Attack on the Spitfire Factory at Eastleigh on 11 September 1940

[Peter Cook]

I am trying to establish the Luftwaffe units that took part in the raid on 11 September 1940 on the Spitfire factory at Eastleigh near Southampton – they actually bombed the Cunliffe Owen aircraft works, adjacent to the Supermarine factory. According to the Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung for this date "9 Me 110 and 4 Me 109" of Erpr.Gr. 210 had an escort provided by Jafü 3 with 26 Me 109s and 16 Me 110s (I. and III./J.G.27, J.G.2, II. and III./Z.G.76, 5./L.G.1, Z.G.2, and II./J.G.53)." It goes on to state the following claims:

1 Hurricane shot down by J.G.27
1 Hurricane shot down by J.G.2
2 Hurricanes shot down by II./Z.G.76
2 Hurricanes shot down by III./Z.G.76
2 Hurricanes shot down by V./L.G.1
2 Hurricanes shot down by Z.G.2

Aircraft from Luftflotte 2 mounted a raid on London at the same approximate time, with He 111s of KG 1 and KG 26, and their much larger escort included Bf 109s of JG 2 and JG 27, plus Bf 110s of ZG 76 – three units that are listed above as part of the Luftflotte 3 escort.

Does anyone have an explanation for this?

Peter