The First Air Raid of WWII
A photograph taken by one of the attacking bombers, showing the Forth Bridge and evidence of the bombing attacks (smoke and ripples on the water) on HMS Southampton and Edinburgh.
The first air raid of WWII took place on 15th October 1939 in the River Forth, when German bombers attempted to sink HMS Hood, which they believed was at anchor near the Forth Bridge.
Lessons learned from this attack were instrumental in shaping the defensive strategies that allowed the RAF to win the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940.
Index
09.20 – pre-raid reconnaissance flight
09:48 – Spitfires investigate
10:08 – a Heinkel He111 is identified and attacked but escapes
10:45 – a second Heinkel is spotted and escapes
11.00 to 14:00 – eyes peeled for further intruders
The role of Radar
Enemy Bombers
11:30 – Recce report received by radio
12:00 – The bombers take off from Sylt
13.30 – The bombers en route
14:00 – the first wave of bombers makes landfall
14:10 – the second wave of bombers arrives
14:15 – the third wave of bombers arrives
14:20 – first confirmed sighting of the bombers
14:27 – the first wave attacks, confusion reigns
14:30 – Sink the Hood!
Eye-witness accounts of the first attack
14:38 – anti-aircraft gunners respond
14.38 – The second wave attacks from the west
Eye witness accounts of the second wave attack
14:50 – a train crosses the Forth Bridge during the raid
Defensive action
Anti-aircraft guns
14:30 – Spitfires scrambled
14:35 – Pursuit over Roslin
14:40 – Pursuit over Hillend
14:45 – The end of Storp
14:40 – Pohle’s aircraft intercepted
14.55 – Pohle is forced to ditch his plane in the Forth
15:20 – Poehle is rescued and transferred to HMS Jervis
Which RAF squadron shot down the first enemy plane of WWII?
15:25 – the attack on HMS Mohawk
15:30 – Fending off the fourth wave of bombers
16:00 – a chase over the city
16:00 – interception at Inverkeithing
16:30 – debriefs after the battle
603 Squadron – lessons learned
Official communiques & Press reports
Personal Recollections
Fate of the German prisoners
Criticism of the defences
Arrival of Barrage Balloons
“Squadron 992” drama-documentary film
17th October – Wreckage recovered
Funerals
Local Consequences