuary areas. One Do215 flew inland at Ramsgate to Maidstone and Northolt and was shot down at Taplow.
At 1610 hours three formations of 50, 20 and 20 enemy aircraft crossed the Coast West of Dungeness at 10 minute intervals, while a further 12 aircraft went inland at Dover. The first raid flew westwards of the London area before wheeling South. A split however, flew towards Central London. The remainder penetrated only some 25 miles inland. All the enemy aircraft appeared to be fighters flying at a great height.
Between 1700 and 1800 hours reconnaissances by single aircraft were made in Kent, in one case Eastchurch and Detling being visited.
South & West Coasts
At 0910 hours one aircraft crossed the Coast at Lyme Bay and flew through Somerset to Wiltshire. At about 1127 hours one convoy was attacked in the Portsmouth area, and at 1135 hours a "Help" message was received from another off the North Wales Coast. Fighters failed to intercept.
Between 1800 and 1900 hours three small raids of 9+, 3+ and 3+ aircraft were plotted in St George's Channel, and intercepted. One enemy aircraft being destroyed.
Night Operations - 29th/30th September 1940
At 1930 hours the first enemy raids were plotted approaching the Coast at Shoreham from the direction of Dieppe. From 2000 hours onwards, a steady stream of raids crossed the Coast between Portsmouth and Beachy Head, the majority having London as their objective. A few, however, coming in over Portsmouth, flew North-west to the Middle Wallop area.
Between 2100 and 0200 hours, raids of 1 or 1+ aircraft crossed the Coast between Poole and Start Point and flew to the South Wales area, some continuing North to Liverpool.
A number of raids crossed the Coast at points between Clacton and the Wash. A few of these approached London from the North-east, whilst the others were active over East Anglia and the Midlands.
Raids were also plotted off Kinnairds Head, in the Aberdeen area and in the Firth of Forth.
At 0250 hours it was noticed that there was a definite tendency with the London raids to fly home Eastwards along the Estuary.
After 0200 hours activity was almost entirely confined to the South Eastern Counties and the London area. At 0230 hours, raids were approaching London both from the South and from the East.
Activity continued until 0305 hours when the last raids were plotted leaving this Country.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 29th September 1940
- Blenheim - 59
- Spitfire - 227
- Hurricane - 387
- Defiant - 16
- Gladiator - 8
- Total – 697
Casualties:
Enemy Losses By Fighters Destroyed Probable Damaged 1 Me109 1 Me109 1 Me109 1 Me(Jaguar) 1 Do215 1 Do17 1 He111 1 He111 3 3 2 By Lewis Gun, Dover 1 Ju88 1 Nil Nil By Anti- Aircraft 2 E/A 2 Nil Nil - Own:
- 5 aircraft with 3 pilots killed or missing.
Patrols:
- Own
- During the night of 28th/29th September - 53 patrols involving 65 sorties.
- During the day of 29th September - 121 patrols involving 451 sorties.
- Enemy
- It is estimated that about 200 enemy aircraft operated over or near our coasts during the night 28th/29th September and 180 (120 overland) during the day of 29th September.
Balloons:
- No report.
Aerodromes:
- No report.
Organisation:
- No report.
Air Intelligence Reports
- The following is an extract from the report of a reliable source recently in Amsterdam:- The people of Holland are tremendously impressed at the bravery, strength and extraordinary accuracy of the RAF bombings. Particular mention is made of the bombing of a factory about 3 weeks ago. The 'plane circled over the factory for half an hour and then dropped one single bomb which scored a bull's eye and completely wrecked the drafting department and the main machine shop. From all over the country reports of similar accuracy are passed about by word of mouth. (Source: Foreign Office)
Home Security Reports
- General Summary
- Date: 29th September 1940
- Between 0650 and 0900 hours enemy aircraft visited Berkshire, Essex, Kent and Surrey, but no incident of importance took place.
- Later in the morning East and South East England were subjected to an attack during which Lowestoft suffered the most damage.
- Several aircraft endeavoured to reach London during the afternoon but only a few were able to do this, and there were no major occurrences, but in the evening Sittingbourne was subjected to heavy bombing.
- Night operations commenced at about 2000 hours and it appears that the capital was again the main objective, but considerable activity took place over South and South East England, South Wales, the Midlands s far North as Liverpool, East Anglia, Aberdeen and the Firth of Forth area.
- Detailed Summary
- 29th September 1940
- Lowestoft: At 1120 hours 18 HE bombs were dropped near the naval base. A land mine was detonated and some ammunition exploded causing damage to property, water mains and telegraph wires. There were several casualties.
- Night 29th/30th September 1940
- Liverpool: An attack was made at about 2235 hours on this area which resulted in fires being started at Duke's Dock and Salthouse Dock. Four warehouses, including one containing grain, caught on fire.
- Sandhurst: HE bombs were dropped at 2120 hours at the Royal Military College, resulting in the bursting of a water main.
- Railway Communications
- These again received attention from the enemy but not on such a large scale as on the previous night. The principal incidents were as follows:-
- Willesden LMS Railway on siding.
- GWR main up and down lines between Acton middle signal box and Acton middle starter.
- The Southern Railway lies were blocked between Ashford and Feltham, also down line between St Margaret's and Twickenham.
- A severe fire either side of railway line between Ascot and Bagshot.
- Factories
- The following occurrences are reported:-
- An unspecified type bomb at Messrs Hoopers (Coach Builders) Ltd, Acton.
- Suspected unexploded bomb in the fitting shop at Messrs Napier & Son Ltd, Acton.
- Serious fire at Bryant Carton Factory, Mitcham.
- Damage at Messrs S Smith & Sons (MA), Waterloo Road, NW2.
- An unexploded bomb at Messrs Johnson & Sons Ltd, Hendon Way, which may have since exploded but this has so far not been verified.
- The City
- Bombing took place at 0015 hours causing several fires, the most serious being in Upper Thames Street. An unexploded bomb is also reported to have dropped in the South East corner of St Paul's Churchyard, as a result of which the traffic position is acute. Cheapside and Queen Victoria Street are already closed. Horse Shoe Wharf, Cannon Street and Carter Lane were also affected.