9 August 1944 DO217 north of Gironde 2055 BST

[keith A]

On this date a combined patrol of nine 235 Squadron Mosquito VIs and a single MkVIII of 248 Squadron attacked four Do217. Two were claimed shot down and two damaged. Both squadrons claimed the victories (a little cheeky of 248 I think).

Can anyone identify their opponents?

regards

Keith

[Chris Goss]

Combat is covered in full in my forthcoming book on the Do 217 in combat. I am away at the moment and can reply in full if others don’t

[Nick Beale]

The Air Operational Watch Report for the day (TNA HW 13/40) says: "A report was made at 0310 [BDST] on the D/F Network that 6NCD and BR of III KG 100 were in distress in 14 W. 2610 and 26xx."

[Larry deZeng]

III./KG 100
Aug 44: the first known use of a “smart” weapon against a land target occurred during the night of 2/3 August when several crews from III.Gruppe used FXs and Hs 293s to knock out a vital bridge near Avranches and another the following night at Pontaubault. Two Dorniers and crews failed to return from these missions. Bridges at Pontaubault were attacked again 4/5 August, a key highway bridge at Pontorsson 5/6 August, and bridges at Avranches again on 6/7 and 7/8 August. Five more Do 217s and crews were lost over these four nights, several of them the victims of night fighters. During the evening of 11 August a crew attacked ships in the Gironde Estuary claiming a hit on a large cargo vessel.

No mention of 9 August, but the above does suggest the sort of activity the Gruppe was engaged in.

L.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

III./KG 100
Aug 44: the first known use of a “smart” weapon against a land target occurred during the night of 2/3 August.

FWIW, I've now found a few earlier instances, starting on 5 July 1944, against French Resistance targets. These will be incorporated in the next update to my website.

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

FWIW, I've now found a few earlier instances, starting on 5 July 1944, against French Resistance targets. These will be incorporated in the next update to my website.

I think that "night of 2/3 August" claim came from Ulf Balke's KG 100 unit history and illustrates one's precarious footing in making "first", "last", "biggest", "fastest", etc., claims about anything!

L.

[Chris Goss]

11 Mossies of 235 Sqn escorting a Tsetse of 248 Sqn shot down two Do 217s of III./KG 100 between Les Sables D'Olonne and Penmarch; again covered in full in the forthcoming book

[keith A]

According to 248 Squadron ORB the two kills increase their aerial tally by two from 52 to 54, and they also credit themselves with two more damaged. These were their last aerial kills until April 1945