Wellington target Stavanger 11 April 1940

[andy bird]

Three Wellingtons hit Stavanger on the night of 11 April 1940, what damage did the three actually do with there 500-lb bombs?

Any help would be fantastic.

With thanks in advance

Your Sincerely,

Andy Bird

[Leendert]

Found this on website http://www2.bc.edu/~emerypa/254/history.html
as far as the contribution of 2 x Blenheims of 254 Squadron is concerned:

1946 (London time) – two Blenheim IVF R.3603 (Flight Officer Bain) N.3627 (Sergeant A.W.Tubbs) from No. 254 Squadron flew out of Bircham Newton to rendezvous with the six Wellingtons at Stavanger-Sola and then escort them back to 18 Group. After reconnoitering the Stavanger area in heavy 10/10 clouds from 3,000 feet, Bain decided not to wait for the Wellingtons and immediately attack. Both Blenheims approached formation abreast from the SE at 2,500 feet, opening machine-gun fire in a steep dive. Light flak and machine-guns returned their fire immediately. The Blenheims dove to 100 feet, strafing parked aircraft and personnel, then climbing to 500 feet to fly over a bluff.

And in the Weekly Resumé No. 33 of the War Cabinet its says:

"Towards dusk on the 11th Stavanger aerodrome was raided by six Wellingtons and two Blenheim fighters; the latter flew low over the aerodrome before the arrival of the bombers, and sprayed it with machine-gun fire. At least four Junkers bombers were hit and others damaged, and there appeared to be about twenty casualties among enemy ground personnel. The Wellingtons followed with a low-level bombing attack, which started a large fire. They also machine-gunned the aerodrome and the seaplane base in the Fjord. Intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered, and one Wellington failed to return."

No doubt our Luftwaffe-experts can tell if indeed Junkers a/c were destroyed at Sola...

Regards,

Leendert

[Oyvind]

On April 10 the first attack on Sola Airfield near Stavanger took place with a 254 sqn. Blenheim . The plane took several aerial pictures and concluded the mission with a low level attack. Two Germans were killed and a Ju52 on the airfield was destroyed together with a He59D on the adjacent seaplane harbor . Two other Ju52 received only minor damage.
On April 11 in the afternoon orders were issued that bombing of runways and buildings at Sola should go on until stoporder came, using one Wellington sqn. in each 24 hr. period and with small formations or single planes to lessen eventual impact of German fighters.
In the evening , 6 Wellingtons from 115 sqn. took off headed by 2 Blenheims from 254 sqn.
3 of the planes dropped bombs over the target in the first attackround and inflicted heavy damage. Both civilians and Germans were killed. One of the 3 planes that didn’t drop the bombs in the first round was hit by antiaircraft fire and crashed into a school in Stavanger killing the crew and 3 civilians and wounding many others. Several houses were set on fire.
The plane that crashed was KO-P commanded by Pilot Officer Barber.
The source for my info is a book named “Flyalarm” which details the airwar over Norway during WW2. Moreover the logbook for the medic team of Civilian Defence in Stavanger( in my possession.)
the book doesn't say anything about damaging german planes on ground, but it is very likely.

[Peter Cornwell]

I have the following losses listed as result of the solo effort on April 10:

KGrzbV. 107 Junkers Ju52/3m (6892). Believed destroyed at Stavanger-Sola in strafing attack by No. 254 Squadron Blenheim (Sgt C. F. Rose) following transport flight from Aalborg for FBK I./ZG76 4.00 p.m. No crew casualties. Aircraft 100% write-off.
Alternative sources report an Uffz Walther Gloger killed at Stavanger on this date.

KGrzbV. 107 Junkers Ju52/3m (6314). Believed damaged at Stavanger-Sola in strafing attack by No. 254 Squadron Blenheim (Sgt C. F. Rose) following transport flight from Aaborg for FBK I./ZG76 4.00 p.m. No crew casualties. Aircraft 20% damaged but repairable.

KGrzbV. 108 Heinkel He59D. Believed sunk while moored at Stavanger-Sola in strafing attack by No. 254 Squadron Blenheim (Sgt C. F. Rose) 4.00 p.m. No crew casualties. Aircraft 100% write-off.

The only aircraft loss I currently have attributed to the attack on April 11 is as follows:

1.(F)/120 Dornier Do17P-1. Damaged in bombing of Stavanger-Sola airfield by Wellingtons of No. 115 Squadron 9.00 p.m. No crew casualties. Aircraft 45% damaged but repairable.

[andy bird]

Many thanks for your help with this.
Andy Bird