Airfield attacks in two phases. Park (CinC No 11 Group) orders special cover for fighter factories.

Night: Continuous activity over southern England.

Weather: Continuing fine and warm with cloud developing later.

Enemy Action by Day

The day began with fine flying weather, ideal for both sides but unwelcome for Fighter Command, which had been hoping for a respite. Shortly before 09:30 hours, radar stations detected the first signs of enemy activity as formations gathered behind Calais. By 09:35 hours, approximately 70 German aircraft crossed the coast at Dungeness, flying inland toward Biggin Hill, with others turning toward Maidstone. A second wave of some 50 aircraft crossed further east, splitting toward Hornchurch and the Thames Estuary.

At 10:50 hours, twelve Bf 109s attacked the Dover barrage balloons. Anti-aircraft guns opened fire, destroying one and damaging another. These early raids were preceded by two reconnaissance flights near Deal and Dungeness, suggesting a coordinated morning operation.

Biggin Hill, already severely damaged in previous days, was again the principal target. Bombers from KG 2, escorted by thirty Bf 109s of II./JG 3, attacked in force. A diversionary raid struck Croydon, while other targets included Eastchurch, Lympne, and North Weald. Five RAF squadrons were dispatched to intercept, including No. 79 Squadron, the only unit still operating from Biggin Hill itself, and No. 72 Squadron, which was temporarily based at Croydon.

Fierce air combat developed across Kent and South London. Six Spitfires attempted to intercept the bombers, but the arrival of the Bf 109 escort resulted in a swift counterattack. Spitfires of No. 41 Squadron, operating from Manston, joined the fight. Flight Lieutenant J.T. Webster of No. 41 Squadron claimed one Bf 109 near Adlington, forcing it to crash-land. He was also credited with damaging a second Messerschmitt, which came down near Faversham.

One of the most dramatic episodes of the morning occurred over Marden, where F/O B.G. Stapleton of No. 603 Squadron reportedly shot down a Bf 109 flown by Oblt. Franz von Werra, adjutant of Stab II./JG 3. Von Werra crash-landed and was captured, beginning a remarkable story of escape and return to Germany. There remains some ambiguity regarding who delivered the decisive blow, with claims also attributed to P/O G.H. Bennions of No. 41 Squadron and F/O Pat Hughes of No. 234 Squadron. Flight Lieutenant Webster, one of the pilots who engaged Von Werra’s Staffel, was himself killed later that afternoon.

Among other losses, Lt. Heinz Schnabel of 1./JG 3, with six confirmed victories, was shot down and taken prisoner.

The morning action involved several Jagdwaffe units, among them JG 3, JG 52, JG 54, and LG 2. Notable claims included Oblt. Herbert Ihlefeld (2./LG 2), who claimed two Spitfires, while single kills were attributed to Oblt. Willy Stange and Lt. Franz Beyer (both 8./JG 3), Lt. Hans Berthel (Stab I./JG 52), Oblt. Karl-Heinz Leesmann (2./JG 52), Hptm. Fritz Ultsch (Stab III./JG 54), Lt. Max-Hellmuth Ostermann (7./JG 54), and Uffz. Karl-Heinz Kempf (9./JG 54).

Despite the heavy escort, British fighters inflicted damage on the bomber formations, although Biggin Hill again sustained serious damage. Group Captain Grice, its station commander, reported that only one hangar remained standing—and even that had been gutted by fire. Orders were given to prepare it for demolition in the event of another raid.

Afternoon Raids: Thameshaven and Brooklands

A second major attack developed shortly before 15:00 hours. Between 14:56 and 15:30 hours, over 160 aircraft crossed the Kent coast and the Thames Estuary, targeting airfields and industrial sites. Up to 100 aircraft approached Biggin Hill but appeared to have turned away before reaching the sector station. Others broke off toward Hornchurch, while a separate formation of 50 bombers was intercepted near Dungeness.

One of the main targets of the afternoon assault was the oil storage depot at Thameshaven. Approximately 50 Ju 88s and He 111s, escorted by up to 100 Bf 109s at high altitude, bombed the site. Giant black clouds of burning oil were visible across the region. Spitfires of No. 72 Squadron and Hurricanes of No. 73 Squadron attempted to intercept, but a surprise attack by the Bf 109 escort resulted in four Hurricanes shot down and the death of one pilot.

Elsewhere, Detling aerodrome was again hit, but the damage was limited. The Hawker factory at Brooklands sustained only light damage. Maidstone was also bombed, with part of a residential street demolished. By mid-afternoon, much of the Thames corridor remained under threat, and new formations were sighted forming over northern France. As bombers withdrew, Bf 109s from JG 2, JG 3, JG 53, and JG 54 swept out across the Channel to cover their retreat.

Spitfires of Nos. 41 and 66 Squadrons re-entered the fray. No. 72 and No. 73 Squadrons, which had been engaged since early afternoon, were also redirected toward the Essex coast to intercept a final wave of Ju 88s.

Flt Lt. A. Rabagliati of No. 46 Squadron took a cannon-armed Hurricane into combat for the first time, flying alongside No. 249 Squadron. One Bf 109 was destroyed by concentrated fire. Overall, RAF fighters claimed 18 Bf 109s destroyed, four probable, and one damaged.

Luftwaffe Claims and the Loss of Hptm. Ultsch

German claims continued throughout the afternoon. Hptm. Otto Bertram (1./JG 2), Hptm. Hubertus von Bonin (Stab I./JG 54), Oblt. Rudolf Pflanz (3./JG 2), and others including Hptm. Hans von Hahn, Ofw. Robert Olejnik, Hptm. Günther von Maltzahn, and Oblt. Hans Philipp, all submitted victory claims. Most notably, Oblt. Helmut Wick (6./JG 2) claimed his 23rd victory, narrowing the gap with fellow aces Mölders and Galland.

However, the Luftwaffe suffered considerable losses. Fw. Dettmer (9./JG 54) and Uffz. Behze (II./JG 54) were killed over Kent. Uffz. Fritz Hotzelmann (I./JG 54) was shot down over Maidstone and captured. The most serious Luftwaffe loss was Hptm. Fritz Ultsch, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 54, killed in combat shortly after scoring his fourth kill.

No. 303 Squadron in Action

No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, based at Northolt, was active over the south coast. At 14:53 hours, nine Hurricanes were directed toward Gillingham. Red Section engaged Bf 109s circling around 35 Ju 88s, while Blue Section attacked the bombers. The squadron became scattered during the engagement but returned claiming six Bf 109s and three Ju 88s. AVM Keith Park, while impressed by the squadron’s aggressive performance, raised concerns about their coordination.

Civilian and Infrastructure Damage

According to Home Security Reports, bombs fell in Kent and southeast London during both major raids. The main railway line south from Charing Cross via Chislehurst was temporarily blocked. Five oil tanks at Thameshaven were destroyed. The County Hospital at Dartford was hit; two wards were damaged, three houses destroyed, and more than 50 casualties reported. Fires broke out in Leyton, with mains flooding Lea Bridge Road. Railway lines in Ilford were blocked by debris, while utilities were disrupted in Woolwich, Hammersmith, and Edith.

Enemy Action by Night

Enemy night operations began at approximately 20:30 hours. Numerous raids struck across London, Essex, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. Liverpool was again hit by He 111s of II. and III./KG 27. At Walton, a bomb damaged the Dunlop Works, halting production. The Mersey Docks suffered minor damage. In Dartford, three houses were destroyed and 50 casualties were recorded. Gloucestershire received 162 HE bombs. In Flintshire, a direct hit on the Courtaulds Works at Greenfield caused widespread industrial disruption. In Nottinghamshire, a German parachutist was dropped under cover of darkness at 03:00 hours, but went unnoticed.

Park Responds: Fighter Factory Protection

In response to the increasing threat to aircraft production, AVM Keith Park implemented new defensive measures. No. 504 Squadron was brought down from Catterick to Hendon. Patrols were reinforced over the Hawker factories at Kingston and Brooklands, and the Supermarine plant at Southampton. No. 12 Group agreed to provide standby cover for Weybridge, while No. 10 Group was tasked with defensive patrols from Brooklands to Croydon during heavy raids.

German Losses:
Airmen: 36 | Aircraft: 27

British Losses:
Airmen: 8 | Aircraft: 20

Spitfire P9432, No. 19 Squadron
S/L P.C. Pinkham killed. Shot down by Bf 109 while in combat over Channel. Pilot went down with aircraft.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Pinkham.htm

Spitfire N3093, No. 72 Squadron
Sgt M. Gray killed. Crashed after combat with Bf 109s. Aircraft seen to crash into Eltham Park Wood.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/GrayM.htm

Spitfire X4013, No. 72 Squadron
P/O D.C. Winter killed. Shot down by Bf 109 and tried to abandon aircraft at too low an altitude.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WinterDC.htm

Spitfire R6635, No. 41 Squadron
F/L J.T. Webster killed. Collided with P9428. Pilot baled out but killed. Aircraft crashed at Laindon, Essex.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WebsterJT.htm

Spitfire P9428, No. 41 Squadron
S/L H.R.L. Hood listed as missing. Collided with R6635. Aircraft disintegrated over Wickford.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Hood.htm

Hurricane P3234, No. 73 Squadron
Sgt A.L. McNey listed as missing. Shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed at North Fambridge.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/McNay.htm

Spitfire R6885, No. 66 Squadron
F/O P.J.C. King killed. Shot down by Bf 109s. Pilot baled out but parachute failed to open.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/KingPJC.htm

Photo Descriptions

1. Interior of the Sector ‘G’ Operations Room at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, September 1940. The callsigns of fighter squadrons controlled by this Sector can be seen on the wall behind the operator sitting third from left. The Controller is sitting fifth from the left, and on the extreme right, behind the Army Liaison Officer, are the R/T operators in direct touch with the aircraft. © IWM (CH 1401)
2. An RNVR officer of the Medway River Patrol inspects the wreckage of a Spitfire that came down on mudflats in early September 1940. Although not positively identified, the aircraft may have been a No. 66 Squadron machine, shot down by Bf 109s over the Medway on 5 September. Pilot Officer P. King baled out, but his parachute failed to open. © IWM (A 704)
3. Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr 1480), piloted by Oberleutnant Franz von Werra, the adjutant of II/JG 3 “Udet”, which crash-landed on 5 September 1940 at Winchet Hill, near Marden in Kent.
4. Two Royal Air Force sergeant aircrew inspect the fuselage of Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr 1480), piloted by Oberleutnant Franz von Werra, the adjutant of II/JG 3 “Udet”, which crash-landed on 5 September 1940 at Winchet Hill, near Marden in Kent. © IWM (HU 73426)
5. A sergeant air gunner inspects the ‘kills’ painted on the tail fin of shot-down Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 (W.Nr 1480) in an RAF hangar. This was the aircraft piloted by Oberleutnant Franz von Werra, the adjutant of II/JG 3 “Udet”, which crash-landed on 5 September 1940 at Winchet Hill, near Marden in Kent. © IWM (HU 106341)