In another great article by Key Aero I read "One particularly bad day involved 2./406 – July 28, 1943. With Allied forces poised to invade Sicily, they attempted to force German attentions on southern Norway by a simultaneous naval movement intended to simulate a large-scale raid. Five BV 138 C-1s were launched from the catapult ship Bussard in Trondheim Fjord that day and none returned. The first BV 138 was shot down by Grumman Martlets of 890 Sqn, launched off the carrier HMS Illustrious.
Shortly after, two more were shot down by Bristol Beaufighters of 404 Sqn and, later on the same day, another crew from the same unit accounted for the final pair. A total of 23 BV 138 aircrew were killed and, although three were picked up by U-489, the submarine was sunk by a Short Sunderland of 423 Sqn on August 4, 1943 and the three aircrew were captured."
https://www.key.aero/article/flying-clog
How many Bv138s were lost this day?
K