low level attack sth London 20 jan1943

[biddendenlocal]

3 german planes did a low level attack on Sth London on 20th Jan 1943.They bombed schools&machine gunned .I was told at the time,that a number of children died.Does anyone know if any of the planes were shot down? I believe they were 109,s.
Alf Bushnell

[Peter Cornwell]

The Blitz Then & Now Vol.3 pp204 - 213 gives the whole story from soup to nuts.

[Chris Goss]

...whilst my book 'Luftwaffe Fighter-Bombers over Britain' gives what I hope is the definative................... Certainly more than 3, they were FW 190s and only one was shot down, the pilot taken POW. The Luftwaffe's diversionary sweeps were another matter.......

[biddendenlocal]

Thanks for your answers fellas.I was remenising about the attack,for I was going home for lunch about 12.30 when I saw a low flying plane,and heard machine gun fire.I dived over a low garden wall,in case,but they were concentrating on a school about 1\2 a mile away.I was 12 at the time.
By the way,all the reference books quoted,are not available in our local or state libraries.To buy them all would put a bit of a strain on a 77yo pensioner!! My mate borrowed Battle of Britain Then&Now from his local library in England. Alf Bushnell

[Griffon]

Hello Alf!

GREAT to see that a guy of your age reads this forum as well.
those surely must have been interesting times for a 14 year old boy

concerning the book by Chris, I have it, and it is great read!
definitely worth getting, should you hold only the slightest interest in the times and the attacks...

cheers from Vienna/Austria
phil

[Chris Goss]

Both my book and the book that Peter Cornwell mentions should be available from your library or can still be purchased. Again, as Nick says read my book and you will understand why such attacks were carried out

[Franek Grabowski]

This does not explain German attacks on civilian targets in Poland 1939 or in Britain 1940. This does not seem to be organised, but was frequent.

[Jon]

Gary,
Although i find your posts very difficult to read, i get the feeling you are somewhat of a "they didn't do that did they" brigade member.

As for risking 30 FW190's over London in daylight to take out a humble Ammunition store..I doubt that very much, hardly a war winning target was it...some ammunition in a country that by 1943 was a military machine.

[Jon]

Gary,
Sadly your true colours are shown, rude and ignorant to a fair comment.

As Nick said this is the Third Reich we are talking about, i agree many Germans were good and simply doing a job but, the fact remains that if the land forces could have men with the Nazi ability to kill in the name of the Fatherland, then without doubt the Luftwaffe would also have had its share.
If i am correct when the Jabo pilots were told of the school being destroyed with many Children killed, at least one showed no remorse and even glory in what had been done.
Gary i noticed a comment you made several week ago regards a certain Luftwaffe pilot during the Battle of Britain who fitted the Nazi image perfectly, you said if i am correct he was a hero of yours as a child.

I just found that rather strange, respected as a fine pilot yes..but Hero!

Regards Gary

Jon

[Jon]

Gary,
You are very strange! I really think your heart is in the right place but still, very very strange.
Good luck with the book.