Do 217

[ironcross]

HI

I am trying to locate a Dornier 217 bomber that bombed Reading, Berkshire on
wednesday afternoon 10th February 1943 it was a single aircraft possibly from ll/KG2, this was one of the only raids inflicted on Reading and certainly the heaviest killing 41 and injuring 158

the aircraft came in very low in a North westerly direction and was shot
down believed to be by a Spitfire near Newbury Berkshire later that afternoon

I would like help on at least what unit it was operating from and possibly any
other information concerning the said aircraft Type, Unit lettering and possible colour schemes

The reason I am so interested is I am a part time Aviation artist and this was
an interesting local event witnessed by my father and I would like to portray as accurate a picture as possible

All help would be gratefully recieved

Thanks in advance

Ironcross

[Brian Bines]

The KG2 history by Ulf Balke states 29 aircraft from KG2 and II/KG40 set out on nuisance raids against the UK on the 10th. The book lists 16 places attacked including Reading town centre at 1633 hrs. from a height of 40m. One Do217 of 5/KG40 was shot down by AA at Saltdean, Brighton and another from the same unit fell to light AA near Tangmere. KG2 did not report any losses.
Other Do217s shot down in the period had dark green upper surfaces(two shade splinter) and lamp black undersurfaces.
A Do217 was reported heavily damaged in an attack by a spitfire on the 9th, one crewman killed and the rest baled out N/W of Boulogne. Attacks on the 9th were reported as happening during the morning mainly in coastal areas from the south ( Southampton) to East Anglia with a small number of incidents in the London region.

[Chris Goss]

There were no claims for Do 217s by fighters this day

[ironcross]

Thanks for the info Brian
would you have any idea what codes and unit emblems the Do 217 carried if it was from KG2 or ll/KG40 and also could the Dornier have been a 217E2 or another later variant

[Flying_pencil]

Originally Posted by ironcross

Thanks for the info Brian
would you have any idea what codes and unit emblems the Do 217 carried if it was from KG2 or ll/KG40 and also could the Dornier have been a 217E2 or another later variant

History of KG2 is here:
http://www.ww2.dk/air/kampf/kg2.htm

U5+xx was the unit markings for KG2

[Brian Bines]

In the first quarter of 1943 the loss list in the KG2 book lists all losses as the Do217E-4, both KG40 losses on the 10th were E-4s. Code for II/KG40 would be F8+ followed by aircrafts individual letter and then the Staffel code M if 4th St., N if 5th. St. or P if 6th St.

[Bombphoon]

If you haven't got them already, you should get the following books which cover the raids in some detail:

'Reading at War’ by Stuart Hylton, Sutton Publ. (1996)
‘The Bombing of Newbury 10.2.1943’ Brian Philpott, Pegasus Publ. (1989)

‘Here in Newbury in the Second World War’ Frances M. Berry (1999)
-‘Take the Second World War Trail Around Newbury Town Centre’ West Berkshire Museum, 2nd Edition (September 2001)
-‘The Home Front 1939-1945: Leaflet No. 2: Commandeered Buildings in the Newbury Area’ West Berkshire Museum (1993)
-‘The Home Front 1939-1945: Leaflet No. 4: Bombs Dropped on the Newbury Area’ West Berkshire Museum (1993)

[ironcross]

Thanks chaps
the information gleaned from you has been extremely useful, you guys really know your stuff
Going by the reported losses for the day it looks most likely to me have been a Dornier Do 217E4 from ll/KG40
I will see if I can get my hands on some of those books they look interesting reading
cheers

[liberator]

Chichester city centre was bombed later the same day and the Dornier responsible was shot down by AA fire crashed at Lagness, South of Chichester
Possibly also a 217 E-4 from 11/KG40?