Brize Norton 16 Aug 40
 

According to some records, two Ju 88s carried out a daylight attack on Brize Norton on this date but Luftflotte 3 records do not acknowldge any attack. However, 2 He 111s of 3/KG 27 attacked Benson carrying out a simliar attack with similar results but I can find no record of such an attack as Benson was not yet fully operational. Can anyone confirm 3/KG 27 hit Brize as opposed to Benson?

Re: Brize Norton 16 Aug 40
 

Hello'
a picture of hangar strawn aircraft inside, bombed 16/8-Brize Norton.date his 24/8?
I think the Heinkels ? were on the way to middle wallop as my grandad was there then and said it was bombed.1980
Sharon

Re: Brize Norton 16 Aug 40
 

The attack on 16 August was not Middle Wallop which was the target on 14 & 15 Aug 40. What is the source of your photo?

Re: Brize Norton 16 Aug 40
 

Hello
just 16th.the bombers were on the way ? to middle wallop, but missed it.
found a airfield..some say only the 2 ju 88s. as they resembled blenhiems they ignored them...the story had them lowering there under carrige cockly. then found out the error when bombs fell.
the ground crews took cover. then bombers left.around 16 bombs fell?
that's what i have..
sharon

Re: Brize Norton 16 Aug 40
 

Chris

From my researches into 16 August 1940 I have:

"Attack by two enemy aircraft on RAF Brize Norton (23 Group). 32 x bombs dropped. 3 x failed to explode. Damage to 6 MU as follows:

3 x petrol bowsers damaged; one tractor rendered u/s; Tutor aircraft superficially damaged by flying debris; bomb crater outside No.4 hangar filled in within an hour. Considerable damage done to No 2 SFTS with Nos 1 & 2 hangars gutted by fire. 46 x aircraft destroyed. Roof of one barrack damaged and electricity and water supply damaged. 1 x civilian killed. 5 x airmen and 4 x civilians injured."

I have nothing on any attack on Benson that day. Other airfields in the area were attacked, though.

I don't think there can be any confusion between Benson and Brize because I am fairly sure about Brize being the home of 6 MU.

A check with the CWGC Civilian War Dead Register for Oxfordshire for this day ought to throw up the civvy fatality and this might add some confirmation of the attack on Brize.

I was in the Officers Mess, Brize Norton, for a couple of nights a couple of years ago and there was a small history pamphlet in the ante-room that had a bit of information about the attack, but not as detailed as the data above.

Re: Brize Norton 16 Aug 40
 

Thanks Andy. I am even more inclined to think that 3/KG 27 mistook Brize for Benson as the 3/KG 27 post attack report report seems to match what you have. RAF records say Brize was hit at 1740 hrs (times match with Germans) and the 5 injured were LAC E J Bunting, AC2 R M Carpenter, AC1 J Orr, AC1 J Price and LAC R J Talbot. Harwell was attacked 30 mins later and not a scratch at Benson

As to Middle Wallop, Luftwaffe records make no mention of Middle wallop being a target this day. I think you are confused with 15 Aug when Andover was hit as opposed to MW.

Re: Brize Norton 16 Aug 40
 

A pleasure, Chris!

I agree there were no attacks on Middle Wallop on 16 August; these were 14 and 15 August only. I am afraid that Ahafan is mistaken in this.

Harwell was attacked, plus: "...two emergency landing grounds; in northern Hampshire at Basingstoke, Farnborough, and in the Bordon-Longmore district." In addition, bombs fell in Wimbledon, Mitcham, Esher, Malden and Combe."

I have a note that the airfield at Stanton Harcourt was also hit that day.

Re: Brize Norton 16 Aug 40
 

Sorry to revive such an old thread, but....

I was showing this to my mother today. Her father worked on the base as an aircraft technician (ex WWI fighter pilot) and they lived locally.

She remembers three JU88's. They split over their house at Chimney and the third went on to attack Stanton Harcourt.