Einzelmeldung Nr 3 vom 14.8.1940 (Luftflotte 3)

[Andy Mitchell]

Can someone help with the following:

3 He 111 der II./KG. 27 (Start 22:12 - 22:40 Uhr)
Abgeworfen wurde:
00:09 Uhr westlich Birmingham 29 Taschen besonderer Art.
01:15 Uhr südostwärts Glasgow 29 Taschen besonderer Art.
00:45 Uhr bei Winchester 30 Taschen besonderer Art.
4 Taschen besonderer Art wurden angeleuchtet.

Specifically - what is being referred to as "Taschen besonderer
Art." and "Taschen besonderer Art wurden angeleuchtet".

Many thanks

[Chris Goss]

Bags of a special kind? Leaflets?

[Andy Mitchell]

Chris,

Many thanks - yes, I did wonder about leaflets.

Google Translate give back "bags of a special kind" and the other one comes out as "bags of a special kind were illuminated" ?

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Andy Mitchell

Chris,

Many thanks - yes, I did wonder about leaflets.

Google Translate give back "bags of a special kind" and the other one comes out as "bags of a special kind were illuminated" ?

Which is an accuate translation of the words, but doesn't explain what they mean in this context (pity!). I can't see why you'd light up/illuminate a packet, either. I'd have gone with packages of leaflets otherwise.

Then I wondered if it was something seen from the aircraft but in that case the numbers reported probably wouldn't be as consistent across three different locations (29, 29 and 30).

Tasche can also mean a pocket but that doesn't seem much help at the moment.

[edwest2]

A late in the day drop of glow in the dark bags?

[Andy Mitchell]

Nick and Ed,

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.

[Chris Going]

Fascinating, this. The date range if fine for 'Last Appeal', and its abbreviation, and the Churchill 'Wanted' leaflet is around c 10-15 August I think. Psywar enthausiasts mention one other thing, though: occasional balloon launched leaflet finds at the time. Could those 4 Taschen be balloons? Not that you'd launch those from an aeroplane. But can 'angeleuchtet' mean fired up, or lit up, in he manner of a hot air balloon. Be interesting to see what the winds were doing that day.

Best
ChrisG

[BrianC]

Fascinating, indeed

Has anyone illustrations of the leaflets referred to - Churchill 'Wanted' and 'Last Appeal'? Genuine or facsimiles?

And were hot-air balloons really released to travel over UK? I've never heard of such measures - most interesting. More please! Any literature?

Stay safe
Brian

[Chris Going]

Brian, try

Messages from the Sky Over Britain: The Fascinating Story of the Publicity and Propaganda Leaflets Disseminated Over Great Britain By Airship, Aeroplane, Balloon and Rocket, in Peacetime and in War
Auckland, R. G.; Moore, Keith B.
Published by The Psywar Society, Leeds (1998)
ISBN 10: 1873253095 ISBN 13: 9781873253090

I think there's one with AbeBooks just now

Best

ChrisG

[Chris Going]

Also a little bit here with some details...

https://www.docdroid.net/xTTqmxp/col...ugust-2019-pdf

Best

ChrisG