He 111K engages Blenheims 3 Nov 40

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Guys

It never cease to amaze me the amount of knowledge on this site!

To summarize
No 248 Sq was conducting an offensive patrol in or around the Scottish / Northern Islands waters and there damaged a He 111 from 1.(F)/120. The return fire from the Heinkel most probably shot down L9392, which failed to return to base, and also damaged aircraft 'H' from the same unit. All later search patrols was of course in this area and can't have come nowhere near the European coast line.

At this point I have to make an apology. When I said 248 Sq was operating from Bircham Newton I was looking at the correct day and month but the wrong year.... The unit was in fact based at Sumburgh which then of course make their engagement with a Norwegian based aircraft perfectly clear and very obvious. In my defence I am in good company since Foreman's statement that L9392 crashed in Belgium certainly did not help...
So Andy don't walk an extra mile for me please. Concentrate on your own agenda!!

That basically leaves us with Uffz Woick and his Blenheim claim.
Peter seems pretty certain it is a false claim, and Robert says the claim was not allowed (I still don't know what that is based upon!).
I find it rather odd however that nothing in such a case flew over the Dutch coast that evening and that a junior ranking pilot just was shooting into thin air and on top received a confirmed victory for doing that.

Robert
I think this falls into your lap, can you elaborate why you believe the claim by Woicke was not allowed?

Cheers
Stig

PS: Also thanks for the additional Luftwaffe loss on Nov 4th. Really appreciated!!

[Peter Cornwell]

Stig,

I did not say that WOICK's claim was 'false' simply 'unsubstantiated' - based upon current understanding of surviving evidence. Certainly, it had nothing to do with No.248 Squadron casualties on the day.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Sorry Peter

The added 'red herring' gave me that impression.
Anyway it does not add or give us any further clue what Woick was chasing that day....

Cheers
Stig

[andy bird]

Peter, Chris, Stig and Robert,

I've managed to read and copy the following AM Report which concerns G/248:

Dated 4 November 1940
(All reports had to reach AM London by 6 pm otherwise they were written up the following day or presiding days)

Routine Patrol:

S.A. 1 (e) 0930 - 1057 3 Blenheims (f) Sumburgh

Results:

At 0915 one e/a sighted off Fair Isle 035 degrees. Three fighters were detailed and interception was effected. One fighter aircraft was lost and He 111 was reported as damaged.

Heading: Offensive Sorties and Strikes:

Hours: 10:10

Number of aircraft and Station:

5 Blenheims Sumburgh

Type of Patrol:

Strike at enemy aircraft

Area:

About position 171 degrees FAIR ISLE 34 miles

RESULTS:

Blenheim aircraft Z of No. 248 Squadron engaged a Heinkel 111 at 1146 hours between the position 090 degrees Duncansby Head 130 miles. The Blenheim fired all its front gun ammunition scoring many hits on the enemy aircraft. The rear gun being silenced after the first attack. The Heinkel was last seen going into cloud cover with dense white smoke which changed to black pouring from its starboard engine. Aircraft H also attacked the same Heinkel which was last seen diving steeply seawards with dense smoke pouring from it as it entered a cloud near sea level. It is considered unlikely that in its condition that it could reach its base.

CASUALTIES:

Last seen during initial attack Blenheim aircraft G of No. 248 Squadron missing from strike at enemy aircraft in a position 171 degrees FAIR ISLES 34 miles.

SPECIAL PATROLS & RECONNAISSANCES FLOWN:

Hours: 1445-1635

Number of aircraft and Station:

3 Blenheims Sumburgh

Type of Patrol:

Search for Blenheim aircraft G of No. 248 Squadron

Area:

Over area of encounter enclosed by the following positions: 035 degrees FAIR ISLES 40 miles; 020 degrees FAIR ISLES 15 miles; 130 degrees FAIR ISLES 120 miles; 115 degrees FAIR ISLES 120 miles;

RESULT:

No wreckage or dinghy sighted of aircraft G of No. 248 Squadron nor wreckage sighted of Heinkel 111

Also written on 4 November 1940 is:

RAF Intelligence W/T Transmitters:

Luftwaffe Operations carried out from Norway over North East Scotland by K.G. 26

20 to 35 aircraft of K.G. 26 are at present known to be operating from Stavanger.

3 November one damaged Heinkel 111 landed Stavanger with injured airmen.

Regards
Andy

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Andy

Shows very clearly the unit was in a totally different area than I first imagined.
But to be honest I was convinced long before this. I only wish there would be some indication what Woick was chasing much later over the Dutch coast...

Cheers
Stig