Luftwaffe losses 27 May 1941 UK & Ireland

[dp_burke]

Hi all

I can't find this in the archives on forum, it may have been asked before.

An Irish Army unit claimed to have fired on a German a/c on 27 May 1941 from the Army post at ROSSLARE harbour in South East Ireland and reportedly scored hits. I don't have any primary source Irish Army document witness reports etc. Its always said it was a He111.

It either flew on or in some telling of the story, crashed.

Are there any unaccounted losses on this date? Or what what was the total losses around UK and Ireland on this date.

I think myself the story has gained legs over the years and I doubt the aircraft was affected.

And it was common for Irish forces to fire on intruding aircraft with warning fire.

[Chris Goss]

Don't forget actions against the Bismarck were going on at this time. II./KG 55 lost 2 He 111s that evening

[Nick Beale]

At German Docs in Russia the daily sitrep (in Akte 140) reports only 1 Ju 88 lost on ops around Britain. Next day this was corrected to an He 111.

[dp_burke]

Thanks guys.

Do we know where those 2 or three a/c might have been lost?

I assume the two KG55 craft were westward out of France rather than up towards the Irish Sea.

And then the Ju88, corrected to He111, I wonder what a/c that turned out to be.

Would that daily report be the upper most report for the day, I see it mentions Libyan losses also, so seem higher enough level.

[Chris Goss]

3 ac attacked ships 15W/6171 2232-2245hrs
2 ac attacked ships north of Bude Bay 2310hrs
1ac attacked ships off Penzance 2258hrs
1 ac attacked Penzance 2320hrs
1 ac attacked Treen 2305hrs
One ac ditched in Channel crew rescued; one missing

[dp_burke]

This stemmed from a tweet this morning and the poster informed me it is mentioned in Michael Kennedy's book, 'Guarding Neutral Ireland, p.139. Based on Curragh Command, Monthly Report on M&CWS - Month of May 1941

fired upon by the ground defences and hits were observed'. The plane took evasive measures and continued on its flight

[Chris Goss]

The KG 55 losses occurred at night so would not have been visible in my opinion

[dp_burke]

First time I have been able to look at this with laptop all weekend.

Thanks for all the replies.

Looking over the whole of the Lagebericht 627. Posted 28 Mai covering activity on 27th May

No mention of anyone being shot at from Ireland.
And perhaps they didn't know there were shot at or thought they were over UK