21/12/1940 Aalst Holland
 

Hello all,

I have some documents and witness acounts of a bombing attack on my village of Aalst (just south of Eindhoven) Holland. On 21/12/1940 there fell some fire setting bombs and one explosive bomb.

Anyone any idea what squadron/mision was out here that night?

Ray

Re: 21/12/1940 Aalst Holland
 

Hello Ray,

Your description points to the direction of an emergency drop of an unknown bomber. I recommend to you the 2 volume 'En nooit was het stil' of G.Zwanenburg or contact Mr. Jaap Woortman (j.woortman[at]onsnet.nu) who has lots of info what happened over and around Eindhoven.

All the best, Marcel Hogenhuis (Study Group Venlo airfield in WW-2)

Re: 21/12/1940 Aalst Holland
 

Thanks/ Dank U

Re: 21/12/1940 Aalst Holland
 

Hello

In Zwanenburg's volume 2 of 'En nooit was het stil' there is a reference to intruder mission to Eindhoven airfield on/around 21 December 1940. Perhaps the Blenheim bomber dropped his bombs were the crew thought that the airfield was? The number of bombs is quite low...

All the best, Marcel

Re: 21/12/1940 Aalst Holland
 

Hello,
For information.
Details from Middlebrook & Everitt's "The Bomber Command War Diaries".

20 December 1940
5 Blenheims on cloud cover raids but only 1 a/c bombed, at Flushing docks. No losses.

20/21 December 1940
Germany, Channel Ports
125 a/c to Berlin, Gelsenkirchen and the Channel Ports.
4 Hampdens minelaying in Kiel Bay.
No Losses.
The 6 wellingtons despatched by 103 & 150 Squadrons to Ostend were the 1st Wellingtons from 1 Group.

21 December 1940
1 Blenheim to Le Havre turned back.

21/22 December 1940
Germany, Italy, Holland Belgium
71 Blenheims, Wellingtons & Whitleys to many targets. 5 Hampdens minelaying in Kiel Bay. 1 OTU sortie. No Losses.

22/23 December 1940
Germany, Holland, France
59 Blenheims, Hampdens & Wellingtons to 5 targets but less than half bombed primaries. 1 Wellington lost. 3 Hampdens minelaying off Cuxhaven & 1 OTU sortie.

The above details cover to the time of the event you record I hope it is of use in your search, good luck.
Alex

Re: 21/12/1940 Aalst Holland
 

Thanks, this gives me something to hang on to.