Date: 28th October 1940
- Weather: Misty in northern France. Fog over the Thames Estuary and Straits clearing later.
- Day: Convoy off Dover and shipping in the Thames Estuary attacked. London attacked during the afternoon.
- Night: Widespread attacks across the country.
Enemy action by day
Two minor sweeps and one major attack were made in the South East area, the latter in conjunction with a demonstration in the Portsmouth area. In none of these did enemy aircraft penetrate to Central London.
Reconnaissances were fairly active in the Estuary and the Bristol Channel during the period.
During the day's operations, four enemy aircraft were destroyed (plus 7 probable and 8 damaged). Our losses were nil.
Enemy Attacks
First Attack 1300 Hours
20 to 30 enemy aircraft crossed the Coast to Dungeness and flew on a 5 mile front towards Biggin Hill but split into several sections and turned away before reaching it. They were recrossing the Coast by 1315 hours.
Second Attack 1427 Hours
18+ enemy aircraft flew in from Dover to Maidstone and the Biggin Hill area. As in the previous sweep, penetration was not made further North West. The enemy were heading South East by 1440 hours.
Third Attack 1605 Hours
While 65+ aircraft were circling off Calais, a raid of 30+ flew Northwards from Le Havre towards the Isle of Wight. They were over Portsmouth at 1630 hours and remained there until 1650 hours. Meanwhile, of the Calais formations which had increased, 20 made a landfall at Dungeness and flew to Maidstone, and 80 - crossing at Beachy Head - made for Biggin Hill. Neither raid penetrated further than the Biggin Hill - Kenley area and they were recrossing the Coast by 1635 hours.
At 1642 hours, fresh formations of 50, 30+ and 50 aircraft came inland between Beachy Head and Dungeness, one raid going to Hornchurch and the others to Biggin Hill. They were all retiring Eastwards down the Estuary and across the South Coast by 1710 hours.
Bombs are reported at various localities although only Me109s appear to have been operating.
Two Squadrons were despatched to the Portsmouth feint and 9 Squadrons to the Kentish attack.
Reconnaissances
Activity was slight in the early morning but had increased by noon. Flights were made over convoys in the Straits and Estuary and off the Cornish Coast, and 8 single aircraft were plotted in the Bristol Channel.
Several reports on shipping off the East Coast were made by enemy aircraft.
Inland flights were made to East London, Luton, Debden, Maidstone and to Birmingham (twice).
In all 8 interceptions were made of which two were successful (plus 2 probable and 4 damaged).
Attacks on Shipping
At 1152 hours, a 'Help' signal was received from a convoy off Dover. Fighters were on the spot almost at once.
At 1310 hours, a drifter was sunk off Southwold by an enemy aircraft.
At 1450 hours, 14 enemy aircraft were plotted off Harwich. Three of these flew inland for a short distance, while the others remained near a convoy.
Night Operations - 28th/29th October 1940
Enemy activity was again on the reduced scale of recent nights. Early raids were widespread over most of the Country and the main objectives were London and its suburbs, and the Midlands where Birmingham received most attention.
The first raids showed strengths of 1+ to 3+ aircraft, but later raids were plotted as single aircraft. The first raider reached Beachy Head at 1843 hours from the direction of Abbeville.
One enemy aircraft was shot down by AA guns near Poole and another was damaged by No 85 Squadron, near Binbrook.
1900 Hours to 2100 Hours
31 raids were plotted from the Cherbourg and Le Havre areas, crossing the Coast between Swanage and Beachy Head. From other French sources - in particular, Dieppe - 44 raids were plotted to the Coast between Selsey Bill and North Foreland. 15 raids originated from the Dutch Coast. Activity was fairly widespread over most of the Country, but the majority of raids made London and its suburbs their objective, although many appeared to turn back without penetrating the Inner Artillery Zone. In the Midlands, Birmingham was the principal target but raids were also plotted over Liverpool, Manchester, Coventry and Reading. One or two raids appeared in the Sunderland area while others were plotted near aerodromes in Lincolnshire and East Anglia. Minelaying was suspected by about 6 raids in the Estuary.
2100 Hours to 0100 Hours 29/10/40
43 incoming raids were plotted from the French Coast, and about 12 from the direction of Holland. London and Birmingham continued to be the main objectives. Between 2100 and 2300 hours, there was considerable activity along the Coast Between Newcastle and Aberdeen but no penetration inland of more that a few miles. Enemy activity lessened considerably towards the end of this period.
0100 Hours to 0600 Hours
A few sporadic raids from the Dutch Coast continued the attack on London via the Estuary. One raid penetrated towards Bedford before recrossing the Coast at Southwold.
________________________________________
Statistics
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 28th October 1940
- Blenheim - 44
- Spitfire - 219
- Hurricane - 385
- Defiant - 18
- Gladiator - 8
- Total - 674
Casualties:
Enemy Losses By Fighters – By Day Destroyed Probable Damaged 2 Me109 4 Me109 5 Me109 2 Ju88 1 Ju88 1 Do17 2 Do215 1 Do215 1 He111 4 7 8 By Fighters – By Night 1 E/A Nil Nil 1 By Anit-Aircraft 1 E/A 1 Nil Nil - Own:
- Nil.
- With reference to yesterday's report, one pilot and aircraft reported missing on 27th October are now known to be safe, thereby reducing the casualties for the day to 8 aircraft and 4 pilots.
Patrols:
- Own
- During the night of 27th / 28th October - 33 patrols involving 33 aircraft.
- During the day of 28th October - 117 patrols involving 606 aircraft.
- Enemy
- It is estimated that about 250 enemy aircraft operated over or near our coasts during the day of 28th October.
Balloons:
- No report.
Serviceability of Aerodromes:
- No report.
Organisation:
- No 421 Flight from Gravesend to West Malling.
- No 141 Squadron from Gatwick to Gravesend.
- No 264 Squadron (1 Flight) Luton to Hornchurch, (1 Flight) Martlesham to Hornchurch.
Home Security Reports
- General Summary
- Date: 28th October 1940
- During the morning enemy aircraft were active on a small scale over East Anglia.
- In the afternoon Kent and East Sussex were the areas affected and in the evening a large scale attack was attempted on London which failed, but bombs were dropped in Surrey and Kent.
- Night activity commenced at about 1840 hours and was widespread during the early part of the night with Birmingham and the Capital appearing to be the main objectives.
- From midnight onwards the concentration was on the London suburbs and South East England.
- Detailed Summary
- RAF Stations 26th October 1940
- Farnborough: It is now reported that this station was attacked at 1345 hours by a single aircraft presumed to be a Ju88 which passed over the aerodrome and dropped 3 bombs in the residential area east of the Station.
- RAF Stations 27th October 1940
- Binbrook: At 1755 hours, an attack was made by 3 Ju88 aircraft flying low from the North East and was preceded by 5 minutes by one reconnaissance He111 at 4,000 feet. Bombs were dropped causing 19 craters across the aerodrome and damage to hangar. The aerodrome is partly unserviceable by day and at present unserviceable for night flying.
- Driffield: At 1800 hours, bombs were dropped causing the following damage:-
- Water mains which will be repaired with 12 hours.
- Sgt. Pilot's quarters.
- Shelter trench demolished.
- One heating duct badly damaged.
- Night-flying equipment store damaged.
- 6 craters on the aerodrome.
- Station Headquarters damaged.
- Slight damage to Guard Room and other buildings.
- Direct hit on No 2 Hangar.
- Altogether 24 bombs were dropped and a machine-gunning attack was also made. The bombs used were found to be of concrete and aluminium construction.
- Massingham: At 1900 hours, 20 He bombs were dropped causing slight damage to a building and to two aircraft. The casualties were 4 killed and 7 injured.
- Linton on Ouse: At 1815 hours, an attack was made by three enemy aircraft believed to be Ju88s and bombs were dropped causing 14 craters on and around the aerodrome and damage to three aircraft, one motor bus, and buildings. It was expected that the whole aerodrome surface would be serviceable by noon on the 28th October.
- RAF Stations 28th October 1940
- Digby: Incendiary leaves were dropped close to the aerodrome at 2050 hours. They appeared to fall from a container, spreading over a fairly large area and were alight in the air but extinguished before reaching the ground.
- Hawkinge: Bombs were dropped just outside the Camp at 1030 hours but there were no casualties and no damage.
- Biggin Hill: At 1947 hours, approximately 300 incendiary bombs fell on the aerodrome. All fires were extinguished and there were no casualties.
- Night of 28th/29th October 1940
- Birmingham
- The City again received fierce attack and there were altogether 230 incidents reported about 32 of which involved damage by high explosive bombs, the remainder being fires caused by incendiary bombs including several oil bombs. The most serious fire was New Street Station where a fire started on No 3 platform and spread to platforms No 4 & 5, Midlands Parcel Office, Refreshment Room and offices and other building on the Station. The latest report regarding this fire is that he whole station is enveloped in flames.
- The Cathedral, Woolworth's and the Army and Navy Stores were amongst the many other buildings which were affected by fire.
- Ipswich
- A new type of bomb is reported to have been used by the enemy during an attack at about 1800 hours on the evening of the 27th October when 200 of these were dropped. The description of this bomb is as follows:- The complete case and bomb are small in size approximating to a CD respirator container 3½" diameter. The outer case enclosing the bomb is coloured a very dark green (typical German Field Service) and is ribbed. The interior bomb is almost a black lead grey. The case halves opening into flaps acting on powerful springs. When it bursts on percussion it makes a small crater but the resultant violent explosion may be felt up to 50 feet.
- London
- A 50 pump fire broke out at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich but was under control by about 0200 hours on the morning of the 29th October.
- The only other serious incident reported was major damage at Southwark which occurred at 0140 hours on the 29th October when a Public Shelter was hit containing 400 people, the casualties being 100.