KG2/KG3 Do17 21.8.1940 Leicester mystery?
 

Hello chaps

Here's a little long-running local mystery I wonder if any of you fine fellows can solve please? On Wednesday 21st August 1940 at 10.15am a lone Do17 attacked Leicester, whilst attempting to bomb the gas works, instead hitting a residential side street, Cavendish Road.

Both KG2 and KG3 were operational over the East Coast, attacking Cambridge and Wyton bomber base. It appears one Do17 veered slightly further inland.

KG2's published history makes no mention of such a raid, perhaps suggesting it was KG3 - but this is a far from 100% conclusion.

Any ideas chaps?

Thanks

Austin J. Ruddy

Re: KG2/KG3 Do17 21.8.1940 Leicester mystery?
 

Austin, the KG2 history shows targets for this day were Lowestoft, Southwold, Gt Yarmouth, a factory and an airfield at Norwich. It also shows a fuel depot at Winthorpe and a gasworks at Skegness by Norwich (?) were down for attack. The Mason book gives that these were badweather attacks with three Do17's of II/KG3 sent to Horsham St. Faith, all three falling to RAF fighters. It looks like the KG2 book is listing all targets for both KG2 and KG3, if Mason is correct, which does not solve the unit which attacked Leicester. I would have thought the aircraft with target of the fuel depot at Winthorpe or the one to the gasworks at Skegness by Norwich (?) was the one which attacked Leicester, perhaps changing target due to the weather, probaly KG2 but cannot be certain.

Re: KG2/KG3 Do17 21.8.1940 Leicester mystery?
 

Hi Brian

That's very interesting - thanks for those thoughts/ideas. That KG2 were after gas works that day would seem to point the finger towards KG2.
Thanks

If anyone else has any other ideas, I'd be very willing to hear them

Austin