Did KG 54 take part in the Warmwell Raid on 25 August 1940

[Peter Cook]

According to Siegfried Radtke's history of KG 54, Ju 88s of II Gruppe took part in the raid on Portland, Weymouth and Warmwell airfield on 25 August 'in association with II./KG 51'. However, the Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung makes no mention of KG 54 in its detailed listing of all the Luftflotte 3 units that took part in this attack, which identifies specific Geschwader (KG 51, JG 2, JG 27, JG 53, ZG 2, ZG 76 and V(Z)./LG 1), Gruppen and numbers of aircraft.

Is Radtke correct?

[Chris Goss]

No evidence that KG 54 was there-just I, II and III./KG 51

[Peter Cook]

Thanks Chris, that was my assumption, however several authors appear to have picked up on Radtke's inclusion of KG 54 in this raid.

Peter

[Nick Beale]

On the other hand, if you take a look at my website: http://www.ghostbombers.com/1940/Eag...le/edbb07.html

(Starting from the third paragraph on the page)

[Chris Goss]

Looks like KG 54 were stood down as I./KG 51 sent 9 ac, II 16 and III 12 ac to attack Warmwell with no mention at all of KG 54

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Looks like KG 54 were stood down as I./KG 51 sent 9 ac, II 16 and III 12 ac to attack Warmwell with no mention at all of KG 54

No argument there but if KG 54 were repeatedly put on standby for a raid that kept being postponed, you can see how Radtke might have got the idea that they actually had taken part.

[Chris Goss]

KG 51 and KG 54 seemed to be the go to Geschwader for such airfield attacks in Luftflotte 3's AOR

[Andy Mitchell]

Peter,

For completeness, here are the details from the Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung Nr 1 of 26.8.40.

Flieger Korps V
9 Ju 88 of I./KG.51 start at 16:20 hrs.
18:27-18:32 hrs. Attack on Warmwell Airfield
Amount of bombs dropped: 36 SC 250. Drop height
4500-5000 m, hits in the hangars on the western edge of the field and in the accommodations east of the field; strong fires observed. Probably 15-20 planes on the tarmac destroyed.

16 Ju 88 of the II./KG. 51 Start at 16:20 hrs.
18.29-18.35 hrs. Attack on Warmwell Airfield
from 4500 m with 48 SC 250 and 16 Flam 250,
Hit in accommodations and in the two south hangers were seen.


12 Ju 88 of III./KG 51 start at 16:25 hrs.
18:27 - 18:30 hrs. Attack on Warmwell Airfield with 30 SC 250 and 10 Flam 250 from 4800-5200 m.
A row of hits in small hangars and buildings on the southern edge of the "square" and a row of hits in aircraft on the southern edge of the "square" probably observed three planes destroyed, several damaged.

Jafü 3 provided the following escort:
JG.2 with 59 Me 109
JG. 27 with 74 Me 109
JG.53 with 81 Me 109
ZG. 2 with 46 Me 110
ZG. 76 with 37 Me 110
V./(Z) LG. 1 with 20 Me 110

Above translated some while ago using Google Translate.

Also
from Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung Nr 9 26.8.40

The Seenotdienst rescued 4 men from a Ju 88 of II./KG.51 from the crews who had crashed on August 25, 1940

and from Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung Nr 11 26.8.40

Reconnaissance result: (V. Fliegerkorps):
2 Bf 110 of 4./(F)121 (start 1:50 p.m. and 5:10 p.m.)
for Channel monitoring and post raid target pictures of Portsmouth.
No traffic in the Channel. Unable to take post raid photos due to cloud cover.
WarmweIl airfield: occupancy 40 (21-19-0),

[Peter Cook]

Thank you Andy and Nick for the additional information. I have a translation of the Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung for this date and one of the aspects that has convinced me that KG54 did not take part in this operation is that the Einzelmeldung is very detailed in its description of the units, number of aircraft, etc., and so it would be very surprising if KG54's possible role was overlooked by the detail-oriented officer that wrote the report.

Peter

[Peter T]

I have been working in detail on KG 54, and have no real proof that they took part in the raid. However, one has to be very careful with the Luftflotte 3 Meldungen, they are not complete. Several operations are missing.
Peter