12/05/1940: 815 Sqdn Swordfish loss over Waalhaven

[Peter Cornwell]

All my information indicates that the attack took place on May 12, 1940.

[B.F.M. Droog]

Thank you, Peter - everything points to the twelfth of May for this attack.

About the times-question I've been asking around and this is what I learned:

10/05/1940 until 00.00 hrs 16/05/1940

D: GMT + 2 hrs (summertime)
UK: GMT + 1 hr (summertime)
NL: GMT + 20 minutes
B: GMT
F: GMT

So Dutch (Amsterdam) Time, 10/05/1940, 12.00 hrs
was: 13.40 hrs German Time
and: 12.40 hrs UK Time

Starting 00.00 hrs 16/05/1940

D and NL: GMT + 2 hrs
UK: GMT + 1 hrs

Summertime started in Germany on ? (early spring?) 1940
Summertime started in the UK in February 1940

I assume in Belgium and the occupied part of France the German (Middle European Time) was introduced shortly after the capitulations of both countries. Am I correct in thinking so?

[B.F.M. Droog]

According to Hans Onderwater the Swordfish force-landed on 12/05/1940 in polder Oud Herkingen, near Herkingen on the isle of Overflakkee, on a field called 'de Munnik', owned by the Kardux brothers. The crew evaded via Antwerp to Ramsgate.

With thanks to Allert Goossens of War over Holland, who sent me this information.

[Pieter H]

Regarding the mail on the timing in the different countries in May 1940, I think you made a mistake:

Germany: GMT+2 (summer time)
Belgium: GMT+1
France: GMT+1
UK: GMT+1 (summer time)
Netherlands: GMT+20 min

So if you take the zone of Belgium, France and the UK as the reference, Germany was 1 hour ahead and Holland 40 minutes behind in time.

Regards, Pieter

[B.F.M. Droog]

Hello Robert,

Thanks - maybe someone with access to the ORB's of 22 and 815 Squadrons can resolve this matter.

[robert]

Hi,

the 22 hit the airfield slightly earlier.

Regards

Robert

[B.F.M. Droog]

Hello Robert,

Thanks - do you have the exact (well, the approx.) times of the two squadrons over the target?

[robert]

No. I have only: evening and night so it could be 22.10 as mentioned in Peter`s book.

Robert

[B.F.M. Droog]

To complicate it further: According to War over Holland: 'The planes took off from Bircham at 1950 hours [Dutch time] and (...) returned at 2250 hours.'

Dutch time in 1940 was somewhere in between German and English time and different from the Belgian and French time. Since according to War over Holland the planes were for two hours in the air, the bombardment must have taken place at approx. 21.50 hrs (Dutch time). Which doesn't quite fit with the 22.10 hrs (English time?) of Peter. Or does he use Dutch time as well?

For the crash location: Herkingen polder and beach Overflakkee could be the same. Hope this direct link to Herkingen (on Goeree-Overflakkee isle) works: Herkingen

Regards,

Bart

[Chris Goss]

Puzzled by what you mean Dutch time was between British & German time? At this stage, British time was GMT+1; German time was GMT+2 so Dutch time doesn't leave many options!