What German bombers were used against Hinckley, Leicestershire

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

Is that also why he can't PM?

No idea - if there's a moderator's operating manual, I've never seen it - but since he's now passed the magic five approvals there shouldn't be a problem.

[Chris Goss]

Earliest aircraft over the target was 0015 hrs; latest 0320 hrs. As to numbers I will have to get the document, open it up, find the date and count the aircraft numbers! BTW Ac=aircraft

[Chris Goss]

I do have the TO times for the 75 aircraft tasked. Four aircraft were lost two of which came down on land-one came down at Plymtree at 0012 hrs on the way to the target, another at Worthing at 0002 hrs on the way in

[GrahamUK33]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

I do have the TO times for the 75 aircraft tasked. Four aircraft were lost two of which came down on land-one came down at Plymtree at 0012 hrs on the way to the target, another at Worthing at 0002 hrs on the way in

Thank you very much for this, the aircraft numbers/amount would be great, it does sound like they were all bound for Birmingham but some had a navigation issue and some of the formations ended mistaking Nuneaton for Birmingham.

Do you think they would have taken different flight paths to Birmingham or a direct route form the airfield that they took of from. It am trying to picture what group of JU88s/HE111 would have bombed Hinckley.

[Chris Goss]

I gave you the aircraft numbers-75. Maybe the Knickebein beams used for target were slightly off-weather could have been a factor. It looks as if there were a number of routes in to the target hence the losses at Worthing & Plymtree. Targets were within Birmingham no mention of anywhere else.

[GrahamUK33]

75 aircraft don’t seem to be very many considering they have come from 9 different airfields across France. Would this have been normal for May 1941?

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

I gave you the aircraft numbers-75. Maybe the Knickebein beams used for target were slightly off-weather could have been a factor. It looks as if there were a number of routes in to the target hence the losses at Worthing & Plymtree. Targets were within Birmingham no mention of anywhere else.

[Chris Goss]

This is what the Luftwaffe reported the day after the operation. So the answer is yes

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Graham,

From Luftwaffe Lagebericht Nr. 616:

From 00:45 to 03:57 111 bombers attacked industrial targets in Birmingham from altitudes between 1,900 and 6,500 metres, dropping the following bomb types: 62 SC 1000, 20 SC 500, 158 SC 250, 24 SD 250, 14 Flambo 250, 2 LZZ 250, 92 SC 50, 134 SD 50 and 27 Bomben B, and also 2,076 Brandbomben.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

[Chris Goss]

What Andrew is quoting obviously includes Luftflotte 2; my report refers just to Luftflotte 3

[GrahamUK33]

Thanks guys,

Where would the bombers from Luftflotte 2 have flown from, would there have been any losses?

Where these bomber have been HE111 and JU88?