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Re: ANDOVER AIRFIELD apr 41
Chris, a similar story from me: Intelligence reports for the period 7/8 April 1941 state …
“…enemy activity, which was on a heavy scale, was widespread throughout the country. 5 enemy aircraft were destroyed and 2 others damaged by fighters. …”
It carries on to state that “at 2030 hours the first of a stream of raids from Holland and Belgium crossed the coast at Yarmouth. Later raids made landfall in the Wash area and activity was widespread over southern England and southern Scotland. Raids from Cherbourg and Brest areas crossed between Beachy Head and Start Point and flew north, covering the whole of the West Country up to Liverpool Bay and Barrow in Furness.” Then some descriptions of raids from Norway against targets in the north before … “ at 0320 hours fresh activity commenced in the Thames Estuary, where Chatham appeared to be the main target, but several enemy aircraft penetrated to the London area. The country was finally clear of enemy aircraft by 0500 hours.”
AI estimates put 370 long range German bombers and 25 German fighters in the operations against UK on the night of 7/8 April.
“The most notable incidents were at Glasgow, Belfast, Thameshaven, Plymouth, Bristol and Liverpool.” Andover is not mentioned, but the attacks that night are described as ‘widespread’ and "cover(ing) ever region of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”
Fighter claims were made against German aircraft at Branscome, Bell Rock, Ribble Estuary, Brigg, near Tangmere and Belfast. No German units were named apart from unconnected activity by Kg40.
Source:mostly AIR 22/20
HTH
Bruce
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