Date: 23rd October 1940
- Weather: Low cloud and drizzle. Visibility poor.
- Day: Mainly reconnaissance.
- Night: Attacks on London and Glasgow. Minelaying off the Yorkshire coast.
Enemy action by day
Enemy activity was on a small scale, no raids being reported between 0600 and 1200 hours. All those plotted during the day, except one, appear to have been made by single aircraft. Our fighters damaged one enemy aircraft, but themselves suffered no loss.
Reconnaissances
South East
At 1240 hours an aircraft from Calais flew from Dover to Dungeness and Hastings, where it turned North and crossed the Inner Artillery Zone. This aircraft is reported to have attacked the Stanmore before returning across the IAZ and going across Kent. At 1245 a reconnaissance was flown off the North Foreland.
At 1323 hours a raid from Holland came into the Estuary over a convoy off Clacton, circled Harwich for ten minutes and returned to the Scheldt; this was followed at 1331 hours by another from Holland into the Estuary, over two convoys North West of Herne Bay and then to South East London and back to the Scheldt.
Between 1424 and 1522 hours a reconnaissance was made from the South of Orfordness to Luton, North of North Weald and Clacton.
At 1522 hours an unidentified aircraft crossed the coast between Southwold and Orfordness and flew to Peterborough, Grantham, Wittering, Duxford and Bury St Edmunds and faded North of Martlesham.
At 1547 hours a raid flew into the Estuary as far as Hornchurch.
At 1610 hours an aircraft from the Scheldt flew over a convoy in the Estuary and then via the Blackwater to Hornchurch, Gravesend and Rochester and back to Holland.
Between 1630 and 1700 hours two aircraft crossed the coast at Beachy Head but did not penetrate far inland. At 1700 hours an unidentified aircraft was off Southwold and a single enemy aircraft entered the Estuary and flew to Hornchurch, round the London area and out over Sheppey.
Between 1700 and 1800 hours a reconnaissance was made from the Dutch Coast to the Mouth of the Estuary.
South and West
At 1210 hours a single enemy crossed the coast near St Alban's Head, passed near Swindon and turned South to the Isle of Wight and Le Havre.
Between 1359 and 1440 hours a raid from the East of Cherbourg passed between two convoys off Portsmouth but did not cross the coast.
At 1536 hours a reconnaissance from the Caen areas flew over Portsmouth and Southampton.
Night Operations - 23rd/24th October 1940
1800 Hours to 2100 Hours
The first aircraft engaged on night operations was plotted leaving the Abbeville area at 1807 hours and between that time and 2100 hours activity developed on a moderate scale only, 10 tracks being plotted from the Dutch Islands via the Estuary to London, and 17 from the Somme area towards the same objective. At 2100 hours there was only one raid inland, flying East down the Estuary.
2100 Hours to 0100 Hours 24/10/40
Although slight activity was continued towards London, mainly from Eastern points, throughout this period, about 12 enemy aircraft began to penetrate the Yorkshire Coast from the East. These held their course until they reached the Western seaboard and were tracked a short distance out to sea off the Lancashire Coast. It is conjectured that these aircraft were minelaying as their speeds varied between 150 and 180 mph only. The majority returned on reciprocal courses, while other tracks returned on reciprocal courses, while other tracks indicated probable minelaying off the Lincolnshire and Yorkshire coasts. A few enemy aircraft may also have been minelaying in the Estuary.
0100 Hours to 0600 Hours
A series of 13 raids approached Montrose at 0150 hours, continuing West and returning reciprocally. South England was clear by 0152 hours, but new waves appeared from Dieppe at 0440 hours, and from Holland at 0500 hours heading for London. These raids were still in progress at 0600 hours.
________________________________________
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 23rnd October 1940
- Blenheim - 47
- Spitfire - 225
- Hurricane - 412
- Defiant - 26
- Gladiator - 8
- Total – 718
Casualties:
Enemy Losses By Fighters – By Day Destroyed Probable Damaged 1 Ju88 Nil Nil 1 - Own:
- Nil.
Patrols:
- Own
- During the night of 22nd / 23rd October - 9 patrols involving 11 aircraft.
- During the day of 23rd October - 32 patrols involving 79 aircraft.
- Enemy
- It is estimated that about 35 enemy aircraft operated over or near our coasts during the day of 23rd October.
Balloons:
- No report.
Serviceability of Aerodromes:
- No report.
Organisation:
- No 85 Squadron is now at Kirton-in-Lindsey.
Home Security Reports
- General Summary
- Date: 23rd October 1940
- During the day enemy aircraft activity was on a very small scale and was confined to a few isolated raids by single aircraft.
- Night activity commences at 1830 hours and was much less severe than for some long time. London appearing to be the main objective.
- Detailed Summary
- RAF Stations 23rd October 1940
- Kemble: An attack was made at 2100 hours but there was only negligible damage to one hangar.
- Fires - Nights of 22nd/23rd and 23rd/24th October 1940
- The number of fires reported during the last two nights in the London Region showed a considerable decrease and only one incident was serious, namely a 30 pump fire which was started at Messrs Whiteleys on the night of 22nd/23rd but was under control soon after midnight.
- A fire occurred at the saw mills belonging to Messrs Jones and Co Larbert, Stirlingshire, on the same night, causing damage estimated at £20,000 and production is reduced by 80 per cent.
- Elsewhere
- St Pancras: An attack was made at 1847 hours on the 23rd of October, causing considerable damage, including a large crater on the London main line, 2 holes through a bridge; also property and rolling stock suffered severely.
- National Gallery: A delayed action bomb exploded at 1340 hours, causing extensive structural damage.
- King George V Dock: An attack was made at about midnight and Shed No 14 was hit but details of damage are not yet available.