Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland

[Tony Kearns]

Good evening all,
On 26 Auguast 1940 two Heinkel 111 aircraft attacked two targets in Co Wexford in Neutral Ireland. It was the only occasion in which a deliberate attack took place on neutral territory. The time was early post midday. Although the two Heinkels were flying low at times no markings other than the national marking were recognised.
Would anyone have any information on operations by the Luftwaffe on that day that would help to identify the unit responsible.
Many thanks
regards
Tony K

[robert]

Hi,

I would say that they might be Ju 88s from K.Fl.Gr.806.

Regards

Robert

[Chris Goss]

I can find no mention in Luftwaffe records of any attack on Eire that day although 2 Ju 88s from KG 806 attacked an airfield at Cleave and another two were active in the Scillies/St Eval area early afternoon

[Ardmoreal]

Irish Army Military Archives File no.G2/X/0468 quoted in Patrick J Cummins book ""Emergency" Air Incidents- South East Ireland 1940-1945".This attack by two Heinkel 111 did happen and the German Government paid compensation of £12,000

[dp_burke]

It's Ireland Chris, its Éire in the Irish language. You don't refer to Germany as Deutschland in normal everyday parlance.

From the constitution as adopted in 1937:
The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland.

Back in the pedantic corner for me.

[Tony Kearns]

Thank you Robert and Chris, the aircraft were identified as Heinkels by the military personnel of the Look Out Post at Carnsore. (Post No14) and confirmed after consulting their recognition manuals.

Ardmoral, yes indeed Paddy Cummins as usual is correct.

Now Dennis! how am I going to deal with you, Chris shouldI I administer the torture for his sheer impertinance ?........(even though he is correct)
Dennis " amach go di an line"
Many thanks to all
Tony K

[Chris Goss]

Dennis-pedantic maybe but no slur intended. As a Welshman, I refer to my principality as Cymru or Wales and as to Germany, well it is up to personal preference!

[Ardmoreal]

The nearest possible unit is from KG 27,operating from Tours.Their He 111s used "G" in their idents but without a preceding numeral.

[Tony Kearns]

Ardmoreal,
KG27 used the code 1G+the aircraft identification letter, followed by the staffel letter.
regards
Tony K

[dp_burke]

Robert, would you be able to qualify why you think they might be K.Fl.Gr.806 Ju88, heinkel sighhtings not withstanding?

Looking at England civilian casualties for the day, there are 62 names listed from using Geoff Sullivans website.

Two of these names were people who died of injuries recieved in previous days.

Of the remainder, the largest group is 38 people killed in Birmingham County Borough.

Six men died as civilians at Harwell airfield, in Wantage district Berkshire.

5 people died in Folkstone, Kent
2 in Eston, Yorkshire
2 in Dunmow, Essex
2 in Beddington and Wallington, Surrey
1 Stockton on Tees
1 Croyden
1 Hove, Sussex
1 Hayes, Middlesex
1 Saffron Walden, Essex, but this was at Debden airfield

Some of the above places must be bordering on each other, I'd have to investigate Google maps.

Does it show us anything? Small scale raids, disjointed? Could it be indicative of lost crews, although the attack in Ireland seems fairly deliberate.

Daily report from RAF BoB site:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/august26.html