Ventura losses 30.7.1943

[John Manrho]

Has anybody information on Ventura losses over the Northsea on July 30th 1943? III./ZG 1 claimed a few and I am interested to learn how many Ventura's were lost.

John

[MW Giles]

The interesting answer is none

12 Mitchells of 180 Sqn had an aborting sortie to Merville without loss
13 Bostons of 107 Sqn to Schiphol, one was lost when it hit the sea 34m off Great Yarmouth (BZ293)
12 Venturas of 21 Sqn went to Yainville without loss

There were ASR sorties
Mitchell FV932 of 226 Sqn was shot down at 17:45 on one such sortie
Mitchell FR144 of 320 Sqn hit sea and crashed 15:15

I link the claim by Ofw Bärschen of 8./ZG1 at 17:50 to FV932

24 B-26s had an abortive sortie to Courtrai, Wevelghem without loss
24 B-26s went to Woensdrecht and lost two of their number, do not have the book with me to say how

Regards

Martin

[MW Giles]

With the book

24 B-26s of 386 BG to Woensdrecht 41-31597 lost to Fw190 over E Scheldt
41-31602 crashed after stbd engine cut on take off

Regards

Martin

[John Manrho]

Hi Martin,

The Mitchell seems a good match. Ofw. Büschen claimed at least one and maybe one more. Is there any info on this particular loss (FV932) or were there any additional Mitchells damaged?

Thanks,

John

Ps. if anybody has the ORB of 226 Sqn that would be great!

[MW Giles]

John

226 Sqn ORB AIR 27/1406 p229

Mitchell II FV932 X

Took off 13:38 hrs

F/O R M Christie
P/O A P Eyton-Jones
Sgt D V Bishop
Sgt E R Norburn
Sgt J F Lecomber

Aircraft "X" took off, piloted by F/O R M Christie and in company with three Bostons of No. 88 Squadron, to search for a dinghy last seen at 54 deg 39 min N 05 deg 25 min E.
The dinghy was sighted at about 15:00 hours, and the Bostons returned, leaving the Mitchell to circle pending the arrival of relief Mitchell "Y" (F/O T Goodman)
After circling for some time, aircraft "X" was shot down by it is believed, 4 Me210's at 17:35 hours.
The relieving aircraft, which arrived soon after this, saw nothing and returned to base.
Mitchell FV947/Y 16:30 to 20:05 hrs

P/O Eyton-Jones has written a memoire, I will dig out his book and see if it adds anything

Regards

Martin

[John Manrho]

OK, great info! This means that the conflicting info I had can be corrected and that there was only one claim. O, and it seems Büschen claimed this one at an height of 5 metres......

[John Manrho]

Martin,

Quite interested what P/O Eyton-Jones had to say. So let me know if you have found his memoirs.

Thanks,

John

[MW Giles]

John

Sorry for the break over the weekend. I found the book "Day Bomber" by Arthur Eyton-Jones, Sutton Publishing ISBN 0-7509-1850-0, 1998

He says he flew in FU932/Q. There was an additional gunner taken along as an extra pair of eyes. They found the dinghy and circled at 500ft dropping smoke markers. Every half hour they would climb and report position. After two hours the Bostons on station left them. At 17:45 he glanced outside and saw a Me410 and three Me210s in formation following them as they circled. Apparently there was a similar number on the stbd side (8 in all). Turret gunner was day dreaming. They dived towards the sea. First e/a attacked, gunner work up and hit e/a with return fire. Both engines of Mitchell caught fire, ditched into sea 150 miles from home. Were dropped airborne lifeboat. Eventually picked up by RN motor launch.

Martin

[John Manrho]

Thanks Martin, appreciated. I will follow up in a few days.

John

[John Manrho]

Martin,

The Me 210/Me 410 took of from Wittmundhafen at approx. 16.50 hrs.

John