Raids over Kent, London suburbs and Weymouth.
Night: London, Manchester and fifteen airfields attacked.
Weather: Showery with bright intervals. Haze in the Thames Estuary and East Anglia.
Enemy Action by Day
The weather on 10 October brought intermittent showers with bright intervals. Haze persisted over the Thames Estuary and East Anglia, limiting visibility in some sectors but not grounding operations entirely. Despite conditions that prevented large-scale coordinated attacks, the Luftwaffe persisted with fighter-bomber raids across Kent, London’s eastern suburbs, and the South Coast, while reconnaissance aircraft remained active throughout the day. That night, a renewed heavy bombing campaign was launched against London, Manchester, and multiple RAF stations across southern and central England.
Morning Raids Over Kent and London Suburbs
Luftwaffe operations began before dawn. At 06:44 hours, Hastings was bombed by 14 high explosive (HE) bombs; four houses were demolished in a residential area. At 07:09 hours, two Heinkel He 111s dropped bombs on Dover, and at 07:30 hours another small formation attacked the town without interception. At 08:35 hours, approximately 20 aircraft crossed from Boulogne via Dover and split near Shoeburyness, with one group veering towards London. The remaining section looped southeast and exited over Kent. At 09:52 hours, another raid of 20+ aircraft crossed the coast at Lympne, followed shortly by a formation of 12+ entering via Dover. Both groups flew inland before exiting over Kent. At 10:17 hours, two further raids of approximately 26 aircraft traversed Kent airspace, one departing near Dover, the other heading toward the North Foreland.
No. 92 Squadron, flying Spitfires from Biggin Hill, intercepted Bf 109s and Do 17s near Brighton between 07:30 and 08:00 hours, losing three aircraft and suffering the loss of two pilots during the engagement. Later in the morning, No. 603 Squadron was scrambled from Hornchurch and engaged a group of 30+ Bf 109s over Kent. One of the German pilots, Major Adolf Galland of Stab/JG 26, claimed a Spitfire near Eastchurch for his 42nd victory. The coastal towns of Brighton, Eastbourne, and Bexhill were also bombed, with minor damage reported.
Midday Attack on Dorset Coast and Heavy Engagement Over Lulworth
Shortly after 12:00 hours, a major raid involving more than 100 German aircraft was plotted heading inland near Lulworth on the Dorset coast. The raiding force included Bf 109s from JG 53. It was engaged by Hurricanes from Nos. 52, 56, 145, 213, 238, and 607 Squadrons, along with Spitfires from Nos. 152 and 609 Squadrons. Heavy fighting broke out over the Wareham and Corfe areas. Hurricanes from Nos. 56 and 238 Squadrons suffered losses, and Bf 109 pilots Hptm. Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke (Stab III./JG 53), Lt. Erich Schmidt (9./JG 53), and Oblt. Gerhard Michalski (Stab II./JG 53) each claimed kills during the engagement.
Afternoon Assault Over Kent and London
At 15:10 hours, the first wave of a renewed assault—comprising at least 65 aircraft—crossed the coast near Deal and Dover. While one raider continued alone toward South London, the main body remained over eastern Kent. A second wave of over 80 aircraft followed at 15:25 hours but did not advance far inland, instead remaining largely concentrated over coastal areas. Hurricanes from Nos. 73, 229, 249, 253, 257, 303, and 615 Squadrons, along with Spitfires from Nos. 41, 66, 72, 92, and 602 Squadrons, were scrambled to intercept. While several RAF squadrons made contact, interceptions were hindered by altitude disadvantages. However, bombing was largely inaccurate, and the overall damage was slight. No. 12 Group despatched three squadrons to support the defence, but German formations remained elusive and scattered.
Reconnaissance and Patrol Activity
From 06:00 hours onward, the Luftwaffe conducted widespread reconnaissance over the North Sea and South Coast. By 07:00 hours, several lone aircraft flew from Selsey Bill to Beachy Head. Further patrols were active in the Straits of Dover between 13:00 and 21:00 hours. Aircraft were observed tracking convoys off the East Coast and operating in large numbers off Harwich. A single aircraft also flew via Hastings toward South London.
During a non-combat sortie over Liverpool, Sgt. Otto Hanzlicek of No. 312 (Czech) Squadron took off from RAF Speke in Hurricane I ‘L1547’ alongside P/O Dvorak. At 14:15 hours, Hanzlicek’s engine caught fire, forcing him to bail out near Oglett. Tragically, wind drift carried him over the River Mersey, and he parachuted too low to survive. His body was not recovered despite local efforts.
Isolated Bombing and Low-Level Attacks
At 19:40 hours, General Aircraft Ltd at Hanworth was attacked by a low-flying aircraft using incendiaries. The main hangar was set ablaze and was not brought under control until 23:40 hours. At 19:58 hours, Carew Cheriton airfield was attacked by a low-flying bomber, which dropped six HE bombs. A petrol pump was set on fire, but this was quickly extinguished. Penrhos was also unsuccessfully attacked at 19:10 hours, with most bombs falling outside the station boundary.
At South Shields, two HE bombs exploded in the river near the blockship Melba at the Groyne Quay. There were no casualties. Shelling of Dover between 18:25 and 18:44 hours resulted in 18 shells landing in the town but caused negligible damage and no injuries.
Enemy Action by Night
The first night raiders crossed the coast at 19:15 hours from the Dutch Islands, followed soon after by aircraft from Dieppe and Le Havre heading toward London. Simultaneously, formations were detected over the Liverpool area and later in South Wales. Minelaying sorties likely occurred between Flamborough Head and Newcastle, with further raids emerging from Cherbourg toward Portsmouth and the capital.
Throughout the 21:00–23:00 period, bombing remained focused on London, but scattered attacks extended to Birmingham, Gloucester, East Anglia, South Wales, and Shrewsbury. Aircraft entering from the Dutch coast conducted sweeps over Debden and Duxford before turning southwest. Additional mine drops were reported off Harwich.
After 23:00 hours, activity temporarily subsided. By 01:00 hours, only occasional raids persisted, with one track reaching the Birmingham–Coventry area. From 03:00 hours onward, isolated aircraft resumed penetrating the London region. Others were tracked over the Bristol Channel, Mid-Wales, and as far north as Stoke. London’s airspace was cleared by 04:52 hours, and by 05:30, only a single raider remained over Bristol.
Infrastructure and Civilian Impact
Night bombers dropped HE on multiple rail targets. At 20:20 hours, both lines of the GWR Greenford Loop were destroyed. At 21:45, a train was derailed at Wembley near the Metropolitan Railway bridge. Further hits were recorded at LMS sheds in St Pancras and at the Kentish Town Coal Wharf, causing significant truck and property damage. At 22:28 hours, LNER track at Edmonton was blown up, and lines at Tottenham and Hendon were also disrupted. The LMS passenger line at Hendon was rendered unserviceable by 22:18 hours. At 00:54 hours, GWR’s Locomotive Department in Acton sustained bomb damage.
Industrial damage included bomb strikes at the Mullard Radio Valve Co. in Mitcham, the LPTB Works at Gunnersbury, Sangamo Weston’s yard in Enfield, and the Doulton Works at Lambeth, where casualties occurred. Stepney’s J. Wright and Sons Factory was also hit by incendiaries, but the fire was contained.
The Primrose Telephone Exchange in St John’s Wood caught fire after being hit by HE bombs. In Wembley, a large trunk water main was damaged near the GEC factory, affecting the British Oxygen Company’s supply. At South Mimms, a 33,000-volt power transmission line was damaged by bombing at 01:30 hours.
German Losses:
Airmen: 13 | Aircraft: 12
British Losses:
Airmen: 6 | Aircraft: 8
Hurricane P3421, No. 56 Squadron
Sgt. J. Hlavac killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 109s over Wareham. http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Hlavac.htm
Spitfire X4038, No. 92 Squadron
P/O D.G. Williams killed. Mid-air collision during attack on a Do 17 over Tangmere.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WiliamsDG.htm
Spitfire R6616, No. 92 Squadron
F/O J.F. Drummond killed. Mid-air collision during attack on a Do 17 over Tangmere. Pilot baled out, wounded in an arm and a leg, but was too low.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Drummond.htm
Hurricane V7537, No. 249 Squadron
Sgt. E.A. Bayley killed. Aircraft crashed at Shades House, Cooling Marsh during routine patrol. Believed due to oxygen failure.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Bayley.htm
Hurricane L1928, No. 253 Squadron
Sgt. H.H. Allgood killed. Aircraft crashed into houses at Albion Place, Maidstone. Cause unknown.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Allgood.htm
Hurricane L1547, No. 312 Squadron
Sgt. O. Hanzlicek killed. Aircraft caught fire during routine patrol, cause unknown. Pilot baled out into river at Oglett.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Hanzlicek.htm
Photo Description
- Soldiers collecting for the Spitfire Fund use the fuselage of a Heinkel He 111H-3 bomber (W.Nr 3233 V4+KL) of 3./KG 1 as a focus of interest for locals outside the Half Moon Pub in Hildenborough, Kent on 10 October 1940. The aircraft crash-landed in a field near the village on 11 September after being hit by anti-aircraft fire over London and attacked by three Hawker Hurricanes.