2.(H)/31 June 1940

[Andy Mitchell]

Good Morning,

In a file that I am integrating with the current 2.(H)/31 diary, for the Luftwaffedata Wiki, there is the following:

18.6.40: Flpl. Alencon, reconnaissance in and around Brittany.
19.6.40 An unidentified German Me 110 Staffel attacked the airfield at noon; the result: 9 wounded, 2 of them seriously, and all aircraft of the staffel damaged, but operational. GenOberst Milch was with the staffel. The most seriously wounded was Uffz.Eder (both eyes).

Surprisingly, there is no further comment regarding this attack.

Can anyone identify the Me 110 unit involved or suggest an alternative scenario?

[Peter T]

Hi Andy,

there seems to be no doubt about the Me 110's. Following losses are reported:

19/06/1940 2.(H)31 Fl.Pl. Rennes Angriff eigener Zerstörer (Bf 110) Hs 126 10 %
19/06/1940 2.(H)31 Fl.Pl. Rennes Angriff eigener Zerstörer (Bf 110) Fi 156 10 %
19/06/1940 2.(H)31 Fl.Pl. Rennes Angriff eigener Zerstörer (Bf 110) Fi 156 50
Hptm. Friedrich, Hellmuth and 5 soldiers groundcrew wounded.

Peter

[robert]

Hi,

the airfield had been strafed by crews of 6./ZG26. They reported that 28 LeO451 have been destroyed at the ground.
Here is what I have in my manuscript:
An incident occurred at the freshly captured airfield in Rennes. Three Fi 156 planes of advanced party of 2.(H)/31 Pz (this unit worked for 5th Tank Division) already landed at this airfield and they were strafed by Bf110 fighters from 5./ZG26. The German fighter pilots were not informed that this airfield in already in German hands. All three Fi 156C-1 planes had been damaged in 10%, 10% and 50% respectively. But the personal losses were more painful. Hptm Hellmuth Friedrich, Ogefr. Emil Eder, Gefr. Karl Barunschmidt and Flg. Boleslaus Ogorek, Friedrich Winkelmann, Johannes Sparwel were all badly wounded by friendly fire.

[Andy Mitchell]

Robert and Peter,

Thank you very much for your replies.

This will enable us to include some specific detail against that entry.

Once again - many thanks