KG1 1st April 1941

[wrekin]

Hello all,

can anyone tell me about the raid in which KG1 (Hindenburg) was involved on the night of 1st April 1941. I believe that the target was Birmingham and at least one aircraft was lost, JU88 werke number 6245.

Can anyone provide more detail on the raid and whether any other aircraft were lost? How many aircraft took part etc?

Many thanks, Tom

[Doug Stankey]

From “The Blitz, Then and Now”, Volume 2 can be gleaned that:
On the night of 1/2 April 1941, III./KG 1 raided Birmingham and suffered only one loss:
8./KG 1 lost Ju 88 A-5 (V4+BS, WNr. 6245) – flew into a hill in bad weather and crashed at Brown Clee Hill, Shropshire, crew killed.

This apparently was the only part of KG 1 involved in raids that night. I can find no other details.

DGS

[wrekin]

Many thanks Doug, that is very interesting. Now you will have to excuse my complete ignorance of Luftwaffe matters, but i have never studied their structure/make up before so perhaps you could explain a couple of things for me. When you refer to III/KG 1. What is the III? Is that the stab number of KG 1? Also you refer to 8/KG 1. What does the 8 refer to?

Many thanks, Tom

[Chris Goss]

Each Geschwader is normally made up of 3 Gruppe (I, II & III). Each Gruppe normally consists 3 Staffel (1, 2, 3 in I Gruppe; 4, 4, 6 in II Gruppe, 7, 8, 9 in III Gruppe)

[wrekin]

Thanks Chris, that makes things more clear!

Perhaps i could trouble someone for the entry in 'The Blitz then and now' for the following two dates?
15th November 1940 - KG53 bombed Coventry?
22nd October 1941 - KG606 bombed Birkenhead Docks?

Again i would be interested to know if those were the correct targets and what losses were suffered?

Many thanks, Tom

[Chris Goss]

If I can find the time I will look at the Luftwaffe records for those nights