Hi All,

Many thanks for your responses which are extremely helpful.

MW Giles - tying down the two target support squadrons to 122 and 453 Squadrons is a real break - I will check their ORBs for more details. In addition to the three Coltishall Squadrons (118, 167 and 504) and the Hornchurch Wing, do you have details as to which other units were involved in Ramrod 16?

RodM - thanks for the info here, at that height they would certainly have telegraphed the attackers approach - I have found references to Luftwaffe controllers knowing that a high altitude sweep often indicated the presence of bombers underneath, knowledge which they exploited.

Alex Smart - The Mighty Eighth War Diary confirms the 8th AF missions for May 4. On May 2 a raid by Venturas to Ijmuiden also met heavy resistance from JG1, four Spitfire IXs from the North Weald Wing being lost with their pilots. I have no idea of the influence of spies reporting mission targets but there was certainly a sustained amount of air activity on both sides at this point.

Thanks again for everyone's help!
Andy