Mainly fighter and fighter-bomber sweeps.

Night: Widespread raids with London the main target.

Weather: Cloudy all day except for brighter weather in the late morning.

Enemy Action by Day

Cloudy conditions persisted across much of the country, with brighter intervals during the late morning. Enemy activity began at first light and continued intermittently throughout the afternoon, consisting chiefly of fighter and fighter-bomber sweeps across Kent, London, and the southeast. Although several airfields were attacked and a number of formations penetrated inland, the scale of daylight operations was smaller than in previous days, and the movements of the Bf 109 formations were uneven and, at times, disjointed. Fighter Command’s response was extensive, with multiple squadrons scrambled to meet successive waves. Heavy engagements occurred during the morning and early afternoon, with confirmed losses on both sides. Additional bombing attacks on East Anglian and Lincolnshire aerodromes developed late in the day before night operations commenced.

07:40–09:00 Hours: First Attack

Shortly after 07:30 hours, the first Bf 109 formations crossed the Kent coast. Three successive waves, totalling roughly sixty aircraft, advanced toward the Kenley and Biggin Hill sectors, with approximately ten aircraft reaching Central London. Fourteen Fighter Command squadrons were ordered up. Contact was made by Spitfires of Nos. 66 and 74 Squadrons and Hurricanes of No. 605 Squadron, which engaged Bf 109s of JG 53, JG 27, and JG 54.

During these actions, Oblt. Erbo Graf von Kageneck of 9./JG 27 claimed a Spitfire over Ashford. As III./JG 54 retired from a sweep over London, they encountered Hurricanes of No. 605 Squadron; Uffz. Arno Zimmermann of 7./JG 54 was hit by fire believed to have been delivered by Sgt Eric Wright and crash-landed on the beach near Lydd. RAF losses included Sgt J. A. Scott of No. 74 Squadron, killed when his Spitfire II (P7526) was shot down over Maidstone at 09:00 hours. F/O A. Ingle of No. 605 Squadron sustained facial injuries when his Hurricane I (V7599) force-landed at Barcombe following combat.

At 10:20 hours, a small force of about ten aircraft penetrated ten miles inland from Beachy Head before turning back.

11:25 Hours: Second Attack

At 11:30 hours, a new series of raids crossed the East Kent coast in three main groupings headed toward Dartford and the London Docklands. Although seen by RAF fighters, the formations flew too high for effective interception. RAF No. 145 Squadron attempted pursuit; two of its pilots, F/O D. G. S. Honor and Sgt D. B. Sykes, were forced to land near St Leonards at 12:20 hours after exhausting their fuel following combat. P/O P. A. Baillon of No. 609 Squadron baled out safely from his Spitfire I (P9503) after combat over Andover at 11:50 hours.

A second wave of Bf 109s followed at 12:30 hours, again crossing the Kent and Sussex coasts. Hurricanes of Nos. 145 and 501 Squadrons made interceptions near Hastings and over Kent respectively.

13:20 Hours: Third Attack

At 13:20 hours, a formation of fourteen aircraft approached Faversham from Dungeness before turning eastward. Simultaneously, a second formation of twenty aircraft penetrated to Central London while another wave withdrew over Ashford. As further formations crossed at Dungeness, they were intercepted by Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron over the Maidstone area. No. 603 Squadron lost three Spitfires in this engagement.

P/O C. W. Goldsmith, a South African, was shot down by a Bf 109 of JG 51 south of Maidstone at 14:05 hours and died of his wounds the following day. P/O R. B. Dewey of the same squadron was killed when his Spitfire II (P7365) was shot down at nearly the same time and place. Maj. Hannes Trautloft of Stab/JG 54 claimed a Spitfire over Ashford. P/O Eric F. Edsall of No. 222 Squadron crash-landed his Spitfire I (X4548) near Hailsham after running out of fuel at 14:05 hours, sustaining injuries.

16:30 Hours: Fourth Attack — East Anglia and the Estuary

By late afternoon, two major raids developed. The first crossed North Foreland and the Thames Estuary into East Anglia, striking the aerodromes at Martlesham Heath and Coltishall and attacking the docks at Harwich. Hurricanes of Nos. 17, 242, 249, 257, and 310 (Czech) Squadrons, along with Spitfires of No. 19 Squadron from Duxford, were scrambled to intercept.

At 16:42 hours, nine Bf 109s dive-bombed Martlesham Heath. Between nine and twelve 50-kilogram bombs fell, with three delayed-action bombs reported on the eastern side of the aerodrome. One workshop was damaged, but daylight operations continued on the western side. A Do 17 attacked Coltishall at 5,000 feet, followed by a low-flying He 111 which machine-gunned the aerodrome. Damage was light and no casualties were reported. At 18:10 hours, further high-flying aircraft dropped bombs without effect; No. 3 Post was subsequently dive-machine-gunned by a Bf 109 from 100 feet.

16:30 Hours: Southampton and Portsmouth Raid

The second major raid comprised Ju 88s with Bf 109 escorts directed toward the Southampton and Portsmouth districts. Hurricanes of Nos. 56, 145, 213, 238, and 607 Squadrons and Spitfires of Nos. 152, 602, and 609 Squadrons were detailed for interception. P/O Alexis Jottard, a Belgian serving with No. 145 Squadron, was shot down and killed in his Hurricane I (P3167) by a Bf 109 at 17:15 hours off the Isle of Wight. Oblt. Hermann Reifferscheidt of 1./JG 2 claimed his first victory during this engagement. Sgt J. K. Haire of No. 145 Squadron ditched his Hurricane I (V6888) on the sands at Bembridge, escaping injury. P/O Franck Weber, a Czech pilot with the same squadron, baled out safely and was rescued from the Channel.

Late Afternoon Aerodrome Attacks

Around 18:30 hours, several small bombing attacks took place against airfields in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and East Anglia. Hurricanes of Nos. 1, 17, and 85 Squadrons made interceptions on Do 17s and He 111s. A Ju 88A from 7./KG 4, damaged by ground fire during a low-level attack on Driffield, belly-landed at Richmond Farm, Duggleby; three crewmen were captured and one later died of wounds. At Leconfield, a bombing attack by He 111s at 18:08 hours caused structural damage and temporarily rendered the R/T station unserviceable.

At 17:32 hours, a He 111 made a low-level attack on Lindholme, dropping six light high-explosive bombs which scored direct hits on the sick quarters and a barrack block, causing eight casualties. Kirton-in-Lindsey was also attacked by a He 111 at 18:00 hours, which machine-gunned from 2,500 feet and dropped two bombs on No. 1 Hangar, followed by three on nearby buildings under construction.

Enemy Action by Night

Night operations followed patterns similar to the preceding evening but with slightly reduced overall strength. A dusk assault on aerodromes across East Anglia, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire preceded the main night raids, and extensive bombing operations were conducted against London, the Midlands, and Liverpool. Widespread dispersal was noted throughout the night, with multiple districts south of a Barrow–Middlesbrough line receiving enemy activity. Minelaying occurred continuously from the Thames Estuary to the Firth of Forth.

18:00–21:00 Hours: Dusk Attacks and Opening Phase

At 18:00 hours, the enemy opened night activity with a coordinated dusk attack on aerodromes at Leconfield, Feltwell, Driffield, Kirton-in-Lindsey, Martlesham, and other stations. By 18:40 hours, these attacks had ceased and the first raiders from the French coast were approaching.

London, the Midlands, and Liverpool were the principal objectives. By 21:00 hours, fifty-two raids had been tracked toward London and eight had crossed the coast en route to Liverpool or the Midlands. Anti-aircraft fire destroyed a He 111 near Coltishall at 18:10 hours and a Ju 88 southeast of Malton at approximately the same time.

21:00–01:00 Hours: Dispersed Raids and Intensified Attacks on Coventry and Liverpool

During the early part of this period, London continued to receive sustained attention, though the pattern gradually shifted to single-aircraft “relay” attacks. Raids originated mainly from Le Havre, the Somme, and the Dutch islands. Attacks on Coventry and Liverpool increased, with activity over Coventry still being plotted at 01:00 hours, though raids over Liverpool ceased around midnight.

Widespread dispersal was a marked feature, with raiders visiting almost all districts south of a Barrow–Middlesbrough line. The route Selsey–Oxford–Midlands remained favoured, with enemy tracks fanning outward both eastward and westward. Minelaying activity continued steadily throughout this period, particularly from the Estuary northwards to Hartlepool and the Firth of Forth. Tees anti-aircraft guns claimed a further destruction at 03:00 hours, though confirmation remained pending.

01:00–06:00 Hours: Final Phase

After 01:00 hours, activity diminished sharply, with only a small number of straggling raids recorded across different parts of the country. One or two aircraft remained over the London district, likely with the intention of sustaining the air-raid alert. Minelaying continued off Harwich and in the Thames Estuary.

German Losses:
Airmen: 11 | Aircraft: 16

British Losses:
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 14

Hurricane L1963, No. 43 Squadron
Sgt. L.V. Toogood killed. Crashed vertically from height during high-altitude aerobatics. Cause unknown but probably oxygen failure.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Toogood.htm

Spitfire P7539, No. 66 Squadron
P/O J.R. Mather killed. Crashed and burned out at Half Moon Lane, Hildenborough north-west of Tonbridge. Cause unknown but possible anoxia victim.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/MatherJR.htm

Spitfire P7526, No. 74 Squadron
Sgt. J.A. Scott killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 109s over Maidstone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ScottJA.htm

Hurricane P3168, No. 145 Squadron
P/O A.I.R.G. Jottard missing. Shot down by Bf 109 five miles south-east of the Isle of Wight.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Jottard.htm

Spitfire P7439, No. 603 Squadron
F/O C.W. Goldsmith died 28/10/40. Shot down by Bf 109s south of Maidstone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/GoldsmithCW.htm

Spitfire P7365, No. 603 Squadron
P/O R.B. Dewey killed. Shot down in a surprise attack by Bf 109s south of Maidstone.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Dewey.htm

Photo Description

1. A soldier guards Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 (Werke/Nr.3576) of 7 Staffel/Jagdgeschwader 54, which belly landed on a beach near Lydd water tower in Kent on 27 October 1940. The aircraft was damaged in combat with Hurricanes of No. 605 Squadron during a fighter sweep over Tunbridge Wells. The pilot, Unteroffizier Arno Zimmermann, was captured.
2. A soldier examines the fuselage of a Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 (Werk Nr. 3576) of 7./Jagdgeschwader 54, which made a belly landing on the beach near the Lydd water tower in Kent on 27 October 1940.
3. A crowd gathers to inspect the smouldering wreckage of a Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 (Werk Nr. 4124) of Stab I./Jagdgeschwader 3, which crashed at Wickham Court Farm, New Addington, Surrey, after being shot down by Spitfires on 27 October 1940. The pilot, Leutnant Ernst Busch, bailed out wounded and was taken prisoner.
4. The starboard wing of a Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 (Werk Nr. 4124) of Stab I./Jagdgeschwader 3, which crashed at Wickham Court Farm in New Addington, Surrey, on 27 October 1940.