[BC]

Interesting. One of the two German claims may relate to this, from a list of raids on 8th USAAF installations in the UK:

"RATTLESDEN (HB) 0212 hrs 15 June 1944 1 twin-engined E/A strafed B-17 approaching to land, and dropped bombs on airbase. 4 x 250 kg (sic) bombs in open field, 2 x 250 kg bombs near Red Cross Club which was damaged to a slighter degree. 2 x containers of anti-personnel bombs disposed of by RAF unit. Altitude: 300 to 800 ft. Weather: Fairly clear - few scattered clouds.
Efficiency of defensive plans: Satisfactory. It is thought intruders followed RAF inland. Further, it is thought intruder picked up PFF in traffic pattern and circled until beginning of landing."

This could well refer to 15-16 June 1944 but unlikely to have been 16-17 ?
The HE bombs would probably have been 50 kg size which with two containers of SD2 would have been a typical II/KG.51 Me 410 bomb-load on these intruder attacks.
Chris Goss might also be interested to know that it was common practice for 8th USAAF PFF units to position aircraft to several airfields prior to the day's mission, so USAAF bombers airborne in the night skies over Britain were not that uncommon. Also, the USAAF carried out a considerable number of night-flying practice missions. In addition, there were also a few nocturnal USAAF units including the Night Leaflet Squadron and the 801st "Carpetbaggers". In short, German intruders finding American bombers at night was no big surprise.

What I did find surprising was that ALL the II/KG.51 claims for the infamous night of 22 April 1944, when nine USAAF B-24s were shot down by a small number of intruders returning from the mission to HAmm, were for RAF HALIFAXES !!!

Hope this helps.
Regards,

BC