Albacores on 11.09.40

[robert]

Hi,


on 11.09.40 German fighters met a formation of FAA Albacores over the Channel. Anybody knows how many Albacores and from which unit were lost?

TIA

Robert

[Alex Smart]

hi,


I think the Germans claimed at least five.

Alex

[robert]

Yes,

but how many were lost in reality?


Regards

Robert

[Alex Smart]

Hi Robert,

From a formation of six Faiey Albacore a/c from 826 Sqdn FAA sent to escort Blenheims from 235 Sqdn to attack Invasion Barges off the coast of Calais on the 11th September 1040.

Two Blenheims were lost from 235 Sqdn, L9396 "LA-E" and Z5725 "LA-G"
all crews being killed.

And the following Albacore were involved -

L7097 - "4C" - Badly dammaged by Bf109's.
S/L. A.H. Blacow slightly injured
Mid. J.J.C. Cowe
and
N.A. F.R.R. Lowe unhurt

L7098 - "??" - Attacked by Bf109's 5m NW of Calais
Force landed at Staple, Kent.
S/L. T. Winstanley
and
S/L. J.D.Watson, both unhurt

L7114 - "4M" - Badly damaged by Bf109's while Day bombing
invasion barges off Calais.
S/L. A.M. Tuke - unhurt
S/L. E.G. Brown
and
N.A. R.E. Mathews
Both badly wounded

L7117 - "4K" - Attacked 5m N N of Calais by 12 Bf109's in daylight
attack on invasion barges off Calais.
Force landed in sea, Cat W (write off).
Lt. A.S.Downes
S/L. C.R. Mallett both slightly injured
Both were picked up by an MTB returning from a fracas with E- Boats.
N.A.1. J.A.M. Stevens was killed.

L7100 - "4P" - N.A. Bugden in "4P" shot down a Bf109.
L7100 - "4P" FTR Vlaardingen on the 30th.
Lt. Kennaway, Mid. Lane and N.A. Howe all killed.

6th a/c not known.

A second Bf109 was shared between N.A. Mathews in "4M" and one of the Blenheims.

Anyone know details of the sixth Albacore ? Please let us know, thanks.

refs were -

McNeill's RAF Coastal Command Loses vol 1
Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-1945 by Burrow & Sturtivant (Air Britain)
The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm by Ballance & Sturtivant (Air Bbritain)
Fairey Swordfish & Albacore by Harrison (Crowwood)

Photo of "4C" in "Squadrons of FAA" taken on return.

All for now.

Alex

[robert]

Alex,

thanks a lot for you help!



Regards

Robert

[Blenheim]

In the interests of accuracy perhaps we ought to record that 235 Squadron was escorting the Albacores, not the other way round.

[Alex Smart]

Hello "Blenheim"


Yes quite right Blenheims were the escort.

My error,there were six of each.

Any idea as to the serial numbers and crew names of the Blenheims that returned safe ?

All for now

Thanks

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hi ,

Maybe not the right place , but does anyone know where these Invasion Barges were heading for . Were they on a training exercise , what became of the troops aboard. OR was this the start of the real invasion ?

I have read that many German troops were brought ashore or washed ashore and that many Hostpitals were full of German troops that were very badly burned.

Did the Invasion actually start on the 11th ?

Alex

[Blenheim]

Dear Alex,

Sorry, no can do on those that returned safely. I am researching the Blenheim losses and to attempt to compile a list of the sorties each aircraft did without anything untoward happening, which is what an answer to your question would entail, is a task far too large and complicated for me. In fact I'm not even certain that it would be possible but am prepared to be proven wrong.

All the best,

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by Alex Smart

Hi ,

Maybe not the right place , but does anyone know where these Invasion Barges were heading for . Were they on a training exercise , what became of the troops aboard. OR was this the start of the real invasion ?

I have read that many German troops were brought ashore or washed ashore and that many Hostpitals were full of German troops that were very badly burned.

Did the Invasion actually start on the 11th ?

Alex

All along the French coast, every time the RAF came in this period and attacked at sea, they were rumors of heavy german losses and many burned men in hospitals. So far I have never seen a proof of any of these cases being more than a rumor.

Also it was usual for people living in French town bombed by the RAF to believe that the target was a precise building used by German officers and that most of them were killed by the raid. In night raids the targets were ports, stations or factories but never hotels in the middle of a town. And the real German casualties (if any) were far lower than rumors.

I don't know any German report about this attack but the report of the 16 Armee for 12 Sep shows:

"In the night 11./12. bomb attacks on Dünkirchen (10 Stormboats, damaged, 20 small flame-throwers destroyed), Nieuport, Ostende, Zeebrügge, Vlissingen. Small fires in Ostende, 2 dead, harbour-commander injured."

But this is probably the result of Bomber Command attacks.