77 Sqn Whitley vs Arado 196, July 25th 1942

[wwrsimon]

Hello

The 77 Squadron O.R.B. Form 541 for July 25th 1942 details a 35-minute combat between Whitley Z9462 'Y' flown by P/O E. Cane and an Arado-196.

The Whitley suffered a damaged starboard engine, resulting in the prop being feathered, and claimed the Arado as 'damaged,' with the Arado's gunner seemingly incapacitated during the combat.

Both aircraft (it seems) may have made it back home, the Whitley returning to Predannack with an injured air gunner, and the Arado last seen heading for France.

A long shot, but is it possible to track down the unit for the Ar-196...?

Many thanks,

Simon

[Merlin]

The only Ar 196 unit in France at that time was the 5./Bordfliegergruppe 196 based at Brest. The unit reported no damaged or lost aircraft that day.

[wwrsimon]

Thanks for the reply Gerhard, much appreciated. Seems the Arado must have escaped undamaged.

Regards

Simon

[Chris Goss]

I have checked again. There are no recorded Ar 196s being damaged or returning with wounded crew. As the Whitley was not seen to crash, the Germans did not claim it. Unit definitely 5./196

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Simon,

From a British file summarising Y-Service and ULTRA material, on 25 July 1942 an Arado 196 of 5./196 was attacked and damaged by a Whitley in approximately 48 N 8 W at 18:00. The Germans reported that the Whitley was also hit and an engine was set on fire. The German aircraft was heard from 18:00 to 18:58.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

[wwrsimon]

Chris and Andrew, thank you for the replies.

Here is what the 77 Squadron ORB Form 541 recorded:

July 25th 1942
Whitley V Z9462 KN-Y
Anti-submarine patrol
Up: 12.05
Down: 22.00

P/O CANE was detailed for patrol, aircraft carrying 6 x 250lb Torpex depth charges, and 4 x 250lb A/S bombs. S/E not carried. Six stationery tunneymen and seven steam trawlers were seen. When on course 040º, height 1,000 feet, sighted Arado 196 on reciprocal course, climbing from sea level. E/A turned and attacked from starboard quarter, at 600 yards, giving 2 second burst. E/A broke off to port quarter, made wide arc, and then coming in dead astern to 600 yards. It turned to starboard, opening fire for two seconds. Whitley tail gunner replied with two second burst, and Arrado [sic] broke off to port. Repeating this manoeuvre, E/A attacked from dead astern from 800 yards, turning to starboard, firing again and closing to 600 yards, Whitley tail gunner replied, with three second burst, E/A breaking off to port, and diving to sea level. Tail gunner gave further burst as E/A dived. E/A made wide arc coming in on our aircraft’s starboard bow. Front gunner gave short burst. Starboard engine and front gunner hit by Arrado [sic] cannon shells, Engine caught fire, and fire extinguishers used, fire finally being put out by diving. Propeller was feathered, E/A broke away to rear of our aircraft, our tail gunner firing five second burst at 200 yards, hitting rear gunner’s position in the E/A, afterwards no return fire was experienced from rear gunner of E/A. E/A broke away port beam*, and made a wide arc going out of sight, re-appearing out of sun, and attacking from port bow. Our aircraft was not hit. As our aircraft’s turrets were u/s through engine failure, gunners unable to reply as E/A broke away, passing to starboard. Our tail gunner saw E/A momentarily in his sights, and gave two one second bursts, guns being used horizontally by hand. No hits were seen on E/A. E/A broke off and flew towards France. After failure of engine, our aircraft was unable to climb to slight cloud cover. All bombs and depth charges jettisoned. After front gunner (F/Sgt. Green) had been hit, he came back and operated wireless, W/Op manning front gun. Total time of action 35 minutes, Arado 196 claimed as damaged. Aircraft landed at Predannack.

P/O CANE, E.
P/O SMITH, C. E.
SGT. WHITE, R. J.
SGT. CURRY, G.
F/SGT. GREEN, R. C. (Ground)
SGT. WHITE, E. A.

Regards

Simon