Which Kampfgeschwader hit Bircham on 21.08.40
 

I have one ORB that say Dorniers and another from the station records which said Junkers 88. Papers relating to Douglas Bader mention 'a single raider slipped over the coastline and bombed Bircham before we could get airborne'

I happened to be looking at his papers because I was unsure as to the time it hit Bircham Newton seeing that KG2 and KG3 were active in the afternoon over Norfolk. And 242 and 611 Sqns attacked.

Thankfully a note from 'Ollie' Wakefields in 1991 said 08:00.

Considering that between 22 and 27 personnel died there is not a lot of info, even the local Observer Crops/Civil Defence have very little. Sorry I'm forgetting it a Coastal Command station not a Fighter Command one. Silly me.

Yours Faithfully,

Andy Bird

Re: Which Kampfgeschwader hit Bircham on 21.08.40
 

Andy: Where did you get 'between 22 & 27 died'? Have you any names as according to the Cas Cards, the only ground crew casualties this day were at St Eval, Porthcawl and Gosport with 25 injured and 2 killed? Also, have you seen my reply to your earlier Thread?
Chris

Re: Which Kampfgeschwader hit Bircham on 21.08.40
 

Hi Chris,

Apologies, yes i got the info, very helpful, thank you. Have spent last week in bed am now signed off with a chest infection!

Trying to get into RAFHB and get info is like pulling teeth, yet as you know its just down the road RAFML. Very frustrating, according to DORIS at RAFML I have to build up a relationship before they'll give me any info!

Data:

'The Other Few' page 104 - BM was one of the targets where damage to installations and 22 casualties casualties resulted.
'Fight to Victory Penguin' circa 1947 - "married quarters hit many casualties' between 16 walking wounded and estimated 27 dead.

Once again thank you.

Andy B.

Re: Which Kampfgeschwader hit Bircham on 21.08.40
 

Andy,

The late Heinrich Weiss documents an attack on Bircham Newton at 08.55 hours (CET) on 21 August 1940 by 9 Fliegerdivision involving a solo Ju88 of II./KG4. The crew dropped 4 x SC-250s and reported two hits on accommodation blocks (married quarters) and another between parked single-engined aircraft - several Albacores of No.826 Squadron being damaged.

Re: Which Kampfgeschwader hit Bircham on 21.08.40
 

Many Thanks for the posts.

Kind Regards

Andy

Re: Which Kampfgeschwader hit Bircham on 21.08.40
 

A Ju 88 of II./KG 4 is not possible.
II./KG 4 was flying He 111's from Eindhoven at that time.
If the plane was from KG 4 and a Ju 88 it must have been from III./KG 4 from Amsterdam-Schiphol.

Jaap

Re: Which Kampfgeschwader hit Bircham on 21.08.40
 

Indeed Jaap. I simply stated what the late Heinrich Weiss had to say on the matter. I guess he was not immune to typos.