Re: German looses and engagment Villacoublay airfield 7 May 1941

[Danny152]

On night of the 7 May 1941, a German bomber was landing at Villacoublay airfield, when it was destroyed when a Havoc from 23 squadron dropped a massive stick of 24 x 40lb bombs on the runway. Apparently it was destroyed when it hit one of the craters.

1) Does anyone have any information on this German crew - aircraft please?

When the Havoc released its load, they were 'bounced' a German nightfighter, which forced them low over Paris,

Was this German aircraft a Me110, or one of the fellow German aircraft waiting to land at the airfield?

Any help or leads I would be very grateful.

Cheers

Danny

[MW Giles]

Cannot answer other questions, but severely doubt a crater from a 40lb bomb dropped at low level would inconvenience anyone unduly . Shrapnel from the bomb itself and its explosion yes, cratering the runway not really

Martin

[Chris Goss]

...and as usual, nothing springs out from German losses apart from a He 111 crash-landed after getting combat damage over UK. Many aircraft taxied into craters and were not destroyed as Martin says. Doubt if any night fighters were operating over Paris that night-they were after bombers elsewhere

[Nick Beale]

All I could find in the siutation reports on the German Docs in Russia site was bombs dropped on Villacoublay at 03.03 hrs. on the night of 6/7 May, damaging one empty barrack hut.

On 7/8 May at 03.12 hrs. a Ju 88 was 40% damaged by splinters at Lille-Vendeville, a very long way from Villacoublay.

On the 8/9th Villacoublay was again attacked by a "Klebeflugzeug" (i.e. a hostile trailing a friendly machine or formation) which fropped one HE outside the perimeter at 03.05 hrs.

[Danny152]

Thanks guys,

This is the information from the combat report.

07 May 1941

‘The aerodrome was active when we arrived, about 4 E/A circling firing 4 whites and one with navigation and head lights going in to land. I was too far away to attack him so decided to do a run over the flare path and drop my bombs as he was landing. I made a diagonal run and dropped a stick of 24 x 40 lbs from 5,000 feet. No incendiaries were carried, and no bomb bursts were seen, but the lights of the landing E/A when they reached a point on the runway directly under our A/C, went out and a fire started which burned for about 10 – 12 minutes. All the aerodrome lights went out and a 4 one-star reds were fired from the ground. From what was seen of the E/A it appeared that it was either hit by the bombs or that it ran into the crater made by them and caught fire’.
Bombs: 24x 40lb (G.P) bombs

Being 24 bombs you would think it would do something to the runway?

Cheers

Danny

[Chris Goss]

Yet another over-optimistic claim it would appear?

[JoMe]

Hi Danny

I have found a loss from the following day
08.05.1941
III/KG 55
unbek. Ort - FP Villacoublay/F (5km SW Paris/F)
He 111 P-2 / 1709 / G1 + . .
20% airfight - wheels-up-landing
source: GQM RL2III/1176,61

best wishes
JoMe

[Chris Goss]

Probably this and in any case probably caused over UK

[JoMe]

Maybe Chris

I can't indentify the shield.

best wishes
JoMe

[Chris Goss]

It is said to be Villacoublay and the camo typical of III./KG 55 in 1941