Luftwaffe Attack on an RAF Target Libya - 7 March 1943

[JaganP]

Over at RAFCommands, we were trying to figure out that cause of death of seven airmen belonging to 880 AMES in Libya

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...rch-1943-Libya

The airmen http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...ibya&qunit=880

While we are sure it is probably an Air Raid on a British target that caused these casualties, no further details are available.

Is anyone able to add more detail to this raid?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Jagan

MAW 2 is basically in silence regarding this date.

However it does record a Ju 88 A-4 from 4./KG 30 which was missing on a mission to Tripoli that day.

It sounds reasonable to assume these AMES radar sets were based at least in the vincinity of some airfield and thus could have come under attack, either by purpose or accident.

It also sounds reasonable to put one and one together and get two in this case and assume the loss was due to a Ju 88 raid by that Staffel , but it is also way to easy to read more into such an assumption and thus draw a faulty conclusion.

B Rgds
Stig

[paulmcmillan]

All - answer c/o NiallC on RAFCommnds

At the time AMES No. 880 (a COL/CGI unit) was at Tripoli. It arrived there at the end of January '43, just a few days after 8th Army had taken the town.

The Signals History Vol 1V, "Radar in raid reporting", p286, offers:

"After the fall of Tripoli on 23 January 1943, the enemy began to withdraw to the Mareth defences. Tripoli now became the main port and supply base of the Eighth Army, and as such it was expected to become the target for considerable air effort at night by the enemy. To counter these attacks a flight of Beaufighter aircraft of No. 89 Squadron was moved forward on 27th January 1943, the day after the port was opened, and, controlled by AMES No. 880, took part in combatting the enemy night raids. Some time later this unit became the target of an enemy raid. The receiver vehicle was destroyed and thriteen casualties were incurred, seven fatal."

89 Squadron's F540 adds nothing - other to confirm that on March 7th there was an "Enemy air raid on Tripoli harbour."

7 Killed in Raid and 1 two days later of wounds

[JaganP]

Thank you Stig and Paul.