June 15th, 1943

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

I am again facing contradicting information with respect to allied air attacks in the West, this time concerning 8th USAAF activities on June 15th, 1943.

According to what information I have from the American side it is apparent, that a number of B-17 - the exact figure varying between 155 and 80 + - was sent on an attack against the Le Mans marshalling yards in France, the operation being aborted owing to bad weather and the formations being ordered to turn back before they crossed the French coast.

German information on the other side - KTB OKW and KTB SKL - state that three formations totalling 65 a/c and consisting mostly of four engined bombers attacked targets around the Channel islands - mostly around Guernsey - and the western coast of the Cotentin peninsula between roughly 07.00 and 08.40 hrs a.m.

Could someone please set matters straight ? Did parts of the US formation stray that far to the West and drop their bombs over said area or was there even another formation around ? Did British four engined bombers venture out in the daylight ? I know that there was a Roadstead- or Ramrod attack flown by a mixed formation of 17 - 20 Whirlwinds and Spitfires against shipping around the Channel Islands, but that took place at 06.14 hrs a.m. and thus an hour or so before the attacks of the three formations in question.

As usual, any help will be gratefully appreciated.

Regards

Jochen Prien