September 8th, 1940 (SUNDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:The weather for today is fair early in the morning and evening, and cloudy for the remainder of the day. Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Fighter Command Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding’s, Squadron Stabilisation Scheme or classification for fighter squadrons with top priority for groups in the daylight battle zone, is introduced. During the day, two attacks are made against the South East of England, the first by some 100 aircraft, mainly on the Kentish Coastal districts with a sub-section to Central London; the second by some 30 aircraft which penetrated to the London area and is a prelude to the night attacks in this district. Some 16 reconnaissance flights are reported round the coast between Kinnaird's Head and Start Point, few of which penetrated inland. In the North at 1300 hours a raid appeared 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Kinnaird's Head, flew South and faded North East of the Wash. In the East, a few reconnaissance flights are made off East Anglia and the Estuary. One raid at 20,000 feet (6 096 meters) flew along the coast between Sunderland and Flamboro' but fighters failed to intercept. Two other reconnaissance flights of the Wash and Flamboro' are made.
In the South East, after two high flying reconnaissance flights of South London and the Thames Estuary in the early morning, there is little activity until 1105 hours. At this time a sustained attack during which some 100 aircraft crossed the coast, commenced on objectives in Kent. At first the raids remained in the Coastal district from the North Foreland to Rye but are later plotted northwards over Kent to Sheppey and the Estuary. Two splits of a raid of 20+ aircraft headed towards London area. At 1311 hours the enemy began to withdraw. The second attack is on a smaller scale, and commencing at 1930 hours, is directed to the London area. It appeared to be the prelude to the night operations; some 30 aircraft are involved and crossed the Coast between Beachy Head and Shoreham. This is followed by two reconnaissance raids, one of which penetrated Northwards to Bedford and the other to Hornchurch and Biggin Hill. In the South and South West, activity in this area is limited to a small number of reconnaissance flights off Start Point, Portland, and Isle of Wight and Beachy Head.
Daylight brings two attacks on south-east England.
On the first, one formation attacked the coastal area North Foreland-Rye in an invasion softening up raid, while small numbers made for Sheppey or the London area.
Not until 19:30 was the next raid mounted, by about 30 aircraft which crossed Beachy to London, while reconnaissance's were flown to Bedford and Hornchurch. By that time it seemed certain that London was going to suffer another night raid.
Around the 19:45 the first visitors of Luftlotte 3 were leaving the Le Havre area and an hour later steady streams were overflying Selsey and Shoreham and soon a continuous average of five raiders was over the IAZ until 05:00 - except for a brief lull around 01:00. Every Metropolitan borough and 60 local authority areas reported bomb damage, large fires overtaking Berger Paints in Homerton, Madame Tussauds and Baker Street. Three hospitals were hit, Fulham Power Station was set on fire and many bombs dropped indiscriminately fell close to the Thames. Major incidents occurred at Acton, Leyton, Poplar and at Broad Street Station. the Embankment was flooded at Chelsea.
Barrage balloons have been reported shot down, 1 mile (1,6 kilometers) southeast of Hyde Park and at Wandsworth. Gun Sites reported attacked at Dulwich and Wanstead. Very little activity over the remainder of the country. Two raids in the Liverpool area, one to the Humber, and one over the Thames Estuary and out over Lowestoft. Luftwaffe activity continued later than usual up to 0500 hours. Later raids appeared to concentrate on East London and the Inner Thames Estuary and then flew Eastwards on their homeward course.
On this day, RAF Fighter Command claimed 4-3-8 Luftwaffe aircraft and antiaircraft batteries claimed 3-0-0; the British lost four aircraft with two pilots killed or missing.412 people are killed and 747 injured.
Losses: Luftwaffe, 15; RAF, 2.
RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group Whitleys. 51 Sqn. 1
aircraft overshot on landing at Dishforth. Crew
safe. 10 Sqn. 1
aircraft overshot Leeming on return from Ostend. aircraft burnt. 1 crew injured,
rest safe. 58 Sqn. 1
aircraft undershot Linton-on-Ouse on operations. Crew safe.
Bombing - Dockyards at Bremen - invasion fleet at Ostend.
10 Sqn. Six
aircraft to Ostend. Filthy weather, only one bombed. One crashed on return, crew
safe.
58 Sqn. Three
aircraft to Ostend. None bombed due to weather. Six
aircraft to Bremen. One returned
early, four bombed primary, one bombed an alternative.
77 Sqn. Two
aircraft to Ostend. None bombed due to weather. Nine
aircraft to Bremen. One returned
early, seven bombed primary, one failed to bomb.
2 Group: Three crews of 82 Sqn. ordered to reconnoitre the Dutch harbours, one Blenheim
returns, bombing Dunkirk on the way.
U.S.A.: Baseball, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Johnny Mize hits home runs number 38, 39 and 40 in the first game of a doubleheader with the Pittsburgh Pirates and becomes the first player to hit 3 home runs in one game four times in his career. However, the Cardinals lose both games, 16-14 and 9-4. Mize finishes the season with 43 home runs and a .314 batting average for the third place Cardinals.