Attack on German train Holland september 1st 1944

[Richard1976]

Thank you Hans and Leendert for your reply. I will contact the National Archives and hopefully they have some information for me.

Additional information which can help me is still welcome.

[Bruce Dennis]

I have been looking into the attack on the train carrying Fi 103s on September 1 1944 and discussing it on RAFCommands forum. Here is what I have just posted there:

I found the confirmation needed: it was American 8th AF escorts released from their mission when the bombers were scrubbed on September 1 1944. The document doesn't name individual squadrons but there were 47 P-38s and 496 P-51s on escort duty that day. The summary of activity says that 'one group strafed and damaged one locomotive' and ground witnesses reports would make that the P-38s.

Claims for fighters on that day, including those released from escort duties, include:
' Ammo or Buzz Bomb freight cars - 44 destroyed, 15 damaged '

Interestingly, the document quoted was dated 2 September so the description of 'Buzz Bomb freight cars' was included less than 24 hours after the action: sounds like somebody had a good source of information!

Hope this helps tie up a loose end or two.

Bruce

[Leendert]

It appears that the 479th FG (the last remaining P-38 unit of the 8th AF at that time I believe) only took off at around 9.40 a.m. on 1 Sept 1944 from its base in England.
Operations were well to the south of Roermond (mainly S. Belgium and N. and E. France)

If the attack on the train was at 9 a.m. to begin with, then 479th FG is not a candidate (anymore)...

More confusion than answers, I'm afraid.

Regards,

Leendert