Circus N° 20 23 June 1941

[Chris Goss]

Erik: I have the Northolt Wg account of the Circus as well as 609's account of the day made at the time so do say if I can help.

[Fairlop]

The two 53 Squadron Blenheims being lost on 23 June 1941 as in Brian's reply: likely to have had no part in Circus 20?

These two losses were during convoy escort. As Franek mentioned there were six escorted Blenheim IVs - from the 107 Sqn on Circus No.20.

Michal

[Chris Goss]

Northolt War Diary says 12 ac of 303 sqn rendezvouzed with 6 bombers over Maidstone and 242 Sqn. Claims:

Sgt Wunche- seen to crash near Desvres
Sgt Wojciechowski-Ac exploded; "...black fusleage with witty yellow longitudenal stripes"
Sgt Adamek-In flames; 2nd ac probable
Plt Off Strzemborz-in flames on land
Sgt Szlyowski-engine stopped, went straight down but claimed probable
Plt Off Bondar-close to the ground with airscrew stopped; probable

Plt Off Gladych force landed near Manston and was badly not seriously injured. In a handwritten it it says "He destroyed one and collided with a second, destroyed that by cutting off its tail"

[Franek Grabowski]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Sgt Wunche- seen to crash near Desvres

Proper spelling Wunsche with umlaut. Me 109F, standard camouflage with yellow bottom of engine cowling.

Sgt Wojciechowski-Ac exploded; "...black fusleage with witty yellow longitudenal stripes"

Me 109F with light blue undersurfaces and black fuselage with mentioned yellow markings, lost both wings in the explosion.

Sgt Adamek-In flames; 2nd ac probable

Me 109E exploded and went down in a mass of flames, red nosed Me 109E in standard camouflage, completely covered in black smoke, went down, claimed as destroyed.

Plt Off Strzemborz-in flames on land

Proper spelling Strzembosz. Red nosed Me 109E in flames seen to crash on land in unspecified place.

Sgt Szlyowski-engine stopped, went straight down but claimed probable

Proper spelling Szlagowski. Me 109F not seen to crash but claimed as destroyed, emitting black smoke and having an airscrew stopped.

Plt Off Bondar-close to the ground with airscrew stopped; probable

Me 109E last seen diving vertically, not seen to crash. Claimed as destroyed.

Plt Off Gladych force landed near Manston and was badly not seriously injured. In a handwritten it it says "He destroyed one and collided with a second, destroyed that by cutting off its tail"

Initially credited with 3 destroyed due to misunderstanding. Claimed 2 destroyed, Me 109 in flames later downgraded to probable and Me 109 destroyed due to collision. His wounds were face wound, broken skull and broken collar bone.

[robert]

Hi,

following German fighters were lost in this evening combat:
- 4/JG2 Fw.Georg Bock KIA Bf109F-2 6756 100% crashed by Condette
- 9/JG2 Olt.Carl-H.Roeders KIA Bf109F-2 6764 brown 1 crashed by Desvres
- 9/JG2 Uffz.Johann Straub DOW Bf109F-2 5763 crashed NW St.Omer
- II/JG2 NN Bf109F-2 6763 emergency-landed Abbeville-Drucat 60%
- II/JG2 NN Bf109F-2 12643 belly-landed Berck-sur-Mer 40%
Sources: J.Prien "JFV Part 5", P.Watteeuw "Les Pertes de la... Vol.2", D.Caldwell "The JG26 War Diary Vol.1".
Perhaps someone could write-down all allied claims?

Regards

Robert

[Franek Grabowski]

There are plenty of sources for 303 Sqn and I would say they are all complementing each other.

[Erik Mombeeck]

Hi Franek and all the others,

Thank you very much for the help.
That is true, it is very difficult to reconstruct how the operation happened, and of course each operation would need one complete book. That is not our goal but your answers will help to avoid several mistakes.
Unfortunately, Gerhard Schöpfel did not tell me much on separate missions since he hadn't his Flugbücher, but a few were still clear in his mind. This was the case for this 23 June, but not for the 28th. Sorry.

Best regards

Erik

[Fairlop]

603 Sqn's Sgt John Hurst claimed and was credited with a Me-109F damaged at 2035, 8 m S of Dunkirk, in Spitfire Va R7305. This is the only claim by 603 Sqn on this date.
Frank.

Frank,

I think it is a mistake with the month. Hurst was credited with this claim in July not June.
I do not have 603 Squadron ORB for that period but a history of the unit by Ross & Blanche states only action on 23rd June at 12.55, so much earlier. Hornchurch Wing almost probably did not participated in the evening action.

Regards,
Michal

[Franek Grabowski]

Hello Erik

Originally Posted by Erik Mombeeck

That is true, it is very difficult to reconstruct how the operation happened, and of course each operation would need one complete book. That is not our goal but your answers will help to avoid several mistakes.

A book about a single operation seems exaggeration, but it would be enough for a good article. Well, the problem is in amount of documents from the Allied side and in lack of them from the German side.

Unfortunately, Gerhard Schöpfel did not tell me much on separate missions since he hadn't his Flugbücher, but a few were still clear in his mind. This was the case for this 23 June, but not for the 28th. Sorry.

I have seen a photo attributed to Schöpfel (Osprey Me 109F/G aces IIRC) and reputedly showing his victim from the combat. The problem is that it was clearly a Spitfire, and Schöpfel is usually credited with a 306 Sqn Hurricane. Friend's uncle had a lengthy low-level dog-fight that day and ended up in the drink due to lack of fuel, hence my particular interest.

[Chris Goss]

Continuing the Circus 20 thread, 609 (9 ac plus the Station Commander) were Target Support Wg with 92 & 74 Sqn for 6 Blenheims attacking Mardyck aerodrome. Took off at 1948 hrs and 2 ac landed at Manston & West Malling. Nothing else was recorded.