Denmark / Norway, July 31st, 1940

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

while up-datig the old JG 77 manuscript - which by now is just about 20 years old - I have come across ( among many others ) the following problem:

According to the latest findings we have on July 31st, 1940, two claims by elements of JG 77, one for a Blenheim near Aalborg at 11.52 hrs and another also for a Blenheim in the area of Larvik near Trondheim at 09.17 hrs. So far the former has been credited to Uffz. Otto Niemeyer of 4./JG 77, the latter to Obfw. Georg Bergmann of 9./JG 77.

There seems to be something fundamentally wrong with this information. To begin with - I have problems to find a place called Lanvik near Trondheim, but I do know a place called Larvik, which is some 100 km south-southwest of Oslo.

Next - according to my information 9./JG 77 had transferred to Aalborg on July 9th, 1940. So - how could they claim a Blenheim near Trondheim ?

As far as I can see, the RAF reported only two losses in this area on July 31st, a 233 Sqn. Hudson lost over the North Sea and a Blenheim of 114 Sqn. lost near Aalborg, whereas no loss around Trondheim.

So could it be that the Blenheim shot down near Aalborg did in fact fall victim to Obfw. Bergmann of 9./JG 77, whereas the Hudson was shot down by Uffz. Niemeyer of 4./JG 77 near Larvik ?

I would be very grateful if someone could help to clarify this mess ( even if it exists only in my tangled mind ).

Regards

Jochen Prien

[Thor1968]

Hello Jochen

This link might help you:

http://www.flensted.eu.com/194013.shtml

This is a very usefull homepage, Airwar over Denmark

Regards

Torben
Denmark