Date: 4th October 1940 
- Weather: Mist, rain and poor visibility throughout the day. Fog at night.
- Day: Stream of single raiders on London and the south-east.
- Night: Continuing raids on London. Liverpool also bombed.
Enemy action by day
Throughout the day activity was confined to raids by single aircraft or very small formations, the area concerned being the South East of England and London, and the time of principal concentration about 1500 hours. A few reconnaissances were made elsewhere.
During operations our fighters destroyed two enemy aircraft (plus three probable and four damaged). Our losses were three aircraft, and one pilot missing.
East Coast
Reconnaissances of shipping were reported: during one of these an interception was made with inconclusive results, the enemy escaping into cloud.
South East Coast
Inland and coastal flights and a few reconnaissance of convoys were made from 0600 to 1100 hours.
At about 0830 hours an Air Ministry Establishment at Fairlight was attacked.
At 1100 hours numerous single aircraft started crossing the Coast between Beachy Head and Dover, flying towards London. The activity gradually increased until about 1500 when it reached its peak, after which it decreased until 1645 hours, when a fresh stream started coming in. The majority of these flew only as far as Biggin Hill and
Kenley but some penetrated the Inner Artillery Zone. This activity ceased at 1730 hours. A few sporadic raids occurred until dusk.
Bombing was fairly extensive in Outer London, Kent, Surrey and Suffolk.
At 1725 hours all fighter Squadrons in 11 Group were grounded on account of weather.
South and West Coast
Between 1000 and 1100 hours two raids entered Lyme Bay; one flew to the Bristol Channel and Liverpool, and the other to the Bristol Channel, thence to Hereford and South East to Selsey.
At 1000 hours a single aircraft flew in at Selsey Bill to Farnborough where it circled for some time.
Night Operations - 4th/5th October 1940
1900 Hours to 2100 Hours
At about 1905 hours a stream of raids commenced from the Abbeville region on the most intense scale yet observed after dark. The enemy aircraft were shown as crossing the Channel in lines ahead spaced at 3 to 5 mile internals. A few raids also came from Baie de Seine over Shoreham. The stream from Abbeville was maintained and it is estimated that over 100 raids passed over the route in the two hours to 2100 hours, while at the same time the stream from Baie de Seine narrowed and became more active, with 20 or more raids passing during the hour 2000 to 2100. The target of all the above raids was London.
One raid also visited Bristol and two or three were apparently minelaying in the Thames Estuary. One raid also visited Liverpool.
2100 Hours to 2300 Hours
34 raids were plotted in between Beachy Head and Dungeness to London, but only eight pierced the central zone, the remainder spreading to South West and North West London and up to North Weald and Debden.
A further 24 raids followed to the same area, but spreading further and covering the whole of the South East, and as far West as Swindon.
Minelaying was suspected between Orfordness and Lowestoft.
Two raids from the North Dutch Coast visited Berwick and Newcastle, and Eyemouth and Dunbar.
2300 Hours to 0100 Hours
A further 12 raids from the South followed the usual route to South East England and 16 raids from the Dutch Coast flew in between Cromer and Harwich, across East Anglia, and then South over North West and West London and out at Beachy Head.
One raid entered at Solway Firth, to near Carlisle and then flew South the whole length of England and out at Weymouth.
By 0100 hours the country was clear.
At 0200 small activity recommenced and ten raids from Dieppe had flown to London by 0245 hours.
No further raids followed, and by 0330 hours the whole country was again clear.
There was no subsequent enemy activity reported during the period to 0600 hours.
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Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 4th October 1940
- Blenheim - 49
- Spitfire - 230
- Hurricane - 400
- Defiant - 20
- Gladiator - 8
- Total – 707
Casualties:
Enemy Losses By Fighters Destroyed Probable Damaged 2 Ju88 3 Ju88 1 Do17 2 He111 1 He111 2 3 4 - Own:
- 3 aircraft with one pilot missing.
Patrols:
- Own
- During the night of 3rd / 4th October - No patrols.
- During the day of 4th October - 61 patrols involving 171 aircraft.
- Enemy
- It is estimated that about 65 enemy aircraft operated over or near our coasts during the night 3rd / 4th October and 75 during the day of 4th October.
Balloons:
- No report.
Serviceability of Aerodromes:
- No report.
Organisation:
- No report.
Home Security Reports
- General Summary
- Date: 4th October 1940
- The enemy started the day by dropping bombs indiscriminately in Kent, Surrey, Essex and East Anglia, and damage was mainly confined to private property.
- In London the New Cross Telephone Exchange was hit and there was a certain amount of damage done to the railways.
- The night attack started at 1900 hours. London was the main objective and it will be noticed that certain towns received more than one visit. Kent again suffered very considerably. There are also reports to the effect that Liverpool and Newcastle were visited by enemy aircraft but no bombs were dropped.
- Detailed Summary
- RAF Stations - 4th October 1940
- Penrhos: This Aerodrome was attacked at 0645 hours. The office was demolished and nearby farm buildings were damaged.
- Factories - 3rd October 1940
- The Fairey Aviation Co was bombed at 2355 hours. A hangar and several aircraft are reported to be damaged.
- Factories - 4th October 1940
- An HE bomb caused a fire at Hawkers Aircraft Factory at Kingston. The shelter and stores were hit but only minor damage is reported.
- Some HE bombs were dropped in Erith and damage was done to the premises of Burt, Bolton and Heywood.
- Enfield Rolling Mills Cable Co received major damage from an HE at 2100 hours. The water supply is temporarily curtailed and production is slightly interrupted.
- Houghton Butcher's Factory was attacked at 2343 hours. Fire caused severe damage to 2 buildings but the effect on production is not yet known.
- Railways
- Some HE bombs were dropped at 1420 hours between Acton - South Acton Stations on the LMS Line. Traffic to Richmond and Kew Bridge has been affected.
- Euston Station was attacked at 1445. There was some minor damage and certain lines were temporarily blocked.
- Major damage occurred at Enfield at 2015 hours on the LNER track near Crews Hill Station. Both lines are damaged and traffic is stopped.
- An HE bomb exploded near Brentwood Station at 2340 hours and has caused damage to the permanent way. One engine is derailed and two trains are unable to proceed.
- A suspected delayed action bomb is situated to the East of the Station.
- Elsewhere - 3rd October 1940
- King George V Dock was bombed at 0445 hours but only No 3 Shed is slightly damaged.
- Major damage was caused by an HE bomb at Deptford at 1350 hours to the New Cross Telephone Exchange.
- An HE bomb fell at 2150 hours at Westerham causing a crater which partially blocked Road A25 and a considerable by-pass will be involved.
- Dover was shelled at 0601 hours - 0608 hours and 4 shells landed outside the Harbour.
Corrigendum
With reference to yesterday's report, it is now reported that the School of Interpretation is not closed and Interpretation is quite normal.