Quote:
Originally Posted by brewerjerry
I think 263Sq whirlwinds were used from cornwall, for FW200 hunting
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Quite so. 10 Group issued an Operational Instruction on 27 January 41 calling for 263 Sqn to increase its detachment at St. Eval from 4 Whirlwinds to 8 specifically to counter KG40s Fw 200s operating from Bordeaux. Radar plots showed the Condors flying no closer than 40 miles off the coast, so, since there was an edict in force at the time prohibiting single-engined fighters from operating more than 20 miles out to sea, the task fell to the Whirlwinds almost by default.
As you note no Fw 200s were found during their patrols from St. Eval although Davy Stein claimed an 88 damaged during one such patrol.
Niall