Petworth Boys School Bombing September 1942

Hi, My first post on this forum, so a big hello to all the regulars.

My relative George Charles Hunt was killed when Petworth Boys school was bombed on the 29th September 1942. I have recently completed a dedicated display in the museum on the subject. I am trying to find out what Luftwaffe unit may (accidently) have bombed the school on that terrible day. After 70 years it would be great to find out the unit and probably a dream but to find out the names of the crew. After 70 years nothing will change what happened and let's face it, this kind of tradgedy is a part of war that happened on both sides. Any info gratefully appreciated, I have a photo of George if anyone is interested.

[Chris Goss]

Suggest this will tell you alot more:

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...light=Petworth

Chris

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Chris,

saw your remark ("There is also a 2 volume work on KG 6 written by Ab Jansen for the KG 6 Association but it was a very limited print run..") for the first time. Assuming you have Jansen's KG6 book, what's your opinion about it? How does it compare to Jan Horn's volumes for example? Any ideas/addresses how to obtain a copy?

Regards,

Marcel

Hello Chris, Thank you for bringing this to my attention, I have read all the posts and it is quite a comprehensive series of discussions. A slight slant on the research is I would like to focus more on the aircraft itself, I wonder if a werk number or individual aircraft letter could be confirmed it may just be possible to find out if the aircraft made it through the war or was shot down later. 70 years has passed and I only seek closure for the family and I observe the greatest respect to all those killed and their families and also the crew who let's face it were doing their job and I am quite certain did not target the school directly.

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Suggest this will tell you alot more:

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...light=Petworth

Chris

[Chris Goss]

Wing Museum: If you read the whole post, you will see that there is no evidence to say who bombed Petworth and nothing as far as I am aware has emerged since. Therefore with no unit or pilot (or even firm evidence to the aircraft type), what you seek in respect of the aircraft is not possible.

Marcel: I am not sure what happened but the KG 6 Association got Ab to write the book but then they completed the book and produced it privately for KG 6 Association members & their families. I use it quite a lot as photo cover and loss-wise it is pretty complete. As to cost, I had it for free for my help; as to how it compares with Horn's, no idea as I do not have his book. If you can still get it, doubt it

[Brian Bines]

Wings Museum - As Chris says there is very little chance of finding the aircraft details of the one which bombed Petworth School. From the previous thread what is known is that RAF records show 3 bombers and two Fw190s were over the UK on the morning of the 29th. The bombers hit targets in Somerset, Wiltshire and Sussex while the 190s bombed and strafed in Kent, targets hit were a factory, Military Reception Centre, boys school and a colliery - the bomber targets would appear to be the Cow and Gate milk factory at Somerton Somerst hit by 4 bombs with 9 killed and 37 inj, posssibly the airfield at Shrewton Wilts. where Army Glider Pilots trained, Petworth School and the Fw190s (10/JG26 ?) hitting the Betteshanger Colliery Kent. From the KG6 history it is known that Ju88s of I/KG6 took off around 1030hrs ( possibly from a log book from Oblt. Faulhabers crew other aircraft may have taken off earlier to keep the defences on a longer alert period) on a nuisance raid to south England, Chris had identified two of the crews over England as that of Oblt.Faulhaber and Ltn Lucke both of I/KG6 which only suggests the three reported bombers over the UK were from that unit but nothing to confirm the third bomber. The Petworth school site says the school was hit by 3 bombs at 1025hrs aimed at troops in the ground of the school, if this time is correct it would cancel out Oblt. Faulhaber who is reported as taking off from Creil at 1037hrs. German time (1137hrs UK time?) So all that leaves is the crew of Ltn.Lucke and one unidentified crew over England with little chance of linking a specific one to the Petworth bombing,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Juha]

Hello Brian
IMHO the time conversion went other way round German 1037hrs meant 0937hrs in GB in Sept 42.

Juha

[Brian Bines]

Thanks Juha, that does put Faulhaber in the frame which means any of the three bombers over the UK that day could have hit the school,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Chris Goss]

Time in UK on 29 Sep 42 was BST (GMT+1); Germans were on GST which was GMT+2. From a UK point of view, I can confirm that Faulhaber took off at 0937 BST and landed 1120 BST. Yes, Faulhaber was airborne but his logbook says nothing. A German newspaper report date 30 Sep 42 says that on 29 Sep 42 such Störangriff were carried out against the south and south-eastern coastal areas and that they attacked Frome, an airfield north-west of Salisbury, a town north-east of Dover and near Maidstone (where they bombed a barracks and a military camp). No mention of Petworth

[Brian Bines]

The Home Office key points reports does not mention anything on the 29th but for the 30th. has bomb damage at ESSEX - LNER Staion St. Botolph's Colchester, KENT - SR Station Ashford and RAF Station Ivychurch, SUSSEX - SR System Lancing, noting bombs fell at other places in Kent and Sussex and also at places in Norfolk and Suffolk. For Sussex it states that at the electricity works at Worthing considerable damage was sustained but this was not a Key Point (strange ?)