You are currently browsing the daily archive for July 30, 2010.
Heinkel 59 Floatplane, copyright RAF Museum Hendon
The German Red Cross seaplanes were, unfortunately, to become an issue with the RAF. They bore civilian markings with a big red cross painted on the side of the fuselage. The trouble was that these aircraft, usually Heinkel 59s, carried an air gunner. The suspicion was that RAF fighters who took these seaplanes, as bent on a mercy mission, could fall into the trap of being shot down by the air gunner. It was also thought likely that these sea planes could be shadowing the British convoys and feeding back information about their location, thus putting them at an increased risk.
The powers that be, in the Air Ministry, were getting worried about these sea planes. Eventually, the decision was taken that they should be attacked, particularly if at the time it looked as though they were shadowing the convoys. It was to be a contentious matter. Some of our pilots did subsequently shoot down these seaplanes. Others did not. Goebbels the German Propaganda Minister complained of RAF barbarism. On 14th July, Fighter Command issued a statement to pilots saying that these so-called rescue planes could not be guaranteed immunity unless it was clear that they were engaged in rescue efforts. On 29th July, the Air Ministry issued a statement to the same effect.
Weather: unsettled with poor visibility.
Fighter Command Serviceable Aircraft as at 0900 hours:
- Blenheim – 74
- Spitfire – 232
- Hurricane – 333
- Defiant – 23
- Gladiator – 8 (1 Flight only)
- Total – 662
Fighter Command flew 688 sorties and succeeded in shooting down 2 German aircraft with no loss to themselves. Barry docks were attacked that night.
266 Squadron Operational Record Book, 30 July
Average temperature, sky overcast, visibility poor. Flying 3 hours. B Flight at readiness, Ac Flight available. Practices included Air Fighting tactics and sector reconnaissance. Raid investigation by one aircraft of Ac Flight.
Recent Comments