Inscriptions on 1.(St)/186 Stukas

[Chris Goss]

I have now seen two photographs of aircraft from this unit (and which was carried forward to III./StG 1) with diagonal inscriptions on the nose. One shows J9+MH with -LeeOnSolent- which refers to the attack on 16 Aug 40 and another which appears to be J9+C (or G) H with what appears to be -Boulogne-. Can anyone throw any light onto this?

[sidney]

There is at least another one... Isle of Wig(h)t.

[gedburke3]

Just a guess but could these be an indication of the aircrafts first operational flight?
Gerry

[Chris Goss]

Isle of Wight would match with III./StG 1's attack on 8 Aug 40 so it looks like each aircraft was named after an attack. Wonder when Boulogne was the target?

[Merlin]

Other target inscritions from the WC were:
Bill of Portland
Arras

and from the PC:
Ostrow
Hexenschlucht (near Gdingen)

[robert]

Hi Chris,

24.5.40 08.29-10.20 hrs English warships off Boulogne.

Regards

Robert

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Gerhard and Robert

[Nick Beale]

23 and 24 May seem like a strong candidates, judging by these ULTRA intercepts (source: TNA HW 5/1):

CX/FJ/95
8. At 1500 22/5 it was learnt at Fl. Korps VIII that by orders from a higher source there was to be no air attack on Boulogne. (B)

CX/FJ/96
T23 55. [pencilled in margin: 1040/23] German aircraft reported that at 08.30 GMT on 23/5 English troops were landing at Boulogne. Stuka attacks on the landing place before 1100 GMT were urgently demanded. (A)

T12 61. [1130/23] At 09.30 GMT on 23/5 heavy fighters were ordered to provide continuous protection over the area Boulogne – St. Omer, the centre of operations to be Boulogne. (A)

CX/FJ/97
[1700/23]
T2 14. An urgent demand was sent out at 1600 GMT on 23/5 that strong attacks against men-of-war, and disembarkation centre at Boulogne, Calais and Étaples were required immediately. (A)

CX/FJ/98
14. [2205/23] On 23/5 I./JG 21 had 20 Me 109 E. It gave fighter protection for Stuka attack on Boulogne. It claimed to have shot down 1 Spitfire. (A)

T4 [2354/23] 19. I./JG 21 was to protect Stuka 1 over Montreuil. Start at 03.35 GMT, on 24/5. It was also to protect Stuka which were going to attack ships in Boulogne harbour. The whole group was to take part. (A)

20. [2250/23] Stuka 2 and 77 (Fliegerkorps VIII) attacked Boulogne harbour and Le Portel on evening 23/5. Heavy AA fire. Pilots claimed direct hit on battleship, on a destroyer with red number at bow, and 5 transports certainly sunk. (A)

[Tim O.]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

I have now seen two photographs of aircraft from this unit (and which was carried forward to III./StG 1) with diagonal inscriptions on the nose. One shows J9+MH with -LeeOnSolent- which refers to the attack on 16 Aug 40 and another which appears to be J9+C (or G) H with what appears to be -Boulogne-. Can anyone throw any light onto this?

Hi Chris

Coincidentally, I have been looking around to find as many examples as I can of similarly named Ju 87s. I am not certain when the practice started but the names I have found are certainly 'battle honours' from the Poland Campaign through to the Mediterranean Campaign. This means that they cover 'honours' for the original 4./186 through to its final iteration of III./StG 1. Photographic evidence can be found on other forums but I am not sure if anyone has ever tried to pull this all together. We need to bear in mind that these are the German names for the selected targets. So far I have found:

‘Hexenschlucht’ and ‘Ostrow’ (from the Poland Campaign with 4./186)
‘Boulogne’ (from the France Campaign with I./186)
‘Lee on Solent’ and ‘Themse’ (from attacks on Britain by III./StG 1)
‘Sollum’ (from the Mediterranean Campaign with III./StG 1)

You and I have previously discussed whether another aircraft carried 'Hela' (the Polish Naval Base at Hel - 'Hela' in German), which was a regular target for 4./186 in the Poland Campaign and where the Staffel enjoyed considerable success.