Bf 109 escorting KG55 at 26th sept 1940

[F10_Chainsaw]

Hey Guys!
I would appreciate some help pinpointing a Bf 109 fighter unit. In "The blitz then and now Vol 2" on page 134 Robert Götz from KG55 writes about the attack on the Spitfire factory at Southampton and he mentions that they got escorted by few Bf 109s. Ive located that Bf 110C4 from ZG26 did fightersweeps over the area as well for the bombing armada but I havent been able to locate what Bf 109 unit it was that Robert mentions and at what force they showed up. Would appreciate if anyone of you knows the answer

Cheers Thomas

[Chris Goss]

48 Bf 110s of ZG 26, 38 Bf 109s of JG 2 & 6 Bf 109s of JG 53

[F10_Chainsaw]

Thanks allot Chris! you got a clue what model of the 109 it was? E ?

[Chris Goss]

I am afraid that that information is not available and you would have to guess it was E-3 or E-4

[F10_Chainsaw]

Copy that, thanks anyway
btw is there anything more you can add about the 26th sept raid? this is what I got at the moment:

I/KG55 (probleby whole Gruppe as Stab,2nd and 3rd staffel has been confirmed) attacked Woolston spitfire factory at around 16:30, escorted by ZG26 (48 planes), JG2 (38 planes) and JG53 (6 planes). 1 Heinkel G1+GK) got shot down by Hurricanes from 229sqn and crashed 10km south of Isle of Wight, one heinkel (G1+BL) had to do a emergency landing outside St Lo with 2 wounded and stab I/KG55 had one wounded when they landed.

I have the names of the crews that was in the damaged and shot down planes but didnt bother listing right now.

I also got the pic of the factory before and after it was bombed (its in the blitz then and now vol 2).
If anyone got any more info about this raid I would love to read it

Cheers!

[Chris Goss]

The attack on Southampton was carried out at 1730 hrs (German time) by 18 He 111s from I/KG 55 (with 80 SC 250 bombs) & 19 from II/KG 55 with 132 SC 250 & 6 SC 250 LZZ as well as 14 Bf 110s from ErPrGr 210 (who dropped 26 SC 500s at 1725 hrs. Meanwhile 10 He 111s from III/KG 55 carried out an ineffectual diversionary attack on Portland. They all reported being intercepted by 40-50 Spitfires 20 kms off the coast and claimed to have shot down 6 Hurricanes & 14 Spitfires (!!). RAF claims were similarly exaggerated. However, 229 Sqn claimed a He 111 probable; 303 (9), 238 (2) & 602 (2), 607 (1) & 609 (1) Sqns each claimed to have destroyed He 111s-German losses were only 1 He 111 & 2 Bf 110s missing

[F10_Chainsaw]

Top info man! where do you get that from???

[Chris Goss]

Various sources including the Luftflotte 3 reports, Battle over Britain, RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims etc etc

[Franek Grabowski]

Chris
303 was credited with 9-0-1 He 111 and 4-0-0 Me 109, but there were Polish pilots claiming in RAF squadrons as well. I have read their Personal Combat Reports of the combat, and I cannot find logical explanation to such a high overclaim. It would be interesting to learn what British pilots reported, though.

[Chris Goss]

I agree. It appears that it was one hell of a battle for so much overclaiming on both sides!