615 Squadron - 18 July 1940

[ajcrou]

Hello,

On 18 July 1940, the ORB of No.615 Squadron mentions that : "In the evening the Squadron (12 aircraft) left for Hawkinge whence they acted as escort together with 111 Squadron for 18 Blenheim on a bombing raid to Boulogne. All our aircraft returned safely and the bombing raid was hightly successful".

Curiously the From 541 lists only 6 Hurricane (B Flight) : 18h25 - 19h25 (Bomber Escort). The other 6 aircraft of the A Flight are reported between 17h10 and 18h30 : "as ordered by Sector Controller".


The ORB of 111 Squadron does not seem to indicate more details on this escort from Blenheim with only the names of the twelve pilots concerned. Again, the ORB mentions the escort, with 615 Squadron, of 18 Blenheim on Boulogne (18h15 - 19h15) : the bombing is a success and no enemy aircraft are seen.


Brian Cull (Battle for the Channel: The First Month of the Battle of Britain) writes that : "At 19h30, nine more 2 Group Blenheim escorted by 20 fighters attacked Boulogne under cover of low clouds, five being claimed by flak, as was a Spitfire (according to German records). A Bf 109 of 9./JG54 carried out an emergency landing nearby with engine damage, possibly a result of friendly fire, though Leutnant Waldemar Wübke was unhurt".

According to a French document during the evening of 18 July 1940 : bombardment renders the ferry terminal unusable and destroys 3000 m² of sheds in the port".


Would anyone have more details on this mission and the Blenheim involved (Squadron ?)

Thanks,
Alexis