Fighter-bomber raids on London and Kent.

Night: Raids on London, the Midlands, Manchester and Liverpool.

Weather: Cloudy with local showers chiefly in the north and east.

Enemy Action by Day

Weather conditions across southern Britain on 26 October 1940 were variable, with clearer skies in the southeast and scattered cloud pushing across the Channel. These conditions favoured fighter operations, and the Luftwaffe exploited them with a series of fast-moving Bf 109 sweeps and reconnaissance missions over Kent, Sussex, Cornwall, and East Anglia. Unlike the massed raids of earlier weeks, the day’s activity consisted chiefly of small, dispersed formations drawn from JG 53, JG 52, JG 26, JG 3, and elements of I.(J)/Lehrgeschwader 2. Only one late-morning concentration possessed the scale to be regarded as a coordinated attack.

Throughout the morning, enemy aircraft patrolled the Straits of Dover, crossed intermittently into Kent and Sussex, and reconnoitred shipping in the Estuary and Channel. Later attacks were sporadic, shallow in penetration, and often indistinguishable from roving fighter sweeps. Nevertheless, the Luftwaffe pursued combat aggressively, and several engagements resulted in losses on both sides. Fighter Command accounted for four confirmed German aircraft destroyed, four more probably destroyed, and eight damaged. RAF losses amounted to two pilots killed in action during daylight operations over the Channel, with additional losses later at northern airfields under attack.

Morning Reconnaissance and First Engagements

Enemy activity began shortly after dawn, with the final stragglers of the previous night’s raids crossing London between 06:00 and 06:58 hours. Concurrently, numerous single aircraft operated across the Straits of Dover. One erratic reconnaissance flight conducted an extraordinary circuit from Selsey northwards to Northolt, on to Newmarket, Bristol, Christchurch, and the Needles—likely a Ju 88 undertaking high-altitude photographic work.

At 09:15 hours, fifteen or more enemy aircraft were plotted over a convoy in the Thames Estuary, shadowing shipping before turning back toward France. Half an hour later, at 09:45 hours, a formation of six or more Bf 109s from the Gris Nez area crossed at Lympne, penetrating approximately thirty miles into Kent.

The first major combat of the day occurred shortly after 10:30 hours, when Bf 109s of JG 53 attempted a small sweep over Kent. Spitfires of No. 92 Squadron, scrambled from Biggin Hill, intercepted. In a short, fierce engagement above Tonbridge, Feldwebel Stefan Litjens of 4./JG 53 claimed a Spitfire destroyed, marking the first confirmed Luftwaffe success of the day.

Around the same time, further west over the Cornish coast, a Ju 88 on reconnaissance was intercepted by Spitfires of No. 234 Squadron (St Eval). The bomber was shot down, though one RAF aircraft was lost during the engagement.

11:36 Hours: Activity Over Kent

The day’s only major coordinated movement occurred shortly before midday. At 11:36 hours, radar plots revealed multiple formations departing Gris Nez and Boulogne, varying between three and thirty aircraft, with a total strength exceeding eighty Bf 109s. They crossed the coast near Lympne, fanning inland in loose, shifting groups. Some turned back almost immediately, circling the coast before withdrawing. Others pressed into Kent, reaching Tonbridge, while a portion continued toward the southern approaches of London.

Hurricanes of No. 229 Squadron, patrolling from Northolt, were vectored to intercept over the Channel. As they closed with the enemy, two Hurricanes were lost. Pilot Officer D. B. H. McHardy, flying Hurricane V6704, was shot down by a Bf 109 after attacking a He 59 at approximately 11:30 hours; he baled out near the French coast and was taken prisoner. Moments later, Flying Officer G. M. Simpson, flying Hurricane W6669, was also shot down and killed after engaging the same Heinkel floatplane.

Although several of the enemy formations penetrated inland, the attacks were fragmented, short-lived, and lacked the weight necessary to challenge London’s defences on any significant scale. Fighter Command’s interceptions prevented the concentration from developing beyond a series of dispersed engagements.

Midday Raids Over Sussex and Kent

Between 12:00 and 13:00 hours, successive small Bf 109 raids crossed Kent and Sussex, resulting in widespread engagements involving Hurricanes of Nos. 302 (Polish) and 605 Squadrons, and Spitfires of No. 602 Squadron (Biggin Hill detachment). Confirmed German claims included Leutnant Friedrich Geißhardt of 1.(J)/LG 2, Feldwebel Otto Junge of 6./JG 52, and Oberleutnant Egon Troha of 9./JG 3. German losses included Oberfeldwebel Oskar Strack of 1./JG 52, who was reported missing after failing to return to France.

During these same actions, Flying Officer C. W. Passy of No. 605 Squadron was forced to land Hurricane P3737 near Marks Cross, Sussex, after engine trouble developed while pursuing a Bf 109.

Afternoon Fighter Sweeps and Sporadic Penetrations

From 16:00 hours until dusk, small raids continued to drift inland across the Sussex and Kent coasts, most penetrating only shallowly. Hurricanes of No. 605 Squadron (Croydon) and Spitfires of No. 222 Squadron (Hornchurch) intercepted several formations.

During one high-altitude encounter south of London, Major Adolf Galland of Stab./JG 26 claimed a Hurricane for his forty-sixth victory.

In one of the more remarkable personal episodes of the day, Flying Officer James C. F. Hayter of No. 605 Squadron was attacked at approximately 25,000 feet. His Hurricane P2916 was set ablaze, forcing him to bale out. Slightly wounded, Hayter descended into the grounds of a private house where a cocktail party was underway. The startled hosts promptly invited him inside until his fiancée could collect him.

Shallow incursions during the afternoon reached Guildford, Kenley, Sheppey, the Estuary, and Essex. One small formation attacked Ventnor, dropping bombs that caused limited damage.

Northern Raids: Attacks on Wick and Lossiemouth

Enemy action in the far north intensified during the early evening. At 18:00 hours, two He 111s flying at exceptionally low altitude attacked RAF Wick, flashing correct recognition signals to confuse observers before releasing five high-explosive bombs. Two fell on the aerodrome and three among nearby houses. Several dwellings were demolished, causing fifteen civilian casualties, three of whom were killed. One hangar was struck and a Hudson was burnt out; two more were damaged, and another hangar suffered structural damage.

Half an hour later, at 18:30 hours, RAF Lossiemouth was attacked by two enemy aircraft approaching seaward at 100 feet, and a third from the west. Bombs fell along the edge of the landing ground, destroying a Blenheim, damaging two others, and causing fire damage to buildings. One of the attacking He 111s crashed on the aerodrome, likely destroyed by the blast of its own bombs. Two personnel were killed and twelve injured.

Enemy Action by Night

Night operations on 26/27 October followed the familiar pattern of October’s late-month offensive. The heaviest pressure again fell upon London, while Birmingham, for the third consecutive night, endured severe bombing. Additional raids reached Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, the Bristol Channel, and parts of the Midlands as far north as Chesterfield and Bedford. Extensive minelaying operations occurred along the east coast and within the Thames Estuary.

He 111s of II./KG 55 attacked London during the night but lost three bombers during the return flight to France. Around 22:10 hours, He 111s of II./KG 27 raided Liverpool without loss.

First Phase (18:00–21:00 Hours)

Operations began at 18:06 hours, with formations plotted leaving the French coast and the Scheldt. Early activity was intense: ninety-five raids were tracked toward London, and most reached the capital. Others fanned outward toward Bedford, Northampton, and Chesterfield.

Between 18:00 and 19:00 hours, eighteen raids crossed the south coast near Swanage or Shoreham, proceeding toward Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, and the Midlands. One formation tracked from the Tay to Glasgow, then eastward to the Firth of Forth.

Minelaying likely occurred off the Essex coast.

Second Phase (21:00–01:00 Hours)

After 21:00 hours, activity against London gradually diminished, though sporadic raids maintained pressure until nearly 01:00 hours. The attack on the Midlands ceased around 23:30 hours.

Enemy minelayers made repeated circuits across the Yorkshire–Lancashire corridor, returning along reciprocal tracks. Additional minelaying occurred between Flamborough Head and the Firth of Forth, and in the Estuary.

A unique feature of the night was the plotting at 23:45 hours of eight raids originating from Denmark, which approached within fifty miles of Scarborough, tracked northward parallel to the coast, reached the Firth of Forth, then returned eastward without penetrating inland.

No. 13 Group reported—unconfirmed—that an enemy aircraft exploded off the Tees Mouth at 00:11 hours.

Final Phase (01:00–06:00 Hours)

Small groups of enemy aircraft continued nuisance raids over London in the early morning hours. Probable minelaying persisted within the Thames Estuary, though the scale was reduced.

During this period, No. 151 Squadron (Digby) scrambled two night-fighter Hurricanes to intercept incoming bombers. Both aircraft were lost shortly after take-off, and both pilots were killed.

Bombing Damage and Civil Effects

Birmingham suffered its third consecutive night of severe attacks beginning at 20:10 hours, with heavy and incendiary bombs falling across Deritend, Highgate, and Balsall Heath. Widespread fires—four of them major—burned through the night, though most were contained by 03:00 hours.

Large sections of the city centre were hit, including office buildings and commercial premises. The Midland Homeopathic Hospital was evacuated. New Street (LMS) Station was closed owing to a direct hit on Platform 1. Factories including Stratton & Co. Ltd and Bulpitt and Son were gutted. Casualties so far totalled fifty dead and two hundred injured.

In London, damage was widespread and varied. The Anglo-American Oil Company depot at Silvertown suffered a smashed tank and damaged pipework. At Leatherhead, a fire destroyed five diesel tanks. Rail infrastructure was hit severely, with lines blocked or torn up at Chorley Wood–Chalfont, Leatherhead–Bookham, East Dulwich–Herne Hill, and Dagenham–Barking. A major fire at Saffron Hill, Clerkenwell required fifty pumps to bring under control. The Royal Hospital, Chelsea received a direct hit, though without casualties. The Sperry Gyro Company at Brentford sustained bomb damage, though production was expected to continue.

Elsewhere, incendiaries fell on Cardington, and the extensive damage from the previous day’s attack on RAF Montrose was further assessed: destruction to officer quarters, airmen’s huts, training school facilities, stores, and multiple aircraft, including Masters, Oxfords, and a Blenheim.

Transport in London remained under severe strain, with main-line stations periodically incapacitated, bus routes diverted around cratered streets and unexploded bombs, and borrowed vehicles from as far away as Aberdeen supplementing the depleted fleet.

At sea, Oberleutnant Bernhard Jope of I./KG 40, flying one of the limited number of Fw 200 Condors available, attacked the 23,000-ton liner Empress of Britain southwest of Donegal. The ship was set ablaze and later sunk by a German U-boat, marking one of the most significant maritime losses of the period.

German Losses:
Airmen: 19 | Aircraft: 10

British Losses:
Airmen: 5 | Aircraft: 8

Hurricane V7434, No. 151 Squadron
Sgt. D.O. Stanley died of injuries 27/10/40. Crashed and burst into flames on take-off from Coleby Grange on practice night flight.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/StanleyDO.htm

Hurricane R4184, No. 151 Squadron
Sgt. R. Holder killed. Crashed attempting left-hand turn shortly after take-off from Coleby Grange.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/HolderR.htm

Hurricane V6704, No. 229 Squadron
P/O D.B.H. McHardy captured. Shot down by Bf 109s off the French coast during attack on Heinkel He 59.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/McHardyDBH.htm

Hurricane W6669, No. 229 Squadron
F/O G.M. Simpson missing. Shot down by Bf 109s whilst attacking Heinkel He 59 moored off the French coast.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/SimpsonGM.htm

Spitfire R6839, No. 602 Squadron
Sgt. D.W. Elcome missing. Failed to return from routine squadron patrol.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Elcome.htm

Photo Description:

1. Focke-Wulf Fw 200 C-3 Condors of Kampfgeschwader 40 on the ground. On 26 October 1940, the troop transport RMS Empress of Britain was severely damaged by two 250 kg bombs dropped by a Fw 200 of KG 40, commanded by Oberleutnant Bernhard Jope.
2. RMS Empress of Britain arriving at Greenock with Canadian troops aboard. (HMS Hood is visible in the background.)