ORB of 226 Sqn has the following (compiled from Form 540 and 541): 12 Bostons of 226 Sqn, each laden with four 300 lbs GP bombs, were led by Flt Lt Smith set course at 1140 hrs to bomb St-Omer Fort Rouge airfield. One turned back and landed after one circuit at base owing to a technical failure in fuel system. 8 aircraft bombed and hits were observed on hangars and NE dispersal area. Aircraft X who did not identify target until too late, and H and V who were waiting to bomb on leader, did not bomb. Little, inccaurate Flak was experienced and no fighters were seen.
From Tony Wood's "Fighter Command activity in 1943 file": this raid was part I of Circus 249 and was escorted by 13 Spitfire squadrons who reported no loss or claim. Part II of Circus 249 was a Ventura raid (18 aircraft from 21 and 464 Sqn) on Abbeville-Drucat airfield and met opposition, 340 and 611 Sqn claimed 3-0-2 Fw 190 without loss.
From "JG 26 War Diary" by Don Caldwell: Shortly after noon, RAF formations began crossing into France. III./JG 26 was the first defensive unit up, at 1230 hrs, and made contact, but without result. At about this time a raider destroyed a I./JG 26 Fw 190 on St-Omer-Arques. A Circus containing 18 Venturas hit Abbeville just after II./JG 26 had cleared the field at 1320 hrs. Several Spitfires were holed by fighters of 11./JG 2, which had crossed the Somme Estuary to help out, and which lost one of their number to the Spitfires. II./JG 26 had only one claim and one casualty - and it was the same aircraft. Uffz Johann Irlinger of 6./JG 26 (or 5./JG 26 according to the casualty list), flying the Bf 109 G-4 WNr 16119 black 4, was shot down over the field and crashed in his airplane (KIA). According to Peter Crump, who was an eyewitness, he was shot down by his own Gruppenkommandeur, Hptm Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland, who mistakenly identified the Bf 109 as a Spitfire. The incident was of course cleaned up for the official records.
From Luftwaffe loss lists:
_ reported on 16 January 1943:
I./JG 26, F, Fl.Pl. St.Omer-Arques, Bombenwurf, Fw 190 A4, 5654, 100%
II./JG 26, F, bei Abbeville, Absturz infolge Feindbeschuss, Bf 109 G4, 16119, 100%, Uffz Erlinter, Hans, F (comment - pilot), tot
_ reported on 17 January 1943:
11./JG 2, F, bei Fl.Pl. Abbeville, Luftkampf, Fw 190 A3, 5389, 100%, Lt Trebbia, Otto-Ernst, F, tot
Some death cards found on fold3 relative to the above:
OGfr Helmut Bogner, 2./JG 26, died at St-Omer-Arques, gefallen-Bombe (
https://www.fold3.com/image/699712721,
https://www.fold3.com/image/699468206 and
https://www.fold3.com/image/699331977)
Fl Kurt Dietz, Fl.H.Kdtr. E 16/VI, died at Abeville (
https://www.fold3.com/image/693096942)
OGfr Josef Brückner, 2./JG 26, died at St-Omer-Arques (
https://www.fold3.com/image/692481838)
OGfr Theodor Griesdorn, 2./JG 26, died at St-Omer-Arques (
https://www.fold3.com/image/692685427)
OGfr Hermann Jochmann, 2./JG 26, died at St-Omer-Arques, gefallen-Bombe (
https://www.fold3.com/image/693052025)