Precise date in May 1940 for Luftwaffe raids on certain airfields.

[Martin Gleeson]

Hello all,

I am trying to learn the exact date in May 1940 when the Luftwaffe bombed certain airfield in France used by the RAF. I believe the date was either May 26th or 27th. The airfields were; Meaux, Rouen-Boos and especially Coulommiers-Voisins ('by 30 aircraft'). I found a brief and unclear mention of these attacks in a RAF document, AIR 35/192, titled 'B.A.F.F. Summaries of Operations 10th May to 16th June 1940'.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Peter T]

Hello Martin,

Meaux was attacked by KG 53 on 25th and by KG 3 on 26th. Rouen on 26th by KG 53 and Coulommiers on 26th by KG 3.

Peter

[Martin Gleeson]

Peter,

That's perfect. Thank you very much.

Regards,

Martin.

[Martin Gleeson]

Hello Peter,

Can I ask for your help again please as a follow-on to my first post ?

Was Coulommiers bombed on May 16th ?

Let me explain why I ask. As you note Coulommiers was attacked on May 26th by KG 3. The AIR 35/192 document I referred to above records that three aircraft of 24 Squadron were badly damaged during that raid. The 24 Squadron ORB (AIR 27/293) is very detailed up to and including 18 May 1940 detailing individual transport sorties, but after that date it is very sparse for the rest of May. Under May 16th in the F.540 part of the ORB it is recorded that two DH 89s and a Vega Gull were all damaged beyond repair at Coulommiers, plus two more aircraft and a vehicle abandoned at different airfields. I am doubtful that all of these were actually written off on the same day, and I suspect that the three at Coulommiers were actually lost on the 26th - as per your initial reply – and not on the 16th .
If Coulommiers was not bombed on the 16th , then it appears to me that the 26th was the correct date for the loss of these three aircraft.
I have looked at several other primary documents, but none can clarify this matter.

Any assistance would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Martin.

[Peter T]

Martin, I cannot find an attack on the 16th.
Peter

[Martin Gleeson]

Peter,

Thank you very much for your help again. It seems clear now that the three aircraft were damaged on May 26th and not on the 16th.

Regards,

Martin.