Ju88 Interception off Ireland, August 1942

[Steve Brew]

Hi Chris and Tony

Thank you very much for this information, which is of great help, and very interesting indeed.

I have a page from a Group Intelligence Report, which details 41 Squadron's interception, and have just gone back to check it and found that a report on 315 Squadron's interception is on the same page. However, a part of it is missing, so I'm going to try to get a copy of the next page as well.

You are quite correct that the interception was northeast to east of Dublin - bit of finger trouble there... don't know why I wrote southwest, I must have been thinking that Dublin was southwest of the location of the interception. Sorry for that red herring.

According to 41 Squadron's Combat Reports, the Ju88 was first sighted northeast of Dublin, just north of the Kish Light Ship. They chased the aircraft down the coast, breaking off their attacking off Greystones (ca. 10 miles south of Dublin) after firing off all their ammunition. Although the Combat Reports do not mention where the Ju88 headed after it accelerated and pulled away, the Intelligence Report does, and states, "The e/a took evasive action by weaving and then flew inland over Eire." However, passing Carnsore Point, as you mention Tony, would put the aircraft off the coast, and not over the mainland, so potentially the aircraft was heading back out again...?

Tony, you also say that the Ju88 was intercepted on its return, but when 41 Squadron first sighted the aircraft at 2 o'clock they were heading north and the Ju88 was travelling towards them, which would suggest the Ju88 was heading southwest. This would make sense if it was coming from the direction of Barrow. Additionally, the chase went south, so it would follow the Ju88's general direction. I am trying to understand this in the context of your note that the Ju88 was intercepted on its return. Could you please explain what you mean, or what you understand the Ju88's route or mission to have been, please?

Also, do you know what type of Luftwaffe unit 1./F123 was?

If you’d like copies of the Intelligence Report and/or 41 Squadron Combat Reports, please contact me off-board at brewATclients.ch

Thanks and regards
Steve