KG77 losses 1 & 3 July 1940

[Brian]

Hi guys

I am rather confused as to KG77's losses on 1 July and 3 July 1940. I know that Frank Mason's lists aren't entirely accurate but he shows six losses for 1 July but I believe all bar one occurred on 3 July. This is what I have:

1 July:

64/145 Squadrons shared Do17 - II/KG77?

3 July:

616 Sqn Do17
610 Sqn Do17, Do17 probable and Do215 probable
32 Sqn Do17 (8/KG77)
54 Sqn Do215 probable
56 Sqn Do215 probable

Apparently KG77 recorded five Do17s lost on this date.

Has anyone details of these losses, including crews, codes etc?

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

Brian: I have sorted this confusion before and have it at home but Peter Cornwell would be quicker

[Christer Bergström]

I have no KG 77 losses on 1 July 1940. The “Do 17” claimed on that day was a Do 215 of AufklObdL.

For 3 July 1940, I have these KG 77 losses:

Do 17Z 1./KG 77 Harwich
Pilot Oblt Steiner
entire crew missing
Aircraft missing, 100% loss.

Do 17Z 2./KG 77
Beobachter Oblt Kretschmer
entire crew missing
Aircraft missing, 100% loss.


Do 17Z II/KG 77 Vroancourt
entire crew killed
Absturz. Bruch 100 %.


Do 17Z 7./KG 77 Bei Brighton
one crewmember injured.
Fighter attack. Bruch ? %.


Do 17Z 8./KG 77 Aldershot
entire crew killed
Aircraft missing, 100% loss.


Do 17Z 2642 3Z+GS 8./KG 77 Baybrooks, Horsmonden
Obgfr Hoffmann, E killed
Uffz Theilig, W killed
Beobachter Oblt Gallion (Gillies?), H-G POW
Uffz Brandes, R POW
Force-landed, shot down by fighter. Bruch 100 %.

1940-07-03 Do 17Z 9./KG 77 Dover
Flugzeugführer Oblt Kapsch and three crewmembers injured.
Bruch 100 %. Reason unknown.

[Brian]

Hi Christer

Many thanks indeed.

Two Do215s from Aufkl.ObdL were lost on 1 July and another on 2 July.
Do you have details of the crews and times of losses?

I trust you are well and I look forward to your book.

Cheers
Brian

[Peter Cornwell]

Gentlemen,

Sorry but I have been away from my desk for a few days. I have no losses recorded for KG77 on 1 July 1940, but they lost several aircraft during a series of nuisance raids over southern England on 3 July 1940 as follows:

3 July 1940 1./KG77 Lost on nuisance raid Harwich – Ipswich
Shot down by F/L Coghlan, P/O Mounsden, & F/O Brooker of No.56 Squadron in sea off Burnham 16.20 hours
Ff: Oberlt Kurt STEINER missing
HBeo: Oberfw Kurt BIRKS missing
Bf: Uffz Johannes FLÜGEL missing
BSch: Gefr Kurt DIETEL missing

3 July 1940 2./KG77 Lost on nuisance raid Dover – Hawkinge
Possibly that shot down in sea off Margate by Sgt Hamlyn of No.610 Squadron 16.35 hours
Ff: Fw Richard SAFT killed
Beo: Oberlt Fritz KRETZSCHMAR missing
Bf: Fw Gerhard JOPPICH missing
Bm: Oberfw Alfred PENZEL missing

3 July 1940 2./KG77 Returned hit by fighters near Brighton
One (un-named) crewman slightly wounded
(Note: Possible duplication in records see 7 Staffel)

3 July 1940 4./KG77 crashed near Vreaucourt (?), cause unknown
Ff: Fw Ludwig EICHHORN killed
HBeo: Uffz Gerhard HARTMANN killed
Bf: Uffz Heinz BOOST killed
Bm: Uffz Georg HOLLERAUER killed

3 July 1940 7./KG77 Returned hit by fighters near Brighton
Possibly that attacked Coastal Command Blenheim (F/O Carr, P/O Howe, & Sgt Dawson) of No.235 Squadron over Thorney Island c14.00 hours.
HBeo: Uffz Oskar GERBER sl. wounded

3 July 1940 8./KG77 Failed to return nuisance raid Aldershot
Possibly that attacked between West Grinstead & Beachy Head by F/L Dalton-Morgan & P/O Gorrie of No.43 Squadron 16.30 hours
Ff: Fw Werner PATRZICH killed
HBeo: Uffz Wilhelm KUSKE killed
Bf: Uffz Rudolf PFEIFFER killed
HSch: Gefr Walter MAIR killed

3 July 1940 8./KG77 Nuisance raid Hastings – Tonbridge – Redhill
Shot down by P/O Gardner, Sgt Bayley, & Sgt Higgins of No.32 Squadron at Paddock Wood 17.05 hours
3Z+GS Ff: Uffz Richard BRANDES PoW
Beo: Oberlt Hans-Georg GALLION PoW
Bf: Obergefr Erich HOFMANN killed
HSch: Uffz Waldemar THEILIG killed

3 July 1940 9./KG77 Failed to return – nuisance raid Dover
Possibly that attacked NW of Deal by F/L Way, P/O Gray, & Sgt Norwell of No.54 Squadron 15.15 hours
Ff: Oberlt Hermann KAPSCH wounded
HBeo: Uffz Karl SCHWARZBACH wounded
Bm: Uffz Ernst GOLDHORN wounded
Bf: Gefr Kurt THIEMICKE wounded

[Brian]

Many thanks, Peter.

Did you receive my latest package, mailed to you last week? Incidentally, what is your Post Code?

Cheers
Brian

[Nick Beale]

Interesting that one of the aircraft was so far (Ipswich-Harwich area) from where all the others were lost.

[RT]

Hello Peter ,

8.KG77 Do17 of Gallion 3Z+GS Wn 2645 ... ,,???

Any other figures for the others ??


Any new notices for the wounded of the 2.KG77 if any..

The plane for the 9.KG77 was lost ?? Noted that first crew was quoted as missing ..

Rémi

[Peter Cornwell]

Remi,

All details remain as previously posted apart from the 9./KG77 loss that is as follows:

9./KG77 Dornier Do17Z. Believed crashed on return badly damaged by AA fire during nuisance raid over Maidenhead. FF Oberlt Hermann Kapsch, HB Uffz Karl Schwarzbach, BF Gefr Kurt Thiemicke, and BM Uffz Ernst Goldhorn all returned wounded. Aircraft 100% write-off.

[srob48]

3 July 1940 4./KG77 crashed near Vreaucourt (?), cause unknown
Ff: Fw Ludwig EICHHORN killed
HBeo: Uffz Gerhard HARTMANN killed
Bf: Uffz Heinz BOOST killed
Bm: Uffz Georg HOLLERAUER killed

This crew is buried in Bourdon Cemetery, France, all graves dated 4th July.