Fw 200 in the Battle of Britain

[Larry]

On a recent visit to Middle Wallop, I saw in an exhibition a painting of 238 Sqn Hurricanes attacking a mixed formation of He111 and Fw200 aircraft!

Was the Fw200 used in this way during the BoB or is this complete fiction?

See attached photo - if it attaches OK!

[Chris Goss]

In this respect, total and utter fiction

[Larry]

Thanks Chris,

It makes you wonder why the artist, Edmund Miller, went to such trouble to paint a subject that's historically incorrect, and why the Museum of Army Flying show it!

[Jon]

Hello Larry
On a slightly different note, 238 Squadron during the Battle of Britain probably rate as one of the most un-photographed squadrons even though they served in the "fighting" zone throughout the Battle.
Whilst at Middle Wallop did you see many Squadron pictures from the summer of 1940?
I am especially interested in any with Sgt Eric Bann shown.

Look forward to your response

Jon

[Jon]

Page 34 in Wing Commander Mackenzie's excellent book "Huricane Combat"
mentions Bob Doe of 238 Squadron definatley spottng a FW200 in with some other Luftwaffe bombers, also in his book he claims it was later confirmed?
Looking at the date order of the book this looks to have been early october.

I am not saying it happened just that the artist could be forgiven as it was claimed by 238 Squadron on combat reports.

[Graham Boak]

I recall at least one other reference to 4-engined German aircraft over Britain during the BoB, possibly in the letter column of a 60s Airfix magazine, but identified as a Ju.90.

[Larry]

Guys

Thanks for your replies. I'm sure the odd Fw 200 would have over flown the UK on occasions and what I have read this occured in areas around the Irish Sea - ie Northern Ireland and Liverpool area.

I'm sure we would have heard of it by now if Fw 200 aircraft of KG40 had joined formation attacks over Southern England by day or night.

BTW the codes on the Fw200 in the painting are B8+AV, though I could not get a match for a Fw200 unit!

I still think it is fiction.

BTW- Jon, there were not many photos I remember that showed 238 Sqn aircraft at Middle Wallop. Most I remember were of people or damage to the Station.

Originally Posted by Larry

On a recent visit to Middle Wallop, I saw in an exhibition a painting of 238 Sqn Hurricanes attacking a mixed formation of He111 and Fw200 aircraft!

Was the Fw200 used in this way during the BoB or is this complete fiction?

See attached photo - if it attaches OK!

hi, yes and no, it was used by the atalantic shiping lanes and recon,but not as a land bomber,it was too large, and slow ,
gary,

[obdl3945]

Larry...

Couldn't find any reference to Condors being used in daylight raids during Battle of Britain, but thought you might be interested to know they were used on night missions during the last four days of August, 1940, against the Liverpool/Birkenhead area. This information is contained in German Aircraft of the Second World War by J R Smith & Anthony Kay (Putnam) on page 203 of the original A5-sized publication (as opposed to the more recent A4-sized reprint), and also in Kampfflieger Volume 2 - Bombers of the Luftwaffe July 1940 - December 1941 by J Richard Smith and Eddie J Creek (Classic Publications) on page 121, where I.Gruppe/Kampfgeschwader 40 is listed in the attacking force sent against Liverpool on 28 August, 1940.

Regards

[bill norman]

If Chris Goss is correct when he says that Miller's depiction of FW200s participating with He.111s in a raid over England is 'total and utter fiction', we must assume that Bob Doe, the pilot who helped repulse that attack and who provided Miller with the details, must be either lying or mistaken. I tend to believe Doe. I don't suggest that such a combination was a regular occurrence - but Doe's claim suggests that it did happen at least once, which is what Miller's painting is telling us.