Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
 

II./KG 76 hit both airfields at around 1630-1700 hrs on this date claiming a total of 12 aircraft destroyed and 2 damaged. I cannot see anything apart from the two Blenheims of 107 Sqn lost at Wattisham and an Anson at Stradishall (unit?) and no obvious casualties. Can anyone add anything please?

Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
 

Attack on Stradishall is mentioned here:
http://www.hundon-village.co.uk/hundonhistory.html

Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
 

I have the following Blenheims lost but no Anson listed:

107 Squadron, Wattisham Blenheim IV T2139. Destroyed on the ground in bombing attack by Ju88s of II./KG76 around 4.45 p.m. No aircrew casualties. Aircraft a write-off.

110 Squadron, Wattisham Blenheim IV T2133. Destroyed on the ground in bombing attack by Ju88s of II./KG76 around 4.45 p.m. No aircrew casualties. Aircraft a write-off.

Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
 

Thanks both. Found this in Bowyer's book "Air Raid":

Two Ju 88s crossed Stradishall at 1717 hrs 1000 yds apart, one so low that hangars shielded it from AA fire, 10 HEs fell setting 2 hangars on fire and damaging the Sgt's Mess whilst the Ops Room was machine gunned. A barrack block was damaged and an Anson set on fire. As one of the 88s sped across the airfield a map fluttered down....It showed that the ac had crossed the coast 3 miles south of Dunwich, headed for Diss and made for Stradishall...
Wattisham suffered harsh treatment at 1725 hrs when 2 Ju 88s managed to place 5 HEs on Hangars 1 & 2, the latter burning for a while....

Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
 

How would a map come from an aircraft? Was said aircraft damaged?

Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
 

I cannot comment on the map (but if a side window was open it is always possible) but no German ac were damaged

Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
 

3 November 1940 Stab II./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (7142). Crashed and burned out on landing at Amsterdam-Schiphol damaged by AA fire and fighters following attack on Stradishall and Wattisham. No crew casualties. Aircraft 70% damaged - write-off.

3 November 1940 II./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (8115). Crash-landed at Amsterdam-Schiphol damaged by AA fire and fighters following attack on Stradishall and Wattisham. FF Lt Horst Müller wounded, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft 70% damaged - write-off.

3 November 1940 5./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (8087). Crash-landed at Amsterdam-Schiphol damaged by AA fire and fighters following attack on Stradishall and Wattisham. BS Gefr Hans Swatosch killed, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft F1+KN 10% damaged - repairable.

Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
 

Peter: According to Theo Rehm's KG 76 list, Müller and Swatosch (he has Franz) were in the same crew and wounded 9 Nov, former dying 17 Nov and latter 12 Nov and both were 4 Staffel??? Luftflotte 3 makes no mention of any aircraft casualties nor fighters and I can see no RAF claims??? Maybe we can talk later about this conundrum but no doubt you will be right!

Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
 

Chris,

I took a closer look and some revisions were necessary - apologies. I stand by the following:

Stab II./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (7142). Crashed and burned out on landing at Amsterdam-Schiphol following low-level attack on Wattisham 5.25 p.m. No crew casualties. Aircraft 70% damaged - write-off.

4./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (8115). Crash-landed at Amsterdam-Schiphol damaged by AA fire following low-level attack on Stradishall 5.17 p.m. FF Lt Horst Müller badly wounded, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft 70% damaged - write-off.

4./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (8087). Crash-landed at Amsterdam-Schiphol damaged by AA fire following low-level attack on Stradishall 5.17 p.m. BS Gefr Franz Swatosch badly wounded - died Nov 11, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft 10% damaged - repairable.

GQM Returns confirm casualties were in separate aircraft as shown and confirm the date as 3 November 1940 - it also mentions 'flak & fighters' but as you say ... NVM records MULLER as later missing on 13 July 1943.

Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
 

Thanks as always. BofB The Forgotten Months has this as 2-3 Nov and a closer look at the fiche has Wk Nr 7142 burning out but 100% then reduced to 70%, 8115 as crash-landing 70% as did 8087 but that then gets upgraded to 10% with the death of Swatosch being noted 27 Nov 40. I wonder if 7142 was Storp's ac as he planned and led the attack?