i believe that the BoB was started by an accidental bombing but dont know if it was a plane off course like that though, others will know

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And yes CrazyCraig is correct it did not trigger the entire battle it simply initiated a new phase in the battle

i doubt it lost them the battle of britain, but i know it didnt help them at all

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Yes. As Hagar stated this was apparently the turning point of the battle. Just think about it; The RAF was basically on its last legs. its airfields were badly damaged, radar and other instalations damaged or destroyed as well. If Germany had continued to bomb these airfields and installations instead of diverting all the strength into bombing cities the RAF would have been completely cripled and an invasion of britain could have occured in a matter of weeks. But this didnt happen and while bombs fell on the cities, the airfields and aircraft were repaired.

The debate so far has been interesting on the BoB/Operation Sealion front. I read a good book recently on this (translated from German to Hungarian), and it appears that the pilots who did this were courtmarshalled and sent to prison for murder?! However it did make a significant difference for the RAF.
As for the counter raid on Berlin, I believe this was done by Mosquitos and the bombs fell as Herman Goering was holding a Lufftwafte Rally in the Olympic stadium and proclaiming that no British bombs would land on Germany (at least that is how the legend goes, I don't know if this is true or not, but I suspect it is, fate has a great sense of humour).

Ozzy

A discussion and particular reference to this incident was included in a good deal of a recent thread in which a number of us where considering the possible outcomes of the war if Britain had been invaded after Germany had won the BoB.
(Don't recall the thread, but it was pretty recent - maybe someone can direct us?).

Anyway, with regard to the incident, I have seen a couple of Doco's and read the odd account, and it would seem that a "single" He111 crew did get lost on the date mentioned (my info isthe evening of the 23rd August). The aircraft commander (pilot) panicked and ditched his bombs ACCIDENTALLY over London.

The British should have realised that a single plane load of bombs dropped on an insignificant part of London (although not insignificant to the people who lived there), did not constitute a "raid" as such and was probably a mistake.
But for whatever reason, the British retaliated with a "purposeful" raid on Berlin ("You can call me Herman") and Hitler got so incensed that he directed the Luftwaffe to change there targetting to English cities, especially London.

This took the pressure off Fighter Command who had been suffering daily attacks on airfields and factories and yes, they were on their "last legs".

Incidentally, Oz, the Germans never really considered the "Chain Holme" system a viable or necessary target. They did attack with JU87's in reasonable force on one occasion, and there were a couple of further "half hearted" attempts, but very little damage was ever done to the system. it always worked well enough to serve it's purpose and (to my knowledge) was never in danger of collapse.

However, as you point out, the RAF were in very serious danger of collapse and this one single incident did (albeit unintentionally) change the focus of the battle to bombing of the cities rather than destruction of the RAF.
Apparently Hitler (and maybe others) considered it possible to "demoralise" the British to the point of suing for peace. This, at least, is a common view among historians when asked about the "ineffective" nature of this bombing of cities of no real strategic military value.

Incidentally, given the climate in Germany and the manner with which Hitler and his mob dealt with failure and negligence, you might be forgiven for thinking that the responsible crew were shot (or something similar).
I have heard that they all actually survived the war. Primarily because they were never allowed near an aircraft again   although they did go to prison(and of course, there was no Russian front then, it was a good 12 months away, otherwise they would surely have gone there)............lol

Good luck to 'em, I say. I'd love to know their names!

Thanks for the quote mate.

But are any of those places mentioned in the report, in London. I'm not familiar with a suburb that may be in London and hence would constitute "more activity"........lol.

As you say. Much legend does become fact. And my friends the History Channel are not immuned, by any stretch.
I do know though, that Hitler had expressly forbidden any attacks on London "proper" except on his orders, so where does this fact (if it is one).....lol fit in?

I do honestly think it was a mistake. It certainly makes for a more "mysterious and random" course for one of the single most significant events during the air battle.