Four FW.200's and Convoy HG-65, June 15th 1941

[wwrsimon]

On June 15th 1941 at c.06.50, Convoy HG-65 was attacked by three or four FW-200s and possibly a Ju-88 at position approx. 34º 46' N, 08º 46' W. The convoy at that time had Catalina I AH538 of 202 Squadron patrolling as escort.

Three of the crew of AH538 were awarded medals for defending the convoy against the attackers - a D.F.C. for the pilot, and three D.F.M.s to the gunners. The D.F.M. citation to one of the waist gunners, Sgt. John Turnbull, reads:

On 15th June, 1941, he was Air Gunner in the crew of Catalina AH.538 which was carrying out anti-submarine patrol to convoy H.G.65 in position 34º 46’ N, 08º 46' W, when four enemy Focke Wulf Kuriers attacked the convoy and were in turn attacked by AH.538. Sergeant Turnbull manned his aircraft blister guns and brought his fire to bear on the enemy with skill and determination, notwithstanding that returned by them. During the many attacks upon the enemy aircraft, Sergeant Turnbull claimed hits on his targets and the report received of an F.W. Kurier crashing in Portugal on the same morning suggests his fire was accurate. He is thought to have had an important share in this action whereby the enemy attack upon our ships was rendered fruitless.

I wondered if there was a Luftwaffe account of this incident which could give further details of the events, and the Condors and possibly Ju-88 involved. Did any Luftwaffe units report lost or damaged aircraft that might match?

Many thanks

Simon

[Chris Goss]

Quite a bit in my book on the Condor and KG 40. Oblt Rudolf Heindl of 3./KG 40 reported encountering a Catalina whilst Lt Rudolf Mayr of 3./KG 40 reported another aircraft. I have both reports. Lt Otto Gose of 1./KG 40 had his ac damaged by flak and he landed in Spain whilst Oblt Erich Westermann's Condor (3./KG 40) broke up in mid-air and crashed in Portugal

[wwrsimon]

Thanks Chris - is that in your book 'Bloody Biscay'?


Regards

Simon

[Chris Goss]

No my recent book on the FW 200

[wwrsimon]

Thanks for clarifying Chris - I'll get an order in next week.

Interestingly, this site has another slightly different version of events:

"HG 65 attacked by two Focke Wolfe Condors. No hits. My position 34° 50'N 08° 43'W" (T.O.O. 0650A/15 T.O.D. 0731A/15). Later on a 3rd Focke Wolfe joined in the attack, and it appeared there might have been a total of 4 planes attacking, 1 of which was identified as a 2 engined machine believed to be a JU 88.

Catalina aircraft was never observed to engage the enemy at close range, but fired a few bursts at a range of not less than 2000-3000 yards. It was presumed to have been hampered by lack of speed and did not wish to interfere with gunfire from the escorts and ships in the convoy. BBC announced on June 16 that 4 enemy aircraft, which had been attacking shipping near Gibraltar, had been attacked in succession by a Catalina, and had subsequently crashed off Lisbon. "There is every indication that these were the aircraft which attacked convoy HG 65, and, unless they were attacked by a second Catalina on their way home, they crashed entirely owing to damage received from gunfire of escorts and convoy, and not from any action taken by escorting Catalina".

Regards


Simon

[Chris Goss]

Perhaps this is why it was not mentioned in the Coastal Command combat summary even though the Germans did see the aircraft