Fighter-bomber raids on Kent and London.

Night: Italian Air Force carries out an attack on Harwich.

Weather: Fair but overcast.

Enemy Action by Day

Enemy activity on 25 October 1940 unfolded on a scale not seen for several days. From shortly after dawn, the Luftwaffe began a series of high-altitude fighter-bomber sweeps and reconnaissance flights stretching from the northern isles to the Channel coast. The weight of the day’s operations fell once more upon London, Kent, and Sussex, with repeated penetrations by Bf 109 formations of JG 27, JG 51, JG 53, JG 54, JG 26, and the Schlachtgruppe element II.(S)./LG 2. Medium bombers of KG 26 and other units appeared in daylight in now-uncommon attacks against RAF stations across Britain. Fighter Command was engaged continuously: fourteen enemy aircraft were confirmed destroyed, with a further twelve probably destroyed and sixteen damaged. RAF losses amounted to fourteen aircraft and six pilots.

Morning Sweeps and Initial Attacks (08:45–10:10 Hours)

The first major concentration of the day developed at 08:45 hours when approximately fifty Bf 109s crossed the coast at Dungeness and flew inland toward Maidstone and Biggin Hill, fragmenting into five sections as they advanced. This initial sweep was followed almost immediately by two additional formations: twelve aircraft entering at Dungeness and forty more crossing near Hastings.

By 09:20 hours, roughly sixty-five aircraft were pressing toward Biggin Hill, with a splinter group of twenty flying deeper into Central London. The raiders operated at high altitude, releasing bombs sporadically and then turning south. Even as these formations retired, two further large groupings—each exceeding ninety aircraft—crossed Dungeness around 09:25 hours. The leading force of fifty aircraft pressed inland toward Biggin Hill and penetrated to Central London by 09:55 hours, while the second group remained over the Maidstone district.

Fighter Command committed substantial strength to the defence. Spitfires of Nos. 41 and 66 Squadrons, Hurricanes of Nos. 46, 249, 253, 257, 501, 605, and 615 Squadrons, and additional flights from Nos. 603 and 74 engaged repeatedly across Kent and South London.

Near Biggin Hill, ten Spitfires of No. 41 Squadron intercepted elements of JG 54 at 26,000 feet. In the opening attack, Pilot Officer Peter Brown damaged Oblt. Joachim Schypek’s Bf 109 of 6./JG 54, forcing Schypek to crash-land at Broom Hill near Lydd. Meanwhile, Maj. Werner Mölders of Stab./JG 51 claimed a Spitfire near Dover, and Lt. Heinrich Tornow of 4./JG 51 was credited with destroying a Hurricane over London.

Further east, Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron attacked returning elements of II. and III./JG 26 over Maidstone, shooting down three Bf 109s. German pilots credited with RAF losses included Hptm. Walter Adolph of Stab II./JG 26, Lt. Karl Borris of 4./JG 26, and Oblt. Hans-Jürgen Westphal of 7./JG 26.

During this same phase, Pilot Officer Robert “Oxo” Oxspring of No. 66 Squadron was forced to bale out of Spitfire X4170 near Tonbridge after being attacked by six Bf 109s. Oblt. Kurt Eichstädt of 5./JG 26 was killed shortly after when his Bf 109, damaged by a Spitfire—possibly of No. 66 Squadron—broke up in flight.

By 10:10 hours, the first wave had spent its force, leaving scattered skirmishes across Kent and the London outskirts. Radar plots recorded approximately one hundred enemy aircraft patrolling over the Channel during the height of the action.

Midday Operations and the Second Major Attack (11:54–12:30 Hours)

At 11:54 hours, another large enemy movement developed as approximately one hundred Bf 109s crossed the coast near Dover at 20,000 feet, heading westward past Maidstone before scattering into numerous smaller elements that fanned across southeast England. The area from Hornchurch to south of Biggin Hill was soon dotted with high-altitude incursions.

Fighter Command responded with Hurricanes of Nos. 249, 257, 302 (Polish), and 310 (Czech) Squadrons, and Spitfires of Nos. 19, 222, and 603 Squadrons. Three squadrons from No. 12 Group, already airborne near Duxford, were directed to the Maidstone patrol line.

During this phase, Bf 109s of I., II., and III./JG 77 escorted stragglers of their formation back across Kent after a mission to London. As the German aircraft began to withdraw, RAF fighters attacked. Gefr. Karl Raisinger of 3./JG 77 was shot down and forced to crash-land at Harvey’s Cross near Brighton.

Casualties mounted. Sergeant J. M. Beard of No. 249 Squadron baled out of Hurricane P3615 after combat over Linton, suffering wounds. Pilot Officer P. Olver of No. 603 Squadron bailed from Spitfire P7365 near Chartham. At 12:07 hours, Pilot Officer W. B. Pattullo of No. 46 Squadron was killed when his Hurricane V6804 crashed into a house at Romford following a routine patrol.

Early Afternoon Raids and the Third Attack (13:05–14:05 Hours)

Shortly after 13:00 hours, another formation—approximately fifty Bf 109s, followed by twenty more—crossed inland from Dungeness. A portion remained near Dover, but the main body drove toward Central London, reaching the city around 13:30 hours before fragmenting into numerous small units.

Bombs fell at several points across the capital. At 13:30 hours, a high-explosive bomb struck the Air Provost Marshal’s department in Westminster, killing four RAF personnel and injuring eight. A separate bomb on Blackfriars Road destroyed several trams seeking temporary shelter, while the Blackfriars Ring building on the corner of Union Street suffered severe structural damage.

As the Bf 109s retired toward the Channel, fierce engagements erupted. Above Sevenoaks, Pilot Officer Tom Sherrington of No. 92 Squadron shot down Lt. Hermann Ripke of 8./JG 26, whose Bf 109 crashed at Riverhill House. Ripke’s wingman, Fw. Joseph Gartner, was brought down minutes later by No. 92 Squadron’s Flying Officer “Pancho” Villa, crashing at Congelow Farm, Yalding. In counter-attacks, Oblt. Joachim Müncheberg of 7./JG 26 forced a Spitfire to crash-land, and Hptm. Wolfgang Lippert of Stab II./JG 27 filed claims for two Hurricanes near London.

Across the southeast, additional engagements unfolded. Spitfires of No. 72 Squadron intercepted and shot down a patrolling Bf 110 off Great Yarmouth. Farther south, Flight Lieutenant F. Jastrzębski of No. 302 Squadron was lost when his Hurricane V7593 failed to return from a Channel patrol; he was last seen gliding toward France.

At 14:05 hours, the continuing fighting over Kent led to the loss of several Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron. Pilot Officer C. W. Goldsmith (a South African) and Pilot Officer R. B. Dewey were both shot down and killed by Bf 109s of JG 51 south of Maidstone. Pilot Officer Eric Edsall of No. 222 Squadron crash-landed his Spitfire X4548 near Hailsham after running out of fuel.

Late Afternoon Sweeps and Attacks in the Provinces (15:00–17:45 Hours)

By mid-afternoon, further large sweeps approached the Kent coast and split toward London, Kenley, and the Sussex wealds. Several RAF squadrons scrambled, but only the Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron (Kenley) succeeded in intercepting the raiders. In the resulting engagements with JG 51, the squadron suffered heavy losses: four Hurricanes were destroyed. Pilot Officer V. Goth was killed when his Hurricane P2903 collided with that of Pilot Officer K. W. Mackenzie during combat over Tenterden. Mackenzie survived after baling out. Pilot Officer Vivian R. Snell shot down a Bf 109 before being downed himself; he baled out and watched Hurricane P2903 crash near Brenchley.

Elsewhere, at 15:00 hours over Pembrey, Pilot Officer S. Piatkowski of No. 79 Squadron was killed when his Hurricane N2728 crashed near Carew Cheriton, likely shot down by a reconnaissance aircraft plotted nearby.

Enemy action extended far north. In Scotland, four He 111s of KG 26 launched a low-level surprise attack on RAF Montrose in the late afternoon. Machine-gun fire raked the town’s high street, and bombs fell across the station. Five personnel were killed, twenty-one injured, and considerable damage was done to buildings and aircraft. Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron were destroyed on the ground. Bombs also fell on Cellardyke and Arbroath.

At 17:40 hours, twenty enemy aircraft appeared near a convoy off North Foreland and attacked four minutes later. Although four RAF squadrons were dispatched in response to a distress signal, no interception was achieved. The attackers were likely the thirteen Bf 109s of JG 27 on their fourth mission of the day; they later claimed a merchant vessel sunk.

Additional casualties occurred late in the day. Pilot Officer Robert Duncan Yule of No. 145 Squadron was wounded after being shot down during combat over Kent; his Hurricane P3926 was written off. Pilot Officer S. F. Soden of No. 606 Squadron baled out of Spitfire P7635 near Chartham, suffering a badly injured leg.

Enemy Action by Night

Night operations on 25/26 October began at approximately 18:30 hours, when strong formations departed the Scheldt, Dieppe, and Cherbourg. London and Birmingham were again the principal targets, though South Wales, Liverpool, and the Midlands were also visited. Throughout the night, attacks were sustained in varying strength, accompanied by extensive minelaying along the coasts from the Firth of Forth to Aberdeen, the Thames Estuary, East Anglia, and the Mersey approaches.

First Phase (18:00–21:00 Hours)

At dusk, minor attacks were recorded in the Montrose area. Shortly afterward, thirty-three raids crossed between Selsey and Portland; twenty-two flew toward Birmingham and the Midlands, and eleven toward Pembroke, Cardiff, and Liverpool. At the same time, forty-five raids approached London from the east and south.

In Birmingham, attacks beginning at 20:00 hours struck the districts of Deritend, Highgate, and Balsall Heath. Approximately one hundred fires were started, the largest in Balsall Heath. Damage was inflicted upon several factories including Fisher Ludlow, Deritend Stamping Co., United Wireworks, Birmingham Batteries and Metal Corporation, Windsor Street Gas Works, and the Forwerd Radiator Co. Gas and water mains were ruptured, flooding sections of the Great Western Railway at Bordesley. Preliminary casualty figures listed twenty-two killed and thirty-nine injured.

Elsewhere, an aircraft of No. 219 Squadron shot down a raider off Seaford during this period.

Second Phase (21:00–01:00 Hours)

Penetrations into the Midlands continued until about 23:00 hours; attacks on Liverpool faded around 22:30 hours. Over London, pressure lessened but did not cease. Enemy aircraft were plotted flying west of the capital toward Slough and returning along reciprocal courses. Tracks across Yorkshire suggested additional minelaying along the Lancashire coast.

Third Phase (01:00–04:00 Hours)

Activity against London dwindled to nuisance raids, while minelaying expanded continuously along the east coast between North Foreland and Aberdeen. Several raiders overshot their London objective: one penetrated as far as Wittering; another reached Middle Wallop before withdrawing.

Final Phase (04:00–06:00 Hours)

Toward dawn, activity over London had all but ceased. However, numerous raids approached the Aberdeenshire coast at altitudes between 5,000 and 12,000 feet, some penetrating inland—possibly indicating attacks in that region. At 06:00 hours, isolated raiders were still being plotted toward London at long intervals.

Damage to RAF Stations and Infrastructure

Sixteen RAF stations were attacked during daylight and night operations. Montrose sustained severe damage from the KG 26 raid, with six personnel killed and extensive destruction to buildings and aircraft. Arbroath, Cardington, Leconfield, Feltwell, Kirton-in-Lindsey, Dishforth, Mildenhall, Newmarket, and Horsham St Faith all reported bombings of varying severity.

Martlesham was dive-bombed by nine Bf 109s of JG 26 at 16:42 hours, suffering structural damage, though remaining operational on its western side.

Westminster’s Air Provost Marshal department was hit at 13:30 hours, resulting in four fatalities.

Summary

Friday, 25 October 1940 marked a renewed intensity in the Luftwaffe’s daylight fighter-bomber offensive. Continuous high-altitude sweeps, supported by scattered bomber attacks, kept Fighter Command fully engaged from morning until dusk. The defence inflicted significant losses on the attackers, but RAF casualties remained substantial.

Night operations brought widespread bombing across London, the Midlands, South Wales, and the north-east, alongside extensive minelaying.

The day confirmed the Luftwaffe’s continued reliance on Bf 109s to exert pressure on the capital, while also demonstrating Fighter Command’s ability to counter repeated large-scale incursions despite mounting strain.

German Losses:
Airmen: 30 | Aircraft: 24

British Losses:
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 14

Hurricane V6804, No. 46 Squadron
P/O W.B. Pattullo died 26/10/40. Shot down by enemy aircraft. Crashed into house in Woodstock Avenue, Romford after attempting forced landing at Maylands Golf Course.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Pattullo.htm

Hurricane N2708, No. 79 Squadron
P/O S. Piatkowski killed. Crashed near Carew Cheriton after routine patrol. Cause unknown.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Piatkowski.htm

Hurricane V7593, No. 302 Squadron
F/Lt. F. Jastrzebski killed. Failed to return from patrol over the Channel. Last seen gliding toward the enemy coast.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Jastrzebski.htm

Hurricane P2903, No. 501 Squadron
P/O V. Goth killed. Collided with P/O MacKenzie during combat over Tenterden.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Goth.htm

Hurricane V6917, No. 601 Squadron
Sgt. L.D. May missing. Crashed into sea off Exmouth after mid-air collision with Sgt. Mills-Smith during section training flight.

Hurricane P3709, No. 601 Squadron
Sgt. F. Mills-Smith missing. Crashed into sea off Exmouth after mid-air collision with Sgt. May during section training flight.

Photo Descriptions

1. RAF personnel and British soldiers examine Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 1988), ‘Black 7’ of 5./JG 54, which made a belly landing at Broom Hill near Lydd, Sussex, at 9:30 a.m. on 25 October 1940. The pilot, Oberleutnant Schypek, was captured. © IWM (HU 73719, HU 88417)
2. A different angle of the downed Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 1988), ‘Black 7’ of 5./JG 54, which force-landed at Broom Hill near Lydd, Sussex, on 25 October 1940.
3. A Royal Fusiliers soldier stands guard beside Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (Werk Nr. 1988), ‘Black 7’ of 5./JG 54, following its forced landing at Broom Hill near Lydd, Sussex, on 25 October 1940.
4. Soldiers guard Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 (W.Nr. 5104) ‘Red 13’ of 3 Staffel./Jagdgeschwader 77, which crashed at Harvey’s Cross Farm near North Saltdean, East Sussex on 25 October 1940 after being attacked by Spitfires over London. The pilot, Gefreiter Karl Raisinger was captured.
5. A soldier peers into the cockpit of Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 (W.Nr. 5104) ‘Red 13’ of 3 Staffel./Jagdgeschwader 77, which crashed at Harvey’s Cross Farm near North Saltdean, East Sussex on 25 October 1940. The starboard side of the engine cowling was burnt out to the level of the spark plugs. © IWM (HU 88413)
6. During a daylight raid on 25 October 1940, a bomb fell on Blackfriars Road, destroying several trams that had stopped there in an attempt to take temporary shelter from the attack. On the opposite side of the road, the former Surrey Chapel, known as Blackfriars Ring, suffered heavy damage.