Info sought on May 1941 raids in Cornwall

[CornwallPhil]

I am looking for any information on the planes, Luftwaffe units, crews, etc involved in two specific bombing raids in Cornwall in May 1941.


The first was on Thursday 15th May at 0240hrs when 8 HE bombs were dropped at Hemmick Beach near Dodman Point on the south Cornish coast killing two soldiers and an auxiliary coastguard.


The second was on 19th May at 0010hrs when 4 HE bombs were dropped in the same valley leading up from Hemmick Beach killing only cattle.


If anyone is able to identify if they were part of a specific mission, or give the intended targets, or whether they were just discarding their bomb load before crossing back over the Channel, I'd be grateful. I have information on the casualties etc from the British side. I'm just trying to build a complete picture of the two raids. Any assistance gratefully received.

[Nick Beale]

If you can read German, then there is a file of the situation reports for the relevant dates online here.

[Chris Goss]

I am currently away but these incidents might be in my book The Luftwaffe's Blitz. I can check next week

[CornwallPhil]

Thanks for the link Nick. The documents show that St Eval was hit on the 15th/16th May when they claimed to have hit 3 aircraft on the ground. I could see no mention of the south coast other than a comment on 20-30 barrage balloons at Falmouth. I didn't spot any reference to the plane and crew that were lost when one hit a cable that night.

Chris, If you could that would be brilliant. Thank you.

[Chris Goss]

14-15 May 41, attacks were recorded all around the west country but an aircraft from II./KG 55 reported attacking Falmouth and the same unit again attacked Falmouth on 18-19 May 41. I could have a closer look but not for a week or so

[CornwallPhil]

Thanks Chris.
It's possible it could have been planes from the Falmouth raids that discarded their payload over Hemmick but just seems more than a coincidence the same valley was hit twice in a week.
Anything you can provide as and when you are able to do so would be gratefully received.

[Chris Goss]

Both attacks were by a single He 111 and were due to them not finding ships to attack. First ac reported dropping 1 x SC500 and 4 x SC250 from 60m at 0025 hrs; the second had the same bomb load and attacked at 2327 hrs from 1500m

[CornwallPhil]

Much appreciated Chris. Thank you.
So the He 111 would have taken off from where? Presumably somewhere near the French coast?

[Chris Goss]

II./KG 55 was based at Chartres

[CornwallPhil]

Thank you.