9 August 1944 DO217 north of Gironde 2055 BST

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

III./KG 100
Aug 44: the first known use of a “smart” weapon against a land target occurred during the night of 2/3 August.

FWIW, I've now found a few earlier instances, starting on 5 July 1944, against French Resistance targets. These will be incorporated in the next update to my website.

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

FWIW, I've now found a few earlier instances, starting on 5 July 1944, against French Resistance targets. These will be incorporated in the next update to my website.

I think that "night of 2/3 August" claim came from Ulf Balke's KG 100 unit history and illustrates one's precarious footing in making "first", "last", "biggest", "fastest", etc., claims about anything!

L.

[Chris Goss]

11 Mossies of 235 Sqn escorting a Tsetse of 248 Sqn shot down two Do 217s of III./KG 100 between Les Sables D'Olonne and Penmarch; again covered in full in the forthcoming book