Bf.109' s losses 09/04/1941.

[Bernard]

Good morning to all,

Please could any Luftwaffe specialist help me by giving me details about Luftwaffe losses on the 9th April, 1941. Especially in accordance with these combat reports ( please reliable sources ).

AIR/50/21
p 341.


GENERAL REPORT


Two aircraft, Blue Section, Pilot Officer Baxter and Sgt. Hall, 54 Squadron left Southend at 1728 hours on a " Rhubarb " operation.Pilot Officer Baxter was leading the section, and he set course for Orfordness, then headed due East towards the Dutch coast, flying at cloud base, 3,000 feet.When about 20 miles off Holland, the section turned South in order to keep in the cloud bank wichdid not extend to the dutch coast, but extended Southwards. The section flew parallel to theBelgian coast about 15 miles from the land then Blue 2 ( Sgt. Hall ) repoorted that 4 aircraft wereapproaching them at a fast speed from a Southwesterly direction, slightly behind them and to port.Pilot Officer Baxter then saw 4 aircraft, wich he immediately recognised as Me.109' s, headingtowards him, apparently trying to get behind our aircraft.They were flying in two pairs, on echelon port from the leading Me.109, about 800 feet below Blue Leader. They appeared to be coming from the Belgian coast, and had probably been sent after aprevious pair of Spitfires of 54 Squadron wich had followed almost the same course about 10 minutes previously.Pilot Officer Baxter told Sgt. Hall to take evasive action and to seak cloud cover. He then went down through cloud, and saw 2 Me.109' s about 800 feet below and ahead of him. Pilot OfficerBaxter then fired 2 very short bursts at the leading Messerschmitt but saw no immediate results, as he returned into cloud. He then heard Sgt. Hall say that the E/A had burst into flames and wascrashing into the sea.Blue Leader came down out of cloud, just in time to see a large splash in the sea, and smoke pouring outwards from the crashed E/A.Attack was from astern and above.Both our pilots then went into cloud and after circling Manston to ascertain the exact position of the crash, they landed at Southend at 1828 hours.The Me.109' s had dark camouflage on the upper surfaces of the wing, and the cross on the fuselage was clearly distinguishable. The Me.109' s were of the usual yellow nosed type and did not seem to be exceptionally fast.No enemy ships, flack or balloons were seen.Weather: Cloud 10/10 at 8,000 feet, coming down at times to sea level, about 60 miles E of English coast.Towards Belgian and Holland the sjy seemed quite clear with no cloud.A. Allen F/O.Intelligence Officer.Date: 15.4.41.FC/S 17570/INT.



AIR 50/177.

GENERAL REPORT.

Two aircraft Red Section of 611 Squadron left Hornchurch at 1145 hours. 9/4/41. They were one ofthree pairs engaged on Rhubarb Operations over the French coast.Red section was composed of S/Ldr. Bitmead the leader and F/O Williams. They split up off Cap Gris Nez. Red 1 crossing the coast flew towards Arras and on the return journey encountered 2Me.109 's at about 3,000 feet, flying in line astern, the first of wich he proceeded to attack from150 yards range. The E/A turned on its back and went down seemingly out of control. As the 2ndE/A did a quick turn to attack, Red 1 then flew into cover of clouds. After firing at some barges inBergues canal Red 1 returned to base, landing at 1312 hours.Red 2 after crossing the french coast near Nimereux machine gunned small buildings and Flak ships off the Coast.Red 2 landed at 1230 hours.


AIR 50/173
p 32.

S/Ldr. Bitmead - 611 Squadron.

I crossed the French coast at Wissant in cloud and set course in a S.W direction penetrating about 60 miles inland. No enemy aircraft being sighted, I returned towards the coast and waitedbehind Calais Marck aerodrome. No activity noted so continued on to Gravelines when two Me.109' s passed about 500' below me proceeding West towards the aerodrome. I delivered aquarter attck on the leader who inverted and dived apprently out of control, the other did a quickturn to attack me, so I regained cloud cover. After manoeuvring in the cloud base I decided to usemy remaining ammunition on a large concentration of barges in the Bergues canal behindGravelines. At the bottom of the dive I obeserved another pair of Me.109' s getting in position of myquarter starboard so pulled up hastily and retired into cloud, worked round Calais to the south overSangette and back to Dover. Observed two merchant ships stranded on the beach between Calais and Gravelines. The 4 Me.109' s I saw had yellow noses and yellow side panels. R. Bitmead S/LrOC 611 SQDn.Date: 9th April, 1941.Flight, Squadron: Red Section, 611 Squadron.Nbr and type of enemy aircraft: 2 Me.109' s.Time attack was delivered: 1230 hours.Height of enemy: 3,000 feet.Enemy casualties: 1 Me. 109 probable.Our casualties: Nil.

Thanks a lot.

Bernard.

[Chris Goss]

There were no Luftwaffe losses but it would appear that II/JG 53 was involved making claims for 2 x Spitfires (1721 hrs) and Blenheim (1910 hrs)