Fighter sweeps on south-east London and Biggin Hill.
Night: London once again is the main target. Manchester, Usworth and Aberdeen also raided.
Weather: Blue skies during the day with cloud building up later.
Enemy Action by Day
The day opened under clear blue skies, with cloud building later in the afternoon. Fine visibility enabled the Luftwaffe to launch high-altitude fighter-bomber raids across southeast England and reconnaissance flights over a wide area of the British Isles.
Early Morning Activity and Isolated Raids
At 06:30 hours, a Ju 88 on a meteorological and reconnaissance flight out of Amsterdam became disoriented and landed intact at Brightlingsea on the Essex coast. This unintentional landing provided British intelligence with a valuable opportunity to examine the aircraft. By 07:15 hours, a single German bomber launched an attack on RAF Station Penrhos in North Wales, inflicting significant damage on several buildings, including the carpenters’ shop, fabric workshop, drug store, armoury workshops, and transport sheds. At 08:20 hours, a Ju 88 bombed RAF Cleave, slightly damaging four aircraft and puncturing a hangar roof. At 08:43 hours, an enemy aircraft dropped a single high-explosive bomb at Portland. The device failed to explode, and no damage was recorded.
08:30–09:30 Hours: First Main Raid
The first of five large-scale daylight raids began at 08:30 hours, with formations of Bf 109s, Bf 110s, bomb-carrying Bf 109E-7s, Ju 88s, and Do 17s from Luftflotte 2 crossing Kent towards southeast London. By 09:00 hours, a group of approximately thirty aircraft crossed the coast near Dungeness. Twelve bombers penetrated the Inner Artillery Zone before turning back. Simultaneously, thirty Bf 109s from JG 51 and Lehrgeschwader 2 patrolled over Dover and later joined the withdrawing force. RAF Fighter Command responded by scrambling Nos. 17, 253, 501, and 605 Squadrons (Hurricanes), and Nos. 41, 66, 602, and 603 Squadrons (Spitfires) to intercept. Despite the high altitude of the raiders, RAF fighters succeeded in destroying several aircraft. During the course of the engagement, bombs were dropped on Woolwich and Hastings, with additional damage reported at Eastbourne, Dover, Margate, and Worthing.
Pilot Officer P. G. Dexter of No. 603 Squadron was wounded in action over Croydon after his Spitfire (P9553) was hit by fire from a Bf 109 of Jagdgeschwader 53. Despite his injuries, Dexter managed to crash-land the aircraft. During the same engagement, Leutnant Erich Schmidt and Unteroffizier Robert Wolfgarten of 9./JG 53 each claimed two Spitfire victories. Meanwhile, Oblt. Walter Fiel of 8./JG 53 was shot down during combat and taken prisoner. Elsewhere, Hurricanes of No. 17 Squadron intercepted and brought down a Dornier Do 17 near RAF Pulham.
09:55–10:30 Hours: Second Raid
At 09:55 hours, approximately fifty Luftwaffe aircraft crossed the coast at Dungeness. The leading formation of twenty aircraft penetrated the Inner Artillery Zone, while the remainder advanced no farther than the Kenley sector. Simultaneously, ten additional German aircraft flew inland from Brighton toward Biggin Hill, linking up with the southern formation around 10:15 hours. Bombs were again reported at Woolwich and Hastings.
11:30–12:20 Hours: Third Raid
At approximately 11:30 hours, a force of over sixty German aircraft—including Ju 88 bombers and high-flying Bf 109s—advanced toward Maidstone and Biggin Hill. Simultaneous attacks were reported at Margate and Lympne. At 11:26 hours, Lympne airfield was struck by high-explosive and oil-incendiary bombs, one of which hit a shelter, while another set an Army lorry ablaze. Elements of the formation penetrated as far as the Crystal Palace area. Although eight RAF fighter squadrons were scrambled to intercept, the bombers’ altitude again hampered engagement. By 12:20 hours, the raiding force had turned south over Maidstone and begun its withdrawal across the Channel.
13:20–14:00 Hours: Fourth Raid
At 13:20 hours, two separate formations—together comprising around thirty German aircraft—advanced from Dover and Dungeness toward the Kenley–Biggin Hill sector. At the same time, a third group of fifteen aircraft approached Sheppey. Approximately twenty aircraft from these combined forces reached as far as East London before turning south. By 13:35 hours, most of the raiders were retreating, although activity in the Straits persisted until 14:00 hours. Bombs were reported in both Camberwell and Rochester during the attack.
14:55–15:20 Hours: Fifth Raid
At 14:55 hours, a formation of thirty German aircraft advanced inland from Dungeness toward the Biggin Hill–Kenley sector. Only one aircraft penetrated beyond this line toward Central London, while five others looped around North Foreland and Sheppey before turning back across the Channel. Bombs were reported once again in Camberwell and also at Rochester during the incursion, with additional damage recorded in parts of South London. By 15:18 hours, all raiding aircraft had withdrawn.
16:30–16:50 Hours: Sixth Raid
Shortly before 16:30 hours, a force of approximately seventy-five German aircraft—comprising He 111 bombers and Bf 109 escorts—was plotted following the now-familiar route toward Biggin Hill. The formation split near the target, with eight aircraft continuing toward southeast London, while the main body remained in the vicinity of Biggin Hill. By 16:50 hours, the entire force had turned south and withdrawn across the Channel. Spitfires from No. 41 Squadron, scrambled from Hornchurch, engaged part of the formation. At the same time, Hurricanes of No. 151 Squadron, operating out of Digby, intercepted He 111s off the Lincolnshire coast near Skegness.
Reconnaissance and Coastal Skirmishes
Reconnaissance flights continued throughout the day across the South East, South Coast, and East Anglia. At 08:40 hours, a Do 17 was shot down near Dunwich. In the evening, an He 111 that had been circling RAF Digby was downed by RAF fighters near Skegness. Shortly before 19:30 hours, a convoy off Peterhead was attacked by He 115 floatplanes; one was shot down and another severely damaged by Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron.
Enemy Action by Night
At approximately 19:15 hours, the first wave of night raiders departed Cherbourg and Dieppe, crossing the south coast between Selsey Bill and Dungeness en route to London. By 21:00 hours, the southeast was temporarily clear. However, a second wave crossed between the Isle of Wight and Bournemouth, extending as far north as Manchester and Newcastle. London was struck again between 22:00 and 23:00 hours, followed by further raids from the Dutch islands at 00:15 and again at 03:00 hours. The last formations exited British airspace by 06:00 hours.
London suffered concentrated bombing from Hornchurch to Northolt, while regional attacks hit Manchester, Usworth, and northeast Scotland. Four high-explosive bombs and one incendiary were dropped near Medomsley, County Durham. One elderly civilian died from shock at Blackhill. Despite thirty-three RAF night fighters being scrambled, no interceptions were recorded. Mines were suspected to have been laid off the Humber and Thames Estuary.
Ground Damage and Infrastructure Impact
Industrial sites sustained widespread damage. In Slough, three bombs struck the Fobel Industries (ICI) factory, disrupting power and water mains. The MacMichael Radio plant and Osram Works suffered reduced output due to gas pressure loss. Aylesford’s paper mill, Hatfield’s Cook’s Box Factory, and Glasgow’s Carrick & Co Metal Works all reported fires or bomb damage. Redditch’s BSA Guns facility was bombed at 17:15 hours and machine-gunned, resulting in two minor casualties.
Significant rail disruption occurred. Lines were blocked at Hoddesdon, Bayford, and between Canonbury and Western Junction. A bomb at St. Marylebone penetrated the LNER tunnel, halting traffic. The Weybridge–Virginia Water lines were also damaged by bombing.
In Surrey, the Surbiton Water Works suffered extensive flooding due to bomb damage. Forest Gate Hospital was severely damaged on the night of 1/2 October; one wing was destroyed
Summary of Losses
RAF losses for the day were minimal, with two aircraft lost and no pilot fatalities. Luftwaffe losses were significantly higher, with eighteen aircraft downed and twenty-four aircrew lost. Among those shot down was Oberleutnant Walter Fiel of 8./JG 53, who was captured after being forced down. Although the sustained raids over southeast England placed mounting pressure on RAF squadrons, their defensive efforts remained effective—despite the persistent challenge of engaging high-flying German formations.
German Losses:
Airmen: 24 | Aircraft: 18
British Losses:
Airmen: 0 | Aircraft: 2
Photo Descriptions
- Messerschmitt Bf 109E of 8./JG 53 (Black 7, W.Nr. 5901), piloted by Oberleutnant Walter Fiel, which crash-landed at Peckham, Kent, on 2 October 1940, is displayed outside St Nicholas Church in Durham Market Place during War Weapons Week (16–23 November). The event, held to raise funds for the war effort, generated over £174,000 from the Durham City, Brandon, and Spennymoor districts.
- The remains of Dornier 17s and a Junkers Ju 87 in a scrapyard in Britain, 2 October 1940.
- Hawker Hurricanes of No. 1 Squadron based at Wittering, Cambridgeshire, followed by a similar formation of Supermarine Spitfires of No. 266 Squadron, during a flying display for aircraft factory workers, October 1940. © IWM (CH 1561)