Einzelmeldung Nr 5 vom 23.8.1940 (Luftflotte 3)

[Andy Mitchell]

Hi,

The above Einzelmeldung contains the following:

"1 Ju 88 of I./LG.1 (start 13:40 hrs.).
Mission: Attack target Nr 74 60 or alternative target Nr 10 75.
Due to unfavourable weather conditions (closed cloud cover)
both targets were not attacked.
Instead industrial plant (8 assembly halls and ancillary buildings)
on the Exeter - Honiton railway line (3 km northeast of Whimple)
attacked with 3 SC 250, 1 C 250 Flam and 5 SD 50, results
not observed because of clouds."

I have identified GB 74 60 with the help of TM3 (GB) as the Aircraft Factory at Yeovil (Westland) but have not been able to identify GB 10 75. I cannot see this target code in TM 3(GB) - it's either not listed or I missed it. Can anybody help with that code.

Many thanks

[Chris Goss]

1075 is RAF Exeter I believe

[Andy Mitchell]

Thanks Chris,

Problem solved then.

There is nothing on the TM3 (GB) document for Exeter airfield.

So, I did not miss it this time....

Many thanks

[Andy Mitchell]

Chris, thanks again for identifying Exeter.

Here are three more that I am trying to identify from another section of the same Einzelmeldung.

1 Do 17 of 3./ (F) 31 (start 15:04 hrs.) for reconnaissance
of targets 10 215, 10 269, 10 880 with photographs.

Cannot see anything in my copy of TM3 (GB) - Target Negative List.

I suspect that one of these is St Mary's airfield on the Isles of Scilly given that part of the sortie photographed the radio station there and identified that it had not been destroyed.

Any help much appreciated.

[Chris Going]

Hi Andy

OK, 10 215 is Foulsham; 10 269 is St Merryn, and 10 880 is St Eval.

as ever

ChrisG

[TigerTimon]

What is the purpose of an Einzelmeldung in general?

[Chris Goss]

Any analysis of what units did what and what happened at what times. No great detail just a synopsis throughout the days which was reported to Berlin

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Any analysis of what units did what and what happened at what times. No great detail just a synopsis throughout the days which was reported to Berlin

… and given a very wide circulation throughout the Luftwaffe, RLM, Army and Navy (each one has a two-page distribution list attached).

[Andy Mitchell]

ChrisG,

Many thanks for solving that, will update my documents. Really must build a db of the UK target codes.

With regard to TigerTimo's question

Einzelmeldung - contain (in the case of Luftflote 3):-

(a) details of enemy air raids in the Luftflotte 3 area;
(b)defensive responses (not in great detail); Bomber and Recce Operations planned and/or carried out - down to Gruppe (or staffel for recce), number and type of aircraft, target, alternatives (occasionally), bombs dropped (type and number - not every time);
(c)claims for numbers of enemy aircraft destroyed (by all units under Luftflotte 3);
(d) overview of own losses.
(e) Weather summaries for Luftflotte 3's area of ops(not consistently present).

I presume (can someone correct me or expand on this) that the Einzelmeldung were used to create the daily Lageberichten published the following day.

So, this then leads me to further questions -

1. In T321 R88 Luftflotte 3 Einzelmeldung - there are gaps on certain days, not all files for a particular day are present. My current interest is Aug and Sep 1940 - does anyone have a more complete copy or is this all there is?

2. Are there other, similar, files existing for Luftflotte 2 and 5 for this date period? If so does anyone have them and are they willing to share?

All the best and many thanks to everyone for their help so far.

[TigerTimon]

Thank you for the replies. I have learned something today. I am not really into primary sources.