Vannes-Meucon Airfield, France / July 1944 / Do-217 III./KG 100?

[Henofred]

Hello/Bonjour,

No.1 Squadron which flew Spitfire reported a strafing on two Do-217s at Vannes-Meucon airfield, France, during a mission on July 25, 1944. Could these two bomber belong to III./KG 100 and have used the airfield as a staging ground? Before returning to Toulouse after operations on the front line... If that is indeed the case and if there have been other uses, I would be pleased to know the dates (or details), if known.

Best regards,
Frederic

[Chris Goss]

The problem will always be that unless there are personnel casualties or mentions in diaries or Luftflotte reports, we will never get the true answer for 1944. I have found in recent research missed losses as the crew baled out without injury and aircraft lost on the ground from air attacks

[Henofred]

Thanks Chris for this reply, and indeed, it is always the same problem with this lack of archives regarding year 1944.

My post was linked to a book excerpt (below) which suggested that Vannes-Meucon could have been a transit airfield, as this field - not far from where this aircrew seems to have been shot down - is well West of the route from Avranches to Toulouse-Francazal.

The crew of Uffz. August Stolzenberg (Do 217 M 11, 6N + DR, Werk. Nr. 2926) belonged to the 8. Staffel. The "very old crew" of Ofw. Konrad Doser also belonged to the 8. Staffel. Returning from a mission (note: Avranches), he was shot down near Vannes and killed. Only Bordmechaniker Fw. Walter Erhard, who was seriously wounded, survived. (Source: Ulf Balke,Kampfgeschwader 100 Wiking, Page 309)


Best regards,
Frederic

[Nick Beale]

I'd say this was a possibility since III./KG 100 had operated 14 Do 217 against Allied ships west of Brest on the night of the 24/25th but I have no information about any aircraft landing away from their home airfields.

[Chris Goss]

From my book:

Two Do 217s were claimed by Mosquitoes that night. The first by Sqn Ldr Dean Somerville of 410 Sqn who claimed a Do 217 six mile north-west of Pontorson which crashed vertically into the ground at 2255 hrs. Then at 2305 hrs, Flt Lt Allen Browne of 488 Sqn claimed a Do 217 which crashed four miles east of Avranches at 2305 hrs. 8./KG 100 recorded losing two Do 217M-11s flown by Uffz August Stolzenberg and Deutsches Kreuz in Gold winner Ofw Konrad Doser, the latter aircraft crashing north of Vannes. The dates of death of the three crew killed from this aircraft were recorded as being 2, 3 and 4 August 1944!

[Henofred]

Without having further details, let's consider this as been a possibility, as aircraft from this group were operating at that time of the months (late July - early August) in the "Avranches" area to prevent the Americans from penetrating Brittany.

Thanks to you both,
Frederic

[Chris Goss]

Possibility indeed but if you look at my book on the Do 217, you will see that much was going on then and was somewhat confused. Their time on the ground for refuelling (normally did then on the way there) would have been minimal and the only reason they were there in daylight would have been unserviceability

[Henofred]

I agree, especially as the attack on these two "unserviceable" planes took place in the early afternoon. By the way, do we know where Ofw. Doser's Do 217 crashed? Other than "north of Vannes". Regarding the shift in days, it seems that Fw. Erhardt died later from his injuries.

Best regards,
Frederic

[Chris Goss]

VDK and NVM give no exact location

[Henofred]

Merci beaucoup Chris.

Best regards,
Frederic