Ju 88 attack on 7 June 1944

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

according to various official German sources, on 7 June 1944 a total of 34 Ju88 were active over the sea off Barfleur during daylight, no specific time or any other details given.

I can find no other trace of this mission, especially not in the very detailed account in the War Diary of the Navy High Command - KTB SKL Pt 58/I -, so that everything surrounding it remains obscure. Can anybody enlighten me to which unit these Ju 88 belonged, whether they suffered any losses, whether they had fighter cover and by whom, when and where exactly this took place etc.

As usual, any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Regards

Jochen Prien

[edNorth]

KG 77 operated off Cherbourg night 6/7.06. (losses),
KG 26 operated off Barfleur night 6/7.06 (losses)

I/ZG 1 operated off Caen (several losses) etc.

Barfleur = Normandy
Caen = Normandy etc.

[Brian Bines]

'K' report 263/1944 has a Ju 88 of 3/KG 54 into the sea N/W of Caen at 2300 hrs on the 6th and another of 9/KG54 off the beach head at 0100 hrs on the 7th in 'K' 270/1944. The one on the 6th is shown as targeted to shipping off the Caen beach head having taken off with 10-12 other aircraft from Wittmundhafen at about 2100 hrs on the 6th. The KG 54 history has the loss of 5 aircraft from I/54 and III/54 in an attack on the invasion fleet starting at 1945 hrs on the 6th (daylight?) .'K' 262/1944 has the loss of a Ju 88 of 8/KG26 in the channel with an injured crewman picked up at 0600 hrs on the 7th while on a torpedo attack. Cannot find mention of a daylight attack on the 7th would these 6/7th attacks be what you are looking for,

Regards
Brian Bines

[Nick Beale]

Operations by elements of KG 77 are covered in the attached reports.

[Nick Beale]

Also this extract from Luftflotte 3's overall situation report on the evening of the 8th (Luftflotte 3 IC 2, No. 3609).

[martin75]

Hello,

in ULTRA KV6875, from 7 june, Fliegerdivision 2 informs that probably only 32 Ju-88 would be ready for operations next night.

in ULTRA KV6884, from 7 june, a little later, informs (probably Luftflotte 3) that 32 to 35 torpedo aircraft would be active night 7 to 8 june in Barfleur area.

These numbers seem to correspond to the 34 Ju-88 mentioned above.

Regards

Claude