RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43
 

A German intruder claimed to have probably destroyed two aircraft on the ground on an airfield in the Cambridge area on this night; does anyone have any records to support this?

Re: RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43
 

Hi Chris,
Haven't checked details of losses but here is a list of Halifax's and Lancaster's for the 10/11 August 1943 over or in the UK.

Halifax II - 51 Sqn - HR981.
Halifax II - 78 Sqn - JD151.
Halifax II - 102 Sqn - JB794.
Halifax II - 158 Sqn - HR721.
Halifax V - 76 Sqn - DK136.

Lancaster II - 115 Sqn - DS665.
Lancaster III - 7 Sqn - JA931.
Lancaster III - 405 Sqn - JA920.

Alex

Re: RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43
 

Thanks Alex but all were accident/engine failure/fuel apart from DS665 which was as a result of an intruder but in the air not on the ground

Re: RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43
 

Chris,

Not sure if it helps but RAF Feltwell was attacked on this night by what was recorded as a Me210. Anti-Personnel bombs dropped and cannon fire reported. Sadly my copy of the ORB ends on July 31st !!

Steve

Re: RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43
 

Sounds possible Steve apart from it would have been an Me 410 of 15./KG 2. No mention of any munitions carried unfortunately

Re: RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43
 

If you could tell the difference between an Me210 and an Me410, from the ground, in the dark, while it shoots up your airfield, dropping bombs then you are a better man than I

Re: RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43
 

Indeed! 210s had not been seen over England since September 1942. BTW they dropped 21 SC50 and 35 AB23, the latter being experienced by Feltwell

Re: RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43
 

Excerpt from Seekriegstagebuch

"11.08.1943 VI. Luftkriegsführung


1. Raum um England


In der Nacht zum 11. waren 8 Me 410 zur
Fernnachtjagd gegen rückkehrende feindliche Kampf-
verbände und zur Bekämpfung der Bodenorgani-
sation im Raum Cambridge eingesetzt.

Aus rückkehrendem Feindverband wurden über
der Küste 0415 Uhr 1 4-mot-Flugzeug abge-
schossen.
Die genannten Flugplatzanlagen wurden
während der Landung feindlicher Flugzeuge an-
gegriffen. Wirksame Detonationen wurden innerhalb
des Flugplatzes und zwischen rollenden Flugzeugen
beobachtet. "


.................................................. ........................
"08/11/1943 VI. Air Warfare 1. Space around England On the night of the 11th, 8 Me 410s were on long-distance night hunt against returning enemy combat units and to combat aerodrome organisation in the Cambridge area. From the returning enemy unit over coast 0415 hours one 4-mot plane shot down. The aerodrome facilities mentioned were attacked during the landing of enemy planes. Effective detonations were observed within airfield area and between taxiing aircraft."

Re: RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43
 

Hi Chris,

The following aircraft were damaged by fighter

100 S, ED749 (AC)
101 G, W4996 (AC)

77 C, JD321 (AC)

9 W, ED654 (AC)

405 N, HR723 (No damage cat listed)

So on the night 10/11 Aug these 4 (AC) +1 were the only aircraft Bomber Command HQ reported as damaged by fighter.

Cannot see a link with the reports,

Ross

Re: RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43
 

Hi Chris,

I have taken a second look at Alex's list. In consulting the www.rafcommands.com site for Lancaster III JA920 I found, "Took off 2205 10 August 1943 from Gransden Lodge. Landed safely at 0416 11 Aug 1943 but while taxying to dispersal ran into a ditch and damaged beyond repair." RAF Gransden Lodge is 10.1 miles (16.3 km) from Cambridge. There is too much of a co-incidence in time and place for me.

Jim