Ventura losses on April 21st, 1943
 

Gentlemen,

I am facing conflicting information with respect to RAF losses on April 21st, 1943 that were incurred during Circus No. 290 directed against railway targets near Abbeville.

According to what information I have 11 or 12 - how many exactly ? - Venturas of 21 Sqn. came under attack from II./JG 26 and I./JG 27 over the Somme estuary, losing a number of a/c. The question is: How many ? The German fighters originally claimed six Venturas but one claim was rejected or never actually filed. So the daily report of the Lw.-Generalstab spoke of five Venturas shot down on that day. Other sources however state that only two or three Venturas did actually go down.

Therefore my question: What was the exact number of losses amongst the Venturas on this particular mission ? Any help is gratefully appreciated.

Kind regards

Jochen Prien

Re: Ventura losses on April 21st, 1943
 

Hi Jochen Prien,

I have information on the losses of 4 Ventura of JG 26 of the book " The JG 26 War Diary vol. 2 1943-1945" 1998.
21/04/43 - Galland W.F. - Ventura - NE of Adds Est NW of Abbeville - conf.
21/04/43 - Galland W.F. - Ventura 10-20Km od Adds Est - conf.
21/04/43 - Stammberger - Ventura - N. of Abbeville - no
21/04/43 - Sternberg - Ventura - Acheux - conf.
I don't have other data.
I wait to have helped.
Hugs,
E. Brettas
www.avesdobrasil.com.br
Bird of Brazil in Watercolor

Re: Ventura losses on April 21st, 1943
 

Dear Mr. Brettas,

many thanks for your kind response. I know the German side of the coin, yet what I want to know is the British side.

Kind regards

Jochen Prien

Re: Ventura losses on April 21st, 1943
 

Hi,

Excuse me, but I had not understood your question.
Do you know this link? Maybe help.
http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/results...&submit=Search
E. Brettas

Re: Ventura losses on April 21st, 1943
 

All that I can find are AE692 (all crew killed), AE743 (all crew killed) and AE913 (alll crew killed). No locations apart from they are buried at Abbeville/no known grave. I also have a claim by Hptm Hohagen of 7/JG 2!

Re: Ventura losses on April 21st, 1943
 

Dear Chris,

many thanks for your input. As for the Hohagen claim - it appears twice, once as Kommandeur of I./JG 27 and the second time for 7./JG 2. The latter however was not in action over the Somme estuary on that date.

So I take it that British loss returns show just three Venturas that did not return from this Circus - right ?

Thanks again and kind regards.

Jochen Prien

Re: Ventura losses on April 21st, 1943
 

Yes. I can check to see if others made it back with wounded crew if that helps?

Re: Ventura losses on April 21st, 1943
 

That would be fine, thank you. But don't make it too great an effort.

Cheers

Jochen

Re: Ventura losses on April 21st, 1943
 

Confirm 3 on 21 April and 487 Sqn suffered one damaged, landing at Lympne 1555 hrs but on 20 Apr 43?

Re: Ventura losses on April 21st, 1943
 

Hello Jochen
according to Michael J. F. Bowyer's 2 GROUP RAF. A Complete History 1936 - 1945. (1992) p. 297 11 Venturas from 21 Sqn made the attack.

HTH
Juha