September 4th, 1940 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:
4 Group (Whitley).51 Sqn. 1
aircraft missing from Berlin, ditched off
Holland. 1 crew drowned, rest PoW.
Bombing - power station at Berlin - oil tanks at Magdeburg - 'Razzling'.
51 Sqn. Six
aircraft to Berlin. Five bombed and 'Razzled', one FTR.
78 Sqn. Six
aircraft to Magdeburg. Five bombed primary, one bombed Bremen.
Battle of Britain:
RAF Fighter Command: Airfields at Bradwell, Lympne and Eastchurch (twice) are bombed.
Medway towns and Shorts aircraft factory at Rochester and Vickers at Weybridge are bombed.
At night Liverpool, Bristol, south-east England are raided.
A small group of low-flying, bomb-carrying Bf110s of ZG 76 crossed the coast at
Littlehampton, then made for Brooklands Hurricane factory. Hurricanes of 253 Squadron
patrolling near Guildford and using Observer Corps information swooped upon the '110s,
destroying six. Confusion overtook the remainder as they hurled 500-kg bombs at the
Vickers Wellington factory, killing 88 and causing over 700 casualties as a result of
heavy machinery, materials and glass being hurled around factory shops.
The intention was that Bf110s and '109s of Erpro 210 after attacking Poling CH
(Chain Home radar) station,
would provide withdrawal cover for ZG 76. Instead, RAF fighters also dealt effectively
with the escort, picking off its Gruppenkommandeur and forcing ZG 76 to find its own way
home.
The weather is fine and warm with haze in the Channel and Straits and occasional rain and strong winds in the north. During the day, the German’s main effort consisted of two attacks in East Kent and Thames Estuary areas. There is also a considerable amount of high flying reconnaissances of convoys, especially round the North and East Coasts and Wales. In the North, at 1140 hours one Ju 88 is identified in the Dunbar area although no track is plotted. At 1610 hours and 1809 hours two high altitude reconnaissance flights approached Montrose and Aberdeen. The second of these reported the position of a convoy. Fighters went up but did not intercept. In the East, some high altitude reconnaissances are flown by enemy aircraft off the Coast of Norfolk. In the Southeast, between 0600 and 0700 hours one aircraft at 17,000 feet (5 182 meters)) is over a convoy off North Foreland. It is engaged by fighters but the result is inconclusive. At 0915 hours activity developed into an attack by about 150 aircraft. One group of 80 flew into the Estuary and on towards Eastchurch, Hornchurch, North Weald and Debden, and the other of 70 crossed near Lympne and flew towards Biggin Hill. Most of the aircraft soon turned and by 0945 hours are recrossing the coast. During their withdrawal a force of 30 aircraft patrolled off North Foreland in addition to the usual hostile patrols in the Straits. At 1235 hours five hostile bombers are over Dover and at 1258 hours an attack developed. By 1305 hours some 200 aircraft crossed the coast on a wide front between Dover and Littlehampton at 20,000 feet (6 096 meters). The bulk flew over Kent and Sussex but had commenced to disperse by 1400 hours. Some however flew over the Thames Estuary and near Gravesend but drew off at 1340 hours. A third section of about 50 aircraft flew along the Coast to West of Shoreham as if making for Kenley but quickly turned back. Damage is done at Weybridge. Durin
g the period of these raids about 80 enemy aircraft remained on patrol in the Straits. At 1635 hours one enemy aircraft at 5,000 feet (1 524 meters) flew towards Dover. One section of fighters did not make interception. Between 1730 and 1750 hours small raids and two of six aircraft and one of 12 approached Dungeness but did not cross the coast. In the South between 0700 and 0800 hours, four hostile raids are in the Channel off the Isle of Wight, Portland and Beachy Head. At 1615 hours two-plus aircraft flew over the Isle of Wight. A section sent up did not made interception. In the West at 1132 hours a hostile reconnaissance is made over a convoy at Milford Haven. (Andy Etherington)
During the night, Luftwaffe activity commenced earlier at 2000 hours and later concentrated on South Wales and the Midlands including Manchester and Liverpool whence some raids crossed to Newcastle. The number of enemy aircraft involved on the route Cherbourg-Poole-Midlands up to 2345 hours is estimated at 100. In addition there are widespread isolated raids involving at least a further 100 aircraft over the Eastern half of the country including the London area, and at various points round the Coast indicating probable mine-laying. These raids continued to come in up to approximately 0300 hours by which time the majority of raids inland has begun to move away in a South Easterly direction. (Andy Etherington)
Today, the RAF claimed 51-19-22 Luftwaffe aircraft while losing 17 aircraft with six pilots killed or missing. (Andy Etherington)
Losses: Luftwaffe, 25; RAF, 17.
A Bristol Beaufighter Mk. IF assigned to the Fighter
Interception Unit at Tangmere, Sussex, makes its debut in the night fighter role
during the night of 4/5 September.
Corvettes HMS Marigold and Tulip launched.
Corvette HMS Coltsfoot laid down.
Minelayer HMS Welshman launched.
GERMANY: Berlin: "I have tried to spare the British ... they have replied by murdering German
women and children," says Hitler, threatening savage reprisals on British cities.
"When they declare that they will attack our cities in great strength, then we will
erase theirs."
U-656 is laid down. U-142 is commissioned.
CRETE: The Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney (D 48) and the British destroyers HMS Dainty (H 53) and Ilex (D 61) bombard the Italian airfields at Scarpanto. Three Italian motor torpedo boats attack the ships but two are sunk by HMS Ilex and the third broke off the attack.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Fleet Air Arm Swordfish aircraft from Illustrious and Eagle mounted an air strike against airfields on the island of Rhodes.
CANADA: Corvette HMCS Levis launched Lauzon, Province of Quebec.
U.S.A.: The US government warns the Japanese government against making aggressive moves in Indochina.
Submarine USS Grayling launched.
Destroyer USS Corry laid down.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: Destroyer HMCS St Laurnet and corvette HMS Godetia rescued survivors from merchant ship Titan (9,035 GRT). Titan was sunk by U-47, KKpt Günther Prien Knights Cross, Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, CO. She was in ballast at the time of her sinking. Six crewmembers were lost from her crew. Titan had been a member of the 27-ship Methil Roads (Thames Estuary) north bound to Liverpool convoy OA-207. The convoy departed on 31 Aug 40 and Titan was the only ship lost.
U-46 sinks the SS Luimneach.