Loss of British aircraft off the island of Kos 1943
 

Hi,

Colleagues,
As far as I know, the 7th squadron SAAF in air battles for the island of Kos on September 18-27, 1943 lost all 6 of its Spitfires. Please tell me, what losses did the 74th squadron RAF, which arrived on the island September 28, and what losses were suffered by the Beaufighters from Cyprus who tried to attack the German ships near Kos on 3 October ?

cam

Re: Loss of British aircraft off the island of Kos 1943
 

Taken from one of my books:


39. On 2 October 1943, a German convoy was spotted first of Paros and then Naxos headed east. It consisted five armed merchantmen including the 4,470 ton Sinfra and the 2,500 ton liner Citta di Savona as well as six F-boats and the 1,870 ton seaplane tender Drache (formerly the Yugoslav Zmaj). The following day, the convoy, by now with an enhanced escort, arrived of Kos and at first light began landing troops, guns and vehicles, the operation code name being Eisbär. At the same time, German bombers were overhead and put the airfield out of action which allowed German parachutists to land. It was initially decided that the Beaufighters of 46, 227 and 252 Squadrons at Lakatamia would be used to help the British troops defending the Island. The first mission was flown by 46 Squadron followed by 227 Squadron. Seven aircraft of 252 Squadron then took off at 0610 hrs. These were Wing Commander Dennis Butler and Flight Lieutenant Frank Quinn in JM230, Flight Sergeant Alex McKeown and Sergeant Frank Dixon in EL403, Flight Sergeants Lewis Passow and A. Underwood in JL723, Flight Sergeants Harry Humphries and Tom Burrows in EL399, Flight Sergeants George Hobdell and W.B. Lazenby in JL899, Flight Sergeant G. Thomas and Sergeant B. R. Richards in JM240 and finally Pilot Officers John Barrett and A.S. Haddon in V8347. At 0830 hrs they spotted a 3,000 ton ship with a small escort two miles off the coast. A stationary E-boat (probably UJ-2102 Brigitta) was also seen two miles south-south-east of these ships. Whilst Flight Sergeant Thomas attacked the escort with gunfire and one bomb (the other hung up), the remainder attacked the other two ships also with bombs and gunfire (albeit one aircraft had both bombs hung up). The crews reported no definite results to the escort and two columns of smoke were seen rising from the other ships. Flak was intense with Harry Humphries, Tom Burrows and John Barrett all being slightly wounded. All aircraft landed at 1045 hrs. Other sorties were flown by 46, 89 and 227 Squadrons (one of which resulted in the death of Wing Commander George Reid, Commanding Officer of 46 Squadron, shot down by an Arado 196) that day whilst 252 Squadron took off again for Kos at 1255 hrs with three aircraft led by Squadron Leader Horace Hubbard and Pilot Officer G.E. Jones in EL528. Arriving off the Island, they spotted a concentration of enemy shipping at anchor, all of which put up an intense Flak barrage. Above they spotted Arado 196 floatplanes and chased one which headed towards the ships and the safety of the German Flak. All three aircraft landed safely at 1735 hrs. These photographs all come from the first sortie that day. German records state "...several landing groups were assembled in the Naxos area on 2 October 1943.On3 October 1943 between 0400 and 0430 hrs the first wave was landed by surprise at three points of the Island of Kos with naval landing craft. Two landings were made on the south coast by 0700. These were attacked by enemy planes, of which two were shot down. The four steamers of the northern group were unloaded to some extent under mortar fire and shelling. This group also was attacked by planes, of which three were shot down. The steamer Citta di Savona and submarine chaser UJ-2102 were bombed and machine-gunned by seven low flying enemy planes; only minor casualties were caused and one enemy plane was shot down..."

Re: Loss of British aircraft off the island of Kos 1943
 

Some 7 Squadron SAAF losses:
18 Sep 1943.
JK140 7 Sqn SAAF. Shot down by Bf109s over Kos
JK466 7 Sqn SAAF. Shot down and crash landed after engagement with Bf 109.
JK677 7 Sqn SAAF. Spun into sea off Kos while chasing Bf 109 19.9.43.
27 Sep 1943.
JG844 and JK667 (both 7 Sqn SAAF), both shot down in air-to-air engagement with Luftwaffe Bf 109s over Kos.
JK671 (no Sqn mentioned) Damaged by Bf109s over Kos 27.9.43. and abandoned on evacuation of airfield. SOC 30.9.43.

No serials in 74 Sqn ORB.
I only know that ES204 (74 Sqn RAF) crashed in an attempted forced landing near Castelrosso 28.9.43.

Re: Loss of British aircraft off the island of Kos 1943
 

Thanks friends!

Another question.
A source
http://aviationarchaeology.gr/wp-con...1941-19464.pdf
reports the death of four Beaufighters at 13.25 on 3/10/1943 at Kos Island. Help find out what goals they attacked.

Re: Loss of British aircraft off the island of Kos 1943
 

Sergey

There were at least four strikes on shipping off Kos on this day
0510 227 strike left for Kos and lost JM760 to Flak. Possibly claimed by UJ2102 which ship claimed one at 0745 or 0645 depending on what time source was being used, or there is another source saying the ship claimed at 1425.

0700 A joint strike by 46 and 89 Squadron left to attack shipping at Kos. Wg Cdr Reid of 46 was shot down, according to the 46 Sqn ORB by Flak, according to 89 Sqn he was shot down by an Ar 196. Both 89 Sqns aircraft were damaged but regained base.

Around mid day 46 and 227 sent out another patrol which encountered Ju 87s

46 Sqns next patrol left at 1325 and three of them were lost to either Flak or Arado's.

Regards

Russell

Re: Loss of British aircraft off the island of Kos 1943
 

Thanks Russell!
This is a good answer!
Can you tell me the number of Dakota transport planes that delivered troops and cargo to Kos Island and how many were lost?

Re: Loss of British aircraft off the island of Kos 1943
 

Beaufighters
46 "Uganda" Sqn:
JL903/N Shot down by fighters, Kos 3.10.43.
JM238 Shot down by flak, Kos 3.10.43.
JM264/G Shot down 3.10.43.
JL907 Also quoted sometimes as missing near Kos 3.10.43 (either 27.9.43, I think that's correct date).
227 Sqn:
JL760/B Shot down near Kos 3.10.43. Also qouted sometimes as JF760 and, as in one of the above posts and 227 Sqn's orb for that day, JM760.

On 14 Sep 1 Beaufighter landed on Antimachia with a wireless team, and 6 Spits (7 Sqn SAAF) and 3 Dakotas (216 Sqn RAF) landed also. Luftwaffe attacked on 16 Sep, and again on 17 Sep with more sucess, some aircraft destroyed on the ground.
Some sources say that 22 Dakotas were used, some only 8 Dakotas (these 8 were used to drop paratroops). 216 Sqn RAF detached Dakotas from Ramat David, 5 were destroyed on the ground, and one ended in the sea.

Zoran

Re: Loss of British aircraft off the island of Kos 1943
 

Thank you very much.
This is very valuable information!

Re: Loss of British aircraft off the island of Kos 1943
 

JF760 was a Spitfire serial.
JM760 was a Sea Otter serial.

Re: Loss of British aircraft off the island of Kos 1943
 

This is an attempt to identify 22 Dakotas of 216 Squadron

Hudson VI
EW876 Kos 19.9.43., 22.9.43.
Dakota I:
FD775 Kos 20.9.43., Leros 17.10.43. (damaged beyond repair at Arakan 8.2.44.)
FD778 Kos (Cody) 14/15.9.43., 19.9.43., 22.9.43., 23.9.43. (Later in India. SOC Mar 27, 1947)
FD785 Kos 23.9.43., 28.9.43. (SOC Mar 27, 1947)
FD807 Kos 22.9.43. (216 Sqn, Middle East May 01, 1943 - 31 Sqdn, India - 575 Sqn - 107 MU, Kasfareet. SOC Mar 27, 1947, last noted Kasfareet, Egypt Aug 1947.)
FD808 Kos 14/15.9.43., 19.9.43., 20.9.43., 22.9.43., 23.9.43. (216 Sqdn, Middle East Jun 01, 1943 - 575 Sqdn - 1330 CU, Bilbeis - 107 MU, Kasfareet. SOC Mar 27, 1947, last noted Kasfareet, Egypt Aug 1947.)
FD816 Kos 14/15.9.43., 19.9.43., 20.9.43., 30.9.43. (216 Sqn Middle East May 01, 1943 - 575 Sqn - 1330 CU Bilbeis - 107 MU, Kasfareet. SOC Mar 27, 1947, last noted Kasfareet, Egypt Aug 1947.)
Dakota III:
FD829 Kos 19.9.43., 23.9.43. (Ran out of fuel and crashed within Turkey. Damaged beyond repair, Nov 1 1943)
FD831 Kos 14/15.9.43. (flown by Forsyth), 19.9., 20.9.43., 22.9.43., landed at Kos 2.10.43., Leros 17.10.43. (194 Sqdn - SEAC Apr 30, 1944. Sold to Government of India Nov 29, 1946. Indian Air Force. Hindustan Aircraft Sep 25, 1947)
FD842 Leros 12.10.43. (Survived into 70s, scrapped)
FD866 Kos 19.9.43. (Damaged beyond repair and written off 3 June 1944)
FD876 Kos 14/15.9.43. (Discrepancy - mentioned as damaged beyond repair on 9 July 1943)
FD886 Kos 19.9.43. (Also 267 Sqn. SOC 29.6.44. Also claimed as destroyed in an accident near Oujda, Morocco 3 June 1944 - a typo for FD866)
FD892 Kos 19.9.43. (In Sudan 1945. Crashed after the war. Discrepancy - ASN claim: Destroyed at Kos 18.9.43.)
FD893 Destroyed at Kos 18.9.43.
FD920 Leros 8.10.43. (Sold to Indian government Jan 30, 1947)
FD923 Kos 14/15.9.43., Leros 17.10.43. (194 Sq May 31, 1945, India. Sold to Indian government Jan 30, 1947.)
FD927 Leros 17.10.43. (Crashed 25 September 1953)
FD960 Leros 11.10.43., 12.10.43. Crashed at Catania, Sicily, month later (24.11.43.).
FD963 Leros 11.10.43., 12.10.43. (Survived, BSF Museum at Tekanpur)
FD966 Leros 17.10.43. (Crashed as civil VT-DEU 19 May 1978)
FL503 Leros 17.10.43. Later in Burma, 353 Sqn RAF, SEAC, photo (Profile?).
One Dakota is still unidentified:
__360 Leros 11.10.43. (KG360 = Dakota III, but it seems to early, KN360 = Dakota IV, but in 1945., FD360 = Vengeance, FL360 = Kittyhawk. Or the numer could be 860?)