Further raids on London.
Night: Widespread raids on London and its suburbs.
Weather: Cloudy in the south-east but fair. High winds.
Enemy Action by Day
Cloudy weather prevailed across the southeast of England on 8 October 1940, though conditions remained generally fair, with good visibility in many areas. High winds hampered fighter operations throughout much of the day, temporarily limiting airfield availability across No. 11 Group. Despite these challenges, the Luftwaffe maintained a steady tempo of attacks against London and southeast England, while also conducting widespread reconnaissance along the coast and over East Anglia. The day saw further daylight Jabo raids, sporadic coastal bombing, and increased night activity concentrated on London and the northeast.
The Luftwaffe launched a series of coordinated Jabo (fighter-bomber) raids beginning at 08:33 hours, when over 50 aircraft—believed to be Bf 109s from JG 26 and LG 2—crossed the coast near Dungeness. The formation advanced in tight columns and struck central London by 08:50 hours before dispersing into smaller groups and retreating south. Almost immediately afterward, a second wave of more than 100 aircraft swept over South London, Biggin Hill, and Kenley by 09:15 hours. Some of these attackers reached their targets unimpeded due to the height of their approach. Tower Bridge was bombed around 09:00 hours, sustaining damage to the hydraulic mains and rendering it temporarily inoperable. High-altitude raiders dropped bombs on key government buildings, including BBC House, Adastral House (Air Ministry), the Paymaster General’s Office, and Charing Cross Station. Residential areas in Bermondsey, Lewisham, and West Ham also suffered damage.
No. 11 Group scrambled eleven squadrons to counter the morning raids. Spitfires from Nos. 72 and 92 Squadrons (Biggin Hill), Nos. 41 and 222 Squadrons (Hornchurch), and No. 66 Squadron (Gravesend) intercepted the formations as they crossed into Kent and advanced inland. No. 41 Squadron made contact over Folkestone shortly after 11:00 hours and engaged a mixed force of Do 17s and Bf 109s. Meanwhile, Hurricanes from No. 303 (Polish) Squadron continued their patrol duties in the Kenley sector, while other units attempted to regain control of London’s southern airspace. Despite these efforts, several bombers broke through.
Midday Operations and Additional Raids
By 10:25 hours, a separate force of more than 30 aircraft crossed the coast near Lympne and reached the Hornchurch area before withdrawing east over Folkestone by 10:58. This raid appeared to consist primarily of Bf 109s operating in the fighter-bomber role. At 11:15 hours, another raid of similar size emerged from Cap Gris Nez, entered near Lympne, and pushed inland toward South and East London.
At 12:25 hours, two additional raids of around 20 aircraft each entered from the Folkestone area and passed over Kenley and Biggin Hill. High winds during the afternoon restricted RAF fighter operations, with only two No. 11 Group airfields able to safely launch aircraft between 12:30 and 16:00. Despite these limitations, interceptions were still carried out. Hurricanes of No. 1 (Canadian) Squadron, on one of their final patrols before being rotated north, joined engagements alongside Nos. 615 and 605 Squadrons. The fighting was scattered, and while many bombers were forced to jettison their loads prematurely, damage was still inflicted on the ground.
Isolated Attacks and Coastal Reconnaissance
From 13:00 hours onward, a pattern of small, low-level attacks developed along the East Sussex coast. Bexhill, Eastbourne, Hastings, and Fairlight were targeted by fighter-bombers in quick succession. No. 145 Squadron scrambled Hurricanes from Tangmere to intercept the raiders, particularly around Eastbourne, where civilian structures sustained damage. RAF Westhampnett was machine-gunned in a low-level pass but sustained no serious damage. Ford aerodrome suffered a more severe attack, with bombs and gunfire damaging one Blenheim, destroying a Boston from No. 23 Squadron, and rendering the field temporarily unserviceable. Shoreham was similarly attacked by three aircraft and left out of action.
RAF West Malling was struck by two high-explosive bombs and hundreds of incendiaries, while Thorney Island was targeted by He 111s of II./KG 55. One aircraft from the Gruppe was downed by ground fire, and another was lost on return to Villacoublay.
A brief but sharp engagement occurred near Speke in the northwest when a Ju 88 from KG 806 (Wk.Nr. 4068, coded M7+DK) attempted to bomb the Rootes aircraft factory. Hurricanes from No. 312 (Czech) Squadron intercepted the bomber at 13,000 feet. Sgt. Josef Stehlík (L1807) fired the opening bursts, followed by P/O Alois Vašátko (L1926), who attacked from above. F/Lt Denys Gillam (P2575) joined the assault, forcing the Ju 88 into a crash landing at Bromborough Dock at 16:15 hours. This marked No. 312 Squadron’s first successful combat since formation in August. The aircraft was later put on public display in Liverpool to help raise funds for the Spitfire Fund.
František Killed in Tragic Accident
The RAF suffered a notable loss when Sgt. Josef František of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron was killed during a lone patrol. Flying Hurricane I R4175, the Czech pilot crashed while attempting to land at Cuddington Way, Ewell. Known for his independent fighting style and record of 17 confirmed kills in September alone, František had recently turned 27. He was Fighter Command’s highest-scoring pilot at the time of his death and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. Despite his lack of discipline in formation flying, he had been allowed to continue operating alone as a “guest” pilot of No. 303 Squadron due to his exceptional combat record.
Reconnaissance Flights and Patrols
Luftwaffe reconnaissance operations increased across the day, especially in East Anglia. In Kent and Sussex, flights were reported over Beachy Head, Rye, Biggin Hill, Deal, Faversham, Dungeness, Selsey Bill, and the North Foreland. Two aircraft conducted a sweep from Beachy Head toward Kenley and Dungeness at 10:40 hours. Later missions between 13:00 and 17:00 extended to the coastlines of Dorset, Somerset, and as far as Portland and Start Point. Several sorties turned back when intercepted, suggesting RAF patrols remained active despite high winds.
Reconnaissance over East Anglia included flights over Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, and Harwich between 13:00 and 15:00 hours. These efforts continued into the early evening. Activity in the North Sea and along the East Anglian coast increased markedly from 15:00 to 17:00 hours.
Convoy Shadowing and Naval Bombing
Enemy aircraft shadowed a convoy off Dover as early as 06:50 hours, and another was observed tracking ships in the Thames Estuary at 16:40 hours. One convoy reported being shadowed at 15:50. Between 08:00 and 09:00 hours, German shore batteries opened fire from Cap Gris Nez. At 09:19 hours, three British naval units off South Foreland were dive-bombed, though the damage remains unclear.
Noteworthy Incidents
One of the more unusual events occurred when Lt. Heinz Escherhaus of 1./JG 77, flying a Bf 109E at 25,000 feet, was forced into a dive after his newly issued single-man dinghy—incorrectly connected to the gas flask by his batman—inflated mid-flight, pushing him into the control column. He lost engine power during the dive and made a forced landing at Eastry, Kent. RAF Intelligence documented the incident in detail.
Enemy Action by Night
After 19:00 hours, enemy night activity escalated rapidly. From Cherbourg, German bombers launched the first wave toward Portsmouth and Southampton. Between 20 and 30 aircraft penetrated inland before dispersing. Concurrent raids advanced from Le Havre, Dieppe, and the Dutch islands, with most aircraft homing in on London, while smaller groups reached East Anglia and Merseyside. Between 19:00 and 21:00 hours, approximately 100 hostile aircraft were plotted.
By 21:40 hours, a high-explosive bomb fell near the RAF Experimental Station at Cresswell, Northumberland, causing minor damage and one military injury. Further attacks took place at Cleadon Hill and Trafford Park, the latter seeing three fires—one of which affected the Rubber Regenerating Works but was brought under control. Other bombs fell on the private railway line of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Euston, damaging both buildings and track but not halting production.
Minelaying was observed between Hartlepool and St Abb’s Head, and again between Flamborough Head and the Humber.
Intensification and Targeting of London
Between 23:00 and 01:00 hours on 9 October, raids intensified once again. London remained the principal target, with most aircraft entering from the Le Touquet area and exiting via the Estuary toward Ostend. Others penetrated as far north as Peterborough. A single aircraft reached Church Fenton from the west and circled before exiting over the Humber.
Between 01:00 and 03:00 hours, activity intensified further, with a sustained series of raids concentrated exclusively on the capital. By 03:00, aircraft began entering over Essex from the Dutch islands, advancing deep into East Anglia and the eastern Midlands. These attacks increased in frequency, while the rest of the country—including London—briefly experienced a lull before raids resumed again at dawn.
Arrival of Indian Pilots and New Squadrons
On 8 October 1940, 24 Indian officers arrived in Britain for RAF service. Though they would not participate in the Battle itself, many went on to serve in Fighter, Coastal, and Bomber Commands. No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron, composed of American volunteers, was declared operational with the squadron code XR. No. 309 (Polish) Squadron was also formed at RAF Renfrew, operating Lysander aircraft for tactical reconnaissance.
Summary of Damage
Whitehall sustained damage from direct hits to the Paymaster General’s Office, Ministry of Agriculture, and Great Scotland Yard. Charing Cross Station was closed following bombing. Fires broke out in Bermondsey and Chiswick. The Rippleway Telephone Exchange lost 200 lines due to blast damage. A direct hit was recorded on the railway at Sevenoaks, while the Edgware Tube Line was blocked at Colindale. A flight at Hendon was destroyed during the previous day’s raid. Damage also occurred at Fairey Aviation’s Sale facility, though a fire was quickly brought under control.
German Losses:
Airmen: 32 | Aircraft: 17
British Losses:
Airmen: 8 | Aircraft: 8
Spitfire R6779, No. 66 Squadron
P/O G.H. Corbett killed. Shot down by Bf 109s.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/CorbettGH.htm
Spitfire N3043, No. 66 Squadron
Sgt. R.A. Ward killed. Shot down by Bf 109s over north Kent.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WardRA.htm
Spitfire P7329, No. 72 Squadron
P/O D. Hastings killed. Mid-air collision with Spitfire P7373 during practice attacks over base.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Hastings.htm
Spitfire P7373, No. 72 Squadron
P/O F.W. Buckland killed. Mid-air collision with Spitfire P7329 during practice attacks over base.
Hurricane V6820, No. 229 Squadron
Sgt. J.R. Farrow killed. Lost formation in cloud and fell out of control over Bovingdon.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Farrow.htm
Defiant N1627, No. 264 Squadron
Aircraft crashed at Marlow, possibly as a result of enemy action.
P/O H.I. Goodall killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Goodall.htm
Sgt. R.B.M. Young killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/YoungRBM.htm
Hurricane R4175, No. 303 Squadron
Sgt. J. Frantisek killed. Aircraft crashed on Cuddington Way in Ewell, Surrey. Cause unknown.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Frantisek.htm
Photo Descriptions
- Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 (W.Nr. 3465) ‘White 2’ of 4./JG 52, flown by Feldwebel Paul Bosche, which force-landed on Little Grange Farm, Woodham Mortimer, Essex on 8 October 1940. © IWM (HU 73560)
- A boy sits amid the ruins of a London bookshop following an air raid, reading a book titled “The History of London”, 8 October 1940.
- People shelter and sleep on the platform and on the train tracks, in Aldwych Underground Station, London, after sirens sounded to warn of German bombing raids, on 8 October 1940.