1/K.Fl.Gr 406 HE 115 sunk HMY Viva II

[rogtuf]

I am trying to find out about an HE115 from 1/K.Fl.Gr 406 that sunk the HM Yacht Viva II on the 8th May 1941 off the coast of Cornwall.

I appreciate any help about where the torpedo bomber was based at the time of the action, and any details about the squadron or the action itself?

Roger

[Seaplanes]

In early May 1941 Staffel 1./406 was in List undergoing conversion to the BV 138. No He 115 was on unit strength. It is more likely that a He 115 operating off Cornwall came from one of the two Staffeln, 1./906 and 2./506 that both was based in Brest with He 115's. Unfortunately, I have no detailed report of operations by these two units around 08.05.1941.

[Chris Goss]

406 was still active on that date according to the Einzelmeldung. 2 sorties were flown by He 115s (and Ar 196?) in the morning; nothing was reported. The only report of shipping came from a Ju 88 of 3/123 but it did not attack

[Seaplanes]

It was the Gruppe 406 that was active. This Gruppenstab consisted of the following Staffeln:
1./106 in Hourtin
5./196 in Hourtin
2./506 in Brest
1./906 in Brest
The whole Gruppe being subordinated to Fliegerführer Atlantik.

Staffel 1./406 was in List under Gruppenstab 506 in Westerland.

[rogtuf]

I have been to the National Archives at Kew to research. This was not terribly helpful, although I did find that the sinking took place at about 1.30 in the morning. There were 8 suvivors from the Viva II that were picked up by HMS Cleveland, a coastal Destroyer. The convoy was called Sapper and was on route from Falmouth to Milford Haven. Presumably it was an oil tanker route?

Interestingly, the attacks on shipping in the Bristol channel were through the nights of the 7/8th May 1941. There was a major raid on Bristol that night because there was 10/10 cloud cover over Liverpool where the raid was originally intended. I believe that was 16 aircraft from II and III/KG 27, KGr 100, I, II and III/KG 55.

I appreciate if anyone knows about HE115's operating out of Brest in May 1941, and why they were targetting the Bristol Channel?

Roger

[Chris Goss]

Are you sure of the date and why do you think He 115? I have checked again and on the night of 8-9 May, not 7-8 May, 3 He 111s from III/KG 40 took off between 2153 & 2202 hrs. One aircraft attacked a ship 0020-0025 hrs S of Swansea, the other 2 attacked ships SW of Swansea 0100 hrs. No mention of He 115s or 1/406. There was much air action 7-8 May but nobody reported seeing or attacking shipping

[rogtuf]

I was given this reference in German which I have translated below. Also the Admiralty records show the loss at about 1.30am on the 8th.

"Waters around Great Britain Dt. of airplanes of different units operate against the navigation in the Bristol and St. Georges channel and sink to 4.5. westl. of Newquay (Cornwall) the Tregor (222 BRT), on 13.5. with the island Bardsey (Wales) the Trawler away Rona (203 BRT), on 18.5. with Bishops Rock the Hegerin (483 BRT), to 24.5. before Milford Haven the Matronna (2846 BRT) and to 27.5 north of Newquay norw. Royksund (695 BRT). He 115 of the 1. /K.Fl.Gr.406 sink westl. from Newquay at 8.5. the armed naval yacht the Viva II (521 BRT) and damages before Milford Haven on 11.5. brit. Motor ship Caithness (4970 BRT). 5. - 7.5.1941"

Roger

[brewerjerry]

Hi
Think the german source was probably here .
a great site, well worth a few hours browsing.
http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/41-05.htm
Cheers
Jerry

[rogtuf]

Thanks Jerry. I did look there but not a lot of additional help.

Roger

[brewerjerry]

Hi
my notes are all packed and will be for some weeks,
But there was at the PRO/NA a daily log of shipping attacks, (might have been in ADM, not in AIR ),
I recall it detailed the attacks off the south devon coast very well, and did other south west stuff, maybe someone else knows the reference or maybe an online search of the NA index might help.
Only other suggestion but it might be a wasted journey, is the civil defence daily diary records held at the taunton cro. ( if they are still there ) they detailed most south west raids, crashes, bombs, dropped etc.
other option might be the police war diaries used to be at truro cro.
cheers
jerry