Civilian targets
On September 7, the Germans make the probably biggest mistake of the entire battle. In view of a non countable success against airfields and factories, Göring decides to turn the main attention against London. The opponent who staggers and would have to be thrown with one great effort definitely gets time to refill his resources again and to restore the airfields to the former condition. At 16.00 on September 7, the English watch on their radar screens 1 000 aircraft, among them 350 bombers, turn against London. This attack which lasts till 04.30 the next morning claims the life of 448 civilians and the RAF loses 31 planes, an important stock of their machines. Within the next days day and night attacks alternate.
September 15 is the climax of the Battle of Britain. Never again the Luftwaffe will face the fighters of Royal Air Force with such strength. The first big attack at noon, executed by 100 Do 17, ends with no result since the formation dissolves before reaching the town.. A new squadron arrives about 14.00 over London and is intercepted by 170 English fighters. Churchill who visits the 11. Group in its operation room in Uxbridge frequently asks the commanding officer about possible reserves. His answer: "There is none". However, despite the loss of 27 aircraft this day is a turning point. The Germans lose 56 machines and even more important, they postpone the invasion indefinably.
Although Göring orders the pursuit of the attacks, nicknamed Blitz (lightning), all autumn and winter, the worst is over for England, the immediate danger removed. But within the next months thousands will die in the bomb hails in towns like Coventry, Liverpool, Birmingham or Leeds. With these attacks the seed is sowed for the Allied bomber campaign.
Of the official 2 947 crew members on British side 507 fall. The most successful nationality that fought in the RAF was Poland. Their pilots, trained excellently, achieved overwhelming shooting successes. The 303. Polish Squadron scored the highest number of the entire war.
The German air force lost 1 733 machines between July and October. The Royal Air Force however, only 915. The air force dropped 35 000 tons of bombs on English towns during the Blitz from September 1940 to May 1941, of this, 18 800 tons fell at 18 attacks on London. Horrible numbers but still only a fraction of what German cities had to expect in return.
