Heavy damage to Fighter Command airfields following four major attacks.

Night: Liverpool attacked again. Smaller raids in the Midlands and South Wales.

Weather: Fair with cloudy patches during the morning, clearing during the afternoon.

Enemy Action by Day

The “Bad Weekend” entered its third day on 1 September. Following the heavy raids of 30 and 31 August, the Luftwaffe again concentrated on Fighter Command’s sector stations and forward airfields. The weather was fair with cloudy patches in the morning, clearing in the afternoon. Luftwaffe activity was slightly reduced compared with the previous day, but the attacks remained large and damaging. Four major raids developed, with Biggin Hill, Kenley, Detling, Eastchurch, and the London docks among the principal objectives. Fighter Command resisted with determination, but the strain on 11 Group was becoming critical.

Morning Reconnaissance

Enemy reconnaissance flights opened the day. Single aircraft were plotted between the Humber and Lowestoft, with further plots off Harwich and Cromer. In the afternoon, two more flights were observed, one reporting convoy movements off Yarmouth. At 10:40 hours, an enemy aircraft was overheard transmitting from over Derby.

10:50–11:00 Hours: First Major Attack

At 10:15 hours, radar stations began plotting several enemy formations assembling over the French coast, estimated at 20+, 30+, and 12+ aircraft. These groups combined into a striking force of about 120 machines, which crossed the coast near Dover at 10:50 hours. Once over Kent, the formation divided into eleven groups, each assigned to a separate objective. The attacking force comprised Heinkel He 111s of KG 1 and Dornier Do 17s of KG 2 and KG 76, escorted by Bf 110s of ZG 76 and covered by strong fighter support from JG 26, JG 52, JG 53, and JG 54. Their objectives included Biggin Hill, Eastchurch, and Detling, as well as the docks at Tilbury. Fourteen RAF squadrons were scrambled, intercepting the raiders as they crossed the coast between Dungeness and Margate.

Spitfires of Nos. 54 and 72 Squadrons, together with Hurricanes of No. 1 Squadron, engaged a formation of Do 17s near Beachy Head. As the British fighters lined up for their attack, they were bounced by Bf 109s of JG 52. A Spitfire from No. 72 Squadron and a Hurricane from No. 1 Squadron were shot down, both pilots killed.

At Biggin Hill, a small formation of Dorniers bombed from 12,000 feet, pitting the runways with craters and rendering the airfield unserviceable until the afternoon. This was the sixth raid in three days. Hurricanes of No. 79 Squadron, returning from the engagement, were forced to land at Croydon.

At Tilbury, eighteen He 111s of II./KG 1, heavily escorted by fighters of JG 52, JG 53, and JG 54, attacked the docks. Tilbury station received a direct hit that blocked both up and down lines, severing rail traffic. Gas and water mains were fractured, and the Harland & Wolff yard was also struck. Dockside workshops, warehouses, and adjoining houses suffered extensive damage, with ten shops wrecked and several private houses demolished. Five civilians were killed and twenty-eight injured.

At Gravesend, bombs fell at 11:05 hours, striking residential areas. Three houses were demolished outright and around fifty more were damaged. Gas and water mains were fractured, and there was slight damage to the local gas and electricity works, though production was not affected.

German fighter units claimed a number of victories during the engagement. Alfred Grislawski of 9./JG 52 and Fw. Werner Stumpf of 7./JG 53 each recorded their first successes, while Ofw. Erich Rudorffer of 2./JG 2 claimed his thirteenth victory. Yet the fighting over south-east England proved costly, and German fighter losses continued to mount.

At 10:30 hours, a Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 1902) of I./JG 52 was shot down by No. 616 Squadron and crashed at Burnt Oaks, Capel Farm, Orlestone, killing Ofw. P. Gerber.

Forty-five minutes later, during combat over Ashford, a Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 1277, “14+”) of 5./JG 54 collided with another Bf 109 and crashed at Haberdashers Wood, Ruckinge, Bonnington. Oblt. A. Stangl baled out and was captured.

Further losses followed at 11:40 hours, when Flight Lieutenant H. B. L. Hillcoat of No. 1 Squadron and Sergeant G. Goodman of No. 85 Squadron shot down a Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 5087, “10+I”) of 7./JG 53 over the Channel. The aircraft crashed at Strand Bridge, Winchelsea, and Lt. H. Strasser baled out and was captured.

13:40 Hours: Second Wave

At 13:40 hours, another wave of about seventy German aircraft crossed the coast between Dover and Dungeness, followed by a second wave of eighty more. The raiding force, comprising Do 17s of KG 2 and KG 76 with Bf 110s of ZG 76 and heavy fighter escort, pressed inland in strength, once again directing its effort against the sector stations of 11 Group. Biggin Hill and Kenley were the principal objectives, while Detling and other airfields in Kent also came under attack as the formations broke into smaller groups. Some forces advanced over Dover and Ashford, while others turned north and followed the Thames toward London, bombing and strafing along their routes.

Fourteen RAF squadrons were again scrambled, with interceptions taking place between Folkestone and Hastings. Despite the determined defence, the weight of the bomber formations forced their way through.

At Biggin Hill, a funeral service was being held at a cemetery just outside the airfield for approximately fifty personnel killed in earlier raids. Coffins were lined up beside open graves—some draped with flags, though many were not, as there were too few to go around. As the service progressed, the air raid sirens sounded, abruptly interrupting the proceedings. Inside the airfield, chaos unfolded as Bf 110s of LG 1 swept in at low altitude, bombing with precision, while Do 17s released high-explosive bombs from above.

The attack caused further extensive damage to the station. Bombs fell among the station buildings, shaking already weakened structures and rendering many unsafe, while one aircraft was destroyed. Roads through the airfield were blocked by large bomb craters, and the main services and communications systems were knocked out. Although the station remained serviceable, much of the personnel and equipment had to be dispersed to alternative locations, including the former AA Command School at Biggin Hill, which was taken over to accommodate squadron and station staff.

At 14:00 hours, a Bf 110 (L1+OH) of 13./LG 1 was shot down by Pilot Officer C. E. English of No. 85 Squadron and No. 616 Squadron while attacking Biggin Hill; the aircraft crashed at Tarpot Farm, Bilsington, and Ofw. R. Kobert and Fw. W. Meinig were captured.

Forty-five minutes later, Pilot Officer P. F. Mayhew of No. 79 Squadron and Flying Officer T. A. F. Elsdon of No. 72 Squadron shot down a Bf 110 of 15./LG 1 during combat over Edenbridge. The aircraft crashed at Hosey Wood, Brasted; Fw. M. Jackel and Flgr. Rosler were both killed and buried at St Martin’s Churchyard, Brasted.

Kenley was also attacked as Do 17s of KG 76 carried out low-level bombing runs. At 14:30 hours, one Do 17Z (W.Nr. 3369, F1+AT) of 9./KG 76 was shot down by Sergeant G. Allard and Sergeant H. N. Howes of No. 85 Squadron while bombing Kenley. The aircraft crashed at Tarts Field, Lydd, Dungeness Point; Uffz. M. Maasen, Fw. H. Wohner, and Ofw. W. Illg baled out and were captured, while Gfr. G. Spiess was killed and buried at Folkestone New Cemetery, Hawkinge.

A Bf 109E-1 (W.Nr. 3892, “11+I”) of 7./JG 26, flown by Lt. J. Bürschgens, was damaged by friendly fire from a Bf 110’s rear gunner while engaging a British Spitfire. With his engine failing, he was forced to break away and, unable to reach the Channel, made a forced landing at Newbridge, Iden, near Rye at approximately 15:03 hours. Bürschgens spent the remainder of the war in captivity in Canada.

Losses among the RAF were also heavy. Three Hurricanes of No. 85 Squadron were shot down by Bf 109s of JG 26. Flying Officer P. P. Woods-Scawen was killed after baling out of Hurricane P3150 when his parachute failed to open. Sergeant J. H. M. Ellis, flying Hurricane P2673, was last seen in combat with Bf 109s and failed to return to base. Sergeant G. B. Booth baled out of his burning Hurricane L2071, but his parachute caught fire and failed to open; although he survived the fall, he later died of his injuries in February 1941. Nos. 72 and 79 Squadrons lost seven fighters destroyed or badly damaged.

Several German aces added to their scores. Major Adolf Galland of JG 26 claimed his twenty-seventh victory, while Oblt. Eberhard Henrici of 1./JG 26 destroyed two Hurricanes. Oblt. Hans-Joachim Jabs and Oblt. Wilhelm Herget of 6./ZG 76 each claimed three fighters, and Oblt. Gustav Rödel of 4./JG 27 claimed two. Further victories were credited to Hptm. Gerhard Schöpfel of III./JG 26, Oblt. Hans Philipp of 4./JG 54, Hptm. Günther von Maltzahn of II./JG 53, and Hptm. Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke of III./JG 53.

15:30 and 17:30 Hours: Afternoon Raids

At 15:30 hours, five further raids, totalling about seventy aircraft, crossed the coast between Dover and Dungeness. Some formations circled along the coastline, while others pressed inland toward Maidstone and the Thames Estuary. Bf 109s carried out bombing attacks on Hawkinge and Lympne, though neither airfield suffered serious damage. Detling was struck again, its wireless mast destroyed and the Officers’ Mess demolished, leaving the airfield unserviceable. At Dover, Bf 110s strafed the balloon barrage and succeeded in bringing down two balloons.

At 17:30 hours, another formation of Do 17s struck Biggin Hill. The sector operations room received a direct hit from a 500 lb bomb and was destroyed, severing all but one of thirteen communication lines and wrecking the Defence Teleprinter Network. Workshops, stores, and the armoury were set ablaze, and four Spitfires were destroyed on the ground. Six RAF squadrons engaged the raid but were unable to prevent the attack; however, a Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 4020) of III./JG 53 was shot down by Sergeant J. Stokoe of No. 603 Squadron during combat over Kent. The aircraft crashed at Bush Field, Hurst Farm, Chilham, and Oblt. O. Bauer was killed.

Heroines of Biggin Hill

During the heavy bombing of Biggin Hill, three women of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force displayed remarkable courage. Sergeant Joan E. Mortimer, Flight Officer Elspeth C. Henderson, and Sergeant Helen E. Turner remained at their posts throughout repeated attacks. Mortimer delivered orders by bicycle across the airfield while bombs fell nearby. Henderson stayed in the operations room maintaining communications under direct bombardment, and Turner remained at her switchboard to ensure contact between squadrons and headquarters was not lost. Their actions helped maintain RAF operations under near-impossible conditions. All three women were awarded the Military Medal for bravery.

Enemy Action by Night

German activity during the night was lighter than on 31 August, but still widespread. Many early raids were plotted over Kent and the Thames Estuary, with bombs falling on Detling, Dunkirk, and Rye. Detling was attacked twice more at 16:30 and 23:00 hours, leaving it unserviceable.

A continuous flow of bombers passed into the Bristol Channel and South Wales, some laying mines. The naval oil depot at Llandarcy was hit and burned furiously through the night. Porthcawl Aerodrome was bombed at 22:40.

After midnight, a number of raids appeared off Norfolk, striking the Tyne–Tees area before returning towards the Dutch coast. Liverpool was again targeted. Between 21:00 and 03:00, Ju 88s of KG 51 and He 111s of KG 55 bombed the city, but most bombs were scattered. Nine civilians were killed and fourteen injured.

Summary

Sunday, 1 September 1940 marked the continuation of the Luftwaffe’s sustained assault on 11 Group sector airfields. Biggin Hill was attacked repeatedly and rendered inoperable; Kenley was heavily bombed, and Detling was forced to cease operations. Tilbury suffered serious damage, and civilian casualties were widespread. Although RAF squadrons inflicted losses on the German formations, their own numbers were dwindling. By the close of the day, many squadrons had only a handful of serviceable aircraft and pilots.

The Luftwaffe had still not destroyed Fighter Command, but the pressure on 11 Group was severe. The stage was set for the next phase of the battle, when London itself would become the primary target.

German Losses:
Airmen: 15 | Aircraft: 16

British Losses:
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 13

Spitfire P9458, No. 72 Squadron
F/O O.St J. Pigg killed. Failed to bale out after his aircraft was shot down during combat with Bf 109s.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Pigg.htm

Hurricane P3276, No. 1 Squadron
F/Sgt F.G. Berry killed. Shot down by Bf 109s during combat action over Kent.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BerryFG.htm

Hurricane P5185, No. 253 Squadron
P/O J.K.G. Clifton killed. Shot down in combat with Do 215 and Bf 110s. Failed to bale out.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Clifton.htm

Hurricane L2071, No. 85 Squadron
Sgt. G.B. Booth died of injuries 7-2-1941. Baled out of burning aircraft but burnt parachute failed to open.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/BoothGB.htm

Hurricane P2673, No. 85 Squadron
Sgt. J.H.M. Ellis listed as missing. Last seen in combat with Bf 109s. Failed to return to base.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/EllisJHM.htm

Hurricane P3150, No. 85 Squadron
F/O P.P. Woods-Scawen killed. Shot down by Bf 109, baled out but parachute failed to open.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Woods-ScawenPP.htm

Photo Descriptions

1. A Supermarine Spitfire Mk I of No. 19 Squadron being re-armed between sorties at Fowlmere, near Duxford, September 1940. © IWM (CH 1367)
2. Dornier Do 17Z bombers of Kampfgeschwader 3, September 1940. Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-343-0679-14A / Gentsch / CC-BY-SA 3.0.
3. Sergeant Joan E Mortimer, Flight Officer Elspeth C Henderson and Sergeant Helen E Turner, recipients of the Military Medal for gallantry, standing outside damaged buildings at Biggin Hill, Kent. All three were WAAF teleprinter operators who stayed at their posts and continued to work the defence lines during the heavy Luftwaffe attacks on Biggin Hill on 1 September 1940. © IWM (CH 1550)
4. Lt Josef Bürschgens smiles from the cockpit of his Messerschmitt. On 1 September, 1940, he was brought down and survived an incident of ‘friendly fire’.