Date: 17th August 1940

• Weather: Fine in the Channel, haze and some cloud in the east.
• Day: Activity limited to reconnaissance sorties. Fighter Command faces pilot shortage.
• Night: Light raids on the Midlands, Merseyside and South Wale

Enemy action by day

Apart from a few isolated reconnaissance flights on the South and East Coasts, and over one or two aerodromes, there has been little enemy activity over Great Britain today.

East Coast

Reconnaissance flights were plotted from Calais to North Foreland and along the coast to Yarmouth over convoys. At 1305 hours, one hostile raid crossed the North Sea 30 miles off the East Anglian Coast within sight of two convoys, but did not attack. At 1508 hours, one hostile reconnaissance was plotted near a convoy, but faded going south to Dunkerque. At about 1700 hours, a raid of 1+ aircraft appeared in the Thames Estuary where anti-aircraft guns opened fire. This raid entered the Central London area, and bombs were reported near Hornchurch. At 1820 hours, a hostile reconnaissance was reported over the Thames at 35,000 feet.

South Coast

In the very early morning and enemy aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire at Southampton.

After 0900 hours, reconnaissance flights were plotted along the coast to south of Newhaven and to Bembridge, Isle of Wight. At 1204 hours, 3+ aircraft appeared flying north towards Portsmouth, but turned away on sighting our fighters. At about 1230 hours, six enemy aircraft appeared flying from Shoreham towards Selsey Bill. Fighters were despatched but no interception was reported.

Between 1300 and 1600 hours, about 3 small raids of 1 aircraft made reconnaissance flights between Thorney Island and Isle of Wight. One raid of 8+ aircraft flew from Cherbourg towards Isle of Wight but turned back on sighting our fighters.

Between 1700 and 1800 hours, four high-level reconnaissance flights were plotted near the coast between North Foreland and Selsey Bill.

West Coast

One raid was plotted well out to see in Cardigan Bay, and a ship is reported to have been sunk near Strumble Head. A raid was plotted in mid-Wales moving east and returning. It is reported that leaflets were dropped in the Welshpool area.

By night

Enemy activity was slight during the early part but increased later. At about 2100 hours, a raid of 3+ flew north to Isle of Sheppey. Between 2100 and 2300 hours, a few single aircraft were active off the Norfolk Coast. At about 2130 hours, a single aircraft flew up the Thames Estuary and out across the Essex Coast near Southend.

Between 2300 and 0100 hours, there was rather more activity in the Western region. About 7 raids went north to Wales and the Midlands and some penetrated to Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Chester. Between 2330 and 0030 hours, raids were plotted near Lyme Bay and between Beachy Head and Hastings. At 0042 hours, a raid over the Mersey area flew to Crosby, Oswestry, Birmingham, Nottingham and then south to Poole, crossing the coast at 0253 hours. At 0115 hours, a raid penetrated to Reading, Windsor and Henley. At 0244 hours, a raid was plotted near Hucknall then to Newark and Lincoln and out to sea where it was shot down by a Blenheim.

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Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 17th August 1940

• Blenheim - 50
• Spitfire - 208
• Hurricane - 345
• Defiant - 28
• Gladiator - 0
• Total - 631

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 unknown
1
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 unknown
1

• Own:
  • Nil.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 100 patrols despatched involving 303 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • It is estimated that probably not more than 115 aircraft operated over Great Britain between 1800 hours on the 16th and 1800 hours on 17th August.

Balloons:

• Flying 1484. Casualties 42 (28 repairable, 1 written off and 7 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• No reports.

Organisation:

• No 1 (Canadian) Squadron is now operational.
• No 145 Squadron has moved to Drem.
• No 602 Squadron has moved to Westhampnett (Nr. Tangmere).

Air Intelligence Reports

• No reports.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 17th/18th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • Enemy bombing was negligible during the daylight hours, but about midnight 17th/18th August, the attack was renewed when hostile aircraft dropped bombs in East Suffolk, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire, notably in the Coventry and Birmingham districts. Not much damage was done in these areas but one raid reached Liverpool where damage was done in the docks area.

  • Detailed Summary

    • Aerodromes.
      • Brize Norton Aerodrome. Additional information on the bombing reported in yesterday's report indicates that 2 hangars were gutted by fire, and 47 aircraft were destroyed. Three petrol bowsers were damaged and the electricity and water supplies interrupted and slight damage was done to other buildings. No service casualties were reported.
      • Harwell Aerodrome. Additional information on the bombing reported yesterday show that three Wellington aircraft were destroyed by fire and other rendered unserviceable. Three tractors and two bowsers were destroyed but the aerodrome itself is not affected.
      • Further information of damage at Stanton Harcourt satellite aerodrome which is not yet occupied, shows that 30 small bombs were dropped at 1740 hours, 16th August, causing small craters mostly near or outside the boundaries. Casualties to staff were 5 killed and 6 injured.

    • 17th August, 1940
      • At 0130 hours, ten HE bombs fell at Swansea causing some damage to property and 10 minor casualties. The town electricity supply was interrupted for 20 minutes.
      • At 0450 hours, incendiary bombs dropped across Hullavington Aerodrome but further details have not yet been reported.
      • Seven HE bombs were dropped in the Hodge Hill Common area of Birmingham at about 2345. Several houses were damaged, as were gas and water mains, but only two casualties were caused.

    • 18th August
      • At 0032 hours, bombs dropped in the residential area of Aberavon causing damage to house property. There were no casualties.
      • Coventry reports that 8 HE bombs dropped on the south east of the city at 0040 hours. A few houses were damaged, but there were no casualties.
      • Liverpool. At 0041 hours, 4 HE bombs caused considerable damage to Yeoward's Coburg Avenue Shed, Queen's Road No 1 Graving Dock, East Brunswick Granary and to East Brunswick Avenue railway siding. Only one casualty is reported.
      • Woodley Aerodrome is reported to have been bombed at 0125 hours but no details are available.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - 13 killed, 15 injured.
      • To others - 10 killed, 66 injured

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Images

Date: 18th August 1940

• Weather: Fine and fair early, cloudy for rest of day.
• Day: Massed German formations return attacking airfields in the south and south-east.
• Night: Light bombing in Bristol, East Anglia and South Wales. Minelaying.

 

Enemy action by day

Enemy activity resumed an extensive scale after the lull of the previous day.

Two main attacks developed in the South-East at about 1230 and 1700 hours. In the former case, the attacks spread over the South-Eastern Home Counties and in the latter case over Essex and Kent. London Central received 'Red' warnings in each instance.

Another big attack was directed on the Portsmouth-Southampton area at 1400 hours. Interceptions were effected by fighters and 126 enemy aircraft shot down.

East Coast

One raid was plotted off Great Yarmouth and at 1700 hours crossed the coast, flew inland across England to Birmingham, Worcester and Cardiff and then south Weymouth.

South and East Coasts

Between 0908 and 0935 hours, three reconnaissances were made over Dover and The Straits. Three further reconnaissances were made between 1042 and 1102 hours at about 20,000 feet to 25,000 feet up the Thames Estuary.

At 1230 hours, a heavy attack was launched between North Foreland and Dungeness and comprised some 300 enemy aircraft. It penetrated as far as South and South-East London, returning to the Calais area in scattered groups. The enemy aircraft came in three waves; the third, however, appeared to turn back near the coast. Kenley, Croydon, Biggin Hill, Manston and West Malling were attacked.

At 1430 hours, a secondary attack consisting of about 50 aircraft was directed towards Dover, but only about 12+ crossed the coast and these are reported to have attacked Dover balloons.

At 1700 hours, eight raids numbering 200 aircraft approached the coast between Harwich and Dungeness. The majority flew up Black Water and the Thames towards Rochester, Hornchurch and North Weald. The raids broke up on being intercepted and were forced out to sea by 1810 hours. The aircraft taking part in this raid assembled near St Omer and are thought to have come from Antwerp.

South and West Coasts

At 1415 hours, six raids approached the Portsmouth area and were estimated to number 150 aircraft. RAF establishments were attacked at Thorney Island, Gosport, Ford and Poling. The enemy aircraft dispersed at about 1500 hours.

By night

There was only slight enemy activity.

At 2200 hours, a single enemy aircraft approached the Thames Estuary and is reported to have dropped bombs near Dunkirk RAF Station. Between 2200 and 0100 hours, a number of small raids appeared off the East Anglian Coast and three or four raids in the Thames Estuary. Minelaying was suspected in both areas. Between 2300 and 2330 hours, three single aircraft raids penetrated inland to the Digby-Grantham area. Between 2100 and 0200 hours, about 14 raids were plotted in the South Wales and Bristol areas. A few of these penetrated as far north as Shrewsbury and Liverpool. At about 0225 hours, a single aircraft made landfall near Skegness.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 18th August 1940

• Blenheim - 50
• Spitfire - 228
• Hurricane - 396
• Defiant - 27
• Gladiator - 5
• Total - 706

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
34 Me109	4 Me109	13 Me109
26 Me110	9 Me110	8 Me110
11 Do215	5 Do215	1 He113
6 Do17	3 >Do17	4 Do215
31 Ju87	2 Ju87	9 Do17
7 Ju88	1 Ju88	2 Ju87
8 He111	2 He111	1 Ju88
3 unknown		4 He111
		3 unknown
126	26	45
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
13 unknown
13

• Own:
  • 22 aircraft with 12 pilots safe.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 155 patrols despatched involving 914 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • It is estimated that about 700 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain between 1800 hours on the 17th and 1800 hours on the 18th August.

Balloons:

• Flying 1459. Casualties 37 (34 repairable, 3 written off).

Aerodromes:

• Catterick, Hartlepool and Filton unserviceable.

Organisation:

• No 310 (Czech) Squadron is operational at Duxford.
• No 607 Squadron is operational by day.

Air Intelligence Reports

• No reports.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 18th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • Two main attacks by the Luftwaffe took place during the daylight hours, the first being made by about 250 aircraft soon after noon, the second in the evening by about 400.
    • In the first South London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey and the Portsmouth area were involved. Some serious fires were started at several aerodromes and damage was done to buildings and stores; some service casualties were occasioned.
    • In the evening, raids activity again seems to have been confined to South East England, and many districts in Kent, Essex and Sussex report bombs, but no serious damage has been caused, most of them falling into open country.
    • After dark, sporadic raids took place over Suffolk, Essex, Thames Estuary and Kent. Some hostile aircraft reached the Midlands and parts of Somerset but no material damage has been reported from any of these districts.
    • A number of DA [delayed action] bombs have been reported in the last day or two, notably in the Birmingham and Wolverhampton areas. One at Hook, Hampshire, exploded when a demolition party had gone to deal with it and five were killed. Near Daventry, four bombs are reported to have been dropped on the night of 17th/18th August, either DA or HE unexploded.

  • Detailed Summary
    • Biggin Hill Aerodrome was attacked at 1330 hours with HE and several DA bombs which went off periodically but caused no interference with routine.
    • Kenley Aerodrome was bombed at 1400 hours and serious damage was done hangars and buildings by blast and fires, one of which was still burning at 1800 hours. Twelve Service deaths were caused and many injuries. The pumping station and waterworks were also hit and temporarily put out of action.
    • Ford Aerodrome was attacked by thirteen to fifteen dive-bombers at 1445 and extensive damage was done to two hangars and other buildings. About one third of the men's living huts were destroyed and a large fire was caused to the oil and petrol stores. Four Service deaths are reported as well as ten civilian casualties.
    • Poling RAF Station was heavily bombed at 1445 hours. Forty-four HE bombs were dropped inside the RAF compound and forty-three outside and around the station. Two pylons were down and extensive damage to stores was caused by fire. Several houses were damaged.
    • At 1252, Malling Aerodrome received some HE and incendiary bombs but no further reports have been received of this incident.
    • Grange Aerodrome, Gosport. A fire in the oil tanks and buildings was caused by HE and incendiary bombs dropped at 1430 hours.
    • Thorney Aerodrome. Twenty-five Junkers' approached the Aerodrome at 1430 hours, but only three were able to effect dive-bombing. A hangar was hit and fires caused. Six service casualties are reported.
    • Serious fires were caused when Croydon Airport was attacked at 1330 hours, and major damage was done to Purley Way and gas mains' in the area. The Rollason Works was hit again.
    • At Sevenoaks, the gas works were hit by several HE bombs at 1330 hours and the gas holder set alight, but the fire was soon under control. The gas supply was interrupted and some damage was caused to property. There were some casualties.
    • At Paddock Wood, twelve railway wagons were set on fire in the goods yard and interference with the electricity supply was caused by HE bombs which fell at 1300 hours.
    • Many gas and water mains as well as electricity services were damaged in the Coulsdon and Purley districts by bombs which fell at about 1330 hours and railway damage is widespread; some lines will be blocked for sometime.
    • At 1802 hours, Deal was attacked by 21 Ju86s using HE and IB. A storeroom was wrecked at the Royal Marine Infirmary and many windows were broken at the barracks.
    • Between 1740 and 1800 hours, HE and incendiary bombs fell on Shoeburyness and four houses were wrecked. Damage was done to water mains and a signal box on the railway as well as to the tracks.
    • The residential district of Canterbury was bombed at 1835 hours but only three houses were damaged and no casualties were caused. HE bombs are reported to have been dropped in the Dorchester and Sherborne at about 2230 hours, but no further details are available.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - 16 killed, 6+ injured.
      • To others - 44 killed, 108 injured

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Images

Date: 19th August 1940

• Weather: Mainly cloudy, occasional showers in the east.
• Day: Isolated raids on Britain. Heavy reconnaissance activity.
• Night: Widespread harassing raids and minelaying.

Enemy action by day

During the morning enemy activity was reduced to a few reconnaissances by single aircraft over the Southern Counties and off the East Coast.

In the afternoon single aircraft carried out widespread bombing attacks on objectives in South Wales, South and South-Eastern England.

North and East Coasts

Reconnaissances were reported off the East Coast of Scotland, near convoys off the Yorkshire Coast and off Great Yarmouth. Later, single aircraft attacked Coltishall, Honington, Stowmarket and Chelmsford.

At 1809 hours, 1 Me110 was intercepted and destroyed off Great Yarmouth.

South East Coasts

During the day approximately 15 reconnaissance flights were plotted in the Thames Estuary and The Straits. Barracks near Dover were attacked by single aircraft at 1500 hours.

South and West Coasts

Frequent reconnaissances were plotted in the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth areas, some of which penetrated inland towards South Wales and Middle Wallop. At 1345 hours, a Ju88 was intercepted and destroyed near Taunton; at 1500 hours, 1 Ju88 was destroyed near Southampton and at 1715 hours, 1 Ju88 was destroyed near the Isle of Wight. Oil tanks at Llanreath (Pembroke); aerodromes at Harwell, Little Rissington and Shrivenham, and targets near Oxford, Swindon, Wroughton and Burley were attacked. One aircraft attacked the balloon barrage at Southampton.

By night

Enemy activity was widespread but for the most part confined to raids by single aircraft. At midnight some 60 raids were plotted. Enemy aircraft were active off the coast and minelaying is suspected from the Thames Estuary to Northumberland. Two raids of 6+ penetrated inland, one to Derby and one to Middle Wallop. Single aircraft raids were mainly active in the Midlands and East Anglia, but raids were also reported in the Portsmouth, Bristol, South Wales, Liverpool, Hull, Newcastle and Edinburgh/Glasgow areas. Humber anti-aircraft guns claim to have destroyed and enemy aircraft at 2315 hours.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 19th August 1940

• Blenheim - 49
• Spitfire - 219
• Hurricane - 388
• Defiant - 27
• Gladiator - 6
• Total - 689

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 Me110	1 He111	1 Ju88
4 Ju88
5	1	1
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 unknown
1

• Own:
  • 3 aircraft of which two pilots are safe.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 130 patrols despatched involving 403 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • It is estimated that about 100 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain between 1800 hours, 18th August and 1800 hours on the 19th.

Balloons:

• Flying 1529. Casualties 54 (35 repairable, 6 written off and 13 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• Manston, Hawkinge, Biggin Hill, Kenley, Hartlepool, Abbotsinch are all unserviceable by night.

Organisation:

• No 232 Squadron - the whole squadron is now at Sumburgh.
• No 25 Squadron - the whole squadron is now at Martlesham.
• No 17 Squadron - the whole squadron is now at Tangmere.
• No 601 Squadron has moved from Tangmere to Debden.
• No 64 Squadron has moved from Kenley to Leconfield.
• No 616 Squadron has moved from Leconfield to Kenley.
• No 615 Squadron has moved from Hawkinge to Kenley.
• No 610 Squadron has moved from Hawkinge to Biggin Hill.
• No 65 Squadron has moved from Rochford to Hornchurch.
• No 74 Squadron has moved from Manston to Wittering.
• No 85 Squadron has moved from Martlesham to Croydon.
• No 111 Squadron has moved from Hawkinge to Debden.
• No 32 Squadron has moved from Hawkinge to Biggin Hill.
• No 56 Squadron has moved from North Weald to Rochford.
• No 151 Squadron has moved from Rochford to North Weald.
• No 607 Squadron is operational by day only.

Air Intelligence Reports

• No reports.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 18th/19th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • Raiding by single aircraft, or at most two or three, in contrast to previous days, the enemy attacked military objectives and aerodromes in Southern England in the afternoon. Service casualties were caused at Dover and Chatham, and a serious fire was started when oil tanks were hit at Pembroke.
    • Small raids also bombed many districts in Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, but little material damage was caused although there were some civilian casualties.
    • After dark, bombs have been reported from Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and many other districts in the southern half of England but these attacks seem to have been at random and only light damage is reported.

  • Detailed Summary
    • Little Rissington was bombed at 2300 hours on 18th August and one Anson was destroyed. One service casualty is reported.
    • St Athan RAF Station was bombed with 3 HE at 0003 hours and a hangar was hit and one aircraft damaged.
    • At Broughton, near Swindon, 2 HE and some IB were dropped on Air Ministry property at 1340 hours. No reports of damage or casualties have been received.
    • At 1350 hours, bombs were dropped at Shrivenham (Watchfield) Aerodrome. They fell outside the boundary and no damage resulted.
    • Worthy Down Aerodrome suffered a dive bombing attack at 1424 hours by a single He111. Three 500lb bombs dropped, one damaging a hangar, one on the apron and one near another hangar causing considerable damage to buildings, cables and telephone wires and minor damage to four or five aircraft outside hangars. There were six minor casualties to personnel.
    • At 1420 hours, a Ju88 attacked Harwell Aerodrome in steep dive releasing three heavy bombs and setting fire to three Wellingtons, which were totally destroyed.
    • Coltishall Aerodrome was bombed at 1456 hours and an unfinished hangar was hit and slightly damaged. Several civilian casualties were caused, but the aerodrome itself is intact and no aircraft were damaged.
    • Honington Aerodrome was subject to two attacks, the first at 1615 hours by a single aircraft using HE and incendiaries. Slight material damage was done and four Service dead and many injured are reported. The second attack was delivered by one Do17 at 1825 hours and resulted in heavy damage to one barrack block, two Wellingtons and one Magister. Six craters were formed on the aerodrome and one hangar roof was holed.
    • At 1815 hours, nine HE and incendiaries were dropped on Air Ministry property at Brettenham. No casualties were caused.
    • A hangar at Driffield Aerodrome is reported burning as a result of bombs dropped at 2258 hours.
    • A single enemy aircraft raided Chelmsford at 1345 hours and dropped 23 HE in the residential area. Two houses were destroyed and casualties were 2 killed and 5 injured.
    • At 1515 hours, an attack was made on the Llanreath oil tanks at Pembroke. Two hostile aircraft delivered salvoes which hit the tanks and started a serious fire which did not come under control until 0030 hours, 20th August. Of fifteen tanks, eight are involved containing many thousands of tons of petrol.
    • Colchester was bombed twice at 1525 and 1745 hours. No damage was occasioned in the first raid, but in the second electric cables and telephones were hit.
    • At Dover, five HE fell near the castle and three more inside the barracks at Guston, causing damage to huts and houses and several casualties.
    • Five HE were dropped at Portland at 1610 hours by a single He111, apparently directed at the Mere Oil Fuel Depot. All fell on the Chesil Beach side of tanks and there are no reports of damage.
    • At 1635 hours, a single aircraft raided the dockyard at Chatham, one building was wrecked by bombs.
    • At Ablington, four HE fell at 1415 hours damaging two aircraft on the landing ground. One aircraftsman was killed.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - 5 killed, 40 injured.
      • To others - 23 killed, 74 injured

---

Images

Date: 20th August 1940

• Weather: Generally cloudy, rain spreading from the north. Channel mainly fine.
• Day: Scattered raids in the morning. Kent and Essex airfields attacked during the afternoon.
• Night: Very little activity. One or two raids in the south-west.

Enemy action by day

Enemy action was again on a reduced scale, consisting mostly of reconnaissances and a number of raids by single aircraft which attacked targets in East Anglia.

One raid of 190 aircraft penetrated to the Thames Estuary where it was successfully driven off.

Manston was attacked without success by twelve enemy fighters at 1455 hours.

North and East Coasts

In the morning, one raid of 3+ flew to Orfordness and attacked objectives near Chelmsford and Lowestoft. This raid was intercepted and one Me110 destroyed.

In the afternoon, four small raids approached East Anglia some of which penetrated inland. Interceptions were not favoured by weather conditions. Later, a convoy East of Dunwich was attacked and also objectives at Great Yarmouth, Southwold and Wattisham. Two raids were intercepted and one Ju88 destroyed.

South East Coast

During the morning a number of small raids, mostly reconnaissances, were plotted in the Straits of Dover and the Thames Estuary.

At about 1445 hours, 80+ aircraft were concentrated behind Calais and this was plotted as 190 aircraft when it crossed the coast between Dover and Manston and flew to the Estuary and Canterbury areas. It was intercepted and five aircraft were destroyed. It has not been reported that this raid dropped any bombs.

At 1550 hours, 12 Me109s attempted to make a dive machine-gunning attack on Manston. They were successfully driven off by ground defences and three Blenheims.

South and West Coasts

A number of reconnaissances were plotted during the day in the Channel off the South and West Coasts and in the Bristol Channel, and a single aircraft attacked targets in Llanreath (Pembroke), Neath and Port Talbot.

An enemy aircraft attacked a ship off Anglesey with two aerial torpedoes at 1840 hours.

By night

Weather was cloudy with poor visibility round most of the coast. Enemy activity was negligible. A few raids were plotted off the South West Coast and one of these penetrated several miles inland north of Portland.

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Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 20th August 1940

• Blenheim - 53
• Spitfire - 240
• Hurricane - 396
• Defiant - 22
• Gladiator - 7
• Total - 718

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
2 Me109	1 Me109	1 Me109
1 Me110	2 Ju88	1 Do17
3 Do215	1 unknown	2 Do215
1 Ju88		1 Ju88
7	4	5

• Own:
  • 3 aircraft of which two pilots are safe.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 166 patrols despatched involving 477 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • It is estimated that about 150 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain during the night 19th/20th August and 200 during the day of 20th August.

Balloons:

• Flying 1472. Casualties 41 (31 repairable, 6 written off and 4 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• Eastchurch is unserviceable. Abbotsinch and Hartlepool are unserviceable by night.

Organisation:

• No changes.

Air Intelligence Reports

• No reports.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 20th/21st August 1940
  • General Summary
    • Before dawn, hostile aircraft were active chiefly in the Midlands where bombs were dropped at Derby and Coventry and near Sheffield, without, however, causing serious industrial damage.
    • During daylight, the East Coast districts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex were raided, and RAF aerodromes in these areas were unsuccessfully attacked. Pembroke and Port Talbot in South Wales were also visited during this period, but little damage resulted.
    • The night of 20th/21st August has been quiet, but there are reports of a few incendiary bombs dropped on rural districts in Devon, Dorset, Worcestershire and Suffolk; there is also some railway and road traffic dislocation owing to the presence of unexploded bombs.

  • Detailed Summary
    • Driffield Aerodrome was attacked by some enemy aircraft at 2245 hours, 19th August, four bombs being dropped from a low height, the first of which burst inside a hangar and severely damaged two Whitleys. The three others caused large craters on the aerodrome.
    • Hatson Aerodrome. One heavy bomb is reported to have been dropped on the foreshore close to the aerodrome at approximately 0200 hours.
    • Bircham Newton. At 0255 hours, HE and incendiaries were dropped which caused craters but did not affect the serviceability of the aerodrome. No other damage was caused.
    • Porthcawl was attacked at 1020 hours, but the bombs fell on a beach near the hangars and only craters were caused.
    • Manston Aerodrome. Twelve Me109s made a diving attack at 1550 hours; no bombs were dropped. Two of the enemy aircraft were able to get in burst of machine-gun fire before being driven off, but no damage or casualties resulted.
    • Wattisham Aerodrome. One Do215 dropped twelve incendiaries at 1850 hours, but damage was very slight and no casualties resulted.
    • Pembroke. Two further attacks were made on the oil tanks at Llanreath, at 0140 hours and again at 1155 hours, but only slight further damage was done. It is believed that six out of fifteen tanks are still intact.
    • About midnight on the 19th/20th August, about 40 HE and 100 incendiaries fell on derby and surrounding district. Seventeen houses were completely wrecked with damage to many others and to roads and mains.
    • Chelmsford was again raided at 0950 hours by a single aircraft and twenty-four houses were damaged and some casualties caused.
    • At 1010 hours, HE bombs were dropped on Port Talbot where slight damage was done to railway sidings and at Neath where slight railway dislocation was caused and some casualties. Ten HE dropped on the Air Ministry Experimental Station at Great Bromley. No damage or casualties resulted.
    • Serious damage to water mains and sewers occurred during a raid on Great Yarmouth at 1740 hours. Seventeen HE fell and an electric sub-station was wrecked.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - nil.
      • To others - 23 killed, 135 injured

---

Images

Date: 21st August 1940

• Weather: Cloudy, occasional rain.
• Day: Small raids on airfields in the east and south.
• Night: Slight activity including Scotland.

 

Enemy action by day

Enemy activity was on a widespread scale and operations were carried out in most instances by single aircraft.

During the period some 200 raids of which one or two plus aircraft were plotted across our East and South Coasts. These raids made short runs inland, seldom penetrating more than 20 miles. Bombs were dropped and reports indicate the main objective of these raids was aerodromes in East Anglia and along the South Coast. The only raid greater than two plus plotted during this period was a raid of six plus which approached a convoy south of the Isle of Wight. A number of these raids were intercepted by our fighters and casualties were inflicted with the loss of one Hurricane (pilot safe) to ourselves.

The main areas of activity were East Anglia and along the South Coast between Dungeness and the Isle of Wight. The Cornish Coast was also visited by several raids and aerodromes were attacked.

Of the thirteen certain casualties inflicted, seven were in the eastern areas between Harwich and Scarborough, four were off the South Coast between the Isle of Wight and Beachy Head and two were off the North Cornish Coast in the St Eval area.

By night

Enemy activity was extremely slight. Four raids were plotted crossing the Sussex coast penetrating to Northolt, South London, Reigate, Maidstone and Weybridge. Further enemy raids, mostly of single aircraft, were plotted off Harwich, Aberdeen, the Humber, Firth of Forth and near Drem.

Small-scale minelaying was suspected from Kinnaird's Head to St Abb's Head, Humber to Yarmouth and Dungeness to Selsey Bill.

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Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 21st August 1940

• Blenheim - 58
• Spitire - 239
• Hurricane - 400
• Defiant - 25
• Gladiator - 7
• Total - 729

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 He111	1 Do215	1 Do17
7 Ju88	1 Ju88	1 He111
3 Do17
2 Do215
13	2	2
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
-	-	-

• Own:
  • 1 Hurricane - pilot safe.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 181 patrols despatched involving 620 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • It is estimated that about 150 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain (120 during daylight).

Balloons:

• Flying 1460. Casualties 118 (84 repairable, 30 written off and 4 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• Abbotsinch, Acklington, West Hartlepool, Hawkinge, Lympne and Exeter unserviceable by night.

Organisation:

• No 302 Squadron (Polish) operational by day at Leconfield.
• No 264 Squadron has moved from Kirton to Hornchurch.
• No 266 Squadron has moved from Hornchurch to Wittering.

Air Intelligence Reports

• Nil.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 21st August 1940
  • General Summary
    • There have been a large number of raids by small numbers of enemy aircraft, chiefly in the South and Easter districts. The objectives appear to have aerodromes but indiscriminate bombing and machine-gunning of open towns was apparent.

  • Detailed Summary
    • The following aerodromes were bombed, resulting ion little damage to report: Horsham St Faith, Elton, Watton, Catfoss, Eastleigh, West Malling, Pulham, Exeter and Bircham Newton where there were several casualties. Two hangars at St Eval Aerodrome were set on fire and at Binbrook and Stormy Down aerodromes there was a certain amount of damage to buildings.
    • Presumably an attempt was made to bomb Brooklands Aerodrome, Weybridge, but only damage to the Southern Railway line was reported, resulting in stoppage of all traffic.
    • HMS 'Royal Arthur', Ingoldmells, Royal Naval Training Station, was bombed resulting in severe damage.
    • HE fell at Canterbury demolishing seven houses and at Hastings a certain amount of damage was caused to houses and water mains.
    • At Falmouth, a drifter was sunk and two others damaged by HE and IB.
    • HE were dropped south of Brentwood station causing obstruction to the line.
    • Bournemouth and Poole were attacked, which resulted in road blockages and superficial damage.
    • The Scilly Isles were bombed and machine-gunned and damage was caused to a wireless station.
    • HE fell in Leicester, demolishing seven houses and damaging sixteen others.
    • HE fell in Southwold, wrecking three houses.
    • Bombs were dropped near Thorneycroft's Works, Woolston, Southampton. A dredger was sunk clear of the fairway and water mains fractured.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - 2 killed, 40 injured.
      • To others - 4 killed, 178 injured.

---

Corrigendum to report for 20th August, 1940.

Bircham Newton should read Newton for bombing attack at 0255 hours.

---

Images

Date: 22nd August 1940

• Weather: Cloudy and squally.
• Day: Shipping reconnaissance and attacks on two Channel convoys.
• Night: Increased activity particularly in the Midlands, north and west. Some minelaying.

 

Enemy action by day

Enemy activity consisted chiefly of a number of shipping reconnaissances off the South and East Coasts and two major attacks, one on a convoy in the Straits of Dover, the other in the Manston/Dover area. Interceptions were effected by fighters and enemy aircraft were destroyed.

North Coast

One reconnaissance flight was plotted towards Arbroath.

East Coast

One raid of three aircraft was plotted from St Abb's Head and was reported over a convoy in that area. Another raid was plotted over Orfordness; this aircraft was chased out to sea by our fighters but escaped after jettisoning its bombs.

At 1830 hours, a raid of 30+ crossed the coast near Deal and bombing is reported. Between 1900 and 1945 hours, a number of aircraft approached the coast in waves and bombs were reported at Dover, Deal and Manston. Six squadrons were sent to oppose these raids but a few interceptions were effected.

South East Coast

The were a number of reconnaissance flights to convoys off the Estuary and in the Straits and one enemy aircraft is reported to have been 'spotting' for guns shelling a convoy off Deal. Shortly after the shelling ceased a raid of 30+, which massed in the Gris Nez area, attacked the convoy between 1240 and 1315 hours. Two and a half squadrons of fighters were sent up to protect the convoy. Thereafter, several hostile formations were plotted in the Straits, but these turned back without engagement.

South and West Coast

Some eleven raids were plotted on reconnaissance flights along the South Coast; of these, one penetrated to Bristol, another crossed inland to the Thames Estuary and East Coast and a third was shot down over Somerset.

Between 2100 and 0100 hours, enemy aircraft visited Aberdeen, Pontefract district, Hampshire, Bristol, South Wales and a convoy of Kinnaird's Head. Minelaying is suspected in the Thames Estuary and to a lesser degree up to Flamborough Head and off the Firth of Forth.

By night

Enemy activity has been on a considerably larger scale and more widespread than for some time past, and continued throughout the hours of darkness. Raids have consisted almost entirely of single aircraft.

Raids were also plotted in the Bradford, Hull and Middlesborough areas.

Later, one raid of three aircraft flew over North Wales toward Liverpool and Manchester. Manston was again attacked.

London Central twice received the 'purple' warning and the 'red' warning at 0325 hours when 4 or more enemy aircraft were reported in the area. Later, Harrow was attacked.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 22nd August 1940

• Blenheim - 58
• Spitire - 219
• Hurricane - 412
• Defiant - 26
• Gladiator - 6
• Total - 721

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
2 Me109	3 Me109
3 Ju88	1 Do215
1 Me110
6	4	0
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
Nil.
0

• Own:
  • Five aircraft (2 pilots lost).

Patrols:

• Own
  • 141 patrols involving 536 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • Estimated approximately 190 aircraft of which 140 during the day (sunrise to sunset) and by night 230.

Balloons:

• Flying 1433, Casualties 99 (88 repairable, 8 written off and 3 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• Manston unserviceable until dawn, 23 August.
• Eastchurch totally unserviceable.
• Abbotsinch and Hartlepool.

Organisation:

• No changes.

Air Intelligence Reports

• No reports.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 21st/22nd/23rd August 1940
  • General Summary
    • A number of enemy aircraft appeared during the day, principally over the southern half of the country. Bombs were dropped in the Aldeburgh district in Suffolk and in the Scilly Isles, causing little damage. During the night of 22nd/23rd reports have been received of enemy activity against RAF stations and in the London area.

  • Detailed Summary
    • 21st August
      • Catfoss RAF Station. It has now been reported that damage was done to runway and landing ground. It is also reported that one of the unexploded bombs is suspected to be a 2,000lb bomb.
      • At the Royal Naval Station at Eastchurch it is reported that eight craters, approximately 10 feet in diameter, were made at the south end of the landing ground.

    • 22nd August
      • Manston RAF Station was heavily bombed at 1910 hours on the 22nd and at 0125 hours on the 23rd. Approximately thirty bombs were dropped during the first raid resulting in the destruction of two hangars and two Blenheim aircraft. Some buildings were damaged and the aerodrome made unserviceable.
      • Filton RAF Station was bombed at 2358 hours and the Bristol Aero Factory was hit, but the ensuing fire was extinguished.
      • Guildford. At midnight, a train between Wanborough station and Tongham (Guildford rural area) was attacked with HE and IB and set on fire. One casualty so far reported.
      • Barnstaple. At Umberleigh, a train was machine-gunned at 1615 hours.
      • Brighton. HE were dropped in the Kemp Town area, 100 yards from a gun battery, which, however, was not put out of action.
      • Peterhead, near Aberdeen, was bombed at 2200 hours. Damage was caused to one house, water and gas mains. A signal cabin and engine were damaged, resulting in blockage of line.

    • 23rd August
      • It was reported that HE were dropped at approximately 0310 hours on Harrow, Edmonton and Willesdon districts.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - 0 killed, 3 injured.
      • To others - 3 killed, 36 injured

    • Enemy Attacks by Shell Fire
      • Reports have been received that approximately thirty shells of unknown calibre have fallen in the Dover area between the hours of 2100 and 2210 on the 22nd. Considerable damage was caused to houses and a church. Gas and water mains were seriously affected. At 1255 hours, St Margaret's Bay, near Folkestone was also reported to have been shelled causing slight damage.

---

Images

Date: 23rd August 1940

• Weather: Showers with bright intervals. Cloudy in Straits, Channel and Thames Estuary.
• Day: Single raids in the south and reconnaissance flights.
• Night: Main attacks in South Wales.

Enemy action by day

Enemy activity was on a restricted scale. In the morning a few reconnaissances were reported off the East Coast and a few raids penetrated inland, bad weather conditions prevented interception.

In the afternoon, a number of single raids crossed the South Coast and attacked isolated targets causing little damage.

North and East

A meteorological reconnaissance was plotted east of Scotland. One raid penetrated inland to the Rugby and Warwick areas and attacked targets with bombs and machine guns at these towns, causing slight damage.

A number of reconnaissances were plotted off the East Coast, probably looking for shipping; weather conditions were bad in this area.

One He111 was destroyed by fighters near Sumburgh.

South Coast

One reconnaissance, which crossed the coast at Clacton, was brought down by AA at Duxford and the crew of five made prisoners.

Two reconnaissances flew over the Walton, Harwich and North Foreland areas and attacked objectives near Harwich without result.

South and West

During the morning, five reconnaissances were reported in the Bristol Channel.

In the afternoon, nine raids of single aircraft, one of which was reported to be a meteorological flight, approached the coast between Selsey Bill and Lyme but turned away. Later, eleven individual aircraft penetrated inland and attacked scattered targets in Devon and Hampshire.

One Ju88 was destroyed in the Weymouth area by fighter action.

By night

Enemy activity was widespread although not on the scale of the previous night.

The largest of the raids were in the Bristol and South Wales area, Cardiff receiving several visits.

Raids were reported over East Anglia and northwards along the coast to Middlesborough, Harrogate and York. Kent was also visited.

Five raids were also plotted in the Birmingham area where AA guns were in action.

Convoys off Wick and Cromer were visited.

Five raids were plotted between Land's End and Falmouth. Minelaying was suspected in areas Portsmouth, Lizard-Land's End, Bristol Channel and Carmarthen Bay.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 23rd August 1940

• Blenheim - 55
• Spitire - 236
• Hurricane - 410
• Defiant - 26
• Gladiator - 6
• Total - 733

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 He111
1 Ju88
2
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 Do17
1

• Own:
  • Nil.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 200 patrols involving 507 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • 320 aircraft, of which 250 between 2100 hours on 22nd August and 0900 hours on 23rd August, and 70 between 0900 hours and 2100 hours on the 23rd.

Balloons:

• Flying 1442, casualties 63 (50 repairable, 12 written off and 1 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• Filton, Hartlepool, Abbotsinch, Manston and Exeter are unserviceable during the hours of darkness.

Organisation:

• No 141 Squadron moved from Prestwick to Montrose and Dyce.
• No 603 Squadron moved from Montrose and Dyce to Turnhouse.
• No 253 Squadron moved from Turnhouse to Prestwick.

Air Intelligence Reports

• Nil.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 23rd/24th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • The approximate number of HE bombs dropped in this country from 3rd September 1939 to 3rd August 1940 inclusive is 5,800. These figures are based on reports received from all sources and where later reports indicate that the original figures were incorrect, necessary adjustments have been made. Of these, between 2% and 4% were 250-kilo, the remainder being 50-kilo. This figure does not include bombs dropped on convoys or other ships at sea.
    • The majority of daylight raids were carried out in the South and the Midlands and damage on the whole was slight. There are several reports of machine-gunning by enemy aircraft, which resulted in little damage. It is reported that Birmingham and South Wales were attacked by night.

  • Detailed Summary
    • 23rd August
      • It was reported from Durham that enemy aircraft machine-gunned a searchlight and wardens' post at Whitburn (360 degrees Sunderland, 3½ miles). It was reported from the same area that an enemy aircraft was shot down by AA fire at 0056 hours on the 23rd.
      • Daventry. The BBC wireless station was machine-gunned at 1150 hours. One person was injured.
      • A factory in the progress of being built at Kites Hardwick, near Rugby, was machine-gunned resulting in several workmen being wounded. The village of Grandborough was also machine-gunned by the same aircraft.
      • Witney, Oxon. Leafield wireless station was machine-gunned with no damage reported.
      • Bridlington in Yorkshire was bombed at 0250 hours and suffered considerable damage, particularly to a café where several people were trapped. Casualties - 4 killed and one injured.
      • Bristol area was raided three times during the night of 22nd/23rd over a period of 2½ hours. Property suffered considerable damage and the main road (the A38) was blocked between Almondsbury and Woodlands Lane.
      • New Milton (Hampshire) was attacked in the early evening and serious damage was done. Telephone and high-tension cables were damaged, putting the air raid siren out of order. Casualties - 23 killed and 20 injured.

    • 24th August
      • Birmingham. It has been reported that at 0315 hours enemy aircraft attacked the city and IB were dropped near the Nuffield Factory at Castle Bromwich.
      • At 0535 hours, HE fell on Fort Dunlop, causing damage to buildings, steam and gas mains. It is reported that the fire has been extinguished. Two casualties.
      • It is also reported that HE fell on the Repairable Equipment Depot No 1, Castle Bromwich. Some damage, no casualties.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - nil.
      • To others - 34 killed, 107 injured

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Images

Date: 24th August 1940

• Weather: Fine and clear in the south, drizzle in the north.
• Day: Airfield attacks in south-east; Manston evacuated. Heavy raid on Portsmouth.
• Night: Heavier attacks over wide area. Minelaying.

Enemy action by day

The main enemy activity consisted of six large raids which crossed the Kentish coast and in two cases flew up the Estuary towards London. A large number of enemy aircraft attacked targets in the Portsmouth area.

Preliminary reports state that our aircraft destroyed 40 enemy aircraft at the cost of 20 to ourselves but only six of our pilots were lost.

North East

Reconnaissance aircraft were reported off the East Coasts of Scotland and the Orkneys during the afternoon.

In the early morning there were two small raids off East Anglia and a target at Gorleston was attacked.

South East

Between 0600 and 0800 hours, a series of raids totalling 80+ aircraft crossed the coast in the Dover-Dungeness areas and flew towards North Foreland and Gravesend. Fighters intercepted and dispersed these raids, destroying four enemy aircraft.

At 1000 hours, Dover was shelled and a little later about 100 enemy aircraft were plotted to Dover and Manston in which places were heavily attacked. Fighters again drove off the enemy inflicting a reported loss of three enemy aircraft.

At 1230 hours, about 50 enemy aircraft again approached Dover and Manston and were engaged by fighters. Enemy losses were estimated as seven aircraft.

Between 1300 hours and 1400 hours, about 30 enemy aircraft were engaged over the North Foreland and Deal areas.

At 1500 hours, four raids crossed the Kentish Coast and one of these penetrated to the eastern outskirts of London, attacking targets in Upminster, Dagenham and Essex areas. These raids were heavily engaged and it is reported fighters destroyed about 20 hostile aircraft.

At 1845 hours, 110+ hostile aircraft crossed the coast near Dover and Dungeness and penetrated to Maidstone but turned away on despatch of our fighters apparently without attacking any objectives.

South and West

Activity up to 1600 hours was limited to reconnaissance in the Channel and in the Middle Wallop district. At 1600 hours, 50+ enemy aircraft approached Selsey Bill in a wide front and attacked objectives at Portsmouth.

By night

Enemy activity was on a widespread and continuous scale over Southern and Western England, South Wales, the Midlands, East Anglia and Yorkshire.

London Central was under 'Red' warning for nearly two hours, and the City of London, Millwall, Tottenham, Islington, Enfield, Hampton, Kingston and Watford were attacked.

Birmingham was visited continuously for over four hours and there were repeated raids in the Devon, Bristol, Gloucester and South Wales areas.

Raids were also reported in the Liverpool, Sheffield, Bradford, Hull and Middlesborough districts, and in Kent, Hampshire, Reading, Oxford and East Anglian districts.

Minelaying is suspected off the Lancashire coast, in the Channel off Lyme Bay and Weymouth, and extensively off the Thames Estuary, East Anglia, the North Foreland and Flamborough Head.

Enemy aircraft also attacked Newcastle and the London area received a second visit.

It is reported that one He111 was destroyed by fighter action +1 probable.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 24th August 1940

• Blenheim - 63
• Spitfire - 238
• Hurricane - 408
• Defiant - 23
• Gladiator - 8
• Total - 740

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
11 Ju88	8 Me109	6 Me109
21 Me109	3 He111	3 Me110
1 Me110	2 Me110	3 Ju88
1 He113		3 He111
5 He111
1 Do215
40	13	15
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 unknown		4 unknown
1		4

• Own:
  • 20 aircraft with 6 pilots and 4 air gunners lost or missing.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 187 patrols involving 985 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • It is estimated that during the night of 23rd/24th August, 200 aircraft were in action, and during the day of 24th August about 500 aircraft.

Balloons:

• Flying 1462, casualties 88 (82 repairable, 4 written off, 2 by enemy action)

Aerodromes:

• Manston unserviceable
• North Weald, Abbotsinch and Hartlepool unserviceable during the hours of darkness.

Organisation:

• No changes.

Air Intelligence Reports

• Nil.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 24th/25th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • Heavy attacks have been made by enemy aircraft on Ramsgate and Portsmouth today, and damage to these towns has been extensive, but casualties were fewer than expected. Several RAF stations have been attacked during the day and night with varying results.
    • From midnight on the 24th onwards, London and southern counties in particular Surrey have been bombed.

  • Detailed Summary
    • RAF Stations
      • 24th August
        • Manston Aerodrome was attacked at 1311 hours and set on fire; a further attack was delivered at 1539 hours, resulting in the evacuation of the RAF.
        • Ramsgate. A number of bombs were dropped resulting in damage to airport buildings and houses. ARP personnel were machine-gunned by two low-flying aircraft. Casualties not reported.
        • North Weald was attacked in the afternoon and a wireless station slightly damaged. Electric, gas and water mains suffered and road A122 blocked. Many casualties reported.
        • St Athan was attacked at 2100 hours. Several HE demolished part of the RAF hospital.
        • It is also reported that Castle Bromwich, Hornchurch and Gravesend have been attacked, but no details are available.
      • 25th August
        • Driffield was reported to have been bombed at about 0130 hours. The Sergeant's Mess was hit and a searchlight bombed and put out of action. No casualties reported so far.

    • Other Areas
      • 24th August
        • Ramsgate. At 1138 hours, an attack was made which resulted in severe damage to the gas works and sulphur plant. Direct hits were made on military headquarters and Customs House. Mains were fractured and houses demolished with many casualties.
        • Portsmouth was attacked at 1623 hours and the damage in the city was heavy and widespread. Local rail services were affected and two naval units in the harbour were badly damaged. Approximately two hundred are homeless and it is reported that there are at least 55 killed and 225 injured.
      • 25th August
        • London and suburbs were attacked in the early hours and the following districts are reported as having been bombed: Canonsbury Park, Tottenham, Highbury Park, Leyton, Wood Green, Stepney, Islington, Enfield, Hampton Court, Millwall and others. A large fire was started at Fore Street spreading to London Wall. Neill Warehouse, West India Dock, was badly damaged by fire, and Warehouse Nos 3 and 4 are now reported to be ablaze. At 0240 hours, it was reported that the Imperial Tobacco Factory and Carter Patterson's Works in Goswell Road were on fire but only slight damage has since been reported.
        • The following places were also bombed: Malden, Coulsdon, Feltham, Kingston, Banstead and Epsom.
        • Birmingham. It is reported that the Nuffield and Dunlop Factories have again been bombed at 0003 hours, but no damage reported. Castle Bromwich Aeroplane Factory at Erdington was hit but no damage reported. The Moss Gear Co Ltd was hit with very slight damage.
        • Cardiff. It is reported that the main GWR line is unserviceable between Cardiff and west Wales owing to a train being bombed at Cardiff.
        • A gun site at Datchet, Buckinghamshire, was bombed at 0100 hours and the ammunition blown up.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - no killed, 1 injured.
      • To others - 102 killed, 335 injured.

    • Enemy Action by Shell Fire
      • Reports have been received that Dover and Folkestone were shelled at approximately 1000 hours on the 24th August. Four shells fell near Hawkinge Aerodrome (Folkestone), but little damage reported otherwise. The interval between the shells fired was about 8 minutes.

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Images

Date: 25th August 1940

• Weather: Early morning fair but remainder of day cloudy.
• Day: Slight activity in the morning, main raids by Luftflotte 3 in the south-west during the afternoon.
• Night: Continued widespread attacks with the main concentration in the Midlands.

Enemy action by day

Enemy activity up to 1700 hours was on a restricted scale but later, mass raids assembled in the Cherbourg and crossed to Weymouth and Warmwell. A large assembly was plotted near Calais resulting in an attack on East Kent, the Isle of Sheppey and Thames Estuary.

North and East Coast

Two reconnaissance flights were plotted off the Scottish Coast and several off East Anglia.

South East Coast

There was little activity in this area until 1815 hours when raids of 50 and 30+ circled over Calais and proceeded to Dover and Hawkinge. Of these aircraft, 30 crossed to the Isle of Sheppey and after passing Eastchurch split - one raid being plotted along the north side of the Estuary and the other the south. These raids were followed by a further 12+ approaching Dover, but by 1940 hours the activity in this area had ceased. Enemy casualties were estimated at five.

South West Coast

In the morning, two raids were plotted over Portsmouth, Portland Bill and Start Point. In the afternoon, isolated reconnaissance flights were made east of Selsey and in the west inland of Yeovil and over Lyme Bay. Other raids were plotted between the Lizard and Land's End and off the West Cornish Coast.

West Coast

A number of reconnaissance flights were made toward Milford Haven and four further raids were plotted in this area.

It is reported that merchant ships were attacked off St David's Head.

By night

Enemy activity was on a large scale until 0200 hours, after which time the number of attackers was gradually reduced.

The whole of England and Wales south of a line from the Humber to Cardigan Bay was under either red or purple warning for a great part of the night. Large numbers of enemy aircraft coming from Holland and Best, crossed the British Coast at numerous points between Land's End and Skegness.

The most visited districts were South Wales, Bristol, Birmingham, Coventry and other Midland districts, Middlesborough, Newcastle and East Anglia.

A few raids were plotted off Wick and Aberdeen.

London Central was twice under read and five times under purple warning.

Minelaying was suspected from the Isle of Wight along the entire coast to Flamborough Head and near Montrose.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 25th August 1940

• Blenheim - 54
• Spitfire - 233
• Hurricane - 416
• Defiant - 18
• Gladiator - 6
• Total - 727

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
18 Me110	6 Me110	8 Me110
20 Me109	7 Me109	6 Me109
4 Do17	1 Do17	1 Do17
1 Do215	1 Ju88	1 Hs126
3 Ju88
1 unknown
47	15	16
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
6 unknown
6

• Own:
  • 16 aircraft with 10 pilots killed or missing.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 150 patrols involving 506 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • Estimated during the night of 24th/25th August, 300 aircraft. Estimated during the day of the 25th August, 250 aircraft.

Balloons:

• Flying 1506, casualties 45 (30 repairable, 3 written off, 12 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• Manston unserviceable, expected to be serviceable some time on the 26th August. Has not yet been evacuated as reported in an earlier paragraph.

Air Intelligence Reports

• Nil.

Home Security Reports

• Date:24th/25th/26th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • During the day, there has not been a great deal of enemy activity. Bombs have been dropped on the Scilly Isles and South Wales. During the night, enemy aircraft have attacked the Midlands and southern areas.

  • Detailed Summary
    • 24th August
      • London. It is reported that all fires have been extinguished now and the city is free of unexploded bombs. Casualties are reported as 9 killed, 58 injured and over 100 persons in Bethnal Green were rendered homeless.
      • Ramsgate. It has now been ascertained that seventy-eight houses have been completely wrecked, three hundred are not fit for habitation and seven hundred are damaged. The gas works were destroyed, but all fires are out.
      • Portsmouth. The general position is now satisfactory, but a great deal of damage has been done. There are approximately seven hundred person homeless, and casualties are 83 killed and 191 injured.

    • 25th August
      • Catterick, Acklington and White Waltham RAF Stations were attacked but there are no details of results.
      • Warmwell RAF Station was bombed at 1725 hours, and some damage was done to the roof and wall of one hangar. The sick quarters were burnt out and the telephone exchange temporarily put out of order. No casualties have been reported and the aerodrome is serviceable. One Battle and one Wellington were slightly damaged.
      • Scilly Isles. Large numbers of IB and HE bombs were dropped causing fires which are, however, under control. A direct hit was obtained on the RAF wireless station, but damage was only slight.
      • Billingham (Durham) was attacked at 0200 hours and the ICI Factory hit. A small fire resulted which, however, did not interfere with production.
      • Pembroke Dock was attacked at 1345 hours and bombs were dropped near the oil tanks which resulted in very slight damage.
      • Plymouth. Six bombs were dropped on the dockyard at 2125 hours. Minor damage and five casualties in the naval barracks.
      • Coventry was bombed at 2205 hours and a large theatre and other property damaged. A fire was reported at Rootes Securities Ltd, No 2 Engine Factory, Ryton-on-Dunsmore. Extent of damage not known.
      • Newcastle-on-Tyne. An explosion occurred of an unsuspected bomb which caused damage to Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Hepturn Works. Effect on production not yet known.

    • 26th August
      • Croydon was bombed at 0150 hours and minor damage caused. Roads were blocked and the Whaddon Estate Factory site was hit. It is also reported that the north-west corner of the airport was bombed.
      • Birmingham was bombed early in the morning and it has been reported that City Market Hall was damaged together with other property in the city centre. At 0538 hours, the Birmingham Electric Furnace Co Ltd (Parent Company Mond Nickel), Birdlee Works, Erdington was hit. No information received yet re extent of damage. It is also reported that the British Timken Ltd of Chesten Road was hit by HE bombs and suffered extensive damage. Effect on production not yet known.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - none killed, 4 injured.
      • To others - 84 killed, 233 injured.

Corrigendum

• As referred to earlier, Manston Aerodrome has not yet been evacuated and is expected to be serviceable again on 26th August 1940.

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Images

Date: 26th August 1940

• Weather: Mainly cloudy but dry. Brighter in the south.
• Day: Dover, Folkestone and airfields in Kent and Essex attacked. Lesser raids in the Solent.
• Night: Widespread raids, Industrial areas and airfields the main targets.

Enemy action by day

After a number of reconnaissance flights between Harwich and Land's End, some of which penetrated inland, three major attacks by large formations developed in the following areas:

• i. Dover - Folkestone area at 1137 hours.
• ii. Kent and north of the Thames Estuary at 1422 hours.
• iii. Portsmouth - Southampton area at 1600 hours.

These raiders were engaged by our fighters and casualties inflicted.

East Coast

At 1252 hours, a raid plotted near Martlesham flew along the coast and was active in the Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth area. A number of reconnaissance raids were plotted between the North Foreland and Cromer.

South East Coast

During the day, reconnaissance flights were plotted in the Straits and round to Beachy Head.

At 1137 hours, five raids, totalling some 100 aircraft collected in the Gris Nez area. They approached to attack objectives in the Folkestone-Dover area and inland at Biggin Hill and Kenley. By 1250 hours, the attack was dispersed.

A second attack on the South-East of England developed at approximately 1422 hours when some eight raids totalling 190+ collected in the Calais - St Omer area. They crossed the coast in waves between Lympne and the mouth of the Blackwater and appeared to have as their objectives aerodromes in South-East England from Duxford southwards. At 1540 hours, some 250 aircraft were estimated to be north and south of the Estuary between Bury St Edmunds and Dungeness.

South and West

A number of reconnaissance flights were plotted along the South Coast to Land's End. One raid penetrated towards Oxford and is reported to have had Harwell as a target. Other raids were engaged on reconnaissances of the Portsmouth - Southampton, Shoreham - Tangemere and Middle Wallop - Yeovil areas.

At approximately 1600 hours, a major raid approached Portsmouth on a 30-mile front at 15,000 feet. This was followed by two other raids, and attacks developed in the Portsmouth - Southampton area. These raids were engaged and by 1700 hours commenced to disperse. A raid of 9 aircraft, reported to consist of a flying boat with fighter escort, was later plotted on various courses south of the Isle of Wight, probably looking for casualties; a twin-engined seaplane was intercepted and destroyed by our fighters about this time.

By night

Enemy activity has been on an exceptionally heavy and continuous scale all night. The main route of enemy aircraft has been from Beachy Head, over London and on to Birmingham and Coventry, starting at about 2125 hours and continuing until after 0300 hours. During all this period, London Central was under red warning.

As the night progressed, enemy aircraft crossed from France at many other points all along the South Coast.

Although the main attacks appear to have been on Birmingham and Coventry, there have been almost continuous raids over the Midlands area generally, Devon, Bristol and South Wales. Visits to the Newcastle and Middlesborough areas are also reported.

Enemy aircraft from the Dutch coast have been repeatedly active off the East Anglian Coast, presumably minelaying, and this is also suspected off Plymouth, Whitby and Tyne, between the Orkneys and the Mainland and off Kinnaird's Head, where a convoy was attacked.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 26th August 1940

• Blenheim - 56
• Spitfire - 240
• Hurricane - 408
• Defiant - 18
• Gladiator - 6
• Total - 728

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
20 Me109	5 Me109	2 Me109
3 Me110	2 Me110	1 Me110
9 Do17		4 Do17
7 Do215		4 Do215
5 He111		5 He111
1 He59		1 Ju88
45	7	17
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 Me110		2 Me110
1		2

• Own:
  • 28 aircraft with 4 pilots and 2 air gunners killed or missing.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 197 patrols involving 828 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • Estimated during the night of 25th/26th August - 300 aircraft. Estimated during the day of 26th August - 400 aircraft.

Balloons:

• Flying 1578, casualties 30 (27 repairable, 1 written off, 2 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• No reports.

Organisation:

• No changes.

Air Intelligence Reports

• Nil.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 25th/26th/27th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • During the day, a raid was made on Folkestone, but damage was not extensive. Further raids were made on areas in the South.
    • It is apparent that heavy attacks have been made in the Midlands, and particularly the Birmingham district. London suburbs have also been bombed.

  • Detailed Summary
    • 25th August
      • At 1348 hours, one aircraft attacked Llanreath oil tanks. Bombs were dropped in the vicinity causing no further damage. The fire which has been burning since the 19th August is more under control, and it is reasonable to hope that it will be extinguished by tomorrow.

    • 26th August
      • RAF Stations
        • Harwell was attacked at about 1100 hours. Four HE were dropped damaging a building in the course of construction. Casualties are 6 killed and 10 injured. Two Wellington aircraft were damaged.
        • Cottesmore was bombed at 0031 hours and slight damage was done to the road north-east of camp and to three Hampden aircraft.
        • Debden was bombed at 1519 hours. The end of the NAAFI building was and MT workshops wrecked. A direct hit was obtained on one hangar and another one damaged. One Hurricane in flames on the ground.
        • Cleave Camp, Bude was machine-gunned at 0850 hours and huts and eight buses received damage.
        • St Eval was bombed at 2130 hours and 2158 hours.
        • Hawkinge was bombed at 1600 hours. No damage to report.
        • Middleton St George was bombed at 0145 hours and Feltwell at 0015 hours, but little damage in both cases.

      • Elsewhere
        • Folkestone was bombed at 1151 hours. Railway and private property damaged and a laundry demolished. Casualties - 2 killed and 22 injured.
        • Scilly Isles were attacked and machine-gunned at 1455 hours. No casualties reported and the fires caused yesterday are now under control.
        • Stockton-on-Tees was attacked at 0254 hours and damage was done to an engine shed, locomotives, food store and small munitions factory. At Thornaby on the other side of the river, damage was done to property and Dorman Long's Cleveland Works, but there is no interruption of production.
        • Portsmouth was bombed at 1600 hours. Fort Cumberland was damaged and small fires at Hilsea gas works are believed to have been extinguished.

    • 27th August
      • London. It is reported that the following districts have been bombed: Wood Green, Tilbury, Dartford East, Wormwood Scrubs and Tottenham. The damage at these places is not yet known, but at Southgate it is reported to be serious.
      • Birmingham. Very severe damage has been caused during the night and it is reported that Bordersley Junction, GWR marshalling yard, is very badly damaged. A large fire is blazing in the Smallheath Goods Yards and in an adjacent timber yard. BSA Tools Ltd, Montgomery Street, is reported to be burning fiercely. The Nuffield Factory at Castle Bromwich has also been hit again, but the damage is not known as yet.
      • It is reported that West Hartlepool, Sunderland and Lincolnshire have been bombed, but the damage has not yet been ascertained.
      • Driffield. It is reported that the RAF station was bombed at 0204 hours, and that Bicester and North Coates also attacked, but no reports of damage have been received.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - 4 killed, 19 injured.
      • To others - 21 killed, 72 injured.

Corrigendum

• With reference to yesterday's report (25th August), bombs were not dropped at White Waltham Aerodrome.

---

Images

Date: 27th August 1940

• Weather: Rain in central and eastern England. Some cloud in the Channel and haze over Dover Straits.
• Day: Reconnaissance mainly in the Portsmouth - Southampton area.
• Night: Widespread attacks on industry and airfields from Lincolnshire to Portsmouth.

Enemy action by day

During the day hostile activity was limited to a number of reconnaissance flights chiefly in the Portsmouth - Southampton area.

Three of these reconnaissance aircraft were interrupted and destroyed by our fighters.

North and East

Reconnaissance flights by single aircraft were plotted east of Kinnaird's Head, near a convoy off Harwich and in the North Sea. One of these aircraft was shot down near Chelmsford.

South East

In the morning a small formation crossed North Foreland and turning south, was interrupted near Dover and one Do215 was destroyed.

Later, reconnaissances passed over Dover and Ramsgate.

South and West

During the day, six reconnaissances appeared in the Portland - Portsmouth areas, one of which is suspected to have been on a photographic mission and also two reconnaissances over Plymouth. One enemy aircraft was destroyed near Warmwell.

By night

Enemy activity, although considerable, was not on the extensive scale of the two previous nights. There were scattered raids on the greater part of the country, except in the North where activity was slight.

Raids were reported throughout the Midlands, on East Anglia, Kent and Surrey, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, South Wales, Middlesborough, the Aberdeen district and at Chatham and Portsmouth.

London Central received two read warnings.

AA guns are reported in action at Southampton, Tangmere, Driffield, Tees, Bristol, Falmouth, Cardiff, Derby, Nottingham, Leeds and Manchester.

The only minelaying suspected is between the Wash and the Tees.

Addendum

Six to eight raids were reported in the Thames Estuary between 0400 and 0440 hours, possibly minelaying.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 27th August 1940

• Blenheim - 55
• Spitfire - 228
• Hurricane - 420
• Defiant - 18
• Gladiator - 7
• Total - 728

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
2 Do215	1 Me110	1 He111
1 Ju88
3	1	1
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 He111
1

• Own:
  • 1 aircraft. No pilots killed or missing.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 134 patrols involving 303 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • Estimated during the night of 26th/27th August - 280 aircraft. Estimated during the day of 27th August - 75 aircraft.

Balloons:

• Flying 1538, casualties 25 (18 repairable, 7 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• No reports.

Organisation:

• No 603 Squadron moved from Turnhouse to Hornchurch.
• No 65 Squadron moved from Southend to Turnhouse.
• No 32 Squadron moved from Biggin Hill to Acklington.
• No 79 Squadron moved from Acklington to Biggin Hill.

Air Intelligence Reports

• Nil.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 26th/27th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • Enemy activity was small during the day. Bombs were again dropped in the Scilly Isles and in the Isle of Wight.
    • During the evening, London and the South East Coast were attacked and it appeared that these increased later and extended to the Midlands.

  • Detailed Summary
    • 26th August
      • Further to yesterday's report, St Eval Aerodrome was under intermittent bombing attack between 2100 hours 26th August and 0410 hours on the 27th. The only damage reported was a stack of timber ignited.
      • North Coates was attacked twice on the night of the 26th. Fires are under control.
      • Bagington, Cleave and Somersham, near Wyton were also raided but there is no damage to report.
      • Birmingham. Further details show that the city was raided continuously from 2323 hours until 0354 hours of the 27th. Casualties appear to be 10 killed and 51 injured. Surprisingly little damage was done except in the case of BSA (Small Arms), Smallheath which burnt fiercely. The following factories and works were hit: Dunlop Rubber Company, Castle Bromwich Aero Factory, Humber Works, James' Cycle Works, BSA Tools, Nuffield Factory, Daimler Works and Smith's Stamping Works. All fires were reported out at 0655 hours on the 27th, apart from damping down. Later, it was reported that James George Ltd of Lionel street Foundry was hit by IB. the works were entirely gutted and loss of production is 100%.
      • Plymouth. Further details show that the city was raided at frequent intervals between 2135 hours of the 26th until 0400 hours of the 27th, and it was estimated that over 50 HE's were dropped on the co-ordinated area. Minor damage to Millbay Dock was reported but the fire soon put out.
      • Over 380 IB were dropped in Cornwall during this attack but little damage done.

    • 27th August
      • RAF Stations
        • Bombs were dropped on or near the following, but damage, where known, is slight: Edzell, Montrose, north of Dyce, Gravesend, Cranfield, Biggin Hill, Bentley Priory, Cottesmore, Kirton, Catfoss and Harlaxton which is the relief landing ground of Grantham where three bombs fell, two in the flare path and one on the beacon.

      • Elsewhere
        • Bombs are also reported to have fallen on Edgeware near Hendon.
        • The Scilly Isles were again attacked, but no damage to report.
        • Portsmouth was attacked by a single enemy aircraft which machine-gunned the dockyard signal tower - no casualties.
        • Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham districts were attacked and dive-bombing resulted in damage to houses. Sixteen fires were started and are reported to be under control. It is learned that this attack was made at 0145 hours on the 28th, Gillingham apparently being the chief objective. Hundreds of IB bombs were dropped, the casualties so far are nine killed together with seven believed killed.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - none.
      • To others - 37 killed, 102 injured.

---

Images

Date: 28th August 1940

• Weather: Fine and fair but cold. Cloud in Dover Straits.
• Day: Three-phase attack on airfields in Kent, Essex and Suffolk.
• Night: First major attack on Liverpool (150 bombers). Further harassing attacks over London, the Midlands and north-east coast

Enemy action by day

During the day the enemy made four major attacks in the Kentish area, some of which penetrated to the Thames Estuary.

Our fighters destroyed twenty-seven enemy aircraft plus one by anti-aircraft fire while our casualties were twenty aircraft (nine pilots plus three air gunners missing or killed).

North and East

In the evening, a single aircraft was plotted east of Yarmouth.

South East

At 0640 hours, three enemy aircraft flew along the coast from Lympne to North Foreland, possibly making a photographic reconnaissance of the Royal Air Force stations in that area.

At 0830 hours, about sixty enemy aircraft penetrated inland between Dover and North Foreland on a westerly course followed shortly afterwards by a second wave of about sixty enemy aircraft, some of which turned north to Essex. Fighters intercepted and shot down five aircraft.

At about 1300 hours, approximately one hundred enemy aircraft flew inland between North Foreland and Dungeness to the Thames Estuary, their objective being aerodromes. Rochford was attacked. Our fighters destroyed nine aircraft.

Between 1550 and 1645 hours, the enemy launched seven raids totalling over one hundred aircraft over Kent and the Estuary. Our fighters destroyed twelve aircraft.

At 1900 hours, another sixty enemy aircraft again flew inland over Kent, some heading west and some north to the Estuary following a course similar to previous attacks. Fighters intercepted and shot down one enemy aircraft.

South and West

During the morning, hostile reconnaissances were reported off Cornwall and Pembroke. Later, two small raids passed over Cardiff and flew south east to Yeovil and Swanage and returned to France.

Northern Ireland

A hostile aircraft was reported passing near to Aldergrove.

By night

Enemy activity was very heavy but more confined to specific areas than usual.

The Midlands was clearly the main objective and there were very few raids outside an arc based on Shoreham to Selsey Bill up to Liverpool, across to Sheffield and thence down to London.

At 2050 hours, a few raids commenced to cross the Kentish Coast, some passing over London and up to the Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Sheffield, Manchester and South Yorkshire areas. Successive raids developed towards the same areas crossing the coast at many points between Beachy Head and Selsey Bill. Many of these returned over the London area keeping London 'Red' for the record period of seven hours.

Some raids flew to Bristol Channel area but activity here was lighter than usual.

Several of the raids which passed over the Midlands carried on to Sealand and this area seems to have received marked attantion.

Minelaying appears to have been taken place in the Wash, off East Anglia, Thames Estuary, Beachy Head, Shoreham, Lyme Bay and possibly Bristol Channel and Liverpool Bay.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 28th August 1940

• Blenheim - 55
• Spitfire - 225
• Hurricane - 413
• Defiant - 23
• Gladiator - 7
• Total - 723

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
4 Do17	11 Me109	1 Do17
2 Do215	2 He111	1 Do215
19 Me109	1 Do17	5 Me109
1 He111		1 Me110
1 He159		1 He111
1 Gotha*		1 Curtis Hawk
28	14	10
*NOTE - This is reported in the foregoing narrative as brought down by anti-aircraft fire, but it is since reported that it landed intact on Lewes racecourse due to pilot being lost.
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
Nil	Nil	Nil

• Own:
  • 20 aircraft. Seven pilots and three air gunners killed or missing. (NOTE: Since writing of narrative which mentions nine pilots killed or missing, this has been reduced to the above.)

Patrols:

• Own
  • 187 patrols involving 778 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • Estimated during the night of 27th/28th August - 200 aircraft. Estimated during the day 28th August - 400 aircraft.

Balloons:

• Flying 1549, casualties 32 (26 repairable, 2 written off, 4 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• Rochford unserviceable during hours of darkness. Serviceable for single aircraft by day with care.

Organisation:

• Nil.

Air Intelligence Reports

• While there is an absence of any specific reference in official communiqués to the raids on Berlin, information received from Spanish press sources confirms the success of the raids [by RAF Bomber Command] and that their effect on the population is noticeable. Those sources pay high tribute to the daring and efficiency of the British aircraft crews, who flew over the centre of the city while dropping bombs only on their targets in the suburbs. Spanish public opinion is much impressed.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 28th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • A number of aerodromes were attacked during the period including, amongst others, Dyce aerial lighthouse site where a number of HE were dropped by low flying aircraft. No damage of importance is reported.
    • Rochford was subjected to heavy attack by fifteen He111 and it was estimated that 15 tons of bombs were dropped in and around the aerodrome. Short fires were caused to buildings and the surface of the landing ground was cut up but it is serviceable for single aircraft with care.
    • Avonmouth Docks were bombed, two HE falling on the "Shell Mex" Can factory and two HE also seven IB near the plant belonging to the National Smelting Company.
    • Bombs were dropped on the factory of Messrs S Smith and Sons at Cricklewood.
    • A new type of incendiary bomb was reported to have been dropped at Ulceby.
    • Eleven fires were reported from Coventry, all of which were extinguished in due course.
    • The absence of full reports does not make it possible to give an accurate detailed summary of the latest raids.
    • During the night 28th/29th August, a 50,000-gallon oil tank was on fire at Anglo-American Oil Depot, Broad Heath, Altrincham, Cheshire. It is not reported if this is due to enemy action.

  • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action: (The details given below are quoted with considerable reserve owing to the lack of accurate information).
    • To RAF Personnel - nil killed, 5 injured.
    • To others - 37 killed, 78 injured.

---

Images

Date: 29th August 1940

• Weather: Showers and bright intervals. Cloud in the Channel and Straits.
• Day: Quiet in the morning, airfield attacks in the south and south-east later in the day.
• Night: Further attack on Liverpool with diversionary raids in the Midlands.

Enemy action by day

During the afternoon, the enemy made one major raid. Although the objective appears to have been the South London aerodromes, no reports of bombing have been received. This raid was followed a few hours later by a smaller raid to the Rochester area.

Nine enemy aircraft were destroyed; our casualties being nine aircraft and two pilots.

North and East

One meteorological and one reconnaissance aircraft were plotted east of the Firth of Forth and Spurn Head respectively.

South East

Soon after midday, a single aircraft made a reconnaissance of the line Shoreham to Stanmore and returned by approximately the same route.

Two separate aircraft reconnoitred the Thames Estuary.

At 1510 hours, nine enemy aircraft flew over Dover towards Tangmere; this raid was immediately followed by about 170 aircraft which appeared to head for Biggin Hill. These raids were intercepted and driven off, four aircraft being destroyed by our fighters and one anti-aircraft. Strong hostile patrols were maintained off Calais until 1725 hours.

At 1725 hours, a raid of twenty plus aircraft passed over North Foreland and flew towards Rochester. It was intercepted and four enemy aircraft were destroyed.

South and West

During the morning, hostile aircraft reconnoitred the Guildford area and Weymouth Bay and a small raid attacked Warmwell Aerodrome.

In the afternoon, one aircraft reconnoitred Portsmouth and shortly afterwards twelve plus aircraft flew towards this area, but, when fifteen miles south of Selsey Bill, turned back on sighting our fighters.

At 1600 hours, a small raid attacked a RAF establishment in the Scilly Isles causing little damage.

By night

Enemy activity was again heavy, Scotland being the only area neglected.

Dusk raids penetrated East Anglia, main objectives apparently being Debden and Duxford, but from 2300 hours onwards, there was singularly little activity east of a line Brighton to Flamborough Head until 0230 hours when fresh raids appeared along the East Coast, apparently minelaying, but a few crossing inland.

Three main areas were attacked:

• i. South West and up to South Wales.
• ii. Industrial Midlands up to Liverpool and Manchester - a few raids going as far as Carlisle.
• iii. Tees and Tyne area.

The raids on items (i.) and (ii.) crossed the coast in a steady stream, mostly one aircraft each, but between Shoreham and Lyme Bay some were of greater strength. A few of these appeared to concentrate on the Portsmouth area.

Minelaying is suspected off Plymouth.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 29th August 1940

• Blenheim - 53
• Spitfire - 230
• Hurricane - 412
• Defiant - 18
• Gladiator - 7
• Total - 720

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
6 Me109	7 Me109	1 Me109
2 Me110	1 Me110	2 Me110
	2 Do215	2 Do215
8	10	5
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
1 Me109
1

• Own:
  • 9 aircraft with 2 pilots killed or missing.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 125 patrols involving 524 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • Night 28/29th August - estimated 200 aircraft. 29th August - estimated 360 aircraft of which no more than 200 appear to have crossed the coast, and of these, only a few penetrated any distance inland.

Balloons:

• Flying 1541, casualties 55 (49 repairable, 4 written off, 2 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• Rochford temporarily unserviceable owing to delayed-action bombs.
• Manston unserviceable for fighters.

Organisation:

• No 253 Squadron moved from Prestwick to Kenley.
• No 615 Squadron moved from Kenley to Prestwick.
• No 222 Squadron moved from Kirton-in-Lindsey to Hornchurch.
• No 264 Squadron moved from Hornchurch to Kirton-in-Lindsey.

Air Intelligence Reports

• Nil.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 29th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • There was little enemy aircraft activity during the day with the exception of two raids over the Kentish Coast.
    • At 2100 hours, activity recommenced when the following areas were visited: South-West England, South Wales, the Midlands industrial areas as far north as Liverpool and the Tyne and Tees districts.

  • Detailed Summary
    • RAF Stations
      • 28th August
        • At 0855 hours, Eastchurch Aerodrome was attacked when two Battles were destroyed and two were damaged.
      • 28th/29th August
        • Bombs were dropped near the following stations:- Debden, Duxford, Grantham, Weston-on-the-Green and Felixstowe.

    • London Area
      • 28th/29th August
        • London suburbs were bombed in many places, but generally speaking damage was not of a serious nature with the exception of Cricklewood (already reported in August 28th summary).
        • Gas and water mains were damaged in Enfield and East Ham and a road was blocked by a crater at Lambeth.

    • Elsewhere
      • Coventry was bombed between the hours of 2136 and 2210 on the night of 28th August, as a result of which major damage is reported. Thirteen HE and many IB were widely distributed over the town causing considerable damage to 31 working class houses and minor damage to other shop and houses property. Water and gas services were affected.
      • At about 0200 hours on the 29th August, several IB and HE bombs were dropped on Liverpool, when some houses were demolished and damage caused to electricity and water mains. Fires were started but soon brought under control.
      • Tresco in the Scilly Isles was attacked at 1558 hours on the 29th August, when HE and IB were dropped by low flying aircraft who also used machine guns. Several fires broke out and two casualties occurred. The public are reported to be showing signs of panic and expressing strong desire to be evacuated.
      • Churchdown (Gloucestershire) was bombed at 2330 hours on the 28th August, when an important water main was damaged affecting Gloucester city seriously and the RAF station at Quedgeley.
      • The main Liverpool - Exeter railway line was damaged between Silverton and Bradnich making it necessary to suspend traffic.
        • 29th/30th August
          • Manchester and Liverpool were severely bombed - property, gas and water mains being severely affected. IB and HE bombs are reported to have been dropped in many places including the factory of Messrs Rootes Ltd and others in the Speke district.

  • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action: (The details given below are quoted with considerable reserve owing to the lack of accurate information).
    • To RAF Personnel - nil.
    • To others - 20 killed, 257 injured.

---

Images

Date: 30th August 1940

• Weather: Fair.
• Day: Dummy raids on shipping then heavy attacks on south-eastern airfields. Luton attacked.
• Night: Third raid on Liverpool. Single raids over wide area.

Enemy action by day

The enemy delivered one major attack during the morning and three in the afternoon in South West England. Aerodromes appeared to be the principal objectives. Sixty-two enemy aircraft were destroyed (plus twenty-one probable and twenty-nine damaged), and our casualties were twenty-five aircraft and ten pilots killed or missing.

North and East

In the early morning, one hostile aircraft was reported over Leicester and crossed the coast near Cromer. Interception was not successful.

A small raid reconnoitred over a convoy off Cromer.

South East

Between 0740 hours and 0820 hours, two raids of twenty plus each cruised in the Straits and Calais areas. Two squadrons sent up over the Straits did not sight either raid. Hostile patrols remained active in the Calais - Boulogne area.

At 1106 hours, one hundred plus enemy aircraft passed over Dungeness and Dover, quickly followed by another wave of one hundred plus. These formations split up over Kent and Surrey, sub-divisions attacking targets in the Estuary and the aerodromes at Biggin Hill and Eastchurch. At 1200 hours, another wave of one hundred plus came in over Dover but did not penetrate far inland. Throughout the attack numerous hostile aircraft patrolled the Channel and French Coast, evidently waiting to cover retreating bombers.

Sixteen fighter squadrons met the attack and destroyed twenty-seven enemy aircraft plus three by anti-aircraft at a cost of ten aircraft and five pilots, and by 1230 hours all raids had been driven off.

At 1420 hours, sixty plus enemy aircraft crossed the coast between Dover and Dungeness and some flew towards Kenley and Biggin Hill. Four squadrons were sent up and by 1500 hours all raids had retreated out to sea. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed plus one by anti-aircraft.

At 1555 hours, about three hundred aircraft entered Kent, some crossing the Estuary to Essex. The concentration remained greatest over East Kent but formations of ten to twenty aircraft each spread to Kenley, North Weald, Hornchurch, Debden, Sheerness, Harwich, Bentley Priory and as far west as Oxford at an average height of 10,000 feet. Lympne, Detling and Biggin Hill were attacked.

Thirteen squadrons destroyed twenty-nine hostile aircraft and by 1715 hours had cleared the sky.

At 1800 hours, about seventy enemy aircraft flew up the south side of the Thames Estuary. Some turned south and south-east over Kent and one formation of twelve passed over Biggin Hill at 7,000 feet. By 1830 hours, raids had dispersed.

By night

Activity was again heavy. Dusk raids crossed into Cornwall apparently searching for aerodromes. Main objective of the night was industrial Midlands up to Liverpool and as far as Bradford and Leeds. South Wales received less attention than usual.

With few exceptions, raids (mostly one aircraft but some of three plus) again crossed the coast in a continuous stream between Beachy Head and Lyme Bay, some of those which flew over the Bristol area carrying on to the Midlands.

Raids passing to and fro over London Central kept it at 'Red' between 2110 and 0345 hours. The East Coast was largely neglected. Only a few raids crossed inland over East Anglia and some minelaying is suspected in the Humber.

---

Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 30th August 1940

• Blenheim - 52
• Spitfire - 234
• Hurricane - 410
• Defiant - 14
• Gladiator - 7
• Total - 717

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
10 Me109	4 Me109	3 Me109
20 Me110	6 Me110	15 Me110
23 He111	7 He111	10 He111
2 Do17	2 He113	1 Ju88
2 Do215	1 Do17
1 Ju88	1 Do215
59	21	29
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
2 Me109
1 Do17
1 Me109
3

• Own:
  • 25 aircraft (10 pilots killed or missing).

Addendum to report for August 29th

• At about 2350 hours, on 29th August, one Spitfire of No 92 Squadron intercepted and shot down a He111 near Yatesbury (Wiltshire). This casualty was not included in the casualty totals.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 208 patrols involving 1,054 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • By night 29th/30th August - 250 aircraft. By day 30th August - 600 aircraft.

Balloons:

• Flying 1,552, casualties 66 (44 repairable, 2 written off, 20 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• Manston unserviceable for fighters.
• Biggin Hill - serviceability unknown.

Attacks on Aerodromes

• Biggin Hill, Detling, Luton, Lympne.

Organisation:

• No 145 Squadron moved from Drem. 'A' Flight to Montrose, 'B' Flight to Dyce.
• No 141 Squadron moved to Turnhouse. 'A' Flight from Montrose, 'B' Flight from Dyce.

Air Intelligence Reports

• Neutral attaches leaving Belgium were taken in a car to Switzerland by a roundabout route of 1,100km instead of the direct route of 600km, as the direct route might have permitted then to see too much of the damage caused by in the Rhein-Ruhr area.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 29th August 1940
  • General Summary
    • During the day, enemy aircraft made a series of raids in considerable numbers over South East England including the Thames Estuary and also Luton and Dunstable. A few aircraft reached the London region.
    • At about 2100 hours, activity was renewed and was principally concentrated on the industrial Midlands as far north as Liverpool and across country to Bradford and Leeds. London was also revisited.

  • Detailed Summary
    • RAF Stations
      • 28th August
        • Eight HE unexploded bombs were dropped 1200 yards south of the hangar at Staverton. The main water supply was cut but it is anticipated that the supply will be partially restored in 36 hours.
      • 30th August
        • RAF Hospital at Ely was attacked early in the morning, one small incendiary bomb being dropped which was quickly extinguished.
        • A type of paraffin incendiary bomb was dropped on the parade ground at West Kirby causing slight damage to drill shed.
        • At 1735 hours, 60 HE bombs were dropped on Detling Aerodrome causing many craters.
        • Biggin Hill Aerodrome was attacked at 1245 hours and again at 1815 hours. During the second attack, heavy calibre bombs were dropped on the camp, but not on the landing ground, causing major damage and fires. Some aircraft are believed to have been destroyed.
        • Nine bombs were dropped at Lympne Aerodrome destroying a hangar and an air raid shelter. There were five civilian casualties but the aerodrome is reported to be serviceable.
      • Seaplanes
        • It is reported that one or more seaplanes landed on the water off Mablethorpe during an air raid on 30th August and took off again at 2233 hours. The time of the landing is unknown but the aircraft are believed to have remained on the water for a considerable time. As it took off a verey light was seen out at sea.

      • Factories
        • 30th August
          • At 2250 hours, the factory of Messrs Hobson (aircraft motor components) at Oldham was hit by incendiary bombs but there was no damage to the plant.
          • Messrs Stewart and Lloyd's factory at Bilston was bombed causing some casualties, numbers not yet known. Water mains and electric light cables were affected and there was some damage to a locomotive shed.
          • At about 1643 hours, Messrs Vauxhall's Motor Factory at Luton was bombed causing considerable damage and many casualties. Eight fires were started in the district.

      • London Area
        • During the night of 30th/31st August, the following parts of London were bombed:- Pimlico, Belgravia, Finchley, Hornsea, Paddington, Highgate, Hendon and Willesdon. Little news of damage is so far available, but an unexploded bomb is reported to have dropped at 0205 hours in the Bank close to Brondesbury Park Station on the Hampstead Branch. The Kilburn High Road is also reported blocked.

      • Hull
        • Bombs were dropped causing damage to the permanent way and some sheds at Victoria Docks and also a wooden quay.

    • Casualties on Ground by Enemy Action:
      • To RAF Personnel - nil killed, 5 injured.
      • To others - 68 killed, 327 injured.

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  Images

Date: 31st August 1940

• Weather: Mainly fair with haze over the Thames Estuary and Dover Straits.
• Day: Fighter Command suffers its heaviest losses. Airfields in the south and south-east raided.
• Night: Liverpool once again the main target with lesser attacks covering the north-east coast to Plymouth.

Enemy action by day

Three major attacks developed in the East Kent and Thames area, and spread towards South and North East London. Aerodromes were again the main objectives.

70 enemy aircraft were destroyed (plus 34 probable and 33 damaged). Our casualties were 37 aircraft and 12 pilots killed or missing.

North and East

At 0600 hours one aircraft made a reconnaissance off Spurn Point. At 1155 hours a reconnaissance was made at 23000 feet over aerodromes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex and of shipping in the Thames Estuary. Between 1400 and 1530 hours three reconnaissances were made in East Anglia.

South East

At 0755 hours formations appeared in the Deal, Dover and Thames Estuary area. Some two hundred and fifty aircraft attacked in five distinct waves. Aircraft were flying at between 1500 and 20000 feet but one formation crossed the Essex Coast in a dive at 2000 feet. Dispersal commenced at about 0900 hours. Ten Fighter squadrons were detailed for these attacks and accounted for a number of enemy aircraft. The objectives were North Weald, Debden (where some damage is reported), Duxford and East Kent area. At 0845 hours Me109's shot down all (23) of the Dover Balloon Barrage.

At 0930 hours single aircraft made reconnaissances of:

• Martlesham, Debden and Duxford.
• Bircham Newton and Norfolk Coast.

At about 1100 hours ninety plus aircraft crossed the Coast at Dover but this attack was not pressed home.

At 1235 hours fifty plus aircraft approached Dover of which thirty aircraft flew inland towards Biggin Hill and Kenley at 10,000 feet. The remaining twenty turned back at Dover but reappeared at Deal as fifty aircraft and crossed the Coast in three waves followed by two smaller formations flying towards Biggin Hill and Kenley. Biggin Hill suffered some damage. At about 1320 hours fifty plus aircraft were over Hornchurch and Debden plus aircraft were over Hornchurch and Debden at 15/20,000 feet. Two further raids followed in Kent and two in the Thames Estuary. By 1350 hours the attackers began to disperse.

Successful interceptions were made and many aircraft were shot down. During this attack strong enemy patrols were maintained in the Straits until after the raids had withdrawn.

At 1630 hours a small raid reconnoitred the Thames Estuary at 15,000 feet, passed over Hornchurch, then flew to Kenley and South to the Coast. It may have been assessing damage done during previous raids.

At 1800 hours six raids crossed the Coast between North Foreland and Hastings. One of these attacked Hornchurch and the others Biggin Hill, Northolt, Kenley and other objectives in Kent. Another raid of fifty aircraft flew into the Estuary. Altogether some two hundred enemy aircraft wee involved. The raids drew off at 1900 hours.

The patrols covering the retreat of these bombers in the Straits were not so strong as usual. Fighter squadrons were again successful in destroying a number of enemy aircraft.

During the day No 12 Group moved Squadrons into No 11 Group area to assist in the battles.

By night

The enemy programme appeared to be very similar to that of the last few nights both in volume and in targets.

Dusk attacks were made on Liverpool and Birkenhead. Up to 0030 hours a stream of raids crossed the Coast between Shoreham and Lyme Bay towards the Industrial Midlands which together with Liverpool and Leeds areas seemed to be the main targets. There was comparatively little activity over South Wales. Mine-laying is suspected in the Thames Estuary, off East Anglia, Humber, Durham and Northumberland Coasts, but some raids also penetrated inland in each of these areas.

London Central was "Red" between 2150 and 2213 hours, 2225 and 2359 hours and 0057 and 0354 hours. Attacks on this area appeared to be much less severe than those of recent nights and passing to the Midlands across the South West edge of the inner artillery zone and returning across the North East edge.

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Statistics

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours, 31st August 1940

• Blenheim - 54
• Spitfire - 212
• Hurricane - 417
• Defiant - 13
• Gladiator - 4
• Total - 700

Casualties:

Enemy Losses
By Fighters
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
39 Me109	21 Me109	12 Me109
9 Me110	5 Me110	12 Me110
6 He111	2 Do17	2 Do17
1 Ju88	6 Do215	4 Ju88
5 Do17		3 Do215
10 Do215
70	34	33
By Anti-Aircraft
Destroyed	Probable	Damaged
7 Me109
1 Me110
7 Do17
15

• Own:
  • 37 aircraft with 12 pilots killed or missing.

Patrols:

• Own
  • 192 patrols involving 1016 aircraft.

• Enemy
  • It is estimated that about 300 enemy aircraft operated over Great Britain during the night 30th/31st August and 800 during the day of 31st August.

Balloons:

• Flying 1545, casualties 38 (33 repairable, 3 written off, 2 by enemy action).

Aerodromes:

• Hornchurch is unserviceable by night.

Attacks on Aerodromes

• Hornchurch, Croydon, Debden, Biggin Hill and Eastchurch.

Organisation:

• No 310 Squadron has moved from Duxford to North Weald.
• No 151 Squadron has moved from Rochford to Duxford.
• No 72 Squadron has moved from Acklington to Biggin Hill.
• No 610 Squadron has moved from Biggin Hill to Acklington.
• No 601 Squadron has moved from Debden to Tangmere.
• No 17 Squadron has moved from Tangmere to Debden.

Home Security Reports

• Date: 31st August 1940
  • General Summary
    • During the day enemy aircraft activity was again centred mainly round the London area, East Anglia and South East England.
    • Night activity commenced about 2100 hours when the areas visited were very similar to those of the previous night and included South Wales, Midlands (extensively) as far north as Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.

  • Detailed Summary
    • RAF Stations
      • Biggin Hill Aerodrome was twice bombed during the day first at 1200 hours and again at 1838 hours when a serious fire broke out. Aerodrome, buildings were wrecked, gas and water mains affected and aircraft damaged.
      • At 1315 hours Croydon Aerodrome was heavily bombed and the Rollason Aircraft Works were destroyed. Other industrial buildings and houses including the Redwing Aircraft Factory were damaged, but at the latter there were no casualties and it is reported that production is not affected.
      • There were two attacks on Hornchurch Aerodrome, one at 1300 hours and the other at 1800 hours. As a result of this raid six aircraft were destroyed and four damaged. There was no material damage to essential buildings but the power cable was cut.
      • The town and Aerodrome of Debden were raided at 0900 hours. Damage was caused to houses, hangers and shelters and fire fighting equipment was destroyed.
      • Hucknell, Eastchurch and Fowlmere Aerodromes were also bombed.

    • Elsewhere
      • Date: 27th August 1940
        • St Merryn: Six unexploded bombs dropped three miles from the Royal Naval Station.

      • Date: 31st August 1940
        • Willesden: It is now reported that as a result of bombing during the early morning 43 houses were demolished or rendered uninhabitable. Gas and water mains were damaged and there were many casualties.
        • Salisbury: At 2251 hours a raid on the City caused major damage. A lumber yard was destroyed and a Co-operative Stores gutted.
        • Liverpool: A severe raid commenced at 2040 hours and many HE and IB were dropped in the centre of the City, several important buildings were hit. A shelter was destroyed causing the death of 20 people and there were many other casualties. Bombs fell in the Nelson and also the Clarence Dock, a trawler being hit while in the latter.
        • Eastbourne: Telephone reports state that Eastbourne was shelled from the sea at 1740 hours. One house was demolished and two persons seriously injured. Other shells fell harmlessly in the sea and in open country.

  • Casualties on the Ground by Enemy Action:
    • To RAF Personnel - 40 killed, 28 injured.
    • To others - 44 killed, 250 injured.

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