Help with research? Can anyone assist?

[Franek Grabowski]

May I suggest it was an accident, attack by own bomber? I am aware of an accident on another date, when a crew forgot to open bomb bay door on a practice run, and then dropped all load during the flight back to base, fortunately not in a populated area.

[Staffordshire Researcher]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

John: Apart from the very thin chance of finding a logbook from the crew responsible, all surviving German records state what both Nick and myself have already said. All the known Ju 88 units attacking Birmingham that night (KGr 806, II./KG 76, KG 77) made no mention of dropping bombs anywhere else than Birmingham

Thanks Chris!

But if I'm looking for strays would you say the Brum raid is most likely though, just due to the number of aircraft? Would aircrew always admit having not found a target? Would I be correct in thinking that if they were over Leek at around 10.15pm that they would have been some of the lead aircraft? Do you know if the JU88 carried incendiary payloads? thanks.John

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Staffordshire Researcher

Thanks Chris!

But if I'm looking for strays would you say the Brum raid is most likely though, just due to the number of aircraft? Would aircrew always admit having not found a target? Would I be correct in thinking that if they were over Leek at around 10.15pm that they would have been some of the lead aircraft? Do you know if the JU88 carried incendiary payloads? thanks.John

Getting lost was practically standard procedure for night bombers and yes, crews did report their inability to find the main target and that they had bombed something else instead. The Ju 88 could carry HE and incendiary bombs in whatever combination was considered right for the mission.

Whether these were lead crews would depend on what time bombing commenced in Birmingham.

[Staffordshire Researcher]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

Getting lost was practically standard procedure for night bombers and yes, crews did report their inability to find the main target and that they had bombed something else instead. The Ju 88 could carry HE and incendiary bombs in whatever combination was considered right for the mission.

Whether these were lead crews would depend on what time bombing commenced in Birmingham.

That's interesting thanks Nick!

Some of my research today may have changed everything though. It appears that Manchester took a heavier beating than Birmingham on the 12th March 41!! Is Manchester mentioned for that date in any of the German records that you have access to (or do they only mention Brum and Stoke?), if so couuld you give me a steer as to which units might have hit Manchester? This is a much more likely source of strays than Birm as Manchester bound bombers would pass virtually straight over Leek!

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Staffordshire Researcher

That's interesting thanks Nick!

Is Manchester mentioned for that date in any of the German records that you have access to (or do they only mention Brum and Stoke

You have access to the same records I do! That report I linked to earlier in the thread is open to anyone with no accounts or passwords or anything required.

If you want to know where bombs fell that night then file HO 203/6 at the National Archives in Kew should be useful. It contains the daily Home Security reports for the period you’re interested in. I’ve only looked at the 1944 ones but they seem to document every last incident.

[Staffordshire Researcher]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

You have access to the same records I do! That report I linked to earlier in the thread is open to anyone with no accounts or passwords or anything required.

If you want to know where bombs fell that night then file HO 203/6 at the National Archives in Kew should be useful. It contains the daily Home Security reports for the period you’re interested in. I’ve only looked at the 1944 ones but they seem to document every last incident.

Yes, thanks Nick, I discovered today that the Leek incident is indeed recorded in those documents (inaccurately stating no casualties sadly), but as they are not digitised I'll have to spend a day at Kew sometime soon. This is also how I discovered Manchester was heavily attacked night of 11th! Cheers. J