Battle of the River Forth

198: 213: 22: 1375:, as his target and tipped into an 80º dive. As the aircraft dived, the top part of the cockpit canopy broke, taking the rear-facing machine gun with it. Despite this, Pohle continued his attack, releasing his bombs at 1,800 ft (550 m). According to Pohle, turned towards the north bank of the estuary, where he planned to orbit and observe the second wave's attack. 1605:

attack on the British homeland. It was also the first occasion in World War II of enemy aircraft intruding into British airspace being fired at by the RAF, the first occasion enemy aircraft were shot down in British airspace during the war and also the first time an enemy aircraft was brought down on

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One of Yellow Section's pilots, ‘Black’ Morton, saw three Ju 88s to the north. This was probably the third group which was next to attack, but more immediately, at about 3,000 ft (910 m) and south of the airfield, were another three Ju 88s – Storp's group, trying to escape. Yellow Section's

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Pinkerton spotted the fleeing Ju 88s through a patch of cloud and he and McKellar pursued it into clear skies further east. Two of his crewmen were killed in the attack, with the third badly injured. The attacks also rendered the engines useless and Pohle had no option but to ditch his aircraft off

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While this was taking place, 603 Squadron's Red Section was ordered to return west. Suddenly, they saw Storp's damaged Ju 88 limping along towards the sea and cut in behind it, taking turns firing at it. They had not appreciated it was already being pursued by Yellow Section, which was not a little

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of the day at 15:40. North of Turnhouse and flying low – about 300 ft (91 m) – he found a Ju 88 on a southerly heading directly across 603 Squadron's base. Anti-aircraft gunners held their fire for fear of damaging Robertson's Spitfire but at 16:00, ‘Black’ Morton, on his own initiative,

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almost due south of the target area and the airfield at Turnhouse. Yellow Section of 603 Squadron (led by Flight Lieutenant George Denholm) had taken off at 14:35 and were climbing to altitude to intercept. Storp descended to 12,000 ft (3,700 m) and decided to attack the ships beside the

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It is sometimes said that the aircraft carrying out the attacks on 16 October 1939 were Heinkel 111s. Some passengers on a train crossing the Forth Bridge at the time of the attack believed that the bridge was a target. It is sometimes said that Heinkel He 111 brought down at Humbie on 28 October

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The first group took off at 11:55. At 12:25, the approaching aircraft were spotted by RDF stations. During the crossing of the North Sea, Pohle's group had drifted north and made landfall about 20 mi (32 km) from Berwick, not far from Dunbar. Instead of turning back on to their intended

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Because this was the first occasion that the Luftwaffe had attempted an attack, it was the subject of great interest both in the UK and abroad. The RAF examined carefully the workings of the various systems employed. Questions were asked in Parliament regarding the lack of an air raid warning in

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Kramer, was killed. Storp's aircraft was harried by Spitfires and he knew he would not reach the North Sea. The fight continued over the Pentland Hills to the south of Edinburgh. Since his aircraft was a type unknown to the RAF, Storp hoped to keeping out of enemy hands and decided to try to

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It is generally accepted the Ju 88 flown by Hans Storp and brought down by 603 Squadron was the first, although many would disagree, claiming the aircraft flown by Helmut Pohle and brought down by 602 Squadron was first. An examination of reported timings suggests 603's was first.

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still hoped an all-out war with Britain might be avoided if a compromise could be reached. Britain, however, showed no inclination to compromise, and it was decided bombing should commence. Hitler remained anxious the attacks should not antagonise the British too much and so the

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At 14:30, Pinkerton, having found nothing over Tranent, was ordered to fly north to patrol over the Firth. At the same time, Spitfires of 603 Squadron's Red Section (led by Flight Lieutenant Pat Gifford) were scrambled, with orders to head east, towards East Lothian.

1257:, then fly west across the Scottish border before turning north, to carry out their attack from the west. Each aircraft carried two 500 kg (1,100 lb) bombs – less than the maximum payload because of fuel needed for the distance they would need to cover. 1594:

The German airmen who were captured were treated with courtesy and respect and their injuries attended to. Ultimately they finished up as prisoners of war in Canada. Those who had been killed and whose bodies were recovered were buried with full military honours.

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Over the course of the rest of the morning, Spitfires from 602 Squadron continued to be scrambled to try, unsuccessfully, to intercept unknown intruders, to no effect. By lunchtime, all aircraft were back on the ground with one of 602's sections at

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McKellar and Paul Webb). Pinkerton spotted Storp about 3 miles (4.8 km) ahead, above some cloud. Before he could attack, his attention was distracted by a group of three other aircraft, Sea Skuas on a training flight from

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After being detected by RDF, at 09:45, Royal Observer Corps reports placed one unidentified aircraft at high altitude on a southwesterly course over Dunfermline heading for Rosyth, with another flying across the Borders near

1173:, at anchor in the estuary. Shortly afterwards, the bomber was observed over Drem. Blue Section patrolled over the Island of May for 20 minutes before being ordered by the Turnhouse operations room to move south towards 1507:, which resembled the Ju 88. The mistake was quickly corrected and it seems these were the three Ju 88s of the fourth wave which had crossed the coast considerably further north than their planned landfall at Berwick. 2305: 1142:

The Heinkels were fitted with cameras and they carried out tactical reconnaissance sorties. The German crews knew Spitfires were based in the Firth of Forth, even if officially, Intelligence said there were none.

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recorded loss of two aircraft, the RAF none; Fighter Command considered it a victory. After the war, it was discovered a third Ju 88 had been badly damaged and limped to the Netherlands, where it made a

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When Storp's group completed their attack, Pohle, still orbiting over Inverkeithing, turned eastwards, making for the North Sea. He was intercepted by 602 Squadron's Blue Section (F/L Pinkerton and

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Both intruders were destroyed by Auxiliaries (reservists), which raised the profile of the Auxiliary Air Force and confirmed the contention that they were just as effective as a regular squadron.

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Unknown to the RAF, the German aircraft had radioed information about the weather conditions over the Forth and, crucially, the ships they had observed (which they believed included the

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to make a No 1 attack on the enemy bomber. However, the Germans made a sharp turn to port to escape into clouds. Still some distance away, Pinkerton fired and one of his other pilots,

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reported enemy aircraft over East Lothian and shortly afterwards, Turnhouse ordered 602 Squadron's Blue Section to scramble from Drem and investigate two unidentified aircraft over

1269:. Pohle descended to 12,000 ft (3,700 m) to commence the first attack. The weather over the area was good: clear skies with broken clouds at 4,000 ft (1,200 m). 1448:, was not far from the crash site. Her captain, John Dickson, immediately picked up three injured German airmen. Kramer went down with the aeroplane. The Germans were returned to 1078:, and in the process of converting to Spitfires, its pilots only deemed competent to fly operationally in daylight. A Spitfire squadron, No. 602 (City of Glasgow), was based at 1040:

In its past, threats to Britain were always perceived as coming from the east, and for many years there had been major Royal Navy bases sited to allow its warships access to the

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While Gifford and Pinkerton were credited with the destruction of these aircraft, others were involved. The other airmen did not receive any official recognition for this.

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Storp was sure his bombs had hit the target and, along with the two other Ju 88s of the second group, turned south hoping to fly the reciprocal route back to the North Sea.

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Eventually, the two Spitfires met up over Portobello and engaged the Ju 88. Stray rounds did cause damage to property and a painter was hit in the stomach but recovered.

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was safely in the Rosyth dockyard and, in accordance with the instructions received by the Germans, no longer a legitimate target. Anchored in the target area were two

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When Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939, some feared Germany would immediately embark on a devastating aerial bombing campaign against British cities.

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airfields in the area. By the time Pinkerton's attention refocused on the enemy, Storp had disappeared into cloud and Webb had lost contact with his section mates.

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was in the confines of the dockyard. Turning his attention to the ships on the open water, he picked out one of the anchored cruisers, which he identified as

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Shortly before this, the first three Ju 88s were overhead the area of the bridge at 12,000 ft (3,700 m). Pohle could see the ship he thought to be

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At 14:15, the third wave was reported to be crossing the coast at Dunbar. They continued flying west but eventually turned south towards the market town of

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bridge. As the Ju 88 dived, he selected one of the cruisers as his target and at 2,400 ft (730 m) released his bombs. He believed his target was

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was not without success. It caused significant damage to some of the ships although none was sunk. Sixteen Royal Navy sailors died and 44 were injured.

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Meantime, Storp's group arrived, commencing their attack at 14:38. As planned, they had flown across the borders before heading northwards south of

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Thereafter, a series of running encounters took place for the rest of the afternoon. At 15:20, a Ju 88 was noticed over the Firth and at 15:25,

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To counter the German threat from the east, 602 Squadron was moved to bolster the defences around the Firth of Forth. On 7 October, it moved to

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took off in pursuit. The Ju 88 turned east, taking it across the centre of Edinburgh at low level, pursued by Robertson, while Morton made for

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A few minutes after the first group of Ju 88s crossed the British shoreline, the second made landfall as planned, crossing the border north of

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Three of 602 Squadron's Spitfires had landed at RAF Leuchars to refuel. As they waited, several aircraft were spotted but were assumed to be

1699: 960: 691: 1219:). At Westerland, 12 bombers waited to learn whether conditions would allow them to mount an attack, the first on the British homeland. 86: 39: 1482:

The exact time Pohle's aircraft ditched is unclear, but the Observer Corps logged the sound of firing at 14:43 in the general area of

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Below them, they could see several ships on the surface just beside the bridge but to their disappointment, what they thought to be

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received significant damage but managed to limp into the Rosyth base, her captain succumbing to his wounds once his ship was safe.

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in which all the crew were killed. It is unknown how this aircraft was damaged, whether by Spitfires or by anti-aircraft fire.

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At 15.30, two Spitfires, one from 602 and one from 603, found and pursued a Ju 88 over the Island of May. One of 603's pilots,

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The two German aircraft shot down into the water were the first brought down in an attack against the British homeland.

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16 October 1939 started with relatively good weather for the time of year and 6 or 7 tenths broken cloud. At 09:20, the

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When war was declared on 3 September, the central belt of Scotland was protected by two fighter squadrons of the

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