Air Raids on East Anglia 1941

David Seymour · 16-06-2004, 07:19 PM

Does anyone know about German air raids on East Anglia in 1941?

I am interested in 18 January 1941 when the Station House at Halesworth in Suffolk was bombed and its three occupants killed. I would be interested to know which unit flew the mission, which types it flew, and what the real target of the mission was. Was this a raid on rail centres or just a lost plane?

As always most grateful for any assistance.

Regards,
David

BeppoSapone · 17-06-2004, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David Seymour@Jun 16 2004, 12:19 PM
Does anyone know about German air raids on East Anglia in 1941?

I am interested in 18 January 1941 when the Station House at Halesworth in Suffolk was bombed and its three occupants killed. I would be interested to know which unit flew the mission, which types it flew, and what the real target of the mission was. Was this a raid on rail centres or just a lost plane?

As always most grateful for any assistance.

Regards,
David

Try one of the "After the Battle" books on the Blitz.

Dieppe · 17-06-2004, 05:25 PM

David - I have an article (somewhere!) about a couple of incidents when bombs were dropped on Bedford, one attack resulted in a number of deaths.
I'll hunt it down and let you have the info, it might not be exactly East Anglia (but out news reports claim Bedford is in East Anglia

) but it is interesting anyway!

Arthur · 17-06-2004, 11:28 PM

David,
Approximately 15 Dorniers from ll/KG3 from Antwerp/Duerne, to attack airfields. Places raided: W. Raynham, Watton, Gt. Massingham, Feltwell and Hockwold. 1 Dornier crew flew to Macclesfield and left over Orford Ness. Fighters from Coltishall and Wittering unsuccessfully tried to intercept. Another Dornier tried to sink 'Sunk' light vessel.
After facing Bofors over Horsham St. Faith, a Dornier broke cloud over w. Raynham and was made unwelcome. Then at tree-top heightit raced across Gt. Massingham, machine-gunning and dropping 16 bombs- 12 falling on the landing ground. Soon afterwards, a Dornier broke cloud machine-gunning Halesworth before dropping 8 HEs across the railway installation. The station house, booking office and track were hit andthe signal-box was badly damaged. Three were killed and four wounded.

Regards
Arthur

David Seymour · 18-06-2004, 07:07 PM

Arthur,
Very many thanks for these details. Much appreciated. Exactly what I was looking for.

Which book did you use? Sounds like a most useful reference.

Presumably they were Do 17s - do you know which type?

Thanks again,
David

angie999 · 19-06-2004, 10:09 AM

There is a Bristol local history site (http://www.fishponds.freeuk.com/) with extensive details of German bombing of the Bristol area, which obviously took a lot of research and must have relied on original sources.

Does anyone know how to access good sources for this information in English?

The original sources are mainly in German and are in the Budesarchiv in Freiberg, a bit offputting if you don't speak the language.

Arthur · 19-06-2004, 10:13 AM

David,
Information came from 'Air Raid!' [The enemy air offensive against East Anglia 1939-45] by Michael J. F. Bowyer. Published by Patrick Stephens Ltd in 1986.
ISBN 0-85059-685-8.

Going by the next paragraph in the book: [ At 15:25 the crew of Do 17Z 5K + BN signalled that they had reached Colchester.] So on that note, I would most definately say that they were Do 17's.

Regards
Arthur

BeppoSapone · 19-06-2004, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by angie999@Jun 19 2004, 03:09 AM
There is a Bristol local history site (http://www.fishponds.freeuk.com/) with extensive details of German bombing of the Bristol area, which obviously took a lot of research and must have relied on original sources.

Does anyone know how to access good sources for this information in English?

The original sources are mainly in German and are in the Budesarchiv in Freiberg, a bit offputting if you don't speak the language.

Also, does anyone know of detailed information about the German bombing of London? I am mainly interested in the last, and biggest, night of the "Blitz" - May 10/11 1941.

I would like to know the German units involved, and if possible their targets. For example, who bombed Battersea?

David Seymour · 19-06-2004, 11:54 AM

Arthur,
Many thanks for the reference, and the type identification.
Regards,
David

17-06-2004, 05:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dieppe Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Buckinghamshire Posts: 150	David - I have an article (somewhere!) about a couple of incidents when bombs were dropped on Bedford, one attack resulted in a number of deaths. I'll hunt it down and let you have the info, it might not be exactly East Anglia (but out news reports claim Bedford is in East Anglia ) but it is interesting anyway! __________________ In memory of my great uncle, 5833402 Private Percy Bradbury, 5th Bn Suffolk Regiment. Captured at Singapore and died in captivity aged 26 years. Buried at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery; so far from home but not from our hearts Learning about the Indian Airborne, Army Commandos, Home Guard, Paras, LRDG, SAS & SOE during the war.

19-06-2004, 10:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
angie999 Very Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: near Bristol, UK Posts: 1,551	There is a Bristol local history site (http://www.fishponds.freeuk.com/) with extensive details of German bombing of the Bristol area, which obviously took a lot of research and must have relied on original sources. Does anyone know how to access good sources for this information in English? The original sources are mainly in German and are in the Budesarchiv in Freiberg, a bit offputting if you don't speak the language. __________________ Angie "History is lived forward but it is written in retrospect. We know the end before we consider the beginning and we can never wholly recapture what it was like to know the beginning only." C V Wedgewood

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16-06-2004, 07:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
David Seymour Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 183	Does anyone know about German air raids on East Anglia in 1941? I am interested in 18 January 1941 when the Station House at Halesworth in Suffolk was bombed and its three occupants killed. I would be interested to know which unit flew the mission, which types it flew, and what the real target of the mission was. Was this a raid on rail centres or just a lost plane? As always most grateful for any assistance. Regards, David

17-06-2004, 11:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Arthur Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 98	David, Approximately 15 Dorniers from ll/KG3 from Antwerp/Duerne, to attack airfields. Places raided: W. Raynham, Watton, Gt. Massingham, Feltwell and Hockwold. 1 Dornier crew flew to Macclesfield and left over Orford Ness. Fighters from Coltishall and Wittering unsuccessfully tried to intercept. Another Dornier tried to sink 'Sunk' light vessel. After facing Bofors over Horsham St. Faith, a Dornier broke cloud over w. Raynham and was made unwelcome. Then at tree-top heightit raced across Gt. Massingham, machine-gunning and dropping 16 bombs- 12 falling on the landing ground. Soon afterwards, a Dornier broke cloud machine-gunning Halesworth before dropping 8 HEs across the railway installation. The station house, booking office and track were hit andthe signal-box was badly damaged. Three were killed and four wounded. Regards Arthur

18-06-2004, 07:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
David Seymour Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 183	Arthur, Very many thanks for these details. Much appreciated. Exactly what I was looking for. Which book did you use? Sounds like a most useful reference. Presumably they were Do 17s - do you know which type? Thanks again, David

19-06-2004, 10:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
Arthur Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 98	David, Information came from 'Air Raid!' [The enemy air offensive against East Anglia 1939-45] by Michael J. F. Bowyer. Published by Patrick Stephens Ltd in 1986. ISBN 0-85059-685-8. Going by the next paragraph in the book: [ At 15:25 the crew of Do 17Z 5K + BN signalled that they had reached Colchester.] So on that note, I would most definately say that they were Do 17's. Regards Arthur

19-06-2004, 11:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
David Seymour Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 183	Arthur, Many thanks for the reference, and the type identification. Regards, David

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