Further raids on London.
Night: Widespread raids on London and its suburbs.
Weather: Cloudy in the south-east but fair. High winds.
Main Activity:
After the usual morning patrols and reconnaissance flights, two formations of fifty and 100 aircraft penetrated inland from Dymchurch and approached London via Kenley and Biggin Hill at 8.30 a.m. Bombs fell on Charing Cross Underground Station, Horse Guards Parade, the War Office and the Air Ministry’s Adastral House. Tower Bridge was also hit and so was the BBC’s Bush House. Two hours later a second attack with thirty aircraft developed on London. An hour later another twenty attacked and at 12.30 two formations of twelve took up where the others left off. Fighter Command scrambled 639 sorties and lost four machines. Fourteen German aircraft were destroyed.
Excerpt from The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood & Derek Dempster
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.