RAF Attack on schiphol 2AUG40?

[Mikael Olrog]

In bomber command's War Diaries there is a note that 45 Blenheims (unknown units) performed attacks on airfields in France, Holland and Belgium on 2 August, this was followed-up on 3 August by a few more Blenheims attacking "targets in occupied Europe". Can anyone confirm if Schiphol was on the receiving end on any of these days?


Thanks
/Mikael

[Mikael Olrog]

lol, realised this should have gone in to adjacent forum! :-)

[Nick Beale]

I’d suggest taking a look at the Luftwaffe daily sitrep on the German Docs in Russia site: https://wwii.germandocsinrussia.org/...inspect/zoom/5

[MW Giles]

On 02.08.40 at least 4 were sent to Schiphol from 40, 101 and 110 Sqns; two attacked and one of these crashed on return due to flak damage

On 03.08.40 at least 2 were sent to Schiphol from 107 Sqn; one attacked

I say at lease 2 or 4 because 139 Sqn at this time had a really annoying way of recording sorties that tells you nothing of where they went

It is possible that some of the crews sent to other airfields attacked Schiphol instead as there is a lot of use of alternative targets

Martin

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Friday 2nd August, 1940 - Bomber Command Operations.

Thirty-six Blenheims of 2 Group were detailed to carry out daylight attacks on enemy airfields. Twenty-four bombed, ten abandoned because of lack of cloud cover, one was unable to release his bombs and one failed to return

1. Three aircraft attacked Soesterberg with six 250lb GP bomb, Thirty-six 40lb GP, and sixty incendiaries. Hits were observed on a hangar and the surrounding tarmac.

2. Schipol* was attacked by three aircraft that scored hits on runways and hangars with GP bombs. The gunner of one aircraft strafed and damaged two aircraft.

3. Leeuwarden was bombed with six 250lb and thirty-six 40lb GP bombs, but no results were seen. During the attack Blenheim (R)3897 (of 114 Sqn), was damaged by a Bf109 and the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Maude was wounded.

4. Haamstede was attacked by three aircraft using GP and incendiary bombs but no results were observed, possibly because they were too busy evading defending Bf109s.

5. Flushing airfield was attacked by one crew who failed to observe the results.

6. At Waalhaven the airfield was bombed with GP's and incendiaries and enemy aircraft on the ground were strafed. Also bombs were dropped on a railway track in front of a train three miles south of Haarlem. During their attacks they evaded the attentions of two Bf109s.

7. During the attack on Evere airfield hits were observed on a hangar and a railway nearby.

8. Lock-gates and a bridge near Leimuiden [sic] were hit. A Flak battery on Knocke airfield was silenced and the airfield at Merville hit with GP bombs and incendiaries.

Saturday 3rd August, 1940 - Bomber Command Operations.

Eighteen Blenheims of 2 Group, six each from 107, 114 and 139 Squadrons were despatched to attack airfields at Schipol, Evere, Haamstede, Leeuwarden, Antwerp, Soesterberg, Abbeville, St. Omer, Knocke and Brest, eleven abandoned their tasks because lack of cloud cover. The remainder attacked the following: Schipol, where hangars were hit by bombs and strafed; Abbeville, where bomb hits were observed on a stores park and troops in a convoy were strafed from a height of fifty feet; Haamstede, where hits were made on a hangar and the road leading to the airfield.
Other targets attacked included a train between Gravelines and Dunkirk and twenty barges at Bouburg. Troops seen on a nearby airfield were strafed.

* Donnelly uses this spelling of Schiphol throughout his book.

See:
The Other Few: The Contribution Made by Bomber and Coastal Command Aircrew to the Winning of the Battle of Britain.
Donnelly,Larry DFM.
Walton-on-Thames:Red Kite,2004.
pp.68-9 & 71.

Col.

[Andy Mitchell]

Hi,

Here are the Anlage from Lagebericht 332

[Mikael Olrog]

Whow, awesome respons! :-) Much appreciated! Thank you all.

[robert]

Airfield war diary gives that the attack on 2.8.40 took place at 08.25 hrs and bombs were dropped from an altitude of 400 m.

Robert

[Mikael Olrog]

There's a note in a flugbuch that a Do 17 was destroyed in a bombing attack on 3 August at Schiphol but there appear to be no support for that entry in official documents.

[robert]

Yes. There is something about Do 17 of 5./NJG1. I will check later.

Regards

Robert