London and airfields bombed.
Night: Heavy raid on London.
Weather: Cloudy in the Channel with rain in northern France and the Straits of Dover.
Enemy Action by Day
Cloud and rain in northern France and over the Channel delayed Luftwaffe operations until late morning. Visibility over southeastern England remained fair to good throughout the day, allowing multiple raids to develop. During the early afternoon, high-level Bf 109 sweeps intensified, targeting southeast London and RAF infrastructure. Coastal patrols and reconnaissance flights continued across East Anglia, the Midlands, and the southern coastline. By nightfall, a renewed bomber offensive was launched against London and key industrial cities, supported by widespread minelaying along the eastern seaboard.
Morning Reconnaissance and Preliminary Attacks
Reconnaissance flights began shortly after dawn. Between 06:00 and 08:30 hours, single enemy aircraft originating from the Dutch coast were tracked over Hatfield, Bedford, Bury St Edmunds, and Shoeburyness. One Ju 88 flew a long-range sweep from the Wash through Boston, Nottingham, and Shrewsbury before vanishing near Crewe. Another Ju 88 reconnoitred from Selsey Bill to Portsmouth and was intercepted on its return leg by Hurricanes of No. 1 Squadron, scrambled from RAF Wittering. The enemy aircraft was destroyed over the Wash just before 11:30 hours.
Small-scale raids struck coastal targets in East Sussex during the morning. At 09:00 hours, two aircraft from the Dieppe area bombed Bexhill, while another dropped bombs on Rye. These attacks caused minor structural damage but no significant disruption.
At 10:10 hours, a bomb struck near the Vickers-Armstrong works at Weybridge, causing only slight damage to a residential property. Soon after, a single raider attacked the English Electric plant in Stafford. The resulting damage was minimal, but twenty people sustained minor injuries.
Midday Fighter-Bomber Assaults on Southeast London
At 11:08 hours, the first major raid of the day crossed the Kent coast at Folkestone. A mixed force of approximately 20–30 aircraft penetrated southeast London before circling out via North Foreland. This was closely followed by a coordinated sequence of further incursions.
At 11:33 hours, over 30 Bf 109s entered near Rye and flew towards Gravesend, Hornchurch, and Canewdon before exiting over the Thames Estuary. Simultaneously, smaller formations passed inland via Folkestone, Lympne, and Dungeness, moving north and northeast across Kent. A larger group of 30+ aircraft was plotted entering at Eastbourne and turning over Cranbrook before returning to France. All these raids were launched from bases around Calais.
Although difficult to intercept at their operating altitudes, RAF squadrons were scrambled in response. Spitfires of No. 92 Squadron, operating from Biggin Hill, engaged Bf 109s of JG 51 over Kent. Sgt E.T.G. Frith (Spitfire I, X4597) was seriously wounded after bailing out near Ashford and succumbed to his injuries on 17 October. Other squadrons, including Nos. 41, 66, and 222, attempted interception but were often out-climbed by the high-flying fighters.
Meanwhile, Maidstone was hit by fighter-bombers operating in loose formations. Eighty-seven buildings, including garages and shops, sustained damage. Hastings also suffered repeated attacks—at 10:45, 12:05, and 14:45 hours—resulting in five houses destroyed and several others damaged. At East Ham, bombs struck the Memorial Hospital, causing casualties and damage to nearby dock facilities and communication lines.
Main Afternoon Raid on East London
By 14:30 hours, German formations began massing in the Calais–Boulogne–Gris Nez region. At 14:38 hours, approximately 160 to 180 aircraft—comprising high-flying Bf 109s and low-level Ju 88s—crossed near Lympne and attacked east London. The main targets were spread across a wide area including Hornchurch, Biggin Hill, Dungeness, and the Thames Estuary.
No. 11 Group scrambled nine squadrons, and No. 12 Group contributed an additional three to intercept. RAF units included Hurricanes from Nos. 73, 249, 253, 303 (Polish), and 605 Squadrons, as well as Spitfires from Nos. 41, 66, 72, 74, 92, 222, and 602 Squadrons. Intense air combat erupted over Kent, the Thames corridor, and the Channel, with dogfights occurring between 20,000 and 30,000 feet.
Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob of 7./JG 54 claimed a Spitfire during this engagement and another near Chatham two hours later. Faced with strong RAF resistance, the German formations became scattered and were unable to deliver a concentrated bombing effort. However, bombs fell across east and southeast London, with damage reported near the Royal Albert Dock, where railway wagons were hit. Fires were also reported at Surrey Commercial Docks and other dockside locations.
Low-Level Dusk Attacks on Airfields and Industry
From 17:30 hours onwards, scattered raids continued. Two Bf 109s were tracked over Dungeness and Rye, followed by a formation of 12 aircraft flying north along the coast to Romney. Around the same time, Hurricanes of No. 601 Squadron, operating from RAF Exeter, intercepted a small formation of He 111s near Dartmouth, claiming two destroyed before the bombers could reach a convoy near Land’s End.
Naval air stations were targeted in a series of low-level bombing and strafing attacks. At 18:10 hours, Penrhos was hit by 20 bombs, causing slight roof damage to several buildings. At 18:53 hours, Lee-on-Solent was machine-gunned and bombed, though no casualties or serious damage occurred. Yeovilton was bombed at 19:30 hours; two bombs fell on the runway, but none exploded. At St Merryn, raids at 19:00 and 20:15 hours damaged a hangar and the sick bay, destroyed one Proctor aircraft, and damaged a Swordfish. The aerodrome was rendered unserviceable by unexploded ordnance.
At 20:35 hours, St Eval came under attack from two aircraft which dropped six high-explosive and fifty incendiary bombs. An airmen’s hut was demolished and two more were damaged, but no casualties were recorded.
Enemy Action by Night
Night operations resumed just before 19:00 hours. The first wave consisted of six aircraft targeting the Liverpool–Manchester corridor, entering via Swanage from the Cherbourg sector and returning by the same route. Meanwhile, around 90 aircraft from Baie de la Seine, Dieppe, and Holland crossed between Selsey and Cromer, heading toward London. Bombs fell throughout the capital, with particular attention given to railway infrastructure.
While general activity slowed between 21:00 and 23:00 hours, minelaying operations intensified along the eastern coastline, with enemy aircraft active from Montrose down to the Thames Estuary. In addition to maritime activity, several isolated raids were reported over the West Country and in the vicinity of RAF Catterick. At 23:14 hours, an unexploded bomb struck the milling shop at Siemens, Woolwich, though no immediate casualties were reported. By 23:30 hours, the volume of enemy air traffic had declined significantly. Only a handful of aircraft continued operating toward London, with one isolated track plotted near Derby.
Between 01:00 and 03:00 hours, activity remained limited outside the capital. A lone aircraft reached as far inland as Peterborough, while other tracks indicated single raiders crossing from the Dutch islands and Dieppe, maintaining a pattern of dispersed, low-intensity sorties. As dawn approached, enemy operations began to intensify once again. London remained the principal target, with aircraft arriving from both the east and south. The northernmost point reached was Debden. A mix of high-explosive and incendiary bombs fell across several districts, damaging infrastructure and sparking fires.
Bomb Damage
Confirmed bomb damage included hits to the Southern Railway main line near Malden around 03:00 hours, which caused significant disruption. Bow Road Station was rendered unserviceable by a near-miss, while the gasometers at Battlebridge Road were reportedly hit and set ablaze; fire crews managed to bring the flames under control. Earlier in the evening, around 20:00 hours, the Terminus Telephone Exchange at St Pancras had also been put out of service due to flooding caused by a fractured water main. A late report confirmed that St Paul’s Cathedral had been struck during the night, with the explosion in the roof severely damaging the Choir Stalls and High Altar.
RAF and Luftwaffe Losses
Fighter Command claimed four enemy aircraft destroyed, four more as probable, and five damaged. RAF losses amounted to three aircraft, with five pilots confirmed lost. Among Luftwaffe personnel, Hptm. Otto Bertram of Stab III./JG 2 claimed two Blenheims at 17:30 hours during a sweep south of Thorney Island. At the same time, a Blenheim IVf (N3530) of No. 235 Squadron was shot down over the Channel, killing F/O J.C. Kirkpatrick, Sgt R.C. Thomas, and Sgt G.E. Keel.
Strategic Summary
The Luftwaffe mounted dispersed raids by day, supported by reconnaissance flights and strong fighter cover. The afternoon assault on east London was the most significant, although scattered bombing and low-level attacks at dusk added to the overall disruption. Night operations again focused on London, though activity extended as far north as Derby. Railway infrastructure and key urban centres bore the brunt of the damage. Despite limited success, the sustained tempo of Luftwaffe operations highlighted the continuing threat posed during this phase of the campaign.
German Losses:
Airmen: 18 | Aircraft: 9
British Losses:
Airmen: 5 | Aircraft: 3
Hurricane V7376, No. 1 Squadron
Sgt. S. Warren listed as ‘missing’. Failed to return from section cloud formation flight over the Wash.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WarrenS.htm
Spitfire X4597, No. 92 Squadron
Sgt. E.T.J. Frith died of injuries 17/10/40. Shot down believed by Bf 109s. Pilot baled out badly burned.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Frith.htm
Blenheim N3530, No. 235 Squadron
Shot down by Bf 109s over the Channel.
P/O J.C. Kirkpatrick listed as ‘missing’.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Kirkpatrick.htm
P/O R.C. Thomas killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/ThomasRC.htm
Sgt. G.E. Keel killed.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Keel.htm
Photo Descriptions
- A milkman delivering milk in a London street devastated during a German bombing raid, 9 October 1940.
- Armourers preparing belts of .303-inch ammunition for Hawker Hurricane Mk I L1926 DU-J of No. 312 (Czech) Squadron, Duxford. Flown by Alois Vašátko, it shared the shooting down of a Junkers Ju 88 on 8 October 1940. © IWM (CH 1434)
- Oblt Hans-Karl Keitel, 1./JG 77 (left) with Lt Heinz Escherhaus who was captured on 9 October, 1940.