LG1 and 1/KG54 attack Leicester - please help!

[Bombphoon]

Hi everyone - this is my first posting on this very interesting forum.

I'm writing to kindly ask if anyone can help me with some research I am doing.

I have been given some documents that show the Luftwaffe bomber units LG1 and 1/KG54 bombed Leicester on 19/20 November 1940.

I have the book 'Kampfgeschwader 54: Eine Chronik Nach Kriegstagebuchern, Dokumneten und Berichten 1935-1945' by Siegfried Radtke, Schild-Verlag (1990), but unfortunately it makes no mention of the raid.

I see there is a book called 'Die Geschichte des Lehrgeschwaders 1: Band 1: 1936-1942' by Peter Taghon. Does anyone own it? Can they please tell me if it mentions the Leicester raid of 19/20 November 1940?

Does anyone have any further info on this raid?

Anyone who is able to answer these questions will get a full credit in the book I am writing on the air raids on Leicestershire.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this posting.

[steve sheridan]

Hi Bombphoon,
I have Taghon's book and a check for that date reveals that there is no mention of Leicester raided for that night!
The primary target appears to be Birmingham, with 16x Junkers 88's despatched between 22.27 and 23.08hrs. The other details mentions type of bombs used.
Sorry cant provide more info!

Best regs,
Steve.

[Bombphoon]

Hi Steve

Many thanks for your speedy reply!
Square this one! Leicester civil defence reports state that about 150 HE bombs were dropped on the city, yet Bundesarchiv records state that only one Ju88 of LG1 and one Ju88 of 1/KG54 attcked Leicester that night!

I know that bombs were often double reported on the ground by more than one person leading to exaggerated bomb reports, but even so, to get that number (150) the two aircraft would have to have dropped SD2 butterflies! But the damage was much more severe, SC50's and above.

Also, does anyone know if more than one German guidance beam could be used on a raid (i.e. one beam on Birmingham and one on Leicester?) or did they only use one beam per night/raid?

Thanks again

[steve sheridan]

Hi Bombphoon, glad i could help, albeit not giving you the info your seeking!
Perhaps maybe you could help me? From Radtke's book on KG54 do you have any information on losses for either 20.5.40 or 30.5.40. Looking to tie up scant information i have from another source.

Best regs,
Steve.

[Bombphoon]

Will look it up tonight Steve.

Any ideas about my beam question?

Cheers

[steve sheridan]

Hi Bpn! Many thanks for looking.
Sorry i cant help with searchlight querie, i have no information as such, on
searchlight beams etc. Perhaps you might have luck posting a separate thread.
Good luck with your querie.
Steve.

[Bombphoon]

Originally Posted by steve sheridan

Hi Bombphoon, glad i could help, albeit not giving you the info your seeking!
Perhaps maybe you could help me? From Radtke's book on KG54 do you have any information on losses for either 20.5.40 or 30.5.40. Looking to tie up scant information i have from another source.

Best regs,
Steve.

Hi Steve

According to Radtke, there were no losses on either 20th or 30th May 1940 (but there were 15 losses on 19/5 - all to fighters - looks like quite a battle!)

Hope this makes sense

Cheers

Austin

[steve sheridan]

Good morning Austin,
Thank you for checking the dates i asked for, it would seem i have been mis-lead with information, from another source.
I have had information from another member which confrms the same as yourself. Thanks for looking.
Steve.

Ps. the info i was given relates to losses from KG4 and not KG54!!

Originally Posted by Bombphoon

Hi everyone - this is my first posting on this very interesting forum.

I'm writing to kindly ask if anyone can help me with some research I am doing.

I have been given some documents that show the Luftwaffe bomber units LG1 and 1/KG54 bombed Leicester on 19/20 November 1940.

I have the book 'Kampfgeschwader 54: Eine Chronik Nach Kriegstagebuchern, Dokumneten und Berichten 1935-1945' by Siegfried Radtke, Schild-Verlag (1990), but unfortunately it makes no mention of the raid.

I see there is a book called 'Die Geschichte des Lehrgeschwaders 1: Band 1: 1936-1942' by Peter Taghon. Does anyone own it? Can they please tell me if it mentions the Leicester raid of 19/20 November 1940?

Does anyone have any further info on this raid?

Anyone who is able to answer these questions will get a full credit in the book I am writing on the air raids on Leicestershire.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this posting.

Hi.we had a stick of bombs that night dudley" here.
as bomb damage in front of my church still bares the scars from a direct hit over road shop. also west midlands were subject to raids too. wton bean works and bsa works too in wton.that night.Gary