Raids over southern England 19/8/42

[Steve49]

Can anybody provide any additional information on the Luftwaffe raids over Southern England in repsonse to the Dieppe raid.

The Fighter Command ORB noted that an estimated 45 bombing sorties targeted the area. Bombs appear to have fallen around Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester and the Solent.

Three KGr106 Ju88's were lost and a KG77 Ju88 suffered 60% damage, but it has so far proved difficult to identify the results (if any) of these raids.

Any help or ideas for sources gratefully received.

Regards,

Steve

[Chris Goss]

A total of 50 German bombers came overland that evening; only the following attacked:

Portsmouth: 1 x Do 217 from I/KG 2, 6 Ju 88s from I/KG 77, 8 x Ju 88 KuFlGr 106

Shipping: 1 x Do 217 III/KG 2; 3 x Do 217 II/KG 40, 2 x Ju 88 I/KG 77, 1 x Ju 88 from I/KG 1 (under the command of II/KG 54); 1 x Ju 88 KuFlGr 106

Winchester: 1 x Ju 88 KuFl 106

Thorney Island: 1 x Ju 88 KuFlGr 106

Shanklin: 1 x Do 217 II/KG 40

General IoW targets: 4 x Ju 88 I/KG 77

Those who did not attack were: 3 from I/KG 2, 3 II/KG 2, 2 III/KG 2, 2 II/KG 40, 3 I/KG 1, 3 KuFlGr 106

Source: Einzelmeldung Nr 7 20.8.40

[Steve49]

Chris,

Thanks for that. Where there another four unidentified aircraft that failed to attack?

I don't suppose the Einzelmeldung gives any information on the number of aircraft that failed to return?

Regards,

Steve

ADM 199/421 at TNA notes that bombs fell on Fareham, Gosport, Lee-on-Solent, Cosham, Eastney, Shanklin and Ryde causing 'slight damage and few casualties'. Anybody have any idea where I could fine more information on this?

[Chris Goss]

Steve: 4 missing were the 4 lost-3 from KuFlGr 106 & the I/KG 77 ac that crash-landed at Auzouville.

There used to be a file in the NA which listed exactly where bombs were dropped and at what time. How about the County Records at Winchester?

Re the locations, the II/KG 40 ac attacked Shanklin from 200m with 2 x SD500 & 8 x SC50 and saw 2 SD500s hit houses at 1955 hrs. The I/KG 77 aicraft dropped 16 SC500s in and around the IOW 1905-1937 hrs

[Brian Bines]

Not much but the Home Office Key Points file shows in the weeks summary ' One RAF Aerodome at Ford Sussex was hit on the 19th. On the same day bombs were dropped in the Portsmouth area and also on the night of the 20th '. Then for Key Points affected it shows on the 19th (day) SUSSEX- RAF aerodrome Ford and HAMPSHIRE - Southern Railway System Portsmouth -with Bombs also falling in Sussex, Dorset, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Steve49]

Thanks for that Chris & Brian.

According to the Ford ORB four bombs were dropped onto the airfield without causing any casualties, though two 605 Sqn Boston's appear to have suffered Cat A damage (They're noted in the squadron ORB as being damaged after 2-3 aircraft 'jettisoned' four bombs near the squadron office).

I'll try and find the bombing information on my next trip to the NA.

Chris I don't suppose you know the targets the four missing aircraft?

Regards,

Steve

[Chris Goss]

Targets for the casualties were not stated but the pilot of the one that came down on the IoW said shipping.

I would guess that the KuFlGr 106 aircraft that attacked Thorney Island actually attacked Ford-it dropped 4 SC 250s from 120M at 1851 hrs but did not see the result

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by Steve49

ADM 199/421 at TNA notes that bombs fell on Fareham, Gosport, Lee-on-Solent, Cosham, Eastney, Shanklin and Ryde causing 'slight damage and few casualties'. Anybody have any idea where I could fine more information on this?

You can check the CWGC website. On the search page, choose 'cemeteries' and then type the name of the borough/county/town where bombs fell.

You will then see in the list the list of civilians killed in the area. With their death place, but not the cause of their death. But then you can investigate.

A quick search revealed that an ARP man died in Ryde on 19/8/42 and two Air Warden in Gosport on the 20th. Wether they were killed by bombs, and during this night or the 18/19 or 20/21 has to be confirmed by more precise local records.

Hope it helps

[Chris Goss]

According to the NVM and War Graves site, 19 Aug 42

[Steve49]

Laurent,

Thanks for that suggestion, I'll work my way through the CWGC site.

Chris,

I didn't notice Uffz Mang whilst working through the loss lists at the IWM, but if his date of death is 19th August I guess it is highly probable that his death is related to the raids over the returning Jubilee Force/Southern England. Is it possible that he was in the Ju88 that forcelanded at Chateaudun?

Regards,

Steve