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made four major raids over east Kent in the direction of London.
The first of about 140 aircraft was reported at lO.O0 o'clock
and a few reached the inner zone. The second raid at 1.30 contained
two formations, 1 of about 100 aircraft approached from the Maid-stone
direction and the other up the Thames estuary. A similar raid
of about lO0 aircraft passed east of London at 4 p.m. in the
direction of Essex and at the same time about 40 crossed the
south west coast but were turned back when half way to Bristol
and dropped their bombs in the Yeovil area. Our fighters were
dispatched to intercept these formations and a number of enemy
aircraft were shot down. The proportion of enemy fighters to
bombers was approximately 3 to 1. No military damage was reported
from these raids and the only industrial damage was a fire in
London docks which was extinguished the same evening.
During the night of October 7th/8th, widespread bombing took
place, the heaviest attacks being upon the London and Liverpool
and Manchester areas. Preliminary reports indicate that damage
and casualties are small in proportion to the number of bombs
dropped. Seventy-one fighter sorties were made by our aircraft
but no reports of interceptions have yet been received. Enemy
mine laying is suspected off the east coast and in the Mersey
area. In London a few cases of damage to public services are
reported and one fire station received a direct hit. The aerodrome
at Hendon and Liverpool were attacked; at the former a hangar
was hit and at the latter one aircraft was destroyed. Both aerodromes
remain serviceable.
4./