Last Major Luftwaffe Raid on London May 1941

[andy bird]

Just doing a piece for Amberley Publishing on Beaufighter night fighters, I've three pieces of research that say

Luftwaffe last major raid 19/20 May 1941
another
20/21 May 1941
and
10/11 May 1941

However, all three mention 24 enemy aircraft being shot down by Beaufighters using AI radar.

Confused dot com.

Regards

Andy Bird

[Chris Goss]

Suggest you get hold of my 'The Luftwaffe's Blitz'. 10-11 May was the last major one. 19-20 series of minor ones likewise 20-21. Guess it is the first one and if so, claims wildly overstated and even then, there were many other types involved not just Beaufighters

[andy bird]

Hello from Pembrokeshire,
Will do.
Andy

[Nick Beale]

"I dimly remember seeing 24 quoted as the score for the month".

VERY dimly indeed, it seems. I've now checked and the figures given by Bill Gunston (Night Fighters, Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1976) were:

March 1941 - 22
April 1941 - 48
May 1941 (first two weeks) - 96

He also writes, "From May 11 1941 the Luftwaffe tapered off its efforts …"

[Chris Goss]

Andy: Whereabouts? I have family in Llandeilo as we all come from God's Country (I am a Valley Boy)

[Chris Goss]

Only Beau claims 10-11 May were:


29 Sqn One damaged, one destroyed
219 Sqn Probable, damaged, destroyed

[BrianC]

Hi Chris

You shouldn't feel that you have to apologise - 'we' understand!!

Brian