[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
German Fighter Range and British Radar Deployment
Marcks’ Plan, August 5, 1940
The Mediterranean Basin (Map 33)
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

Plus a special guest map from Michael Korda’s, “With Wings Like Eagles,” showing the air defenses of England and Wales, August 1940.

[CougarGA7]

Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

Date: 16th October 1940

• Weather: Fog widespread in Germany and France. Wet and misty night.
• Day: Quiet.
• Night: Limited attack on London by single aircraft.

  Enemy action by day

  Enemy activity, which was on a very small scale, was confined almost entirely to sporadic raids by single aircraft, the majority of which operated in the South-East. Several of these raids approached the Inner Artillery Zone but only one is reported to have penetrated to London. An isolated raid was plotted near Arbroath where an attempt to intercept was made without success, and others were plotted in the Liverpool, Swansea, Cardiff and Gloucester areas.

  A few reconnaissances were made to the South and South-East Coasts and into the Thames Estuary.

  Patrols were maintained in the Channel and Straits and off the Dutch Coast.

  Our fighters damaged one enemy aircraft near Ashford. We lost one aircraft, but the pilot is safe.

  Night Operations - 16th / 17th October 1940

  Enemy activity was on a heavy scale until midnight, after which only a few isolated raids entered the Country. The main attack was directed against London and suburbs, but a small number of early raids visited Wales and the Midlands. A large proportion of raids originated from the direction of Holland.

  1900 Hours to 2100 Hours

  Raids from the Dutch Coast entered the Estuary and crossed near Harwich, the majority flying due West to approach London from the North. A few spread out North over East Anglia and up to the Wash and Humber areas. Enemy aircraft from the Somme area crossed the Coast near Beachy Head and those from Baie de la Seine crossed near Shoreham, all with London as their objective. A number of raids from Cherbourg crossed near Portland and flew to Bristol, South Wales, Midlands and in a few cases to Liverpool. Two raids were plotted in the neighbourhood of the Orkneys. One enemy aircraft crashed near Bishops Stortford at 1920 hours and another South-West of Denbigh at about 1930 hours. The cause is at present unknown in either case.

  2100 Hours to 2300 Hours

  Heavy activity continued, with a large number of raids from the Dutch Coast, crossing between Southwold and the Estuary, most of which flew to London. A few raids appeared to be active over East Anglia, and some were suspected of minelaying off Harwich. Rids from the French Coast crossed between Beachy Head and Dungeness and flew towards London. Some raids were still operating over the Midlands but few fresh incoming raids were plotted in this area. One raid from the direction of Norway or Denmark crossed the Coast South of Leuchars, flew inland to Perth, and after circling recrossed the Coast at Montrose.

  2300 Hours to 0100 Hours 17/10/40

  A number of fresh incoming raids decreased considerably. Activity appeared to be confined almost entirely to London and the suburbs, and the majority of raids originated from the direction of Dieppe.

  0100 Hours to 0500 Hours

  Isolated raids continued to approach London. At 0600 hours three raids were plotted travelling in an Easterly direction from the Inner Artillery Zone the rest of the Country being clear of raids.

  

  ________________________________________

  Statistics

  Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 16th October 1940

• Blenheim - 46
• Spitfire - 225
• Hurricane - 421
• Defiant - 17
• Gladiator - 8
• Total – 717

  Casualties:

  	Enemy Losses
  	By Fighters – By Day
  Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
  		1 Do215
  	By Night
  2 E/A Cause Unknown
  2	Nil	1

• Own:

• 1 Hurricane of which the pilot is safe.

  Patrols:

• Own

• During the night of 15th / 16th October - 40 patrols involving 41 sorties.
• During the day of 16th October - 73 patrols involving 234 sorties.

• Enemy

• It is estimated that about 40 enemy aircraft operated overland during the day of 16th October.

  Balloons:

• No report.

  Serviceability of Aerodromes:

• No report.

  Organisation:

• No report.

  Home Security Reports

• General Summary

• Date: 16th October 1940

• Only slight enemy activity was observed during the day and no bombs were dropped in the London area. Slight damage reported in Kent, Midlands & Scotland.
• After nightfall, attacks on Central London were not of the same intensity of late probably due to adverse weather conditions; however, bombing is reported over a widespread area in the suburbs together with attacks in South Wales, Perth and Birmingham.
• It is reported that the bombs which fell on the Great Western Railway Goods Depot at Lambeth are of extremely light material with a very high penetrating power. According to pitting of walls and buildings, fragments appear to spread low over the ground as well as up into the air. They appear to be a combination of very high explosives and incendiary bombs of a small type.

• Detailed Summary

• RAF Stations 16th October 1940

• North Weald: At 0300 hours on 16th October, HE, IB and OB were dropped. One UXB necessitates care in landing and one heavy calibre bomb was dropped in the ground of the Cable and Wireless Station to the East of the Aerodrome. No damage to building reported.
• Ternhill: At 0721 hours on the 16th, 4 HE and 6 IB were dropped., destroying one hangar and slightly damaging two others together with adjacent buildings. Eight Ansons were destroyed and 2 Blenheims and un-named other aircraft damaged. Five casualties resulted, including one civilian who was seriously injured.
• Attacks were also made on Biggin Hill and Kirkwall. No details to hand.

• Other damage

• Dagenham: Fires were reported at Mays & Baker, Ford Motor Works, Briggs Motor Bodies and Pritchard Gold & EPS Company. Effect on production of those companies is not yet known.
• Owing to interruption of gas supply, production of Non-Ferrous Die Casting Co of North Circular Road is reported to have ceased.
• The Air Ministry Intelligence at Ritchings Park was severely damaged by a mine and it is reported that another unexploded mine is in the vicinity.
• An unexploded HE is reported in the Slaughter Houses of Caledonian Market which it is believed will vitally affect distribution of meat in North London.
• An enemy aircraft machine-gunned the streets of Brockworth (Glos) without effect and it is also reported that a goods train was machine-gunned on two occasions at Yockleton near Shrewsbury.
• St Pancras: Traffic is at a standstill owing to unexploded mine. Interruptions to traffic are also reported at Crayford, between Orpington and Chelsfield, Sutton and Wimbledon (residents alongside evacuated), Chadwell Heath (LNER Station).
• An unexploded bomb is reported at Beckton Gas Works, East Ham.