Isolated patrols and reconnaissance.
Night: Raids on London, Liverpool, the Midlands and Bristol.
Weather: Cloudy in Channel, mist in northern France clearing later.
Enemy Action by Day
The morning began quietly, with overcast skies above the Channel and lingering fog across northern France limiting large-scale Luftwaffe operations. A series of isolated reconnaissance missions were plotted throughout the day, probing the southern and eastern coasts of England. Some of these enemy aircraft penetrated inland as far as Coventry, where a lone bomb was dropped around midday, causing minor structural damage but few casualties.
RAF fighter patrols remained active throughout the day, flying over forty sorties in total. One of the few successful interceptions occurred in the morning, when a Ju 88 bomber was shot down over Kent by Hurricanes of No. 229 Squadron, scrambled from Northolt. In another engagement, a lone German bomber attempting a raid on the Bristol Aeroplane Company was forced to abandon its mission shortly after taking off from France.
At approximately 1500 hours, the main raid of the day materialised as nearly sixty aircraft—comprising Ju 88s, Do 17s, and bomb-carrying Bf 109s—crossed the coast at Dungeness and advanced toward London. Spitfires of Nos. 66, 92, and 222 Squadrons, along with Hurricanes from Nos. 253 and 605 Squadrons, were vectored to intercept. A series of dogfights broke out over Kent and the southeastern approaches to the capital, particularly near Beachy Head, where RAF losses included two fighters. Though some of the raiders reached Central London, the bombing was sporadic and no major damage was reported.
Enemy Action by Night
As dusk settled, the Luftwaffe launched one of its most intense bombing efforts in recent nights. Beginning at approximately 1830 hours, waves of bombers departed from airfields in France, Belgium, and Holland, converging on targets across southern and central England.
Between 1900 and 2100 hours, more than 120 enemy aircraft entered British airspace. London bore the brunt of this initial assault, but heavy raids were also reported over Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, and the industrial Midlands, including Coventry and Birmingham. In County Durham, bombs were recorded at Ludworth, Wheatley Hill, and Tudhoe, though most fell harmlessly in open countryside.
Among the notable attacks, He 111s of I./KG 27 and Do 17s from KGr 606 struck Liverpool shortly after 1930 hours, while Eastbourne’s gas works sustained a direct hit at 2325 hours. Fortunately, there were no casualties, though the gasometer was ruptured. Throughout the night, the Luftwaffe appeared to prioritise rail junctions and dock facilities. Although some bombs fell on already-destroyed warehouses or empty sheds, a number of new fires were kindled across London’s East End. These were largely brought under control before dawn.
By 0200 hours, enemy activity began to subside, though a pattern of single-aircraft raids persisted until daybreak. Individual bombers continued to cross the coast from Belgium or the Somme at regular intervals. Many of these were believed to be laying mines in the Thames Estuary or conducting harassment raids on London.
Despite the scale of the night’s operations, Luftwaffe losses were minimal, with only two aircraft confirmed destroyed. The RAF, however, lost five fighters, primarily due to poor weather and disorientation in the mist.
Civilian and Strategic Impact
Rail services in and out of London were disrupted following bomb damage to lines and signalling equipment, particularly around the docklands. Fires across the capital caused significant material damage but relatively few casualties, thanks in part to improved civil defence coordination. Nevertheless, the psychological strain on the population remained severe—as did the mounting physical toll: 1,567 civilians had been killed in bombing across the past week alone.
Evacuation efforts continued, with thousands of children, mothers, and vulnerable civilians leaving London each day under the government’s ongoing “trickle” scheme. Around 10,000 Londoners had taken up residence in the Chislehurst caves, where conditions—though spartan—offered relative safety from the nightly raids.
German Losses:
Airmen: 4 | Aircraft: 6
British Losses:
Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 2
Hurricane P3260, No. 3 Squadron
F/O G.F. McAvity died of injuries. Crashed attempting slow roll during AA co-operation exercise.
Spitfire R6922, No. 92 Squadron
Sgt. L.C. Allton killed. Crashed on Tuesnoad Farm, Smarden. Circumstances unknown.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Allton.htm
Photo Description
- The fuselage of a Heinkel He 111 bomber, being transported by road to a scrap yard, October 1940. © IWM (HU 72439)