Claims by 203 Sqn N Crete 26 April 41

[phasselgren]

Hi,

During a convoy escort north of Crete on the 26 April 1941 Blenheims from 203 Sqn were involved in a combat with Ju 87s and Bf 109s from Luftwaffe. Unfortunately is not the ORB is not so detailed when it comes to combat claims.

All three involved Blenheims at first attacked a single yellow nosed Ju 87 but no claims mentioned. Later “The leader of No.3 [I believe this should be “the leader and”] aircraft after close engagements with some 8 Ju 87s with front and rear gun firing many bursts at close range which entered their targets, saw the enemy were retreating Northwards ...”

Regarding the claims only the following was added: “No enemy aircraft were seen brought down but many hit.”

There are some more details in the Appendices but these are handwritten and some of the copies are really bad.

S/Ldr Gethin (Obs Sgt Harding, AG Sgt Neale) claimed to have hit at least 5 Ju 87s.
“1100/8000’ Noticed heavy A/A fire from convoy. Wear in line astern and headed in direction of A/A bursts.
7000’ Chased single JU.87 (with yellow cowling and yellow edges to black crosses on wings). Followed aircraft down to 1500’ getting in two attacks in both of which fire was seen to hit E.A.
E.A. could not be seen after this.

1110 Climbed to 10000 and engaged large number (about 20) of Ju 87’s. At least 4 were seen to be hit.

1120 Air gunner fired on one which attacked us from the starboard beam while another attacked from astern. Dived to avoid latter.

1125 Climbed up again to 6000-7000 and chased about 8 Ju 87’s in a northerly direction for about 5 minutes but did not engage them.”

F/O Lane-Sansam (Obs Sgt. Abbot, AG Sgt. LEWIS) did not get in any bursts on the first single Ju 87 but later…
“Got on tail of JU.87. Opened fire about 250 yds and held him in sights for 15 secs. Gradually drawing into about 100 yds. Tracer was seen to penetrate rear of a/c. A second short burst followed before all ammunition was used up. The rear gunner also had short burst as [unreadable] turned away.”

I have not found any claim for hits by the third crew F/L Corbould, Sgt Jenkins and Sgt McLelland but they managed to escape several Bf 109s.

In a final summary involving all three aircraft it is written:
“Engaged 5 or 6 Ju 87s total of 20-25
Convoy undamaged raiders driven off driven off [unreadable] of them damaged

According to Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete 1940-41 by Shores, Cull and Malizia observers on the ships saw at least Stuka was seen to be shot down but no German losses are recorded.

Is there any information from other sources about this combat?
Were all aircraft hit by S/Ldr Gethin and F/O Lane-Sansam officially recognised as Damaged or was one of them upgraded to Destroyed as the observers on the ships had seen?

Thanks in advance,
Peter