Claims by FAA Avenger-squadrons with Coastal Command 1944

[phasselgren]

Hi,

In the Coastal Command Weekly Intelligence Summaries from are there 4 encounters involving Grumman Avenger which led to claims against V1s and possibly a HE.177. Two claims against V1s by 854 Sqn were included in Diver! Diver! Diver! By Brian Cull but there is also one by 855 Sqn:

Avenger Y/855. 0512 – 6th July, 1944. 50.45 N – 00.35 W, S. of Beachy Head.
“Aircraft on Convoy patrol sighted a flying bomb at 2,500 feet, course N.W. speed 220 kts. Aircraft dived and attacked from 800 to 600 yards range from with one burst of M/G. Flying bomb exploded in mid-air.“
I suspect it was the pilot who shot it down with the fixed guns but I would like to have this confirmed. I am also looking for the names of the crew

The fourth encounter was a 850 Sqn Avenger attacking two He.177s:

Avenger R/850. Captain – S/Lt Stevenson. 2021 – 20th July, 1944. 48.00 N – 05.28 W, Off Brest
“Aircraft on a/u Patrol sighted two HE.177s circling an escort group. `R` approached one of the enemy aircraft which took evasive action. Our aircraft then made four attacks on the remaining enemy aircraft, hits being observed and return fire from enemy aircraft´s dorsal and rear turrets silenced. Enemy aircraft broke off and dived towards the sea.”

For most of the Intelligence Summaries I have seen there is a comment about the claim like “Claim: He.177 damaged” or “Claim: Nil”. During this period there are no comments. It could be a claim for a damaged He.177 but it could also have been turned down. I have seen several examples where enemy aircraft have been hit and smoke seen but in spite of this the comment Claim: Nil.
Can anyone confirm if there was a claim for a damaged He.177? Names of the crew and any complementing information about the combat is also welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Peter

[Chris Goss]

1, 2 & II./KG 40 with their He 177s had headed back to Germany by this date. Their last combat loss was 9 July on the way back to Germany. Not sure about Wekusta 2's He 177s

[BruceMk11]

(P) Kenneth Wilson Stevenson

https://digital.nls.uk/british-milit...chive/93332574

https://digital.nls.uk/british-milit...chive/93349306

[Nick Beale]

National Archives HW 13/39
Air Operations Watch report CX/MSS/OPD 1240 for dawn 20 July to dawn 21 July:

II. BISCAY

… Note: An Avenger a/c sighted 2 a/c (reported as He 177's but probably Do 217's) at 2105 [BDST] SW of BREST and claims 1 destroyed.

[Chris Goss]

III./KG 100 was active but no losses off Brest. Day after Mosquitos from Coastal Command and Fighter Command did have successful combats against Do 217s

[phasselgren]

Thanks for your replies.
The claim for 1 destroyed seems optimistic as it was not seen to crash or ditch but there may more information than shown in the summary. It would be interesting to know what information there is in the ORB.

Nothing on the Flying bomb?

[BruceMk11]

Might be worth checking 19 Group and/or RAF Perranporth records.

https://web.archive.org/web/20070806...drons/850.html

[phasselgren]

Thanks Bruce, the National Archives in Canada have Coastal Command Combat reports from this period and I will first check if these encounters are included. If this fails I will continue with 19 Group records.

[Chris Goss]

Coastal Command combat reports are like hen's teeth so I would be interested to know what you find. For my V./KG 40 book, I had to rely on CC Intsum and F540s and never found a single combat report

[phasselgren]

Yes, indeed difficult to find but I found some in AIR 15. You are probably already aware of these files in AIR 15 which includes combat reports:

• AIR 15/335 Attack/Combat Report Forms, 1939 Nov. 1943 Nov. – 220 Sqn
• AIR 15/371 Air Combats: Records & analysis, 1940 Mar. 1942 Aug.
• AIR 15/650 Air combat reports 1942 Dec - 1944 Nov – Sunderland Sqns
• AIR 15/660 Miscellaneous reports: enemy action and aerial combats, 1940 Apr. 1943 Mar. – RAF Station Mount Batten

I have not checked AIR 15/720 Tactical extracts from combat and other reports, 1941 Jan. 1943 July

I will let you know when I have more info about the combat reports in Canada.