1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

On 10th October 1940 an aircraft dropped two land mines over the town of Scarborough on the North East Yorkshire Coast in the UK. Time of detonation was 2100Hrs. Two mines were dropped, one exploded in the town immediately, one exploded six days later sinking a fishing boat and killing all the crew...How can I find the squadron to which this aircraft belonged and also the base from which it flew? johnblawton

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

hi, google ne diary 1939 45 __THATS NORTH EAST DIARY 1939 45
all raids to north,ive been watchin this last night,its there 10 10 40 gary

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

Thanks Gary, May I come back to you...John

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

hi,yes no probs, but im no exspert, im a bit of a novice,i came across this last night friday north east ,etc,i like battle of britain,, but only fighters not bombers,,but do look after a RAF aviation losses ie accidents combat in the north but cant find any info ..from 35 to 45,
gary

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

HI, ROB , MAYBE THE PLANES WERE HE 115.ONE CRASHED BLINDED BY SEARCH LIGHTS,IN SCOTLAND,AERA,AROUND OCT 40,BUT AS HE 111 IE DOUBT IT,AS THE MINES WERE LAID AROUND NE UK SHIPING LANES,AS FROM JULY 40 CHANNEL BOMBINGS TO CONVOYS,,STUKAS,SO I GUESS HE115S WERE THE ONLY TYPE,TO DO IT THERE,AND RANGE TOO.
ITS A BIG SEA FROM DENMARK AND NORWAY, THE LUFTWAFFE WERE NEVER GOOD NAVIGATERS FROM NORWAY,CHECK AUGUST 15TH RAIDS HE115S WERE TO DIVERT, SPITFIRES HURRICANES TO NORTH EAST OF FIRTH FORTH,SO HE111 AND JU88S COULD BOMB AIRFIELDS IN NORTHHUMBERLAND,,,AND NOT TOWNS HITLERS DIRECTIVE RAF" AIRFIELDS WERE TOP PRIORTY,BUT THE HE115S WERE TOO EAST SO THE RADAR PICKED THE TOTOL BOMBERS HE111 HE115S TOO,SO THE MISSION WAS DOOMED,AS FROM THE START,
GARY,

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

Hi Gary Many thanks, I too thought the aircraft was a HE111 but do you know where it would have come from? Thanks for your trouble many thanks...John

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

hi,ROB ,I THINK STAVENGER,,BUT NOT SURE THE HE115S WERE THE MOST LIKLY CANIDATE,AS THE HEINKELS 111S WERE MORE OF A LESS CARRY AS THE BOMBS WERE UP RIGHT,AS THE HE115S WERE UNDER THE FUSERLARGE.,THEY COULD LAND ON WATER AND WAIT,IE CONVOYS.FOR HOURS,,THEN TAKE OFF,TO DUMP THEM,NEAR BY, COAST,BUT AS ITS NOT MY FIELD , ITS WHAT I READ, THAT COUNTS, MOSTLY BOOKS,I HAD, THERE WAS ALSO HE 59S THEY TOO WERE ON SERVICE TOO BUT NOT MANY,THEY WERE USED BY RESCUE ,SERVICES,ALSO MINING THE SEAS,
SEVERAL WERE SHOT DOWN BY OUR RAF BOYS" WITH RED CROSSES ON,
IT CAUSED OUT RAGE IN JULY,AS THEY WERE NOTICABLE ,THEY WERE MARKED BY RED CROSSES.,AND FLEW BY COASTS NOT FEARIN ANY ATTACKS BY US, BUT ONE WAS SHOT DOWN, BY SPITS,WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE ON SPY SHIPIN MISSIONS BUT AS THE CREW WERE UNDER STRICT ORDERS NOT TO DISCUSE THE WAR,TO THERE,SIDES WHEN THEY GOT BACK CODE OF SILENCE,ONLY RESCUE WORK NOT SPYING,
HOPE THIS IS OK.
GARY.

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

Hello,
KuFIGr.3./106 operated HE115 aircraft in the area during the summer of 1940 laying mines so they will be a good unit for you to research.
Also a JU88 of 8/KG54 was lost in the area late October 1940 also on a mine laying operation.
It was unusual for an HE115 to operate over the enemy coast, its chances of getting home, if caught by a fighter was slim, let alone offering itself to every land based AA gun as well.
I would think it was either a JU88 or HE111 that dropped the mine.
The term "Mine" is often used and refers in 1940 to the Luftmine in either 500kg or 1000kg. Both were designed for shipping but could be fitted with a parachute for land based targets.
I am sure that the pilot could not chose his target, he either had a sea mine or land mine to drop.
However do not get to hung up on the word "mine" At this stage of the war any big bang was ofetn put down to the dreaded mine when it could equally have been a standard bomb.
Good luck.

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

Hi thanks for info,KA.
GARY

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

hi THANKS, DID,HEINKELS CARRY 2 MINES .OR 1,
GARY.

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

Jon, Many thanks, How about 11/KG26? Do you think that is likely, I am reasonably sure it was an HE111H and the two mines were land mines the one in the sea with a six day timer which unfortunately caught my friends grandfather, who was standing in as 'engineer' on the trawler when the regular man was ill, two of the crew have never been found....Thanks for your help...JOHN

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

Gary, According to my RAF Contact, they were the only aircraft capable of carrying two mines 'At That time'...JOHN

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

Hi Rob,GLAD YOUR FRIEND KNOWS,CHEERS,GARY

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

HI,ROB , IN THE LETTER BY JON,HE DID MENTION HEINKELS 111S SORRY YES, BUT AT NIGHT NOT DAY.HE115S AND SOME HE59S WERE ALSO USED AT NIGHT TO LAY MINES AT THE COAST,I GUESS BY DAY THE SPIT AND HURRIS WOULD HAVE HAD A FIELD DAY,AS I KNEW A GUY WHO WAS A ACK ACK GUNNER, DOWN THE SOUTH COAST, HE SAID HE SHOT AT HE115S,SOME"BUT DIDNT SAY NIGHT OR DAY.THIS WAS 1978 HE TOLD ME,GARY

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

Hi Gary the raid was 2100Hrs Blackout was in force 18.50Hrs so I feel that the He111H was slightly favourite...John

Re: 1940 AIR RAID OVER SCARBOROUGH NORTH YORKSHIRE
 

Hi cheers, gary