Petworth Boys School bombing by Ju88

[Andy Saunders]

If they are alive then obviously they will be in very advanced years. With respect, and I hope you wont mind me saying so, but approaching them about an attack where they may have caused the deaths of twenty eight children and two teachers might be rather insensitive.

I hope you don't think me to be out of order for saying this and I have little doubt that you will be fully aware of the sensitivities involved.

[Brian Bines]

Nick,

Take for example Faulhabers's 3E+DH, the 3E was the code for the unit KG6, the D was the individual aircraft letter which could be in the staffel colour or just outlined in the staffel colour, while the H ( 1st. Staffel) was was the staffel letter. So an aircraft of 2/KG6 could have its individual letter appearing after the fuselage cross in red followed by K for 2nd. Staffel.
Just from memory one of the last He111's shot down on the UK in daylight was in June 1942, when He111s of Ep.KdoXY attempted an attack on Avonmouth Docks in condition of low cloud and rain. The leader of the raid Hpt. Langer and his crew falling in combat with the Beaufighter of W/C Cunningham in the Shaftesbury area. Other He111s in the period fell on night raids.
Regarding the Petworth raid the only reference I can find for that day is KG6, of which it can only be said they were a strong contender for this attack, but the evidence is not conclusive,

Brian Bines

[Chris Goss]

Just checked the ops logbook of Ofw Karl Rumpf from Faulhaber's crew and it adds nothing apart from TO Creil 1037 (1137 UK time) land 1220 hrs and it was a Tiefangriff on the English south coast

[nickle]

Chris, what I mean by going after your educated guess is starting off researching back into these two pilots. Before today I just had a Ju88. Now I might have possible pilots. I'm not going to guess that it was either of them, but you all give me an excellent place to start digging. If I turn up with nothing associating either of them with Petworth, then I won't assume anything and the pilot will go unknown. I'll only go forward if I can positively identify the crew. And as you say that Faulhaber's log put him over Creil at 1137 UK time, that puts him out the picture. Which leaves me Lt Lucke. Can you tell me anything about him?

Andy, I have no intention of blundering in and haunting these men. If I wished to be critical of them, then I would have to be critical of almost every allied pilot who flew bombing missions over enemy territory. This is a part of my local history which I am researching. I understand it is sensitive. Some people talk about their experiences, some don't. I have found both with researching this subject. I have the perspective of those who were in the school at the time, those who lost relatives and those who dug the boys out. I have nothing about the aircraft or its crew. And it is not the bombing of a school I am looking at, it is the fact that a German bomber hit Petworth. I have sat in the crater made by an He111 in Northchapel, I know who the crew were, I have eye witness accounts and I know who shot it down. I'm also trying to find out about a V1 which hit Northchapel. Had the bombs hit their intended target, I would have been searching for the crew just the same. Should I ever find out who the crew were, and if they're still alive, I'd like to make enquiries as to whether they'd be willing to talk to me,most likely through here. If not, I'd leave it. But the people who I've spoken to, who were in the classrooms and one of whom lost their brother, would just like to know. They've had this long of just not knowing. I hope that allays any thoughts you might have that I'd do something without thinking.

Brian, thanks for explaining the markings. With names and squadrons, I might be able to make some headway. Is there anywhere particular in Germany that I can make any enquiries? Between yourself and Chris with logbooks, if you can't come up with the names of the crew with the knowledge you seem to have, I can only imagine I'll be looking into an archive in Germany. Just which one and where? But with some clues to work on now, I at least have a good start. If I can't associate Lt Lucke with Petworth with the information you've given me, then I guess I'm going to be out of luck.

Thankyou all for all your assistance.

Nick

[Chris Goss]

I am afraid that I can add nothing further that is conclusive

[nickle]

Chris, is there anything you can tell me about Lt Lucke, anything at all? And please, does anybody have a suggestion of where I should be looking in Germany?

[Andy Saunders]

Sorry Nick, I wasn't trying to teach grandmother to suck eggs. Hope you took my comment in the spirit it was intended and good luck with your research.

I have quite a bit on the He 111 at Ebernoe/Northchapel by the way.

[nickle]

Andy... do you mean Hauptmann Sabler's He111 of Kg 55 which came down on Upper Frithfold Farm? I'd be very interested to know anything you have. I've got a fair bit, but am always searching for that little bit more. I have Pilot Officer Goodman accredited with shooting it down and I really wanted to get a testimony about him, but the gentleman I asked, through sending emails off to various people, never replied. But if you have anything, I'd love to see it...!

Nick

[Brian Bines]

Nick,

See the two sites, the BundesArchiv may be able to help if there are records held of reports to Ob.der Luftwaffe on luftwaffe activity in the period http://www.feldgrau.com/contacts.html orhttp://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Suche-R.htm. The KG6 history 'Wir flogen gen Westen was written by Jan Horn, who I believe is at present working on another unit history. He may be able to help but I have no contact with him, others on TOCH may be able to advise you on contacting him.
Going back to Petworth the main bomber units attacking the UK in the period were KG2/II/KG40 with Do217's and KG6 with Ju88's. Both have unit histories the KG2 book shows nuisance raids by 22 aircraft of 1X Fliegerkorps on the 28th and attacks by aircraft of KG2 and 6 on the 30th. The KG6 history has both these attacks but adds the 29th. as an attack by a few of their aircraft. The chance that KG6 was the only bomber unit operating on the 29th is added to by a Fighter Command appreciation report ( held in File AIR16/236 at the PRO Kew ) which states ' 29th Sept in the morning three long range bombers crossed the South Coast dropping bombs in Somerset, Wiltshire and Sussex, and 2 Fw190s dropped bombs and opened fire with m.g. in Kent. These raids caused considerable damage to a factory, a military reception centre, a boy's school and a colliery'. The PRO also holds files on the interception of Luftwaffe radio reports which may indicate which units were operating, but I am not sure which files these would be held on possibly around AIR22/500,

Brian Bines

[Chris Goss]

What do you want to know about Lucke and what would you be looking for in Germany that others have failed to find already?