[Chris Goss]

Taken from one of my books:


39. On 2 October 1943, a German convoy was spotted first of Paros and then Naxos headed east. It consisted five armed merchantmen including the 4,470 ton Sinfra and the 2,500 ton liner Citta di Savona as well as six F-boats and the 1,870 ton seaplane tender Drache (formerly the Yugoslav Zmaj). The following day, the convoy, by now with an enhanced escort, arrived of Kos and at first light began landing troops, guns and vehicles, the operation code name being Eisbär. At the same time, German bombers were overhead and put the airfield out of action which allowed German parachutists to land. It was initially decided that the Beaufighters of 46, 227 and 252 Squadrons at Lakatamia would be used to help the British troops defending the Island. The first mission was flown by 46 Squadron followed by 227 Squadron. Seven aircraft of 252 Squadron then took off at 0610 hrs. These were Wing Commander Dennis Butler and Flight Lieutenant Frank Quinn in JM230, Flight Sergeant Alex McKeown and Sergeant Frank Dixon in EL403, Flight Sergeants Lewis Passow and A. Underwood in JL723, Flight Sergeants Harry Humphries and Tom Burrows in EL399, Flight Sergeants George Hobdell and W.B. Lazenby in JL899, Flight Sergeant G. Thomas and Sergeant B. R. Richards in JM240 and finally Pilot Officers John Barrett and A.S. Haddon in V8347. At 0830 hrs they spotted a 3,000 ton ship with a small escort two miles off the coast. A stationary E-boat (probably UJ-2102 Brigitta) was also seen two miles south-south-east of these ships. Whilst Flight Sergeant Thomas attacked the escort with gunfire and one bomb (the other hung up), the remainder attacked the other two ships also with bombs and gunfire (albeit one aircraft had both bombs hung up). The crews reported no definite results to the escort and two columns of smoke were seen rising from the other ships. Flak was intense with Harry Humphries, Tom Burrows and John Barrett all being slightly wounded. All aircraft landed at 1045 hrs. Other sorties were flown by 46, 89 and 227 Squadrons (one of which resulted in the death of Wing Commander George Reid, Commanding Officer of 46 Squadron, shot down by an Arado 196) that day whilst 252 Squadron took off again for Kos at 1255 hrs with three aircraft led by Squadron Leader Horace Hubbard and Pilot Officer G.E. Jones in EL528. Arriving off the Island, they spotted a concentration of enemy shipping at anchor, all of which put up an intense Flak barrage. Above they spotted Arado 196 floatplanes and chased one which headed towards the ships and the safety of the German Flak. All three aircraft landed safely at 1735 hrs. These photographs all come from the first sortie that day. German records state "...several landing groups were assembled in the Naxos area on 2 October 1943.On3 October 1943 between 0400 and 0430 hrs the first wave was landed by surprise at three points of the Island of Kos with naval landing craft. Two landings were made on the south coast by 0700. These were attacked by enemy planes, of which two were shot down. The four steamers of the northern group were unloaded to some extent under mortar fire and shelling. This group also was attacked by planes, of which three were shot down. The steamer Citta di Savona and submarine chaser UJ-2102 were bombed and machine-gunned by seven low flying enemy planes; only minor casualties were caused and one enemy plane was shot down..."