Biscay Action 28th December 1943

[Chris Goss]

I can add a little more on the attacks:

28 Dec: 4 Condors of III/KG 40 took off between 0636 & 0800 hrs. Hptm Dette's (9/KG 40) aircraft ditched following engine fire at 1100 hrs, another ac turned back with engine problems. 1305 hrs a cruiser and a "destroyer" spotted PlQ 24W/2737. Having avoided a Halifax and a Catalina, at 1315 hrs two attacks carried out.

1514-1545 hrs, 16 He 177s of II//KG 40 took off and between 1820-1850 hrs, 9 ac (6 couldn't find target in bad weather) attacked. Hptm Bernhard Eidhoff of 5/KG 40 had been intercepted by Sqn Ldr Taps Tappin of 157 Sqn & shot down whilst another (one of the 6 that couldn't find the targets) suffered engine failure and force-landed (still with its Hs 293) and Merignac (40% damage),

Quite a busy day with all sorts of aircraft operating over the Bay. The following day, 4 Condors took off between 0507-0523 hrs and spotted alll sorts of things including Hptm Dette's crew in a dinghy. Hptm Schabert of 7/KG 40 just went missing, no cause given