Weather; cloudy with some rain

Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:

  • Blenheim – 47
  • Spitfire – 225
  • Hurricane – 375
  • Defiant – 21
  • Gladiator – 8
  • Total – 676

The day featured scattered attacks often by single aircraft, usually Me109s, carrying a single bomb. These attacks by Luftflotte 3 on airfields such as Tangmere and West Malling occurred in the late afternoon. Single aircraft attackers also came over from Luftflotte 2 hitting airfields in Kent.

The RAF shot down 2 enemy aircraft and lost none of its own.

That night St. Katherine’s Dock was attacked resulting in a devastating fire. In all over a thousand incendiary bombs were dropped during the night raid on London.

Cyril Shoesmith, 14 years old, Bexhill-on-Sea, Diary – Tuesday 10 September
Had an air raid from 12.25pm-1.25. At 5.10pm-6.40 there was a 2nd raid. Planes were heard. At 6 a big plane came over. There was machine gun fire. The plane was a bomber. We heard a queer humming sound. Then the plane was seen approaching from the town. It had been turned back by the Lewis guns. We heard about 2 loud explosions and machine guns. The plane came over our houses and I saw that it had 2 engines. I heard a whistling noise and then a very loud explosion. 8.25pm-4.45am – air raid.

73 Squadron Operational Record Book – 10 September – Castle Camps
Debden sent up a band at 1900 hours which played good dance tunes outside the Mess and highly delighted an enthusiastic audience with ‘request’ numbers. The CO and F/L Beytagh to Debden for supper and a discussion on tactics with OC 17 Squadron. Majority of those pilots left at F1 [Freddie 1 – satellite camp to Debden] repaired to an hostelry in the neighbourhood which was unanimously voted the best of its kind yet found locally. The stopping of the clock in the bar added to the enjoyment as the landlord did not notice the sabotage until 2255 hours.

Reported Casualties (RAF Campaign Diary 10th September 1940):

*  Enemy: 2 confirmed, 1 probable, 0 damaged
*  Own: 1 Spitfire, pilot safe.