Luftwaffe in Birmingham area on 11 December 1940

[Dan History]

Mr. Walpole, who is involved in commemorating the dead of the Second World War and hasn't yet joined this forum, has asked for help regarding a Luftwaffe attack on 11 December 1940. The Luftwaffe attacked Birmingham on the night of 11/12 December and two sisters were killed by a bomb in Coleshill, Warwickshire. This location is just to the east of Birmingham and north of Birmingham airport, which was then RAF Elmdon.

Mr. Walpole would be grateful for any assistance in identifying the Luftwaffe unit which may have been involved in this incident. I understand that this may prove a very difficult question, so may I ask members where the most detailed account of the Luftwaffe's attack on Birmingham that night is to be found? Chris, this may be one for you

Kind regards,

Dan

[Chris Goss]

KG 1, KG 77, I, II & III./KG 26, , II & III./LG 1, I, II & III./KG 27, KGr 126, KGr 100, KGr 606, I, II & III./KG 51, KGr 806, Stab & III./KG 55, KG 2........for starters. However, I have a note that KGr 126 reported hitting Elmdon (0010-0135 hrs)

[Dan History]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

KG 1, KG 77, I, II & III./KG 26, , II & III./LG 1, I, II & III./KG 27, KGr 126, KGr 100, KGr 606, I, II & III./KG 51, KGr 806, Stab & III./KG 55, KG 2........for starters. However, I have a note that KGr 126 reported hitting Elmdon (0010-0135 hrs)

Thank you, Chris. Do you have any other notes about attacks on Elmdon or the surrounding area during this raid? Do I remember correctly that German time was one hour ahead of British Summer Time in December 1940?

Kind regards,

Dan

[Nick Beale]

The Ob.d.L. sitrep on the attack is online at: http://wwii.germandocsinrussia.org/d...inspect/zoom/5

(image of page attached)

[Chris Goss]

I have nothing more apart from aircraft numbers and what they reported which is not much in the way of specifics

[RudiS]

I & II./KG54 were also involved in that attack. No further info I'm afraid.

[Dan History]

Nick, Chris and Rudi, thank you very much for your responses. Nick, I was aware of the Lagemeldungen and it's great that you dug out the relevant page from Germandocs. The problem is that this is a very general overview of the raid, of course. Chris, may I ask where you get the more specific information that you have? It might not necessarily help answer Mr. Walpole's question, but it could be useful as a more specific reference than the Lagemeldung.

Kind regards,

Dan

[Col Bruggy]

Dan,

A book you should consider consulting (I don't have a copy, as yet):

The Luftwaffe Over Brom - Birmingham's Blitz from a Military Perspective.

http://birminghamair-raids.co.uk

Col.

[Chris Goss]

Steve has just updated & revised this book. My info comes from the Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung which I used in my book

[Nick Beale]

And here's all the ULTRA I've found which mentions the raid.