20 August 1941 Circus mission

[Peter Kassak]

Hi all,
does anyone has info for this RAF mission or can provide copy of the page from e.g. Fighter Command’s Air War 1941: RAF Circus Operations and Fighter Sweeps Against the Luftwaffe?
Thanks

[Monaco]

20. August 1941
RAF 12 Group Circus 1: Airfield ALKMAAR
13.45: RAF 2 Group 8 Blenheim IV
Escort Wing: Portreath
RAF 10 Gp. 152 Sqn. 8 Spitfire LR.IIa 13.50‑15.25 Circus 1 1 - 0 - 0 Me 110 No casualty L-BS: Alkmaar

Claim 20.08.41 Pilot 10 Group 152 Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Me 110C 14.30 ca: 5 sm. off Egmond

RAF 10 Gp. 66 Sqn. 8 Spitfire LR.IIa 13.30‑15.30 Circus 1 1 - 1 - 0 Me 109E 2 Cat.3m Fighters L-BS: Alkmaar
Cat.3m 20.08.41 Sgt. C.A. Parsons: kia 10 Group 66 Sqn. Spitfire IIa: LZ - Me 110s: 10 sm. off Dutch coast
Cat.3m 20.08.41 Pilot: ok 10 Group 66 Sqn. Spitfire IIa: LZ - Me 110s: 10 sm. off Dutch coast

Claim 20.08.41 Pilot 10 Group 66 Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Me 109E 14.30ca: 5 sm. off Egmond
Claim 20.08.41 Pilot 10 Group 66 Sqn. 0 - 1 - 0 Me 109E 14.30ca: 5 sm. off Egmond

Summary for Circus 1 (12 Group) 13.45 RV 20th August 1941 Airfield Bergen/Alkmaar. Fighters taking part: 5 squadrons, 48 sorties, 2-1-0 claimed for 2 lost. Bombers taking part: 8 Blenheim IV RAF 2 Group, no loss. Ref: RAF/FC Summary of Sorties (Air 16/1307)

RAF 12 Group: ASR-Escorts

RAF 12 Gp. 56 Sqn. 2 Hurricane IIa 17.35 hrs. ASR-Escort 1 - 0 - 0 Me 110 No casualty L-BS: Alkmaar

Claim 20.08.41 Pilot 12 Group 56 Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Me 110C 17.53: 5 sm. off Egmond

[Peter Kassak]

thanks a lot...

[Stig Jarlevik]

Peter

Our down under friend Geoff Sinclair has asked me to post his answer
regarding this topic. Here it is:

Anti shipping operations Beat 7 East Frisian Islands, Weser Light vessel to Borkum Riff, 12 Blenheims, 1 made no attack, 1 abandoned task, 3 attacks 150 ton patrol vessel 53.47N 7.20E, 6x500 SAP 12x25 pound incendiary, 2 bombs straddled vessel, others unobserved, vessel not sunk, 2 attacks 150 ton patrol vessel 54.33N 6.15E, 4x500 SAP 8x25 pound incendiary 2 bombs straddled vessel, ship heeled over, not seen to sink, 5 attacks, 54.50N 5.33E (5 mile radius) 12 reporting vessels 80/100 tons each, 10x500 pound SAP, 2 burst only soon? from all attacks, vessels machine gunned. 1 Blenheim category E enemy action, 82 squadron Blenheim IV V6445 hit ship's mast.

Bomber Command raid Day 81, Bergen Alkmaar Airfield, 6 Blenheims 24x250 and 24x40 pound HE bursts observed in NE corner of airfield, on hangar - tarmac - and landing field. 1 Me110 seen shot down into sea.

Fighter Command says 8 Blenheims sent, plus 5 squadrons made up the 48 strong fighter escort, claims of 2 destroyed and 1 damaged, 2 fighters lost. Total Command sorties 0900 to 1800, 108 shipping, 10 intercept, 79 offensive, 27 special, total 224. No Rhubarbs flown. Total daylight sorties 273 defensive, 117 offensive, 2 aircraft lost, 1 damaged,

1430 hours, 66 squadron claimed 1 Bf109 probable (shared by 2 pilots), 1 Bf109 destroyed (shared by 2 pilots), 1 Bf109 damaged while 152 squadron claimed 1 Bf110 destroyed.

1735 on ASR mission 56 squadron claimed 1 Bf110 destroyed.

66 squadron Spitfire II P7821 and P8435 lost.

Cheers
Stig

[Peter Kassak]

thanks a lot...

[Bruce Lander]

S/Ldr. J.Darwen 152 Sqd claimed 1 Bf 110

S/Ldr A.S.Forbes 66 Sqd ) claimed 1 Bf 109
Sgt F H M Green )

F/Lt H R Allen 66 Sqd ) claimed 1 Bf 109 Prob
P/O P Olver )

P/O P Olver 66 Sqd claimed 1 Bf 109 Dam

P/O C A Parsons 66 Sqd shot down KIA

Bruce Lander

[Peter Kassak]

Bruce, Thanks a lot.
Just tried to google the name of 152 Sqn pilot who claiimed victory, but no success. You helped a lot.

Peter

[Chris Goss]

33237 John Darwen + 7 Oct 43