26 Aug 40 Targets

[Chris Goss]

Continuing with the Goodwin Sands Do 17, can anyone for certain say what the target was for KG 3 on this day? According to the Air Ministry Daily Report, the only air raid around lunch time that day was Folkestone (general area for KG 3) at 1151 hrs and that no other airfield or target in Essex/Kent was hit. Bombs did drop on Debden at 1519 hrs and Hawkinge at 1600 hrs

[Phil Lloyd]

Hi Chris,

This is a mail I sent to Ian Thirsk (RAFM recovery team) a few months ago regarding 5K+ER.

'I thought this photo maybe of interest regarding the action in which 5K+AR was lost. It shows one of the other Dorniers of 7./KG3 which was shot down at around the same time. Apologies if you already know about it! Info below:


Dornier Do17Z-3, coded 5K+ER hit in an engine by a Hurricane whilst attempting to bomb West Malling airfield. The aircraft force landed in the early afternoon in shallow water at Forness Point on the Isle of Thanet. Two of the crew were apparently able to get free before it sank, whilst the other two drowned, perhaps injured and unable to evacuate.

The photograph was taken at low tide later that afternoon, whilst an RAF team inspect the wreck. I guess it was hit in the starboard engine as this prop appears to have been feathered. It also appears to have suffered damage to its nose, perhaps on landing/sinking nose first? The port wing seems to be covered with sand so I assume it was completely submerged.

The image is part of the Philip Jarrett Collection.

Also attached is a couple of images from a set of stills taken from a German long range camera in France at about this time. Although they are of a Bf 110, they do convey a feeling of what the Goodwin Sands Dorniers' last moments must have been like. I find the sea spray being whipped up from the prop wash in the first image and the bent propellors very haunting. The complete set shows the crew being picked up by a Heinkel 59 floatplane.

These photo's (about 15 images) belong to the Bundesarchiv'.

Hope that maybe of interest Chris.
Best regards,
Phil

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Phil-I was aware of your email from Ian. I still need to know for certain the source that West Malling was the target as no bombs dropped on this airfield and the fighter defence (presumably covering KG 3's return) was further east in the Manston area as opposed to the Maidstone area. It is unlikely that the Defiants broke up the attack which begs the question what was the target and where did the bombs land?