[Peter Cook]

Apologies for the length of this post, but I am trying to identify the makeup of the Luftwaffe units that attacked a convoy southwest of the Isle of Wight at approximately 15.30 pm on 21 Jul 1940. The combat reports and ORBs for the Hurricane pilots of 43 and 238 Squadrons reported the presence of Do 17s and Bf 110s dive bombing the convoy, escorted by Bf 109s. The claims and loss lists for this date identify Bf 109s of III/JG27 and Bf 110s of V/LG1, but the identity of the Do 17 unit is unknown (could these have been Bf 110s misidentified as Do 17s?). But there is also evidence that Ju 87s of I/StG77 took part in the attack, and may have departed before the Hurricanes arrived. The Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung for this date states: '21 Ju 87 I/StG77 (start 15.45 hrs [EST]) Attack on convoy in Quadrant 2139 (30 km south of Bournemouth)'. It then goes on to detail the ships that had been attacked. Another account comes from Stuka Squadron: Stukagruppe '77 - Luftwaffe's Fire Brigade, Peter Smith's history of the unit, who includes details from the logbooks of Fw Knauer and his radio operator/gunner Uffz Sellhorn who took part in this raid. Also, Peter Smith's Naval Warfare in the English Channel 1939-1945, describes how 'it became the turn of the Cherbourg-based Stukas to attack and they hit a convoy off the Isle of Wight. Yet another source is Ludwig von Eimannsberger, author of Zerstörer Gruppe. A History of V./(Z)LG1, who describes the unit escorting the Ju 87s that were assigned to attack a convoy off the Isle of Wight on this date. Finally, is it possible that Erpr.Gr.210 took part in this attack, even though their base was over 300 miles away? The Bf 110 of Oblt Habisch and Uffz Elfner (S9+CK) returned with combat damage on this date and, as far as I am aware, only Erpr.Gr.210 was using the Bf 110 in the dive bombing role at this time and yet some RAF pilots clearly believed that Bf110s were dive bombing the convoy. Sgt Little of 238 Squadron states: 'On approaching a convoy South of the Needles, enemy aircraft were observed dive-bombing it', he identified the Luftwaffe formation as Bf 110s and Bf 109s. Any help in untangling this would be much appreciated.