Bf 110 Attack on Manston 15 August 1940

[Peter Cook]

Manston airfield was attacked on 12 and 14th of August, but there are also accounts by several authors of an attack at approximately midday on 15 August by Bf 110s, usually reported as coming from II./ZG 76. According to Mason's Battle Over Britain, there were 16 casualties among groundcrew and two Spitfires of 66 Squadron were destroyed on the ground. This account, with slight variations, is repeated in more recent Battle of Britain histories by Bungay, Bishop, Bergström, and Parry. Some sources have identified Erprobungsgruppe 210 as the Bf 110 unit, but is there any evidence that Manston was in fact attacked on this date? I can't find any records for the two 66 Squadron Spitfires that were reported as destroyed on the ground.

[Chris Goss]

There were no ground crew casualties at Manston on 15 Aug 40. According to John Vasco, ErPrGr 210 attacked Martlesham Heath (casualties on the ground) and Croydon (casualties on the ground). Manston would be away from II./ZG 76's AOR and in any case they were escorting bombers later that day over West Sussex and Hampshire and were not used for Jabo missions. The Lagebericht makes no mention of Manston

[Peter Cook]

Thank you Chris, that confirms my own thoughts.

Peter

[John Vasco]

It was decades ago, but if I recall correctly, the Manston ORB states that there was a raid on 15th August when two of the raiders were brought down on the airfield.

This is the wrong date, since the two Bf 110 Ds of 2./Erpr. Gr. 210 were brought down on the airfield in the mid-day raid of 14th August.

In my opinion (and it is only my opinion), the Manston ORB was typed up some time after the event.

[Peter Cook]

Thanks John, I think that you are probably right about the ORB – not the first time for ORBs with wrong dates!

Peter

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Peter Cook

This account, with slight variations, is repeated in more recent Battle of Britain histories by Bungay, Bishop, Bergström, and Parry.

Peter
Can you please say on which page Parry is repeating that the same attack took place on the 15th?
I am trying to correct the book, but can't find the page.

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

Vol 4 page 458 para 3 line 4

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Chris

That was not easy to locate.....

Cheers
Stig

[Peter Cook]

Stig,

Also in the loss listings:
Parry - 2017 - BoB Combat Archive - Vol. 4 p. 464
11.30 -12.00 hrs - Combat A - Dover
266 Sqn Spitfire N3245
Damaged in strafing attack on Manston.

Peter

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Peter

I like Parry's books, especially the maps which gives a great new dimension.
Their drawback is (if you like me don't specialize in the Battle) a bit too much information making it tough
to locate mistakes and make changes...

I know I should be better with things like that but.....well.... I'm not....

Cheers
Stig