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THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 5th 1940
WEATHER:
After a clear
night, the morning period all over Britain should be clear with good to
excellent visibility and temperatures slightly above average. Cloud was
expected to increase over the eastern coast north of East Anglia during
the afternoon. The north of England and Scotland should have six tenths
cloud cover and was expected to increase during the afternoon although
this was to be high cloud with no rain expected. The Channel areas were
expected to remain clear and fine for most of the day.
OPERATIONS
IN DETAIL:
The day proved to be an ideal day
for combat, the weather was clear with only a slight breeze. Conditions
for flying were ideal, although Fighter Command were praying for rain and
inclement weather. Dowding wanted some breathing space, some respite for
the fighter airfields, especially those of 11 Group. Just a few days would
relieve the pressure on the British pilots.
Although the directive had gone out that the Luftwaffe were to bomb the British cities, it was no doubt that this day, arrangements were already being made for the annihilation of London and the industrial centres of the Midlands. But in the meantime, the Luftwaffe were resting many of their heavy bombers and quite a number had been moved from airfields further south to more strategic airfields closer to the French coast. For the time being, the Luftwaffe would continue its attacks of RAF airfields and aircraft factories in an effort to wear down Fighter Command. 1000hrs: German bombers are detected approaching at two points, one wave crosses the coast between Dover and Folkestone while the other comes in from the Thames Estuary, both formations are from Kesselrings Luftflotte 2. It is estimated that the whole attack is represented by no less that twenty separate small formations. 41 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires) which had spent a considerable amount of time at Catterick had now been moved down to Hornchurch and they were immediately sent to the satellite station at Manston and were despatched to intercept the enemy over the Thames Estuary. 111 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes) had an early "scramble" and were directed to intercept at Dover. 253 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes) were also despatched as was 501 Squadron Gravesend (Hurricanes) and 603 Squadron Hornchurch (Spitfires). The Manston based 41 Squadron immediately
make their presence felt. F/L J.T. Webster comes hard down on a Bf109 over
South London who was about to engage one of the Hurricanes. A couple of
short bursts miss, the Bf109 takes evasive action but F/L Webster weaves
and sways keeping the 109 in his gunsight. Another short burst and smoke
trails from the Messerschmitt and it glides down finally making a forced
landing just outside the village of Adlington Kent. F/L J.T. Webster is
also thought to have shot down another Bf109 while over the South London
area. The Bf109 (6+) withdrew and losing height and finally made a forced
landing near Faversham in Kent. The Bf109 of Oberlt Franz von Werra Gruppe
Adjutant of Staab II/JG3 was shot down over Marden in Kent by P/O B.G. Stapleton
of 603 Squadron Hornchurch, although it is believed that the Bf109 sustained
original damage after being hit by gunfire from the Spitfire of P/O G.H.
Bennions
of 41 Squadron Hornchurch.
1030hrs: Croydon was attacked,
as was Biggin Hill, Eastchurch, Lympne and North Weald. More damage is
sustained, but only Biggin Hill again gives cause for concern. 79 Squadron
(Hurricanes) is the only squadron operating from Biggin, 72 Squadron Biggin
Hill (Spitfires) is told to remain at Croydon for the time being.
A formation of Do17s and Bf109 escorts come in from the Thames Estuary and head in the direction of South London. Too far to the south to be targeting London, for some reason the target is again that of.....Biggin Hill. 79 Squadron is scrambled and with some miraculous flying breaks up the Dorniers and they drop their bombs well off target. Most of the mornings raids were confined to the north Kent coast, the aerodromes of Biggin Hill and Croydon with Hornchurch and scattered raids across Essex as far as Harwich. Other areas that came under attack were targets of no importance across mid Kent where it is believed that German bombers dropped their bomb loads at random on the return journey. Biggin Hill is again a shambles and Group Captain Grice states that he now has only one hangar left standing, and even that is nothing but a burnt out shell and the commander issues orders to place explosive charges in it and destroy it at the next raid. [1] 1225hrs: Another huge formation is detected, again coming in from the Thames Estuary. The are at high altitude, some 20,000 feet, and quite a number of formations were so high that the were undetected by both radar and the Observer Corps. 1300hrs: One of the formations is intercepted by 72 Squadron Croydon (Spitfires) it is found that the formation consists of about 50 plus Ju88s and Heinkel 111s escorted by about 100 Bf109s as escorts. The main target is the oil storage tanks at Thameshaven causing serious damage. Giant palls of thick arid black smoke can be seen for miles. 72 Squadron Croydon (Spitfires) is joined by 73 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes), and both squadrons are attacked by a recently arrived formation of Bf109s. Some of the Hurricanes are jumped on by surprise and four of them are shot down with one of the pilots killed. 43 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes) operating out of Kenley also mixes it with the Bf109s with only one Bf109 being shot down. 1400hrs: Many of the bomber formations manage to get through Fighter Commands defences although a number of Bf109s were casualties of the afternoon battle. Many of the airfields and towns along the Thames were still cleaning up after the mornings raids when now, almost mid-afternoon they were witnessing German bombers making their way to their targets and the tell tale spirals of fighter dogfighting high above. 1500hrs: The afternoon raid was almost a couple of hours old and still damage was being recorded and aircraft were being shot down, but this last hour of the battle was the most active of the afternoon. Most squadrons were either only recently arrived replacing those that had returned to their bases to refuel and rearm or had been recalled back into the skirmish. 41 Squadron Manston (Spitfires) were now back into the affray, as was 66 Squadron Kenley (Spitfires) that had been called in to relieve squadrons returning to base. One of the squadrons that had been in the thick of the action since just after midday was 72 Squadron Croydon (Spitfires) and they were just about to return to base to refuel and rearm, 73 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes) were despatched to the Essex coast after a formation of Ju88s had been detected, 111 Squadron Croydon and 253 Squadron Kenley, both equipped with Hurricanes became involved in combat over the Thames Estuary. In the meantime, S/L Zdzislaw Krasnodebski's 303 Squadron Northolt (Hurricanes) was in action over the south coast even though the squadrons actions was deemed 'questionable' even by AVM Keith Park since they had commenced an impressive record from August 30th when the squadron had made their first claim. Even the Northolt Commander Group Captain Vincent was a little wary of the number of claims being made by the Poles, and told the base intelligence officer to 'treat the Poles claims very carefully and go through them with a fine tooth comb.' Vincent was beginning to believe that each of the Poles were organising false and fake claims, and when the squadron was despatched to Tilbury and Thameshaven he decided that he, along with S/L Ronald Kellett who had assisted in the formation of the squadron, go up and see the Poles in action for themselves.
1600hrs:
As the German bombers made their way home, Staffels of Bf109s came out
across the Channel to provide escort on a day that although it may have
seemed impressive, was not all that claimed to be by the Luftwaffe. Thameshaven
was the only target which they claimed was a success, and just about the
last nail had been hammered home in Biggin Hill's coffin, but other than
that any damage done was not to have any effect on Fighter Command. The
Hawker factory at Brooklands was hit, but damage was only slight and the
casualties were few. Maidstone was hit and demolished a part of one street
and the attacks on Detling and Eastchurch were by no means going to affect
Fighter Command. For those that were keeping score, it was 23 German planes
down for 20 RAF fighters, a fairly even score sheet in reality.
As the darkness of night closes in on
the evening of September 5th, British
radar tracks a large formation of bombers heading towards the city of London.
The night fighters of the RAF are not up to the task of attacking the bombers,
the British are not experienced in night fighting. Hundreds of searchlights
light up the night sky and the bombers are lit up like small white specks.
Anti-aircraft fire follows but the bombers maintain their course.
Other formations attack Manchester and Liverpool causing damage, but all cities receive only the one air raid to which by now, most of the residents are getting used to the hit and run tactics of the night attacks. Numerous other towns were placed under a Red Alert and scattered attacks were made by German bomber formations. But RAF Bomber Command are busy too.
On one mission 85 bombers spent two hours over Berlin causing considerable
damage, which I daresay did not please the German High Command one bit.
Because of the attacks being made on the aircraft factories and assembly lines, Keith Park was to take the necessary steps to provide cover for these establishments. Following a recommendation from AVM Hugh Dowding, Park was to give maximum protection possible to the Hawker factories at Kingston and Brooklands, and to the Supermarine works at Southampton. 12 Group was informed, that if 11 Group was to provide additional cover for Weybridge and Brooklands, he would need the support of 12 Group and that they would be called upon at short notice. The same was passed on to 10 Group, that they provide patrols from Brooklands to Croydon whenever there was heavy enemy activity in the area, although Park new that 12 Group was fairly heavily committed by having to cover the Essex and Norfolk coasts where a number of enemy formations had recently been keeping 12 Group busy. Knowing that 12 Group would hastily respond to his request, AVM Quintin-Brand made available four extra squadrons that could cover the Southampton-Portsmouth area as soon as heavy raids had been detected. Park also brought down 504 Squadron who had been resting at Catterick and posted them to Hendon. CASUALTIES:
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6th 1940 WEATHER:
The fine weather
of the previous days was expected to continue with the cloud in the north
dispersing overnight and bringing fine weather to all areas. Temperatures
could be a little lower, but still slightly above average.
OPERATIONS
IN DETAIL:
The success of Bomber Command on
the previous night would no doubt raise anger in the German halls of officialdom.
Hugh Dowding and Keith Park knew by instinct that the overnight raids on
Berlin especially, would bring about instant retaliation.
.
0300hrs: During the early morning darkness, a German aircraft drops a parachutist in Nottinghamshire. No one hears or sees the aircraft or notices the parachute silently gliding earthwards. 0800hrs: Radar and observation
detected a number of single Bf109s over factories and industrial areas.
0845hrs: Thameshaven, still ablaze from the previous days bombing is again the target for another attack, but although 73 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes) intercepts, they are engaged by the escorting Bf109s with P/O H.W. Eliot being hit by gunfire from one of the Bf109s and he is forced to bale out leaving some of the bombers add fuel to an already burning Thameshaven. 0910hrs: A number of squadrons had now been despatched into combat areas in the south. 1 Squadron Northolt (Hurricanes), 73 Squadron Debden (Hurricanes) were busy over the north Kent coast and the Thames Estuary. 111 Squadron Croydon (Hurricanes), 303 Squadron Northolt (Hurricanes) and 501 Squadron Gravesend (Hurricanes) were kept busy in engagements over the aerodromes of Kenley and Biggin Hill, while 249 Squadron North Weald (Hurricanes) and 601 Squadron Tangmere (Hurricanes) were kept busy over Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Rochester. Dover is also hit once again, and fifteen Bf110s escorted by twenty-five Bf109s are intercepted by 234 Squadron Middle Wallop (Spitfires). Sgt M.C. Boddington comes in astern of a Bf109 and gives chase, and it is not until over Ashford that the Bf109 is brought down by Sgt Boddington. F/L Pat Hughes tags onto a weaving Bf109 that had been escorting a damaged Bf110 and fires a short burst. The 109 still banks and weaves trying to escape from the Australian but Hughes sticks to him like glue. Smoke emits from the enemy fighter over Beachy Head as Pat Hughes next burst finds its target, but Hughes is forced to disengage as he himself comes under fire from other Bf109s. P/O J. Zurakowski takes over and it is uncertain if he managed to hit the Messerschmitt but it crashed in flames near Old Romney. British troops were quick to get to the burning Bf109 finding the pilot still in the blazing cockpit. The heat was so intense that there was no way that they could get at the German pilot and pull him clear. Instead, they pulled their rifles and shot the pilot as an act of humanity so as to stop any undue suffering. There is a grave at the New Folkestone Cemetery marked "Unknown German Airman" This is probably the remains of that pilot who was shot by British troops. Research has discovered that the burnt remains were taken to the New Folkestone Cemetery, but as the German authorities claim that only two pilots did not return that day who were on operations in that area with the unit. They were Gefr Karl Bieker and Gefr Peter Holzapel, although the latter in German records state that his death occurred on January 7th 1941. So it is still not certain as to who lies in the grave dedicated to an "Unknown German Airman" at Folkestone. Hugh Dowding felt that now the situation was critical and called for Park and Leigh-Mallory. He informed them of the situation to which it was of no surprise that they were fully aware of that. But Dowding said that we are now at a stage where we have squadrons who are tired, others are just about out to it, while we have others up north who could relieve many of these exhausted pilots. He explained that he must now categorise all squadrons. "A" will consist of all those squadrons in the front line of defence which would include all squadrons in 11 Group plus those in 10 and 12 Groups that would most likely find themselves also in the front line. "B" would be those squadrons that were not in the front line but were prepared and ready to be transferred to a front line airfield, and "C" would be all those squadrons that have reached exhaustion or have not yet reached the level required for operations in the front line. "We have squadrons that have been involved in combat from first light right through until dusk, they have operated like this for days on end," said Dowding, "and that includes many of our experienced squadrons. These men are not immortal, they are human beings, day after day of prolonged combat has made them tired and they are exhausted." He went on to say that these men must be replaced by men who are fresh. We cannot win if we have pilots who cannot even stand up. By now, the British commanders were at their lowest ebb, exhausted pilots and squadrons, Spitfires and Hurricanes were still being lost at a far greater rate than they were being replaced. In just two weeks Fighter Command had lost 295 planes with 171 badly damaged. 103 pilots had been killed while 128 had been wounded. Squadrons were now weakened by only having 16 pilots attached instead of the normal 26. As far as the airfields were concerned, Lympne and Manston were out of action while Biggin Hill which had suffered immensely could only operate one squadron at a time. Radar stations were being patched up the best that they can, and communications was only at 75% efficiency. They knew that once they stopped intercepting the German formations, Göering would immediately know that he had achieved his first objective, that he had destroyed the RAF and that there was no stopping now, the cities could be bombed and the invasion could commence. As the Group leaders left, Dowding
said quietly, "...we must pull together.....we must win".
banquet for his air fleet commanders. He offered them the choicest of French wines and they ate the finest of French table food. He told his guests, that from this day, he would be taking personal command of the battle, and that he would settle for nothing less than victory. We will find out next, that on the 7th September, Göering will stand on the forward observation post at Cap Gris-Nez and watch as wave upon wave of German bombers roar across the English Channel........their destination......London.
CASUALTIES:
[1] Dennis Newton
A Few Of The Few Australian War Memorial p156
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