Havoc intruders attacking landing planes at Gilze-Rijen December 1941

[Peter T]

I’m trying to ID Havoc intruders who attacked planes landing at the airfield of Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands on the nights 8/9, 11/12, 15/16 and 17/18 December 1941.

Anybody an idea?

Many thanks in advance

Peter

[MW Giles]

7/8 - 23 Sqn 3 Havocs
8/9 - Nothing
11/12 - 23 Sqn 2 Havocs
15/16 - 253 Sqn 1 Hurricane (A 23 Sqn Havoc Intruded somewhere, I know not where)
17/18 - 23 Sqn 2 Havocs

Martin

[Peter T]

Thanks a lot !!!!!!!

[Chris Goss]

Geoffrey Sinclair has asked me to post this:


According to AIR 16/1037, Gilze-Rijen intruder sorties for December 1941

7th 2 Havocs Gilze-Rijen, 1 aircraft claimed destroyed
8th 2 Havocs Gilze-Rijen/Eindhoven, 1 aircraft claimed damaged, bombs dropped on Gilze-Rijen
11th 1 Hurricane and 1 Havoc Gilze-Rijen, bombs dropped on Gilze-Rijen by Havoc
12th 2 Havocs Gilze-Rijen, bombs dropped on Gilze-Rijen
16th 1 Hurricane and 1 Havoc Gilze-Rijen, bombs dropped on Gilze-Rijen by Havoc and Hurricane, Hurricane lost
17th 2 Havocs Gilze-Rijen, bombs dropped on Gilze-Rijen
18th 2 Havocs Gilze-Rijen, 1 aircraft claimed damaged, bombs dropped on Gilze-Rijen
25th 1 Havoc Gilze-Rijen
28th 2 Havocs Gilze-Rijen, 1 bombed Haamstede.

For all intruder sorties in December 1941, 10 nights of operations, 29 sorties, 19 attacking, claims of 1 destroyed and 2 damaged, 1 intruder lost, 7.25 tons of bombs dropped.

Hurricane lost was Z3465 from 253 squadron
23 Squadron Havoc claimed the Ju88 destroyed and damaged 7 and 8 December.
23 Squadron Havoc claimed the He111 damaged 18 December.

[MW Giles]

Word of caution

Have to be careful with dates, in some ORBs if an a/c took off before midnight on 07/08 it gets listed as 07 but if it took off after midnight then it is listed 08, even though it was the night of the 07/08.

Aircraft taking off the next evening are then also listed 08.

Others work up to daybreak the next morning and yet others work 18:00 to 18:00 hrs or dusk to dusk each day.

23 Sqn is hard work

It will drive you slowly batty

Martin

[Peter T]

Thanks a lot Chris !!!!!
Peter