Middle Wallop airfield, possible raid end July 1940.

[Martin Gleeson]

Could anyone please tell me if Middle Wallop airfield was bombed 29-31 July 1940, and if there were any personnel or aircraft casualties ?

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Chris Goss]

Not from what I can see in Luftwaffe records and in any case, no personnel casualties on my list

[Martin Gleeson]

Hello Chris,

Thanks for your reply. My query arose when I came across the Form 78 for Blenheim L6803 of 604 Squadron, then based at Middle Wallop. On page 2 was noted '30.7.40 F.B. O. (2)' and underneath that someone wrote in "E A - on ground". The 604 Squadron ORB has no mention of any raid or aircraft damage.

Many thanks,

Martin.

[paulmcmillan]

Is it possible damaged away from base ?

[Martin Gleeson]

Hi Paul,

No idea where. The 'E A - on ground' suggests to me that it was on the base. However, based on the information from Chris above. I suspect that note was added in error to the F.78 for L6803 and probably should have been for another aircraft.
Apart for the F.78 the only other reference to L6803 that I can find is a sparse comment in the 71 Maintenance Unit ORB (AIR 29/1022) of a 'Crash inspection of Blenheim L6803' on 31 July 1940. Nothing else, not even a location. We are somewhat unlucky in that 71 M.U. was a recently established unit and L6803 was one of their first recoveries. 71 M.U. was an offshoot of 49 M.U. who would normally have dealt with Middle Wallop and certainly would have noted the location of any crash or recovery.

Not much help but that is everything I can find. Clearly the damage was worse than initially believed at Category 2 as it was Struck off Charge on 31 August 1940 by 604 squadron with only 17 flying hours listed.

Regards,

Martin.

[paulmcmillan]

Martin thanks for update so no F1180 file for Blenheim L6803

[Martin Gleeson]

No, unfortunately for us ! I should have mentioned that above.

Martin.