Did KG 54 take part in the Warmwell Raid on 25 August 1940

[Peter Cook]

According to Siegfried Radtke's history of KG 54, Ju 88s of II Gruppe took part in the raid on Portland, Weymouth and Warmwell airfield on 25 August 'in association with II./KG 51'. However, the Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung makes no mention of KG 54 in its detailed listing of all the Luftflotte 3 units that took part in this attack, which identifies specific Geschwader (KG 51, JG 2, JG 27, JG 53, ZG 2, ZG 76 and V(Z)./LG 1), Gruppen and numbers of aircraft.

Is Radtke correct?

[Chris Goss]

No evidence that KG 54 was there-just I, II and III./KG 51

[Peter Cook]

Thanks Chris, that was my assumption, however several authors appear to have picked up on Radtke's inclusion of KG 54 in this raid.

Peter

[Nick Beale]

On the other hand, if you take a look at my website: http://www.ghostbombers.com/1940/Eag...le/edbb07.html

(Starting from the third paragraph on the page)

[Chris Goss]

Looks like KG 54 were stood down as I./KG 51 sent 9 ac, II 16 and III 12 ac to attack Warmwell with no mention at all of KG 54

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Looks like KG 54 were stood down as I./KG 51 sent 9 ac, II 16 and III 12 ac to attack Warmwell with no mention at all of KG 54

No argument there but if KG 54 were repeatedly put on standby for a raid that kept being postponed, you can see how Radtke might have got the idea that they actually had taken part.

[Peter Cook]

Thank you Andy and Nick for the additional information. I have a translation of the Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung for this date and one of the aspects that has convinced me that KG54 did not take part in this operation is that the Einzelmeldung is very detailed in its description of the units, number of aircraft, etc., and so it would be very surprising if KG54's possible role was overlooked by the detail-oriented officer that wrote the report.

Peter

[Peter T]

I have been working in detail on KG 54, and have no real proof that they took part in the raid. However, one has to be very careful with the Luftflotte 3 Meldungen, they are not complete. Several operations are missing.
Peter