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Pre-WW2 Military and Naval Aviation Please use this forum to discuss Military and Naval Aviation before the Second World War. |
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Bombing of Guernica - overview of participating Luftwaffe aircraft
Dear members,
I am working on an article about the Luftwaffe bomber force during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz and would like to include some information on the bombing of Guernica to trace the evolution of the German bombers from 1937 to 1941. I have discovered that the specifics of aircraft and munitions used to attack Guernica are not easily found. I understand that 3 or so Heinkel 111s and Dornier 17s, as well as 3 Italian SM79s and around two dozen Ju 52s, participated in the bombing and around 30 tonnes of bombes were dropped. Is more specific information available? Regards, Dan
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My research paper - How were German air force resources distributed between different fronts in the years 1941 to 1943 - http://www.ww2.dk/Luftwaffe Research.html |
#2
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Re: Bombing of Guernica - overview of participating Luftwaffe aircraft
Hello Dan:
This source states that two He 111s, one Do 17, 18 Ju 52s and 3 SM 79s carried out the Guernica attack: https://books.google.com.au/books?id...u%2052&f=false See page 105. Condor Legion documents are cited as the source. In terms of the munitions, 'Wolfram von Richthofen Master of the German Air War' by James Corum states that 250 kg bombs and EC B 1 fuses were used (presumably the 250 kg bombs made up part of the ordnance used). See page 136. Richthofen's diary entry for 30 April 1937 is cited for this information. The first source mentioned above includes some interesting discussion of Guernica, which may provide further leads. Cheers Don W |
#3
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Re: Bombing of Guernica - overview of participating Luftwaffe aircraft
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For those interested , the book referenced above is available for a free download from the Open Source Library: https://www.oapen.org/search?identifier=610288 |
#4
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Re: Bombing of Guernica - overview of participating Luftwaffe aircraft
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Thank you very much for this link. For my forthcoming article, I was able to find similar information on the website of Basque television. A very interesting and detailed review of the attack on Guernica, see http://www.eitb.eus/multimedia/infog.../index_en.html "EC B 1" should actually read B 1 E, the 1 kilogram German incendiary bomb which was first employed on a large scale in this specific raid, as I understand it. Regards, Dan
__________________
My research paper - How were German air force resources distributed between different fronts in the years 1941 to 1943 - http://www.ww2.dk/Luftwaffe Research.html |
#5
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Re: Bombing of Guernica - overview of participating Luftwaffe aircraft
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Thank you, we now have the source of this information, from the book's endnotes. It is an article by Hans-Henning Abendroth entitled „Guernica: Ein fragwürdiges Symbol“, in Militärgeschichtliche Mitteilungen, published in 1987. It is available at https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/mgz...7.41.1.111.xml I am grateful for your help in finding this Kind regards, Dan
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My research paper - How were German air force resources distributed between different fronts in the years 1941 to 1943 - http://www.ww2.dk/Luftwaffe Research.html |
#6
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Re: Bombing of Guernica - overview of participating Luftwaffe aircraft
Dan,
Another source I would recommend is the book Guernica, by Jesús Salas Larrazábal. Originally published in the 1980s, it was reprinted in 2012, which may include updates. It is in Spanish, and I am unaware of any English translation. Guernica El Bombardeo: La Historia Frente al Mito. Galland Books. 346 pages. 978-84-15043-26-3 Enjoy! Frank.
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Civilization is the most fragile ecology of all. |
#7
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Re: Bombing of Guernica - overview of participating Luftwaffe aircraft
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Thank you very much for this reference. It is cited multiple times in the Abendroth article, so must be a good source. Purchasing it is not on my horizon at present, but I will certainly put it on my wish list Kind regards, Dan
__________________
My research paper - How were German air force resources distributed between different fronts in the years 1941 to 1943 - http://www.ww2.dk/Luftwaffe Research.html |
#8
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Re: Bombing of Guernica - overview of participating Luftwaffe aircraft
Jesus Salas Larrazabal is probably the best historian of the air operations during the Spanish civil war but except Air War over Spain published a long time ago by Ian Allan his books are not translated in English.
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#9
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Re: Bombing of Guernica - overview of participating Luftwaffe aircraft
Mark,
I would like to send a brief response to your private message, but cannot - you have exceeded your limit. Please clear your inbox Dan
__________________
My research paper - How were German air force resources distributed between different fronts in the years 1941 to 1943 - http://www.ww2.dk/Luftwaffe Research.html |
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