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. 

LOL.......... I know "the city of London" is in London! I meant "other" than this obvious mention of London which would refer to the actual "accidental" event that we are discussing.
I meant are any of the OTHER places, apart from the ONE mention of London which refers to this incident.

Anyway, you've answered my question. Some of these places are obviously in London itself.

Interestingly, I just finished watching a History Channel "Century of Flight" installmant entitled "WWII Fighters, The Battle For The Skies".
Begins with the Polish campaign (all 3 minutes it - in real time too........lol ) then onto BoB.

There is mention of the single attack on the Radar System on 12th August, which destroyed one installation and damaged 3 others (according to account). This blinded Fighter Command for "a few hours". They then say that "Goering, for some reason, didn't perservere with these installations and went straight onto his campaign against the RAF airfields the very next day" (Eagle Day).
This was supposed to be the "final blow" that would knock the RAF out of the skies.
As we have said, it very nearly did, despite the fact that Goering ignored the importance of the Chain-Holme System.
But, alas there is no mention of this incident regarding the "accidental" ditching of bombs over London.
They just go on to say: "the RAF were in dire straights, as far as replacement pilots were concerned. So much so that they had to cut short the normal pilot training course" (there was no problem with fighters as they were actually producing more than were being lost at this stage).
They go on to simply say that "suddenly the Germans switched their attention to what became known as the "Blitz" at the crucial moment".

So, at least in this particular Doco, they don't consider the incident worth a mention, which is strange.
Anyway...............regardless of the reasons and regardless of the fact that the incident was accidental or an orchestrated plan, and also regardless of whether Hitler himself was aware of it, it was certainly one of the most important and costly decisions of the War.

My personal opinion is that if the Germans had continued their attacks on Fighter Command and not switched to London, it would certainly have made for a very different war than we know. 

Thanks again Hagar,

Once again it would seem that certain Doco's (of not all) are selective in the information they iclude, or at least in the way in which they present it.
It is stated most catagorically in this Doco (and I recal it also from books) that there was only one attack against the Chain Home Stations (sorry I've been spelling it wrongly) and after that the Nazis seemed to pay no more attention.
Obviously this 'widely' considered version is not correct, as I'm sure your sources are more reliable than anything that I have at my disposal. Then, of course, ther are the witness accounts which tend to be where you are also, rather than in Australia...........lol.

As you say, and I have always agreed, the BoB was won by means of no less than courage, determination, a bit of a technical advantage in radar and some good luck. 

Of course, very true.
When mentioning your resources, I was referring more to the fact that with your being English and in England, there's a higher likelihood that the "true" accounts of what took place there, even so long ago, would be more available to you in the form of personal accounts from relatives friends, historical celebrations etc, while here we have only the "official" accounts to rely on until, as you say, the truth outs. Which I suppose is happening very much recently, given the usual 50 year rule having passed recently enough. 

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Israel also used a number of Spitfires. Without looking I think most of those used by Egypt and Israel were Mk IX's rather than Mk XIV's and only the UK operated the MkXXI (Mk21).
If I remember rightly the last Spitfire lost in air to air combat was shot down by a Spitfire!