Luftwaffe operations over south Great Britain on 11 november 1940

[Gianandrea Bussi]

In the afternoon of 11 novembre 1940 italian aircraft took part to the "operazione Cinzano", that would end with the loss of some BR.20M and CR.42.
Which were the actions flown by the Luftwaffe units in that very afternoon and which losses due to the RAF fighters or AAA they suffered?

So far I've found only the mission by 11 Ju.88 from III./LG 1 mentioned in the P. Taghon book (with the loss of a bomber and its crewmembers due to unknown reasons).

Thank you

Gianandrea

[Chris Goss]

London was the daylight target for KG 77, II/KG 54 & I/KG 53. Stukas were after shipping in the Thames Estuary. I believe that the 8/LG 1 attack was at night against London

[robert]

Hi,

the Luftwaffe units were detailed to attack enemy shipping in Thames Estuary and the fighter-bombers to attack London. C.A.I. should attack Harwich and some mock attacks should be flown by Italian no.172 Reconnaissance Sqn.

Regards

Robert

[Arthur 'Digger' Arculus]

Only as a matter of interest, from my fathers wartime diaries I have:-

11 November 1940.

Very dirty weather and we have one or two 'crash dives' . We have plenty of bangs. The raid was not severe and the all clear sounded at 9.15 pm.

News on the air very good. 13 Wops (Italians) down today.

Me, I would have been sitting up our tree with binoculars in hand as a 14 year old!
Cheers,
Digger.

[Gianandrea Bussi]

Thank you for the answers.

According to Taghon, the III./LG1 bombers dropped bombs at abot 16.20 and landed at 18.40.

Chris, do you know the number of bomber - dive bombers involved, their number and the hours of the attack? Had they fighter escort? Did they suffer any loss?

Thank you

Gianandrea

[Chris Goss]

I need to check the Einzelmedung for the attack as according to my book on the Blitz it was a nocturnal attack.

Your best bet about the Stukas is to contact Andy Saunders via PM but from memory they lost 2 and there were a number of fighters lost at the same time. Another good source is John Foreman's book on Nov-Dec 1940-there were copious RAF claims

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Gianandrea,

"Von 1032 bis 1150 Uhr und zwischen 1425 und 1740 Uhr wurde London von 13 Kampf- und 19 lei. Kampfflugzeugen mit insgesamt etwa 17 t Sprengbomben (14 SC 500, 23 SC 250, 71 SC 50) angegriffen. Der Bombenabwurf wurde ueberwiegend nach Funk- und Koppelnavigation vorgenommen, Beobachtung der Wirkung war wegen Dunstes, spaeter wegen geschlossener Wolkendecke, meist nicht moeglich.

....

1237 Uhr: 2 Geleitzuege durch 1 Stukaverband in Staerke von 23 Kampfflugzeugen mit starkem Jagdschutz. ... Die Begleitschutzverbaende hatten bei diesem Unternehmen verschiedene Luftkaempfe mit dem feindl. Jagdschutz, in deren Verlauf 5 Spitfire und 3 Hurricane abgeschossen wurden. Von den eigenen Flugzeugen gingen 5 Me 109 und 2 Ju 87 verloren.

...

Verbaende des C.A.I. griffen im Rahmen eines Vorstosses mit starkem Jagdschutz
1515 Uhr Harwich durch 10 Kampfflugzeuge mit 30 SC 250 aus 6000 m Hoehe an. Wirkung wurde nicht beobachtet.
Die zum Schutz dieser Unternehmung gestarteten Jagdflugzeuge des C.A.I. schossen in 3 Einsaetzen 10 Spitfire ab. Von den gestarteten Flugzeugen werden 3 Kampf- und 3 Jagdflugzeuge vermisst."

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.facebook.com/airwarpublications

[robert]

Hi Gianandrea,

you have PM.

Regards

Robert

[Gianandrea Bussi]

Thank you all for the very usefull informations!

Gianandrea