Day 4: 4th September 1939

Day 4: 4th September 1939. (Information sequence changed for clarity) 

• 0545hrs, 35mls SW Rheims, France; a Whitley III of 58 Sq.RAF from RAF Worthy Down, returning from a propaganda leaflet drop (code named Nickle Raids), crash lands in a French cabbage patch. Minor injuries only.
• 1545hrs. The RAF, constrained not to cause any civilian casualties, launches an air raid on The Shillig Roads out side of Wilhelmshaven Naval Dockyards to bomb the German Pocket Battleship 'Admiral Scheer', following earlier photo reconnaissance. The 'Admiral Scheer' suffered minor damage as the bombs bounced of her deck.Taking part were:-
• 139 Sq. RAF with 5 Blenheim IV from RAF Wyton. 1 aircraft failed to return.
• 110 Sq. RAF with 5 Blenheim IV from Ipswich Civil Airport. (temp. location for this mission). 1 aircraft failed to return.
• 107 Sq.RAF with 5 Blenheim IV from RAF Wattisham, 4 failed to return, 1 returned having failed to locate the target.
• Sgt. George Booth of 107 Sq RAF becomes the RAFs 1st POW.
• TU,(approx 1730) NE Wilhelmshaven a Me109e of 4/JG77 from Metz shoots down an RAF Blenheim IV (UU).
• TU, (approx 1730) NE Wilhelmshaven a Me109e of 4/JG77 from Metz shoots down an RAF Blenheim IV (UU).
• TU, (approx 1730) NE Wilhelmshaven a Me109e of 4/JG77 from Metz shoots down an RAF Blenheim IV (UU)
• TU(approx.1600hrs). 6 RAF Wellingtons from 9 Sq. based at RAF Honnington take off to raid the Kriegsmarine base at Brundbuttle on the Elbe Estuary. 2 aircraft fail to return.
• 1815hrs, above Brunsbuttelkoog, a Me109e of 6/JG77 claims to shoot down a Wellington of 9 Sq RAF.
• 1815hrs, above Brunsbuttelkoog, a Me109e of 4/JG77 claims to shoot down a Wellington of 9 Sq RAF.
• 1825hrs, above Brunsbuttelkoog, a Me109e of 6/JG77 claims to shoot down a Wellington of 9 Sq RAF.
• 1707hrs, Location Unknown, a Me110c of 3.(Z)LG1 shoots down a PAF PZL P-24(UU).
• 1717hrs, Location uncertain, possibly Warschau,(see later entry for 1.(Z)LG1), a Me110c of 1.(Z)LG1 from Jesau shoots down a PAF PZL P-24(UU).
• 1725hrs, 3500m Altitude, NE Rozen, Poland; a Me110c of 1.(Z)LG1 from Jesau, shoots down 2 x PAF PZL P-24(UU).
• TU, near Lodz, Poland; a Me109e of StabI./JG76 (Otmutz?)shoots down a P-23 of the PAF(UU).
• TU. Over Warschau,Poland; a Me110c of 1.(Z)LG1 from Jesau shoots down a PAF PZL P-24(UU).
• TU, Poczalkowo area, a Me109e of I.(J)/LG2 from Lottin shoots down 2 x PAF PZL P-24(UU).
• TU, Poczalkowo area, a Me109e of I.(J)/LG2 from Lottin shoots down 2 x PAF PZL P-24(UU).
• TU, Poczalkowo area, a Me109e of I.(J)/LG2 from Lottin shoots down 2 x PAF PZL P-24(UU).
• TU, Lodz area, a Me109d of 1./ZG2 shoots down 4 x PZL.37P (UU).
• TU, Lodz area, a Me109d of 1./ZG2 shoots down 3 x PZL.37P (UU).
• TU, Lodz area, a Me109d of 1./ZG2 shoots down 2 x PZL.37P (UU).
• TU, Lodz area, a Me109d of 1./ZG2 shoots down 2 x PZL.37P (UU).
• TU, Lodz area, a Me109e of StabI/JG76 from Otmutz shoots down 2 x PZL.23 (UU).
• TU, Lodz area, a Me109e of I/JG76 from Stubendorf, shoots down a PZL.23 (UU).
• TU, over Warsaw, a P-11 of 111Eskadra based at Zielonki shot down a Ju87b(UU).
• TU, A P-11c of 131 Eskadra based at Dzierznica shot down a Do17 (UU) Location of action unknown
• TU, I./JG1 (Me109e) moved airfields from Gutenfeld to Mlawa.
• Polish Navy ships bombed by Ju87b(UU); Destroyer 'Wicher' and Minelayer 'Gryf' sunk.
• German army crosses the River Wata.
• Japan declares itself neutral.

A devastating blow for the PAF when 11 x PZL.37P bombers are shot down over Lodz by Me109d of 1./ZG2 (that's 11 out of an Eskadra of 12!) If the claims were accurate!
PZL P-24: As noted earlier P-24 did not exist, presume them to be P-11 fighters, that means 11 x P-11 were shot down as well on this day.