September 7, 1940

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View along the River Thames in London towards smoke rising from the London docks after an air raid during the Blitz.

A young injured English girl is consoled by a nurse and a civilian during the Blitz.

The first deliberate air raids on London were mainly aimed at the Port of London, causing severe damage. Late in the afternoon of September 7, 1940, the Germans began Operation London and Seeschlange, the air offensives against London and other industrial cities. Loge continued for 57 nights. A total of 348 bombers and 617 fighters took part in the attack.

Initially the change in strategy caught the RAF off-guard and caused extensive damage and civilian casualties. Some 107,400 gross tons of shipping was damaged in the Thames Estuary and 1,600 civilians were casualties. Of this total around 400 were killed. The fighting in the air was more intense in daylight. Loge had cost the Luftwaffe 41 aircraft; 14 bombers, 16 Messerschmitt Bf 109s, seven Messerschmitt Bf 110s and four reconnaissance aircraft. Fighter Command lost 23 fighters, with six pilots killed and another seven wounded. Another 247 bombers from Luftflotte 3 attacked that night. On September 8, the Luftwaffe returned; 412 people were killed and 747 severely wounded.