I have a book called: And it was never silend. (But then in Dutch). It was produced in two parts by the airforce, and it documents all airactivety over The Netherlands from May 14 1940 untill about June 1945. In part one, it says:
12 August 1941. Bomber Command. 87 aircraft, of wich 54 Blenheims, 12 Hampdens and 3 B-17’s. Blenheims to Keulen, Hampdens to Franse, 2 B-17’s to Germany and one to De Kooy (Dutch airfield near Den Helder).
12 August 1941. Fighter Command. A squadron Whirlwinds and six squadrons Spitfires escort and support of Blenheims from Bomber Command till the Dutch coast.
12 August 1941. Coastal Command. Photo recon. Den Haag, Leiden, Amsterdam/Schellingwoude, Haarlem, De Kooy, De Mok, Ypenburg, Schiphol, IJmuiden, Hoorn and Den Helder.
It was the first time the B-17 apeared over Holland. It was a big day. The is an appendix with more information, following here:
‘Large attack of 2nd Group to Germany, first B-17’s to The Netherlands’.
Tuesday 12 August 1941 was the day of an attack 2 group Blenheims crews had been training for for a while. This attack was directed to Germany, two powerplants at Keulen, however, reporting is relevant as a lot of action took place in Dutch airspace. It also ment the deput of two new airplanes in our airspace. The B-17 and the Whirlwind.
Because the Blenheims could only be escorted to just over the Dutch coast line, 5 group Hampdens would attack targeds in France. They could be escorted all the way. Also, four B-17’s of 90 squadron, 2 Group, would attack the airfields of De Kooy, Emden and Keulen from high altitude.
All in all, about 400 aircraft of the RAF would be flying that day. The attack on Keulen would be executed by 54 Blenheims, ( of 18, 21, 82, 107, 114 and 139 squadron). On the way in, comming in from the Westerschelde, they would be escorted by 12 Whirlwinds of 263 squadron and on the way back by 30 spitfires. (of 234, 152 and 66 squadron). Also, a group of 37 spitfires would conduct a fighter sweep over Zeeland. (266, 65 and 19 squadron). To ease navigation, both groups of Spitfires would be led by a Blenheim of 266 squadron.
Take off at 10.30 (Dutch time) the low flying formation of 54 Blenheims and 12 Whirlwinds reached the Dutch coast around 11.45. Not as had been planned over the Westerschelde, but at the Harlingervliet. No German fighers were sighted, but German flak was alert and a short time after crossing the coast line the first Blenheim (of 82 squadron), was shot down by the AAA near Strijen. The escort turned back, and the 53 remaining Blenheims went on on their own. The Whrlwinds came over the Westerschelde on their way back tough, reported there by the Germans at 12.05. They came in very low, 10 to 30 meters. They wanted to attack a building they saw on the way in, but couldn’t find it. So they attacked what they thought to be Flak-ships. All this when being fired upon by the AAA.
The pilots reported 2 ships possibly destroyed, but the Germans reported no ships lost. All 12 Whirlwinds landed at 12.35 at their base, aldough some had holes of machinegun fire and flak.
Meanewhile, in England the two groups of Spitfires had taken off and following their guides, arived shortly after 13.00 over Zeeland. They soon were engaged in dogfights with Messerschmitt Bf-109’s of JG 26 and JG 1. What happened exacly is unclear, but it was a buissy half an hour over Zeeland. Around 13.15 the Blenheims returned, while from the German side, Bf-110’s of ZG 76 and even some Ju-88’s night fighters of I/NJG2 joined the fight. All at very low altitude, and with the partisipation of the German AAA.
All in all, 12 Blenheims went down, 10 of the Keulen group, and 2 of 266 squadron, who had been guiding the Spitfires. Sad thing was, one of them was shot down by 109’s despite the protection of 37 spitfires. He crashed into sea, and the crew was killed. The second guiding Blenheim was hit by flak, crashed near Philipinne, and this crew was also killed. This also happened to a 152 squadron spitfire, who crashed near Biervliet. Pilot also killed. A second spitfire was hit by a Bf 109, and had to crash-land near Goede. Pilot lightly wounded, and captured.
Of the Blenheims, 5 were shot down on the way in and at the targed, and when they got back to the Dutch coast, where they were picked up by their escort, another 5 were shot down. Shot down by AAA, fighters, or both, crashed into sea. Only one, hit by AAA ditched onto sea, and the crew could get into their dinghy. They were lated picked up by a German boat and captured. (21 squadron lost 2, 18 squadron lost 3, as did 139 squadron. 114 squadron lost one and 82 squadron also one. Then there were the two guiding Blenheims of 226 squadron.)
The Spitfires of 19 squadron claimed one Bf 109 damaged, 234 squadron one 109 and a Ju-88. Who did what is unclear, but sertan is that around 13.00 a Bf-109 of 2/JG1 had to emergensy land near Colijnsplaat, as did a night figher Ju-88 of I/NJG2, who hit the ground at Steenbergen, and of the crew, two were injured.
While this all happened over Zeeland, 3 out of 4, (one went back to base due to technical problems) B-17’s released their bombs. Pilot Officer Sturmey rapported that he had dropped his bombs at 11.00 over De Kooy, but cloud cover had prevented him from seeing the results. De Kooy raported no bombs.
It had been a buissy day over Zeeland, not only for the RAF, but also for the Germans and the Dutch people living there.
The Flak commander of the Vlissingen area raported that it was not easy to see who was friend and who foe. Not only because the German fighters, agains orders, flew very low, but also because the shark mouths painted onto the Bf-110’s of ZG-76 gave them a totaly different look, and also the black Ju-88’s were confusing. Also he reported that, aldough the shooting chances were very low, some troops could not keep calm unther the pressure of so many aircraft.
So far the appendix.
This was the first opperation of the Whirlwind, at least over The Netherlands, and it had not been a failure. They had attacked the Germans, aldough not destroying any ships, but still, it must have been a good day to learn from.
According to the book, Whirlwinds were also present during the ‘Channel Dash’ (the break trough of 2 German warships trough the Channel from France to Germany). 137 Squadron lost that day, February 12, 1942, lost four Whirlwids.
Another rapport, of May 27, 1942 states: Whirlwinds flew a patrol along the Dutch coast, one didn’t return.
Note: The Whirlwind was shot down by flak near IJmuiden-Beverwijk. The pilot, Flight Sergeant Brennan of 137 squadron is burried at Bergen aan Zee. The Whirlwinds had attacked the Steel factory’s at IJmuiden. The factory reported about 100 hits from 2 cm guns, but no more damage.
Apparently, where were more version’s of the Whirlwind, because the raport of October 25 goes as follows: At 07.00 4 Whirlwind B’s sent to shipping between Cape Griz Nez and Hoek van Holland. Nothing seigthed.
It seems, that Whirlwind B stands for Whirlwind bomber. This was the fighterbomber version, and, just like the Hurricane, it was rapported in a different version then the normal figher.
A lot of information, and at times a bit off topic, but I hope you all find it interesting.
Cheers,
Joppe
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