Blenheims losses April 1941

[robert]

Hi everyone,
I`m looking for details of following German claims:
- 06.04.41 II/JG2 one Blenheim N.Morlaix at 12.45
- 06.04.41 II/JG2 one Blenheim N.Plouescat at 13.40
- 09.04.41 II/JG53 one Blenheim ? at 18.43
- 09.04.41 II/JG53 one Blenheim west of Southend at 19.10
- 14.04.41 I/JG52 one Blenheim south of Vlissingen at 12.24
- 14.04.41 I/JG1 one Blenheim w.Katwijk-ann-Zee at 17.20
- 21.04.41 I/JG2 one Blenheim north of Jersey at 15.03
Does anybody know the involved allied units?

TIA

Regards

Robert

[rafcommands]

Hi Robert,

Once again most are covered in RAF Coastal Command Losses as well as other publications such as Blenheim Strike by Theo Boiten or The Bristol Blenheim by Graham Warner.

Regards
Ross

[robert]

Ross,

when I could buy this books I will do it. Unfortunetely I can`t.
So I `m asking for help.

Regards

Robert

[brewerjerry]

Hi,
only details i have :-

06.04.41 II/JG2 one Blenheim N.Morlaix at 12.45
believed 59Sq V5962

14.04.41 I/JG52 one Blenheim south of Vlissingen at 12.24
1 pru V5736

Cheers
Jerry

[robert]

Thanks a lot Jerry!

Robert

[rafcommands]

Sorry Jerry, but V5736 of No.254 Sqn ditched on the 9th July 1941. The claim for Oblt H Bennemann is correct for a No.1 PRU aircraft though.

Regards
Ross

[brewerjerry]

Hi,
No prob's , my data came from foremans '1941' books, I am starting to have some doubts on the info there in now, after two quotes.
cheers
Jerry

[rafcommands]

Hi Jerry,

It took me over two years to make some sense of the muddled ORBs and Form 1180s for the Blenheims. I'm still not satisfied that I've solved all the problems yet but I feel that I've made a good 80% or so.

The problems are compounded by ORBs that list letter only, later audits of aircraft that attributed serials in the Form 1180s to aircraft listed on Form 78s that had not been delivered to the RAF yet.

There is also an element of deliberate clerk error. One ORB recorder from No.59 Sqn told me that he correctly used the letter and used the serials he could remember rather than the actual.

Also I am in contact with a No.53 Sqn Observer who was shot down early in 1941 and although he knows the letter from his log book he cannot recall the serial. He says that there was a considerable movement of aircraft and repainting of letters as modifications were carried out at the makers.

It's no wonder from the confused records that some publications use previous lists warts and all.

Regards
Ross

[brewerjerry]

Hi Ross,
Is there any hope for us researchers !!, :-)
Maybe it's what makes the chase more enjoyable sorting out the wood from the trees.
Cheers
Jerry