Targets in Kent and Southampton attacked.
Night: Raids on London and East Anglian airfields.
Weather: Local showers in most parts, bright periods. Winds light and variable.
Enemy Action by Day
On 5 October 1940, local showers and bright intervals were reported across most regions, with light and variable winds. In these conditions, the Luftwaffe mounted a notable resurgence in daytime operations, deploying larger formations than seen in recent days. Six distinct attacks were carried out—four directed at the South East of England, including multiple thrusts toward London, and two on the Portsmouth–Southampton sector. Numerous reconnaissance flights were also conducted, particularly during the early morning. RAF Fighter Command responded with exceptional intensity, flying a record 1,175 sorties and claiming 22 enemy aircraft destroyed, five probable, and 16 damaged, for the loss of seven RAF aircraft and two pilots.
Morning Reconnaissance and Low-Level Assault on Dover
Between 06:45 and 09:00 hours, multiple single enemy aircraft were plotted conducting reconnaissance over the Straits at altitudes between 10,000 and 15,000 feet, with some flying inland toward the Thames Estuary, Sheppey, and Gravesend. Attacks were reported at Fairlight and Hastings. Shortly before 09:00 hours, a reconnaissance Ju 88 was intercepted off Beachy Head by Hurricanes of No. 253 Squadron, though the bomber escaped.
At 09:30 hours, approximately thirty Messerschmitt Bf 109s launched a low-level strike on Dover, flying at just 1,000 feet. Spitfires from No. 72 Squadron, scrambled from Biggin Hill, were airborne too late to intercept the attackers before they retreated across the Channel.
Mid-Morning Mass Raid Over Kent and London
At 10:45 hours, one of the day’s major assaults began as around 150 aircraft crossed the coast near Lympne. This large-scale formation included fighters from JG 51, JG 53, and LG 2, as well as fighter-bombers from Erprobungsgruppe 210. Roughly 100 of these aircraft moved inland toward London. About fifty managed to penetrate the Inner Artillery Zone, with twenty reaching as far as South London. The remaining fifty aircraft, mainly bombers, loitered nearer the coast, targeting Detling and Folkestone. RAF squadrons Nos. 41, 66, 72, 92, and 603 responded and intercepted the raid. Many of the German aircraft jettisoned their bombs upon engagement, resulting in prolonged dogfights over southern England.
Notable Luftwaffe claims included a Hurricane over Maidstone by Hauptmann Heinz Bretnütz of 6./JG 53, marking his 17th victory, and a Spitfire over London claimed by Hauptmann Walter Oesau of Stab III./JG 51, who reached 35 confirmed kills. However, the Luftwaffe sustained losses: Unteroffizier Wilhelm “Willi” Ghesla and Leutnant Alfred Zeis of 1./JG 53 were both taken prisoner, as was Feldwebel Erhardt Pankratz of 6.(Sch)/LG 2.
Polish Success Over West Malling
As the German fighter formations withdrew, a new wave of Bf 110s from Erprobungsgruppe 210 crossed into Kent targeting RAF West Malling. They were intercepted around 11:00 hours by No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, flying Hurricanes out of Northolt. The engagement quickly escalated when Bf 109s from JG 53 joined the fight. The Polish squadron claimed nine victories, later confirmed as six (four Bf 110s and two Bf 109s). During the encounter, Oblt. Werner Weymann, Gruppenkommandeur of Stab./ErprGr 210, was killed—becoming the fourth commander lost by the unit since mid-August. His replacement, Wolfgang Schenck, assumed command mid-action. No. 303 Squadron lost one pilot: Flying Officer Januszewicz, who was shot down and killed near Stowting, Kent, after engaging Bf 109s in his Hurricane I (P3892).
Afternoon Assaults on Southampton and the South Coast
At approximately 13:45 hours, another major raid developed over the southern coast. Thirty Junkers Ju 88s of KG 77, escorted by fifty Bf 109s, crossed the Needles and flew inland toward Southampton, reaching as far as 25 miles before turning back. Simultaneously, another fifty German aircraft crossed the coast at Swanage, flying over Poole and Weymouth before retiring. Seven RAF squadrons, including Nos. 238 and 607, were dispatched to intercept but struggled to penetrate the heavy fighter escort. Several German pilots claimed victories during the engagement, including Hauptmann Helmut Wick of Stab I./JG 2, who added three Hurricanes to his tally, reaching 39 victories. Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Täschner of 1./JG 2 also claimed three Hurricanes over South Bournemouth. Four Spitfires from No. 607 Squadron were shot down in a separate engagement over Swanage, though all pilots survived.
Later Raids on Kent and Hampshire
While the Southampton raid was still in progress, another mixed force of approximately fifty bombers and fighters from Luftflotte 3 made a Bf 109-led thrust across Kent. This formation was intercepted by Spitfires of No. 41 Squadron, scrambled from Hornchurch. The RAF pilots disrupted the attack, forcing the bombers to jettison their loads and return to France.
At 15:45 hours, a new wave of about twenty enemy aircraft crossed the coast at Hastings and advanced toward Kenley. A splinter formation veered off toward Tangmere and Maidstone. Around the same time, a separate group of twenty aircraft entered at Dungeness and headed for Biggin Hill. The Luftwaffe maintained strong fighter patrols over the Straits until approximately 16:30 hours.
At 17:15 hours, two further formations of approximately thirty aircraft each—primarily Bf 110s—crossed the Isle of Wight and flew inland over Portsmouth, Southampton, and Tangmere. These raids were met by RAF fighters and were turned back by 17:30 hours. During this period, Hauptmann Helmut Wick claimed two more Spitfires, achieving five victories for the day. Upon his return to France, Wick was awarded the Eichenlaub for surpassing forty confirmed kills.
Damage on the Ground
While German bombing was concentrated, much of the damage inflicted was to civilian areas and infrastructure. Railways at Gillingham and Lewes were disrupted. At Gillingham, a signal cabin and the down line were destroyed by a high-explosive bomb at 10:25 hours. At Lewes, all rail services were suspended due to the presence of an unexploded bomb. An HE bomb near the Tecalemit factory in Brentford caused considerable damage to glass and windows, though production was only halted briefly. Luxfer Ltd. in Willesden also sustained minor damage from bombing. A direct hit on Willesden Power Station forced it to close for the second time in a week.
Enemy Action by Night
As evening fell, Luftwaffe bombers resumed operations on a significant scale, though with less density than the previous night. At 19:00 hours, over 40 aircraft crossed the coast—26 from the Abbeville area, 12 from Le Havre, and two from Cherbourg—concentrating on London. From 21:00 to 23:00 hours, additional bombers were plotted from across the Dutch and French coasts, including 17 from the Netherlands, 10 from the Baie de Seine, nine from Cherbourg, and eight from the Dieppe–Boulogne corridor. While London remained the primary objective, other targets included Essex, Cambridgeshire, and two aircraft tracked over Liverpool. Minelaying was suspected in the Thames Estuary, the Humber, and off Flamborough Head.
Between 23:00 and 01:00 hours, 36 more raids entered British airspace, many again targeting London, with other bombers flying over Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Seventeen of these raids originated from the Dutch coast. One raider was found burned out near Colmworth, Bedfordshire, cause unknown.
From 01:00 to 06:00 hours, activity began to diminish, though a brief resurgence occurred at 02:45 hours with around twenty aircraft heading toward London. Isolated raiders also visited Oxford, Northampton, and Leicester. By 03:50 hours, scattered activity continued in the southeast. The last enemy aircraft was reported leaving the London area at 05:55 hours, and the country was clear by 06:02 hours.
Airfield and Industrial Damage During the Night
The night raids caused limited but notable damage. An HE bomb exploded on the edge of RAF Kenley, but no damage was reported. At 22:16 hours, Ford aerodrome was attacked, but again, little or no damage was recorded. At Erith, the Borax Works suffered a significant fire following bombing, while a 30-pump fire broke out at C & E Morton’s Factory in Millwall. At the West India Docks, a major fire erupted shortly after midnight, causing substantial disruption. At Portland, the naval dockyard was bombed at 20:35 hours, cutting telephone lines between Portland and Weymouth. Cricklewood’s LMS yard was heavily damaged, including the carriage sheds and goods sidings.
Summary
Saturday, 5 October 1940 marked a sharp escalation in Luftwaffe activity. Although the majority of raids were dispersed and often repelled, the scale of operations—particularly the multi-pronged strikes against Kent and the southern ports—tested RAF Fighter Command’s response capabilities. Despite intense fighting and infrastructure damage, RAF squadrons achieved significant success in the air, downing 14 enemy aircraft with minimal pilot losses. The renewed pressure on London by night, coupled with the growing pace of airfield attacks and industrial disruption, signalled that the Luftwaffe had not yet abandoned its campaign to cripple British resistance through attrition and terror.
German Losses:
Airmen: 15 | Aircraft: 14
British Losses:
Airmen: 2 | Aircraft: 7
Spitfire R9989, No. 72 Squadron
P/O N. Sutton killed. Mid-air collision shortly after take-off. Aircraft crashed and burned out.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/SuttonN.htm
Hurricane P3892, No. 303 Squadron
F/O W. Januszewicz killed. Shot down by Bf 109s and crashed in flames at Stowting.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Januszewicz.htm
Photo Descriptions
- Nine Hawker Hurricanes of 85 Squadron based at RAF Church Fenton, Yorkshire, led by Squadron Leader P H Townsend on 5 October 1940.
- A formation of No. 85 Squadron Hurricanes from RAF Church Fenton executes a balbo on 5 October 1940, for the benefit of AM photographer Bertrand JH Daventry, who flew in a Master Mk I of No. 306 Squadron to undertake the photography. Among the twelve aircraft taking part in the display S/L Peter Townsend led the front echelon in Hurricane Mk I VY-U, with acting F/L Geoffrey Allard of A Flight abaft in VY-G and acting F/L James Marshall of B Flight to the rear in VY-Q.
- Sheltering at Aldwych tube station during a night raid, 5 October 1940.