May 3, 1943 - Amsterdam power station raid - 487 Sqn Venturas wiped out - was there an earlier fighter sweep?

Hi All,

I am researching this mission for a book project and am trying to resolve a question re a possible mistimed fighter sweep and would be extremely grateful for any assistance. So far I have found that:

On May 3, 1943 twelve 487 Squadron Lockheed Venturas took off from RAF Methwold at 4.43pm for an attack on the Amsterdam Power Station. Their escorts were the Spitfire Vs from the Coltishall Wing (167 Squadron and 118 Squadron) alongside 504 Squadron's Spitfire Vs which had been called in from 10 Group for the raid, the latter 2 Squadrons taking off from Coltishall between 4.50 and 5pm.

After 25 minutes at 0 feet over the Channel the Venturas began their battle climb. At this point the Spitfire began lagging behind. When 10 miles from the Dutch coast the Venturas were at 10-12,000 feet and still climbing. 118 and 167 Squadrons were higher than the Venturas but behind them. 504 Squadron had dropped their long range tanks in an effort to keep up but were now 3 miles behind.

At this point up to 70 German fighters were reported and the Spitfire Squadrons were completely contained. In terms of the opposing German fighters the concrete information I have found is that there was a Schwarm of Bf109Gs from 2/JG27 from Leeuwarden and 28 Fw190As from II/JG1 from Woensdrecht, although the Gesschwardergruppe of JG26 appeared near the end of the battle.

With the Spitfires contained the remaining German fighters fell on the Venturas and shot 10 of the 11 bombers down, only 1 making it back to Methwold with two seriously injured gunners on board. Claimants were JG1 (9) and JG27 (1).

What I have found in almost all sources to account for the Luftwaffe's appearance in force is reference to a fighter sweep to the Flushing area, planned as a diversion, that had taken off 30 minutes too early and had, in fact, flown to Ijmuiden, the very area that the Venturas were heading to, thus fully alerting the defenders (implying a high altitude sweep likely by Spitfire IXs) and being recalled due to running low on fuel before the bombers came in.

The problem I am trying to resolve is that the sources refer to this sweep as Rodeo 212. However, Rodeo 212 involved the Kenley Wing taking off at 5.25pm and flying to Nieuwpoort on the Belgian coast before making a right turn and heading back west along to Cassel where, near Samer at 22,000 feet, the Wing bounced a formation of Fw190s, 416 Squadron claiming 2 destroyed (Donald Caldwell's JG26 records a Fw190 from 6/JG26 and a Bf109G from 11/JG54 as the victims). I don't believe this sweep can be the one referred to as the cause of the Ventura force's demise as it takes off later and is in the wrong area.

However, I can find no other reference to a fighter sweep on this day in the relevant ORBs and John Foreman's Fighter Command War Diaries does not show one either.

My question is, as there is usually no smoke without fire, was there an earlier sweep to the Flushing area and, if so, which units were involved and what was the Rodeo number?!

Many thanks for any consideration of my enquiry!
Andrew