He 111 attacking Cambrai airfield May 1940

[John Manrho]

Does anybody know on which date Cambrai airfield was attacked by He 111 in May 1940? I do not know the unit either. Reportedly I./ZG 26 flew Begleitschutz for the He 111's and Hptm. Kogler of 1./ZG 26 is said to have strafed the airfield after the attack and destroyed 10 Curtiss fighters on the ground. I would like to know the date of the attack and if there is any substantiation for his claim.

John

[Bertrand H]

Hi John,

The first attack over Cambrai-Niergnies a/f was on 10 may at 4h45 ; according to the war diary of GC III/2 (on MS 406 not on Curtiss H-75 !) the A/f attacked by six He111. GC III/2 lost 13 (!) aircraft.

The second attack occured on 17 may 1940. Nine bombers were attacking about 8h45 (French time) ; they wrote Dornier but another sources gives HE111...

HTH

Bertrand

[John Manrho]

Hello Bertrand,

Thank you, this is very helpful. Do you know if there was damage/losses during the second attack? This attack seems to match the description of the strafing of Hptm. Kogler.

John

[Bertrand H]

Hi John,

On 17 may, three MS 406 took off when the bombers bombed the a/f ; the Morane of Cne Lansoy had been received some shrapnells but did the mission.

At the end of the morning what Morane and personnels who stayed at Cambrai-Niergnies left for Beauvais and let plenty of Morane wrecked (24 a/c)

Bertrand

[Pieter H]

Hi John.
I'm still confused on this one.

To start, the first three days of the campaign I./ZG26 was assigned to Do17s of KG2 and KG3 that operated over Reims, nowhere near Cambrai.
From May 13 I./ZG26 operated in the sector West of the River Meuse North of Valenciennes, and mostly over Belgium, mainly escorting KG1 and KG76.
So difficult to find a match there.

Cambrai was initially the sector of KG27, and on the early morning of May 10 was attacked by II./KG27. No reports of escorting fighters.

On May 16 Cambrai was attacked by I./KG2, but as far as I can see without Bf110 escort.
On May 17 Cambrai was attacked by II./KG76, again without known Bf110 escort.

So, overall it remains difficult to match I/ZG76 to an escort flight of He111s during an attack on Cambrai. But then again, many missing data, so nothing is impossible.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,


Pieter

[Bertrand H]

Hi

On 16 may 1940 the A/F of Cambrai is not attacked ; about 17h30 twenty bombers are over the A/F and are went to Valenciennes.

Bertrand