Supermarine factory at Southampton attacked and wrecked.

Night: Raids on London and Merseyside.

Weather: Mainly fair to cloudy.

Main Activity:

It was obvious to the Germans as they studied reconnaissance photographs of Southampton that Supermarine’s Woolston factory remained intact.

In the afternoon seventy-six planes – He 111s, Ju 88s and Bf 109s – assembled over Brittany and set course for the Solent. By 5.45 they had delivered a ‘pattern bombing’ attack on the home of the Spitfire. It was all over in a few minutes with seventy tons of bombs dropped to such good purpose that for a short time production was completely stopped. In addition more than thirty people were killed and a nearby warehouse filled with grain was destroyed.

Engaged on the way in by anti-aircraft fire only, the attackers were intercepted after the bombing by four No. 10 and No. 11 Group squadrons. One of these was No. 303 (Polish) Squadron which had left Northolt in the middle of an inspection by the King. Three German aircraft were shot down. The RAF lost six. The day’s engagements cost both air forces nine planes each, the RAF flying 417 sorties.

Only three Spitfires on the Woolston production line were destroyed. Many others were damaged by the blast and debris but they were soon repaired and delivered to the squadrons.

In August 149 Spitfires had been produced, mostly at Woolston, as the shadow factory at Castle Bromwich was only just coming into production. In October 139 Spitfires were built. The Southampton facilities were dispersed to thirty-five sites and by the end of the year production was back to normal.

Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster

German Losses
Airmen: 18 | Aircraft: 9

British Losses
Airmen: 3 | Aircraft: 8

Spitfire K9882, No. 152 Squadron
Sgt. J.M. Christie killed. Shot down by Bf 109s in combat over the Channel off Swanage.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ChristieJMcB.htm

Hurricane P3098, No. 238 Squadron
Sgt. V. Horsky killed. Shot down in combat with Bf 110s over the Solent.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Horsky.htm

Hurricane V7470, No. 253 Squadron
P/O W.M.C. Samolinski killed. Failed to return from combat over the Channel.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Samolinski.htm


Photo Descriptions:

  1. His Majesty King George VI in conversation with Air Vice Marshall Keith Park during a visit to RAF Northolt on 26 September 1940.
  2. King George VI shakes hand with P/O Mirosław “Ox” Ferić on his visit to RAF Northolt on 26 September 1940. When the pilots of No. 303 Squadron were scrambled near the end of the inspection to counter an attack on Southampton, the seven He 111s, two Do 17s, and four Bf 109s claimed during the afternoon were attributed to the presence of their royal visitor earlier that day. On the latter’s request, the results of the fight were relayed to Buckingham Palace.
  3. A still from camera-gun film taken from a Supermarine Spitfire Mark I of No. 609 Squadron, flown by Pilot Officer J D Bisdee, as he dives on a formation of Heinkel He IIIs of KG 55 which had just bombed the Supermarine aircraft works at Woolston, Southampton on 26 September 1940. © IWM (CH 1826)
  4. A still from camera-gun film taken from a Supermarine Spitfire Mark I of No. 609 Squadron, flown by Pilot Officer J D Bisdee, as he dived on a formation of Heinkel He IIIs of KG 55 which had just bombed the Supermarine aircraft works at Woolston, Southampton on 26 September 1940. Tracer bullets can be seen heading towards the formation as Bisdee opens fire. © IWM (CH 1832)
  5. A still from camera-gun film taken from a Supermarine Spitfire Mark I of No. 609 Squadron, flown by Pilot Officer J D Bisdee, as he dives on a formation of Heinkel He 111s of KG 55 which have just bombed the Supermarine aircraft works at Woolston, Southampton on 26 September 1940. The rearmost aircraft of the leading ‘staffel’ receives a burst of machine gun fire from Bisdee, as shown by the streaks of light from the tracer bullets. Its port engine is also on fire. © IWM (CH 1827)
  6. A still from camera-gun film taken from a Supermarine Spitfire Mark I flown by the Commanding Officer of No. 609 Squadron, Squadron Leader H S Darley, as he opens fire amongst a formation of Heinkel He 111s of KG 55 which have just bombed the Supermarine aircraft works at Woolston, Southampton on 26 September 1940. © IWM (CH 1829)
  7. Supermarine Aircraft Works at Woolston, Southampton after being bombed by the Luftwaffe on 26 September 1940
  8. Nearby Bridge Road after the raid on the Supermarine Aircraft Works at Woolston, Southampton on 26 September 1940.