Re: Do 18 loss on or around 24.05.1941
Any Luftwaffe seaplane operating near the Scilly Isles in May 1941, would most likely come from bases in France. The only seaplane units in France on May 24, 1941, were subordinated to Stab/Kü.Fl.Gr. 406 in Brest. They were 1./106 in Hourtin with He 115, 5./196 in Hourtin with Ar 196, 2./506 and 1./906 both in Brest with He 115. The only ex. Do 18 unit on mainland Europe (apart from Norway), was 2./406 in Hörnum. However, this unit was undergoing conversion to BV 138 and had no Do 18s on strength on 24.05.41. Any other flying boat candidate would be 2./906 in Hörnum with BV 138 and 1./406 in List also with BV 138.
The loss/damage records available are at least three. First the unsual loss/damage reports from Gen.Qu. 6.Abt. Then you have the KTB of General der Luftwaffe beim Ob.d.Marine and the KTB of Oberquartiermeister beim Gen.d.Lw.b.Ob.d.M. None of these three primary sources give any loss or serieous damage to a Luftwaffe seaplane on or around the date mentioned here. My conclusion is that the RAF pilots did not shoot down or seriously damage a seaplane on this date. However, this not the only similar case to occur during the war.
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