Date: 30th September 1940
- Weather: Generally fair but cloudy with light winds.
- Day: Fighter sweeps towards London, but few bombs dropped.
- Night: London attacked.
Enemy action by day
Four attacks of considerable weight were made over East Kent, one of which spread westwards, and two others took place in the Portland area. The second of these synchronised with the fourth attack (which spread westwards) in Kent.
Other activity consisted of reconnaissance flights along the Coasts, and investigation and attacks on shipping were again reported.
Our fighters destroyed 45 enemy aircraft (plus 32 probable and 29 damaged), and in addition one destroyed by AA.
Our losses amounted to 20 aircraft with 8 pilots killed or missing.
North and North-East Coast
At 1030 hours single enemy aircraft approached the Firth of Forth but turned away when 40 miles to sea.
East Coast
At Ju88 which made a reconnaissance of Chesterfield at 0630 hours re-crossed the Coast at the Humber and was shot down.
Later a Naval Unit was bombed off Harwich. Reconnaissance of two convoys off Yarmouth and later off Cromer, were made at 0900 and 0930 hours.
At 1010 hours a hostile reconnaissance was made over Bedford, Cardington, Duxford, Debden and Eastchurch.
Between 1200 and 1300 hours other reconnaissances were made and a convoy reported that it was being shadowed.
At 1700 hours a single enemy aircraft crossed the Coast at Bawdsey penetrating only a few miles inland.
South-East Coast
From 0635 hours single enemy aircraft were active from the Estuary to Beachy Head and inland in two cases to Farnborough and Worthing.
Kent - 1st Attack
At 0900 hours formations of 30 aircraft including 12 bombers and 50 aircraft all fighters, crossed the Coast East and West of Dungeness respectively. They were preceded by a single aircraft which flew in over Rye. The attack penetrated to Biggin Hill and Kenley. Meanwhile another raid of 12 aircraft patrolled Dungeness eastwards of the attack, just inland, and 50 additional aircraft remained off-shore at Dover.
Kent - 2nd Attack
At 1010 hours 75 enemy aircraft composed of bombers with fighter escort crossed at Dungeness and again flew to Biggin Hill - Kenley area where the formations were broken up. 25 enemy aircraft patrolled the Straits. By 1030 hours the raids had turned South.
Kent - 3rd Attack
At 1310 hours some 100 enemy aircraft with 18 others in advance, flew inland at Lympne. A second wave brought up the total to about 180 aircraft in all, with 40 more patrolling at Dover. The formation of 18, followed by the main body, spread inland on a general for London. It was principally held up 20 miles from Central London, but 9 aircraft consisting of JU88s and Me109s penetrated while others approached the South-Western suburbs. The aircraft were recrossing the Coast at 1345 hours.
Kent - 4th Attack
At 1608 hours four raids totalling about 200+ enemy aircraft flew from Dungeness to Biggin Hill and scattered over East Kent from Kenley to Hornchurch. Some flew West and approached Weybridge from the South. These again turned West down the Thames Valley as far as Reading. Dispersal continued and aircraft were over Middle Wallop, North of Tangmere and near Winchester. Bombers predominated in this attack which finished at about 1730 hours. 1700-1900 hours - Patrol activity continued in the Estuary, Straits and Beachy Head to Dungeness.
South & West Coasts
Portland - 1st Attack
At 1055 hours 100 enemy aircraft crossed the Coast at St Albans Head of which 50 came from Cherbourg and 50 from the Seine. A split of 25 flew across Dorset and Devon to the Somerset border, but the remainder penetrated inland only some 15 miles. The raid was over by 1200 hours. No 10 Group detailed one squadron to patrol Bristol, while the other Squadrons were detailed to counter the attack. No 11 Group sent four Squadrons to patrol Portsmouth-Southampton.
Portland - 2nd Attack
At 1635 hours, while the East Kent raid was in progress, 50 aircraft flew over Portland, a further 50 following the Coast to Lyme Bay. These joined the first formation and flew inland some 20 miles. Weymouth was bombed and damage is also reported in the Yeovil area. By 1700 hours the aircraft were returning to France. At 1730 hours a reconnaissance of Southampton was made by a single aircraft.
Night Operations - 30th September to 1st October 1940
There was considerable enemy activity over a widespread area during the earlier part of the night, but after 2330 hours raids were less in number and from 0100 hours onwards, were confined almost entirely to an area South of a line from the Wash to St David's Head.
At 1900 hours, the first night raiders were plotted leaving Seine Bay. These crossed the Coast at Selsey Bill and headed for London. Raids from the Dutch Coast crossed between Orfordness and Harwich, and some of them penetrated through Duxford/Debden areas to approach London from the North.
From 2100 hours onwards, raids from Cherbourg and Havre flew to the Isle of Wight and then to Bristol Channel, spreading to South Wales and the Midlands and up to the Liverpool and Mersey area.
From 2200 hours, raids approaching from the East crossed the Coast between the Wash and the Thames Estuary, some heading for London, whilst others spread over East Anglia, penetrating through Lincolnshire to the Nottingham area.
It was estimated at 0530 hours that 275 enemy aircraft had operated over or around this Country of which 175 penetrated to Central London.
Minelaying was suspected in the Firth of Forth, Thames Estuary and off Harwich.
Activity continued until about 0600 hours, when the last raids were leaving the Country.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 30th September 1940
- Blenheim - 45
- Spitfire - 218
- Hurricane - 403
- Defiant - 13
- Gladiator - 8
- Total – 687
Casualties:
Enemy Losses By Fighters Destroyed Probable Damaged 24 Me109 20 Me109 7 Me109 7 Me110 4 Me110 7 Me110 7 Ju88 3 Ju88 4 Ju88 1 He113 1 Do17 6 Do17 2 Do215 2 Do215 4 He111 2 He111 5 He111 45 32 29 By Anti-Aircraft 1 Me109 1 Nil Nil - Own:
- 20 aircraft with 8 pilots killed or missing.
Patrols:
- Own
- During the night of 29th/30th September - 25 patrols involving 25 sorties.
- During the day of 30th September - 168 patrols involving 1,173 sorties.
- Enemy
- It is estimated that about 180 enemy aircraft operated over or near our coasts during the night 29th/30th September and 650 during the day of 30th September.
Balloons:
- No report.
Aerodromes:
- No report.
Organisation:
- No 312 Squadron has moved from Duxford to Speke.
- No 308 Squadron has moved from Speke to Baginton (Coventry).
- No 257 Squadron has moved from Martlesham to Debden.
- No 263 Squadron has moved from Drem to Grangemouth.
- No 71 Squadron (Brewsters) is at Church Fenton.
- No 234 Squadron has moved from St Eval to Middle Wallop.
- No 238 Squadron has moved from Middle Wallop to St Eval.
Air Intelligence Reports
- Italy
- Italian aircraft previously reported transferring to German occupied territory are now known to have arrived in Belgium.
- The Italian Air Force was completely inactive on all fronts on September 28th.
Home Security Reports
- General Summary
- Date: 30th September 1940
- There was considerable enemy aircraft activity during the day and three attacks were directed against the Capital including a dive-bombing attack on Uxbridge (Greenford area).
- The South and South-West of England were also visited, the main concentration being on Bexhill, Hastings, Sherborne and Weymouth.
- Night operations commenced at about 1945 hours and were wide-spread during the earlier part of the night, but London again appeared to be the main objective. Activity was on a slightly larger scale than on the previous night and the following areas were visited - South and South-East England, Bristol Channel and South Wales, the Midlands as far North as Liverpool, and East Anglia.
- Aircraft were also in the vicinity of Aberdeen and the Firth of Forth.
- Detailed Summary
- RAF Stations
- Manston: An attack was made at 1550 hours when bombs were dropped on the South-West corner of the Aerodrome. There was no damage to personnel or aircraft.
- Bodney: At 0425 hours four HE and forty incendiary bombs were dropped but no damage was reported.
- Factories - 29th/30th September 1940
- The following information has been reported:-
- Messrs. Bowden (Engineers) Ltd and Messrs G Beaton & Sons Limited of Acton. Production affected by failure of electric supply.
- A fire occurred at Renaults Factory, Acton.
- LEP Transport, Chiswick. Roof of Bond Warehouse and 1 lathe damaged.
- Gas Light & Coke Co, Nine Elms. Slight damage.
- Messrs Strachans Factory, North Acton. Damage to glass, but production will not be affected if weather holds.
- Tate & Lyle's Factory at Silvertown. Damage to Offices and Laboratory. Production not affected.
- The Celotex Factory, Wembley. Fire caused by incendiary bomb. 500 tons of wood pulp destroyed.
- Factories - 30th September 1940
- At 2045 hours a fire was started at CAV Ltd, Acton but this is under control and it is believed that production will not be affected.
- An unexploded bomb is reported at the AEC Works, Southall.
- Railway Communications - 29th/30th September 1940
- The following information is available regarding recent attacks:-
- HE on locomotive shed at Nine Elms.
- Crystal Palace main level line blocked.
- Woolwich Dockyard and Station, unexploded bomb on Embankment and at Wellhall Station, as a result of which most services are suspended.
- Fire at Stonebridge Park Siding.
- HE at Horn Lane Bridge.
- Central line service suspended between North Acton and Ealing Broadway.
- Ealing Common Station out of use owing to escape of gas due to bomb damage.
- Metropolitan Railway closed between Kings Cross and Moorgate and suspended between Latimer Road and Addison Road, also Fenchurch Street and Marylebone.
- Railway Communications - 30th September 1940
- Incendiary bombs dropped at 2005 hours. Set alight to rollingstock at Willesden.
- Elsewhere - 30th September 1940
- Bexhill: Two attacks were made, one being at 0810 and the second at 1030 hours. These resulted in considerable damage to house property, gas and water mains. Trolley bus cables were severed and fires started which are not reported under control.
- Grantham: At about 2045 hours HE bombs were dropped on the Works of Messrs, Ruston, Hornsby & Co Ltd, causing extensive damage to water, gas and electricity mains. The part of the Works on the East Side engaged in the manufacture of ship fittings will be out of production for a considerable length of time. The Section on the West Side working on tank parts and depth charges will be in production again in a day or so.
- The casualties are reported as being five killed and eighteen injured.
- Uxbridge (Greenford Area): A dive bombing attack was made by six aircraft at 1350 hours when 100 bombs were dropped causing very severe damage which included 400 houses. A sub-station of the Uxbridge Electric Supply Co received a direct hit and there was extensive damage to mains which affected 1,000 small consumers. The casualties so far reported amount to 13 persons killed and 106 injured.
- Dover: Between 1124 and 1148 hours the Town was again subjected to shell fire. One house and a garage were wrecked and 210 houses damaged, including a Bank and the Police Station. The casualties are reported as being one killed and 11 injured.
- Coventry: Production on the Bristol Aircraft Section as the Standard Motor Co, is being held up by the strike which still continues, although 50 tin smiths today restarted work.
- London: The Metropolitan Water Board reports that 42" diameter and 48" diameter mains from Kempton Park to Cricklewood were broken at about 2030 hours. Positions of breakages are at present unknown and the matter is under immediate investigation. The supplies at North and North-West London will be seriously affected and the supplies to West London will be affected to a less extent.
