Air Operations, Middle East

There are Italian air raids on Tel-Aviv in Palestine killing 111. Leaflets are dropped on Jaffa promising freedom for Palestinian Arabs.

On the afternoon of September 9, 1940, a squadron of Italian air force bombers appeared without any warning in the skies over Tel Aviv, killing 137 people in a bombing run that caused the city’s first casualties of World War II.

Damage from Italian bombs in Tel Aviv

Battle of Britain

Day 62

Weather - Scattered showers in most areas with occasional thunderstorms. Channel fair.

Combat - For most of the day only small reconnaissance flights are made by the Luftwaffe, until about 1700hrs when a large raid of He-111's, Ju-88's, Do-17's, Me-109's and Me-110's cross the coast near Dover and head towards south London.

As the Do-17's dropped their bombs on the Kingston and Surbiton areas of Surrey, the He-111's make for the airfield at Farnborough while the Ju-88's are on course for the Biggin Hill and Kenley areas. Hurricanes of No: 253 Squadron, scramblingfrom Kenley and No: 303 (Polish) Squadron, scrambling from Northolt, attack the He-111's and Ju-88's inflicting heavy losses. The Hurricanes of No: 607 Squadron, scrambling from Tangmere, also experience high losses. As they engage Do-17's over Surrey they are attacked by Me-109's from above and lose 6 aircraft and 3 pilots.

Firemen spray water on damaged buildings, near London Bridge, in the City of London on September 9, 1940, after a recent set of weekend air raids. (AP Photo)

Firemen Spray Water on Damaged Buildings

Meanwhile the Duxford Wing, led by Sqn. Ldr. Bader, has joined the battles over Kent and; Surrey with Spitfires of No: 19 Squadron and Hurricanes of No: 242 and 310 (Czech) Squadrons where they engage Do-17's and Me-110's.

By now the sky is once again full of contrails as the aerial battles rage for around 90 minutes and have involved nearly 300 German aircraft along with Hurricanes of No: 1, 242, 253, 303, 310, 605 and 607 Squadrons and Spitfires of No: 19, 41, 66, 92, 222, 602 and 611 Squadrons.

During the night, further heavy bombing raids are made on London and also on the Midlands, South Wales and the North East.

R.A.F. Losses: 26 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 6 pilots killed and 11 wounded.

Luftwaffe Losses: 45 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 52 pilots and aircrew killed or missing and 5 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and accidents.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Minnie de Larringa is sunk by German bombing in the Port of London. There are no casualties.
• U-28 sinks the British steamer Mardinian (2934t) from convoy SC-2 about 100 miles north-northwest of Bloody Foreland with the loss of 6 crewmen. 32 survivors are picked up by the British anti-submarine trawler St Apollo.
• U-47 sinks the Greek steamer Possidon (3840t) from convoy SC-2 north-northwest of Bloody Foreland with the loss of 7 of her crew. 10 survivors are rescued by the British destroyer Arrow.

The Blitz

In a raid on London 370 civilians are killed and 1,400 injured.

United States, Politics

A new $5,500,000,000 appropriations bill becomes law in the United States. Contracts are placed for 210 new vessels for the navy, including 7 battleships and 12 carriers.

West Africa

Six French warships leave Toulon bound for Dakar. They are reported to the British forces too late, and reach Dakar despite the efforts of the squadrons now en route to Dakar to attack on behalf of the Free French.