Luftwaffe Air Attacks 20 Aug 40

[Chris Goss]

The above date was quiet air-wise but the railway stations at Neath and Newton Abbot were attacked with civilian casualties at both. 213 Sqn claimed to have intercepted Ju 88s from the former attack at 1840 hrs, shooting down 2 but neither Peter C nor myself have any German (or RAF) losses. Can anyone help as to the identity of the German unit (LG 1 or KGr 806?)-nothing mentioned in Luftflotte 3 records

[Matti Salonen]

2./KGr. 806 reported two losses at Trevose Head, Cornwall, but unfortunately NVMs have no detailed info, only names. Could these be "yours"?

1.
Flugzeugführer Uffz Hartmann, Jochen, +
Beobachter Lt.z.S Miehr, Helmut, vermißt
Bordfunker Gefr Königshof, Jakob, vermißt
Bordmechaniker Fw Dose, Klaus, +
Absturz infolge Jägerbeschuß. Bruch 100 %.

2.
Flugzeugführer Uffz Conrad, Kurt, vermißt
Beobachter Lt.z.S von Davidson, Detlef, +
Bordfunker Gefr Fischer, Franz, vermißt
Bordmechaniker Fw Stenzel, Max, vermißt
Absturz infolge Jägerbeschuß. Bruch 100 %.

Matti

[Chris Goss]

Matti: These were lost 21 Aug 40 and were victims of another sqn but thanks for looking

[Nick Beale]

Way back there was a local history booklet about the Newton Abbot attack but I don't recall it identifying the attackers (I think three bombers were involved). It showed where the bombs fell, I think but was mostly from the railway perspective - photos of damaged rolling stock etc.

[edNorth]

Yes, clearly 21st in GQM (23.09.40 / Page 34) on the two from KuFlGr 806 (one was Lt.z.see v. Davidson, other name Lt.z.See. Miehr)

.... Ju 88 III/KG 77 (Luftflotte 2)
Non-OPS (H) crash landed due (shooting?) damage (30%) at Obertraubling Airfield 20.08.1940 (no injuries) (04v22.08.40)

.... Ju 88 A-1 8./KG 30 (Luftflotte 5)
OPS (F) downed by RAF at "Thosby" 20.08.1940 (20v23.08.40)
(i.e. 4D+IS III/KG 30 Patrington, Hull 19:10 20.08)

20.08.1940 (entry 12 of 22.08.40)
Bf 110 D 2./Erpr. Gr. 210 "unbekannt" "Aldebrough" (2 missing)

quiet days, indeed.
Ed

[Chris Goss]

....and nowhere near the west of England. I believe it fits LG 1's MO but I have nothing to support this. I have checked the reports again and irritatingly, I beleive a number of reports are missing. However, a Ju 88 of I/LG 1 carried out an armed recce that morning which took in Exeter-Pyle and Bridgend which would indicate that the targets later on were in therse areas. The following day, KGr 806 and II/LG 1 carried out a series of airfield attacks in the same region thus supporting the theory that the attack on Newton Abbot and Neath could have been by these units

[hucks216]

There is nothing about any attacks on the 20th August in Die Geschichte Des Lehrgeschwaders 1 by Peter Taghorn. For Ju-88's the closest dates are for losses are on the 17th & 22nd with one loss on the 22nd near Portland Bill.
The closest entry I can find for any LG related unit is this one for the 21st and the area does fit for the second attack with Exeter not being all that far from Newton Abbot...

Time - 1340
Unit - II/LG-1
Target - Penrhos Airfield - Angriff wg. Jagdabwehr bei Newport abgebrochen.

Time - 1440
Unit - II/LG-1
Target - Yeovil Airfield - 1630 Uhr. Sturzangriff auf Ausweichziel Flugplatz Exeter. 2 Treffer (LLZ) in Flughallen, 2 daneben, der größte Teil der Hallen ist beschädigt.

Time - 1822
Unit - II/LG-1
Target - Angriff Flugplatz Yeovil - Auftrag abgebrochen Schlechtwetter.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by hucks216

The closest entry I can find for any LG related unit is this one for the 21st and the area does fit for the second attack with Exeter not being all that far from Newton Abbot...

Sturzangriff auf Ausweichziel Flugplatz Exeter. 2 Treffer (LLZ) in Flughallen, 2 daneben, der größte Teil der Hallen ist beschädigt.

Exeter Airport is about 8 km east of the city centre (with, back then, miles of open country in between the two), Newton Abbot is 22 km to the SSW of Exeter.

http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/...ewtonAbbot.htm

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bombing-Newt.../dp/1873029012

[Chris Goss]

There were attacks on 21 Aug and this corresponds with the Luftflotte 3 reports