JG52 & JG53 claims 11/Sept/40

[andy bird]

Trying to sort out who shot down two Blenheims (235) and Albacores (826) on 11th September 1940 as I have just been sent some new names from Freiberg which don't match what I already have in some instances in the storyline which I'm just going through checking for "Coastal Dawn" which covers 235, 248, 236 and 254 Sqn ops from May to October 1940. Due out this July.

From Freiberg: 11/09/1940

Hpt Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke: Stab III/JG 53 Albacore
Oblt Walter Fiel: 8/JG53 Albacore
Oblt Walter Fiel: 8/JG53 Blenheim
Oblt Siegfried Stronk 8/JG53 Albacore
Oblt Jakob Stoll 9/JG53 Blenheim

Redkite - 11/09/1940

Oblt Oskar Stack: 1/JG52 Albacore
Oblt Gunther Busgen: 1/JG52 Albacore
Oblt Walter Fiel: 8/JG53 Albacore
Oblt Siegfried Stonck: 8/JG53 Albacore

Oblt Gunther Busgen: 1/JG52 Blenheim
Lt Franz Essl 1/JG52 Blenheim
Oblt Walter Fiel: 8/JG53 Blenheim
Oblt Jakob Stoll 9/JG53 Blenheim

Hope you can help?

Yours Faithfully,

Andy Bird

[Peter Cornwell]

Andy,

If you put both lists together and delete the obvious duplications you will have all claims recorded. Winfried Bock and Dr Jochen Prien both concur. For some reason, Freiburg have ommitted the JG53 claims - depends what you asked of them I guess. Determining individual claims v losses will prove something of a challenge I fear. For what it's worth, here is what I currently have recorded:

Coastal Command


235 Squadron, Thorney Island

Blenheim IV L9396. Shot down by Bf109s of 1./JG52 and III./JG53 during escort sortie for No.826 (FAA) Squadron Albacore attack on convoy off Calais and crashed in the Channel 5.40 p.m. Pilot Officer P. C. Wickings-Smith, Pilot Officer A. W. V. Green, and Sergeant R. D. H. Watts all missing. Aircraft QY*E a write-off.

Blenheim IV Z5725. Shot down by Bf109s of 1./JG52 and III./JG53 during escort sortie for No.826 (FAA) Squadron Albacore attack on convoy off Calais and crashed in the Channel 5.40 p.m. Flight Lieutenant F. W. Flood, Pilot Officer N. B. Shorrocks, and Sergeant B. R. Sharp all missing. Aircraft QY*G a write-off.


Fleet Air Arm

826 (FAA) Squadron, Bircham Newton

Albacore I L7097. Returned badly damaged in attack by Bf109s of 1./JG52 and III./JG53 during anti-shipping strike north-west of Calais 5.45 p.m. Sub-Lt A. H. Bacon and rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft F4C damaged but repairable.

Albacore I L7098. Badly damaged in attack by Bf109s of 1./JG52 and III./JG53 during anti-shipping strike north-west of Calais and crash-landed near Staple, north-west of Deal 5.55 p.m. Sub-Lt T. Winstanley and rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft damaged but repairable.

Albacore I L7114. Returned badly damaged in attack by Bf109s of 1./JG52 and III./JG53 during anti-shipping strike north-west of Calais 5.45 p.m. (Pilot) Sub-Lt Anthony Montagu Tuke unhurt, (Obs) Sub-Lt Edgar George Brown and (TAG) NA Robert E. Matthews both wounded. Aircraft F4M damage state not recorded.

Albacore I L7117. Badly damaged in attack by Bf109s of 1./JG52 and III./JG53 during anti-shipping strike north-west of Calais and ditched in the Channel south-east of Dover 5.50 p.m. Lt Allan Sawbridge Downes wounded and Sub-Lt Conrad Richard Mallett unhurt – both rescued by MTB and landed at Dover, (TAG) NA1 James Alexander Moffat Stevens missing. Aircraft F4K 100% write-off.

[andy bird]

Peter,

Thank you for help and knowledge.

Yours Faithfully

Andy