Identity British bomber damaged in combat, 30-31 August 1940?

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

On the night of 30-31 August 1940, a Bf110 in the hands of Oblt. Griese of 2./NJG1 made three successive attacks on a British bomber on its return flight, probably over the Southern provinces of the Netherlands at a height of some 3000 m at 01.47 hrs. He pressed home his attacks from 150 to 30 m, receiving no return fire. His quarry was last seen trailing a thick plume of smoke and was then lost in the darkness of the night.
Who can help with the identity of the bomber?

Cheers and thanks, Theo

[Alex Smart]

Chorley's RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War vol 1, pages104/5.
Has the following Losses.
18 Sqn - Blenheim IV - L9378 - Op: NW Germany.
40 Sqn - Blenheim IV - L9326 - Op: Emden.
50 Sqn - Hampden I - L4079 - 0p: Monchengladbach.
58 Sqn - Whitley V - P5002 - Op: Berlin.
110 Sqn - Blenheim IV - R3773 - Op: Emden.
214 Sqn - Wellington 1a - P2530 - Op: Berlin.
214 Sqn - Wellington Ic - T2559 - Op: Berlin.
However the aircraft that was attacked may well have reached home base safely.
Hope this is a help
Alex

[Theo Boiten]

Hello Alex,

Thanks for these details; I do have the info on the actual BBC losses on this night, but need to narrow down the a/c that got back home damaged in this case, and that can be tied to the attacks by Griese.

Cheers, Theo

[phasselgren]

Hello Theo,

From No. 3 Group Appendices (AIR 25/59):
Night 30/31st August 1940
99 Sqn, Captain F/O Davidson, “A/c hit in encounter with ME110 near Dutch coast. Hydraulic system damaged. Enemy a/c believed brought down by rear gunner.”

Cheers, Peter

[Theo Boiten]

Cheers and thanks for these useful details Peter!

Best, Theo

[Martin Gleeson]

Thanks to Theo and Peter for highlighting this incident, a new one to me. It has prompted me to put up a new entry for it on my website. There is no mention of any damage to this aircraft or even of the engagement in the 99 Squadron ORB or AIR 14/2666 ‘Bomber Command Night Bomb Raid Sheets’ file. From what I can see in the 99 Sqn. ORB this appears to have been the first operational mission for this crew, quite an eventful one ! As noted below, damage to the Wellington must have been severe from the gun fire or the landing. If R3287 was never flown again, it may have been an unrecognized victory for Griese and his crew.

Wellington IC R3287. Hit by fire from a Bf 110 piloted by Oblt. Heinrich Griese of 2./NJG 1 near the Dutch coast at approximately 00.47 a.m. (31st ) (British time) during a sortie to attack Soest aerodrome (target ‘M.116’) in the Netherlands. Hydraulic system damaged. 70160 F/O John Peter Archibald Davidson (Pilot), 74967 P/O Alwyn Oswald Laurence Stevens (2nd pilot), 79754 P/O Douglas Geoffrey Martin (Obs.), Sgt. Wesley (WOp/AG), Sgt. Fraser (AG), 78748 P/O Maurice Lowden Gauntlett (AG, rear) all unhurt. Aircraft sent for repair, but it is not certain from its subsequent history that it was ever flown again.
Sources: ‘RAF Commands’ forum (Theo Boiten and Peter ‘Phasselgren’, 11 & 13-9-2025. With reference to AIR 25/59 3 Group Appendices, only source for this damage), 99 Sqn. ORB (AIR 27/788, p. 134 & 135 for names, 146-147; F.540 only for August 1940. Sortie details, but no mention of damage or action with an enemy aircraft), AIR 14/2666 ‘Bomber Command Night Bomb Raid Sheets, Vol. 3, July-Aug. 1940’ (under 3 Group, Night of 30/31st August 1940. Mission details, but no mention of any damage or action with an enemy aircraft), F.78, August 1940 Air Force List.
Note 1. Oblt. Griese noted the time of his attack as 1.47 a.m. (31st ) (German time), but probably did not make a victory claim as he only recorded the enemy bomber flying away leaving a trail of thick smoke.
Note 2. Based on the 99 Sqn. ORB this may have been the first operational mission for the Wellington crew.
Note 3. If the hydraulic system was indeed damaged, the crew may have had to carry out a belly-landing on the airfield. Damage to the Wellington must have been severe, as it was Taken On Charge by 4 M.U. at Brooklands for repair on 5 September 1940. It is not clear from its subsequent history as recorded on the F.78 that it was ever flown again.

https://martinaviationpages.com/

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Martin,

Thanks for these interesting additional details and comments. I can only add that Griese filed his claim as a 'probable victory', which was never confirmed as a definitive victory by the powers that be.

Cheers, Theo