Who bombed Petworth Boys School, West Sussex, on 29th September 1942?

[Bombphoon]

Very sadly, on 29th September 1942, a lone Luftwaffe daylight raider bombed Petworth Boys School, West Sussex, killing 29 boys aged 7-12, plus the Headmaster, a teacher and two other civilians.

Various sources state it was a He 111, or more likely, a Ju 88, possibly of KG 6, as this website suggests:

https://www.ww2civildefence.co.uk/bl...school-victims

However, Taghon's detailed unit history of KG 6 shows the unit carried out no ops that day.

ATB The Blitz Then And Now Vol.3 barely mentions the incident in just one line.

So, which unit was the bomber from?

[Chris Goss]

This has been asked before on 12 OCH and I and others have answered. Yes KG 6 was around and about that day but no evidence has emerged so far to positively say the type, unit or crew responsible

[Bombphoon]

Thanks - I did check first before asking but nothing comes up in the Search bar if you enter 'Petworth'.

[Nick Beale]

You might find a clue in National Archives AIR 22/495: Air Ministry W/T Intelligence Service Daily Summaries: nos. 1000-1122 (1048 missing) Vol.20 (June–Sept. 1942)

[Bombphoon]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

You might find a clue in National Archives AIR 22/495: Air Ministry W/T Intelligence Service Daily Summaries: nos. 1000-1122 (1048 missing) Vol.20 (June–Sept. 1942)

Thank you Nick - I'm due down at TNA in the next couple of months so will follow it up then. Appreciated.

[Chris Goss]

It was on the pre-crash 12 OCH which someone might be able to find. Doubt whether you will find anything of note at the NA as who did it has never been found even by such a distinguished historian as Andy Saunders. He mentions it in his book Blitz over Sussex stating it was a Ju 88. It is therefore assumed to have been from KG 6 and at least two crews have been identified by me as being over UK this day

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Bombphoon

Thank you Nick - I'm due down at TNA in the next couple of months so will follow it up then. Appreciated.

Another that might be worth a look is HW 13/32. This series of files is called 'German Naval Air Activity' but (in the ones I've looked at for 1944–45) also cover Luftwaffe aircraft coming over the UK under the heading 'Offensive'.

[leonventer]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

It was on the pre-crash 12 OCH which someone might be able to find.

Hi Bombphoon,

I checked and found two threads on TOCH (from 2010 and 2013) on the bombing of Petworth School:

• http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=20394
  
  
• http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=34770

Hope that helps,
Leon Venter

[Bombphoon]

Originally Posted by leonventer

Hi Bombphoon,

I checked and found two threads on TOCH (from 2010 and 2013) on the bombing of Petworth School:

• http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=20394
  
  
• http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=34770

Hope that helps,
Leon Venter

Thank you very much Leon, appreciated.

[Bombphoon]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

Another that might be worth a look is HW 13/32. This series of files is called 'German Naval Air Activity' but (in the ones I've looked at for 1944–45) also cover Luftwaffe aircraft coming over the UK under the heading 'Offensive'.

Thank you again Nick, that's good to note.