III./KG 3 losses 16th June 1944

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello,

The 8th USAAF raided the Beauvais-Tille airfield on 16th June 1944 and according to Peter Smith 'Air launched Doodlebugs. The forgotten campaign' eight He111's from the III./KG 3 were destroyed.

Who can provide evidence for this statement, whether by (German or Allied) documents, damage reports, aerial recconnaissance photo's or otherwise ?

Any help is much appreciated ! Best regards,

Marcel

[Chris Goss]

Marcel: I will have to dig in my files but I wrote this:

However, it is believed that the campaign's start was delayed following an American air attack on Beauvais on June 16, 1944 which destroyed and damaged a number of aircraft and a strafing attack on Plantlünne on June 20, 1944 which saw at least one He 111 being destroyed and five aircrew wounded and another three groundcrew wounded.

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Chris,

Thank you for these useful additions ! If you find an opportunity to find the sources for these details, I would love to know more about it. Needless to say that from the German perspective, details about the He111 Werkenummer involved are difficult to find unless personal losses were registrated too.

Best regards, Marcel

[Monaco]

For 16.06.44 I have no losses, though for June 20 5 He.111 and 1 C.445 destroyed and 5 more He.111s damaged.

20.06.1944 8. KG 3 F Fl.Pl. Plantlünne Tiefangriff (Bordwaffen) und Personalverlust (Boden) C 445 III. 100
20.06.1944 8. KG 3 F Fl.Pl. Plantlünne Feindbeschuß bei Landung He 111 H-16 160280 5K+MS III. 100
20.06.1944 III. KG 3 F unbek. Bordwaffenbeschuß (feindbeob.) He 111 H III. 100
20.06.1944 III. KG 3 F Fl.Pl. Plantlünne Tiefangriff (Bordwaffen) He 111 H-16 III. 100
20.06.1944 III. KG 3 F Fl.Pl. Plantlünne Tiefangriff (Bordwaffen) He 111 H-16 III. 100
20.06.1944 III. KG 3 F Fl.Pl. Plantlünne Tiefangriff (Bordwaffen) He 111 H-16 III. 100
20.06.1944 III. KG 3 F Fl.Pl. Plantlünne Tiefangriff (Bordwaffen) He 111 H-16 III. b
20.06.1944 III. KG 3 F Fl.Pl. Plantlünne Tiefangriff (Bordwaffen) He 111 H-16 III. b
20.06.1944 III. KG 3 F Fl.Pl. Plantlünne Tiefangriff (Bordwaffen) He 111 H-16 III. b
20.06.1944 III. KG 3 F Fl.Pl. Plantlünne Tiefangriff (Bordwaffen) He 111 H-16 III. b
20.06.1944 III. KG 3 F Fl.Pl. Plantlünne Tiefangriff (Bordwaffen) He 111 H-16 III. b

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Monaco,

Now I understand your username, what a jackpot with information ! Thank you very much, now it becomes even more interesting to know the losses of 16th June 1944 because the III./KG 3 must have been equipped soon after these attacks with sufficient He111's to start the V-1 launchings early July 1944.

Again, many thanks! Best regards, Marcel

[MW Giles]

I can confirm that the 379th BG providing the three groups (lead, high and low of 41 CBW-A) sent to Laon Couvron. The low group bombed Beauvais Tille instead of the primary. They hit the western end of the E-W runway.

The 379th also provided the high group which bombed Laon Couvron and the lead group the railway at Culchy le Chat

At least we know Beauvais Tille was attacked on the 16th. No mention of He111s

Martin

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Martin,

Thank you for this nice addition, now I can perhaps 'hunt' for aerial photographs made during the attack or afterwards for damage assesment. Somehow Peter C. Smith had a source for the loss of these He111's.

Best regards, Marcel

[Chris Goss]

Maybe from www.ww2.dk?

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Marcel Hogenhuis

Hello Martin,

Thank you for this nice addition, now I can perhaps 'hunt' for aerial photographs made during the attack or afterwards for damage assesment. Somehow Peter C. Smith had a source for the loss of these He111's.

Best regards, Marcel

One possibility would be National Archives AIR 40/656: "Operation 416: 'Noball' targets Domleger, Sautrecourt, Renescure and Beauvoir and airfields North Central France, 16 June 1944".

[MW Giles]

https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisat...e-3-june-1944/

Does not show them in West on 16th

https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisat...ich-june-1944/

Seems to show the losses on the 20th

Martin