Luftwaffe raids od SW Wales 4-6.7.42
 

Hi all,

I would like to ask if anyone can help me with information about the possible raiders (number of planes, units, targets) in this location in night 3/4 and 5/6 July around Talbenny, Dale, Little Haven or Milford Haven.

I have information that there were heard explosions in this area and AA posts at RAF Talbenny open fire on the first date mentioned.

Any details much appreciated.

Pavel

Re: Luftwaffe raids od SW Wales 4-6.7.42
 

On checking the Home Office Key Points reports there is mention of an attack on the night of the 1st July (1/2nd) on the South and South West coast and South Wales. No concentration reported and the only Key Point hit was RAF aerodrome LIandow. The Ulf Balke KG2 history shows this as an attack on Bristol, 240 Incendiary bombs also fell in the Birchgrove area of Swansea and one Do217 crashed on return. The Key Points report just shows RAF Station Manerbier in Pembrokeshire as being hit on the night of 5/6th July with the next main raid on the 6/7th against Middlesbrough. I could not find a mention for the 3/4th, perhaps a lone attack ?

Re: Luftwaffe raids od SW Wales 4-6.7.42
 

Many thanks for reply Brian.
It is possible that I mentioned incorrect dates but I have reminiscences from one Czech airman dated 4th and 6th July "Air raid in the night" so from this I came to conclusion 3/4 and 5/6.

Pavel

Re: Luftwaffe raids od SW Wales 4-6.7.42
 

Hi Pavel,

I have some Fighter Command reports from 1942 which includes summaries of enemy action as follows:-

1/2nd July. About 35 e/a flew over the West Country, dropping HE and IB in coastal areas of Dorset, Devon, Somerset, and Glamorgan. Minelaying in the Bristol Channel is a possibilty.

3/4th July. A few e/a operated off and over the East Coast and some bombs were dropped near Yarmouth, one of which damaged the municipal refuse destructer.

5/6th July. A few e/a operated over the Bristol Channel, probaly minelaying. A few bombs were dropped near Milford Haven and Tenby.

I hope that is of some help to you. I have relatives near Milford Haven, and there are some locally published books on the bombing in the area. Next time I am down there I will see if there in anything for the 3/4th July although it looks unlikely from the reports I have,

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: Luftwaffe raids od SW Wales 4-6.7.42
 

Dear Brian, thanks for additional info.
I think it is not necessary to spend more time on this request.
I commented the diary record by the fact of the nearest raids and that is all what I can do. I suppose there can be some local attack or he just wrote this entry to wrong date as I know that few times he was writing them additionally.

Many thanks for your interest

Pavel