Middlesbrough(UK) railway station: KG2/IKG40?

[bill norman]

Does anyone know of a German source(s) - including Flugbuch entries -mentioning/describing an attack on Middlesbrough (UK) railway station by a single raider on 3 August 1942. Unit responsible was probably KG2 or II./KG40. I am already familiar with Ulf Balke's in Der Luftkrieg in Europa

[Chris Goss]

Bill: I know that this has been bugging you for a while. Balke offers no mention of a KG 2 involvement but mindful that II/KG 40 were in Soesterburg in Aug 42, this indicates strongly (as long as the ac was positively identified as a Do 217) that it was probably II/KG 40. Interestingly, 2 Aug 42 5/KG 40 lost an aircraft off Foreness in an attack on Peterborough, 6/KG 40 suffered a damaged aircraft in an attack on Cambridge and on 3 Aug 42, an aircraft had an accident at Soesterburg whilst another belly landed at Soesterburg after being damaged by fighters-68, 406 and 409 Sqns damaged 4 between them with 485 Sqn shooting down a 7/KG 2 aircarft near Kettering. However, all that Balke says is 23 aircraft were involved against Middleborough, Leeds and Lowestoft. Oh and a 9/KG 40 machine was damaged by Flak near Sheffield. I have checked the logbooks I have an cannot add any more. Access to the Luftflotte 3 reports would help but not for specifics (unless you are lucky)

[bill norman]

Chris. Thanks for your interesting reply. Are the Luftflotte 3 reports held at BA Freiburg? Like you, I am inclined towards II./KG40 - but it is irritating to be unsure. It has been 'bugging' me for 22yrs but the optimist in me says that one day....!