
18th November 2009, 13:09
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Alter Hase
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Belgium
Posts: 2,901
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Re: Wellington target Stavanger 11 April 1940
Found this on website http://www2.bc.edu/~emerypa/254/history.html
as far as the contribution of 2 x Blenheims of 254 Squadron is concerned:
1946 (London time) – two Blenheim IVF R.3603 (Flight Officer Bain) N.3627 (Sergeant A.W.Tubbs) from No. 254 Squadron flew out of Bircham Newton to rendezvous with the six Wellingtons at Stavanger-Sola and then escort them back to 18 Group. After reconnoitering the Stavanger area in heavy 10/10 clouds from 3,000 feet, Bain decided not to wait for the Wellingtons and immediately attack. Both Blenheims approached formation abreast from the SE at 2,500 feet, opening machine-gun fire in a steep dive. Light flak and machine-guns returned their fire immediately. The Blenheims dove to 100 feet, strafing parked aircraft and personnel, then climbing to 500 feet to fly over a bluff.
And in the Weekly Resumé No. 33 of the War Cabinet its says:
"Towards dusk on the 11th Stavanger aerodrome was raided by six Wellingtons and two Blenheim fighters; the latter flew low over the aerodrome before the arrival of the bombers, and sprayed it with machine-gun fire. At least four Junkers bombers were hit and others damaged, and there appeared to be about twenty casualties among enemy ground personnel. The Wellingtons followed with a low-level bombing attack, which started a large fire. They also machine-gunned the aerodrome and the seaplane base in the Fjord. Intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered, and one Wellington failed to return."
No doubt our Luftwaffe-experts can tell if indeed Junkers a/c were destroyed at Sola...
Regards,
Leendert
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