Bomber Command victory claims on the night 30/31 May 1941
 

Hi,

The Interception/Tactics Report for the night of the first 1000 bomber raid, 30/31 May, is incomplete to say the least. According to the Night Raid Report Bomber Command aircraft claimed to have destroyed 4 enemy aircraft, possibly destroyed one and damaged 2 besides Fighter Command claims for 1 destroyed and 4 damaged. I wonder which Groups/Squadrons made these claims.

In Tavender’s book the DFM Register I have found the following claims:
102 Sqn: 1 destroyed FW 190
149 Sqn: 1 destroyed Bf 110
25 OTU: 1 destroyed E/A

I am looking for information about the other claims and I am especially interested if there are any summaries of claims on Group level.

Thanks in advance,
Peter

Re: Bomber Command victory claims on the night 30/31 May 1941
 

For the 30/31 may 1942 Cologne raid here is what I have:

From the book "The Thousand Plane raid":

1 Bf 110 Stirling/ 214 sqn
1 Ju88 Halifax/ Halifax conversion unit
1 Ju88 Halifax/102 sqn
1 Bf110 Stirling/149 sqn

FCWD:
0-2-3 Hurricanes/3 sqn

from this site Luftwaffe losses:

1/NJG 1 Bf110 G9+BH Kaiser & Thomas KIA North of Straelen
Erg/NJG 2 Ju88 R4+CT Schnade & Gezanne KIA & Jansen OK Gilze-Rijen
II/NJG 1 Bf110E 20% G9+GA Ltn Niklas Helmut WIA & Unt Wenning #2654 St Trond
II/Njg 1 Bf110 15% #3813

This last is from my notes and may not be 100% accurate

Re: Bomber Command victory claims on the night 30/31 May 1941
 

Hello ,

The two BF-110 from II./NJG 1 made a bellylanding at St-Trond airfield ( Belgium )

Regards
Alain57

Re: Bomber Command victory claims on the night 30/31 May 1941
 

Hello Alain57 and James,

Thanks for your replies. I am sorry for the late response but I have been away from home.

Based on the info in book the "The Thousand Plane raid" it is probably the 25 OTU claim that was for the one possibly destroyed aircraft.

Regards,
Peter