III./KG2 Battle of Britain Action - What Date?

[Peter Cook]

Several UK sources reproduce an account of an attack on a convoy in July 1940. The origin for the account is a slim volume titled The Fatal Decisions (1956), in which Werner Kreipe, Kommandeur of III./KG 2, describes taking part in an attack on a British convoy by Do 17s of III/KG2, without being specific about the date. The UK sources assign the account to an attack on a convoy on July 10th. However, according to the biographical details in deZeng and Stankey's Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries, Kreipe was transferred from his position as Gruppe Kommandeur of III/KG2 on June 26, taking a senior position with the RLM's Training Command as Abt.Chef, RLM/Ausbildungswesen, so he is unlikely to have flown in any capacity during the Battle of Britain. KG2 also took part in convoy attacks on July 4th and the 7th. Is it possible that Kreipe's account refers to one of these earlier dates?

[Chris Goss]

Possibly off Dunkirk May/June 1940?

[Peter Cook]

So almost certainly not a Battle of Britain action?

[Chris Goss]

It would appear that Kreipe had left III./KG 2 before the end of June and the first III./KG 2 shipping claim after that came on 7 July 1940

[Peter Cook]

Thanks for confirming Chris.

[David P. Williams]

According to a Flugbuch I have from the unit, it was actively engaged against the convoys on the 8th, 9th and 10th July as well, all taking place in the afternoon of those days mentioned. Nothing for the 7th in there though!

[Siko54]

Hi Peter - probably a stupid question (I'm very much an amateur at this!), have you got Ulf Balke's history of KG2?

There's heaps in there regarding shipping attacks across that period although I have to use Google translate which is not easy. I did look for anything relating to Kreipe and couldn't see any mention of him around that period. If you haven't got his history I'd be happy to try a rough translate of any specific dates to help - that said the 10th Jul is over several pages!

[Peter Cook]

Siko, I have Balke's book, which is very useful — especially his coverage of 10th July — but it doesn't answer the question re. the op that Kreipe described. My objective was to confirm that it didn't take place during the BoB period, even though some BoB author's quote Kreipe's account. I am now satisfied that he was describing an op that took place before 10th July.