RAF Losses on the Ground 10-11 Aug 43

[Chris Goss]

A German intruder claimed to have probably destroyed two aircraft on the ground on an airfield in the Cambridge area on this night; does anyone have any records to support this?

[Alex Smart]

Hi Chris,
Haven't checked details of losses but here is a list of Halifax's and Lancaster's for the 10/11 August 1943 over or in the UK.

Halifax II - 51 Sqn - HR981.
Halifax II - 78 Sqn - JD151.
Halifax II - 102 Sqn - JB794.
Halifax II - 158 Sqn - HR721.
Halifax V - 76 Sqn - DK136.

Lancaster II - 115 Sqn - DS665.
Lancaster III - 7 Sqn - JA931.
Lancaster III - 405 Sqn - JA920.

Alex

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Alex but all were accident/engine failure/fuel apart from DS665 which was as a result of an intruder but in the air not on the ground

[Steve Smith]

Chris,

Not sure if it helps but RAF Feltwell was attacked on this night by what was recorded as a Me210. Anti-Personnel bombs dropped and cannon fire reported. Sadly my copy of the ORB ends on July 31st !!

Steve

[Chris Goss]

Sounds possible Steve apart from it would have been an Me 410 of 15./KG 2. No mention of any munitions carried unfortunately

[MW Giles]

If you could tell the difference between an Me210 and an Me410, from the ground, in the dark, while it shoots up your airfield, dropping bombs then you are a better man than I

[Chris Goss]

Indeed! 210s had not been seen over England since September 1942. BTW they dropped 21 SC50 and 35 AB23, the latter being experienced by Feltwell

[FrankieS]

Excerpt from Seekriegstagebuch

"11.08.1943 VI. Luftkriegsführung


1. Raum um England


In der Nacht zum 11. waren 8 Me 410 zur
Fernnachtjagd gegen rückkehrende feindliche Kampf-
verbände und zur Bekämpfung der Bodenorgani-
sation im Raum Cambridge eingesetzt.

Aus rückkehrendem Feindverband wurden über
der Küste 0415 Uhr 1 4-mot-Flugzeug abge-
schossen.
Die genannten Flugplatzanlagen wurden
während der Landung feindlicher Flugzeuge an-
gegriffen. Wirksame Detonationen wurden innerhalb
des Flugplatzes und zwischen rollenden Flugzeugen
beobachtet. "


.................................................. ........................
"08/11/1943 VI. Air Warfare 1. Space around England On the night of the 11th, 8 Me 410s were on long-distance night hunt against returning enemy combat units and to combat aerodrome organisation in the Cambridge area. From the returning enemy unit over coast 0415 hours one 4-mot plane shot down. The aerodrome facilities mentioned were attacked during the landing of enemy planes. Effective detonations were observed within airfield area and between taxiing aircraft."

[rafcommands]

Hi Chris,

The following aircraft were damaged by fighter

100 S, ED749 (AC)
101 G, W4996 (AC)

77 C, JD321 (AC)

9 W, ED654 (AC)

405 N, HR723 (No damage cat listed)

So on the night 10/11 Aug these 4 (AC) +1 were the only aircraft Bomber Command HQ reported as damaged by fighter.

Cannot see a link with the reports,

Ross

[Karoband]

Hi Chris,

I have taken a second look at Alex's list. In consulting the www.rafcommands.com site for Lancaster III JA920 I found, "Took off 2205 10 August 1943 from Gransden Lodge. Landed safely at 0416 11 Aug 1943 but while taxying to dispersal ran into a ditch and damaged beyond repair." RAF Gransden Lodge is 10.1 miles (16.3 km) from Cambridge. There is too much of a co-incidence in time and place for me.

Jim