CC losses in early Apr 1943 over Biscay

[Juha]

Hello
according to Whitley’s German Destroyers of World War Two and Brice’s Axis Blockade Runners of World War II four Kriegsmarine destroyers (Z23, Z24, Z32 and Z37) shot down 5 British aircraft while beating off attacks by Coastal Command’s Beauforts and Beaufighters while escorting Italian blockade runner Pietro Orseolo to Gironde Estuary on 30 Mar – 1 Apr 1943. On the other hand while Rohwer’s and Hummelchen’s Chronology of the War at Sea 1939 – 1945 acknowledge this combat according to it the 5 a/c were lost on 9 – 10 Apr 43 while the DDs were covering a break out attempt of the blockade runner Himalaya. On which day CC lost 5 a/c over Biscay or maybe it lost 5 planes on both occasions and what were the identities of the lost planes? According to Whitley the latter attacks were made by the Hampdens of No. 416 RCAF Sqn (this is typo for 415 Sqn RCAF) and Wimpies of the No. 311 (Czech) Sqn.


TIA
Juha

[MW Giles]

Nothing for 30th March

For 10th April

"Swordfish The Story of 415 Sqn"

On 10th April W/C Evans led five [Hampden] a/c on a torpedo strike working with 311 Sqn Wellingtons. At 20:31 hrs a convoy of one merchant vessel, a Narvik class destroyer and three T-19s was spotted. The convoy was attacked immediately through intense and accurate flak. During the course of the attack all a/c were hit. F/Sgt G A Cline and crew were shot down [P1151]. MV Himalaya damaged. W/C Evans' machine hit and engine set on fire, but fire put out and a/c brought back to St Eval escorted by two others.

"311 Sqn" P. Vancata

On 10th April Wellington X HZ268/Z flown by F/O M Sebela was heavily damaged by flak on attack on Italian ship Himalaya. F/O Sebela landed Predannack and was awarded DFC for exploit

One loss and at least two damaged, no sign of five losses

Regards

Martin

[Juha]

Great!
Thanks a lot Martin!
So it seems to be a normal overclaiming case, but clearly the AA was effective and there might have been some anti-flak Beaus also because Whitley writes that on 10 Apr "Several of the DDs were shot up by the attacking a/c, incl. Z24, which suffered a number of killed and many wounded..." and Rohwer more exactly "Z24 has five dead and 31 wounded by cannon fire" so its is possible that there were also some Beau losses.