Night Intruder ops

[BigWeeker]

Hello, Forumites
Does anybody have information re intruder ops carried out over France during 2/3 September 1942, in particular which squadrons would have been involved?
Many thanks
Andy Bigweeker

[MW Giles]

4 Mosquitos of 23 Sqn
Interdiction - Amiens-Reims
Interdiction - Seine area
Intruder - Bourges
Intruder Juvincourt, Laon

4 Bostons of 418 Sqn
Intruder - Bretigny/Melun
Intruder - Lille Valenciennes
Intruder - Caen/Le Mans/Chartres/Le Treport
Intruder - Barfleur/Evreux/Dreux/Argentan

Martin

[BigWeeker]

Hello, Martin
Thanks for that. Would those two squadrons be the only ones operating on intruder duties that night?
I am asking because I am researching the loss of a particular Wellington. The main stream BC aircraft flew from target ( Karlsruhe) more or less direct to the Belgium coast; my aircraft flew a more southerly course and was shot down by a Bf110 near Beauvais, somewhat south of the main stream.
However, he reported being half heartedly attacked just beforehand by a “Ju88”, but no claim or record was seemingly made by any Ju88.
I was wondering, therefore, if the “enemy aircraft” was mi-identified and that he had, in fact, been attacked in error by one of the night intruder aircraft, either a Mosquito Blenheim or Havoc ….
Any thoughts or opinion??
Than you for your time,
Regards
Andy BW

[MW Giles]

Yes, that is the sum of the Intruders.

605 Sqn was only just getting started on the intruder lark and was not out that night

The Luftwaffe could do ineffective attacks as well as the next person. Stalk your prey, if he sees you buzz off and find some other poor person to clobber.

If the first attack by a Ju88 was close in time to the attack by the Bf110, it could just be that it is a second attack by the same a/c that finally got the Wellington

Martin

[BigWeeker]

I have a copy of the BF’s flugbuch (of the ‘110) which states that they claimed the Wellington as their victory. Maybe in the “excitement” the Wellington misidentified the first aircraft as a Ju……
Thanks again - good to have another viewpoint
Andy

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Luftwaffe claim: 2/3 September, 1942.

Ofw Bruno Eikmeier.

2.9.42 - 9./NJG 4 - Wellington - 8km E St Just - 0500 - West - 1st.

See:
Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims - Vol.1 A-F.
Mathews, Andrew Johannes & John Foreman.
Walton-on-Thames:Red Kite,2014.
p.275.

2/3 Sep 1942
12 Sqn
Wellington II Z8529:PH-U
Op: Karlsruhe

T/o 2252 Binbrook. Those who died are buried in The French National Cemetery at Marissel, E of Beauvais. Sgt Logan came from Bulawayo in Southern Rhodesia.

AUS403299 F/Sgt (Capt./Pilot) Colin Albert ALT RAAF - POW - No.27027
1377323 Sgt (Nav.) William Burman HOLLAND RAFVR - POW - No.27002
778687 Sgt (Bomb Aimer) John Innes Montgomery LOGAN RAFVR +
AUS403197 F/Sgt (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Francis Edward MONCKTON RAAF +
1355385 Sgt (Rear Gnr.) John Joseph FOLEY RAFVR - POW - No.27036

See: BCL3/Chorley/p.202.

Brief account by pilot, F/Sgt Colin Alt:
Returning from a raid on Karlsruhe on the third anniversary of the war when a Jerry nightfighter attacked our old Wimpy II and forced us into the deck around Saint Juste in Northern France. W/01 Frank Monckton and Bombadier Jim Logan, Rhodesia, killed. The rest of us were captured after a six-day attempt to get back to civilisation.

See:
Stories of the RAAF POWS of Lamsdorf.
Holliday, J E (Ed.) & D A Radke.
Holland Park:Lamsdorf RAAF POWS Association,1992.
p.17.

NB. Later on, in the abovementioned ref (pp.39-41), Colin Alt gives a detailed account of events.

See: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1252699 - download - see: p.192 of 347.

and ...

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...arcode=1059083 - see: pp.15-20 of 74.

Col.

[BigWeeker]

Thank you, Col. In fact, I have all that. For the last eighteen months, I have been in contact with Colin’s daughter, Ros, who is writing a book on her dad’s experiences. I finally met her last Saturday when she came over from Australia. Being a Volunteer at Brooklands, I was permitted to show Ros around, and in, R for Robert - not the Mk II her dad was flying, but close enough! Very emotional for her, though….l
Andy