Bf 110 Attack on Manston 15 August 1940

[Chris Goss]

N3245 was damaged with 266 Sqn on this date

[Stig Jarlevik]

Do you mean the 14th or 15th Chris?
Since we are now jumping between the two dates, it is better to be precise.

According to Parry it was damaged by strafing. If Manston was not attacked on the 15th, who did the strafing, or how was it otherwise damaged?

Cheers
Stig

[Andy Mitchell]

266 were based at Eastchurch on 13th and 14th Aug - Eastchurch (according to the F540 - 266 ORB) was strafed and bombed on 13th. A Spitfire was damaged in tone of the hangers this day.

14th 266 moved to Hornchurch.

15th Hornchurch with forward operating base Manston

N3245 was flying on 12th Aug - per F541 266 ORB

According to how I read the notes in Morgan and Shacklady's "Spitfire a History" N3245 was C2 damaged on 15.8.40. However, no mention in either F540 or F541.

However, BOBTaN records - believed damaged in strafing attack on Manston 12 pm by Bf 109Es.

Also of note there is no mention of anything in the ADGB Narrative for this date.

[Stig Jarlevik]

OK Andy, thanks!

So it is still possible Parry is correct saying it was damaged on the 15th after all. Not by Bf 110s but 109s......

Tricky what to believe....

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

The F540 for 266 Sqn gives a good chronology for the day. No mention of N3245 after 12 Aug 40 though

[Stig Jarlevik]

OK Chris, thanks

But from where does the date come from that N3245 was damaged on the 15th?
And from where does the strafing attack on Manston come from, again on the 15th?

Perhaps the base's ORB are mixing two days into one here?

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

Busy time!

[Andy Mitchell]

There is a comment in the relevant volume of "Action Stations" following the mention of the 14th attack - this suggests that strafing attacks on Manston took place daily during late August. However, there is nothing specific mentioned.

[Martin Gleeson]

N3245 was damaged to Category 2 level at Manston on the 15th, but I cannot determine how it was damaged.
The F.78 for N3245 shows it as 'F.A. O. (2) 15.8.40' on page 2. The 49 M.U. ORB (AIR 29/1008) records early on the 18th being notified of N3245 at Manston (for recovery). The F.78 on page 1 notes it was Taken On Charge by No.1 Civilian Repair Unit (4 M.U.) on August 24th, but it was back on charge with 266 Squadron on August 29th.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Martin

Just what I needed. So one attack each day, 14th lethal while the 15th seems to just have had "only" some
material damage.
Manston was hardly the most popular place to be stationed at....

Cheers
Stig