17 August 1942 - RAF participation on VIII Bomber Command Mission no 1

[Faenor]

Hi all,

can somebody share with me RAF participation RAF fighter squadron on VIII Bomber Command mission no 1?

I´m interesting in ORB and claims/losses of RAF fighter squadron.

Thanks Faenor

[MW Giles]

Circus 204 Rouen/Sotteville.
Fighter Command 9 squadrons, 108 sorties, 2-4-5 claimed for 3 lost.

Identified squadrons 64, 401 and 402 Cannot tell you the other 6

Regards

Martin

[Faenor]

Hi MArtin,

thanks for help - try to Contact my friends, if had scans for ORB for these squadrons.

If any have a info, please post it or contact me via PM.

Thanks Faenor

[Orwell1984]

331 (Norwegian) Squadron also participated in Circus 204

http://www.danishww2pilots.dk/sorties.php?id=147

As did 313 (Czech) Squadron I believe.

[Faenor]

Hi all,

there are data from Tony Wood claim list for year 1942 - source internet link
https://web.archive.org/web/20130928070316/http://lesbutler.co.uk/claims/tonywood.htm


17. August 1942
VIII Bomber Command # 1: Circus 204
Rail-yards ROUEN/SOTTEVILLE
17.15 RV: 18 (12) 97th Bomb-Group B-17 Fortress
Spitfire IX Escort Wing:
RAF 11 Gp. 64 Sqn. 12 Spitfire F.IX 15.52-18.30 Circus 204 0 - 1 - 1 FW 190 No casualty H-BS: Rouen

Claim 17.08.42 P/O J.K. Stewart 11 Group 64 Sqn. 0 - 1 - 0 FW 190 17.50: Barville
Claim 17.08.42 F/Lt. D.E. Kingaby 11 Group 64 Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 FW 190 18.00: 10 sm. N.E. Dieppe

RAF 11 Gp. 401 Sqn. 12 Spitfire F.IX 16.58-18.20 Circus 204 1 - 4 - 1 FW 190 2 Cat.E 1 Cat.B Fighters H-BS: Rouen

Cat.Em 17.08.42 P/O J.K. Ferguson: KIA 11 Group 401 Sqn. Spitfire F.IX: BS159 FW 190s: Channel
Cat.Em 17.08.42 F/Sgt. W.E. Rowthorn: DOW 11 Group 401 Sqn. Spitfire F.IX: BR985 FW 190s: Channel
Cat.B 17.08.42 S/Ldr. K.L.B. Hodson: OK 11 Group 401 Sqn. Spitfire F.IX: BS120 FW 190s: Channel

Claim 17.08.42 F/Lt. E.L. Gimbel 11 Group 401 Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 FW 190 18.00: off Dieppe
Claim 17.08.42 F/Sgt. R.D. Reesor 11 Group 401 Sqn. 0 - 1 - 0 FW 190 18.00: Somme Estuary
Claim 17.08.42 Pilot 11 Group 401 Sqn. 0 - 1 - 0 FW 190 18.00 ca: Channel
Claim 17.08.42 Pilot 11 Group 401 Sqn. 0 - 1 - 0 FW 190 17.45 ca: Channel
Claim 17.08.42 Pilot 11 Group 401 Sqn. 0 - 1 - 0 FW 190 17.45 ca: Channel
Claim 17.08.42 S/Ldr. K.L.B. Hodson 11 Group 401 Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 FW 190 17.50: 10 sm. W. Rouen

RAF 11 Gp. 402 Sqn. 12 Spitfire F.IX 16.50-18.40 Circus 204 0 - 0 - 1 FW 190 1 Cat.Em Fighters H-BS: Rouen

Cat.Em 17.08.42 F/Lt. N.B. Trask: P/W 11 Group 402 Sqn. Spitfire F.IX: BR634 FW 190s: Rouen

Claim 17.08.42 Sgt. H.P. Fuller 11 Group 402 Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 FW 190 18.00 ca: 10 sm. W. Dieppe

Summary for Circus 204 at 17.15 RV on 17th August 1942 Rail-yards Rouen/Sotteville. Fighters taking part: 9 squadrons, 108 sorties, 2-4-5 claimed for 3 lost. Bombers taking part: 18 (12) B-17 Fortress of 97th Bomb-Group VIII Bomber Command (Mission 1). Ref: RAF/FC Summary of Sorties (Air 16/1307)

From this data I´m looking for more info about losses of 401. and 402. SQ - time and place, which we can compare with Luftwaffe claims (4). Thanks for share and info about other involved squadrons are again welcome.

FAenor

[Faenor]

Originally Posted by Orwell1984

331 (Norwegian) Squadron also participated in Circus 204

http://www.danishww2pilots.dk/sorties.php?id=147

As did 313 (Czech) Squadron I believe.

Thanks Orwel1984 - today I receive book about 313. SQ in CZ language and try to found some info about this date. If you have more info about 331. SQ involved in this action, please share there or via PM.

Thanks Faenor

[Alfred.MONZAT]

If not a fighter unit, the participation of No. 515 Squadron RAF (No. 11 Group RAF) is worth to be noted. They were used for radar jamming duties using "Moonshine" over the Thames Estuary (it was the second try, after a first conclusive try on 6 August). Their Defiants were accompanied by a group of fighters to fake an attack from there and most Luftwaffe interceptors were up against that simulated threat instead of the real attack.

[Faenor]

Originally Posted by Alfred.MONZAT

If not a fighter unit, the participation of No. 515 Squadron RAF (No. 11 Group RAF) is worth to be noted. They were used for radar jamming duties using "Moonshine" over the Thames Estuary (it was the second try, after a first conclusive try on 6 August). Their Defiants were accompanied by a group of fighters to fake an attack from there and most Luftwaffe interceptors were up against that simulated threat instead of the real attack.

Hi Alfred.Monzat,

thanks for the info - if you have more info about radar jamming during 1942 and the 1st half of year 1943 due to support US raid, please share with me via PM.

To all other - in the book about 313.SQ, there is no info about supporting this raid. If anybody have a info about other RAF squadron involved in this raid, please post the info aor send me PM.

Thanks

Faenor