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September 26th, 1940 (THURSDAY)

UNITED KINGDOM: The weather is mainly fair to cloudy. During the day, a major attack by formations totaling about 100 Luftwaffe aircraft is made on Southampton at 1630 hours. Heavy bombing results in serious casualties at the Supermarine Works, nearly 100 more dying in and around the works factory, where Spitfire production and Supermarine's heavy bomber prototype are devastated. At dusk, 25 German aircraft, originating from the Bay of Biscay, attack Crewe, Cheshire Reconnaissances by small formations and single aircraft are made along the South Coast and inland, increasing in intensity particularly between 1600 and 1700 hours. In the East, Activity is confined to the morning. German aircraft approach Skinningrove and Whitby where bombs are reported to have been dropped. Harwich and Orfordness are also visited. In the Southeast, reconnaissances in the Estuary and over East Kent are made during the morning and four aircraft operating singly, penetrated to London. Durin  g the afternoon, activity increased and coastal towns are bombed by single aircraft. Landfalls are made at Harwich and Hastings, the aircraft in the former case penetrating to London via Debden and Northolt and departing via Kenley and Biggin Hill. In the South and West between 1500 and 1700 hours, reconnaissances are made from Selsey Bill to Cornwall. At 1630 hours, about 40 Luftwaffe aircraft approached the Isle of Wight from Cherbourg, France, and these are followed by a second wave of bombers and fighters amounting to about 60 aircraft. At the same time, single aircraft approached Beachy Head possibly as a diversion. The objective is Southampton where the Supermarine Works are extensively damaged. Dive-bombing as well as high-level bombing is reported. At about 1800 hours, a reconnaissance by three aircraft is made over Southampton and Middle Wallop, while a further three aircraft came in at Christchurch. In the Midlands at 1950 hours, 23 Luftwaffe aircraft attacked Crew  e having flown from the Bay of Biscay up the Irish Sea and across Wales. After leaving Crewe, the raids split up and returned via Bristol and Poole Bay.

     During the night of 26/17 September, London and Merseyside are attacked. Luftwaffe activity is first widespread over the whole country South of a line Liverpool to Humber. Raids did not approach London until 2030 hours and then continued until 0300 hours. A lull until 0500 hours followed when 12 further raids visited London. Between 1930 to 2100 hours, 40 raids crossed the Coasts originating from the Dutch Coast, Le Havre and Cherbourg, France, and entering between Cromer-Humber, Beachy Head - Selsey and Selsey - Swanage, respectively. Many of the raids from the Dutch Coast flew due West to the Midlands. At 1950 hours, a convoy in the Firth of Forth reported that it is being attacked. Between 2100 to 0100 hours, activity is continuous and is concentrated on the London area although some raids visited Liverpool, the Midlands, Cambridge, Mildenhall, Newmarket and Duxford, and German aircraft from Cherbourg flew coastwise from Lyme Bay to Start Point. There is suspected min  elaying in the Thames Estuary and off North Foreland. Freom 0100 to 0600 hours, Luftwaffe raids originating from Dieppe, France, and proceeding to the London area, mostly entered between Beachy Head and Folkestone. One raid entering at the Wash, penetrated inland to Digby and flew back over King's Lynn. There is a lull from 0300 to 0500 hours and the Country is entirely clear for one hour, when about 12 raids - some of which are at first thought to be returning friendly bombers - came out of Dieppe and are plotted to London. These are all homing by 0450 hours and the Country is again clear by 0600 hours.

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