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Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. |
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#1
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Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
II./KG 76 hit both airfields at around 1630-1700 hrs on this date claiming a total of 12 aircraft destroyed and 2 damaged. I cannot see anything apart from the two Blenheims of 107 Sqn lost at Wattisham and an Anson at Stradishall (unit?) and no obvious casualties. Can anyone add anything please?
Last edited by Chris Goss; 14th August 2017 at 23:33. |
#2
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Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
Attack on Stradishall is mentioned here:
http://www.hundon-village.co.uk/hundonhistory.html Quote:
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#3
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Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
I have the following Blenheims lost but no Anson listed:
107 Squadron, Wattisham Blenheim IV T2139. Destroyed on the ground in bombing attack by Ju88s of II./KG76 around 4.45 p.m. No aircrew casualties. Aircraft a write-off. 110 Squadron, Wattisham Blenheim IV T2133. Destroyed on the ground in bombing attack by Ju88s of II./KG76 around 4.45 p.m. No aircrew casualties. Aircraft a write-off. |
#4
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Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
Thanks both. Found this in Bowyer's book "Air Raid":
Two Ju 88s crossed Stradishall at 1717 hrs 1000 yds apart, one so low that hangars shielded it from AA fire, 10 HEs fell setting 2 hangars on fire and damaging the Sgt's Mess whilst the Ops Room was machine gunned. A barrack block was damaged and an Anson set on fire. As one of the 88s sped across the airfield a map fluttered down....It showed that the ac had crossed the coast 3 miles south of Dunwich, headed for Diss and made for Stradishall... Wattisham suffered harsh treatment at 1725 hrs when 2 Ju 88s managed to place 5 HEs on Hangars 1 & 2, the latter burning for a while.... |
#5
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Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
How would a map come from an aircraft? Was said aircraft damaged?
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#6
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Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
I cannot comment on the map (but if a side window was open it is always possible) but no German ac were damaged
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#7
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Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
3 November 1940 Stab II./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (7142). Crashed and burned out on landing at Amsterdam-Schiphol damaged by AA fire and fighters following attack on Stradishall and Wattisham. No crew casualties. Aircraft 70% damaged - write-off.
3 November 1940 II./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (8115). Crash-landed at Amsterdam-Schiphol damaged by AA fire and fighters following attack on Stradishall and Wattisham. FF Lt Horst Müller wounded, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft 70% damaged - write-off. 3 November 1940 5./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (8087). Crash-landed at Amsterdam-Schiphol damaged by AA fire and fighters following attack on Stradishall and Wattisham. BS Gefr Hans Swatosch killed, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft F1+KN 10% damaged - repairable. |
#8
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Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
Peter: According to Theo Rehm's KG 76 list, Müller and Swatosch (he has Franz) were in the same crew and wounded 9 Nov, former dying 17 Nov and latter 12 Nov and both were 4 Staffel??? Luftflotte 3 makes no mention of any aircraft casualties nor fighters and I can see no RAF claims??? Maybe we can talk later about this conundrum but no doubt you will be right!
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#9
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Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
Chris,
I took a closer look and some revisions were necessary - apologies. I stand by the following: Stab II./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (7142). Crashed and burned out on landing at Amsterdam-Schiphol following low-level attack on Wattisham 5.25 p.m. No crew casualties. Aircraft 70% damaged - write-off. 4./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (8115). Crash-landed at Amsterdam-Schiphol damaged by AA fire following low-level attack on Stradishall 5.17 p.m. FF Lt Horst Müller badly wounded, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft 70% damaged - write-off. 4./KG76 Junkers Ju88A-5 (8087). Crash-landed at Amsterdam-Schiphol damaged by AA fire following low-level attack on Stradishall 5.17 p.m. BS Gefr Franz Swatosch badly wounded - died Nov 11, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft 10% damaged - repairable. GQM Returns confirm casualties were in separate aircraft as shown and confirm the date as 3 November 1940 - it also mentions 'flak & fighters' but as you say ... NVM records MULLER as later missing on 13 July 1943. |
#10
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Re: Air attack on stradishall and wattisham 3 nov 40
Thanks as always. BofB The Forgotten Months has this as 2-3 Nov and a closer look at the fiche has Wk Nr 7142 burning out but 100% then reduced to 70%, 8115 as crash-landing 70% as did 8087 but that then gets upgraded to 10% with the death of Swatosch being noted 27 Nov 40. I wonder if 7142 was Storp's ac as he planned and led the attack?
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