Bf 109 loss due to 94 RAF 1/6/44

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by David Pausey

Nick

I have prob asked this befor but were sould I look for the Signals Intelligence files and ULTRA intercepts about Luftwaffe activity in Crete ?

David

Hi david,

In the UK National Archives...

Signals Intelligence from about December 1944 onward: try the ORB of 276 Wing and its Appendices (AIR26/380, 381 & 382)

ULTRA: the DEFE3 series (which files depend on which dates you're interested in. Remember that the dates on the files are when the messages were decoded, not when they were sent. Delays could be anything from 12 hours to a few weeks. Usually within about 24 hours though).

Also the various HW series files from Government Code & Cipher School. I'm pretty new to these but HW5 looks promising and HW1 has copies of the messages that were drawn to Churchill's attention each day. The index is pretty good for these.

The AIR51 series also has sigint stuff but assembled a bit haphazardly on to microfilm, so it's a case of going through the NA catalogue

[David Pausey]

Hi all

I belive the Convoy Stefaan mentioned was a German attempt to get supplies to Crete and set out from Athens on the 31-5-44(the 109 lost on this date was from JG27). The Convoy was attacked on the 1-6-44 by Marauders from 24 SAAF Sqn, Baltimores from 454 and 15 SAAF sqns and Beaus from 252, 603, 16 SAAF and 227 Sqs. The Escort was Spitfires of 94 Sqn and Mustangs from 213 Sqn. Two Ar196’s and one Me109 were claimed shot down but who made these claim I do not know. I think JG27 left Crete on the 5-6-44 and JG51 took over or may have already been on the island with JG27, I have no details of losses on the 1-6-44. I'll dug out Mr Shores book the pic history of the RAF in the Med for more details.

Cheers
David
PS JG's 27 and 51 had only one staffel based on Crete at this time I think.