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Old 3rd November 2023, 17:05
Monaco Monaco is offline
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Re: Rüdiger von Kirchmayr

Another suspect entry of the diary is referring to a "Vergeltungsangriff" on Canterbury by Jabos, the entry is from 8.5.42, the order for transfer apparently one week before and the attack ordered for 7.5.42:
Kirchmayr was tasked to lead 8 Bf.109 pilots (two Schwärme) from Ergänzungsgruppe West to transfer to St. Omer to take part on a Jabo mission against Canterbury as a revenge for recent attacks on german cities (Lübeck 28./29.3. & Rostock 24.-27.4.). The formation of Erg. West was to follow two Jabo Gruppen of JG 26 escorted by three more fighter groups; Tiefstflug with 1 bomb in radio silence, over the coast they zoomed up, then AA fire, one Bf.109 to the side lost one wing by a steel wire that were shot into the air, Kirchmayr leading two Schwärme of Erg. West fired his onboard weapons into the town, but was then alone (he saw 4-5 german fighters falling to this wires and flak) when he turned around in a wide curve he saw a tree enhanced road wher lorries were located. He dropped his bomb on them, but hit an „Autobus“; a Rotte Spitfires attacked him from above and the left after he crossed the coast. Kirchmayr flew at very low level, but could not gain more than 600 km/h because of the pylon for the bomb slowing him down. Kirchmayr zoomed up, when the leading Spit pilot dived on him and his prop wash sent his pursuer on the surface of the water, where it bounced back once, but crashed in a small ankle a second later. The second Spitfire then turned back horrifyied.
A total of 4 of 8 young pilots without combat experience of Erg. West were missing, the othe Jabos had also losses. Return to Cazeaux the same evening. The other groups got away unscathed an even reported some victories.

I have found nothing about the attack in Caldwell´s and Goss´s books...
only the following losses:

III./ JG 2; F; Fl.Pl. St.Brieuc; Bruchlandung inf. techn. Mängel; Fw 190 A-2; 125293; 85%; N.N. -
10.(Jabo)/ JG 2; F; Ärmelkanal; Unbekannt; Bf 109 F-4; 7053; bl 9 + <- J; 100%; Uffz. Görendt, Bruno; vm.
III. JG 26; F; Fl.Pl. Abbeville-Druca; Bruchlandung, Bedienungsfehler; Fw 190 A-2 125406; 10%; N.N. -
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