3(F)121 Operation 7 August 1940

[Andy Saunders]

Originally Posted by Peter Cornwell

Chris,

Just so, Luftflotte 3 tasked 2 Do17Ps of 3.(F)/31 that started at 6.10 hours to recce Falmouth and shipping in LQ 15W/50,60,70.

All interesting stuff, and thank you one and all for adding to what I have.

The two Dornier 17's were (according to ULTRA) apparently 5D+EL and PH+NX (???) the latter sounding rather like factory codes to me, but I stand to be corrected! Either way, 5D+EL was tasked to recce shipping in squares 50,60 and 70 and PH+NX was to recce shipping in Falmouth harbour.

On the 8th we also have 3.(F)/31 sending out 5D+HL for a similar mission at 05.00 and another (5D+KL) recce to 50/60/70 to check Falmouth and weather and taking off at 16.30.

There is some difference in the timings you quote, Peter, (06.10 as opposed to 04.10) and I am wondering if this might be explained by the various use of German (Central European) and British times here? It was getting light around 05.00 (British time) just as a point of interest, but the timings do in any event throw up a question that further examination of Ultra would have probably eventually answered for me; that is, what times were being used in Ultra? Were the transcripts "converted" to British time? Equally, what time is being used by Heinrich Weiss and EOE?

Nick Beale might be best placed to answer the question about ULTRA timings.

I am still hopeful that we will get some absolute confirmation that a L/W unit observed CW9 assembling in the Thames Estuary during the day on 7 August.