Christopher Shores and BrianCull with Nicola Malizia AIRWARFOR YUGOSLAVIA, GREECE AND CRETE HT^ZDST^H The air battle for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete ...
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Christopher Shores and Brian Cull with Nicola Malizia
AIR WAR FOR YUGOSLAVIA, GREECE AND CRETE HT^ZDST^H
The air battle for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete began in June 1940 with the Italian declaration of war. In the past, there has been much controversy amongst air historians on many of the details of the operations. It was here, for example that 'Pat' Pattle, believed by many to be the Royal Air Force's 'unknown' top-scoring fighter pilot of the whole war, saw most of his action. Just how many kills did he achieve and how? Since the war, R A F claims have been totally repudiated by the Italians (although hitherto on little evidence), while the suddenness and violence of the German Blitzkrieg through Yugoslavia and Greece, and the invasion of Crete ensured that many records were lost. By careful sifting of the records available British, Italian, German - and by many interviews and much correspondence with survivors or relatives of those present including the indigenous population, the team of Shores, Cull and Malizia seeks to present the full picture for the first time. An undoubted contribution to our understanding of the war, with many new and priceless photographs, this book is an essential addition to the library of any military historian, aviation specialist and enthusiast.
£20.00 net.
AIR WAR FOR YUGOSLAVIA GREECE AMD CRETE 1940-41 Christopher Shores and Brian Cull with Nicola Malizia
Published by G r u b Street Golden House 2 8 - 3 1 Great Pulteney St L o n d o n W1 Copyright © 1987 G r u b Street, L o n d o n Text copyright © 1987 Christopher Shores, Brian Cull, N i c o l a Malizia M a p s by G r a h a m A n d r e w s Shores, Christopher Air war for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete: 1940-41. 1. World War, 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 — A e r i a l operations 2. World War, 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 — C a m p a i g n s Y u g o s l a v i a 3. World War, 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 — C a m p a i g n s — G r e e c e 4. World War, 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 —Campaigns—Greece—Crete I. Title II. Cull, Brian III. Malizia, Nicola 940.54'21
D792.Y8
ISBN 0-948817-07-0 All rights reserved. N o part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, p h o t o c o p y i n g , recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
P h o t o s e t and printed in Malta by Interprint Limited
CONTENTS Acknowledgements
viii
C o m p a r a t i v e R a n k s of t h e C o n t e s t i n g Air F o r c e s
x
C h a p t e r 1: T h e Italian Attack on Greece
1
Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter
2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8:
F o r w a r d t h e R o y a l Air Force! T h e Battles of Spring C r e t e a n d t h e Sea Lanes, O c t o b e r 1940 - April 1941 T h e G e r m a n Invasion Evacuation T h e Defence of C r e t e - P h a s e 1 T h e Invasion of C r e t e
29 63 127 169 275 312 335
Appendix K n o w n Losses of Principal Allied M e r c h a n t , S h i p p i n g t o Air Attack ... Principal R o y a l N a v y Ships Lost as a Result of Air Attack Royal Hellenic N a v y Losses as a Result of Air Attack Principal Royal N a v y Ships D a m a g e d as a Result of Air Attack Royal Yugoslav N a v y K n o w n Losses of Axis S h i p p i n g t o Air Attack Leading Fighter Pilots of the C a m p a i g n s in Yugoslavia, G r e e c e and Crete-Claims Bibliography Index Personnel Place N a m e s Air F o r c e s
405 408 408 409 410 410 411 412 413 413 431 438
Maps 1. G r e c o - A l b a n i a n (Epirus) W a r Z o n e , Winter 1 9 4 0 - 4 1 2. Invasion of Yugoslavia. Location of M a i n O p p o s i n g Air Units, 6 April 1941 3. Axis Invasion of Yugoslavia, April 1941 4. G e r m a n A d v a n c e T h r o u g h Greece, April 1941 5. S o u t h e r n G r e e c e E v a c u a t i o n Beaches 6. Crete; A i r b o r n e Invasion a n d N a v a l Air Actions, M a y 1941
v
26 168 170 238 292 370
Tables Regia A e r o n a u t i c a , O r d e r of Battle, 28 O c t o b e r 1940 Royal Hellenic Air Force, O r d e r of Battle, 28 O c t o b e r 1940 Luftwaffe O r d e r of Battle, Balkans, 5 April 1940 Regia A e r o n a u t i c a O r d e r of Battle for Action over the Balkans, 5 April 1941 British Air F o r c e s O r d e r of Battle, B a l k a n s 5 April 1941 Elleniki Vassiliki A e r o p o r i a O r d e r of Battle, 5 April 1941 J K R V O r d e r of Battle, 6 April 1941 Losses of J u n k e r s J 5 2 / 3 m T r a n s p o r t Aircraft
22 27 180 182 184 185 187 404
Acknowledgements
T h e a u t h o r s wish t o express their grateful t h a n k s t o a large n u m b e r of persons w h o have assisted with their research, a n d w i t h o u t whose c o n t r i b u t i o n this book would not have been possible. T h e y also wish t o acknowledge permission t o q u o t e f r o m " W i n g s Over O l y m p u s " by T H W i s d o m (Allen & U n w i n ) and " O p e r a t i o n M e r c u r y " by M G C o m e a u (William Kimber). Contributors
(Royal Air Force)
W g C d r E A Howell, O B E , D F C (33 Sqn); W g C d r V C W o o d w a r d , D F C (33 Sqn); Fit Lt D S F 'Bill' Winsland, D F C (33 Sqn) for use of much original material; Air Vice M a r s h a l E G Jones, D S O , D F C (80 Sqn); G e n P a u l J a c q u i e r (274 Sqn); Fit Lt R I Laing, D F C (73 Sqn); Air C o m m D F Rixson, O B E , D F C , A F C (113 Sqn); Eric Bevington-Smith (211 Sqn); T o m H e n d e r s o n (211 Sqn); Albert M a r t e a u (att'd 24(SAAF)Sqn; S W Lee (113 Sqn). Next
of kin
M r s K a y Vale (widow of Sqn Ldr W Vale, D F C , 80 Sqn) including p h o t o c o p i e d pages of logbook; M r s Angela A c w o r t h (widow of Sqn Ldr R A Acworth, D F C , 112 Sqn); M r s K a t h a r i n e N o e l - J o h n s o n (widow) a n d M r Clive N o e l - J o h n s o n (son) of Fit Lt G D N o e l - J o h n s o n , 33 Sqn; M r s J o a n H u b b o l d (widow of Fig Off A F Butterick, 33 Sqn); M r Geoffrey Hill (brother) a n d M r Clifford D a v i s (cousin) of Sgt Vernon Hill, 33 Sqn. Contributors
(Fleet Air Arm)
C a p t A F Black, D S C (805 Sqn); M a j L A Harris, D S C (805 Sqn); Lt C d r J A S h u t t l e w o r t h (805 Sqn); Lt C d r D H C o a t e s (805 Sqn); Lt C d r R W M W a l s h (805 Sqn); Lt R V H i n t o n (805 Sqn); W J N e w m a n (805 Sqn); Vice A d m Sir D o n a l d G i b s o n , K C B , D S C , J P (803 Sqn); C d r D J G o d d e n (803 Sqn); Lt C d r F J L d e Frias, D S M (803 Sqn); F P Dooley (803 Sqn); T S Melling (803 Sqn); C a p t D Vincent-Jones, D S C (806 Sqn);Lt C d r R M a c D o n a l d - H a l l (806 Sqn); C d r R S Henley, O B E , D S C (806 Sqn); Lt C d r H Phillips (806 Sqn); C a p t F M A T o r r e n s Spence, D S O , D S C , A F C (815 Sqn); Lt C d r P N Beagley (815 Sqn); Lt K Sims, D S M (815 Sqn) (including kind permission t o use extracts f r o m unpublished m/s); N Hollis ( H M S Glasgow).
Other
Contributors
A n d r e w S t a m a t o p o u l o s of C o r f u , Greece (contributor of material re EVA and in checking m/s for spellings of Greek locations); Hellenic Air F o r c e Historical Section, Athens; Z o r a n Jerin of L j u b l j a n a , Yugoslavia ( c o n t r i b u t o r of material re J K R V ) ; Winfried Bock, Miinchen, G e r m a n y ( c o n t r i b u t o r of material re Luftwaffe); Staff of Public Record Office, Kew, L o n d o n ; Staff of R A F M u s e u m Archives, H e n d o n , L o n d o n ; Staff of Imperial W a r M u s e u m , L o n d o n ; Air C d r H P r o b e r t and Staff of Air Historical Branch ( R A F 5), Ministry of Defence; Fleet Air A r m Officers Association, L o n d o n ; T A G Association (via K e n Sims); Royal Marines M u s e u m , Southsea, H a n t s ; WASt, Berlin; Amicale Des F o r c e s Aeriennes Francaises Libres (the late G E D u r a n d ) . Bruce L a n d e r of O l d h a m (and Eddie P e a r s o n ) for m u c h a p p r e c i a t e d assistance a n d e n c o u r a g e m e n t ; P a u l S o r t e h a u g of D u n e d i n , N e w Z e a l a n d and Ian P r i m m e r of T h o r n t o n , N S W , Australia for varied contributions; F A A historians D a v i d Brown and Ray Sturtivant; C h r i s E h r e n g a r d t re F r e e F r e n c h aircrew. O u r Maltese friends Philip Vella a n d Louis Tortell offered m u c h help, the latter in r e p r o d u c i n g m a n y of the p h o t o g r a p h s used in the book. Nicola Malizia offers personal t h a n k s t o Ufficio Storico dello S t a t o M a g g i o r e Aeronautica, Ufficio P r o p a g a n d a e F o t o g r a f i c o dello S M A M , Ufficio Storico M a r i n a Militare Italiana, A m b a s c i a t a di G r e c i a in Italia. Prof N i c o l a P i g n a t o , Carlo Lucchini, G i o r g i o Di Giorgio. Brian Cull offers personal t h a n k s to his g o o d friend a n d n e i g h b o u r Dick Rees, and to M r Jack Lee (in the beginning . . . ! ) . And to staff of Bury St. E d m u n d s Library for o b t a i n i n g m a n y ' h a r d - t o - f i n d ' relevant books. C h r i s t o p h e r Shores, H e n d o n Brian Cull, Bury St. E d m u n d s Nicola Malizia, San Arcangelo di R o m a g n a M a r c h 1987
COMPARATIVE RANKS O F THE CONTESTING AIR FORCES Royal Air Force & Commonwealth
Fleet Air Arm
Royal Hellenic Air Force [EVA)
Sergeant (Sgt)
Petty Officer (Pty Off)
Episminias (Sgt)
Flight Sergeant (F/Sgt)
Chief Petty Officer (C/Pty Off)
Archisminias (F/Sgt)
Warrant Officer (Wt Off)
Warrant Officer (Wt Off)
Anthypaspistes (Wt Off)
Pilot Officer (Pit Off)
Midshipman (Midspmn)
Anthyposminagos (2/Lt)
Flying Officer (Fig Off)
Sub Lieutenant (Sub Lt)
Hiposminagos d/Lt)
Flight Lieutenant (Fit Lt)
Lieutenant (Lt)
Sminagos (Capt)
Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr)
Lieutenant Commander (Lt Cdr)
Epismingos (Maj)
Wing Commander (Wg Cdr)
Commander (Cdr)
Antisminarchos (Lt Col)
Group Captain (Grp Capt)
Captain (Capt)
Sminarchos (Col)
Air Commodore (Air Comdr)
Commodore (Comdr)
Taxiarchos
Royal Yugoslav Air Force (JRKV)
Luftwaffe
Regia Aeronautica
Podnarednik (Sgt)
Unteroffizier (Uffz)
Sergente (Serg)
Narednik (F/Sgt)
Feldwebel (Fw)
Sergente Maggiore (Serg Magg)
Narednik Vodnik (Wt Off)
Oberfeldwebel (Obfw)
Maresciallo (Mar)
Potporucnik (2/Lt)
Leutnant (Lt)
Sottotenente (Sottoten)
Porucnik d/Lt)
Oberleutnant (Obit)
Tenente (Ten)
Kapetan (Capt)
Hauptman (Hpt)
Capitano (Cap)
Major (Maj)
Major (Maj)
Maggiore (Magg)
Potpukovnik (Lt Col)
Oberstleutnant (Obstlt)
Tenente Colonello (Ten Col)
Pukovnik (Col)
Oberst (Obst)
Colonello (Col)
Brigadni General
Generalmajor
Generale di Brigata Aerea
Chapter THE ITALIAN
One
ATTACK
ON
GREECE
T h e P Z L P.24 formed the b a c k b o n e of the Greek fighter force in 1940. A newly-built e x a m p l e is seen here shortly after delivery t o the Elleniki Vassiliki Aeroporia (EVA). (Greek Embassy via N Malizia)
Early on 28 O c t o b e r 1940, J o a n n i s Metaxas, P r i m e Minister of Greece, issued a P r o c l a m a t i o n to the people of his nation: T h e m o m e n t h a s c o m e for us to fight for independence, for the integrity, a n d for the h o n o u r of Greece. A l t h o u g h we have observed the strictest neutrality, with absolute impartiality t o w a r d s all, Italy, denying t o us the right to live the life of free Hellenes, d e m a n d e d from me at 3 o'clock this m o r n i n g the surrender of p o r t i o n s of the n a t i o n a l territory, t o be chosen by herself, a n d informed me that 1
her t r o o p s would move forward at 6 a.m. in order to t a k e possession. I replied to the Italian Minister that I considered both the d e m a n d itself and the m a n n e r of its delivery as a declaration of war on the p a r t of Italy against Greece. It is now for us t o show whether we are indeed w o r t h y of our ancestors a n d of the freedom won for us by o u r forefathers. Let the entire n a t i o n rise as one man. Fight for y o u r c o u n t r y , for y o u r wives, for y o u r children, a n d for our sacred traditions. N o w the struggle is for very existence.' T h e Prime Minister's P r o c l a m a t i o n was followed by o n e f r o m G e o r g e II, K i n g of the Hellenes: ' T h e Prime Minister a n n o u n c e d to you a short while a g o the circumstances which have compelled us t o go to war in reply to Italy's threat to suppress the independence of Greece. At this solemn m o m e n t I a m confident that every Greek m a n a n d w o m a n will d o their d u t y t o the last a n d will show themselves w o r t h y of o u r glorious past. W i t h faith in G o d and in the destiny of the Race, t h e N a t i o n , united a n d disciplined as o n e m a n , will fight in defence of hearth a n d h o m e until final victory. Given at t h e Palace of Athens, O c t o b e r 28th 1940.' Before long the G e n e r a l Staff had issued their First W a r C o m m u n i q u e : 'Since 5.30 this m o r n i n g Italian military forces have been attacking our a d v a n c e d units on t h e G r e c o - A l b a n i a n frontier. O u r forces are defending the soil of the country.' Indeed Greece was u n d e r attack, a n d f r o m the I o n i a n coast t o K o r i t z a m o r e than 100 000 men began m o v i n g over the frontier f r o m Albania. Seven of the best divisions of the Italian army, with s u p p o r t forces, were faced by three ill-equipped Greek divisions; the result seemed a foregone conclusion. O v e r h e a d patrolled fighters f r o m the 160° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T of the Regia Aeronautica, o p e r a t ing f r o m their base at the f o r w a r d airfields at Koritza. S o o n after 1000 h o u r s a trio of Fiat C R 4 2 biplanes f r o m this unit's 393" Squadriglia began their patrol f r o m the area of D r e n o w a , d u r i n g which they spotted their first Greek aircraft. It w a s a Henschel H s l 2 6 , a high-wing army c o - o p e r a t i o n m a c h i n e f r o m 3 M i r a Stratiotikis Synergassias ( G r o u n d S u p p o r t S q u a d r o n ) of the Elleniki Vassiliki A e r o p o r i a (Royal Hellenic Air Force). T e n e n t e M a r i o G a e t a n o Carancini, leader of the Italian f o r m a t i o n , attacked at once and shot the Henschel d o w n east of D a r d a . A l t h o u g h the crew survived u n h u r t , the Elleniki Vassiliki A e r o p o r i a (EVA) had suffered its first c o m b a t loss as G r e e c e w a s dragged unwillingly into the m o r a s s of World W a r II. A new Balkan war had e r u p t e d which was to have critical effects on the course of military o p e r a t i o n s t h r o u g h o u t E u r o p e and N o r t h Africa thereafter. But why had inoffensive Greece been subjected t o this o n s l a u g h t ? Few of t h e n o r m a l economical, political a n d military considerations usually associated with such actions a p p e a r to fit Italy's action in o p e n i n g u p a third w a r front; the cause a p p e a r s t o have been almost entirely connected with the ego of the Italian Fascist Dictator, Benito Mussolini - *I1 Duce'. T h e r e was however a historical b a c k g r o u n d . Following the end of the Balkan 2
W a r s of the early 20th C e n t u r y , the G r e a t P o w e r s had used their influence to bring a b o u t the creation of an independent K i n g d o m of Albania. P o o r , backward, a n d with few n a t u r a l resources, this infant state w a s still in a condition of confusion a n d internal strife when events elsewhere in the Balkans precipitated the o u t b r e a k of the First World War. T h e Italians at once took the o p p o r t u n i t y to occupy the port a n d capital city of Valona, while Greek t r o o p s moved back into the N o r t h e r n Epirus district, which they had but recently e v a c u a t e d at the insistence of Italy a n d Austria. During M a y 1916 F o r t Rupel in Eastern M a c e d o n i a w a s surrendered t o the Bulgarians, providing the Italians, w h o were then allies of F r a n c e and G r e a t Britain, the o p p o r t u n i t y t o oust the Greek t r o o p s f r o m N o r t h e r n E p i r u s once more, extending their own line u p to Koritza, which h a d been occupied by the French. Allied m a c h i n a t i o n s t o bring Greece formally into the war led in J u n e 1917 t o d e m a n d s by the French a n d British for the abdication of King C o n s t a n t i n e of the Greeks, a n d the independence of A l b a n i a as an Italian p r o t e c t o r a t e was declared. T h e Italians then advanced into S o u t h e r n Epirus, occupying Yanina, but this new m o v e upset their m o r e powerful allies, a n d following pressure at the Allied Conference in Paris, they withdrew a m o n t h later. Their interest in the Epirus as a whole was n o w well established however, a n d was seen by t h e m as an Italian sphere of influence. By 1923 the delineation of the G r e c o - A l b a n i a n frontier was still in dispute. While m o t o r i n g t h r o u g h Greek territory at this time the Italian President of the International C o m m i s s i o n , G e n e r a l e Tellini and four of his staff were killed by u n k n o w n assassins, creating a 'cause celebre'. In t h e following year Mussolini came to power a n d o n e of his first acts was t o d e m a n d official apologies; the
M o s t n u m e r o u s type in service with the Greek naval air service in 1940 w a s the D o r n i e r D o . 2 2 G reconnaissance-bomber, used by 12 Mira. A pre-delivery e x a m p l e is seen here with its alternative wheeled undercarriage fitted in place of floats. In this modified form s o m e of these aircraft w o u l d subsequently supplement Breguet X I X s on army c o - o p e r a t i o n duties, (via A Slanuitopoulos)
3
rendering of military h o n o u r s t o the Italian flag by the G r e e k fleet; the holding of an enquiry by an Italian officer at the scene of the m u r d e r s with capital p u n i s h m e n t for all found guilty, and an indemnity of 50 000 000 Italian lire (£500 000) t o be paid within five days. N o t surprisingly, the G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t agreed only to the first t w o of the d e m a n d s , and in c o n s e q u e n c e on 31 August, 1924 Mussolini ordered t h e Italian fleet t o b o m b a r d C o r f u , prior t o o c c u p a t i o n of t h e island by his troops. Sixteen i n h a b i t a n t s were killed a n d others w o u n d e d , but the I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o m m i s s i o n of Enquiry d e m a n d e d immediate Italian withdrawal, t o which Mussolini acceded. Responsibility for t h e killings of Tellini and his staff was never ascertained; the G r e e k press blamed the Albanian G o v e r n m e n t of A h m e d Z o g u (later t o become K i n g Z o g at the instigation of the Italians), whilst Albania blamed Greece. Italian designs on Albania developed into wholesale a n n e x a t i o n in 1939. O n G o o d Friday five warships b o m b a r d e d D u r a z z o , while aircraft of the Regia A e r o n a u t i c a d r o p p e d leaflets on T i r a n a , inviting the p o p u l a t i o n t o offer n o resistance t o occupying Italian forces. O n 16 April, K i n g Victor E m m a n u e l of Italy accepted the C r o w n of Albania. A little over a year later Mussolini led his n a t i o n into World W a r II, just in time t o m o v e over the north-western frontier into F r a n c e before the cessation of hostilities between t h a t demoralized n a t i o n a n d Hitler's victorious G e r m a n y . By then G e r m a n y ' s great military success and unquestioned power had altered the balance between the t w o states; n o longer was Mussolini the senior p a r t n e r of the fascist alliance, a n d that rankled. He now desired to i m p r o v e the s t a n d i n g of his regime in Europe, but how t o d o this was the problem. Virtually cut off f r o m h o m e by the presence of the British in Egypt, the S u d a n a n d K e n y a , his E m p i r e in East Africa was u n d e r dire threat. M a l t a had not been s u b d u e d , despite frequent b o m b i n g attacks; the Italian fleet hardly risked leaving h a r b o u r d u e t o the presence of the powerful British M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet, while in Libya the first halting offensive into Egypt launched by G e n e r a l e G r a z i a n i ' s a r m y swiftly g r o u n d t o a stop. With so m a n y f r o n t s unresolved it would a p p e a r t o most observers t h a t a n o t h e r active area of military o p e r a t i o n s was most undesirable. However Mussolini w a n t e d a decisive result, a n d preferably s o m e t h i n g with which he c o u l d present Berlin with a 'fait accompli', as he felt Hitler had d o n e with him on t o o m a n y occasions. Already in July 1940 the High C o m m a n d had been ordered t o plan o p e r a t i o n s necessary t o deal with any hostile moves by Yugoslavia, a n d for this t h e o c c u p a t i o n of certain of the I o n i a n Islands (Corfu, Levkas, C e p h a l o n i a a n d Zante) a n d a p o r t i o n of n o r t h - e a s t e r n Epirus w a s greatly t o be desired. T h e s e plans were developed into two distinct operations: Esigenza (Exigency) *E' dealt with actions against Yugoslavia, a n d Esigenza ' G ' with o p e r a t i o n s against Greece. T h e justification for these plans was given as the hostile attitude t o Italy perceived in public opinion in these countries, a n d their increasing s y m p a t h y t o w a r d s the British cause. At t h e same time a n u m b e r of p r o v o c a t i o n s t o w a r d s G r e e k s occurred, some of which were clearly accidental, but others of which were quite the reverse. O n 8 July, 1940 a Savoia S.79 b o m b e r f r o m the 41° G r u p p o BT at Brindisi force4
landed on Crete, the crew being interned. F o u r d a y s later three Italian aircraft b o m b e d and m a c h i n e - g u n n e d the Greek lighthouse-tender Orion, and then attacked the destroyer Yilra when it c a m e t o the former's assistance. G e n e r a l M e t a x a s protested strongly t o the Italian Legation, but ironically three days later the Legation contacted him t o express t h a n k s to the G r e e k a u t h o r i t i e s for aid rendered to the crew of an Italian seaplane forced t o ditch near C e p h a l o n i a .
O n e of four British-built aircraft types e m p l o y e d by the EVA in 1940 w a s the A v r o A n s o n I maritime reconnaissance-bomber of 13 Mira. (A Stamatopoulos)
British warships were of course in action against Italian vessels by this time, a n d on occasion mistaken identity could occur. This however could not have been the case early in August when the G r e e k destroyers King George a n d Queen Olga were b o m b e d in the Gulf of C o r i n t h , and t w o Greek s u b m a r i n e s lying in the port of L e p a n t o were also attacked. O n 15 August the G r e e k light cruiser Helle was t o r p e d o e d by an unidentified s u b m a r i n e whilst in h a r b o u r at T e n o s for the Festival of A s s u m p t i o n . O n e t o r p e d o struck amidships, killing o n e m e m b e r of the crew and w o u n d i n g 29 others, the vessel sinking at 0945. T w o further t o r p e d o e s missed the ship a n d exploded against the pier where one A r m e n i a n w o m a n died from a heart attack and several other people were slightly injured. At 1820 that same day t w o Italian aircraft machine-gunned the old Brindisi p a c k e t - b o a t Frinton two miles off the coast of Crete. All responsibility for these actions was flatly denied by the Italian authorities, but after the war records disclosed that the vessel responsible was indeed their s u b m a r i n e Delfino. Convinced by flatterers and m a n i p u l a t o r s in his e n t o u r a g e , Mussolini was by n o w firmly resolved to m o v e against the Greeks, fully believing that victory would be swift and cheap. His slogan 'We'll break Greece's ribs!' (Spezzeremo le reni alia Grecia) epitomized this view, as he p r e p a r e d for a ' c o u p de main', 5
planned for 26 O c t o b e r . In readiness for this, between 10 a n d 20 September, an E x p e d i t i o n a r y C o r p s was despatched f r o m Brindisi t o reinforce the existing garrison, totalling 40 310 troops, 7728 horses, 701 vehicles and 33 535 t o n s of supplies. A l t h o u g h surprised by the o r d e r to p r e p a r e for w a r with Greece, the local c o m m a n d e r s did n o t h i n g to dissaude him. T h e prospects of easy victories with resulting p r o m o t i o n s , h o n o u r s a n d glories proved t o o s t r o n g in appeal t o them. Yet Albania was far f r o m being an ideal place f r o m which t o launch such a venture. D u e to Italy's own economic situation, little had been d o n e t o develop the military facilities of the c o u n t r y , where c o m m u n i c a t i o n s were p o o r , p o r t s and airfields inadequate. T h e long-term plan had indeed been t o t r a n s f o r m the country, but little success in this had yet been achieved d u e b o t h t o the hostility of the e n v i r o n m e n t a n d of the populace. M u c h m o n e y w a s n o w p o u r e d in at the last m o m e n t to i m p r o v e the situation, particularly that of the airfields, b u t most of the expenditure proved ill-founded a n d of little real effect. T h e arrival of three additional infantry divisions - 29th, 49th a n d 51st - in A l b a n i a d u r i n g 1940 greatly alarmed the Greek G o v e r n m e n t following the o t h e r provocations. In c o n s e q u e n c e the garrisons on the Albanian frontier were
T h e uneven, m u d d y airfields of Albania frequently required that the neat wheel fairings fitted t o the Regia A e r o n a u t i c a l Fiat C R 4 2 fighters be removed for operation:,. Aircraft 7 of 363 a Squadriglia, 150° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T is seen here so modified at Tirana in late 1940. (N. Malizia)
6
strengthened with additional infantry units. T h e Italians were also seeking t o strengthen their air force element in the country, the C o m a n d o Aeronautica Albania, f r o m its base of 61 o p e r a t i o n a l aircraft at t h e start of the year. T h e main constraint, as stated above, was the availability of airfields, six of which had been constructed, o r were being completed, at T i r a n a , Valona, Durazzo, A r g y r o k a s t r o n , Koritza and Berat. A few emergency l a n d i n g g r o u n d s a n d poor grass strips were available at Shjac, Scutari, Devoli a n d D r e n o w a , but these lacked nearly all facilities a n d had few buildings. Close t o the frontier A r g y r o k a s t r o n and t w o o t h e r strips at Delvine a n d P o g r a d e c were suitable only for the o p e r a t i o n of the light reconnaissance aircraft of the Osservazione Aerea.
At the outbreak of hostilities 394" Squadriglia of the 160° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T at Koritza w a s still equipped with elderly Fiat C R 3 2 fighters of Spanish Civil War vintage, o n e of which is seen here. (G Buynari
via N
Malizia)
As plans progressed into O c t o b e r , t h e C o m a n d o still possessed only a single under-strength fighter unit, the 160° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T based at Tirana, equipped with five C R 4 2 and twelve C R 3 2 - all biplanes, plus three Fiat G.50bis m o n o p l a n e fighters. At T i r a n a the 393 a a n d 394 a Squadriglia of this G r u p p o flew t h e C R 3 2 s , while the 395 a Squadriglia operated t h e C R 4 2 s f r o m Berat. M o r e C R 4 2 s a n d G.50bis were d u e to arrive t o replace the elderly C R 3 2 s however, and on 17 O c t o b e r the unit was reorganized, 393 a Squadriglia t a k i n g over the C R 42s, while the 395 a took over the m o n o p l a n e s . T w o d a y s later t h e t w o biplaneequipped squadriglie were ordered forward to D r e n o w a , near K o r i t z a , while t o w a r d s the end of the m o n t h three m o r e squadriglie of C R 4 2 s were ordered to Albania from Italy; they would arrive on 1 N o v e m b e r . 7
F o r t h e invasion the Italians divided the frontier, some 90 miles in length, into three sectors. T h e first of these - the Epirus - r a n f r o m t h e sea to Yanina, a n d was t o be the zone of o p e r a t i o n s of the 23rd ' F e r r a r a ' Division of M o u n t a i n Infantry, the 51st 'Siena' Division, the ' C e n t a u r o ' A r m o u r e d Division, the 6th, 7th a n d 19th Regiments of Cavalry a n d the 3rd Regiment of Grenadiers, backed by eighteen batteries of heavy artillery. This powerful force was faced by the Greek 8th Division. T h e C e n t r a l Sector - the P i n d u s - e n c o m p a s s e d the peaks of the Pindus M o u n t a i n s which ran f r o m Albania right t h r o u g h N o r t h e r n Greece f r o m north-west to south-east. Here the 3rd 'Julia' Division of Italy's 'crack' Alpini t r o o p s were backed by a machine-gun battalion and a large contingent of m o u n t a i n artillery. T h e y were faced by a single regiment of Evzones - Greece's f a m o u s kilted m o u n t a i n t r o o p s - with a single battery of artillery. T h e third, Eastern Sector, r a n t o the Yugoslav frontier, e n c o m p a s s i n g the area bordered by K o r i t z a on the Albanian side of the frontier and F i o r i n a on the G r e e k side. Here, in less m o u n t a i n o u s terrain, was the 16th a r m y C o r p s of the 9th Army, comprised of the 19th 'Venezia', 29th ' P i e d m o n t e ' and 49th ' P a r m a ' Divisions, three battalions of Albanian troops, the 101st M a c h i n e - G u n Battalion, fourteen batteries of heavy artillery a n d a regiment of tanks. T o face the 16th C o r p s was the Greek 9th Division, reinforced by o n e additional brigade of infantry. T h e G r e e k s had n o tanks, were low on machine-guns, m o r t a r s a n d other s u p p o r t weapons, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns, a n d were supplied almost entirely by mule over p o o r r o a d s and m o u n t a i n tracks f r o m railroads further south. T h e G r e e k s were backed by an air force of some 150 o p e r a t i o n a l aircraft, but this was virtually w i t h o u t reserves, a n d had t o guard the whole c o u n t r y , so could not o p e r a t e in its entirety on the Albanian frontier. E q u i p m e n t was heterog e n e o u s in the variety a n d nationality of types used, so that m a i n t e n a n c e a n d
Ready for action! Fully-camouflaged P Z L P.24 fighters are lined up in front of the Henschel H s l 2 6 A army c o - o p e r a t i o n aircraft of 3 Mira. (via A Stamatopoulos)
8
supply d u r i n g sustained o p e r a t i o n s would p r o d u c e m a j o r problems. Aircraft p u r c h a s e d in recent years included: 6 30 2 16 12 12
Avia B-534 fighters acquired in 1937 f r o m Czechoslovakia P Z L P . 2 4 F and 6 P.24G fighters acquired in 1938 f r o m P o l a n d G l o s t e r G l a d i a t o r I fighters acquired in 1938 f r o m G r e a t Britain Henschel H s l 2 6 a r m y c o - o p e r a t i o n aircraft acquired f r o m G e r m a n y D o r n i e r D o 2 2 G floatplanes acquired f r o m G e r m a n y A v r o Anson I m a r i t i m e patrol b o m b e r s acquired f r o m G r e a t Britain
11 Potez 63 light b o m b e r s acquired f r o m F r a n c e (24 over by the A r m e e de l'Air on the o u t b r e a k of war 12 Fairey Battle I light b o m b e r s acquired f r o m G r e a t 12 Bristol Blenheim IV b o m b e r s acquired from G r e a t 9 Bloch MB151 fighters acquired f r o m F r a n c e
ordered but 13 t a k e n in S e p t e m b e r 1939) Britain Britain
These were backed by a n u m b e r of older biplane r e c o n n a i s s a n c e - b o m b e r types, principally Breguet XIX a n d Potez 25 machines, and by a n u m b e r of training types. As will be seen f r o m the O r d e r of Battle (Table 2) nearly all available aircraft were in use. Within a few d a y s of t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of hostilities t h e C o m a n d o A e r o n a u t i c a Albania would have 187 relatively m o d e r n aircraft available t o u n d e r t a k e three m a i n duties: (a) T o provide s u p p o r t to the g r o u n d forces a n d t o take part in the p r o p o s e d o c c u p a t i o n of Corfu; (b) T o maintain air offensive against airfields in the Epirus, T h e s s a l o n i k a and M a c e d o n i a , against military p o r t s at Preveza and in T h e s s a l o n i k a , a n d against the main lines of c o m m u n i c a t i o n ; and (c) T o provide air defence of A l b a n i a n territory, particularly t h e fleet bases at Valona and D u r a z z o . This disparity of strengths d o e s not a p p e a r great at first sight, but t h e Italians could look to a ready supply of replacement aircraft and spare parts, coupled with reinforcement when necessary. M o r e i m p o r t a n t l y , t h e C o m a n d o was backed up by the C o m a n d o 4 a Z o n a Aerea Territoriale based at airfields in south-east Italy f r o m which the powerful b o m b e r forces of this C o m m a n d o could maintain attacks on the airfields and naval bases of Western Greece and the Ionian islands. It could also provide direct s u p p o r t t o the g r o u n d forces in t h e Epirus when necessary, could c o n t r i b u t e to o p e r a t i o n s against any British o c c u p a t i o n of Crete, a n d could join in any o p e r a t i o n s on C o r f u . Additionally, its fighters provided a secure defence of the p o r t s of e m b a r k a t i o n to the war zone at T a r a n t o , Bari a n d Brindisi. Finally in t h e D o d e c a n e s e Islands t o the south-east of Greece, w a s the A e r o n a u t i c a Dell'Egeo which could also i n t r u d e over C r e t e and disrupt any supply lines set u p t h r o u g h t h e Aegean f r o m t h e British bases in Egypt to S o u t h e r n Greece. And of course the 5 a S q u a d r a Aerea in Libya could also interfere with a n y s u p p o r t offered by t h e British. T h e Regia A e r o n a u t i c a l O r d e r of Battle (Table 1) d e m o n s t r a t e s well the power of t h e forces immediately ready for action over Greek territory. 9
T h e Regia Aeronautica had had a n a r r o w escape nonetheless. O n 26 O c t o b e r , two d a y s before the o u t b r e a k of hostilities, three ships loaded with vital air force e q u i p m e n t had sailed f r o m Bari for Valona. Just short of the destination, a British s u b m a r i n e put a t o r p e d o into the SS Chisone, a n d the vessel c a m e to a halt. At once the other ships, Hermada and Olympus, were ordered to r e t u r n t o base, but in the event the d a m a g e d Chisone was subsequently towed into Valona h a r b o u r without any loss of her precious cargo. T h e initial Italian a d v a n c e w a s in such strength that it sent the Greek forces on the frontier reeling back, particularly in the Epirus sector. Here the Italians claimed to have advanced up to 30 miles inside the c o u n t r y by 30 O c t o b e r , after t h e G r e e k s had retreated behind the K a l a m a s river. In the Pindus M o u n t a i n s the Alpine of the 3rd 'Julia' Division were t o get within 12 miles of the vital M e t s o v o n Pass, but across t h e whole front the first four d a y s of fighting were marked by foul weather c o n d i t i o n s which slowed d o w n the Italian supply c o n v o y s over the p o o r Albanian m o u n t a i n tracks, a n d a b o v e all, restricted air s u p p o r t . This was particularly so in respect to the units of 4 a Z A T in south-eastern Italy, which hardly appeared at all d u r i n g these o p e n i n g days. Immediately on the o u t b r e a k of war the former Chief of Staff of the Greek Army, 57 year-old Athenian G e n e r a l Alexander P a p a g o s , was a p p o i n t e d C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f . A hero of past Balkan wars, a n d a regular adviser of the King, P a p a g o s was quick t o rush reinforcements to the front and to prepare c o u n t e r - a t t a c k s . T h e first of these was launched in the C e n t r a l Sector as early as 31 O c t o b e r , t o regain a hill to the n o r t h of Yanina.
A formation of S a v o i a S.79 b o m b e r s from the 104" G r u p p o A u t o n o m o BT's 253" Squadriglia over the Epirus mountains, displaying a variety of c a m o u f l a g e patterns. (N Malizia)
10
After the initial clash in the air on 28 O c t o b e r , between the C R 4 2 s and the lone H s l 2 6 , eight Savoia S.81 b o m b e r s f r o m the 38° S t o r m o BT carried out their first raids on the D o l i a n a - K a l i b a k i road d u r i n g the early a f t e r n o o n , led by C o l Ludovico, t h e c o m m a n d i n g officer. T h e first foray for 4 a Z A T units followed, as 13 C a n t Z.1007bis b o m b e r s of the 47" S t o r m o a p p r o a c h e d , joined by Fiat BR20s a n d S.81s of the 37° S t o r m o , and by some S.79s of the Albanian-based 105° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o BT. Over P a t r a s AA fire hit one of the slow S.81s, a n d it subsequently force-landed near O t r a n t o , being written-off in d o i n g so. Weather put a s t o p to all activity in the air on 29 O c t o b e r , but next d a y aircraft of both sides were in the air over the front again. Greek H s l 2 6 s of 3 Mira carried out repeated sorties over the K a s t o r i a area of north-west Greece in the Epirus sector, where Italian fighters on patrol h u n t e d for them. Early in the d a y a trio of C R 3 2 s of 394 a Squadriglia were scrambled from K o r i t z a , intercepting a pair of Henschels, but Ten M a r i o F r a s c a d o r e , the f o r m a t i o n leader, suffered a guns stoppage, a n d the reconnaissance aircraft escaped into cloud. S o m e w h a t later T e n Col Zanni, c o m m a n d e r of the 160° G r u p p o , led off five C R 4 2 s of 393 a Squadriglia, a n d these also encountered a pair of Henschels as they were m a k i n g for the lines. Serg M a g g Walter Ratticchieri at once a t t a c k e d a n d shot d o w n one, while Ten Col Z a n n i gained hits on the other before it escaped into cloud, obviously heavily d a m a g e d ; the Henschel gunners had put u p a spirited defence, several of the F i a t s suffering d a m a g e f r o m r e t u r n fire. However both Greek aircraft were lost; one, flown by 1/Lt Evangelos Yiannaris, crashed near the village of Vassiliada, where the pilot was killed - the EVA's first official casualty of the war; the o t h e r failed t o return, but its fate was not discovered, 2/Lt L a z a r o s P a p a m i c h a e l and Cpl C o n s t a n t i n o s G e m e n e t r i s being posted missing.
Another older type used by the Italians over Greece in 1940 w a s the S a v o i a S.81 bomber of the Valonabased 38° S t o r m o BT. ( N Malizia)
11
C o n t i n u e d bad weather on the last d a y of the m o n t h again restricted opera t i o n s considerably. D u r i n g the m o r n i n g ten S.81 s of the 38° S t o r m o BT set out t o b o m b targets at the front, but the crews could see n o t h i n g t h r o u g h t h e dense cloud and returned. A repeat a t t e m p t by three of the b o m b e r s d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n met similar conditions. C R 32 a n d C R 4 2 fighters of the 160° G r u p p o C T did get t h r o u g h t o strafe the airfields at F i o r i n a and Kastoria, but a late a f t e r n o o n o p e r a t i o n ended badly for the unit. Scrambled at 1730 after Greek aircraft reported over Bilishte, t w o C R 3 2 s of 394 a Squadriglia became lost in bad weather and g a t h e r i n g dusk, and both pilots were obliged to bale out, Ten D i n o Ciarlo becoming a prisoner, a l t h o u g h M a r Marcello Lui m a n a g e d to return t o Koritza o n foot. At last on 1 N o v e m b e r t h e weather cleared sufficiently t o allow a m o r e active role to be played by the Regia Aeronautica. O n an early p a t r o l three C R 3 2 s of 394'1 Squadriglia e n c o u n t e r e d t w o slow-flying Greek reconnaissance aircraft over the frontier. Led by F r a s c a d o r e , the Italian pilots attacked repeatedly, claiming m a n y hits, a n d believed t h a t they had p r o b a b l y shot d o w n both aircraft within Greek territory.. It a p p e a r s that on this occasion their o p p o n e n t s were Breguet XIXs of 2 Mira, both of which were a p p a r e n t l y lost, a l t h o u g h the crews survived unhurt.
Breguet XIX army c o - o p e r a t i o n biplane of the EVA - the oldest type in use over the front in 1940. (S W Lee)
It w a s t o be a d a y for f a m o u s names, for at 0835 ten S.79s of the 105° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o BT set off to attack Salonika, led by the g r u p p o c o m m a n d e r , Ten Col G a l e a z z o C i a n o . Mussolini's son-in-law a n d Italian Foreign Minister. Escort was provided by five 160" G r u p p o C R 4 2 s f r o m 393" Squadriglia, these led by M a g g Angelo M a s t r a g o s t i n o . F o u r m o r e of this unit's fighters provided escort for ten Italy-based Z.1007bis of the 47° S t o r m o , which also headed for S a l o n i k a but also 12
b o m b i n g Larissa airfield en route. O n e of these b o m b e r s was piloted by Mussolini's eldest son, C a p B r u n o Mussolini, w h o was c o m m a n d e r of the S t o r m o ' s 260 a Squadriglia, while it is believed that a second son, Vittorio, was also involved in this attack. ( C i a n o and the Mussolini b r o t h e r s had all flown previously on o p e r a t i o n s in both Ethiopia and Spain.)
A line of P Z L P.24s of 22 Mira await another scramble in defence of the northern port-city of Salonika. (Greek Embassy via N Malizia)
The initial a t t a c k by the 105° G r u p p o was aimed at the d o c k s at Salonika, but seven P Z L P.24 fighters f r o m 22 M i r a at the city's Sedes airfield intercepted. T h e escorting fighters claimed one of the Greek interceptors shot d o w n and one probable, g u n n e r s in the S.79s claiming one m o r e a n d a second p r o b a b l e also, one C R 4 2 sustaining d a m a g e d u r i n g the fight. Any losses suffered by the defenders are u n k n o w n a l t h o u g h n o pilots were killed o r w o u n d e d . T h e second raid was also engaged by P Z L s , this time f r o m 21 Mira, the pilots of which claimed o n e Z.1007bis shot d o w n n o r t h of Yanina. They h a d in fact d a m a g e d an aircraft of 263 a Squadriglia, which m a n a g e d to regain its base. S a l o n i k a suffered 35 of its citizens killed d u r i n g these t w o attacks. T o w a r d s evening three Blenheims f r o m 32 M i r a m a d e their first raid, an attack on the t w o airfields at Koritza. D r e n o w a escaped d a m a g e , but K o r i t z a itself was hard hit, 15 personnel being killed a n d 20 w o u n d e d . T h e G r e e k s believed that they h a d destroyed m a n y aircraft, but n o n e in fact suffered d a m a g e d u r i n g t h e 13
G r o u n d crew prepare a blenheim IV bomber of the EVA's 32 Mira for a raid. This is B261. (Greek Embassy via N Malizia)
b o m b i n g . However soon after t h e attacks a CR 42 and a C R 32, arriving f r o m T i r a n a , crashed into b o m b craters whilst landing, and both were d a m a g e d . During the r e t u r n flight o n e of the Blenheims became lost in the d a r k , but soon fires were spotted on the g r o u n d , which the pilot assumed to be an improvised flare path at his base at Larissa, set u p to aid his landing. In fact he landed in a field where peasants had been burning old grass! T h e b o m b e r was u n d a m a g e d , but the crew were c o n f r o n t e d by the peasants w h o believed t h e m t o be G r e e k speaking Italians! At first n o t h i n g would p e r s u a d e t h e m otherwise, not even t h e national m a r k i n g s on the Blenheim. T h e peasants stated repeatedly that the Italians were c a r r y i n g duplicates on their own aircraft. This fallacy stemmed f r o m the fact that at a distance the white cross displayed on r u d d e r s of Italian aircraft did indeed look like a G r e e k flag. Laymen were not a w a r e at this time that Greek military aircraft carried no national m a r k i n g s on fin or rudder, or that they did carry blue-white-blue stripes on the rudder. T h e press and official c o m m u n i q u e s had stated on the r a d i o that Italian b o m b e r s displaying the G r e e k flag on their tails had b o m b e d P a t r a s , S a l o n i k a a n d C o r f u . Finally one of the crew, Lt K Maravelias. sang and danced a Greek folk dance, which at last convinced the peasants, w h o soon joined in! 1 N o v e m b e r also noted the arrival in Albania of the 150° G r u p p o C T f r o m Turin, with 36 C R 4 2 s . 363" Squadriglia at once flew to T i r a n a , 364 a to Valona, while t h e C o m a n d o , led by T e n Col R o l a n d o Pratelli, a n d 365 a Squadriglia went to A r g y r o k a s t r o n . N o sooner arrived than 364" a n d 365 a Squadriglia were back in t h e air t o escort b o m b e r s over C o r f u . Another arrival was Col Arrigo Tessari, 14
B o m b s from ten (iV
105° G r u p p o
BT S.79s explode in Salonika harbour on
1 November,
1940.
Malizia)
who was posted to Albania from the 53° S t o r m o C T as c o m m a n d e r of fighters in the area. Next day the 24° G r u p p o C T flew in from Pisa with its G.50bis monoplanes.
Preparing heavy b o m b s for the EVA's other twin-engined b o m b e r type, the Potez 63, which w a s operated by 31 Mira.
15
T h e heaviest air fighting so far occurred on 2 N o v e m b e r , as Italian b o m b e r s t o o k t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of better weather t o attack Greek targets in strength. T h e e n g a g e m e n t s became confused, possibly overlapping, while both sides a p p e a r to have overclaimed s o m e w h a t . F o u r Albanian-based S.81s of the 38° S t o r m o ' s 39° G r u p p o raided Doliana d u r i n g the morning, but on a later sortie an aircraft f r o m this S t o r m o ' s 40" G r u p p o was a p p a r e n t l y hit by AA fire and then attacked by a fighter; it blew u p at 3000 feet, Sottoten F r a n c e s c o R u g g e r o and his 202 a Squadriglia crew being killed. B o m b e r s of 4a Z A T were very active, 37° S t o r m o S.81s b o m b i n g C o r f u , which was also a t t a c k e d by six J u 8 7 B d i v e - b o m b e r s f r o m the 96° G r u p p o Ba'T, m a k i n g their first raid, escorted across the Straits of O t r a n t o by 35° S t o r m o BM C a n t Z.506B floatplanes. Five m o r e of the dive-bombers, this time Ju87R versions which enjoyed a longer range, attacked Yanina. This t o w n was also raided by ten Z.1007bis t r i m o t o r s of the 47° S t o r m o , while nine m o r e raided Larissa, a n d ten 37° S t o r m o BR20s hit P a t r a s . Y a n i n a was the main base f r o m which the Greek forces were now launching their c o u n t e r - a t t a c k s , a n d three P Z L s of 21 M i r a had been detached here for defence. T h e s e were scrambled after t h e attack on Larissa, led by 1/Lt J o h n Sakellariou. T h e interception took place over Mitsikeli m o u n tain, close t o Yanina, but d u r i n g the fight Sakellariou was shot d o w n and killed as he attacked o n e b o m b e r ; he was credited with having shot d o w n two others before he fell. T h e f o r m a t i o n of Z.1007bis d u e t o attack Larissa itself arrived s o m e w h a t behind the Larissa raid, and by this time only o n e P Z L w a s available for take-off. Cpl C h r i s t o s P a p a d o p o u l o s scrambled alone, and w a s seen t o attack t w o aircraft, which it was believed he had shot d o w n , before fire f r o m a third a p p a r e n t l y hit his fighter, setting fire to the fuel tank w h e r e u p o n he crashed to his death in flames.
Three b o m b e r s q u a d r o n s - three b o m b e r types! A Fairey Battle I single-engined bomber of 33 Mira, B282, seen at its base at K o u k l a i n a early in the war. (A Stamatopoulos)
16
S o m e w h a t later, in the early a f t e r n o o n , a further ten Z.1007bis, this time f r o m the 50° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o BT, a p p r o a c h e d Salonika. Here 22 M i r a P Z L s attacked, causing t h e b o m b e r s t o jettison their b o m b s a n d t u r n for home. 1/Lt M a r i n o s Mitralexes expended all his a m m u n i t i o n on o n e b o m b e r , which he claimed to have shot d o w n , a n d then deliberately r a m m e d t h e tail of a n o t h e r with his propeller. This would seem t o have been Sottoten B e n i a m i n o P a s q u a l o t t o ' s aircraft ( M M 2 2 3 8 1 ) which crashed in t h e area of L a n g a d a , the pilot being killed, but the other four m e m b e r s of the crew m a n a g i n g to bale out. W i t h his propeller smashed, Mitralexes force-landed n e a r b y and with the aid of peasants w h o rushed to the scene, r o u n d e d up the Italian survivors. M e a n w h i l e Sgt E p a m i n i n d a s D a g o u l a s h a d claimed t h e destruction of a third b o m b e r , then landed near the t o w n of Verria with his fuel t a n k s empty. O n e further C a n t (MM22152), piloted by Ten O m e r o Matteuzzi, force-landed in the area, a n d it was reported that a n o t h e r also c a m e d o w n here, a l t h o u g h this is not c o n f i r m e d in Italian records. O n e aircraft of the 211" Squadriglia was hit however, a n d o n e gunner was seriously w o u n d e d , dying on his r e t u r n t o Brindisi. It seems that o n e of the P Z L s was hit a n d d a m a g e d d u r i n g the engagement, or p e r h a p s forcelanded, C a p t J o h n Kyriazes being w o u n d e d . 1 /Lt M a r i n o s Mitralexes, the 22 Mira P Z L P.24 pilot w h o became a Greek national hero when he deliberately rammed a 5 0 ° G r u p p o C a n t Z . 1 0 0 7 b i s bomber over Salonika. (EVA via D
Chalif)
C a n t Z.1007bis N o . 3 of 210" Squadriglia,
50°
G r u p p o BT, which crash-landed near N a u u s s a o n 2 N o v e m b e r . 1940 after being hit by 22 Mira P Z L P.24s during a raid on Salonika. S o t t o t e n O m e r o Matteuzzi and his crew were captured.
17
A l t h o u g h not mentioned in the Greek account of these raids, escorting C R 4 2 s were present over both Salonika and Yanina. Over the f o r m e r city C a p Mariotti's nine 363 a Squadriglia fighters engaged eight P Z L s , claiming four shot d o w n , while t w o C R 4 2 s were d a m a g e d . It seems that over Y a n i n a C a p G i o r g i o Graffer's 365 a Squadriglia was engaged, Graffer himself being credited with three P Z L s shot d o w n . M a g g Angelo M a s t r a g o s t i n o of the 160° G r u p p o also claimed a P Z L on this day, a n d m a y possibly have been flying with M a r i o t t i ' s unit on this occasion. G u n n e r s a b o a r d the various b o m b e r s optimistically claimed six attacking fighters shot d o w n , so that total claims against P Z L s a m o u n t e d to 13 or 14 w h e r e a s actual losses were p e r h a p s three. It would seem that o n e of the 21 M i r a pilots may have shot d o w n the 38° S t o r m o S.81, but that otherwise the claims m a d e on behalf of the t w o dead pilots at Y a n i n a for f o u r victories was wishful thinking. This d a y ' s raids had however cost the G r e e k s some 200 civilian casualties, mainly in Salonika itself.
B o m b i n g - u p a 32 Mira Blenheim IV (B252) at Trikkala. (A
Stamatopoulos)
D u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n three 32 M i r a Blenheims again raided the K o r i t z a airfields. As they a t t a c k e d Serg Pippo Ardesio of 393 a Squadriglia a t t e m p t e d to take-off in a C R 42, but his aircraft w a s c a u g h t by t h e blast of t h e b o m b s a n d was destroyed, the pilot being killed. Breguet X I X s of 2 M i r a were ordered t o r e c o n n o i t r e t h e front area a l o n g the r o u t e S a m a r i n a - R o m i o s - K e r a s s o v o n - F o u r k a in the P i n d u s region, since the G r e e k H Q at K o z a n i had lost all c o n t a c t with the Alpini, w h o were infiltrating a l o n g the p a t h s and ravines. At 0700 o n e Breguet searched carefully over the area, s p o t t i n g t h e t r o o p s of the 'Julia' Division m o v i n g t o w a r d s D i s t r a t o n , f r o m 18
Samarina, a c c o m p a n i e d by m a n y laden mules. T h e r e p o r t of this situation allowed aircraft t o be sent out to b o m b these c o l u m n s repeatedly t o delay their a d v a n c e t o w a r d s the M e t s o v o n Pass, the loss of which could cause a very critical situation for t h e Greeks. D u r i n g the next few d a y s reinforcements were sent t o this area and a c o u n t e r - a t t a c k was launched which nearly cut off the 'Julia' Division after its 45-mile forced march t o the area. By 7 N o v e m b e r they would be in full retreat. While the Italians c o n t i n u e d to m a k e progress in the west, occupying P a r a m y t h i a and M a r g a r i t i o n on 3 N o v e m b e r , to the east the G r e e k s had already struck back hard. As early as 2 N o v e m b e r they h a d crossed m o r e t h a n three miles into Albanian territory, c a p t u r i n g nine officers a n d 153 men, together with mules and e q u i p m e n t . O n the 4th they would launch their main c o u n t e r - a t t a c k in the west on the Epirus F r o n t .
Main Regia Aeronautica army c o - o p e r a t i o n aircraft throughout the c a m p a i g n in G r e e c e w a s t o be the Meridionali Ro.37bis. T h i s aircraft, N o . 9 of the 39° Squadriglia O A is being flown over the front by C a p i t a n o M a r i o Crotti. (G Tardivo via N Malizia)
Meanwhile on 3 N o v e m b e r , 4 a Z A T ' s offensive against Salonika was resumed, nine 47° S t o r m o Z.1007bis again a t t a c k i n g this city. O n e 262 a Squadriglia aircraft ( M M 2 1 6 7 3 ) flown by S o t t o t e n Vincenzo Pallara was reported shot d o w n by AA fire, but p r o b a b l y fell t o a 22 M i r a P Z L piloted by Sgt P a n a y o t e s A r g y r o p o u l o s . O t h e r fighters f r o m this unit also engaged b o m b e r s . 1/Lt C o n s t a n t i n o s Yianikostas chasing o n e over t h e frontier into Yugoslav airspace, where he claimed it shot d o w n . It seems t h a t on this occasion the b o m b e r s were escorted by the newly-arrived G.50bis m o n o p l a n e s of the 24° G r u p p o . O n e fighter identified as a Macchi 200 - was claimed shot d o w n by Sgt D a g o u l a s , a n d t w o others were claimed d a m a g e d , as were two m o r e of the b o m b e r s . However t w o of the P Z L s were hard hit, Sgt C o n s t a n t i n e L a m b r o p o u l o s baling o u t of his fighter after being w o u n d e d , while Sgt D e m e t r i o s Philes, also w o u n d e d , landed safely at Sedes airfield. O n this occasion the G r e e k AA also claimed three b o m b e r s shot d o w n , but t h e aircraft reported as falling were p r o b a b l y t h e b o m b e r and t w o fighters (one G r e e k ) which had actually been shot d o w n d u r i n g the c o m b a t . It was however the last raid t h a t would be m a d e on S a l o n i k a before the New Year; an indication of the EVA's fierce and determined defence of that city. 19
T h e Regia A e r o n a u t i c a was again active on 4 N o v e m b e r , fighters m a k i n g several strafing a t t a c k s on Greek t r o o p s at the front, while the 96° G r u p p o d e s p a t c h e d f o u r J u 8 7 R s a n d t h e p r o t o t y p e Savoia S.86 dive b o m b e r - the latter flown by S a v o i a M a r c h e t t i test pilot M a r Elio Scarpini - t o attack targets in the line at Yanina. ( T h i s aircraft had been similarly tested over M a l t a , but r e p o r t s were u n f a v o u r a b l e , a n d it would not be employed again.) M a n y raids were flown by Albanian-based S.79s and S.81s, a n d it a p p e a r s that o n e S.81 of 38° S t o r m o was lost, M a g g M o s c a being a m o n g s t those killed. F r o m 4 a Z A T eight 50° G r u p p o Z.1007bis raided Volos h a r b o u r , where one w a s hit by AA fire, o n e m e m b e r of t h e crew being mortally w o u n d e d . T h r e e Italian b o m b e r s were claimed shot d o w n by G r e e k fighters d u r i n g the day, t w o by 2/Lt J o h n K a t s a r o s of 21 M i r a and o n e by a pilot of 23 Mira. It was reported that o n e c a m e d o w n on the Plain of Thessaly, o n e crashed on a bridge over the river A r a c h t h o s , and t h e third at K a p e t i s t a . I n f o r m a t i o n on such losses f r o m Italian records is not available. T h e 2 M i r a Breguet XIXs c o n t i n u e d their a t t a c k s on t h e Alpini in a ravine near D i s t r a t o n , but here three of them were intercepted by a pair of 365 a Squadriglia C R 4 2 s flown by Sottoten L o r e n z o Clerici a n d Serg D o m e n i c o Facchini. T h e Fiats c o n c e n t r a t e d their fire on the leading Breguet, the observer of which was u n a b l e t o return fire d u e t o a stoppage. T h e aircraft was hit a n d t h e observer w o u n d e d , but by skilful flying the pilot m a n a g e d to evade the a t t a c k e r s and forcelanded at Xyrolimni. T h e second aircraft, flown by t h e unit c o m m a n d e r , M a j Fridericos Katassos, w a s shot d o w n in flames, K a t a s s o s and 2/Lt A l e x a n d r a s Sarvanis, t h e observer, being killed; the third aircraft escaped, unseen by the Italian pilots.
Float-fitted Dornier D o . 2 2 G N 2 9 of 12 Mira in flight over a Greek coast shortly before the outbreak of war. ( A Stamatopoulos)
20
This engagement b r o u g h t the first week of fighting t o an end. F o r t h e Greek Army the situation was changed greatly for the better. C o u n t e r - a t t a c k s had been m a d e all a l o n g t h e front, and by 8 N o v e m b e r t h e Italian offensive w o u l d collapse altogether. M a n y reasons could be offered for this incredible reverse; the unexpectedly bad weather, the lack of administrative a r r a n g e m e n t s and t h e s h o r t a g e of t r a n s p o r t , coupled with the low capacity of the supply p o r t s of Valona and Durazzo. D o u b t must however be cast u p o n the resolve of t h e Italian troops, t h r o w n by their political a n d military leaders into an ill-prepared v e n t u r e where great sacrifices were suddenly required for n o easily discernible reasons. Fascist p r o p a g a n d a had depicted Greece as a p o o r a n d divided c o u n t r y , easily influenced by Italy's power. T h e reality was very different; the G r e e k s proved t o be tenacious, fierce and indomitable in defence of their h o m e l a n d , the s t u b b o r n e s s of their defence a n d ferocity of their c o u n t e r - a t t a c k s c o m i n g as a p r o f o u n d a n d unwelcome shock. In c o n s e q u e n c e G e n e r a t e S o d d u was sent f r o m Italy t o t a k e over actual direction of t h e c a m p a i g n , a l t h o u g h for publicity p u r p o s e s G e n e r a l e Visconti Prasca remained in titular overall c o m m a n d . T h e situation in t h e air was not so g o o d for the Greeks however. N o r t h e r n Greek towns had suffered heavy air raids, while the t r o o p s at the f r o n t were virtually without fighter defence. T h e Greek b o m b e r force w a s still intact, but seven of the available a r m y c o - o p e r a t i o n aircraft had been destroyed or seriously d a m a g e d * , while the precious small force of interceptors had been reduced by at least three total losses, t w o m o r e aircraft requiring substantial repair. Attrition was t h e great p r o b l e m for the G r e e k s until help could arrive f r o m outside - but this w a s on the way.
* T w o Yugoslav pilots and their J K R V Breguet XIXs had arrived in G r e e c e earlier in the m o n t h o n secondment to the EVA; o n e pilot however, Lt Dragan Djuric, w o u l d be attached to a P Z L unit and would see m u c h action during the next few months. It is not k n o w n if he gained any successes.
21
TABLE 1 Regia Aeronautica, Order of Battle 78 October 1940
Comando Aeronautica Albania: Generale S A Ferruccio Ranza (Tirana) Fighters:
BASE
COMMANDER
160° Gruppo Autonomo CT 393a Squadriglia Fiat CR42 394a Squadriglia Fiat CR 32 395a Squadriglia* Fiat G.50bis
Drenowa Koritza Koritza Berat
Ten Cap Cap Cap
Valona Valona Valona Valona Valona Valona Valona
Col Domenico Ludovico Magg Guido Simini Cap Guglielmo Falcone Cap Giulio Beccia Ten Col Amato Panunzi Cap Ettore Valenti Cap Francesco Giordano
Tirana Tirana Tirana
Ten Col Galeazzo Ciano Cap Aldo Vitali Cap Carlo Susino
Argyrokastron Koritza Valona Tirana
Ten Cap Cap Cap
Col Fernando Zanni Torquato Testerini Luigi Morelli Giuseppe Scarpetta
Bombers: 38° Stormo BT (Savoia S.81) 39° Gruppo BT 51a Squadriglia 69a Squadriglia 40" Gruppo BT 202a Squadriglia 203a Squadriglia 105" Gruppo Autonomo BT (Savoia S.79) 254a Squadriglia 255a Squadriglia Reconnaissance: 72" Gruppo Autonomo OA (Meridionali Ro37bis) 25a Squadriglia 42a Squadriglia 120" Squadriglia
Col Renzo Cozzi G Piero Pratesi Renzo Mencaraglia Francesco Criscioni
Between 1-5 November Comando Aeronautica Albania was reinforced with several additional units: Fighters: 24" Gruppo Autonomo CT (Fiat G.50bis) 354a Squadriglia 355a Squadriglia 361" Squadriglia* 150" Gruppo Autonomo CT (Fiat CR 42) 363a Squadriglia 364a Squadriglia 365a Squadriglia
Tirana Tirana Tirana Tirana
Ten Cap Cap Cap
Col Eugenio Leotta Paolo Arcangeletti Ettore Foschini Giuseppe Scarpetta
Argyrokastron Tirana Valona Argyrokastron
Ten Cap Cap Cap
Col Rolando Pratelli Luigi Mariotti Nicola Magaldi Giorgio Gralfer
(*On arrival of the 24" Gruppo Autonomo CT at Tirana, the 361a Squadriglia was detached, and together with the 395a Squadriglia from the 160" Gruppo Autonomo CT, formed a new 154" Gruppo Autonomo CT at Beraf under Magg Angelo Mastragostino.) 22
Bombers'. 104" G r u p p o Autonomo BT (Savoia S.79) 252" Squadriglia 253" Squadriglia
Tirana Tirana Tirana
Ten Col Giorgio Porta Cap Gabriele Casini C a p Ernesto Carboni
(On arrival this gruppo formed the 46° Stormo BT with the resident 105" G r u p p o Aut BT|. Together, these units brought strength in Albania to: Savoia S.81 Savoia S.79 Fiat CR 32 Fiat C R 4 2 Fiat G.50bis Meridionali Ro37bis
24 31 14 46 47 25 187
Based in south-east Italy was C o m a n d o 4a Zona Aerea Territoriale. which would also operate over Greece. This comando's strength was:
Comando 4a ZAT: Generale S A Augusto Bonola (Bari) Bombers: 35° Stormo BM (Cant Z.506B) 86° G r u p p o 190a Squadriglia 191" Squadriglia 95° G r u p p o 230a Squadriglia 23l a Squadriglia 37° Stormo BT (Savoia S.81/Fiat BR20) 55° G r u p p o 22QP Squadriglia 22l a Squadriglia 116° G r u p p o 276a Squadriglia 277a Squadriglia 47° Stormo BT (Cant Z.1007bis) 106° G r u p p o 260" Squadriglia 261a Squadriglia 107° G r u p p o 262a Squadriglia 263a Squadriglia 50° G r u p p o Autonomo BT** (Cant Z.1007bis) 210" Squadriglia 21 l a Squadriglia
Brindisi Brindisi Brindisi Brindisi Brindisi Brindisi Brindisi Lecce Lecce Lecce Lecce Lecce Lecce Lecce Grottaglie Grottaglie Grottaglie Grottaglie Grottaglie Grottaglie Grottaglie
Col Enrico Grande Magg Luigi Marini Cap Domenico Senatore Cap Dario Ceccacci Magg Giovanni Morbidelli Cap Ezio Rignani C a p Severo Pritoni Ten Col Angelo Bancheri Ten Col Erminio Ermo C a p Ferruccio Scaroni Cap Giacomo Carnicelli Ten Col Giuseppe Scarlata Cap Pietro Gioia C a p Carlo Sandon Col Scipione Tade Magg Gori Castellani Cap Bruno Mussolini Cap Aldo Maggi Ten Col Amedeo Paradisi Cap Salvatore Balletta C a p Bernardo Quattrociocchi
Brindisi Brindisi Brindisi
Ten Col Raffaele Ortolan C a p Ubaldo C u o m o Cap Giuseppe La Cava
23
**50° Gruppo BT withdrawn from the 16° Stormo BT at Vicenza) 96° Gruppo B.aT (Junkers Ju87B2 & R5) 236a Squadriglia 237" Squadriglia
Lecce Lecce Lecce
Cap Ercolano Ercolani Ten Ferdinando Malvezzi Ten Giovanni Santinoni
Fighters: (for the defence of Puglie only) 2" Gruppo Autonomo CT (Fiat CR 32/Fiat G.50bis) 150" Squadriglia 151" Squadriglia 152" Squadriglia
Brindisi Grottaglie Grottaglie Grottaglie
Magg Giuseppe Baylon Cap Tullio De Prato Cap Elio Fiacchino Cap Edmondo Travaglini
Between 3 and 11 November, 4a ZAT was reinforced by:
Bombers: 41° Gruppo Autonomo BT (Cant Z.lOOZbis) 204a Squadriglia 205" Squadriglia
Brindisi Brindisi Brindisi
Ten Col Ettore Muti
Fighters: 372a Squadriglia Autonomo CT (Macchi C.200)
Brindisi
Magg Armando Farina
These units brought strength of the Comando to: Cant Z.1007bis 60; Fiat BR20 19; Savoia S.81 18; Junkers Ju87 20; Cant Z.506B 23; Fiat G.50bis 33; Macchi C.200 12; Fiat Cr 32 9.
Aeronautica DeirEgeo: Generale D A Ulisse Longo Fighters: 161a Squadriglia Autonomo CM 162a Squadriglia Autonomo CT 163" Squadriglia Autonomo CT
Meridionali Ro43/Ro44 Fiat CR42 Fiat CR32
Bombers: 39° Stormo BT 56° Gruppo 222a Squadriglia 223" Squadriglia
Savoia S.81 Savoia S.81 Savoia S.81 24
Savoia Savoia Savoia Savoia Savoia Savoia
92° Gruppo 200" Squadriglia 201a Squadriglia 34° Gruppo Autonomo BT 67a Squadriglia 68" Squadriglia
S.79 S.79 S.79 S.79 S.79 S.79
Reconnaissance: 147a Squadriglia RM 185a Squadriglia RM Sezione Soccorso
Cant Z.501 Cant Z.501 Cant Z.506B
Total: 82 aircraft
25
GRECO-ALBANIAN (EPIRUS) W A R Z O N E , W I N T E R 1940-41 +
Airfields .
.
E x t e n t of J Italian advance,Nov.4d E x t e n t of Greek advance,Jan."41
26
2 Mira
}
18
Breguet XIXs
Additionally a number of trainers and secondline aircraft were on strength, including: 6 6 2 20 22
Hawker Horsley II torpedo-bomber biplanes Avia B-534 biplane fighters Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters Avro 621 Tutor biplane trainers Avro 626 biplane trainers
Some of the latter would later be used operationally in the observation role.
28
Chapter FORWARD
Two
THE ROYAL
AIR
FORCE!
C o m m a n d e r of the n e w R A F C o n t i n g e n t in Greece, Air Vice-Marshal J H D'Albiac, D S O .
While t h e British had been quick t o secure C r e t e when the Italians declared w a r on Greece, initial reaction had not b r o u g h t a similar d e s p a t c h of aid to the mainland. O n 30 O c t o b e r the British Minister in A t h e n s sent a telegram t o General Wavell indicating that, while G r e e k m o r a l e remained high, the need for direct, observable, aid was critical if their resistance was t o be sustained. Wavell turned t o the Air Officer C o m m a n d i n g in the M e d i t e r r a n e a n , Air Chief M a r s h a l 29
Sir A r t h u r L o n g m o r e , the latter at once allocating 30 S q u a d r o n for i m m e d i a t e m o v e m e n t to Greece. This unit, which operated one flight of Blenheim I F fighters a n d o n e of s t a n d a r d Blenheim 1 bombers, was t o be followed as swiftly as possible by t w o m o r e s q u a d r o n s of Blenheim b o m b e r s a n d one of G l a d i a t o r fighters - the latter t o be reinforced with H u r r i c a n e s as soon as these became available. At the same time Air C o m m o d o r e J H D'Albiac, D S O , the A O C Palestine a n d T r a n s j o r d a n , was ordered to Greece t o c o m m a n d t h e new air contingent there.
Scrou belos
Kellas
Chrizopoulos
Papadopoulos Koutroumbas
Mokkas
Bardavilias
Sakellariou
Tsitsas
Yianikostas
Greek fighter pilots lost in action during the campaign; 1 C a p t J o h n Kellas, 21 Mira; 2 Cpl Christos Papadopoulos
and
3 1/Lt John Sakellariou, b o t h 21 Mira, killed 2 N o v e m b e r ,
1940; 4
1/Lt
C o s t a n t i n o s Yianikostas, 22 Mira, killed 18 N o v e m b e r , 1940; 5 2/Lt C o n s t a n t i n e Tsitsas, 2 3 Mira, killed 3 D e c e m b e r , 1940; 6 2/Lt Anastassios Bardivilias, 21 Mira, killed 10 February, 1941; 7 and 8 Sgt C o n s t a n t i n o s C h r i z o p o u l o s , 21 Mira, and C a p t N i c h o l a o s Scroubelos, 23 Mira, both killed
23
February, 1941; 9 and 10 Sgt Pericles K o u t r o u m b a s , 2 3 Mira, and Cpl G e o r g e M o k k a s , 2 4 Mira, both killed 15 April, 1941. (A
Stamatupoulos) 30
Study of the situation in Greece had already d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t the m a i n p r o b l e m associated with any sustained air effort would be the lack of suitable allweather airfields. O n l y Athens-Eleusis a n d Menidi (Tatoi) could be considered moderately suitable, while both were situated an u n c o m f o r t a b l y long way f r o m the front line, a n d f r o m t h e targets t o be attacked in Albania. T h e m o u n t a i n o u s n a t u r e of m u c h of Greece left few suitable sites for the c o n s t r u c t i o n of other large fields, which would p e r m a n e n t l y c o n s t r a i n the n u m b e r of units which might effectively be operated in the c o u n t r y . However, the m a t t e r could be eased at least partially if the heavier, longer-ranging Vickers Wellington b o m b e r s were retained in Egypt, using Eleusis as a f o r w a r d refuelling and re-arming base. T h e Blenheims were t o be based at Eleusis a n d Menidi as their h o m e airfields, but t h e G l a d i a t o r s would need to be situated at the less-than a d e q u a t e fields at T r i k k a l a and Yanina, f r o m where they might reach the forward areas with some margin of fuel remaining for patrol, a n d c o m b a t . T h e Greek anti-aircraft artillery available for t h e defence of these bases was extremely limited, so that Wavell was obliged t o e a r m a r k one heavy a n d o n e light AA battery t o a c c o m p a n y t h e engineer, signals a n d administrative d e t a c h m e n t s which the A r m y was t o provide as b a c k - u p for the R A F units u n d e r D'Albiac's overall c o m m a n d . Meanwhile, the weakening of t h e air force in Egypt by this dispersion of strength was t o be m a d e good with all speed by the despatch of further units a n d aircraft t o Egypt f r o m the U n i t e d K i n g d o m . T h u s it was that on 3 N o v e m b e r , 1940 the first eight Blenheim I F s of 30 S q u a d r o n , led by Sqn Ldr U Y S h a n n o n , flew into Eleusis, a c c o m p a n i e d by four Bristol B o m b a y t r a n s p o r t s of 216 S q u a d r o n , which carried the initial servicing party. T h e rest of the unit's g r o u n d crew, e q u i p m e n t , b o m b s a n d a m m u n i t i o n followed by sea, reaching Athens three d a y s later — the d a y on which Air C o m m o d o r e D'Albiac and his staff also arrived in a 216 S q u a d r o n B o m b a y t o take u p his new c o m m a n d ; p r o m o t i o n to Air Vice-Marshal followed immediately. These arrivals, c o m i n g just as the unexpectedly s t r o n g Greek resistance brought the Italian a d v a n c e to a halt, raised morale in the capital sky-high, a n d the British personnel soon found themselves feted as saviours a n d c o n q u e r i n g heroes. In fact the limited strength available t o D'Albiac offered him only a relatively small n u m b e r of o p t i o n s as to what he could usefully achieve. H e already knew that Italian fighter strength in Albania w a s quite substantial, a n d that t o use his small forces in direct s u p p o r t of t h e g r o u n d t r o o p s would dissipate what little he had, while inviting heavy losses t o fighters where his own force of G l a d i a t o r s would be t o o small in n u m b e r s t o provide a d e q u a t e escort or patrol capabilities. He therefore chose the strategic role for his b o m b e r s - at least initially. A l t h o u g h the r o u t e t o strike at the Albanian p o r t s of D u r a z z o a n d Valona would be long a n d difficult, he decided t h a t these were t h e only targets truly w o r t h y of the Blenheims' efforts. T h e b o m b e r s would have t o navigate their way t h r o u g h vile weather over ranges of high m o u n t a i n s , a n d with i n a d e q u a t e m a p s . T h e y would then have t o attack without t h e benefit of fighter escort, prior to m a k i n g their way h o m e through similar conditions. It was not a scenario designed to bring gladness to the heart of any a i r m a n ! T o s u p p o r t this effort, Wellingtons f r o m M a l t a a n d 31
Egypt would also hit the Italian p o r t s of despatch at Bari a n d Brindisi in the south-east of t h a t c o u n t r y . T h e Greek t r o o p s at t h e f r o n t would have t o be left t o the d e p r e d a t i o n s of the Regia Aeronautica, save where the r e m a i n i n g elements of t h e Greek air force a n d the few R A F G l a d i a t o r s could offer some succour. Their m a i n defence for the time being would have t o be the cover so often afforded by the heavy clouds, rain a n d snow of t h e Balkan winter. T h e newly-arrived Blenheim fighters of 30 S q u a d r o n flew their first patrol f r o m Eleusis on 4 N o v e m b e r , seeing a single C a n t Z.501 flyingboat, but observing n o results before it escaped their interception and disappeared into cloud. Next day Fig Off D R Walker arrived f r o m Egypt at the head of four of t h e unit's b o m b e r Blenheims, a n d a d a y later six Wellingtons of 70 S q u a d r o n also reached Eleusis o n d e t a c h m e n t f r o m K a b r i t , led by Sqn Ldr T U Rolfe. It was on this d a t e t h a t the first offensive action by the R A F occurred in the new war zone, when at 1120 in the m o r n i n g Sqn Ldr S h a n n o n led off three of t h e b o m b e r Blenheims t o u n d e r t a k e an offensive reconnaissance over Sarande, Tepelene, V a l o n a and A r g y r o k a s t r o n . After refuelling at Trikkala, the b o m b e r s headed on to S a r a n d e , where t w o ships were seen and b o m b e d — w i t h o u t observed results. V a l o n a was next t o be visited, a n d here some 50 aircraft were c o u n t e d o n t h e g r o u n d at t h e port's airfield. T h e s e were identified as C R 4 2 s , Bredas and S.79s, a n d were b o m b e d , o n e of the latter b o m b e r s being seen t o receive a direct hit; in fact three S.81s of 38° S t o r m o BT were d a m a g e d , a n d t h e r u n w a y was holed in several places. F o l l o w i n g t h e initial b o m b i n g , S h a n n o n led his f o r m a t i o n d o w n t o strafe, but as he did so, he spotted a C R 4 2 t a k i n g off and giving chase. T h r e e of these fighters f r o m 394 a Squadriglia had scrambled, a n d these pressed their attack on the b o m b e r s as they d e p a r t e d , all three Blenheims being considerably holed, while Sgt J o h n Merifield, t h e g u n n e r in the N o 3 aircraft (pilot Sgt G W Ratlidge), was hit a n d killed. C a p Nicola Magaldi, the leader of the interceptors, believed that he had succeeded in s h o o t i n g d o w n o n e of t h e b o m b e r s , but in fact all three m a n a g e d to limp back to Eleusis. N e x t d a y it w a s t h e turn of the Wellingtons, all six 70 S q u a d r o n machines leaving at d a y b r e a k for Valona. Arriving over the port, the big b o m b e r s were a t t a c k e d by a n u m b e r of 154° G r u p p o C R 4 2 s , t h e crews identifying their a t t a c k e r s as C R 4 2 s and Breda 65s. Wellington T2734 exploded in mid air, Sgt G N B r o o k s a n d his crew being killed, while T2731 went d o w n in flames with the loss of Fit Lt A E Brian's crew; t w o m o r e Wellingtons were hit and d a m a g e d , a l t h o u g h r e t u r n i n g crews claimed t h a t they had s h o t d o w n o n e C R 4 2 a n d p r o b a b l y a Ba65. T h r e e of the b o m b e r s were claimed shot d o w n by the Italians, o n e each by fighter pilots Ten Walter F r a n c h i n o a n d Serg M a g g Adrio G i s m o n d i , a n d one by AA. N o losses were suffered, but F r a n c h i n o ' s C R 42 was a p p a r e n t l y hit. T h a t a f t e r n o o n when he took off again, o n e wing b r o k e off and he crashed to his d e a t h - unobserved c o m b a t d a m a g e d u r i n g the morning's fight was considered to have been responsible. M e a n w h i l e t h e r e t u r n i n g b o m b e r s encountered three Z.506B floatplane b o m bers of the 35° S t o r m o BM over the O t r a n t o C h a n n e l . T h e s e aircraft had set o u t f r o m Italy to m a k e a raid south of Kalibaki but had been forced t o a b o r t by bad 32
Cant Z . 5 0 6 B reconnaissance-bomber floatplane of 146" Squadriglia R M . ( A M I via N
Malizia)
weather. Fig Off H u b b a r d in T2816 a n d Pit Off R J K H o g g in T2813 (one of the d a m a g e d Wellingtons) attacked o n e floatplane jointly, but were driven off by a C R 4 2 which a p p e a r e d on the scene, t h o u g h they believed that their initial o p p o n e n t had g o n e d o w n . Indeed it had, force-landing o n t h e sea a b o u t 20 miles from the coast. T h e other pair of floatplanes landed alongside and took off the crew, but the d a m a g e d aircraft was found t o be a total loss, and was a b a n d o n e d . Following their return to Eleusis, the four remaining Wellingtons flew back to Egypt next d a y (8 November), but were replaced later in t h e d a y by a further six aircraft f r o m K a b r i t . T h e Wellingtons would not, however, fly any further daylight raids over Albania. A n o t h e r arrival on this d a t e was 'A' Flight of 84 S q u a d r o n , w h o s e five Blenheim Is flew in to Eleusis, led by Sqn Ldr D G Lewis, before moving o n t o their allotted base at Menidi; three B o m b a y s b r o u g h t in ground crews and stores. T h e new b o m b e r s would carry o u t their first attack on Valona on 10 N o v e m b e r , a l t h o u g h the results were m u c h restricted by adverse weather conditions. This d a y also saw action by Greek Blenheims, which left Larissa briefed t o attack targets at K a l p a k i , n o r t h of Yanina. O n r e t u r n i n g t o base after d a r k n e s s had fallen, they were prevented from l a n d i n g at Larissa by fire from t h e airfield AA defences, and were obliged t o divert t o Menidi, where local gunners again gave t h e m a hostile reception. By now fuel w a s low as they c o n t i n u e d to orbit the airfield until identification was established and they were given clearance t o land. As a result one aircraft crashed a n d C a p t L a m b r o s K o u s i g i a n n e s b r o k e his back, a l t h o u g h he was to survive this accident. A n o t h e r Greek Blenheim was lost next day, failing t o r e t u r n f r o m a reconnaissance t o the north-west of Kelcyre on behalf of 33
the 8th Division; C a p t Photius Maravelias and his crew were killed. This aircraft w a s e n c o u n t e r e d by C R 4 2 s of 150° G r u p p o Aut C T near Poligrade, a n d was shot d o w n by C a p G i u s e p p e Scarpetta. While landing after this mission however, Serg Italo Ritegni crashed and was killed; during a n o t h e r landing on this d a t e T e n Livio Bassi ran into a g r o u n d c r e w m a n , w h o was killed outright, while the C R 4 2 turned over and was d a m a g e d . T h e Italians had also lost a n o t h e r C R 4 2 on 8 N o v e m b e r when Sottoten Pietro Jannello of 363 a Squadriglia was shot d o w n by AA during a strafing attack over the front. T h e new d e t a c h m e n t of Wellingtons at Menidi were very active by night d u r i n g this period. D u r i n g the h o u r s of d a r k n e s s of 11/12 N o v e m b e r , Fit Lt R J Wells led two b o m b e r s t o Valona, reporting that an a m m u n i t i o n d u m p and some m o t o r t r a n s p o r t had been hit, while four other b o m b e r s led by Sqn Ldr Rolfe raided D u r a z z o , seeing hits near a jetty. Next night V a l o n a was again the target for three Wellingtons, while Rolfe flew a lone sortie to Bari on the Italian east coast to b o m b an oil refinery. T h e d e t a c h m e n t was strengthened by the arrival of two m o r e aircraft on 13 N o v e m b e r , which also saw 84 S q u a d r o n ' s 'A' Flight out again, V a l o n a and A r g y r o k a s t r o n being attacked on this occasion d u r i n g the early m o r n i n g . At the latter target a Meridionali R o 37 and a C a p r o n i 311 were destroyed, while o n e C R 4 2 w a s d a m a g e d . S o t t o t e n Ernesto Trevisi and Serg M a r i o Scagliarini of the 160" G r u p p o Aut C T attacked, each claiming one Blenheim shot d o w n ; in fact only o n e suffered d a m a g e , a n d this m a d e it back to Menidi. By now the Allies had been greatly heartened by news of the successful attack o n t h e Italian Fleet at T a r a n t o by Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish t o r p e d o b o m b e r s d u r i n g the night of 11/12 N o v e m b e r . O n 14 N o v e m b e r the G r e e k s launched an offensive along the whole front which quickly began to c r u m b l e the Italian defences. T o s u p p o r t this the EVA m a d e a m a x i m u m effort, and d u r i n g
Bristol Blenheim I bomber of 84 S q u a d r o n . R A F , after arrival in G r e e c e in N o v e m b e r 1940. ( I W M )
34
the two o p e n i n g d a y s of t h e new fighting there was m u c h activity in the air. Blenheims, Potez 63s and Battles f r o m all three b o m b e r Mire m a d e frequent attacks on 14 N o v e m b e r on the n o r t h e r n and southern airfields at Koritza, a n d on A r g y r o k a s t r o n . As the b o m b e r s could not be given the luxury of fighter escorts, they had t o fly d e e p into t h e ravines between the m o u n t a i n s for some protection. However, the raids were considered very i m p o r t a n t in s u p p o r t of the army's main drive on Koritza. Six Battles a n d three Blenheims were formed into t w o flights, four of the f o r m e r attacking the n o r t h e r n airfield at Koritza at 0800, destroying o n e C a p r o n i C a l 3 3 a n d d a m a g i n g three C R 4 2 s a n d a C R 3 2 . T w o Blenheims - t h e third having become stuck in the m u d and failed to t a k e off - a n d the other t w o Battles then raided the s o u t h e r n airfield at 0945, where t h e Italian defences claimed t w o Blenheims shot d o w n , o n e by A A and one by a 393 a Squadriglia C R 4 2 flown by Ten T o r q u a t o Testerini. C a p t D e m e t r i o s P a p a g e o r g i o u ' s Blenheim disintegrated in mid-air as the result of a direct AA hit, but the other Blenheim, d a m a g e d by the same explosion a n d attacked by a reported three C R 4 2 s , m a n a g e d t o release its b o m b s on target a n d get back to Larissa with a shattered tailplane a n d m o r e than 100 bullet holes in the airframe; the g u n n e r claimed o n e of t h e a t t a c k e r s shot down. O t h e r 393 a Squadriglia pilots then saw the t w o Battles t a k i n g off f r o m a nearby G r e e k f o r w a r d airfield, a n d o n e of these w a s claimed shot d o w n by Serg Walter Ratticchieri. In fact the b o m b e r regained its base at K o u k l a i n a , having suffered severe d a m a g e . D u r i n g these o p e r a t i o n s t h e G r e e k s claimed to have destroyed ten Italian aircraft on the g r o u n d and d a m a g e d m a n y others; the actuality was m o r e prosaic. A Potez 25A of 4 M i r a was also shot d o w n by AA while on a reconnaissance sortie over the frontier d u r i n g the m o r n i n g , 1/Lt Demetrius Yiakas being killed. As the m o r n i n g wore o n t h e biggest air superiority battle yet t o be seen over Greece developed. N i n e P Z L s f r o m 23 M i r a at Larissa u n d e r t o o k a patrol d u r i n g which they were surprised by a pair of 393 a Squadriglia C R 4 2 s , led by Ten Enea Atti. A l t h o u g h the Italians claimed o n e probable, the Greek fighters were able t o scatter a n d evade their assault. T h e two Fiat pilots then spotted two Blenheims aircraft of 32 M i r a on their way t o attack Koritza again — a n d claimed o n e of these as a p r o b a b l e also. O t h e r 393" Squadriglia fighters then a p p e a r e d on t h e scene a n d engaged the 23 M i r a f o r m a t i o n in a fierce, whirling dogfight. S o t t o t e n U g o D r a g o claimed o n e P Z L shot d o w n , while Sottoten R o m e o Delia C o s t a n z a claimed one of three with which he was engaged; Ten C a r a n c i n i claimed a third. Both f o r m a t i o n s then r e g r o u p e d a n d a t t a c k e d once again. T h i s time D r a g o a n d his flight (Sottoten Ernesto Trevisi, Serg A u g u s t o M a n e t t i a n d Serg Vittorio Pirchio) claimed three m o r e P Z L s shot d o w n between them, with a fourth probably so. T h e G r e e k s fought back tenaciously, s h o o t i n g d o w n Trevisi, w h o was killed, and Manetti, w h o baled out over Italian-held territory, while Pirchio's aircraft was badly s h o t - u p a n d he was w o u n d e d in the left foot; his fighter overturned on landing. M a j T h e o d o r o p o u l o s a n d his pilots s u b m i t t e d claims for eight C R 4 2 s ; while a n u m b e r of P Z L s may have been d a m a g e d , a n d some possibly shot d o w n , n o Greek pilots were killed o r w o u n d e d d u r i n g this engagement. 35
A section of three of t h e unit's P Z L s led by 1/Lt G Laskaris also intercepted a lone S.79 of 254" Squadriglia which was c a r r y i n g o u t a reconnaissance sortie over t h e Koritza-Bilishte area. T h e y a t t a c k e d determinedly a n d the Savoia was seriously d a m a g e d , force-landing at Koritza with the pilot, Ten C a l o g e r o Mazza, w o u n d e d in t h e right leg and t h e radio o p e r a t o r , M a r Attilio Grassini, dead; t h e g u n n e r s claimed to have shot d o w n o n e of the attackers. Early in t h e a f t e r n o o n three of 84 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheims were over Koritza t o attack t r o o p c o n c e n t r a t i o n s and a bridge. T h e latter was destroyed, effectively preventing reinforcements reaching the battle area. C R 4 2 s a t t a c k e d , Fit Lt A F Mudie's L1389 and Sgt W F Sidaway's L1387 being shot d o w n , while t h e third aircraft (LI536; Sgt L N u t h a l l ) was d a m a g e d . T h e identity of the Italian unit responsible for these successes has not been identified. T h e Regia Aeronautica's 96° G r u p p o B a'T's Ju 87s f r o m Lecce in eastern Italy had also been active d u r i n g the day, a t t a c k i n g a bridge near the isthmus of Lake P r e s p a d u r i n g the m o r n i n g a n d also Greek artillery batteries. A single d i v e - b o m b e r also attacked a Greek landing g r o u n d north-east of Fiorina, claiming o n e P Z L destroyed on the g r o u n d here, with hits on two m o r e of these aircraft a n d a b o m b e r . F o u r m o r e P Z L s scrambled after the intrepid aircraft, but failed to catch it. 22 M i r a n o w moved with its P Z L s f r o m S a l o n i k a to join 21 Mira at K a l a m b a k a / V a s s i l i k i airfield, t o a d d further strength t o the forces o p e r a t i n g in s u p p o r t of the drive on Koritza, against which t h e Italians were now m a k i n g heavy raids. T h e r e was little let-up in the fighting on 15 N o v e m b e r , the d a y seeing a fight between Fiat G - 5 0 b i s m o n o p l a n e fighters of the 24° G r u p p o Aut C T and the P Z L s of the newly-arrived 22 Mira, as the Italian unit escorted five S.79s of the
Fiat G . 5 0 b i s fighter of 355" Squadriglia, 24° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T at Tirana. (N
36
Malizia)
105° G r u p p o BT t o attack the line near Bilishte. F o u r or five Greek fighters attacked the b o m b e r s , Sgt A r g y r o p o u l o s hitting o n e which force-landed near the landing g r o u n d at K o r i t z a with o n e dead a n d o n e w o u n d e d a b o a r d . T h e g u n n e r s in the b o m b e r f o r m a t i o n claimed t w o P Z L s shot d o w n in return, while five G 50bis led by C a p E t t o r e Foschini c a m e t o the rescue, claiming o n e and o n e p r o b a b l e w i t h o u t loss. Soon after 1400 three Blenheim b o m b e r s f r o m 30 S q u a d r o n set off to attack positions north-east of Koritza, a n d while the b o m b e r crews reported being attacked by three C R 4 2 s a n d three G-50bis, n o m e n t i o n of the latter types is m a d e in Italian accounts. Serg Walter Ratticchieri and Serg D o m e n i c o T u f a n o of 393 a Squadriglia claimed two of the Blenheims shot d o w n ; actual loss was o n e Sgt E B Child's LI 120 going d o w n in flames. A n o t h e r C R 4 2 , flown by a n o b l e m a n , Sottoten M a u r i z i o Nicolis di Robilant, was sent off to escort a Ro37 reconnaissance aircraft of the 72° G r u p p o Aut OA; while so engaged he enc o u n t e r e d four Battles of 33 M i r a which were attacking a target in t h e K o r i t z a area, a n d at once attacked these, claiming three of t h e m shot d o w n . Sgt F r a n g o u l i s Arnidis and his crew were killed when their Battle crashed as a result of Robilant's a t t a c k , while a second regained its base in d a m a g e d c o n d i t i o n , the observer, 2/Lt Aristofanes P a p a s , dying as a result of a severe leg w o u n d . A Potez 63 also r e t u r n e d f r o m a sortie badly shot-up, with the observer (2/Lt S p y r i d o n Kovatzis) dead - the crew reported having been hit by Greek AA near Missolonghi.
Jimmie N e w s t e a d of 113 S q u a d r o n , R A F , tries the gunner's position in a Greek Fairey Battle of 33 Mira. (S W Lee)
37
Night activities by 70 S q u a d r o n ' s Wellingtons were c o n t i n u i n g apace, two of these r e t u r n i n g to the Bari oil refinery d u r i n g the night of 14/15 N o v e m b e r , while four raided oil t a n k s at Brindisi on 16/17 N o v e m b e r a n d three hit Valona on 17/18 N o v e m b e r . Here for the first time Sqn Ldr Rolfe encountered fighter o p p o s i t i o n by night, but all b o m b e r s escaped unscathed. T h r e e m o r e Wellingtons raided D u r a z z o on this latter date, but severe weather c o n d i t i o n s were enc o u n t e r e d , and only o n e reached its target. However, d u r i n g this night T2827, flown by Sgt J P a l m e r - S a m b o u r n e , which w a s c a r r y i n g an American war corr e s p o n d e n t , R a l p h Barnes of t h e N e w York Herald T r i b u n e , crashed into a m o u n t a i n near D a n i l o v g r a d , Yugoslavia, everybody a b o a r d being killed. After o n e further raid on D u r a z z o on 19/20 N o v e m b e r , the d e t a c h m e n t returned t o K a b r i t on 24 N o v e m b e r . Meanwhile, over the front by day weather prevented the c o n t i n u a t i o n of sustained activity d u r i n g 16 a n d 17 N o v e m b e r , as the G r e e k offensive pressed the Italians back in growing confusion. Italian aircraft c o n t i n u e d t o a p p e a r over the front in strength whenever possible, a n d d u r i n g 17 N o v e m b e r the 35° S t o r m o BM lost o n e Z.506B f r o m its 86" G r u p p o to AA, two m o r e being d a m a g e d f r o m a force of 14. Better weather on 18 N o v e m b e r allowed the Greek fighters t o get back into the air again a n d the three Mire were to m a k e 20 sorties over Western M a c e d o n i a d u r i n g the d a y . S.79s of the 105° G r u p p o , 46" S t o r m o BT were in action over t h e K o r c i a n o area where an aircraft of 255" Squadriglia was attacked by three P Z L s of 23 Mira, a n d w a s shot d o w n . All the crew baled out, but the p a r a c h u t e of t h e first pilot, S o t t o t e n Alessandro Caselli, failed to open; the surviving m e m b e r s claimed to have shot d o w n o n e of t h e attackers. Later that m o r n i n g 18 Z.1007 b o m b e r s f r o m 47° S t o r m o BT o p e r a t e d over the Bozigrad-Slinarisa-Ariza area, a n d these were also a t t a c k e d by three PZLs; the g u n n e r s claimed one fighter shot d o w n . An h o u r later six m o r e Z.1007s, this time f r o m 16° S t o r m o BT, a p p e a r e d in t h e K o r i t z a area a n d these were engaged by 23 Mira, whose pilots claimed three shot d o w n . In fact only o n e b o m b e r was lost - an aircraft of the 21 l a Squadriglia c a p t a i n e d by S o t t o t e n M a r i o Longo. Again claims were m a d e by t h e b o m b e r s ' gunners, this time for t w o G r e e k fighters shot d o w n . M a n y patrols a n d escort sorties were u n d e r t a k e n by Italian fighters - 160° G r u p p o a l o n e carried out six patrols, three escorts a n d four scrambles d u r i n g the day; both 24° a n d 154° G r u p p o each flew five p a t r o l s a n d 150° G r u p p o o n e more. Only o n e e n g a g e m e n t ensued however, when C R 4 2 s of 160° G r u p p o engaged P Z L s f r o m all three Mire a n d claimed six shot d o w n a n d one probable. These claims were s u b m i t t e d by Serg M a g g A r t u r o B o n a t o (two), Ten T o r q u a t o Testerini, T e n C a r a n c i n i , Serg Luca Minella and Serg Teofila Biolcati. O n this occasion at least three G r e e k fighters were lost, b o t h 1/Lt Yianikostas of 22 M i r a a n d Sgt G r e g o r y Valcanas of 23 M i r a being killed, while 1/Lt C o r n e l e u s K o t r o n e s of 22 M i r a was w o u n d e d in o n e leg, but m a n a g e d to force-land his s h o t - u p aircraft at an emergency airfield. In r e t u r n t h e G r e e k s claimed two C R 4 2 s shot d o w n , o n e each by 1/Lt Laskaris of 23 M i r a and 2/Lt K a t s a r o s of 21 Mira, but n o Italian aircraft was actually lost. D u r i n g the heavy fighting on 14 a n d 18 N o v e m b e r , 23 M i r a had been credited 38
with s h o o t i n g d o w n a total of nine C R 4 2 s and five bombers. T h e following pilots are believed to have been those who shared the credit for these claims: Maj G Theodoropoulos 1/Lt P Bousios 1/Lt G Laskaris Sgt G N o m i k o s Sgt S D e p o u n t i s
1/Lt A A p l a d a s 2/Lt C Tsitsas Sgt N Stasinopoulos Sgt J K o u y i o u m z o g l o u Sgt P K o u t r o u b a s
1/Lt N Scroubelos Sgt M a j C K a b o u n i s Sgt K Sioris Sgt G Valcanas
It was at this point, with the Greek fighters now m u c h reduced in strength by attrition and unserviceability, that they were reinforced by the arrival at Eleusis f r o m Egypt - via Crete - o f ' B ' Flight, 80 S q u a d r o n , R A F , with G l o s t e r G l a d i a t o r biplanes. 'A' Flight would soon follow, while the g r o u n d party travelled a b o a r d the cruisers H M S Gloucester and Edinburgh. 'B' Flight, which was led by the s q u a d r o n c o m m a n d i n g officer, Sqn Ldr W J Hickey, was an experienced unit in which several of the pilots already had a n u m b e r of victories t o their credit noteably Fit Lt M T St J Pattle with four, Pit Off Vincent Stuckey with three and Fig Off Sydney Linnard with two. On 19 N o v e m b e r the flight flew u p t o T r i k k a l a d u r i n g the m o r n i n g . After refuelling, nine G l a d i a t o r s took off, led by three Greek P Z L s , for an offensive patrol over the Koritza area. C R 4 2 s of 160" G r u p p o were patrolling over this area, while G - 5 0 b i s f r o m 24" G r u p p o were escorting b o m b e r s w h e n t h e Allied fighters a p p e a r e d . D u e t o their short range, the P Z L s were obliged to t u r n back, but the G l a d i a t o r s dived t o attack the Italian fighters, which believed their new o p p o n e n t s to be 20 strong. M a n y individual dogfights developed over the m o u n t a i n o u s terrain, the British pilots subsequently claiming nine shot d o w n plus t w o probables: Fit Lt Pattle Fig Off G F G r a h a m Pit Off S G C o o p e r Sgt C E Casbolt
two C R 4 2 s in flames o n e G.50 one C R 4 2 share one C R 4 2 o n e G.50
Pit Off Stuckey Pit Off W Vale Fig Off Linnard
o n e G . 5 0 crashed one C R 4 2 one C R 4 2 share one C R 4 2 two C R 4 2 s probable
Stuckey was hit and w o u n d e d in the right shoulder and leg, but m a n a g e d to get back to T r i k k a l a f r o m where he would be despatched to hospital in Athens. T h r e e C R 4 2 s a n d o n e G.50bis were actually lost; in 160" G r u p p o Serg M a g g Natale Viola and M a r G i u s e p p e Salvadori of 363 a Squadriglia a n d Serg M a g g A r t u r o B o n a t o of 393 a Squadriglia all failed t o return, as did Ten Attilio Meneghel of 355 a Squadriglia, 24" G r u p p o . A f o u r t h C R 4 2 flown by Serg M a g g Ratticchieri was hit and the pilot was w o u n d e d in b o t h legs. O n e C R 4 2 pilot, Serg M a g g L u c i a n o T a r a n t i n i , claimed a G l a d i a t o r shot d o w n , t w o m o r e being claimed as probables, o n e by C a p P a o l o Arcangeletti, t h e o t h e r by a G.50bis pilot. Activity reduced again thereafter. O n 20 N o v e m b e r , a R o 3 7 of 72° G r u p p o O A was shot d o w n by A A, the crew baling out over Italian lines, while a Z.1007bis 39
b o m b e r was claimed shot d o w n by C a p t J o h n Kellas, c o m m a n d e r of 21 Mira. Next d a y Blenheim LI 166 of 30 S q u a d r o n became lost in bad weather d u r i n g a reconnaissance sortie. Fig Off C W R i c h a r d s o n carrying out a successful crashlanding. O n this same d a t e three H s l 2 6 s f r o m 3 M i r a strafed a four a n d a half mile-long c o l u m n of retreating Italians on the P o g r a d e c r o a d , causing great confusion, while Serg D o r v a Bellucci of the 154° G r u p p o C T reported being a t t a c k e d by two G l a d i a t o r s a n d claimed one p r o b a b l y shot d o w n - n o report of c o m b a t by 80 S q u a d r o n was noted, but it is possible t h a t his o p p o n e n t s may have been Greek aircraft of some sort. A n o t h e r e n g a g e m e n t occurred on 22 N o v e m b e r when 160" G r u p p o C R 4 2 s were escorting S.79s over Koritza, o n e unidentified aircraft being claimed shot d o w n . This was p r o b a b l y o n e of 3 Mira's H s l 2 6 s which w a s shot d o w n in flames while flying over Kapetista, the pilot (1/Lt D e m e t r i u s Sideris) being killed.
S a v o i a S.73 transport 606-7 (ex I - L O D I ) which crashed on take off from K o r i t z a on 19 N o v e m b e r , 1940 and w a s still lying o n the airfield w h e n the G r e e k s captured the base.
By this time t h e G r e e k s h a d c a p t u r e d K o r i t z a and Leskoviku, a n d in the south h a d re-crossed the K a l a m a s River. With a foothold secured on Albanian soil, a n d with t h e valuable lateral road south f r o m K o r i t z a in their hands, they n o w stopped to consolidate. Included a m o n g s t the e q u i p m e n t a b a n d o n e d by the Italians was f o u n d a civil S.73 airliner in unserviceable condition; this aircraft, formerly I - L O D I , had been given the military n u m b e r 606-7 on the fuselage, indicating t h a t it had served with the 606 a Squadriglia of t h e t r a n s p o r t force. O n 19 N o v e m b e r while t a k i n g off from Koritza, the port engine had cut; S o t t o t e n F r a n c e s c o Martinelli had t o a b a n d o n the take-off, and h a d collided with three p a r k e d C R 4 2 s ; the Savoia was subsequently a b a n d o n e d as beyond repair. Italian m o r a l e was n o w in terrible shape, a n d only in t h e air could they still hit back effectively. T h e loss of Koritza and the closeness of Greek forces t o A r g y r o k a s t r o n had precipitated a withdrawal of Regia A e r o n a u t i c a units t o t h e 40
S a v o i a S.79 of 254 a Squadriglia, 105° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o BT, captured by the Greeks. (£.
Bevington-Smith)
main Albanian airfields, which were now b e c o m i n g very crowded as a result. F r o m K o r i t z a the h e a d q u a r t e r s a n d 393 a Squadriglia of the 160° G r u p p o C T had moved the Devoli, while the 394 a Squadriglia had gone t o share Berat airfield with the units of the 154° G r u p p o C T . F r o m t h e same base the 25 a Squadriglia O A had moved to T i r a n a . F r o m this base 363 a Squadriglia had moved to join 364 a Squadriglia at Valona, as had the h e a d q u a r t e r s and 365 a Squadriglia of t h e 150° G r u p p o C T f r o m A r g y r o k a s t r o n , the whole G r u p p o reuniting at this airfield. Only 120 a Squadriglia O A remained at t h e front at A r g y r o k a s t r o n , having flown u p f r o m T i r a n a t o this landing g r o u n d . This unit would withdraw to V a l o n a d u r i n g t h e following m o n t h . T h e airfield at Scutari was available for use now however, the b o m b e r s of the 38° S t o r m o and 104" G r u p p o BT having moved here f r o m V a l o n a a n d T i r a n a . O n 23 N o v e m b e r 'A' Flight of 80 S q u a d r o n reached Greece, led by Fit Lt E G 'Tap' Jones, a n d moved u p t o join the rest of the unit at T r i k k a l a . T h e d a y also saw t h e beginning of t h e arrival f r o m Egypt of 211 S q u a d r o n , which was led by Sqn Ldr J R G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n , t o join 84 S q u a d r o n at Menidi; for the time being the R A F C o m p o n e n t was now at full strength. Next d a y G.50bis fighters f r o m 24" G r u p p o reported engaging lone Blenheims on several occasions. O n e was claimed shot d o w n by four pilots led by Ten D o m e n i c o P a n c e r a , while a n o t h e r trio reported that o n e m o r e Blenheim had been shot d o w n by T e n D i v o Bartaletti, and a second claimed p r o b a b l y destroyed by all three pilots in collaboration. N o R A F o p e r a t i o n s were reported, and these would seem to have been Greek Blenheim IVs, a l t h o u g h n o losses seem to have been recorded by 32 M i r a either. O n e Blenheim f r o m this unit was lost in 41
Fit Lt E G 'Tap' J o n e s with his G l o s t e r Gladiator, (lanked by 80 S q u a d r o n ' s Warrant Officers. (E G Jones)
a raid in the vicinity of P o g r a d e c on 27 N o v e m b e r , p r e s u m a b l y shot d o w n by g r o u n d fire; 1/Lt A l e x a n d r a s M a l a k e s and his crew perished. British Blenheims were out in some strength on the d a y before, however, six 84 S q u a d r o n aircraft a t t a c k i n g Valona where three 154° G r u p p o G.50bis intercepted, being identified by the British airmen as Macchi 200s or Messerschmitt 109s! Fig Off J F Evans escaped at low level, which allowed him t o spot an Italian b o m b e r on the g r o u n d which he b o m b e d . Fit Lt R A T o w g o o d also escaped three fighters, his gunner claiming o n e shot d o w n . T h e Fiat pilots claimed o n e Blenheim probably destroyed. M e a n w h i l e three 211 S q u a d r o n Blenheims m a d e their first attack, D u r a z z o being the target. AA fire w a s intense and Fit Lt G B D o u d n e y ' s aircraft was hit, a l t h o u g h he m a n a g e d t o get back; Sqn Ldr G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n ' s L8511 was less fortunate, being badly d a m a g e d . He later recalled: 'Just as we released our b o m b s we received direct hits f r o m AA. O n e t o r e a large hole in the port engine cowling, but the m o t o r c o n t i n u e d to function, despite the fact that oil was pouring out. T h e other engine was hit and stopped almost immediately W e flew on, t h o u g h slowly, and unable t o gain height on our o n e engine. T h e cockpit was full of petrol fumes, and I was afraid we should either pass out or that the aircraft would catch fire We flew on for nearly t w o hours, and then we spotted an island just off the coast - C o r f u . We had a look at it a n d decided there w a s only o n e place to a t t e m p t a landing - a strip of beach a b o u t 20 yards wide . . . we put t h e aircraft d o w n all right, a l t h o u g h we could not 42
Officers of 211 S q u a d r o n , R A F , shortly before departing N o r t h Africa for Greece. Left t o right, front row: Pit Off L S Delaney, Fig Off Farringdon ("A' Flight commander). Fit Lt G D 'Potato' J o n e s ('B' Flight commander), Sqn Ldr J R G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n . Fit Lt G
B D o u d n e y ('C' Flight c o m -
mander), Fit Lt Kelly (Engineer Officer). Fit Lt Squires (Medical Officer); middle row: Pit Offs Williams
(Intelligence
Officer).
Barnes,
Wingate-Grey
(Cypher
Officer),
Ritchie.
D
C
Barrett
(Equipment Officer), G J Jerdien, L B Buchanan, R D Campbell, C h a p m a n (Cypher Officer). R W Pearson; back row: Pit Offs K D u n d a s , E Bevington-Smith, G Davis, Bright (Adjutant) and A. Geary. (E
Bevinylon-Smith)
get the wheels out a n d had to m a k e a belly-landing. S o m e of o u r b o m b s were still on b o a r d , a n d they bounced a l o n g the beach behind us as we ploughed t h r o u g h the sand.' Local fishermen would t a k e them to the mainland where, after travelling by mule, car and train they would arrive back at Menidi some d a y s later, n o n e the worse for their adventure. O n 26 N o v e m b e r a dozen 80 S q u a d r o n fighters had been detached to Yanina, this d e t a c h m e n t being repeated next day. O n this latter d a t e Sqn Ldr Hickey led nine G l a d i a t o r s off f r o m T r i k k a l a , these patrolling t o t h e n o r t h of Y a n i n a on arrival. Here they spotted a trio of S.79s escorted by some dozen 150° G r u p p o C R 4 2 s , led by C a p Nicola Magaldi, c o m m a n d e r of 364" Squadriglia. T h e British pilots attacked at once. Fit Lt Jones in N5861 a n d Sgt D S G r e g o r y in N5776, each claiming o n e Fiat shot d o w n ; Magaldi was killed in this c o m b a t a n d Serg Negri returned to base u n h u r t , but with his aircraft very badly shot-up. Meanwhile a dozen 24" G r u p p o G.50bis, led by M a g g O s c a r Molinari, and covered by 15 160" G r u p p o C R 42s, strafed the G r e e k airfield at K o z a n i , h o m e of 2 Mira, while r e t u r n i n g f r o m a b o m b e r escort mission. T h e Italian pilots claimed five aircraft destroyed on the g r o u n d and three m o r e d a m a g e d , a n d indeed 2 Mira did lose virtually all its Breguet XIXs in this a t t a c k , while o n e of the 43
Sqn Ldr G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n and Pit OIT Arthur Geary, D F C , his W O P / a i r gunner, w h o w o u l d be killed on 13 April 1941, with their 211 S q u a d r o n Blenheim.
pilots, 1/Lt P a n a y i o t i s M a r o u l a k o s was also hit and killed by a stray bullet; o t h e r personnel were w o u n d e d . Six G l a d i a t o r s f r o m 80 S q u a d r o n ' s 'A' Flight were off again next d a y (28 November), led on this occasion by Fit Lt Jones. O v e r Delvinakion they r e p o r t e d meeting 20 C R 4 2 s - in fact ten aircraft of 150° G r u p p o , led by C a p G i o r g i o Graffer, 365 a Squadriglia c o m m a n d e r . In the whirling dogfight which followed Fig Off H U Sykes in N5812 a n d Serg C o r r a d o Mignani collided, b o t h pilots being killed. Fit Lt Jones, after claiming t w o C R 4 2 s shot d o w n off t h e tails of fellow pilots, h a d N5816 badly shot-up, his i n s t r u m e n t panel smashed, a n d a bullet w o u n d in his neck. He was escorted back to Y a n i n a by Sgt D S Gregory, where he m a n a g e d to land safely. Fig Off H D W a n k l y n Flower was also s h o t - u p in N5854, but believed he had shot d o w n o n e C R 4 2 first, while two m o r e G l a d i a t o r s - N 5 7 8 8 (Fig Off W B Price-Owen) a n d N5786 (Fig Off F W Hosken) were also b o t h d a m a g e d . C l a i m s totalled seven confirmed and two probables: Sgt G r e g o r y three Fig Off W a n k l y n Flower o n e Fig Off H o s k e n one p r o b a b l e
Fit Lt J o n e s Fig Off Sykes Fig Off Price-Owen
two o n e (by collision) one p r o b a b l e
A p a r t f r o m Mignani, t w o m o r e C R 4 2 s were actually lost, G i o r g i o Graffer - o n e of the most successful Italian fighter pilots of the war thus far, with five victories credited to him - being killed, while Serg Achille Pacini baled out. T w o m o r e 44
were d a m a g e d . M a r Guglielmo Bacci a n d Serg Arrigo Z o t t i b o t h r e t u r n i n g with w o u n d s . F o u r G l a d i a t o r s were claimed shot d o w n in return, plus o n e probable. Graffer was subsequently a w a r d e d Italy's highest medal for valour, the Medaglio d ' O r o 'alia memoria'; 150" G r u p p o had now lost t w o squadriglie c o m m a n d e r s t o the R A F in as m a n y days!
Dornier D o . 2 2 G of 12 Mira taking off from its base at Athens/Scaramanga. (A
Stamatopoulos)
D u r i n g the d a y nine Blenheims of 84 S q u a d r o n raided D u r a z z o , r e p o r t i n g interception by M C 2 0 0 s a n d C R 4 2 s . G.50bis f r o m 24° G r u p p o had been scrambled, t w o pilots spotting three of the Blenheims, Ten Bartaletti claiming o n e shot d o w n a n d Serg Savino one probable; L1385 was forced d o w n d u r i n g the fight, Pit Off D R Bird and his crew being c a p t u r e d . C R 4 2 s of 150° G r u p p o returning f r o m an escort t o S.79s over Koritza also r e p o r t e d claiming a Blenheim p r o b a b l y shot d o w n - possibly f r o m the same f o r m a t i o n . 84 S q u a d r o n again had nine Blenheims u p on 29 N o v e m b e r , but this time an escort of six G l a d i a t o r s f r o m 80 S q u a d r o n was provided to see the b o m b e r s t o their target at Tepelene. F o u r of the fighters then flew low over the m o u n t a i n s searching for Fig Off Sykes' aircraft, lost the d a y before, while Fit Lt Pattle and Pit Off Vale remained a b o v e as cover. A n u m b e r of t r i m o t o r aircraft were then spotted, which were identified as S.79s - they were in fact part of a f o r m a t i o n of 28 Z.1007bis of the 47° S t o r m o BT f r o m G r o t t a g l i e on a raid. Both Pattle a n d Vale attacked, but t h o u g h the pilots were able t o see their fire striking home, they observed n o results o t h e r t h a n thin trails of black s m o k e f r o m two aircraft, which they claimed d a m a g e d . T h e defending air g u n n e r s reported the G l a d i a t o r s as nine strong (!), claiming one p r o b a b l y shot d o w n - p r e s u m a b l y Pattle's aircraft, which spun d o w n after his attack. T h e search for Sykes' aircraft was resumed on 30 N o v e m b e r , when three of the s q u a d r o n ' s aircraft escorted a Greek Breguet XIX over the area. N o sign was found, but that evening a message c a m e t h r o u g h f r o m t h e Greek Army that he had been found in the b u r n t - o u t wreck of his aircraft, a n d had been buried nearby. 45
Greek m o u n t a i n forces in pursuit of the Italians had by now a l m o s t run out of food. Heavy snow prevented supplies reaching them overland, so a Wellington of 70 S q u a d r o n was loaded with sacks of bread and bully-beef, which were d r o p p e d to them. A l t h o u g h d r o p p e d t h r o u g h heavy cloud, the food reached the hungry t r o o p s successfully - a new a n d unusual use of British air power. December began quietly as the weather in the m o u n t a i n s started to enforce a period of stalemate. In t h e air c o n d i t i o n s at times became extremely difficult. O n 1 D e c e m b e r three Blenheims of 30 S q u a d r o n , which were returning f r o m a raid on Valona, ran into a severe front which caused ice t o begin f o r m i n g on the wings, badly affecting c o n t r o l of the aircraft. Fit Lt A L Bocking, a C a n a d i a n , was leading, a n d as c o n d i t i o n s deteriorated further it became necessary t o consider whether or not the crews should all bale out. At that point however, a g a p in the s n o w c l o u d s was sighted a n d t w o of the pilots were able t o dive t h r o u g h and set course for base in clearer air. T h e third (K.7103) h a d become detached d u r i n g this m a n o e u v r e , a n d Sgt Ratlidge a t t e m p t e d t o climb t o 20 000 feet in an e n d e a v o u r to get a b o v e the c l o u d layer. Bocking recalled: .. but at that altitude the machine was wallowing, a n d now a n d then slipped back into the cloud, w h e r e u p o n ice immediately formed. T h e pilot struggled again a n d again to bring his aircraft into clear air a b o v e t h e cloud. Suddenly, p r o b a b l y o w i n g to the f o r m a t i o n of ice in the air intake, o n e engine cut out. T h e Blenheim went into a spin at once. T h e pilot ordered t h e crew t o j u m p , but it was discovered the observer's p a r a c h u t e pack had been t h r o w n o u t by the whirling machine into the well, and was out of reach. T h e pilot a n d t h e air gunner stayed with t h e observer. Still spinning, t h e aircraft c a m e d o w n into clear air at 7000 feet, a n d they found themselves in a n a r r o w valley with m o u n t a i n s rising sheer on either side of them. T h e pilot, righting his aircraft, m a d e a "dead-stick" landing in a tiny field, the only possible landing g r o u n d for miles a r o u n d . ' First action in the air in December c a m e on the 2nd when Fit Lt Pattle of 80 S q u a d r o n t o o k olf f r o m Y a n i n a on a m o r n i n g weather reconnaissance. In the A r g y r o k a s t r o n area he spotted a n o t h e r lone biplane which he quickly saw to be a Ro37bis reconnaissance aircraft — f r o m 42 a Squadriglia, 72° G r u p p o OA. H e a t t a c k e d and shot it d o w n in flames five miles t o the south, Serg Luigi Del M a n n o a n d his observer, Ten Michele Milano, being killed. Early in the a f t e r n o o n Pattle was off again, this time at the head of 12 G l a d i a t o r s to u n d e r t a k e an offensive patrol over the front lines in s u p p o r t of the Greek Army. Near Premet two m o r e 72° G r u p p o Ro37bis were seen 1000 feet below; Pattle and Pit Off C o o p e r dived on these a n d sent d o w n both in flames. O n e m a n was seen to bale out of C o o p e r ' s victim, but both m e m b e r s of each crew were reported lost by t h e Italians ( C a p G a r d e l l a / C a p Fuchs; Serg Leoni/Serg Vescia). Nine Blenheims f r o m 211 S q u a d r o n led by Sqn Ldr G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n raided Valona, their b o m b s causing little d a m a g e of note. T h e leading flight was a t t a c k e d by 150° G r u p p o C R 4 2 s which saw little result of their fire a n d returned without loss or claim. Recalled G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n : We had to g o in rather low because of cloud, and the fighters were waiting for us. T h e y were completely out of luck however - while they were chasing o n e 46
A trio of 39" Squadriglia O A Ro.37bis army c o - o p e r a t i o n aircraft over the front. (G Tardive
via N
Malizia)
flight a n o t h e r went in a n d d r o p p e d its bombs. We saw a big blaze with a tall column of black s m o k e above it, and it looked as if we had hit s o m e t h i n g quite i m p o r t a n t . O n e of the fighters c a u g h t the c o n c e n t r a t e d fire f r o m o n e flight a n d it came d o w n in a vertical dive with s m o k e p o u r i n g f r o m the fuselage. My aerial was shot away a n d G e o r g e D o u d n e y got a bullet t h r o u g h his helmet, but that was all the d a m a g e they did to us.'
Personnel of 211 Squadron: 1 to r: 'Imbros', the Greek
interpreter, Pit Off Gerry Davis,
the
c o m m a n d i n g officer's observer, w h o w o u l d be killed on 13 April 1941, Sqn Ldr G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n , Fig Off A J M "Curly' Fabian of the O p e r a t i o n s Staff (a W W I pilot) and Fig Off Alan Godfrey.
47
Reinforcements for the hard-pressed Greek fighters arrived d u r i n g t h e d a y when eight R A F G l a d i a t o r s f r o m Sidi Haneish in Egypt were flown over by pilots of 112 S q u a d r o n and h a n d e d over to the EVA; the British pilots were flown back in a Bombay. T o these aircraft (K8013, 8018, 8031, 8047, 8054, L7609, 7611 and 7623) were added five ex-80 S q u a d r o n machines (K7892, 7923, 7973, 8017 a n d L8011) a n d one f r o m 112 S q u a d r o n (K6135). 21 M i r a was w i t h d r a w n to Eleusis t o re-equip, the remaining serviceable P Z L s being distributed between 22 and 23 Mire, which were both n o w in the n o r t h e r n sector, s u p p o r t i n g t h e army. T h e G l a d i a t o r s were not the first t o be employed by t h e Greeks; in 1938 a businessman had p u r c h a s e d two privately f r o m G l o s t e r s at a cost of £9200, and h a d presented t h e m t o t h e EVA!
Greek troops with a P Z L P.24 on a landing ground on the Albanian frontier. (A
Stamatopoulos)
Greek fighters were in action again on 3 D e c e m b e r when six 23 Mira P Z L s engaged 18 C R 4 2 s of 160° G r u p p o led by M a g g O s c a r Molinari, south-west of Moschopoles. T h r e e of the Greek fighters were claimed shot d o w n by Molinari, Sottoten G i o r g i o M o r e t t i (a 24° G r u p p o pilot flying with the unit temporarily) and Serg L u c i a n o T a r a n t i n i , while a f o u r t h a n d two p r o b a b l e s were claimed shared by several pilots. G r e e k aircraft losses are not k n o w n in detail, but one pilot — 1/Lt C o n s t a n t i n e Tsitsas - was killed in this c o m b a t ; one C R 4 2 was claimed by 23 M i r a pilots. D u r i n g the d a y the 80 S q u a d r o n d e t a c h m e n t at Yanina was flown back to Larissa, t h e g r o u n d party being carried in a Greek Ju52/3m. In bad visibility Italian fighters shot d o w n o n e of their own S.81s over t h e front, the crew m a n a g i n g t o bale out of t h e stricken b o m b e r . T h e arrival of m o r e British aircraft in Greece c a m e on 4 December when a 48
H u d s o n (N7364) landed at Eleusis. This was in fact an ex-Imperial Airways Lockheed 14 ( G - A G A R ) , serving with 267 S q u a d r o n on t r a n s p o r t duties, but which had been modified t o carry an aerial c a m e r a , a l t h o u g h n o turret or front gun a r m a m e n t had been fitted. Attached to 2 P h o t o g r a p h i c Reconnaissance Unit (2 P R U ) , it was t o o p e r a t e clandestinely d u r i n g the rest of the m o n t h , c a r r y i n g out sorties over Albania, Yugoslavia a n d R u m a n i a in the h a n d s of Fit Lt R G M Walker a n d Sqn Ldr H C M a c P h a i l . It would r e t u r n to Heliopolis on 30 December. Also on 4 D e c e m b e r , four m o r e G l a d i a t o r s arrived f r o m Egypt, but these were aircraft of 112 S q u a d r o n , led by Fit Lt C H Fry, t o join 80 S q u a d r o n on d e t a c h m e n t . At once these and 11 of the resident G l a d i a t o r s were flown u p t o Y a n i n a for further o p e r a t i o n s , f r o m where Sqn Ldr Hickey led 14 aircraft on an offensive patrol over the T e p e l a n e area. Here an estimated 27 C R 4 2 s were seen actually 12 aircraft of 150° G r u p p o led by Ten Col R o l a n d o Pratelli, a n d ten G.50bis of the 154° G r u p p o . Fit Lt P a t t l e claimed three C R 4 2 s shot d o w n , o n e o n t o a hillside n o r t h of Delvinakion, o n e in flames f r o m which the pilot baled out, a n d after his o w n aircraft had been hit in the m a i n fuel t a n k a n d a wing strut, a third f r o m which the pilot was also seen t o bale out. A f o u r t h was claimed by him as a p r o b a b l e when it p o u r e d black smoke; he then attacked a fighter which he identified as C R 3 2 , which stalled into cloud, claiming this as a p r o b a b l e also. Sgt E W F Hewett claimed t w o C R 4 2 s and a G.50, whilst Pit Off Vale, Sgt G r e g o r y a n d Sgt G Barker each claimed o n e C R 4 2 for a total of nine victories and two probables. In return the G.50bis pilots claimed t w o G l a d i a t o r s shot d o w n , but 150° G r u p p o lost t w o C R 4 2 s , Ten Alberto T r i o l o and S o t t o t e n P a o l o P e n n a being killed; these were the only Italian losses. 80 S q u a d r o n returned to Larissa next day.
80 S q u a d r o n groundcrew inspect the wreckage of a Fiat C R 4 2 shot d o w n by one of the unit's Gladiators. ( A T
Phillips)
49
D u r i n g 4 December, t w o Blenheims f r o m 30 S q u a d r o n m a d e a low-level attack on an Italian destroyer shelling Greek positions at Sarande. Next d a y three of this unit's fighter Blenheims returned to t h e same area to strafe the S a r a n d e V a l o n a coast road. C R 4 2 s of 364 a Squadriglia a t t e m p t e d to intercept them without success, but despite this o n e Blenheim w a s forced t o return early with engine t r o u b l e and the other t w o were both obliged to force-land during their return flight; both had been d a m a g e d by AA fire and were out of fuel. Fig Off H P G Blackmore c a m e d o w n at K o r o u s a d e s on the island of C o r f u in K7100, while Pit Off J A F Attwell landed well t o the south-west of Agrinion; both crews were u n h u r t . At 1220 on 7 D e c e m b e r six Blenheims from 84 S q u a d r o n took off t o raid Valona, followed at 1300 by nine m o r e f r o m 211 S q u a d r o n . Extremely severe weather w a s e n c o u n t e r e d and 84 S q u a d r o n ' s leading trio were forced t o return early d u e t o heavy icing. T h e second three were intercepted over the target by 150° G r u p p o C R 4 2 s , Fit Lt L P Cattell's L8455 a n d Sgt M P Cazalet's L8457 being shot d o w n at once, while Fig Off Ken Linton force-landed LI381 near S a r a n d e after his aircraft had been badly d a m a g e d by a single long burst of fire from o n e fighter. F r o m the t w o former aircraft only Cazalet's gunner, Sgt C R Foster, survived. T w o of 211 S q u a d r o n ' s sections were also obliged to t u r n back by ice, a n d t w o of these aircraft - LI 535 (Fig Off P B Pickersgill) a n d L4926 (Pit Off G J Jerdein) - crashed in the hills a r o u n d Lamia, b o t h crews being killed. T h e r e m a i n i n g three Blenheims, led by Fit Lt G D Jones, c o n t i n u e d to Valona, meeting severe o p p o s i t i o n f r o m t h e defending C R 4 2 s over the target. All three b o m b e d accurately a n d returned, believing that they had shot d o w n o n e of the a t t a c k i n g fighters. 150° G r u p p o , which claimed t w o Blenheims and a third p r o b a b l e d u r i n g these actions, did not record any losses on this occasion.
Blenheim I of 211 Squadron heading out on a raid on Albania. ( £
50
Bevington-Smith)
It was at this stage t h a t the first aid for t h e Italians f r o m their G e r m a n allies a p p e a r e d . Desperately s h o r t of air t r a n s p o r t to aid with the urgent reinforcement of the Albanian front, Mussolini appealed to Adolf Hitler for help in this respect, and on 10 D e c e m b e r the first of 53 J u n k e r s J u 5 2 / 3 m t r o o p carriers of I I I / K G z b V 1, c o m m a n d e d by O b e r s t Rudolf Starke, began arriving in t h e Foggia area from Wessendorf t o u n d e r t a k e this function. In Greece by c o m p a r i s o n , the R A F was also reinforced o n this d a t e w h e n three new Blenheim I F fighters a n d two s t a n d a r d Blenheim I b o m b e r s joined 30 S q u a d r o n ! Reinforcement of the Regia Aeronautica's 4 a Z A T in Puglie had also occurred at this time. Late in N o v e m b e r the 373 a and 374 a Squadriglia A u t o n o m o C T , each equipped with a dozen MC200s, had moved f r o m Treviso t o this zone, g o i n g to Bari a n d G r o t t a g l i e respectively, followed on 7 D e c e m b e r by the 370 a Squadriglia Aut C T with a further eight Macchi fighters, which arrived at Foggia. O n 27 N o v e m b e r the 14 S.79s of the 42° G r u p p o BT had also arrived at G r o t t a g l i e f r o m Naples, but on 14 D e c e m b e r this unit would m o v e t o Libya, where a British offensive had begun; a week later the S.79s were followed by the Fiat G.50bis fighters of 4 a Z A T ' s resident 2° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T . T h e final reinforcement of the winter was a second d i v e - b o m b e r g r u p p o , the 97°, which arrived on 6 D e c e m b e r f r o m Sicily's T r a p a n i Milo airfield t o join the 96° at Lecce. This unit's Ju87s m a d e their first sorties over the Epirus f r o n t on 14 December. With n o Wellingtons o p e r a t i n g f r o m G r e e c e since the d e p a r t u r e of the 70 S q u a d r o n d e t a c h m e n t , night raids had been m u c h reduced. However, late on 13 December, f o u r such aircraft f r o m 148 S q u a d r o n on M a l t a m a d e the long flight to attack Valona. Bad weather c o n d i t i o n s forced the leader t o turn back, but two of the r e m a i n i n g trio reached their target, the third b o m b i n g the secondary objective, C r o t o n e . All returned safely to M a l t a before midnight. Next day however, a new d e t a c h m e n t of four Wellingtons f r o m 70 S q u a d r o n reached Menidi, and on the night of 15/16 D e c e m b e r these raided D u r a z z o . Again weather was bad and Sqn Ldr Rolfe, the leader, was forced to t u r n back, flying direct t o t h e unit's h o m e base at Kabrit. T h e o t h e r three a t t a c k e d and returned to Menidi, r e p o r t i n g seeing a large fire in the h a r b o u r area as a result of their bombing.
Ex-airline Junkers G - 2 4 taken over by the EVA, at Menidi airfield. ( £
51
Beiington-Smith)
Meanwhile, 14 D e c e m b e r saw a r e s u m p t i o n of British d a y raids when Blenheims twice b o m b e d Valona without effect. F o u r d a y s later three Blenheim I F s of 30 S q u a d r o n flew a m o r n i n g otfensive reconnaissance u p to Valona h a r b o u r . Here they b o m b e d seaplane hangars, but were then intercepted by six C R 4 2 s a n d three G.50bis f r o m the 150° a n d 154° G r u p p o . Fig OfT S Paget's aircraft (L8462) was hit in the p o r t engine and caught fire, c r a s h i n g into the sea eight miles west of S a r a n d e . Fig Off R T P Davidson had fought a G.50bis briefly (believing that he had p r o b a b l y destroyed it) but then had to t u r n his attention to his colleague, flying over t h e spot where t h e Blenheim h a d ditched a n d d r o p p i n g his dinghy; the aircraft had sunk like a stone with the loss of all the crew however. It seems t h a t D a v i d s o n ' s fire had indeed struck h o m e on the Fiat, which was d a m a g e d and as a result somersaulted and crashed while a t t e m p t i n g to land back at Valona. While the G.50bis pilots claimed only o n e d a m a g e d , those in t h e C R 4 2 s believed that they had p r o b a b l y shot d o w n all three Blenheims. T h a t night however, the British battleships Warspite a n d Valiant shelled Valona, d a m a g i n g 13 of the 150° G r u p p o ' s C R 4 2 s on the airfield. T h e Royal N a v y was n o t t o escape its c u r r e n t r o u n d of o p e r a t i o n s without loss on this occasion, for t h e s u b m a r i n e H M S Triton, which had recently sunk a 6000 t o n freighter off D u r a z z o , was itself intercepted in the Strait of O t r a n t o , a n d sunk by the Italian t o r p e d o - b o a t Confienza. While Valona was being b o m b a r d e d , three Wellingtons f r o m Menidi were raiding Brindisi railway station and oil storage tanks, large fires being started. O n this occasion AA was heavy a n d Fit Lt J Barnard's T2829 was hit in the port engine, t h e airscrew breaking loose a n d flying off. By skilful h a n d l i n g while the crew jettisoned all moveable e q u i p m e n t , Barnard was able t o fly back t o G r e e c e at 1000 feet a n d land safely at base. At last with d a w n on 19 December the weather cleared over the Larissa Plain, a n d in fine c o n d i t i o n s nine Blenheims f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n were off early t o b o m b Valona and K r i o n e r o . O n c e again, G.50bis were in the air to intercept and three of t h e b o m b e r s sustained d a m a g e , Serg Arrigo Zoli of the 154° G r u p p o claiming o n e p r o b a b l y destroyed; the g u n n e r s claimed d a m a g e t o o n e Fiat in return. Ju87 d i v e - b o m b e r s of the Regia Aeronautica were also out f r o m Italy, 24 aircraft f r o m the 96 a G r u p p o a t t a c k i n g shipping in P o r t E d d a h a r b o u r , claiming o n e small vessel sunk. Shortly before m i d d a y Sqn Ldr Hickey led 14 of 80 S q u a d r o n ' s G l a d i a t o r s u p t o Yanina, followed by the g r o u n d party in a Ju52/3m. After refuelling, 13 of these fighters were off to patrol over t h e Tepelene area where five S.79s of the 46° S t o r m o were seen, escorted by C R 4 2 s and G.50bis. T h e British pilots at once engaged t h e bombers, believing t h a t they had shot o n e d o w n (no loss w a s actually suffered), but return fire struck N 5 7 8 5 and it went d o w n in flames, Pit Off C o o p e r being seen t o bale out. Sqn Ldr Hickey t h o u g h t t h a t he had shot d o w n o n e of the escorting C R 4 2 s , which now a t t e m p t e d to intervene, but he then went d o w n to land on a waterlogged field near A r g y r o k a s t r o n t o look for his missing pilot. With the aid of some Greek soldiers, the badly w o u n d e d C o o p e r was located, a n d was transferred to hospital in A r g y r o k a s t r o n , where he died that evening. M e a n w h i l e Sgt Hewett's N 5 8 2 7 h a d been hit a n d badly d a m a g e d by AA fire, a n d he w a s obliged to force-land 20 miles n o r t h of Y a n i n a d u r i n g the r e t u r n 52
E V A Junkers J u 5 2 / 3 m transport at Menidi. (S W Lee)
flight; this G l a d i a t o r was later salvaged. T h e only Italian loss of the d a y occurred when M a g g Angelo M a s t r a g o s t i n o force-landed his C R 4 2 n e a r Bilishte while providing escort for a Ro.37bis - reason unspecified. 20 D e c e m b e r d a w n e d fine, a n d at 1000 Fit Lt Pattle was off at the head of nine G l a d i a t o r s t o meet Blenheims of 211 S q u a d r o n r e t u r n i n g f r o m a raid, a n d to carry out an offensive patrol over the Tepelene-Kelcyre area. Here a reported nine S.79s were seen - actually six aircraft of the 104° G r u p p o BT, d r a w n equally f r o m the 252 a and 253 a Squadriglia. Pattle at once a t t a c k e d o n e of the latter, flown by Ten A n d r e a Berlingieri, a n d shot it d o w n in flames, the crew of four being seen t o bale out before it crashed into the m o u n t a i n s i d e a n d blew up; they did not return, a n d were reported missing. A second 253 a Squadriglia machine was badly d a m a g e d , r e t u r n i n g t o T i r a n a where the crew reported that a G l a d i a t o r had collided with t h e m a n d had been seen to crash, m i n u s its propeller. In a n o t h e r S.79 Ten Vivarelli's crew claimed a second G l a d i a t o r shot d o w n . T w o G l a d i a t o r s were in fact d a m a g e d during this e n g a g e m e n t a n d returned to Yanina.
Savoia S.79s of 253" Squadriglia, 104° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o BT over Greece. (N
53
Malizia)
T h e rest of the 80 S q u a d r o n f o r m a t i o n c o n t i n u e d their patrol, soon spotting a n o t h e r f o r m a t i o n of t r i m o t o r s - this time six S.81 s f r o m the 38° S t o r m o BT, escorted by 24" G r u p p o G.50bis. These m o n o p l a n e s had n o c h a n c e t o intervene as P a t t l e bored in t o attack the middle aircraft of the leading section, and this was soon streaming fuel f r o m the area of the s t a r b o a r d engine. H e fired all his remaining a m m u n i t i o n into it a n d reported t h a t it slowly lost height a n d forcelanded some 15 miles n o r t h of Kelcyre, tipping o n t o its nose and losing its s t a r b o a r d wing. Pit Off Vale in N 5 7 8 4 claimed a second S.81 shot d o w n . In fact o n e aircraft, c a r r y i n g the S t o r m o c o m m a n d e r , C o l D o m e n i c o Ludovico, w a s badly d a m a g e d a n d landed at Berat with three dead, including C a p Giulio Beccia, the pilot, a n d three w o u n d e d . T h e survivors just m a n a g e d to get out before the aircraft with all its b o m b s still a b o a r d , blew up. A second S.81 returned with all its crew w o u n d e d . T h e British pilots reported that t h r o u g h o u t the e n g a g e m e n t t h e G . 5 0 b i s patrolled overhead without a t t a c k i n g the G l a d i a t o r s .
Savoia S.81 over Greece. (N
Malizia)
T h e G l a d i a t o r s were engaged in their third m a j o r c o m b a t in three days on 21 D e c e m b e r , when t h e s q u a d r o n was ofT again at 1030, ten strong, led by Sqn Ldr Hickey. T h e y soon found action and a confused dogfight began which resulted in considerable over-claiming by b o t h sides. As the British fighters headed for t h e front in three sections - the first comprised of four aircraft led by Hickey, the second of three led by P a t t l e a n d the final trio led by Fig Off Sidney L i n n a r d 54
three t r i m o t o r b o m b e r s were seen near A r g y r o k a s t r o n , which were identified as S.79s, a n d then three m o r e aircraft with twin tails were seen, recognised in this case as Fiat BR20s. All six were in fact C a n t Z.1007bis aircraft f r o m the 47° S t o r m o BT f r o m Grottaglie, a n d these were attacked by the G l a d i a t o r s , Pattle believing that he had hit one. At that m o m e n t however 15 C R 4 2 s of the 160° G r u p p o a p p e a r e d o n the scene; these were being led on an offensive reconnaissance over Yanina, P a r a m y t h i a and Zitsa by M a g g O s c a r Molinari, the G r u p p o c o m m a n d e r . Seeing the b o m b e r s u n d e r attack by an estimated 20 G l a d i a t o r s (!), the Italians piled in, joined by o t h e r aircraft f r o m the 150° G r u p p o , so that 80 S q u a d r o n pilots assessed the n u m b e r of their o p p o n e n t s at 54! After 25 m i n u t e s the air battle b r o k e u p a n d eight of the British pilots returned t o claim eight confirmed a n d three probables. Pit Off Bill Vale claimed three, o n e of them in flames; Sgt C a s b o l t claimed one which blew u p a n d a n o t h e r which s p u n d o w n , shedding pieces; Sgt G r e g o r y claimed a n o t h e r two, again o n e in flames, but his own aircraft was badly s h o t - u p a n d he was w o u n d e d in the right eye. H e m a n a g e d t o r e t u r n to Yanina, as did Fig Off L i n n a r d , w h o s e N 5 8 3 4 w a s badly hit; he suffered several bullet w o u n d s in his left leg. Pattle and F/Sgt S A Richens claimed o n e Fiat apiece, P a t t l e also r e p o r t i n g that his victim fell in flames, whilst Fig Offs Price-Owen and H o s k e n b o t h claimed probables. H o w e v e r Fig Off A D Ripley in N 5 8 5 4 was seen t o be s h o t d o w n in flames a n d was killed, while Sqn Ldr Hickey w a s spotted baling out of N5816; sadly his p a r a c h u t e c a u g h t fire, a n d he died f r o m his injuries soon after reaching t h e g r o u n d . G r e e k t r o o p s recovered the bodies of both pilots.
Fiat C R 4 2 N o . 7 flown by Ten E d o a r d o Crainz of 394 a Squadriglia. displaying d a m a g e inflicted by a British G l a d i a t o r during a c o m b a t with 80 Squadron on 21 D e c e m b e r , 1940. T h e bullet holes have been patched with small red, white and green discs, similar to t h o s e used in World War I. (N
55
Malizia)
In r e t u r n the 160° G r u p p o pilots claimed six G l a d i a t o r s , t w o each by M a g g M o l i n a r i a n d Ten E d o a r d o Crainz, a n d one apiece by T e n Eber Giudici a n d C a p P a o l o Arcangeletti. P r o b a b l e s were claimed by T e n T o r q u a t o Testerini, Serg M a g g F r a n c e s c o P e n n a and Serg M a g g D o m e n i c o T u f a n o . T h e 150° G r u p p o pilots claimed two m o r e G l a d i a t o r s in collaboration, while 47° S t o r m o g u n n e r s claimed one m o r e and a probable. As in the case of the British fighters, actual Italian losses totalled just t w o aircraft, Serg M a g g M a r i o G a e t a n o C a r a n c i n i a n d Ten M a r i o F r a s c a d o r e of the 160° G r u p p o being lost, while M a g g M o l i n a r i was w o u n d e d in t h e right foot a n d force-landed n e a r Tepelene with a d a m a g e d engine. F o l l o w i n g these three d a y s of intensive action, the 80 S q u a d r o n det a c h m e n t would r e t u r n to Larissa on 23 December, their place at Y a n i n a being taken by the G r e e k 21 M i r a , n o w o p e r a t i o n a l again with 11 G l a d i a t o r lis. Meanwhile, on t h e same day the Italians remained very active, three high-flying b o m b e r s raiding Larissa d u r i n g the m o r n i n g a n d hitting the t o w n with eight or nine b o m b s , four of which fell in o r n e a r t h e central square; o n e fell within 50 y a r d s of the R A F Officers' Mess, b r e a k i n g m a n y windows, while considerable n u m b e r s of the local Greek p o p u l a c e were killed o r injured. O v e r t h e f r o n t d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n three patrolling fighters f r o m the 154° G r u p p o e n c o u n t e r e d a P o t e z 63 of 31 M i r a , between Devoli and Valona. T h i s was piloted by t h e unit's c o m m a n d i n g officer, Lt C o l J o h n P a p a d a k i s , w h o was c a r r y i n g o u t a reconnaissance over S o u t h e r n Albania at t h e request of the army. His aircraft w a s shot d o w n by T e n Livio Bassi, Serg Emilio Piva and Serg G u i d o Pecile, P a p a d a k i s a n d his gunner baling out; a p p a r e n t l y both landed in t h e sea, a n d they were lost. Ju87s f r o m the 96° G r u p p o were out twice; d u r i n g the m o r n i n g an attack on D o l i a n a resulted in the loss of o n e aircraft crewed by M a r Elio Scarpini, t h e Savoia M a r c h e t t i test pilot, and his gunner l e Av R T C a t a m a r o , t o AA fire. A second m a c h i n e went d o w n to similar causes d u r i n g a repeat attack that a f t e r n o o n with the loss of Ten Brezzi/1° Av M o t Stevanato.
Greek soldiers and a British officer with the wreckage of o n e of t w o Junkers Ju87B d i v e - b o m b e r s of the Regia Aeronautica's 96° G r u p p o B a T shot d o w n by ground fire on 21 D e c e m b e r , 1940.
56
F u r t h e r success was claimed by 154" G r u p p o G.50bis on 22 D e c e m b e r when five of these aircraft intercepted nine 84 S q u a d r o n Blenheims raiding the K u c e r a oilfields, Serg M a n f r e d o Bianchi claiming three of the b o m b e r s shot d o w n in flames, while Serg Arrigo Zoli claimed a fourth; a fifth was believed to have been p r o b a b l y shot d o w n . T w o of t h e Blenheims were actually lost, L8471 going d o w n with Fig Off P F Miles and his crew, while Fig Off J o h n E v a n s m a n a g e d to bale out of L8374 n e a r Koritza. Five o t h e r Blenheims were d a m a g e d , some of t h e m by AA fire; L4818 flown by F / S g t A G o r d o n was badly d a m a g e d d u r i n g a t t a c k s by several fighters, the observer - Sgt G Furney - receiving a severe head w o u n d . Despite this, G o r d o n was able t o fly the 200 miles back to base.
84 S q u a d r o n Blenheim is crash-landed at Greek airfields on return from operations. (S
57
WLee)
Fig Off Evans later returned, reporting that the cockpit of his aircraft had suddenly b e c o m e a mass of flames. T h e observer had m a d e an i m m e d i a t e a n d successful evacuation of the aircraft, but Evans, w h o had been hit in one arm, got c a u g h t u p in t h e shroud-lines of his p a r a c h u t e so t h a t the jerk as this o p e n e d b r o k e one of his thigh bones. He landed in Greek lines where he was found by the observer, and with the aid of some Greek soldiers was carried t o a nearby village. After emergency t r e a t m e n t , f o u r soldiers were detailed to carry him by stretcher over m o u n t a i n tracks t o the nearest town - a n i g h t m a r e j o u r n e y which took three days. O n arrival he was put on a train to Athens and safety. O n C h r i s t m a s Day five Blenheims from 84 S q u a d r o n were despatched t o C o r f u in foul weather to d r o p sacks of gifts on the e s p l a n a d e for the children of this island. D u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n m o r e aircraft a p p e a r e d overhead - but this time they were three Italian b o m b e r s which d r o p p e d a n u m b e r of b o m b s on buildings n e a r C o r f u h a r b o u r , several of which were hit. O n e b o m b went t h r o u g h a window of the N a t i o n a l Bank of Greece building, piercing the concrete floor and exploding in t h e b a s e m e n t which was in use as an air raid shelter, a n d where on this festive d a y a d a n c e w a s in progress. Eighteen people were killed and 25 o t h e r s injured. Elsewhere in the t o w n three others were killed a n d five hurt.
Fiat B R 2 0 M of 3" Squadriglia, 43" gruppo, 13° S t o r m o BT over the m o u n t a i n s between Argyrokastron and Yanina. T h e underside gun position has been lowered. (Guglielmetti via Lucchini/Malizia)
W h e n news of this attack reached Athens, an immediate raid on V a l o n a was ordered, and 211 S q u a d r o n was detailed t o u n d e r t a k e this mission. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , the unit had already been officially s t o o d d o w n for the C h r i s t m a s holiday, a n d it w a s only with difficulty that sufficient crews could be found. O n e of the observers. Pit Off Eric Bevington-Smith recalled: 58
' W e assembled five crews a n d set off for Valona. T h e w e a t h e r w a s appalling, with a cloud base below 2,000 feet a n d we flew a l o n g the Gulf of C o r i n t h and up to Valona, where the cloud base was 1,700 feet . . . we just m a n a g e d t o slip t h r o u g h in line astern, went u p into cloud again, a n d by g o o d luck came out of cloud over Valona a n d d r o p p e d our bombs. T h e AA had not yet w o k e n up, so we put our noses d o w n and went flat out for the h a r b o u r entrance. W h e n we were at a b o u t 500 feet we met an Italian cruiser a n d destroyer c o m i n g in for Christmas. We turned our front m a c h i n e g u n s on and dived on the ships, a n d as we passed our rear g u n n e r s sprayed t h e decks. It worked; we were at least t w o miles away before shellfire started bursting r o u n d us, and a quick c h a n g e of course t o the south got us away. If only those Italian gunners had not assumed that at the e n t r a n c e t o the h a r b o u r of their h o m e port, they were safe!' O n V a l o n a airfield o n e C R 4 2 was destroyed by the b o m b s a n d two m o r e were d a m a g e d . T h e AA defenders claimed one Blenheim probably shot d o w n .
R A F Blenheim I shot d o w n near D e v o l i by Italian
fighters.
T h e rest of the holiday passed quietly e n o u g h as far as the R A F was concerned, a l t h o u g h on 26 December five C R 4 2 pilots of 150° G r u p p o , led by C a p Luigi Corsini, reported intercepting eight Blenheims over D u k a t i , claiming t w o shot d o w n and two probables. N o engagements a p p e a r to have been recorded by the British units in Greece, a n d n o aircrew losses were reported by the EVA either, so the identity of the possible victims has not been ascertained. Indeed it was to be 29 D e c e m b e r before a further e n c o u n t e r between British a n d Italian machines 59
was next recorded. O n that d a y three of 30 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheims were off on an early m o r n i n g offensive reconnaissance over Valona, where Italian reinforcements were k n o w n to be d i s e m b a r k i n g . T h e b o m b - a i m e r s had just released their missiles on the port when three C R 4 2 s a n d a single G.50bis attacked, Serg Arrigo Zoli of the 154° G r u p p o in the latter fighter hitting K7104, the p o r t engine of which burst into flames. T h e b o m b e r , in the h a n d s of Fit Lt H D C a r d , a C a n a d i a n , crashed into t h e sea; while t w o p a r a c h u t e s were seen, only o n e m e m b e r of the crew survived. Zoli also attacked both t h e o t h e r Blenheims, claiming one m o r e shot d o w n a n d t h e third p r o b a b l y so; Pit Off A G C r o c k e t t ' s L6677 w a s seriously hit b u t m a d e it back t o Eleusis, where it belly-landed; a l t h o u g h hit in fuel tanks, wings a n d fuselage, Sgt L A O v e n s ' aircraft also returned. A little later in the m o r n i n g 28 Z.1007bis b o m b e r s f r o m the 47° S t o r m o BT m a d e a raid over t h e front line area, where one f o r m a t i o n was intercepted by nine G l a d i a t o r s f r o m the G r e e k 21 Mira; t h e b o m b e r g u n n e r s claimed o n e of the fighters p r o b a b l y shot d o w n . These G l a d i a t o r s were the only fighters available at the time. Earlier in D e c e m b e r , 22 a n d 23 Mire had moved their P Z L s t o P t o l e m a i s t o be closer t o the 3rd Army C o r p s , the C o m m a n d Post of the Fighter C o m m a n d under Lt Col E m a n u e l Kelaides also being established here. This airfield quickly proved t o be quite unsuitable and the aircraft could barely be operated f r o m here. After 15 D e c e m b e r rain h a d intermittently flooded the field, but t h e snow began t o fall a n d the t e m p e r a t u r e fell abruptly, the whole area freezing over. T h e r e w a s now a great d a n g e r t h a t the aircraft, imprisoned on the g r o u n d by these conditions, might fall victim t o Italian air attack, a n d since there w a s n o let-up in the u n f a v o u r a b l e weather, the machines were dismantled a n d t a k e n by lorry t o A m y n d e o n station, f r o m where they were t r a n s p o r t e d by rail t o Salonika. T h e whole o p e r a t i o n t o o k just four d a y s - 2 6 - 3 0 D e c e m b e r - all aircraft being ready for o p e r a t i o n s again by the latter date! Similar c o n d i t i o n s had flooded out N i a m a t a airfield, the h o m e of 31 M i r a between Volos and Almyros, but f r o m here the P o t e z 63s had been able t o take off and fly d o w n to Larissa. Early on the m o r n i n g of 30 December, five fighter Blenheims of 30 S q u a d r o n set off to patrol over the P r e v e z a - L e v k a s area. O n arrival the f o r m a t i o n split into t w o patrols of three and two, a n d after a b o u t an h o u r Sgt F r e d G o u l d i n g , g u n n e r in Sqn L d r S h a n n o n ' s aircraft in the latter pair, spotted a C a n t Z.506B floatplane of the 1901* Squadriglia, 86° G r u p p o , 35° S t o r m o B M , below, as this w a s carrying out an offensive reconnaissance a l o n g the G r e e k c o a s t in the h a n d s of T e n D o m e n i c o Bazzi. S h a n n o n dived t o attack, firing with his f r o n t g u n s a n d m a k i n g several passes, closing to 25 yards, until all his a m m u n i t i o n w a s exhausted. Fig Off Richardson, a n o t h e r of 30 S q u a d r o n ' s C a n a d i a n s , then took u p the attack f r o m a b o v e a n d below, allowing his g u n n e r t o get in several bursts. S h a n n o n also closed to allow G o u l d i n g a shot, but the latter was hit in the knee by an explosive bullet fired f r o m the floatplane's dorsal gun position. S h a n n o n b r o k e off a n d headed for h o m e , b u t quickly realising how badly hit his g u n n e r was, he put d o w n at Agrinion for help. A l t h o u g h a d o c t o r arrived within minutes, G o u l d i n g was already unconscious and died shortly a f t e r w a r d s f r o m loss of blood. M e a n w h i l e R i c h a r d s o n had watched the stricken C a n t crash into the sea. T w o 60
m e m b e r s of the crew could be seen waving a handkerchief, while three or four others were lying on t h e wing. Richardson's crew d r o p p e d their dinghy close by and returned to base, where they were later informed that the G r e e k Navy had picked u p the Italians. M e a n t i m e at 0935 Larissa had been u n d e r an air raid alert, but n o hostile aircraft h a d been seen. T h e all-clear was s o u n d e d at 1020, b u t 20 m i n u t e s later a raid did take place. T h r e e 80 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r s were scrambled, but one had to r e t u r n early d u e t o a lack of oil pressure. At 1115 a n o t h e r hostile w a s reported a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m the north-east, and at that point ten G l a d i a t o r s f r o m the unit's d e t a c h m e n t at A t h e n s passed overhead, and were signalled to c o n t i n u e to search for t h e enemy aircraft. Fig Off R N Cullen then spotted a t r i m o t o r out t o sea west of the K a s s a n d r a peninsula, which he identified as an S.81. H e attacked and one engine c a u g h t fire, the aircraft diving into the sea a n d disintegrating; this is believed to have been a b o m b e r f r o m the 38° S t o r m o BT. O v e r the front on this d a y a Fiat BR 20 of the 37° S t o r m o BT was reported in action with G l a d i a t o r s , suffering d a m a g e and having o n e m e m b e r of the crew w o u n d e d ; this was p r o b a b l y engaged by Greek G l a d i a t o r s , rather t h a n by Fig Off Cullen.
Fiat B R 2 0 M b o m b e r of 276 a Squadriglia, 116° G r u p p o , 37° S t o r m o BT. (AMI
via N
Malizia)
By this d a t e t w o P o t e z 25 a r m y c o - o p e r a t i o n aircraft f r o m 4 M i r a were reported o p e r a t i n g f r o m K o r i t z a airfield, carrying out reconnaissance, b o m b i n g and strafing sorties. D u r i n g one such mission o n e failed to return, reportedly shot d o w n over E l b a s a n by Italian ' M a c c h i fighters', but n o Italian claim has been found. T w o Blenheim IVs f r o m 32 M i r a were also lost on this date, o n e failing to return f r o m a sortie over the 2nd Army sector where it was intercepted by t w o C R 4 2 s f r o m 363 a Squadriglia flown by S o t t o t e n di Robilant a n d Serg Enrico Micheli, w h o reported t h a t it fell near Valona; C a p t C l e a n t h e s H a t z i i o a n n o u and his crew were reported killed. T h e second, flown by Lt Col P a n a y h i o t i s O r p h a n i d i s , t h e c o m m a n d i n g officer of the unit, crashed n e a r the Mira's airfield 61
at K a z a k l a r , all a b o a r d perishing; it was presumed that the crash w a s accidental in this case. O t h e r fighter pilots f r o m the 154" G r u p p o C T reported sighting nine Blenheims d u r i n g the day, but no engagements resulted. O n the last day of 1940 the R A F Blenheims were out again, nine 211 S q u a d r o n aircraft a t t a c k i n g storage d u m p s t o the south of Valona, but once m o r e interception was m a d e by three C R 4 2 s and a lone G.50bis of 154" G r u p p o . Again it was the m o n o p l a n e which m a n a g e d to reach the b o m b e r s , a n d Sottoten G u i l i a n o Fissore a t t a c k e d Sgt S L Bennett's LI540. T h e port engine was hit and set on fire when the f o r m a t i o n was at 7000 feet, 20 miles south of the target, and the aircraft dived into the sea with the loss of the whole crew. T h u s ended 1940, a n d with it t w o m o n t h s of fairly intense and difficult o p e r a t i o n s for the small R A F C o n t i n g e n t and their Greek allies.
By the end of 1940 Italian fighters had inflicted heavy losses on the R A F ' s Blenheim Is. Here the burnt-out wreckage of o n e such aircraft lies on Albanian soil. (N
62
Malizia)
Chapter THE
BATTLES
Three OF
SPRING
T h e N e w Year of 1941 found a situation of stalemate fast developing a l o n g the front line. T h e w e a t h e r had clamped d o w n h a r d , m a k i n g m o v e m e n t on the g r o u n d difficult, and in t h e air on many days, well nigh impossible. T h e G r e e k s were practically exhausted by the t r e m e n d o u s exertions of their a u t u m n counterattacks, and were still desperately short of t r a n s p o r t , clothing and anti-tank and anti-aircraft artillery. T h e m a j o r part of their armed forces and most of their air p o w e r were involved at t h e front, leaving only four weak divisions on t h e frontier with Bulgaria. Should any threat f r o m this area develop it was considered t h a t nine m o r e divisions and associated air s u p p o r t would be required t o defend Eastern M a c e d o n i a and Salonika. N o t h i n g however was t o be allowed t o a l a r m the G e r m a n s , and still n o British land forces were t o be accepted for service in G r e e c e unless the G e r m a n s crossed the D a n u b e and entered Bulgaria. R A F units should also o p e r a t e only in the west and south, n o s q u a d r o n s being based in the S a l o n i k a area. F u r t h e r reinforcements of air units within these parameters would however be accepted gratefully, allowing t h e EVA t o w i t h d r a w to S a l o n i k a t o reform. D u r i n g J a n u a r y therefore the British High C o m m a n d was t o resolve t o send two m o r e s q u a d r o n s t o Greece, o n e of fighters and o n e of bombers, while p l a n n i n g at the same time t o c a p t u r e the Italian D o d e c a n e s e Islands - particularly R h o d e s - t o secure the Aegean a n d Eastern M e d i t e r r a n e a n . T h e threat of G e r m a n intervention was a real one, for early in the m o n t h of J a n u a r y Adolf Hitler would decide to send a strong c o n t i n g e n t to Albania to bolster the Italians, p l a n n i n g for this m o v e beginning u n d e r t h e c o d e n a m e O p e r a t i o n Alpenweilchen. T h e end of the G r e e k counter-offensive and reinforcement of the Italian forces b r o u g h t a halt t o these p r e p a r a t i o n s in mid F e b r u a r y however, when it became clear that, with 21 divisions in Albania, the Italians should be able t o secure their hold on Valona. T h e early part of J a n u a r y was m a r k e d by c o n t i n u o u s rain, airfields becoming seriously water-logged and o p e r a t i o n s rare. T h e o p e n i n g d a y s of the m o n t h did however see a n u m b e r of moves and changes, coupled with events that were to affect a n u m b e r of units t o o n e extent or another. O n 1 J a n u a r y the EVA's 23 M i r a moved to S a l o n i k a f r o m where it was p r o p o s e d that its P Z L s should o p e r a t e over the 3rd Army front in the eastern sector, using the K o r i t z a airfields as f o r w a r d landing g r o u n d s for refuelling. M e a n w h i l e 22 M i r a moved to Yanina. F o r the R A F ' s 211 S q u a d r o n the new year was m a r k e d by a tragic accident. 63
Advice had just been received that Sqn Ldr G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n had been a w a r d e d a D F C , while N e w Year's Eve w a s also Fit Lt G D Jones' birthday. W i t h a triple reason to celebrate the s q u a d r o n wined and dined at M a x i m ' s in Athens, but while r e t u r n i n g t o the Mess, o n e car c o n t a i n i n g several officers crashed into a tree, t h e E q u i p m e n t Officer, Fit Lt D C Barrett, dying of the injuries he received, whilst G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n , J o n e s a n d Pit Olf R W P e a r s o n were also hurt t h o u g h fortunately n o n e of them seriously. T h e s q u a d r o n was one of the few active at this time, eight Blenheims raiding E l b a s a n and 2 J a n u a r y , and nine m o r e going o u t over the front t w o d a y s later.
A veteran of the early defence of Malta, Fit Lt W J 'Timber' W o o d s , D F C (centre) arrived t o take over o n e of 8 0 S q u a d r o n ' s flights in March 1941. O n his left is Fig Off G F 'Shorty' Graham. ( £ G
Jones) At this time a n u m b e r of additional G l a d i a t o r s were ferried t o Greece, a n d four of these were supplied to 80 S q u a d r o n at Larissa as replacements. O n e was flown in by Fit Lt W J ' T i m b e r ' W o o d s , D F C , w h o remained with the unit as a flight c o m m a n d e r . O n e of the original M a l t a G l a d i a t o r pilots of s u m m e r 1940, W o o d s h a d already some five victories to his credit. T h e unit was also joined by Pit Olf Eldon Trollip, a Rhodesian, w h o had been in hospital in Athens, suffering f r o m jaundice. A few days later nine Wellingtons f r o m 70 S q u a d r o n would arrive on d e t a c h m e n t at Menidi and Eleusis, led by W g C d r E B Webb. T w o officers of the United States Army Air Force, Col G C Bower and M a j A T C r a w , also arrived in G r e e c e at this time as military observers. Both would fly as passengers in Blenheims and Wellingtons on a n u m b e r of raids d u r i n g t h e c o m i n g m o n t h s . T h e first real action of 1941 occurred on 6 J a n u a r y as weather permitted some m o r e sustained o p e r a t i o n a l flying. O n their third raid of the m o n t h , nine 64
Pit OIT E W C Trollip, 8 0 S q u a d r o n . ( M M
Stephens)
Blenheims f r o m 211 S q u a d r o n a p p e a r e d over V a l o n a at 0940, b o m b i n g the foreshore f r o m 4000 feet. C R 4 2 s of 150° G r u p p o a n d G.50bis f r o m 154° G r u p p o were scrambled, intercepting as the b o m b e r s left the target. Ten Livio Bassi and t w o o t h e r 154° pilots claimed o n e Blenheim shot d o w n between them, Bassi then a t t a c k i n g a n d s h o o t i n g d o w n a second Blenheim which a p p e a r s t o have been Fig Off R D C a m p b e l l ' s L1487. W i t h the aircraft riddled, a n d the gunner, Sgt R Appleyard, having been w o u n d e d in the head twice, C a m p b e l l crashed into t h e sea south-west of V a l o n a . breaking his leg as a result. Despite their w o u n d s and injuries, all three m e m b e r s of the crew m a n a g e d to extricate themselves, a l t h o u g h they then b e c a m e separated in t h e sea. Bassi, r a t h e r t h a n p u r s u e the remaining Blenheims, guided a destroyer to the area where the observer, Sgt J H Beharrell, w a s rescued. T h e pilot and g u n n e r eventually m a n a g e d t o swim to the coast, but here they had great difficulty getting a s h o r e d u e t o perpendicular cliffs at the land's edge. T h e y eventually m a n a g e d it, a n d were finally f o u n d and m a d e prisoners a r o u n d midnight. M e a n w h i l e the C R 4 2 pilots had kept u p the pursuit, r e t u r n i n g t o claim four m o r e Blenheims s h o t d o w n , three of t h e m by Serg O s v a l d o Bartolaccini a n d o n e by S o t t o t e n P a s q u a l e Faltoni. Sgt J R Marshall's L I 5 4 2 had been slightly d a m a g e d in the tail by AA when a C R 4 2 attacked, but the gunner, Sgt Bill Baird, drove this off, r e p o r t i n g that s m o k e poured from its engine as it b r o k e away. L8536, flown by Fig Off L S Delaney was badly hit, a l t h o u g h Sgt T A M c C o r d in the turret claimed that he believed he had shot d o w n a ' M a c c h i ' in flames. As the 65
A 211 S q u a d r o n Blenheim I b o m b e r c o m e s in to land at a Greek airfield. (1WM)
b o m b e r headed away, the port engine s t o p p e d , but it headed on, a c c o m p a n i e d by the f o r m a t i o n leader, Fit Lt D o u d n e y , w h o s e Blenheim h a d also been heavily d a m a g e d . N e a r the frontier Delaney indicated that he was g o i n g d o w n to land. As he a t t e m p t e d to bring the aircraft d o w n on its belly, it struck some boulders a n d cartwheeled; t h e crew were killed outright. D o u d n e y a l m o s t reached Menidi, but he t o o w a s obliged to crash-land short of this base. T w o m o r e Blenheims also received d a m a g e , Fig Off L B B u c h a n a n reaching Menidi, while Pit Off J C C o x put d o w n at Eleusis for t e m p o r a r y repairs. Losses were t h u s o n e Blenheim over the target a n d t w o crash-landed, o n e of t h e m totally destroyed as a result, plus t w o m o r e d a m a g e d against Italian claims for six destroyed and o n e d a m a g e d . D u r i n g the past m o n t h Hs 126 E33 of 3 Mira, crewed by M a j D e m e t r i u s Daliatseas and C a p t Spyridon N a n o p o u l o s . h a d u n d e r t a k e n daily patrols over t h e front lines in t h e P o g r a d e c area whenever weather permitted. O n this d a t e the aircraft was hit a n d shot d o w n by AA fire, the crew losing their lives. T w o d a y s later on 8 J a n u a r y , a f o r m a t i o n of Z.1007bis b o m b e r s a p p e a r e d over the front, being attacked in the O s t r a v o area by 22 M i r a P Z L s . C a p t G P h a n o u r g a k i s is believed to have been the pilot credited with o n e b o m b e r shot d o w n , a l t h o u g h it a p p e a r s that on this occasion n o n e were lost, the Italian 66
g u n n e r s claiming o n e P Z L in return, f r o m an a t t a c k i n g force of P Z L s , G l a d i a t o r s a n d ' H u r r i c a n e s ' (sic). Later in the day nine C R 4 2 s , a p p a r e n t l y flown by pilots of the 154° G r u p p o , escorted a 72° G r u p p o Ro.37bis over the Kelcyre area, engaging 21 M i r a G l a d i a t o r s a n d 22 M i r a P Z L s . E a c h G r e e k unit claimed one Fiat shot d o w n , o n e of these being credited t o C a p t A n d r e w A n d o n i o u , the 22 M i r a c o m m a n d e r , while the Italians claimed five G l a d i a t o r s , o n e of which was seen t o force-land at A r g y r o k a s t r o n . S o far as can be ascertained, neither side in fact suffered any loss.
Greek personnel dismantle t w o captured Meridionali Ro.37bis aircraft for shipment south from recently-captured Koritza airfield in January 1941. In the background is the crash-landed S.73, 606-7 (ex 1-LODI).
W e a t h e r again reduced activity until 12 J a n u a r y , when 24 C R 4 2 s f r o m the 150" and 160" G r u p p o appeared over the front to strafe targets of o p p o r t u n i t y such as mule trains. AA fire struck one 150" G r u p p o aircraft, and T e n F r a n c e s c o G a t t i was shot d o w n . O v e r Larissa the weather cleared and 80 S q u a d r o n was ordered t o fly u p to Y a n i n a during the afternoon. Bad visibility prevented t h e m f r o m finding their way t h r o u g h the m o u n t a i n s , but in any event Y a n i n a airfield was unserviceable. Indeed Larissa t o o would be so the next day, for d u r i n g the night heavy snow fell. This was to continue, interspersed with rain, for the next five or six days, culminating on 17 and 18 J a n u a r y with c o n t i n u o u s rain a n d t h u n d e r storms which curtailed all flying. However, p e n d i n g the arrival of a further R A F fighter s q u a d r o n , 80 S q u a d r o n was required to leave Larissa a n d get to Y a n i n a as soon as possible. T h e g r o u n d personnel set out in a convoy of trucks on the direct route, but experienced great difficulty a n d hardships. R o a d s were virtually impassable, a n d at night temperatures d r o p p e d to 32°F below freezing! Eventually they had t o give u p a n d return to Larissa, setting o u t again via the long southerly r o u t e t h r o u g h Larissa, 67
Agrinion and Arta. M e a n w h i l e on 14 J a n u a r y Sgt G r e g o r y m a n a g e d t o fly one G l a d i a t o r u p t o the new base, followed by nine m o r e t w o d a y s later, a n d a further trio on 19 J a n u a r y .
Pilots of 21 Mira at Yanina following their re-equipment late in 1940 with e x - R A F Gladiators, o n e of which forms the background to their group. (A
Stamatopoulos)
O n e of the worst-hit airfields had been K a l a m b a k a in C e n t r a l Greece, where the G l a d i a t o r s of 21 M i r a were based. W h e n ordered to fly d o w n to Eleusis t o cover an incoming convoy, the base personnel were defeated by t h e task of trying to clear the r u n w a y . C a p t J o h n Kellas, the c o m m a n d i n g officer, m a d e a plea for help to the local villagers, a n d a b o u t 200 old men, w o m e n a n d children turned up, e q u i p p e d with a variety of agricultural implements. W o r k i n g with a will, they cleared the g r o u n d sufficiently t o allow the s q u a d r o n t o get off next day. Subsequent to this, the G r e e k fighters began assembling at airfields in M a c e d o n i a . 21 M i r a r e t u r n e d f r o m Eleusis to Ptolemais, while 22 Mira moved t o Salonika t o replace 23 Mira, this latter unit w i t h d r a w i n g to Larissa t o reorganise. 24 Mira, released f r o m the c o n t r o l of AA C o m m a n d , had moved with its Bloch MB151s t o S a l o n i k a also, where it now joined the other Mire u n d e r the c o n t r o l of EVA F i g h t e r C o m m a n d . T h e Regia A e r o n a u t i c a also u n d e r t o o k some c h a n g e s at this time. O n 15 J a n u a r y the 5° G r u p p o O A (31 a and 39" Squadriglia) arrived at Devoli f r o m Italy, e q u i p p e d with Ro.37bis tactical reconnaissance aircraft, while next day t h e 154" G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T a n d 394 a Squadriglia C T moved their fighters f r o m Berat t o Devoli. However on 20 J a n u a r y , t h e S.79s of the 105° G r u p p o BT left Albania, flying back t o Italy t o become a part of the 4 a S q u a d r a Aerea — as 4 a Z A T had been r e n a m e d on 1 J a n u a r y . This C o m a n d o had relinquished its 41° 68
Personnel of 24 Mira with o n e of their Bloch M B 1 5 1 fighters at an advanced airfield early in 1941. (A
Stamatopoulos)
Bloch M B 1 5 1 fighter of 24 Mira with Greek groundcrew personnel. ( A
69
Stamatopoulos)
G r u p p o BT on this same d a t e (20 January), when it withdrew to Littoria w i t h o u t aircraft t o remuster as a t o r p e d o - b o m b e r unit. In the 35° S t o r m o B M , the 95° G r u p p o w a s now exchanging its Z.506Bs for Z.1007bis b o m b e r s , but the 86° G r u p p o retained its b o m b e r floatplanes for t h e time being. O n 30 J a n u a r y the C o m a n d o would lose one of its d i v e - b o m b e r units when the 96° G r u p p o B a'T took its Ju87s over to Libya t o support Graziani's hard-pressed army there. O n 20 J a n u a r y , 211 S q u a d r o n again despatched five Blenheims t o b o m b V a l o n a d u r i n g the m o r n i n g . F o u r 150' G r u p p o C R 4 2 s a t t a c k e d just as they h a d finished their b o m b i n g , a n d two were slightly d a m a g e d , Sottoten E r n a n i L o d d o claiming o n e shot d o w n . Escaping the fighters, all five were heading back to base when ten miles s o u t h of C o r f u a Z.506B f r o m 35" S t o r m o BM was sighted, and was a t t a c k e d by Fig Olf B u c h a n a n in LI490. Closing to 75 yards, B u c h a n a n inflicted severe d a m a g e and silenced the turret gunner, but return fire had struck the Blenheim in o n e engine nascelle; on return the Italian g u n n e r claimed to have shot d o w n o n e Blenheim a n d possibly a second! 80 S q u a d r o n was still m a i n t a i n i n g a d e t a c h m e n t at Eleusis for the defence of Athens and at 1220 on this d a t e three G l a d i a t o r s were ordered off to patrol over Piraeus, as Italian b o m b e r s were reported a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m the west. T w o m i n u t e s later t w o m o r e G l a d i a t o r s were ordered off to p a t r o l 15 miles t o the south-west, a n d t w o of 30 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheim fighters were also scrambled. At 1330 four Z.1007bis f r o m 47° S t o r m o BT a p p e a r e d over A t h e n s and b o m b e d f r o m 13 000 feet, escaping interception, as the trio of G l a d i a t o r s were patrolling at 10 000 feet and had n o c h a n c e of reaching the b o m b e r s , a l t h o u g h they did chase t h e m out t o sea. W h e n a second f o r m a t i o n of b o m b e r s a p p r o a c h e d however, the G l a d i a t o r s had climbed to 15 000 feet and were well-placed to intercept, m a k i n g a head-on attack as the b o m b e r s turned east for their target. Pit Off Stuckey then b r o k e away and m a d e an individual q u a r t e r attack closing to very short range; his G l a d i a t o r was struck by return fire and he b r o k e away, diving t o sea level a n d going in to land at a newly-constructed airfield at Hassani, just south of Athens. As he a p p r o a c h e d a n o t h e r aircraft was in his way, and he was forced t o circuit again. However, as he glided in over the hangars, flames were see c o m ing f r o m the u n d e r s i d e fuel tank of K.7902, and next m o m e n t the G l a d i a t o r w a s engulfed, c r a s h i n g into the g r o u n d ; Stuckey was killed instantly. M e a n w h i l e Fit Lt W o o d s attacked the same b o m b e r at which Stuckey h a d been firing, joined by o n e of the Blenheim I F s flown by F / S g t D J Innes-Smith. Suddenly the big C a n t t r i m o t o r also burst into flames a n d four m e m b e r s of the crew baled out just before it crashed into the sea ten miles south of Athens, exploding on impact. T h e o t h e r four b o m b e r s in t h e f o r m a t i o n all suffered d a m a g e f r o m the fighters' attacks, o n e of t h e m having also been hit by InnesSmith. 211 S q u a d r o n w a s active again on 22 J a n u a r y , Sqn L d r G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n leading six Blenheims on an offensive reconnaissance over the Kelcyre-Berat road. At Berat buildings were b o m b e d f r o m 6500 feet, but t w o G.50bis f r o m 154° G r u p p o then intercepted. T h e s e chased the Blenheims for ten minutes, claiming o n e shot d o w n . Their fire had indeed struck four of t h e b o m b e r s , and in Fig Off A C G o d f r e y ' s aircraft o n e bullet set a Very cartridge on fire, starting a blaze which 70
Fiat G . 5 0 b i s of 154" G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T . (F Pedriali
via N
Malizia)
must have looked as t h o u g h it spelled 'finis' for the machine; a l t h o u g h preparing to bale out, the crew were able t o extinguish the fire and return to base. In Pit Off C o x ' s LI528, Pit Off Bevington-Smith. the observer, recalled: ' W e were attacked over the target and escaped into cloud, b e c o m i n g separated in the process. Flying alone, d o w n the Ionian Sea and once we were south of C o r f u , C o x let me fly, a n d I was stoodging a l o n g with C o x d o z i n g in the observer's seat. Casting my eye over the instruments, I t h o u g h t something might be w r o n g and I shook him a w a k e (the oil pressure was nil and the oil t e m p e r a t u r e very high). I had never seen C o x m o v e so quickly in his life! As he t o o k control, our s t a r b o a r d engine started emitting c o p i o u s volumes of smoke, a n d had to be shut d o w n . C o x decided t o force-land at Araxos, on the north-west c o r n e r of the Peloponnese. . . . We fired off red Very lights and the people on the g r o u n d fired them back, w a r n i n g us not to land, but we had n o option. We t o u c h e d d o w n alright on the partly constructed runway; as we did so the s t a r b o a r d engine burst into flames a n d Cox yelled to o p e n the exit hatches and be prepared t o get out. T o d o this I undid my seat belt, a n d as the aircraft slowed d o w n the m a i n wheels sunk into the g r o u n d , pitching the aircraft u p on its nose. I was precipitated into the nose, hitting my m o u t h on the b o m b sight, and losing four of my front teeth.' T h e three airmen obtained a lift in a farm cart t o P a t r a s where they contacted the U S Consul. He advised them that there was n o train to Athens for four or five 71
days, so they walked t o the h a r b o u r , and there hitched a lift on a b o a t t o Piraeus that night. T h e further reinforcements now began t o arrive in Greece, t h e air party of 11 S q u a d r o n arriving at Eleusis on 23 J a n u a r y . This comprised six Blenheim Is and six M a r k IVs, led by Sqn Ldr P Stevens; the g r o u n d party w o u l d follow five d a y s later, t h e unit moving f o r w a r d to Larissa t o begin o p e r a t i o n s on 28th. O n the same d a y 'A' Flight of 112 S q u a d r o n flew in - nine G l a d i a t o r s , led by Sqn Ldr H L T Brown, and a B o m b a y of 216 S q u a d r o n carrying supplies. T h e g r o u n d party was on its way by sea, while 'B' Flight would follow in a few days, c o m m a n d e d by Fit Lt C h a r l e s Fry, an Australian. 'A' Flight c o m m a n d e r was C a n a d i a n Fit Lt Lloyd G 'Algy' Schwab, w h o had gained four victories in the Desert to date.
Regular visitors to Greece were the supply-carrying Bristol B o m b a y s of 216 S q u a d r o n , o n e of which a p p r o a c h e s Athens. (S W
Lee)
It was the t u r n of the G r e e k fighters again on 25 J a n u a r y when d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n 4 a S q u a d r a Aerea launched a r e s u m p t i o n of their air a t t a c k s on Salonika. T e n C a n t Z.1007bis f r o m the 50° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o BT a p p e a r e d over the city, being intercepted by 21 a n d 22 Mire, o n e b o m b e r being claimed shot d o w n by C a p t A n d o n i o u of the latter unit, a n d a second by o n e of the G l a d i a t o r pilots. T h e Italians reported that one Z.1007bis had been s h o t d o w n , a p p a r e n t l y by AA fire, while a second suffered d a m a g e t o a t t a c k i n g G l a d i a t o r s . Fiat BR20s f r o m the 37° S t o r m o BT were also over Greece, r e p o r t i n g interception over Kelcyre by b o t h G l a d i a t o r s and P Z L s , g u n n e r s claiming o n e of the latter shot d o w n . T w o BR20s were claimed in return, one by a pilot of 23 M i r a a n d o n e by 22 M i r a , the victor in the latter case being believed to be C a p t G D o u k a s . T w o BR20s were indeed hit, o n e force-landing near Berat, severely d a m a g e d , while a second regained its base at Lecce with three m e m b e r s of the crew w o u n d e d . D u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n three of 30 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheim b o m b e r s set off t o raid Boultsov in Albania, b u t over the target area at 1505 six G.50bis were seen - p a r t 72
of a force of 14 of these aircraft and 20 C R 4 2 s which were patrolling over all the m a i n Albanian centres. L8443 (Sgt L W Stammers) w a s a t t a c k e d several times, the gunner, Sgt W S Akeroyd, being w o u n d e d in the h a n d , a r m a n d stomach. Despite his w o u n d s , he c o n t i n u e d to m a n his g u n until the attacking fighters b r o k e away. H e then crawled forward t o report the extent of his w o u n d s , and of t h e d a m a g e t o t h e aircraft, and to his pilot; t h e observer had also been hit in the leg. T h e G.50bis pilots claimed one Blenheim p r o b a b l y destroyed, but although o n e of t h e other b o m b e r s had also been badly d a m a g e d , all three got back t o Eleusis. T h i s unit had now been taken over by Sqn Ldr R A Milward, w h o had previously c o m m a n d e d a flight of Blenheims in 39 S q u a d r o n , based in Aden. Very p o o r w e a t h e r c o n t i n u e d to limit flying on most d a y s in the period 21-26 J a n u a r y , but on 27 J a n u a r y , the nine G l a d i a t o r s of 80 S q u a d r o n ' s Eleusis d e t a c h m e n t flew u p t o Y a n i n a t o rejoin the rest of t h e unit. T h e i r role in the south was taken over by 112 S q u a d r o n , which u n d e r t o o k its first p a t r o l over A t h e n s on this date; the s q u a d r o n would be fully o p e r a t i o n a l by 1 F e b r u a r y .
A formation of C a n t Z.1007bis (twin tailed versions) of 191" Squadriglia, 86° G r u p p o , 35" S t o r m o BT head for Greece. (Fam Salvador! via N Malizia)
T h e strengthened 80 S q u a d r o n was able t o o p e r a t e on 28 J a n u a r y , Sqn Ldr J o n e s leading 15 G l a d i a t o r s on an offensive patrol between Kelcyre and Premet on this date. At 1420 f o u r 37° S t o r m o BR20s a n d five 35° S t o r m o Z.1007bis were sighted, a n d Fit Lt Pattle's section of three (Pattle, Sgt C a s b o l t a n d Pit OfT Trollip) engaged one of the latter unit's new aircraft, which fell in flames, only t w o 73
m e m b e r s of the crew m a n a g i n g to bale out. C a s b o l t then attacked a second C a n t , while Pattle and Trollip went after o n e of the BR20s; the latter was seen to g o d o w n gushing s m o k e f r o m its s t a r b o a r d engine and w a s claimed as a probable. Fig Off Cullen also reported s h o o t i n g d o w n a Z.1007bis, which exploded in midair, but as only o n e w a s actually lost it is presumed that he also fired at t h e aircraft shot d o w n by Pattle's section. O n e other C a n t in a n o t h e r f o r m a t i o n was d a m a g e d a n d returned with three w o u n d e d a b o a r d - p r e s u m a b l y the second b o m b e r a t t a c k e d and claimed d a m a g e d by Casbolt. Later in the a f t e r n o o n the Greek authorities notified t h e s q u a d r o n that a second Italian aircraft had crashed in the area and this w a s presumed to have fallen as a result of the earlier action. H o w e v e r this would in fact seem to have been a G.50bis of the 355 a Squadriglia C T (Serg T o m m a s o Pacini) which failed to r e t u r n f r o m a b o m b e r escort sortie over the K o r i t z a area, a n d was presumed shot d o w n by AA fire.
F i g OIT R N Cullen D F C (rt) of 8 0 S q u a d r o n with a visiting Army Officer. ( £ G
74
Jones)
Thereafter the weather closed in again over C e n t r a l a n d S o u t h e r n Greece, preventing any w o r t h w h i l e o p e r a t i o n s until 5 F e b r u a r y . Fit Lt Pattle did lead six G l a d i a t o r s u p t o p a t r o l over C o r f u on 31 J a n u a r y , but n o t h i n g was seen and on r e t u r n Fit Lt Kettlewell's aircraft overturned after hitting a soft patch on landing, suffering severe d a m a g e . D u r i n g the closing d a y s of J a n u a r y , 211 S q u a d r o n learned that Fit Lt G r a h a m J o n e s had been a w a r d e d a D F C , whilst 80 S q u a d r o n was advised of a p o s t h u m o u s a w a r d of this medal t o their f o r m e r c o m m a n d i n g officer, Sqn Ldr Hickey. F e b r u a r y ' s bad weather led t o an inauspicious start t o the m o n t h . O n 2 F e b r u a r y o n e of 11 S q u a d r o n ' s newly-arrived Blenheims, N3580, force-landed n e a r S a l o n i k a whilst on a n o n - o p e r a t i o n a l flight, while a second, T2235, was lost on a flight f r o m Eleusis to Abu Sueir, Sgt D G S t r a c h a n a n d his crew being posted missing. Sunderland ' U \ L2166, patrolling over the coastal area f r o m the d e t a c h m e n t base at S c a r a m a n g a , was intercepted by a pair of Z.506B floatplanes which a t t a c k e d for six minutes. T h e llyingboat was not hit, but its g u n n e r s believed that they h a d scored strikes on the attackers.
T w o sergeants t o u c h the bald head of a groundcrew N C O for luck before getting into their Blenheim for a raid.
84 S q u a d r o n tried on 5 F e b r u a r y , three Blenheims going out at 0715, t o b o m b supply d e p o t s on the Valona-Tepelene road. T h e y b e c a m e separated in low cloud on the way t o the target, a t t a c k i n g individually. As they returned the port engine of Fit Lt T o w g o o d ' s L I 3 9 2 failed and the Blenheim crashed near the b o u n d a r y fence of Menidi airfield, the pilot being killed instantly, a l t h o u g h the o t h e r 75
m e m b e r s of the crew survived u n h u r t . Next day Fig Off A N N Nicholson of this unit w a s off in L I 3 9 3 on a solo m i d d a y sortie t o the Tepelene area. T h e w e a t h e r again deteriorated, a n d in very p o o r visibility he was obliged to ditch in the sea near a small island in the eastern end of the Gulf of C o r i n t h . Sgt A J Hollist, the g u n n e r , was killed in t h e crash, whilst t h e observer. Pit Off R G C D a y , was d r o w n e d . Nicholson alone m a n a g e d t o inflate the dinghy and reached the island from where he was evacuated to hospital. Italian b o m b e r s were again over Greece on 8 F e b r u a r y according t o Regia A e r o n a u t i c a records. C a n t Z.1007bis of 37° S t o r m o BT raided C a j a z z a and Suka, being engaged by G r e e k fighters. O n e G l a d i a t o r and one P Z L were claimed shot d o w n with a second P Z L as a probable, but o n e b o m b e r was badly hit and was destroyed in a force-landing on return to Lecce with three men being hurt. A n o t h e r f o r m a t i o n was attacked by P Z L s and returned with o n e a i r m a n badly w o u n d e d , while an S.79 was d a m a g e d by AA. T h e r e are n o G r e e k claims or losses recorded for this d a t e and it is possible that these e n g a g e m e n t s were a m o n g s t those reported by EVA units on 9 F e b r u a r y . D u r i n g 8 F e b r u a r y , 22 a n d 23 Mire moved with their P Z L s t o the forward landing g r o u n d at P a r a m y t h i a , a valley in north-western Greece, close t o the Epirus sector of the f r o n t line. Next day the skies e r u p t e d with action. F r o m Y a n i n a at 1030 Sqn Ldr J o n e s led off 14 of 80 S q u a d r o n ' s G l a d i a t o r s on an offensive p a t r o l over the Tepelene area, a l t h o u g h one G l a d i a t o r ' s engine stopped as it b e c a m e a i r b o r n e a n d Fig Off Price-Owen was forced to glide back to the airfield. N e a r Tepelene a trio of S.79s were seen, but lost in cloud, following which Sqn Ldr J o n e s a n d Fig Off W a n k l y n Flower b o t h experienced engine trouble and were obliged to t u r n back. Fit Lt Pattle took over the lead, a n d just before midday five C R 4 2 s were seen, followed by m a n y more, 3 0 - 4 0 being reported. In fact there were just 16 fighters of the 150' G r u p p o , led by C a p E d m o n d o Travaglini, and t h e Italian pilots also overestimated the opposition, identifying the 11 G l a d i a t o r s as 20 strong! M a n y individual dogfights developed between Tepelene a n d A r g y r o k a s t r o n . Pattle shot d o w n o n e Fiat which crashed into the g r o u n d at speed on the outskirts of Tepelene, while Fig Off Cullen put four bursts into a n o t h e r a n d reported seeing it crash i n t o a hillside a n d burst into flames. T h e s q u a d r o n returned t o claim four definitely shot d o w n and three probables, but the Greek authorities provided c o n f i r m a t i o n next day that all seven had crashed, a n d victories were credited t o Fit Lt Kettlewell, Pit Off Vale, Pit O f f C H Tulloch, Sgt G r e g o r y a n d Sgt C a s b o l t , as well as the Pattle and Cullen. T h e initial claims had been n e a r e r the truth, for four C R 4 2 s were in fact hit; Serg R o m a n o M a i o n i c a and Serg Barolo b o t h failed to return, the latter being believed to have baled out, while T e n Rovetta was w o u n d e d a n d crashed while a t t e m p t i n g to land at base, and C a p Travaglini force-landed near T i r a n a . In return the Italians claimed four G l a d i a t o r s shot d o w n and nine d a m a g e d . Fig Off Hosken baled out of N5811, w o u n d e d in o n e leg, when his controls were shot away; he c a m e d o w n near Tepelene. Fit Lt Kettlewell force-landed N 5 8 5 8 some 50 miles n o r t h of Y a n i n a d u e t o lack of oil pressure, but with his aircraft u n d a m a g e d . Both returned to Y a n i n a aided by the Greek army. Whilst the G l a d i a t o r s were away, Yanina was b o m b e d at 1100 by five b o m b e r s 76
Fig Off P T 'Keg' D o w d i n g , Lt C o l Alex Melas, Greek Liaison Officer. Wt Olf C a s e y and Fit Lt G W V 'Jimmie' Kettlewell of 80 Squadron. (E G
Jones)
identified as BR20s, b u t these were in fact 104° G r u p p o BT S.79s. T h e i r b o m b s missed the target a n d t h e only d a m a g e was t o the s o u t h e r n o u t s k i r t s of the town. At 1600 a further raid was made, this time reported as c o m p r i s i n g 15 b o m b e r s with an escort of six fighters; again there was n o d a m a g e . 18 m o r e 104° G r u p p o S.79s were out to b o m b in the Kelcyre-Tepelene area d u r i n g the day, escorted by 12 G.50bis fighters f r o m 24° G r u p p o led by M a g g Eugenio Leotta, a n d 12 C R 4 2 s of 160° G r u p p o , led by Ten E d o a r d o Crainz. This f o r m a t i o n was intercepted by four G l a d i a t o r s of 21 M i r a a n d eight P Z L s f r o m 22 and 23 Mire. In a series of hectic dogfights the G.50bis pilots claimed o n e G l a d i a t o r and three P Z L s s h o t d o w n , while the C R 4 2 pilots submitted claims for three G l a d i a t o r s (one each by Ten Crainz, Serg M a g g L u c i a n o T a r a n t i n i a n d Serg M a g g Aurelio M u n i c h ) a n d t w o P Z L s (Sottoten R a o u l F r a n c i n e t t i a n d Serg A n t o n i o Crabbia). Against these nine claims it seems t h a t three G r e e k fighters were actually hit; 1/Lt A n t o n i s P a p a i o a n n o u w a s w o u n d e d seriously in b o t h legs and force-landed his G l a d i a t o r near K a k a v i a , d a m a g e d beyond repair; o n e P Z L was hit in t h e engine a n d c a m e d o w n in a field, being totally destroyed in the crash-landing, a l t h o u g h the pilot was u n h u r t ; a second P Z L was shot u p by three fighters a n d Sgt J o h n M i c h o p o u l o s was w o u n d e d in the thigh, but he m a n a g e d t o get back to Salonika/Sedes and land. In return the G r e e k s claimed six victories, C a p t Kellas, c o m m a n d e r of 21 Mira, claiming t w o b o m b e r s and Sgt D a g o u l a s of 22 M i r a claiming one, while 2/Lt Anastassios Bardivilias of 21 M i r a claimed two fighters a n d 1/Lt Mitralexes of 22 M i r a o n e m o r e over Berat. N o Italian fighters were lost on this occasion, but some of the b o m b e r s claimed may have been Ju87s of 238 a Squadriglia, which 77
were o p e r a t i n g over the front on this date. Six of these d i v e - b o m b e r s were reportedly a t t a c k e d by 20 Greek fighters, Sottoten Luigi de Regis's aircraft being seriously d a m a g e d and force-landing near Valona, while a second aircraft was d a m a g e d , a l t h o u g h reportedly by AA fire. O t h e r aircraft claimed may have been the b o m b e r s reported a t t a c k e d by G r e e k fighters on the previous day. C a n t Z.1007bis b o m b e r s f r o m the 47° S t o r m o a n d 50° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o BT were also in action d u r i n g the day, raiding Salonika once again. H e r e they reported being attacked by 'Blenheim fighters and Hurricanes', o n e b o m b e r being d a m a g e d by o n e of the latter. N o R A F Blenheims were involved, but it is possible that 32 M i r a b o m b e r s b e c a m e engaged whilst on a sortie t o t h e front. H o w e v e r the ' H u r r i c a n e s ' were u n d o u b t e d l y the Bloch M B 1 5 1 fighters of 24 M i r a f r o m Sedes airfield, Sgt E S m y r n i o t o p o u l o s of this unit claiming o n e b o m b e r shot down. D u r i n g early F e b r u a r y Italian s u b m a r i n e s had been sighted several times in the S o u t h Aegean, A n s o n s of 13 Mira being ordered to patrol between t h e Saronic Gulf a n d Crete as a result. O n 9 F e b r u a r y , Anson N 5 7 w a s ordered off on such a sortie in bad weather, but as it carried out its lonely duty a s t o r m developed, a n d the crew became lost. Eventually, r u n n i n g low on fuel, they a t t e m p t e d a forcelanding on the Plain of M e s s a r a in the centre of S o u t h e r n Crete. As they a p p r o a c h e d , they released the b o m b l o a d for safety, but o n e b o m b h u n g - u p and exploded as they t o u c h e d d o w n , destroying the aircraft a n d killing 1/Lt N i c h o l a o u s T o u b a k a r i s and his navigator, the gunner being injured. Following the heavy fighting on this date, 80 S q u a d r o n received reinforcement d u r i n g the evening by five G l a d i a t o r s f r o m 112 S q u a d r o n on a t t a c h m e n t with their pilots. T h e s q u a d r o n also celebrated the a w a r d of a D F C to Fit Lt Pattle, whose personal score now stood at over 15. Sqn Ldr Milward, c o m m a n d i n g 30 S q u a d r o n at Eleusis, also received a D F C for his work in Aden earlier in the year. T h e day also saw the move of six of 211 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheims t o join the Greek P Z L s at P a r a m y t h i a . T h e 'Valley of Fairy Tales' as it became k n o w n t o the R A F , was t o become of increasing i m p o r t a n c e in the weeks which followed. T e n miles long, 3000 feet a b o v e sea level, and s u r r o u n d e d by m o u n t a i n s reaching 6000 feet to the d o m i n a t i n g M o u n t Kovillas, the valley was accessible only by the air, or by foot and mule. It was a p p r o a c h e d by following a d r i e d - u p river bed which m e a n d e r e d for m a n y miles until a break in the m o u n t a i n s appeared. This was wide e n o u g h t o allow an aircraft the size of a Wellington to fly t h r o u g h - with caution - t o reach the airfield, which was a mere 30 m i n u t e s flying time f r o m the front. T h e r e were n o buildings, only tented a c c o m m o d a t i o n , but despite m a n y reconnaissances, the Italians had not been able to locate the base. T h e Blenheims would use it as an advanced landing g r o u n d , and the crews light-heartedly discussed the use of their secret w e a p o n s on further raids - empty beer bottles a n d full latrine buckets! Sustained a t t a c k s on Y a n i n a were m a d e on 10 F e b r u a r y by Italian b o m b e r s of all types. Fighters of b o t h the EVA and the R A F patrolled and intercepted in a series of r a t h e r confused engagements. D u r i n g the m o r n i n g three f o r m a t i o n s of 47° S t o r m o Z.1007bis and five S.79s f r o m the 104" G r u p p o attacked, the latter
78
escorted by 154° G r u p p o C T G.50bis fighters, led by M a g g Leotta. T h e second formation was intercepted by a trio of 21 M i r a G l a d i a t o r s , b u t the escort were on t h e m like a shot, L e o t t a claiming o n e shot d o w n a n d his pilots a second in collaboration; 2/Lt Bardivilias of the G r e e k unit was shot d o w n a n d killed. Five of the Z.1007bis crews reported being attacked by ten G l a d i a t o r s a n d a 'Curtiss' (possibly a Bloch MB151 f r o m Sedes), the g u n n e r s claiming o n e fighter shot d o w n , but three of t h e C a n t s being d a m a g e d by fighters a n d AA. A second formation of nine b o m b e r s met five G l a d i a t o r s , while a third f o r m a t i o n enc o u n t e r e d eight G l a d i a t o r s and PZLs, claiming three P Z L s shot d o w n . Thirteen BR20s of 37° S t o r m o BT also met P Z L s , claiming o n e shot d o w n but suffering d a m a g e t o o n e BR20 which force-landed at Valona. It would seem that this w a s claimed by a pilot of 23 M i r a as shot d o w n . T h r e e G l a d i a t o r s of 80 S q u a d r o n h a d chased five Z.1007bis b o m b e r s d u r i n g mid m o r n i n g (probably the initial 47° S t o r m o formation), but could not gain sufficient height to m a k e an effective attack. Nevertheless they saw their fire strike t w o of the b o m b e r s , Fit Lt Pattle claiming o n e d a m a g e d . D u r i n g these m o r n i n g raids b o m b s fell on the west a n d n o r t h sides of t h e airfield, but little d a m a g e was caused other t h a n to one staff car. T h e a f t e r n o o n was practically a c o n t i n u a l air raid alarm. F o u r S.79s of 104° G r u p p o again a t t a c k e d under escort by a dozen 154" G r u p p o G50bis, the escort claiming a further G l a d i a t o r shot d o w n when a single Allied fighter of this type intercepted. Ten m o r e 47° S t o r m o Z.1007bis crews reported attack by ten G l a d i a t o r s a n d seven PZLs, claiming four G l a d i a t o r s shot d o w n . However seven of the b o m b e r s were hit, o n e of them badly, a n d a n u m b e r of aircrew were w o u n d e d . F o u r t e e n R A F G l a d i a t o r s , 12 f r o m 80 S q u a d r o n a n d t w o f r o m 112, u n d e r t o o k defensive patrols, d u r i n g o n e of which Fig Off Cullen chased away o n e formation of five t r i m o t o r s , then attacked five more, identified as S.79s, and chased these out to sea, claiming to have shot o n e d o w n into the sea south of C o r f u . A n o t h e r f o r m a t i o n identified as BR20s, but a l m o s t certainly the 47° S t o r m o Z.1007bis, was intercepted by Fit Lt Pattle, Fit Lt W o o d s and Sgt C a s b o l t , each of these pilots claiming o n e d a m a g e d , while Pit OfT Vale c a u g h t a n o t h e r which he reported crashed some 15 miles south-west of Yanina. At least five f o r m a t i o n s raided the airfield d u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n , an estimated 150 heavy b o m b s falling on or near the base. T h r e e 80 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r s were d a m a g e d a n d one 21 M i r a fighter was destroyed. In the nearby t o w n m u c h d a m a g e w a s caused and m a n y civilians killed or injured. While r e t u r n i n g t o Berat f r o m o n e of their escort missions, 154° G r u p p o G.50bis pilots c a m e across a lone P o t e z 63 of 31 M i r a and shot this d o w n at V o s k o p o u l i a Therapeli, 1 /'Lt G e o r g e Stavraetos, the pilot, being killed. At 0745 next m o r n i n g , 11 F e b r u a r y , 17 C R 4 2 s of 150° G r u p p o C T , led by C a p Luigi Mariotti, a n d covered by 15 G.50bis f r o m 154° G r u p p o , swept in over Y a n i n a without warning, a n d carried out a strafe, s h o o t i n g d o w n a G r e e k G l a d i a tor as it a t t e m p t e d to scramble (they claimed two), a n d slightly d a m a g e d three more G l a d i a t o r s on t h e g r o u n d (they claimed three m o r e destroyed on the g r o u n d and 15 damaged!). It was believed that AA fire had struck o n e C R 42 a n d that it
79
had crashed some miles t o t h e south, but all in fact returned. Standing patrols were m a i n t a i n e d by four or five R A F G l a d i a t o r s t h r o u g h the rest of the morning, but n o m o r e hostile aircraft a p p e a r e d .
Junkers Ju87B d i v e - b o m b e r s of 209° Squadriglia, 97° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o B a'T taking off from Lecce airfield to cross the Adriatic for a raid on targets in Greece. ( A M I via N
Malizia)
T h e AA g u n n e r s did gain o n e success on this date, s h o o t i n g d o w n a 97° G r u p p o B a T Ju87R over the front, Serg M a g g D i C a r l o a n d 1° Av A r m Bincelli of 238° Squadriglia baling out into Italian-held territory; a second aircraft f r o m 239 a Squadriglia was d a m a g e d . At 2245 in c o n d i t i o n s of perfect m o o n l i g h t six of 150° G r u p p o ' s C R 4 2 s again swept in over Yanina, three of these strafing once m o r e for 20 minutes. T h e y claimed to have d a m a g e d six m o r e G l a d i a t o r s and destroyed a lorry; they actually d a m a g e d one more fighter.
Fig Off C W "Bud' Richardson and his W O P / a i r gunner. Pit Off D Kirk man of 30 Squadron p o s e for the official Air Ministry p h o t o g r a p h e r in their Blenheim IF.
80
80 S q u a d r o n was n o w verbally promised eight H a w k e r H u r r i c a n e fighters a n d Fit Lt Kettlewell flew d o w n t o A t h e n s t o be ready t o test fly these w h e n they arrived. Next d a y nine Blenheims of 84 S q u a d r o n , led by Sqn Ldr Lewis, and three f r o m 30 S q u a d r o n , led by Fit Lt T M H o r g a n , arrived at P a r a m y t h i a on d e t a c h m e n t , joined before the end of the d a y by four 37 S q u a d r o n Wellingtons, six of which h a d arrived at Menidi earlier in t h e day, led by W g C d r R C M Collard. T h e Greek A A enjoyed a g o o d day on 12 F e b r u a r y ; 15 Z.1007bis of 47° S t o r m o raided A r g y r o k a s t r o n , where one was shot d o w n by the guns, only t w o m e m b e r s of the crew m a n a g i n g t o bale out. Twelve m o r e C a n t s were hit a n d d a m a g e d . Six m o r e of these aircraft f r o m the 35° S t o r m o raided Preveza, w h e r e three suffered d a m a g e , while o n e of five a t t a c k i n g Ju87s of the 97° G r u p p o was also hit. T h e Greek g u n n e r s claimed four shot d o w n d u r i n g these actions. G.50bis fighters of the 24° G r u p p o reported intercepting a n d s h o o t i n g d o w n an aircraft n e a r t h e T o b a r i - M a l i K a l o j a m o u n t a i n s . This was tentatively identified as a H u d s o n f r o m which a p p a r e n t l y one m a n baled out; n o clue as t o the identity of this aircraft has been found.
L o n e Cant Z.1007bis (single fin and rudder) of 231" Squadriglia, 95° G r u p p o , 35° S t o r m o BT over the Epirus mountains. N o t e the stylised 'M' for Mussolini on the fin. (Fam Salvadori
via N
Malizia)
W i t h d a r k n e s s o n e of the Wellingtons at P a r a m y t h i a (T2822 'D') was off t o attack T i r a n a airfield, where Sgt A T H G i l l a n d e r s and his crew reported setting fire t o four aircraft a l t h o u g h the b o m b e r was hit by s h r a p n e l twice. They had destroyed an S.81 a n d d a m a g e d t w o more, together with f o u r Breda Ba44s. T h e 81
o t h e r three Wellingtons a t t a c k e d Durazzo, seeing fires but actually causing n o material d a m a g e . Next m o r n i n g however the R A F hit back hard in r e t u r n for the a t t a c k s of the last t w o days. At 1000 12 Blenheims f r o m 84 and 211 S q u a d r o n s were led by t h e respective c o m m a n d i n g officers t o attack targets n o r t h of Tepelene, escorted by 14 G l a d i a t o r s of both s q u a d r o n s . 154° G r u p p o G.50bis which had been escorting a reconnaissance Ro.37 over t h e front, sighted the Blenheims a n d attacked, claiming o n e shot d o w n . T h e y had hit Fig Off B u c h a n a n ' s L8541, which was d a m a g e d in fuselage, wings a n d undercarriage, landing back at P a r a m y t h i a on one wheel. T h e g u n n e r , Sgt G Pattison, believed that he had shot d o w n one of the fighters into a hillside, but n o n e were reported lost. Sqn Ldr T o m W i s d o m , the R A F Press Officer, w a s present in Sqn Ldr G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n ' s aircraft a n d he recorded: ' O u r b o m b s were on their way. It was most exciting. I peered out and saw below me, a n u m b e r of fleecy white puffs followed by great s p u r t s of earth a n d moving specks that must have been r u n n i n g men. W e turned and retraced our c o u r s e with AA bursting all r o u n d us. T h e n y o u n g G e r r y (Pit O f f G Davis, the observer) turned t o me a n d shouted: "Fighters!" T h e y were o n t o Buck's (Fig Off B u c h a n a n ) flight, but I did not see them. T h e n they c a m e and had a look at us, j u d g i n g f r o m the way A r t h u r G e a r y (Pit Olf A C G e a r y , the gunner), in the tunnel behind me, w a s o p e r a t i n g his gun.' T h e G l a d i a t o r escort had b e c o m e separated w h e n t h e Blenheims had dived t h r o u g h cloud near Tepelene to sight their target, a n d these did not e n c o u n t e r the G.50bis, r e t u r n i n g t o Y a n i n a where they landed at 1135. T h e s q u a d r o n s were off again at 1500, 12 G l a d i a t o r s rendezvousing with six 211 S q u a d r o n Blenheims b o u n d for Bousi and six of 11 S q u a d r o n f r o m Larissa h e a d i n g for Berat. T h e latter f o r m a t i o n was intercepted by six G.50bis scrambled by 154° G r u p p o a n d led by C a p G i u s e p p e Scarpetta. T h e b o m b e r s were a t t a c k e d over Berat, several being forced t o jettison their b o m b s , a n d T2166 was seen to go d o w n in flames, only Sgt L Williams, the pilot, m a n a g i n g t o bale out. Sqn Ldr Stevens' aircraft c a m e u n d e r attack but his gunner, Sgt H Bowen, believed that he had shot d o w n o n e attacker, identified as an MC200, in flames, a n d caused a second to go d o w n smoking. As the Blenheims turned for home, t w o lagged behind and the fighters pursued these, c a t c h i n g Pit Off J H u t c h i n s o n ' s L3581, which fell in flames, only o n e m a n baling out before it hit a mountainside. Fig Off J V Berggren's aircraft force-landed in a field with o n e engine shot out, while two of t h e survivors got back to Larissa without further incident, followed 30 minutes later by Pit Off A D P Hewison's badly d a m a g e d aircraft. T h e victorious Fiat pilots claimed two shot d o w n a n d a third subsequently crashed in the mountains. T h e 211 S q u a d r o n f o r m a t i o n did not escape attack, o n e Blenheim - again flown by Fig Off B u c h a n a n - w a s d a m a g e d , while Fig Off Alan G o d f r e y ' s aircraft was attacked by a fighter a n d sustained d a m a g e t o the p o r t engine nascelle. T h e gunner, Sgt J W a i n h o u s e , believed he had hit the a t t a c k e r in an exchange of fire; he also identified the interceptor as a Macchi. T h i s time Sqn L d r W i s d o m was acting as b o m b - a i m e r - a task for which he had received earlier instruction - a n d 82
he wrote: ' W e were quite a l o n e with the Macchi a t t e m p t i n g a b e a m attack. I looked back once — the Macchi was so close that you could see the pilot's h o o d e d head. T r a c e r came past the cockpit window, there was a tinkling, tinny sound, a c c o m p a n i e d by an u n p l e a s a n t b u r n i n g smell, as an explosive bullet struck the port engine nascelle. W e t o o k avoiding action - sudden b a n k i n g and tight turns as the enemy positioned himself for the " c o u p d e grace". T h e air gunner, blasting away with his single gun t h e while, w a s directing the pilot in this exciting g a m e of aerial tag. We've m a d e it! T h e Blenheim and her crew sink into the kindly cloud. We fly blind for a m i n u t e - the hidden m o u n t a i n s are the m e n a c e now - a n d then p o p out. T h e fighters have lost us - the sky is ours again. Phew!' A l t h o u g h the G l a d i a t o r pilots had seen four G.50bis, they did not m a n a g e t o engage them, a n d u n a w a r e of the Blenheims' plight, carried out their allotted task of strafing Italian positions in the Tepelene area. AA was intense and several G l a d i a t o r s were hit by shrapnel. Sgt Barker's N 5 7 6 1 w a s hit in the engine, a n d he was obliged t o try a n d force-land 40 miles n o r t h of Yanina, the G l a d i a t o r somersaulting a n d being completely wrecked. H e w a s u n h u r t a n d returned in a Greek a r m y truck. T h a t evening five m o r e of 112 S q u a d r o n ' s G l a d i a t o r s arrived at P a r a m y t h i a f r o m Athens. M e a n w h i l e d u r i n g the d a y a pair of 150° G r u p p o C R 4 2 s on a w e a t h e r reconnaissance had spotted a lone G r e e k Fairey Battle over Trebeshinj, S o t t o t e n U g o D r a g o and his w i n g m a n claiming to have shot this down. A quieter period ensued, a n d while G l a d i a t o r s and Blenheims were in the air over the front every day d u r i n g the next four days, n o Italian f o r m a t i o n s were encountered. O n 14 F e b r u a r y , 80 S q u a d r o n despatched five m o r e pilots led by Fit Lt W o o d s , a n d including Fig Off R A Acworth, o n e of the attached 112 S q u a d r o n pilots, in a B o m b a y t o Athens t o collect the promised Hurricanes; only six of these were now available, t w o having been redirected elsewhere. A signal was received f r o m H e a d q u a r t e r s , British F o r c e s in G r e e c e at this time, which stated: ' G e n e r a l P a p a g o s has asked m e t o t h a n k all R A F units on behalf of the G r e e k Army for their magnificent s u p p o r t in today's field operations. T h e G r e e k Army have reached all their intended objectives. D'Albiac, 13 F e b r u a r y 1941.' D u r i n g the night of 15/16 F e b r u a r y , W g C d r Collard led his d e t a c h m e n t of 37 S q u a d r o n Wellingtons f r o m Menidi for an attack on Brindisi. F o u r of five b o m b e r s got off, b o m b i n g the airfield where it was believed a floatplane h a n g a r w a s set on fire, together with one aircraft on the g r o u n d . Intense AA w a s encountered and T2822 ' D ' (Sgt Gillanders) w a s shot d o w n , t w o m e m b e r s of the crew being taken prisoners, a l t h o u g h the pilot and three o t h e r s were killed. A trio of Blenheim I F s of 30 S q u a d r o n searched for the missing aircraft next m o r n i n g , o n e crew spotting five 47° S t o r m o Z.1007bis which they chased t o the Italian coast. T h r e e G.50bis then a p p e a r e d , which they m a n a g e d to evade. 47° S t o r m o reported that o n e of their C a n t s was d a m a g e d by AA over Preveza, while from 37° S t o r m o 31 BR20s raided targets in the T r e b e s h i n j m o u n t a i n s . Again m u c h 83
AA was met, a n d one pilot was killed. D u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n a reported 20 G l a d i a t o r s and P Z L s attacked aircraft from this unit, o n e c r e w m a n being w o u n d e d while g u n n e r s claimed one P Z L shot d o w n ; one b o m b e r w a s claimed shot d o w n by 23 Mira.
E v o c a t i v e study of a 211 S q u a d r o n Blenheim I (L1434) being serviced at Paramythia early in 1941.
(T D Henderson
via A
Thomas)
While 80 S q u a d r o n ' s G l a d i a t o r s c o n t i n u e d t o o p e r a t e f r o m Yanina, those of 21 M i r a m o v e d u p t o P a r a m y t h i a at this time, a n d here on 17 F e b r u a r y they were joined by t h e six new H u r r i c a n e s , led by Fit Lt Kettlewell, and by four 30 S q u a d r o n Blenheims. O n e aircraft was lost here d u r i n g the day when an 84 S q u a d r o n Blenheim (L6662) crashed on take-off; t h e crew survived. T w o d a y s later W g C d r P B ' P a d d y ' C o o t e and M a j S e v a s t o p u l o arrived to set u p an Advanced O p e r a t i o n s W i n g at the base, t o be k n o w n as ' W ' (Western) Wing. This comprised initially the Blenheim d e t a c h m e n t of 30 S q u a d r o n , the whole of 84 a n d 211 S q u a d r o n s , a n d a d e t a c h m e n t of 11 S q u a d r o n which w a s due t o arrive in a few days; the Wellingtons of the 37 S q u a d r o n d e t a c h m e n t were also t o return, while t h e six 80 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s would shortly be joined by six m o r e f r o m 33 S q u a d r o n , which was just arriving t h a t day. T h e Wing H e a d q u a r t e r s were t o be based at Yanina, where the G l a d i a t o r s of 80 a n d 112 S q u a d r o n s would remain. T h e P Z L s were also attached temporarily t o the Wing. Flying in that evening at dusk, two of these little fighters collided in the middle of the airfield. O v e r n i g h t o n e good machine w a s rebuilt f r o m the t w o 84
Sqn Ldr Charles Ryley at the head of 'B' Flight, 33 Squadron as the unit prepared to m o v e from Egypt t o Greece in February 1941. L to r: unidentified. Fig Off C H D y s o n , D F C , Fig Off P R St Quintin, Pit Off H J Starrett, Fit Lt G E Hawkins, Sgt J Craig (probably), Fig Off J F M a c k i e and Fig Off V C W o o d w a r d .
d a m a g e d airframes. A Greek J u 5 2 / 3 m also flew in loaded with food a n d supplies to be d r o p p e d to isolated forces in the Kelcyre area. D u r i n g these d a y s of reinforcement heavy rain fell a l m o s t continuously, preventing nearly all activities over the front line or the Albanian bases. T h e new arrival f r o m Egypt, 33 S q u a d r o n , w a s already a well-experienced unit, having played an i m p o r t a n t p a r t in Wavell's D e c e m b e r 1940 offensive in Libya. T h e air party of 16 H u r r i c a n e s flew in via Crete, led by Sqn Ldr C h a r l e s Ryley, w h o h a d until recently been t e m p o r a r y c o m m a n d e r of 230 S u n d e r l a n d S q u a d r o n ; o n e H u r r i c a n e force-landed at Buq Buq as the unit set out, but w o u l d follow later. T h e unit's "A' Flight was led by Fit Lt J o h n Littler a n d 'B' Flight by Fit Lt Alfred Young. Already credited with some 80 victories, t h e unit included a m o n g s t its experienced pilots Fig Off C h a r l e s D y s o n , D F C , w h o w a s credited with nine victories, while C a n a d i a n s Fig Off Vernon W o o d w a r d and Fig Off J o h n M a c k i e had eight a n d six respectively. F/Sgt Len C o t t i n g h a m and R h o d e s i a n Fig Off F r a n k H o l m a n had also each claimed six victories, as had Fig Off Peter W i c k h a m ; Fig O f f ' D i x i e ' D e a n was credited with five and Fig Off H a r r y Starrett a S o u t h African, with three. T h e g r o u n d party, u n d e r Pit Off D S F 'Bill' Winsland, and including most of the N C O pilots would arrive by sea within a day or so. Winsland, t o g e t h e r with Pit Offs Ray D u n s c o m b e , C h a r l e s C h e t h a m and Sgt G E C G e n d e r s , had reached Egypt the previous m o n t h after flying H u r r i c a n e s 85
from T a k o r a d i , West Africa, which they had flown off the carrier Furious. All three officers had served in H u r r i c a n e units in England p r i o r t o this; Winsland had flown with 601 S q u a d r o n , but had n o c o m b a t experience: D u n s c o m b e had claimed one victory with 213 S q u a d r o n , but had been shot d o w n and burned, receiving treatment at the experimental plastic surgery unit at East G r i n s t e a d . as o n e of the first R A F ' G u i n e a Pigs'. C h e t h a m h a d flown with 1 S q u a d r o n during the Battle of Britain, and had a c o u p l e of victories t o his credit. S o m e slight i m p r o v e m e n t in the weather on 20 F e b r u a r y allowed a r e s u m p t i o n of activity, a n d at 0900 15 G.50bis of 154° G r u p p o t o o k off led by M a g g M a s t r o g o s t i n o t o escort f o u r Ro.37bis on reconnaissance over t h e KelcyreTepelene area. At 0930 they reported e n c o u n t e r i n g 30 G r e e k G l a d i a t o r s and P Z L s which were also a p p a r e n t l y escorting b o m b e r s a n d reconnaissance aircraft. T h e r e were in fact 19 such fighters present, a n d the pilots reported meeting a far greater force of Italian aircraft. Pilots of 22 M i r a claimed three G.50bis and t w o probables, while Sgt D a g o u l a s claimed a reconnaissance aircraft - presumably o n e of the Ro.37bis, n o n e of which were in fact lost, a l t h o u g h o n e suffered slight d a m a g e , reportedly to AA fire. T w o G.50bis were in fact hit, T e n F r a n c h i n i and T e n F u s c o b o t h carrying out force-landings at Berat, where one of the fighters was destroyed. In return the Italian pilots claimed ten shot d o w n a n d eight d a m a g e d ; G r e e k losses are not recorded, but n o n e of their pilots were reported killed or w o u n d e d . Eight Blenheims of 84 S q u a d r o n and three f r o m 30 S q u a d r o n were off next to b o m b in the Tepelene area, escorted by six of 80 S q u a d r o n ' s new H u r r i c a n e s on their first sorties over the front. Over the target at 1025 the b o m b e r s split into t w o f o r m a t i o n s to attack, at which point six C R 4 2 s a p p e a r e d . T h e s e did not interfere, having a p p a r e n t l y spotted the Hurricanes. Early in the a f t e r n o o n eight G l a d i a t o r s of 80 S q u a d r o n and nine of 112 S q u a d r o n flew u p t o P a r a m y t h i a f r o m Yanina. At 1445, 15 of these took off in five sections of three, led by Sqn Ldr Brown, t o escort t w o Wellingtons of 37 Squad ron, flown by Fit Lt M J Baird-Smith a n d Sgt R T Spiller, each carrying a b o u t o n e and a half t o n s of supplies; they were a c c o m p a n i e d by the G r e e k J u 5 2 / 3 m t o d r o p these supplies t o the t r o o p s near Kelcyre. Low cloud and rain m a d e the flight difficult, and n e a r K o r o u o d e five hostile aircraft were seen, but these did not a p p r o a c h . T h e supplies were d r o p p e d successfully, and the three aircraft were escorted back t o P a r a m y t h i a ; the fighters then returned to the frontline t o patrol. S o o n after t h e s u p p l y - d r o p p e r s had gone, 17 B l e n h e i m s - eight of 84 S q u a d r o n , six of 211 S q u a d r o n and three of 30 S q u a d r o n - c o m m e n c e d taking off for a b o m b i n g attack on Berat. O n e of the 84 S q u a d r o n aircraft suffered an engine failure and belly-landed, b u t the remaining 16 (with an escort of six H u r r i c a n e s led by Fit Lt Pattle), arrived over the target, their b o m b s falling on the town, supply d u m p s , and demolishing a bridge carrying the m a i n road over the River Osem. AA fire w a s experienced and 154" G r u p p o G.50bis f r o m the 361 a and 395 a Squadriglia were scrambled from Berat airfield. Pattle's section took on four of the a t t a c k e r s as they climbed up. Pattle firing on one which exploded in flames. Fit Lt W o o d s claimed a n o t h e r and Sgt C a s b o l t considered that he had shot 86
A g r o u p of 80 Squadron's 'noteables' in early 1941; 1 t o r Sgt E W F Hewett. Pit OfT W Vale, Fig Off P T D o w d i n g , Fig OfT F W H o s k e n , Fig Off Trevor-Roper (84 Sqn), Fit Lt M T StJ Fig Off H D W Flower, Pit Off J Lancaster. (J
Pattle,
McGaw)
d o w n two. T h e s e claims were verified by t h e crews of the Blenheims under attack; Pit Off Cox's L8542 of 211 S q u a d r o n was badly shot-up, but their attacker was seen t o be shot d o w n by two Hurricanes. Pit Off G e a r y , g u n n e r in Sqn Ldr G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n ' s aircraft, reported: 'A G 50 c a m e for us a n d in a flash a H u r r i c a n e just s h o t it off our wingtip. It simply rolled over, went on fire, a n d dived into the m o u n t a i n . It was wizard." O t h e r F i a t s followed the Blenheims as they withdrew; o n e of the 30 S q u a d r o n machines had its s t a r b o a r d engine shot out, but Sgt Ratlidge m a n a g e d to get it back to P a r a m y t h i a . As t h e f o r m a t i o n neared the front, the patrolling G l a d i a t o r s of 80 a n d 112 S q u a d r o n s spotted the p u r s u i n g Italian fighters and engaged them. Fig Off Cullen reported: 'The leader c a m e into close range and then flicked over on its back a n d dived down. I did a half-roll a n d got into position dead astern. F o u r long bursts and the enemy c a u g h t fire a n d crashed into a snow-covered hill. T h e n engaged a n o t h e r G.50 and got in some good deflection shots. Saw t w o f o r m a t i o n s of biplanes, t h o u g h t they were G l a d s and went to t a k e a look at them. They were C R 4 2 s . G o t on the tail of one, gave him a burst, a n d he went over on his back, and the pilot baled out. T h e others m a d e off at once. Just as well - I hadn't any a m m o left.' 87
Cullen's G l a d i a t o r received some d a m a g e d u r i n g these c o m b a t s and one bullet f u r r o w e d the knuckles of his right hand, but he r e t u r n e d t o Y a n i n a without further incident. Fit Lt S c h w a b of 112 S q u a d r o n also claimed one G.50 shot d o w n , a n d three others were claimed d a m a g e d by 112 S q u a d r o n pilots Fit Lt R J A b r a h a m s , Fig Off E T Banks and Pit Off J L Groves. Fit Lt Kettlewell of 80 S q u a d r o n also claimed a G.50, but did not see it crash whilst Pit Off Trollip claimed a n o t h e r p r o b a b l y destroyed. T h e Italian fighters h a d claimed o n e Blenheim shot d o w n a n d one fighter identified as a 'Spitfire'. Despite the m a n y R A F claims, it seems that only t w o F i a t s were actually lost. T e n Alfredo F u s c o of the 361 a Squadriglia was shot d o w n a n d killed, while T e n Livio Bassi of 395 a Squadriglia was w o u n d e d ; a t t e m p t i n g t o force-land his d a m a g e d aircraft at Berat, t h e F i a t flipped over a n d caught fire. Bassi, credited at this time with seven victories, was t o linger for 43 d a y s before d y i n g in hospital in Rome. A third G.50bis, flown by Serg G a m b e t t a , was d a m a g e d . Both Bassi and F u s c o were subsequently a w a r d e d p o s t h u m o u s Medaglia d'Oro.
Tenente Livio Bassi of 395" Squadriglia, 154° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T with his Fiat G.50bis, s h o w i n g well the unit marking, a chicken in British colours, transfixed by an arrow. Bassi w a s w o u n d e d in c o m b a t with Hurricanes on 2 0 February
1941, and crashed while attempting to force-land; he
died on 2 April 1941, receiving a p o s t h u m o u s award of the Medaglia d'Oro. ( A M I via N
Malizia)
P o o r weather again put a s t o p to most flying on 21 F e b r u a r y ; t h e two detached 37 S q u a d r o n Wellingtons prepared to r e t u r n to Menidi, but on take-off the u n d e r c a r r i a g e of Sgt Spiller's T2607 ' P ' collapsed, a n d t h e big b o m b e r was d a m a g e d beyond repair. 80 S q u a d r o n ' s H u r r i c a n e d e t a c h m e n t at P a r a m y t h i a was 88
joined by Fig Off A c w o r t h f r o m 112 S q u a d r o n t o gain further experience on the type. O n 22 F e b r u a r y the four remaining Wellingtons of 37 S q u a d r o n at Menidi left t o r e t u r n t o Shallufa. O n this latter d a t e c o n t i n u i n g rain rendered Y a n i n a unserviceable, a l t h o u g h H u r r i c a n e s and Blenheims f r o m P a r a m y t h i a were able t o attack the Bousi-Glara road. F u r t h e r s o u t h however, the defenders of Athens were in action for the first time in some weeks. F r o m Eleusis six of 30 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheim I F s were sent off in pairs at hourly intervals t o patrol. T h e first pair, Sqn Ldr Milward a n d Fig Off D a v i d s o n , were off at 1015 a n d sighted a C a n t Z.506B floatplane of the 86° G r u p p o B M n e a r Z a n t e Island at 7000 feet. T h e Blenheims dived out of t h e sun t o m a k e successive a t t a c k s which d r o v e it d o w n t o sea level. Finally it c a m e d o w n on t h e w a t e r with all engines d e a d , the crew waving a white cloth. Davidson d r o p p e d a dinghy nearby, while Sqn Ldr Milward d r o p p e d a message on Agrinion airfield, indicating the plight of the crew. F o r Milward's gunner, Sgt H e r b e r t 'Lofty' L o r d , it had been the f o u r t h successful c o m b a t in which he had participated.
Leading pilots of 30 Squadron's
fighter-Blenheims
outside the Mess. L to r: Fig Off R T P D a v i d s o n ,
Fig OfT A J Smith and Fit Lt D R Walker.
At 1235 a n o t h e r pair of Blenheims flown by Fit Lt Derek Walker a n d Fig Off ' B u d ' R i c h a r d s o n e n c o u n t e r e d five 47° S t o r m o Z.1007bis b o m b e r s 12 miles west of Preveza. Walker attacked in a dive f r o m the b e a m a n d the aircraft in the 'box' formed by the other four d r o p p e d out of control, reportedly c r a s h i n g into the sea south of Levkas. H e then attacked the trailing aircraft, seeing oil a n d s m o k e p o u r from the s t a r b o a r d engine w h e r e u p o n it slowed down. At this point Walker's guns j a m m e d , but R i c h a r d s o n t o o k u p the attack, m a k i n g several passes, a n d the C a n t glided d o w n a n d crash-landed in the sea. Circling, he saw two m e m b e r s of 89
the crew climb o n t o the fuselage; a few bullets had struck his Blenheim, but n o serious d a m a g e had been caused. According to Italian records o n e Z.1007bis actually c a m e d o w n - obviously the second aircraft - but they recorded t h a t it had been hit by A A. Next m o r n i n g (23 F e b r u a r y ) at 1030, Fig Off Cullen of 80 S q u a d r o n was sent off to search for the Z.506B forced d o w n by the Blenheims d u r i n g the previous morning, which was believed t o be on the sea ten miles south of P a r g a with engine trouble. Obviously the crew had been able t o repair the d a m a g e inflicted by Milward a n d Davidson, for as Cullen flew south he saw it at the s o u t h e r n end of Antipaxoi Island, trying t o t a k e off. Diving d o w n , he fired a burst and it c a m e t o a halt, a white cloth again being waved. As he circled o v e r h e a d it a t t e m p t e d t o take off again a n d he attacked, his fire being returned even t h o u g h the white cloth was still flying. T h e stricken aircraft then began t o sink, and he flew t o P a r a m y t h i a t o report. Later a second G l a d i a t o r confirmed t h a t the aircraft was a s h o r e on A k r a N o v a r e Island, where the G r e e k hospital ship Andros later rescued four survivors and collected t w o bodies. Subsequently one of 30 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheims reported that the aircraft was half submerged, its floats sticking u p out of the water.
Cant Z. 506B of 191" Squadriglia RM capsized in the sea; this floatplane w a s forced t o ditch off Prevaza by 30 S q u a d r o n Blenheim IFs on 22 February 1941. and w a s then s h o t - u p by Fig Olf R N Cullen of 80 S q u a d r o n as it attempted to take olf after repair next day. ( A .
Stamatopoulos)
O v e r the front little was seen, but P a r a m y t h i a was further reinforced. T e n Blenheims of 11 S q u a d r o n flew u p f r o m Larissa in very b a d weather, but four were forced t o return, and a fifth crashed while a t t e m p t i n g a force-landing in a valley, Pit OfT Hewison and his gunner being killed while the observer survived with leg injuries. T h e remaining five aircraft were attached t o 211 S q u a d r o n . Six 90
H u r r i c a n e s of 33 S q u a d r o n ' s 'B' Flight also flew in, but as they a p p r o a c h e d Pit Off Winsland suffered an engine seizure in P3970: '1 was left with insufficient time t o complete the necessary emergency hand p u m p i n g o p e r a t i o n of the hydraulic systems controlling the rather vital bits of e q u i p m e n t for a landing - flaps and the lowering of wheels. I got the former a b o u t half d o w n a n d frantically changed over then to the wheel p u m p i n g which I was still d o i n g even d u r i n g hold-off and actually t o u c h i n g d o w n knowingly with only o n e green light (instead of two) showing. T h e result w a s a wide g r o u n d loop on o n e wheel a n d o n e wingtip, a smashed propeller, a n d c o m i n g to rest only some 40 y a r d s s h o r t of a small outside b o m b d u m p - small ( p e r h a p s 30 2501b bombs) but big e n o u g h t o have m a d e an even worse mess of the m a c h i n e and a n y o n e else unlucky e n o u g h to have been a r o u n d . ' While the R A F saw n o action over the frontline on 23 F e b r u a r y , this was not the case for the Greeks. Here 12 G.50bis of the 154" G r u p p o on a patrol over t h e Kelcyre-Devoli area met a f o r m a t i o n of fighters estimated to include ten P Z L s and 15 G l a d i a t o r s . T h e Italian pilots claimed four P Z L s shot d o w n and three probables, together with o n e G l a d i a t o r and three probables. G l a d i a t o r pilot Sgt C o n s t a n t i n o s C h r i z o p o u l o s of 21 M i r a was shot d o w n a n d killed, as was C a p t N i c h o l a o s S c r o u b e l o s of 23 Mira; the latter unit claimed three fighters shot d o w n in return, a l t h o u g h the Italians a p p e a r t o have suffered n o losses on this occasion. Rain c o n t i n u e d to d i s t u r b the flying p r o g r a m m e , particularly at Yanina, which remained unserviceable. P a r a m y t h i a could be used however, H u r r i c a n e s a n d Blenheims c o n t i n u i n g to m a k e raids over the Kelcyre-Tepelene road on 24 a n d 25 F e b r u a r y . So bad was the weather however, that on the latter date. Sunderland L5804 of 230 S q u a d r o n was sunk in a gale at S c a r a m a n g a . O n 26 F e b r u a r y , 33 S q u a d r o n ' s d e t a c h m e n t at P a r a m y t h i a , b r o u g h t back u p t o six following the crash of Winsland's aircraft, joined 80 S q u a d r o n ' s six aircraft to escort Blenheims f r o m 11 a n d 211 S q u a d r o n s t o raid Buzat, near Tepelene; the new unit flew a further escort mission d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n , this time t o within a few miles of Valona. T h a t day was also m a r k e d by a visit t o P a r a m y t h i a by Air Chief M a r s h a l L o n g m o r e , M r A n t h o n y Eden (the Foreign Secretary), G e n e r a l Sir J o h n Dill and G e n e r a l Sir Archibald Wavell. M o r e rather heavy overclaiming was to occur on 27 F e b r u a r y , when at 1500 nine Blenheims, six f r o m 211 S q u a d r o n and three f r o m 11 S q u a d r o n , set off t o b o m b Valona, escorted by five 80 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s and four m o r e f r o m 33 S q u a d r o n . An hour later, as the f o r m a t i o n arrived over Valona, 13 C R 4 2 s of the 150" G r u p p o attacked as the Blenheims were bombing. A l t h o u g h the H u r r i c a n e escort engaged t h e m at once, some got t h r o u g h t o t h e b o m b e r s a n d d a m a g e d five of them, including all three of the 11 S q u a d r o n machines. T w o of these would crash-land on return to P a r a m y t h i a , both having suffered heavy d a m a g e to their hydraulic systems; N3579 would be written off. T h e H u r r i c a n e s meanwhile had become involved in a heavy battle with t h e F i a t s d u r i n g which seven of the Italian fighters were claimed shot d o w n , a n d two m o r e were reported to have collided with each other and crashed. Claims were m a d e by Fit Lt Pattle, Fig Off Cullen, Sgt Hewett (two), Fig Off Acworth, a n d Fig Off W a n k l y n Flower, 91
w h o shared o n e with a 33 S q u a d r o n pilot, believed to have been Fig Off Starrett. T h e seventh claim w a s believed to have been m a d e by 33's F/Sgt Len Cottingham. In t h e event it seems that only t w o C R 4 2 s were lost, S o t t o t e n Egidio Faltoni, the f o r m a t i o n leader, baling out after suffering w o u n d s , as did Serg O s v a l d o Bartolaccini, w h o w a s a l m o s t dead when he hit the g r o u n d . T h e Italians m a d e n o claims and believed that their a t t a c k e r s had been Spitfires. ' P a t ' Pattle's H u r r i c a n e suffered a single bullet t h r o u g h the petrol t a n k - the only d a m a g e recorded to the British fighters. A further C R 4 2 of the G r u p p o ' s 364 a Squadriglia was destroyed on the g r o u n d by the Blenheims' bombs, a n d several others were d a m a g e d . A dozen d r u m s of fuel went u p in flames, a n d two airmen were wounded. Again Pit Off G e a r y , gunner in L1481, recorded his impressions of the raid: 'I had a g r a n d s t a n d view of the whole affair. It was lovely b o m b i n g - direct hits all over t h e a e r o d r o m e a n d on buildings. A large f o r m a t i o n o f C R 4 2 s took off t o intercept us. O n e got on my tail, so I put a burst into him, a n d he fell away. T h e n two H u r r i c a n e s a p p e a r e d in a flash, and well, he just fell to pieces. T h e H u r r i c a n e s wheeled and proceeded to deal with the others. T h e sky was full of c r a s h i n g aircraft - a n d they were all enemy. We had a most pleasant tour home, a n d the scenery looked m o r e lovely t h a n ever.' O n c o m i n g back f r o m this raid, the r e m a i n s of the 11 S q u a d r o n d e t a c h m e n t returned to Larissa. So it was that 28 F e b r u a r y arrived - a day which was t o be recorded as the R A F ' s most successful of t h e c a m p a i g n , but which was t o give rise to m u c h controversy as t o the t r u e results achieved. H Q ' W ' W i n g ordered that all available aircraft should patrol between Tepelene and the coast between 1530 and 1630, since Intelligence sources indicated the operation of large n u m b e r s of Italian aircraft in that area at t h a t time. Hence d u r i n g the m o r n i n g all available G l a d i a t o r s of 80 and 112 S q u a d r o n s were flown u p t o P a r a m y t h i a in p r e p a r a t i o n for this action. P a t r o l s were flown d u r i n g the m o r n i n g by flights of H u r r i c a n e s but n o t h i n g was seen. At a b o u t 1500 Sqn Ldr Brown and Sqn Ldr J o n e s led off 11 G l a d i a t o r s of 112 S q u a d r o n and seven of 80 S q u a d r o n to patrol over the designated area; they were a c c o m p a n i e d by the ' W ' W i n g leader, W g Cdr ' P a d d y ' C o o t e , flying an 80 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r . Fifteen m i n u t e s later Fit Lt Pattle in H u r r i c a n e V7589 led Fig Off Cullen (V7138), Fig Off W a n k l y n Flower (V6749) a n d Fig Off Acworth (V7288) t o the same area, while Fit Lt Y o u n g led four 33 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s to patrol near t h e coast. Here some S.79s were seen a n d chased over C o r f u , t w o being claimed d a m a g e d , o n e of them by Pit Off Winsland. These were probably 105° G r u p p o BT aircraft, which reported being attacked by Spitfires, o n e Savoia landing at T i r a n a with o n e m e m b e r of the crew dead. M e a n w h i l e Pattle's section spotted BR20s of 37° S t o r m o BT flying south f r o m Valona; they identified the ten-strong f o r m a t i o n as c o m p r i s i n g 15 aircraft, while t h e b o m b e r crews reported being attacked by 18 'Spitfires'! P a t t l e selected o n e on the s t a r b o a r d flank of the f o r m a t i o n , and after three short bursts it b r o k e into 92
T w o - G u n Cullen! Fig Off R N "Ape' Cullen of 80 Squadron plays it tough for the camera. ( £ G Jones)
flames and went d o w n ; a second b o m b e r likewise burst into flames following a further attack by Pattle, a n d his windscreen was covered in oil f r o m this d o o m e d aircraft. Reducing speed, Pattle a t t e m p t e d t o clean the screen with his scarf, but he was then a t t a c k e d by five G.50bis which dived on him. After a brief skirmish he m a n a g e d to get away a n d returned t o P a r a m y t h i a . Both W a n k l y n Flower a n d Acworth also claimed BR20s, a l t h o u g h the latter t h o u g h t his victim may have been a Z.1007bis. Fig OfT Cullen reported considerable success in the run of claims which was to bring him the award of an immediate D F C . He later recalled: ' T h e battle extended right across Albania. First I f o u n d four Breda 20s (sic). I got one, which went d o w n in flames. T h e n we found three f o r m a t i o n s of S.79s. I took on o n e a n d aimed at t h e s t a r b o a r d engine. It c a u g h t fire, a n d crashed in flames. I climbed and dived on the next - and he t o o crashed in flames. T h e n we attacked ten C R 4 2 s , climbing t o get a b o v e them. I got behind one, a n d he c a u g h t fire a n d went d o w n in flames. U p again immediately, dived, fired into the cockpit, and a n o t h e r took fire, rolled over a n d crashed. I had t o c o m e h o m e then - n o m o r e ammo.' T h r e e BR20s were in fact shot d o w n d u r i n g this c o m b a t a n d a f o u r t h forcelanded near O t r a n t o ; o t h e r s returned with w o u n d e d crew m e m b e r s a b o a r d , plus o n e dead. 93
By now the G l a d i a t o r s had joined the fighting, as had C R 4 2 s of 160° G r u p p o a n d G.50bis of 24° G r u p p o . A single H u r r i c a n e of 33 S q u a d r o n arrived late on t h e scene. Fig Off N e w t o n having scrambled f r o m P a r a m y t h i a when news of the heavy fighting c a m e t h r o u g h . O n arrival over the battle area he promptly a t t a c k e d a C R 4 2 , only t o find that it was an 80 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r ! A 112 S q u a d r o n biplane then got on his tail, obviously taking the H u r r i c a n e for a G.SObis, and inflicted d a m a g e on his aircraft, chasing him back t o w a r d s P a r a m y t h i a . A few of the G l a d i a t o r s m a d e c o n t a c t with the bombers, Pit Off Vale claiming an S.79 shot d o w n , whilst Fig Off Banks and Pit Off R H M c D o n a l d of 112 S q u a d r o n each claimed d a m a g e t o a BR20. T h e G l a d i a t o r s ' main claims were for nine C R 4 2 s and two probables, plus six G.50bis: 80
Squadron
Sqn Ldr Jones Wg C d r C o o t e Wt Off Richens Pit Off Vale Fit Lt Kettlewell Pit Off Trollip Fig Off D o w d i n g
112 2 CR42s CR42 CR42 S.79; G.50bis CR42 probable G.50bis p r o b a b l e C R 4 2 probable G.50bis p r o b a b l e
Squadron
Sqn Ldr Brown Fit Lt Fraser Fit Lt F r y Fit Lt A b r a h a m s Fig Off C o c h r a n e Fig Off Banks Pit Off G r o v e s Sgt D o n a l d s o n
G.50bis C R 4 2 ; G.50bis C R 4 2 ; G.50bis G.50bis CR42 CR42; CR42 damaged CR42 G.50bis; G.50bis p r o b a b l e
Sqn Ldr Brown recorded that the G.50bis he attacked turned sharply t o s t a r b o a r d on its back and fell away in an inverted spin; he t h o u g h t he had hit the pilot. Fit Lt Fraser claimed that his victim flew into a m o u n t a i n s i d e , while the pilot of the C R 4 2 he claimed baled out, but his p a r a c h u t e failed to open; Sgt G M D o n a l d s o n ' s victim w a s seen t o crash on the seashore. Fit Lt 'Dicky' A b r a h a m s , after his victory, w a s attacked by a n o t h e r G . 5 0 b i s - believed to have been flown by Ten M a r i o Bellagambi - and was shot d o w n near Sarande. He recalled: ' T h e old G l a d suddenly went all soft. N o t h i n g would work. I sat there and then decided I had better get out. I couldn't, so I sat there with my h a n d s on my lap, the aircraft spinning like m a d . T h e n , eventually, 1 did m a n a g e t o get out. It was so pleasant sitting there in the air than I d a m n nearly forgot to pull the ripcord. I reckon I did t h e record delayed d r o p for all Albania and Greece. I landed, and n o sooner had I fallen sprawling on the g r o u n d than I was picked up by Greek soldiers w h o cheered and patted me on the back. I t h o u g h t I was a hell of a hero until o n e soldier asked me. " M i l a n o , R o m a ? " and I realized that they t h o u g h t I was an Iti. T h e y didn't realize it was possible for an E n g l i s h m a n t o be shot d o w n . So I said "Inglese", a n d then the party began. I was hoisted on their shoulders, and the "here the c o n q u e r i n g hero c o m e s " procession started. We wined a n d h a d fun. Jolly g o o d chaps.' Following his initial c o m b a t s , Pattle had returned t o P a r a m y t h i a , landed, and 94
Officers of 80 S q u a d r o n indulge in a little pistol practice, watched by Greek soldiers. T h e m a r k s m a n is one of the squadron's leading personalities. Pit Off Bill Vale. ( £ G
Jones)
taken off again ten m i n u t e s later in a n o t h e r Hurricane, V7724. R e t u r n i n g to the battle area, he spotted three C R 4 2 s in f o r m a t i o n , heading back t o w a r d s Valona: 'I got behind them a n d put a long burst into all three. O n e went d o w n vertically at once, but in case it was a trick 1 followed him. He was in difficulties, that was most obvious, a n d when it looked as if he was going straight into the sea I decided to go and see w h a t the other two were u p to. As I climbed again I was most surprised to see t w o p a r a c h u t e s float d o w n past me.' O n his return, Pattle claimed two destroyed, those f r o m which he had seen t h e pilots c o m e d o w n by p a r a c h u t e , a n d one p r o b a b l e for that which he had followed d o w n . Just before he got back to P a r a m y t h i a for the second time at 1740, Fig Off W a n k l y n Flower, w h o had returned an h o u r earlier, also took off for a second patrol over t h e area after his H u r r i c a n e had been refuelled a n d rearmed. T h e r e was n o t h i n g to be seen - the battle was over. . . . O n the Italian side, the C R 4 2 s of 160° G r u p p o had been escorting four S.79s of 104° G r u p p o in the K u c area, between Tepelene and H i m a r a , when 'British fighters identified as Spitfires, H u r r i c a n e s a n d G l a d i a t o r s , were encountered. T w o G l a d i a t o r s were claimed shot d o w n and one as a probable, a 'Spitfire' also being claimed. S o t t o t e n F r a n c i n e t t i was w o u n d e d in the leg, and S o t t o t e n Italo Traini was shot d o w n . G u n n e r s in the S.79s also claimed two G l a d i a t o r s shot d o w n , as did the G.50bis pilots of the 24° G r u p p o , the latter also claiming two m o r e as 95
probables. Ten Bellagambi, following his c o m b a t with Fit Lt A b r a h a m s , was then shot d o w n a n d w o u n d e d in o n e arm; he force-landed near T i r a n a airfield. C a p E t t o r e Foschini's aircraft was also hit and he was w o u n d e d , also c o m i n g d o w n at Tirana.
Fiat C R 4 2 of S o t t o t e n e n t e Raoul Francinetti of 394" Squadriglia, 160° G r u p p o C T which w a s d a m a g e d in c o m b a t over K u c on 28 February 1941, the pilot being w o u n d e d . (N
Malizia)
W h e n Pattle's late claims were added, the total for the d a y a p p e a r e d to a m o u n t to 27 Italian aircraft, with six m o r e probables. Claims a n d actual losses are s u m m a r i z e d below: Roval
Air Force
Fiat BR20 Savoia S.79 Fiat C R 4 2 Fiat G.50bis
claims
Actual
5 destroyed, 2 d a m a g e d 3 destroyed, 2 d a m a g e d 13 destroyed, 3 probable, 1 damaged 6 destroyed, 3 probables
4 lost a n d several d a m a g e d 0 lost, 1 d a m a g e d 2 lost
Regia Aeronautica C R 4 2 pilots G.50bis pilots S.79 g u n n e r s
claims 2 1 2 2
Recorded
2 lost Actual
G l a d i a t o r s and 1 probable; 'Spitfire' Gladiators, 2 probables Gladiators
Casualties
0 0 1 0
Casualties
lost lost lost lost
Immediately following this a p p a r e n t t r i u m p h , t h e G r e e k s were hard hit f r o m a different source. D u r i n g the night of 28 F e b r u a r y / 1 M a r c h Larissa w a s devastated by the most severe e a r t h q u a k e t h a t Greece had suffered in a century. G r e a t rifts 96
Pilots of 80 S q u a d r o n o n the wing of a Hurricane, early March 1941; 1 t o r; Fig Off P T D o w d i n g , Pit Off J 'Ginger' Still, Sgt C E Casbolt, Wt Off S A 'Mick' Richens, Sgt E W F Hewett. Fig Off H D 'Twinstead' Flower. (C E
Casbolt)
opened up on the airfield, where buildings and h a n g a r s collapsed, m a n y personnel being buried u n d e r the rubble. After salvaging w h a t they could, R A F personnel w o r k e d all t h r o u g h the rest of the night rescuing people t r a p p e d in the debris of t h e stricken town. Street after street of poorly-constructed houses h a d collapsed, a n d m a n y of those d u g out were already dead. O n e of the m a i n features of the t o w n had been a n u m b e r of mosques, but the m i n a r e t s of these had all tumbled. Next m o r n i n g with the arrival of M a r c h , 30 S q u a d r o n Blenheims flew in carrying first aid e q u i p m e n t , R A M C d o c t o r s a n d orderlies. T h e r e w a s n o let-up in the war however, and on this first d a y of the new m o n t h the H u r r i c a n e s of 33 and 80 S q u a d r o n s were out three times t o escort Blenheims of 30 a n d 211 S q u a d r o n s to attack P a r a b o a (to the n o r t h of Bousi), Berat and Valona h a r b o u r . At the latter target Fit Lt Pattle with 33 S q u a d r o n ' s Fig Off N e w t o n as his w i n g m a n , went below cloud to see what activity there might be in the h a r b o u r itself. T h e y spotted a large m e r c h a n t vessel which was strafed, Pattle going in for a second attack at very close range. As the H u r r i c a n e s had set out on o n e of their sorties, Sgt Ted Hewett of 80 S q u a d r o n realized that he was having trouble with the undercarriage retraction of V7589 a n d returned to P a r a m y t h i a . Here the p r o b l e m was rectified, and he set out again alone. H e returned to report that near the target area he had e n c o u n t e r e d five C R 4 2 s , claiming to have shot d o w n three of them in flames, at which t h e o t h e r s fled. N o Italian a c c o u n t of this e n g a g e m e n t has been found. Next day six of 80 S q u a d r o n ' s H u r r i c a n e s escorted nine Blenheims d r a w n from 84 a n d 211 S q u a d r o n s t o raid Berat and Devoli in the early a f t e r n o o n . B o m b s were seen bursting a m o n g s t parked aircraft of the 72° G r u p p o O A , o n e Ro.37bis 97
Sgt E W F Hewett, D F M , of 8 0 S q u a d r o n with a Hurricane. ( 1 W M )
being destroyed and three d a m a g e d ; t w o of the unit's pilots were w o u n d e d , Serg M a g g G i o v a n n i Mencarelli fatally so. C R 4 2 s of 160° G r u p p o were scrambled in pursuit, claiming o n e H u r r i c a n e p r o b a b l y destroyed and t w o d a m a g e d , b u t no d a m a g e of any sort w a s actually occasioned. O n 3 M a r c h t w o H u r r i c a n e s f r o m 80 S q u a d r o n were ordered up on patrol at 1025, flown by Fig Off Cullen and Pit Off Vale, while a third, flown by the attached 112 S q u a d r o n pilot, Fig Off Acworth, was sent u p on an air test. As these got into the air ten C a n t Z.1007bis b o m b e r s of 50° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o BT from Brindisi a p p r o a c h e d the area in two f o r m a t i o n s of five each, while other such aircraft f r o m 47° S t o r m o BT were also over Greece at this time. T h e 50° G r u p p o aircraft b o m b e d the e a r t h q u a k e - s h a t t e r e d town of Larissa, a n d were on their way h o m e by the time the H u r r i c a n e s were vectored o n t o them. Fig OfT Acworth was first on the scene, soon joined by the other pair, a n d he reported: T o o k off t o test aircraft - before leaving heard t h a t ten enemy aircraft heading t o w a r d s Preveza. I flew in that direction and saw b o m b i n g in progress, and a l t h o u g h I had not e n o u g h speed to catch the first section of bombers, I finally got near e n o u g h t o second section - attacked N o 5 a n d shot it d o w n in f l a m e s witnessed by Fig OfT Cullen, w h o shot d o w n N o 4. I saw o n e crew m e m b e r leaving N o 5 but afterwards, a p a r t f r o m an empty c h u t e floating d o w n , n o trace of him w a s found. Both mine a n d Fig OfT Cullen's first b o m b e r crashed into the sea five miles south-west of Corfu.' Cullen c o n t i n u e d t o attack and returned t o claim a total of four C a n t s shot d o w n , a l t h o u g h his H u r r i c a n e was badly d a m a g e d by return fire, o n e bullet passing t h r o u g h his flying boot a n d grazing his shin; he reported seeing 18 p a r a c h u t e s in 98
the air at one time. Pit Off Vale also claimed a b o m b e r shot d o w n , but identified his victim as an S.81. It seems however that the 50° G r u p p o f o r m a t i o n lost only the first two b o m b e r s shot d o w n ; the crews reported that they were pursued initially by t w o Greek P Z L s , both of which the g u n n e r s claimed to have shot down. T h e y were then attacked south of C o r f u by 'seven Spitfires', claiming two of these shot d o w n also. T h e second f o r m a t i o n reported e n c o u n t e r i n g intense AA fire over Preveza a n d returned with three aircraft d a m a g e d , while a 47" S t o r m o Z.1007bis w a s also hit and one m e m b e r of the crew w o u n d e d . Sqn Ldr G o r d o n Finlayson of 211 S q u a d r o n went out to d r o p a dinghy t o any survivors w h o might be f o u n d , but n o n e were seen.
First R A F
Blenheim IVs t o reach G r e e c e were those of 113 Squadron's special
photographic
detachment, o n e of which is seen on Menidi airfield, carrying the unit c o d e letters A D . (S W
Lee)
At this time several m o r e aircrew d e c o r a t i o n s were notified. D F C s were a w a r d e d to Sqn Ldr ' T a p ' J o n e s a n d Fig Off Cullen of 80 S q u a d r o n - both of these being ' i m m e d i a t e a w a r d s ' - while Sqn Ldrs Peter Stevens of 11 S q u a d r o n a n d Dudley Lewis of 84 S q u a d r o n also received these medals; a D F M went t o Sgt W S Akeroyd, the 30 S q u a d r o n gunner, for his action on 25 J a n u a r y . Sqn Ldr Lewis was at t h e same time posted t o Air H e a d q u a r t e r s , his place at the head of 84 S q u a d r o n being taken by H D ' J o n a h ' Jones, formerly an instructor on a t t a c h m e n t to the Royal Egyptian Air Force. While the main body of this unit was still o p e r a t i n g f r o m P a r a m y t h i a with a mixed establishment of Blenheim Is and IVs, the H Q w a s still at Menidi, where a secret flight of three p h o t o reconnaissance Blenheim IVs f r o m 113 S q u a d r o n f r o m Egypt had recently arrived on a t t a c h m e n t t o the s q u a d r o n . A n u m b e r of clandestine reconnaissances were flown over Bulgaria by these aircraft. T o m a i n t a i n security, the flight was a t t a c h e d for servicing a n d administration only, t h e crews being billetted elsewhere. At S c a r a m a n g a , the d e t a c h m e n t of 230 S q u a d r o n S u n d e r l a n d s were now c o - o p e r a t i n g with 13 M i r a A n s o n s and Greek destroyers on a n t i - s u b m a r i n e duties. Five Italian warships identified as t w o cruisers and three destroyers, sortied d o w n the Albanian coast d u r i n g the m o r n i n g of 4 M a r c h a n d c o m m e n c e d shelling the coastal road near H i m a r a and P o r t P a l e r m o , u n d e r cover of a strong 99
Sqn Ldr H D J o n e s (left), c o m m a n d i n g officer of 84 S q u a d r o n with the war correspondent, Sqn Ldr T H W i s d o m in front of o n e of the unit's Blenheims.
fighter escort of G.50bis and C R 4 2 s f r o m the 24° G r u p p o CT. T h e flotilla actually comprised the cruiser Riboty, the t o r p e d o - d e s t r o y e r Andromeda and three M A S boats. An immediate strike was ordered by R A F units, 15 Blenheims being ordered off. Nine 211 S q u a d r o n aircraft and five f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n (a sixth failed to start) were led to the area by Sqn Ldrs G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n and Jones, escorted by ten Hurricanes, followed by 17 G l a d i a t o r s , 14 f r o m 112 S q u a d r o n and three f r o m 80 S q u a d r o n . F o u r 80 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s led by Fit Lt Pattle (lew on the s t a r b o a r d flank of t h e bombers, with four f r o m 33 S q u a d r o n to port, and two m o r e above as 'weavers'. At 1500 the warships were seen ten miles south of Valona, and the Blenheims went in to b o m b in line astern; several near misses were seen, but no hits were recorded. At this point six G.50bis dived on the Hurricanes, s h o o t i n g d o w n V7801 in flames; Wt Off H a r r y G o o d c h i l d , D F M , was killed. It seems that the Italian fighters did not see the b o m b e r s , for they reported only single-engined types - ten 'Spitfires', three 'Battles' (obviously Hurricanes) a n d 20 G l a d i a t o r s . O n c e the Blenheims had completed their run and were on their r e t u r n flight, Pattle ordered the H u r r i c a n e s t o h u n t in pairs over the warships, where a n u m b e r of Italian fighters were seen. At once a lone G.50bis attacked Pattle and his N o 2 - on this occasion Fig Off Cullen - but Pattle p r o m p t l y shot this d o w n and watched it spiral into a m o u n t a i n s i d e just n o r t h of H i m a r a . At this m o m e n t a second Fiat ' j u m p e d ' Cullen's V7288, a n d he was not seen again; his aircraft crashed near H i m a r a , a n d t h e Australian 'ace' was killed. Pattle flew on t o w a r d s Valona, a n d was attacked by a n o t h e r lone G.50bis which he reported went into the sea after a brief c o m b a t . He then became 100
involved with a third such fighter over Valona h a r b o u r a n d claimed to have shot this d o w n into t h e sea in flames. N i n e C R 4 2 s were then seen below and he dived on these, r e p o r t i n g that o n e went into a spin with s m o k e p o u r i n g f r o m its engine; he claimed this as a probable. Sgt Hewett was also heavily engaged, claiming o n e G.50bis shot d o w n near H i m a r a and three of eight C R 4 2 s near Valona. T h e only other claim by a H u r r i c a n e pilot was m a d e by Pit Off Vale, w h o claimed a n o t h e r G.50bis.
Fig OfT R N Cullen with o n e of 8 0 Squadron's first Hawker Hurricane 1 fighters (V7288). seen on 4 March. 1941 a b o u t to take off on the sortie from which he failed to return.
Meanwhile the G l a d i a t o r s , led by Sqn Ldr Brown, tangled with a reported ten G.50bis a n d five C R 4 2 s . Fit Lt Fraser led the third section after some G.50bis which entered clouds, but he claimed o n e shot d o w n a n d a second shared with the C O and two other pilots. Fig Off Acworth was a b o u t to attack a n o t h e r when he c a m e under fire himself a n d was driven d o w n to 2000 feet. He got in a few deflection shots, saw s m o k e issue f r o m his o p p o n e n t ' s engine, a n d claimed a probable. Fig Off Banks a t t a c k e d a G.50bis which went into a spin; as he saw a p a r a c h u t e in the vicinity he also claimed a probable, a n d two m o r e such claims were m a d e by Fit Lt Fry and Sgt D o n a l d s o n , while four m o r e aircraft d a m a g e d were also claimed. In r e t u r n the 24° G r u p p o pilots claimed four G l a d i a t o r s , one 'Spitfire' and o n e 'Battle' shot d o w n . Sottoten Nicolo Cobolli Gigli of 355 J Squadriglia, w h o was flying a C R 4 2 on this occasion, and Serg Marcello D e Salvia of 354 a Squadriglia were both shot d o w n and killed, while Ten F r a n c e s c o Rocca of the latter unit was 101
Fiat G . 5 0 b i s of 354" Squadriglia, 24° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T in flight over Greece. ( N
Malizia)
w o u n d e d . N o losses by o t h e r C R 4 2 e q u i p p e d units have been discovered. Cobolli Gigli and De Salvia were both a w a r d e d p o s t h u m o u s Medaglia d ' O r o .
Six leading pilots of 8 0 S q u a d r o n in February 1941; I t o r: Sgt C E Casbolt. Sgt G Barker. Sgt D S Gregory, Pit Off W Vale, Fit Ot M T StJ Pattle, Fig Olf R N Cullen. (G F
Graham)
This was virtually the last o p e r a t i o n over the Albanian f r o n t for 80 S q u a d r o n , for on 6 M a r c h the pilots at Yanina withdrew t o Eleusis t o complete ree q u i p m e n t with Hurricanes; most of the remaining G l a d i a t o r s were h a n d e d to 112 S q u a d r o n . They were followed next day by four H u r r i c a n e s f r o m P a r a m y t h i a 102
led by Fit L.t Pattle. O n arrival at Eleusis a n u m b e r of pilots were despatched to Egypt to fly-in the new aircraft. Consequently on 8 M a r c h . 112 S q u a d r o n flew forward to P a r a m y t h i a to take over 80 S q u a d r o n ' s role, joined there by the 33 Squadron detachment.
Gladiators of 112 S q u a d r o n , which replaced 80 Squadron at the front in March 1941. are seen here at Yanina; nearest aircraft is R T - K .
112 S q u a d r o n at Yanina. G l a d i a t o r RT-Y in the background. A m o n g s t the g r o u p of pilots is Fit Lt L G Algy' S c h w a b , wearing sun glasses. ( I W M )
They were just in time for renewed action, for the Italian Army w a s a b o u t to launch a new offensive, following a visit to Albania by Benito Mussolini at the start of the m o n t h . Twenty-eight divisions were n o w available in Albania, supported by 26 b o m b e r s a n d 105 fighters of the C o m a n d o A e r o n a u t i c a Albania, plus 134 m o r e b o m b e r s and 54 fighters of 4 a S q u a d r a Aerea. D u r i n g the period 5 7 M a r c h , the locally-based fighters had been reinforced with the latest types, the 103
36 M a c c h i C.200 fighters of the 22° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o C T (359 a , 362 a and 369 a Squadriglia) m o v i n g to T i r a n a f r o m C i a m p i n o , while the similarly-equipped 371 a Squadriglia t o o k its ten Macchis to Valona on a t t a c h m e n t t o the 150° G r u p p o CT. 4 a S q u a d r a also received 12 m o r e of these fighters with the arrival of 73 a Squadriglia C T at Brindisi f r o m Gorizia. C o m a n d o Albania also received 114a Squadriglia O A at T i r a n a with eight Ro.37bis, while 238 a Squadriglia f r o m 101° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o B a ' T moved over from 4 a S q u a d r a c o m m a n d , reaching T i r a n a f r o m Lecce. Meanwhile the 150° G r u p p o C T now began a g r a d u a l ree q u i p m e n t with MC200s, and the 38° S t o r m o BT started t o receive a few C a n t Z.1007bis b o m b e r s t o replace its elderly S.81s. T h e only a d d i t i o n a l R A F reinforcement at this time was the arrival of seven of 37 S q u a d r o n ' s Wellingtons at Menidi on a further d e t a c h m e n t f r o m their base at Shallufa. O n arrival o n e of them crashed while in the landing circuit, six of the ten personnel a b o a r d dying. These b o m b e r s m a d e their first raid d u r i n g the night of 8/9 M a r c h , a t t a c k i n g Durazzo.
Eleusis, 2 March 1941; the British Foreign Secretary, A n t h o n y Eden, visits 30 S q u a d r o n while in G r e e c e for talks with the Greek government. In the background is the unit c o m m a n d e r , Sqn Ldr R A Milward, D F C .
104
T h e new Italian offensive began on 9 M a r c h , at once p u t t i n g the overstretched defenders u n d e r great pressure. T h e Greek C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f at once requested t h a t t h e R A F b o m b e r s o p e r a t e in direct s u p p o r t of his hard-pressed g r o u n d forces instead of their usual strategic targets. A l t h o u g h still reluctant to agree to what m a n y in the R A F still considered a misuse of air power, D'Albiac now had little o p t i o n but to agree in the circumstances, a n d for the next four days the R A F at least gave the G r e e k s the s u p p o r t they really desired, all a t t a c k s being directed on tactical targets. D u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n of this first d a y Sqn Ldr Brown led 15 G l a d i a t o r s of 112 S q u a d r o n on an offensive patrol over Kelcyre a n d Tepelene, where at 1400 an estimated 30 G.50bis were reported, escorting BR.20s which were b o m b i n g f o r w a r d troops. Fit Lt Fraser led his section in an attack on the b o m b e r s , claiming one shot d o w n , which he reported fell near G a r n e o . Fig Off Banks a t t a c k e d a n o t h e r without obvious results, but was then engaged by one of the escorts before being forced to withdraw when his engine blew a s p a r k i n g plug. Fit Lt F r y ' s section also went after the low-flying b o m b e r s , o n e of which was seen to jettison its bombs, a n d one of these aircraft was claimed p r o b a b l y destroyed by Pit Off Groves.
Sqn Ldr H L I Brown, c o m m a n d i n g officer of 112 Squadron, with Sgt G N D o n a l d s o n and o n e of the unit's Gladiators. (1WM)
105
At this point the escort, which in fact comprised 25 M C 2 0 0 s from the newlyarrived 22° G r u p p o , attacked and became involved in a dogfight with Fry's flight. Fry claimed o n e shot d o w n , which dived vertically a n d crashed, while Sqn Ldr Brown also saw one crash into a hillside after he had fired a long burst into its tail. Six m o r e were claimed by Sgt D o n a l d s o n (two), Fit Lt Fraser, Fig Off Acworth, Fig Off C o c h r a n e a n d Pit Groves, while Fig Off R J Bennett claimed a probable. Despite all these claims, it seems that only one Macchi was actually lost. Serg M a g g M a r i n o Vannini failing to return: M a r G u i d o LaFerla landed at L u s h n j e and was taken to hospital - reportedly d u e to illness, rather than wounds. T h e Italian fighters were unable t o submit any claims. T h e b o m b e r s attacked had been BR.20s of 37° S t o r m o and S.79s of 105° G r u p p o , the former reporting that two of their aircraft were d a m a g e d , a p p a r e n t l y by AA fire, while o n e or t w o Savoias were hit by fire from G l a d i a t o r s , o n e m a n being w o u n d e d . T h e 105° G r u p p o ' s g u n n e r s claimed three G l a d i a t o r s shot d o w n , while the crew of a Z.1007bis of 50" G r u p p o , reportedly a t t a c k e d by a lone G l a d i a t o r (possibly a Greek machine), also claimed shot d o w n . O n e G l a d i a t o r was in fact shot d o w n , Pit OfT M c D o n a l d baling out of his blazing N5823, while four m o r e of these fighters were d a m a g e d . Fig Off C o c h r a n e landed on a village green to organise a search for M c D o n a l d , w h o would die of the b u r n s a n d o t h e r injuries he h a d sustained t w o m o n t h s later. T h i s w a s t o be only the first of a n u m b e r of dogfights between 112 S q u a d r o n and the Italian fighters d u r i n g the next two weeks in which, in c o n d i t i o n s of heavy cloud and rain over the m o u n t a i n o u s terrain, s o m e fairly substantial overclaiming was t o result. W e a t h e r prevented o p e r a t i o n s on 10 M a r c h , but one day later 15 of the unit's aircraft were again over the front, this time t o escort 211 S q u a d r o n Blenheims on a raid in the Bousi area. An estimated 4 0 - 5 0 G.50bis were reported patrolling in the area, and nine of these fighters f r o m the 24° G r u p p o (led by M a g g C e s a r e Valente) engaged the f o r m a t i o n , claiming a Blenheim and o n e G l a d i a t o r shot d o w n . T h e British fighters turned on t h e a t t a c k e r s a n d claimed six shot d o w n , o n e p r o b a b l e and seven d a m a g e d without loss. T w o G.50bis went d o w n at once, M a g g Valente and Serg Luigi Spallacci both being killed, while Serg B r u n o F a v a and Serg M a g g Ermes L u c c h e t t a were both w o u n d e d a n d c r a s h - l a n d e d their F i a t s on their bellies. M C 2 0 0 s of the 22° G r u p p o may also have become involved, for Serg Anselmo A n d r a g h e t t i of 369 a Squadriglia was lost, t h e cause not being ascertained. 112 S q u a d r o n ' s claims were: Fit Lt F r a s e r o n e a n d o n e d a m a g e d Fig Off Banks one and t w o d a m a g e d Fig Off A c w o r t h one Fig Off C o c h r a n e one Fig Off E H Brown o n e d a m a g e d
Pit OfT N Bowker one Pit Off D F Westerna one Fit Lt Fry o n e p r o b a b l e a n d one d a m a g e d Sqn Ldr Brown o n e d a m a g e d Fig OfT R H Smith one d a m a g e d
Neville Bowker, a Rhodesian, a n d Derek 'Jerry' Westenra, a N e w Zealander, were b o t h involved in only their second engagements since joining t h e unit f r o m Flying T r a i n i n g School. 106
A trio of 112 S q u a d r o n pilots with a Gladiator at Yanina. T h e pilot on the left is believed to be Fit Lt J F Fraser, while Fig Olf R A Acworth sits on the wing, with Pit Olf P L C Brunton on his left. (Mrs Angela
Acworth)
D u r i n g t h e next t w o d a y s there were few o p e r a t i o n s , a l t h o u g h EVA b o m b e r s were in action. 32 M i r a had been b r o u g h t u p to strength with six e x - R A F Blenheim Is (L6658 a n d 6670 f r o m 211 S q u a d r o n ; L8384 a n d 8385, both ex-39 S q u a d r o n , a m o n g s t them). T h e M a r k I was not favoured by the G r e e k crews as there were n o floor hatches for emergency bale-outs, the aircraft requiring to be inverted, fighter-fashion, to allow personnel to d r o p free. O n this d a t e one of the Blenheim Is was hit by Italian AA fire, but when the pilot rolled the b o m b e r o n t o its back he was the only m e m b e r of the crew to escape as it fell t o crash at K o u k o u v a o u n e s , n o r t h of Athens. A Battle f r o m 33 Mira, crewed by Lt Col D e m e t r i u s S t a t h a k i s and M a j D e m e t r i u s Pitsikas, was shot d o w n in flames by Italian fighters over Nivitsa, but the identity of the unit responsible has not been found. 21 M i r a at P a r a m y t h i a was reinforced with t w o m o r e G l a d i a t o r s f r o m the R A F , K.7932 a n d 7984. T w o Biicker J u n g m a n n trainers a n d a Fi 156 of the J K R V also arrived on s e c o n d m e n t to the EVA; the Yugoslav pilots were briefly attached to the Po.63 unit (31 Mira) but not in an o p e r a t i o n a l capacity. 107
O n 12 M a r c h , the six H u r r i c a n e s of 33 S q u a d r o n ' s 'B' Flight again moved u p t o P a r a m y t h i a on d e t a c h m e n t , where they joined 30 S q u a d r o n ' s 'A' Flight of Blenheim I bombers. 'B' a n d ' C ' Flights of this unit, b o t h equipped with M a r k IFs, remained at Eleusis for the defence of Athens, joined n o w in this d u t y by t w o of 80 S q u a d r o n ' s Hurricanes. T h e latter s q u a d r o n received t w o m o r e d e c o r a t i o n s at this time, a Bar t o Fit Lt Pattle's D F C , this pilot's credited score now having reached 23, while the citation to Sgt Ted Hewett's D F M recorded 13 victories. Pattle was advised that he was t o t a k e over c o m m a n d of 33 S q u a d r o n forthwith, Sqn Ldr Ryley also being a w a r d e d a D F C (mainly for his activities earlier in the war as a flyingboat pilot) and being p r o m o t e d t o W i n g C o m m a n d e r , with a posting to Air H.Q. Immediately on taking over his new s q u a d r o n , Pattle also assumed t h e duty of Station C o m m a n d e r at Larissa. H e decided at once that a satellite airfield should be established, a n d requested the assistance of the local Army Liaison Officer, C a p t M E H C h u r t o n , R A O C . A small grass field w a s eventually located by C a p t C h u r t o n , some six-seven miles south-west of Larissa, where s o m e of the H u r r i c a n e s could be dispersed t o g u a r d against all being destroyed d u r i n g a sudden surprise strafing attack on Larissa. O n acceptance of this field by Pattle, it became k n o w n unofficially as ' C h u r t o n ' s B o t t o m ' in recognition of the A L O ' s endeavours!
Junkers J u 8 7 B of 208 a Squadriglia. 101° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o B a T . (N
Malizia)
British air striking power in Greece was a b o u t t o be reinforced by a small but i m p o r t a n t addition. At the end of F e b r u a r y the d e t a c h m e n t of 53 J u 5 2 / 3 m s of I I I / K G z b V 1 t o the Regia Aeronautica had ended, after t h e G e r m a n aircraft h a d m a d e 1665 t r o o p - c a r r y i n g a n d 2363 supply sorties f r o m F o g g i a t o Albania, 108
carrying across 3 0 0 0 0 men a n d 4700 t o n s of supplies, whilst bringing back 10 000 sick a n d w o u n d e d . N o w however with their d e p a r t u r e , the shipping routes between the Italian p o r t s a n d those in Albania had b e c o m e busier again a n d this had soon been noted by R A F reconnaissance aircraft. H e n c e six of 815 S q u a d r o n ' s Fairey Swordfish t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s which were based in Crete (see C h a p t e r 4) were t o be despatched to P a r a m y t h i a for n o c t u r n a l anti-shipping activities. Led by Lt C d r J a g o , the aircraft flew initially t o Eleusis, since it would be here that t o r p e d o e s would be fitted as facilities were not available at the forward airfield. J a g o ' s aircraft ('A'; P4083) carried the n o r m a l crew of three, but each of the other five were fitted with long-range fuel t a n k s in the centre cockpits. These increased range t o over 1000 miles, and e n d u r a n c e t o nine hours, but the t a n k s were not self-sealing, a n d represented a m a j o r fire hazard if p u n c t u r e d at all. T h e main fuel t a n k s were located in the u p p e r wings, but there w a s also a 'last-gasp' gravity tank which held a few extra gallons. G u n n e r Leading Airman K e n Sims recalls: 'The few gallons had t o be hand p u m p e d up. T h e pilot could use this - the h a n d l e was u n d e r his seat on the s t a r b o a r d side - but so could the observer, by crawling u n d e r the pilot's seat. In "last-gasp" c o n d i t i o n s obviously the pilot w a n t e d control so the observer was called upon. With the long-range tank if we got the call this m e a n t crawling u n d e r the tank a n d u n d e r the seat. N o t m u c h c h a n c e of getting out then!'
Loading a t o r p e d o under an 815 S q u a d r o n Swordfish.
O n arrival at Eleusis t h e aircrews were reunited with some of the unit's g r o u n d crews w h o had travelled on H M S Protector with the torpedoes, b u t learned that there had already been some trouble. G e r m a n C o n s u l a r officers f r o m t h e Legation in A t h e n s w o r e their uniforms in public, a n d the sight of these incensed the newly-arrived N a v a l airmen, particularly when fortified with local beer. 109
C o n s e q u e n t l y the o d d scuffle had b r o k e n out, ending when one G e r m a n was pushed t h r o u g h a s h o p window. Arrested by the Greek police, the culprits h a d been h a n d e d over to the shore patrol, w h o p r o m p t l y released them. Next day a senior Greek naval officer a p p e a r e d to request the d e t a c h m e n t ' s personnel t o be m o r e tolerant under the circumstances, since G r e e c e was not at that stage at war with G e r m a n y .
Capl (then Lt) F M A Torrens-Spence, c o m m a n d e r of 815 S q u a d r o n , Fleet Air Arm, p h o t o g r a p h e d after the war.
On 12 M a r c h the six Swordfish, n o w a r m e d with torpedoes, flew on u p to P a r a m y t h i a , their arrival coinciding with the full m o o n period. T h a t same night Lt C d r J a g o led five off over the m o u n t a i n s t o attack the ten-mile long h a r b o u r at Valona. F o u r Blenheims of 211 S q u a d r o n went off first at 20-minute intervals from 0300 o n w a r d s , each aircraft s p e n d i n g 15 m i n u t e s over the target area t o create a diversion a n d d r a w off the AA. At 0415 t h e initial Swordfish flight went off as follows: 'A' •B' F' K' M"
P4083 P4080 L9774 P4025 P4071
Lt C d r Jago; Lt Caldecott-Smith; L/A P N Beagley Lt C Lamb; L/A K Sims Sub Lt A J B F o r d e ; L/A L W Smith Lt Torrens-Spence; Sub Lt P Winter Lt O A G Oxley; L/A S L Boosey
H a v i n g climbed with difficulty t o some 8000 feet out t o sea off C o r f u , the t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s went into a controlled glide between the 2750 feet peak of 110
M o u n t St Basilios and its neighbour, and arrived over the h a r b o u r at a b o u t 60 feet. T h e diffused moonlight m a d e the surface of the water difficult t o see, a n d as the aircraft swept in, their engines throttled right back, t h e AA defences o p e n e d up a heavy barrage. At once Jago's Swordfish was hit a n d flew into the water, C h a r l e s L a m b t a k i n g over the lead. As he headed for a large vessel, his u n d e r c a r r i a g e struck t h e water, and the aircraft lurched violently, but he was able to k e e p it a i r b o r n e , a n d to a r m a n d launch his t o r p e d o . Of the following Swordfish, only Lt T o r r e n s - S p e n c e was able t o attack successfully, claiming to have gained a hit on a large passenger vessel. As the ship was in c o m p l e t e d a r k n e s s he had not been able to observe that it carried Red Cross markings, and was in fact the 7289-ton hospital ship Po. Reportedly, this ship was hit by t w o t o r p e d o e s and was beached, sinking later. Italian radio claimed that the vessel had been 'fully-illuminated' and c o n d e m n e d the attack, a d d i n g that Mussolini's d a u g h t e r , the C o u n t e s s C i a n o w a s a b o a r d and was one of the last to leave t h e sinking vessel. It seems unlikely t h a t the Po was hit by two t o r p e d o e s since only t w o were launched, the other pair of crews r e t u r n i n g to P a r a m y t h i a with their missiles still beneath their aircraft since n o w o r t h w h i l e targets had been seen. It is possible that L a m b ' s t o r p e d o also struck this ship, but since the 3539-ton Santa Maria was also sunk, this seems unlikely.
Personnel of 815 S q u a d r o n in Greece with an Evzone. Third from left is Leading Airman Ken Sims, while second from right is L/A Laurie Smith, and on the far right L/A Sid Boosey.
Ill
J a g o and his crew had survived their crash a n d were able t o get into their dinghy, f r o m which they were rescued by an Italian M A S boat ( m o t o r g u n b o a t ) after seven hours. Initially well-treated, they were later interrogated by Blackshirts w h o - angry over the sinking of the hospital ship - threatened them with shooting. Fully convinced that his collision with the water had ripped the u n d e r c a r r i a g e off P4080 meanwhile, Charles L a m b returned t o P a r a m y t h i a ready t o belly-land. In t h e d a w n light however, K e n Sims was able to lean out and confirm that the wheels were still attached. A gentle landing was made, the undercarriage showing no signs of any damage! C o m m a n d of 815 S q u a d r o n now passed to Lt Torrens-Spence; Lt A W F Sutton, w h o had been acting as Fleet Air Arm Liaison Officer in Greece, was sent forward to act as Senior Observer. Next day L a m b a n d Sub Lt F o r d e flew back to Eleusis t o collect further torpedoes. F r o m P a r a m y t h i a d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n of 13 M a r c h Sqn Ldr Brown led 14 G l a d i a t o r s f r o m his s q u a d r o n a n d six of 33 S q u a d r o n ' s H u r r i c a n e s off for an offensive patrol over the Kelcyre area. Here an estimated 14 S.79s were seen aircraft f r o m 104" G r u p p o BT - with an escort identified as 20 G.50bis a n d 20 plus C R 4 2 s . T h r e e of the H u r r i c a n e s attacked the m a s s of fighters, followed by the G l a d i a t o r s , and again m a n y individual dogfights ensued. Sqn Ldr Brown a t t a c k e d the leading fighter of a flight of three, but b r o k e off to get on the tail of a n o t h e r , which he saw crash; he claimed a G.50 and a n o t h e r d a m a g e d . Fit Lt Fraser attacked a C R 4 2 which he reported burst into flames and crashed near Bousi; two m o r e were claimed destroyed by Fig OfT C o c h r a n e and Pit OfT Groves, while a n o t h e r pair were claimed as probable. T h e G l a d i a t o r s reformed, then spotted a b o u t 30 m o r e C R 4 2 s with 38° S t o r m o BR20s. Seven of Fit Lt Fry's ' C ' Flight pilots went after the b o m b e r s , while Fit Lt Fraser's 'A' Flight tackled the fighters, claiming seven m o r e shot d o w n . T w o of these were credited to Fraser, o n e reportedly diving into the g r o u n d n o r t h of C o r o v o d e with the pilot slumped in his cockpit, while t h e second went d o w n in flames; Fraser's o w n aircraft was badly shot up, as was t h a t of Pit Off Groves, but both m a n a g e d to get back t o base. Again the 'G.50bis' seem to have been 22° G r u p p o Macchis, 11 of which a c c o m p a n i e d 18 C R 4 2 s f r o m the 160" G r u p p o over the front. T h e Italian pilots claimed four G l a d i a t o r s and one H u r r i c a n e shot d o w n , losing just two C R 4 2 s flown by T e n G u a l t i e r o Bacchi a n d Sottoten E n z o T o r r o n i , b u t n o MC200s. However a l t h o u g h n o claims were m a d e against the b o m b e r s o n this occasion, several were in fact hit and d a m a g e d , a n u m b e r of crewmen being w o u n d e d . 112 S q u a d r o n ' s claims were: Sqn Ldr Brown Fit Lt Fraser Fig Off C o c h r a n e Pit Off G r o v e s
G.50bis and one damaged 3 CR42s 3 CR42s 2 C R 4 2 s and one d a m a g e d
Pit Off P L C B r u n t o n
CR42
Fig Off Brown Pit Off Bowker Pit OfT D G M a c D o n a l d
CR42 CR42 probable CR42 probable
D u r i n g the day however Fig Off Edwin Banks f r o m this unit took off to test the g u n s of N 5 9 1 3 over L a k e Yanina, but while d o i n g so suddenly dived into the water for n o a p p a r e n t reason, a n d w a s killed. 112
Next d a y three of 33's H u r r i c a n e s were again off with 12 G l a d i a t o r s t o escort 211 S q u a d r o n Blenheims t o the Tepelene-Kelcyre area, where a large f o r m a t i o n of Italian fighters w a s again reported, variously identified by the H u r r i c a n e pilots as 12 C R 4 2 s , 12 G . 5 0 b i s and 12 MC200s, and by t h e G l a d i a t o r pilots as 4 0 - 5 0 C R 4 2 s a n d G.50bis. In addition ten Z.1007bis a n d five BR20s were seen aircraft f r o m 47° a n d 38° S t o r m o respectively. T h e o p p o s i n g fighters were f r o m the same units as the day before - 16 Macchis of the 22° G r u p p o a n d 12 C R 4 2 s of the 160° G r u p p o reported meeting 20 G l a d i a t o r s a n d eight Hurricanes, escorting five Blenheims. While Fit Lt F r y a n d his flight attacked the b o m b e r s , Fry himself claiming a BR20 shot d o w n n o r t h of Kelcyre and Fig Off Smith a d a m a g e d , ' C ' Flight once again became involved in a swirling dogfight with the Italian m o n o p l a n e fighters, claiming four shot d o w n , four p r o b a b l e s and a d a m a g e d . Sgt D o n a l d s o n claimed two, both of which dived away p o u r i n g smoke, while Fit Lt F r a s e r w a s a t t a c k e d h e a d - o n by one, but m a n a g e d to evade this and get on its tail, his fire causing the pilot t o bale out. O n e Macchi shot the tail off N 5 9 1 6 a n d Sqn Ldr Brown m a n a g e d to bale out only with the greatest difficulty; Pit Off Bowker's G l a d i a t o r was also d a m a g e d . T h e H u r r i c a n e s also engaged the Macchis, 33 S q u a d r o n claiming t w o shot d o w n a n d t w o probables, but after believing that he had got o n e of these. Fig Off H o l m a n was himself shot d o w n a n d had t o bale out. T h e Italian pilots claimed two H u r r i c a n e s and two G l a d i a t o r s shot d o w n on this occasion, their own losses being Ten Luigi Locatelli, w h o w a s killed, and Serg Ferruccio Miazzo, w h o baled out, while Sottoten E d g a r d o Vaghi's fighter was d a m a g e d . T h e British claims were: 112
33
Squadron
Fit Lt Fry Fit Lt Fraser
o n e BR20 one 'G.50'
Sgt Fig Fig Pit Pit Fig
two 'G.50s' o n e •G.50' one 'G.50' p r o b a b l e one 'G.50' p r o b a b l e one 'G.50' p r o b a b l e one 'G.50' probable, o n e BR20 d a m a g e d o n e 'G.50' d a m a g e d
Donaldson Off Bennett Off C o c h r a n e Off G r o v e s Off Bowker Off Smith
Pit Off B r u n t o n
Squadron
Fig Off H o l m a n o n e m o n o p l a n e F/Sgt Cottingham one monoplane and one probable Pit Off Starrett o n e m o n o p l a n e probable
G u n n e r s in o n e C a n t Z.1007bis claimed o n e G l a d i a t o r shot d o w n , and o n e b o m b e r was d a m a g e d - reportedly by AA - r e t u r n i n g with some of the crew wounded. Meanwhile o n e of 815 S q u a d r o n ' s Swordfish was flying back t o P a r a m y t h i a after being re-armed with its t o r p e d o at Eleusis. Flying over C o r f u at 5000 feet, P4080, flown by Lt L a m b with Sub Lt Bowker in the rear seat, w a s intercepted by t w o 160° G r u p p o C R 4 2 s . L a m b at once jettisoned the t o r p e d o , s t o o d the aircraft on its tail just as the fighters opened fire, a n d b o t h stalled a n d spun away as they a t t e m p t e d to keep their sights on the almost stationary Swordfish. 113
Recovering, they c a m e in again side by side, but this time L a m b threw his aircraft into a dive beyond the vertical in which his speed rose t o well over 200 mph. Again the F i a t s a t t e m p t e d t o k e e p after him, but in d o i n g so collided with each other and crashed into the sea. T e n E t t o r e C a m p i n o t i being killed, while Serg M a g g M a u r i z i o M a n d o l e s i m a n a g e d t o t a k e to his p a r a c h u t e . O n landing at P a r a m y t h i a , L a m b found a jagged hole in the back of his seat and an unexploded 12.7mm shell lodged in his p a r a c h u t e . T h a t night at 2115 three of 815's Swordfish were out again after shipping in V a l o n a h a r b o u r , again s u p p o r t e d by 211 S q u a d r o n Blenheims m a k i n g a diversionary attack o n the town. A t t a c k s were m a d e on two vessels, hits being reported on o n e 10 000-ton liner by Lt Oxley a n d S u b Lt M a c a u l a y , but n o ships were recorded lost on this occasion. F r o m P a r a m y t h i a 211 S q u a d r o n ' s Sqn Ldr G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n had flown to Eleusis on 13 M a r c h to report t o Air H Q on the unit's recent experiences at the forward field, where 30 o p e r a t i o n s had been flown in 25 days. O n his arrival he was advised of his p r o m o t i o n t o W g C d r and the a w a r d of a D S O . H e was t o be posted t o set u p a new 'E' (Eastern) W i n g to c o m m a n d units t o be established on the T h e s s a l o n i k a n Plain, following the success of ' W ' W i n g in the Y a n i n a / P a r a m y t h i a area. His W i n g would comprise 11 S q u a d r o n at Almyros; the 113 S q u a d r o n d e t a c h m e n t at Menidi, soon t o be joined by t h e rest of the unit; the Wellingtons of 37 S q u a d r o n at Menidi; B' a n d 'C' Flights of 30 S q u a d r o n at Eleusis; the balance of 33 S q u a d r o n not at P a r a m y t h i a ; a n d t w o new s q u a d r o n s which were d u e t o be despatched f r o m Egypt shortly (73 a n d 208). His place in 211 S q u a d r o n w a s taken by Sqn L d r R J C N e d will A F C , a N e w Z e a l a n d e r w h o had been a fighter instructor at the H a b b a n i y a flying school in Iraq. 33 S q u a d r o n was meanwhile reinforced by two new pilots, b o t h of w h o m h a d been w o r k i n g as instructors at 70 O T U , Ismailia; Fit Lt A B Mitchell had flown with 430 Flight in East Africa, where he had shot d o w n a C a p r o n i C a l 3 3 while flying a G l o s t e r G a u n t l e t . H e and the other pilot. Fig Off D T Moir, h a d formed an i m p r o m p t u fighter defence flight while with 70 O T U to provide some defence for the Suez Canal. S o o n after m i d d a y on 15 M a r c h , ten Z.1007bis of 47° S t o r m o a p p e a r e d over Y a n i n a and c o m m e n c e d b o m b i n g just as a 112 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r flown by Fig Off Bennett w a s a p p r o a c h i n g t o land. B o m b blast flicked the fighter over on its back, but the pilot was able t o right it, a n d land the d a m a g e d m a c h i n e safely. O n the g r o u n d a n o t h e r G l a d i a t o r was set on fire, but t w o of 112 S q u a d r o n ' s airmen, L A C s Reed and Walter, rushed from their shelter a l t h o u g h b o m b s were still falling, and m a n a g e d t o extinguish the flames and save the aircraft. A Greek J u 5 2 / 3 m was also d a m a g e d , b u t was swiftly repaired and was soon back in service. At 1325 seven Blenheims f r o m 84 and 211 S q u a d r o n s were off f r o m P a r a m y t h i a to raid Devoli airfield where three Ro.37bis of 72° G r u p p o O A were destroyed a n d three 395 a Squadriglia G.50bis d a m a g e d ; three airmen were w o u n d e d . T h e units sent o u t a n o t h e r eight Blenheims at 1730 t o attack V a l o n a airfield, a n d here a 364 a Squadriglia C R 4 2 was destroyed in flames. D u r i n g the day, eight 37 S q u a d r o n Wellingtons and five 30 S q u a d r o n Blenheim I F s flew u p to P a r a m y t h i a t o u n d e r t a k e night a t t a c k s on T i r a n a and Valona. 114
T h e night's activities were opened by three 815 S q u a d r o n Swordfish which went out at 2030 t o attack V a l o n a h a r b o u r again, Blenheims of 211 S q u a d r o n once m o r e providing the diversion. As on the previous occasion it was found that the vessels in h a r b o u r had been moved a r o u n d , a n d the t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s had t o fly a b o u t looking for targets. A small AA vessel opened fire on Lt L a m b ' s aircraft suddenly, but n o d a m a g e was done. In S u b Lt M a c a u l a y ' s ' P ' was g u n n e r Ken Sims: ' W e were still at 1,000 feet but the fire was s p o r a d i c a n d not particularly close. W e soon got u n d e r n e a t h it. And j u d g i n g the height was easy. F o r there in the middle of the h a r b o u r , lit u p like some glittering crown, w a s a hospital ship. We skirted by it, picked out the d a r k shape of a m e r c h a n t ship a n d closed in. M a c didn't g o for long shots. H e seemed t o k n o w just how m u c h he needed t o get the fish r u n n i n g and primed, a n d that was the r a n g e it was d r o p p e d . T h e shape was looking pretty big when he let go. We b a n k e d away and watched. I w a s expecting s o m e t h i n g spectacular but the flash, when it c a m e , was quite s u b d u e d . It could even have been a reflection f r o m the gun flashes which were s p r a y i n g a r o u n d , mostly a b o v e us. But we believed we had gained a hit. W e skirted the hospital ship again a n d headed for the h a r b o u r entrance, still at n o m o r e t h a n 100 feet.' It seems t h a t they hit t h e destroyer Andromeda with this attack. Lt L a m b also spotted the hospital ship, but finding n o t h i n g else w o r t h attacking, he released his t o r p e d o at t h e small AA vessel, which he believed he had sunk. Sub Lt F o r d e saw n o t h i n g w a r r a n t i n g an attack, a n d returned with his t o r p e d o , but could not find P a r a m y t h i a , force-landing in a field where t h e aircraft ran into a ditch and overturned. At 0330 the five Blenheim I F s followed, armed with 20 lb and 30 lb fragmentation b o m b s , a t t a c k i n g V a l o n a airfield at ten-minute intervals. A l t h o u g h o n e Blenheim was hit in b o t h wings by AA fire, four m o r e of 72° G r u p p o ' s Ro.37bis were hit a n d d a m a g e d . Behind the Blenheims c a m e 37 S q u a d r o n ' s Wellingtons, their target being T i r a n a airfield. In the m o o n l i g h t a n u m b e r of C R 4 2 s f r o m 160° G r u p p o had scrambled, a n d these attacked Sgt D C Murrell's ' D \ R1387, which was seen t o be shot d o w n in flames; three of t h e crew were killed, including the pilot, a n d three became prisoners. T w o m o r e Wellingtons were hit by the fighters. Fit Lt P C L e m o n ' s ' C \ T2580, having its port wheel p u n c t u r e d , the aileron controls shot away a n d the rear turret d a m a g e d by an explosive shell. 'J', T2895 (Sgt D J Paul) was badly d a m a g e d d o w n the s t a r b o a r d side of the fuselage, but b o t h this and L e m o n ' s b o m b e r got back to M e n i d i to land. By n o w the Italian offensive had been b r o u g h t t o a halt after a week of bitter fighting which had inflicted heavy losses on each side. T h e G r e e k s , t h o u g h victorious again, were n o w exhausted, a n d were s h o r t of a m m u n i t i o n a n d supplies. In the air activity continued, particularly by night for the d u r a t i o n of the moonlit period. D u r i n g 16 M a r c h , a Blenheim of 211 S q u a d r o n was despatched on a special reconnaissance of D u r a z z o h a r b o u r to check on the a m o u n t of shipping present, pending an attack on this target by t h e Swordfish. A n u m b e r of good-sized ships were seen, but d u r i n g the r e t u r n flight a Z.506B floatplane of the 86° G r u p p o BM was met near Valona. Pit Off R o n P e a r s o n , the Blenheim pilot, later recalled: 115
' W e were evenly m a t c h e d - t h e Blenheim had t w o g u n s a n d t h e C a n t had three, t w o in t h e rear turret and o n e front. W e tackled first the stings in the tail, and with my second burst I got the rear gunner. Just in time, too, for the tracer f r o m t h e t o p turret w a s fairly sizzling past t h e cockpit - most unpleasant. T h e n , t h e rear g u n s silenced, I went for the cockpit, and m a d e a series of head-on a t t a c k s t o drive him away f r o m home. W h e n the a m m o in the front gun was exhausted we tried b e a m a t t a c k s t o give my rear gunner a chance. It was jolly g o o d fun. T h e n we had t o c o m e back, regretfully, for t h e C a n t , just a b o v e the waves, w a s still flying, t h o u g h all his g u n s were silent. So we landed a little fed up.' Before P e a r s o n had actually got back to P a r a m y t h i a , Air H Q had contacted the s q u a d r o n a n d advised t h e m that a Greek observer had witnessed the fight a n d had seen the C a n t crash into the sea and sink. H o w e v e r this was incorrect; the d a m a g e d floatplane m a d e it back to Brindisi. Following receipt of P e a r s o n ' s reconnaissance report, f o u r Swordfish set off at 2230 t o D u r a z z o . Thick cloud was met at 5000 feet for the last 30 miles t o the target, a n d the first thing to be seen was some u n c o m f o r t a b l y a c c u r a t e AA. All pilots attacked independently, considerable shipping being seen and all torpedoes d r o p p e d . O n e crew reported seeing t w o explosions, but n o n e stopped t o view results as the AA was t o o heavy. M e a n w h i l e t h e Italians n o w reciprocated, three Z.1007bis f r o m 47° S t o r m o raiding Larissa d u r i n g the early hours, while close behind t h e m came t w o BR20s of 37° S t o r m o t o attack Yanina. T w o hours later three C R 4 2 s of 160° G r u p p o m a d e a strafing a t t a c k on the latter airfield where AA fire hit C a p Luigi Corsini's fighter, causing him t o bale out over Italian lines d u r i n g the return flight. Next night - 17/18 M a r c h - six 37 S q u a d r o n Wellingtons led by W g C d r Collard, a t t a c k e d D u r a z z o again, hits being reported on the d o c k y a r d ; o n e Wellington was slightly d a m a g e d by AA. Little was seen by d a y d u r i n g the next few days, a l t h o u g h f o r m a t i o n s of escorted Blenheims c o n t i n u e d to attack targets in Albania. O n 18 M a r c h an A n s o n crew of 13 M i r a spotted a n d attacked a s u b m a r i n e close t o St. G e o r g e ' s Island, s o u t h of Athens. T h e sighting was radioed to the unit, a n d within five m i n u t e s all available aircraft were in the air. T h e s u b m a r i n e w a s believed badly d a m a g e d as great quantities of petrol were seen on the surface of the s e a A 230 S q u a d r o n S u n d e r l a n d flown by Fit Lt A M G L y w o o d w a s a b o u t t o t a k e off f r o m S c a r a m a n g a on patrol, and this searched for the submarine, but saw nothing. N o record of an Axis s u b m a r i n e loss is recorded, however. O n C o r f u on this d a t e Andrew S t a m a t o p o u l o s , then a 14-year old living in the village of K o n d o k a l i , recorded in his diary: 'It was m i d d a y - M a r c h 18th 1941. T h e d r o n e of a r a t h e r high-flying aircraft m a d e me search the sky. After a short while I saw a big, graceful aircraft c o m i n g in f r o m the N W t o w a r d s us a n d flying at a height of a b o u t 3000 metres. It w a s a C a n t Z.1007bis Alcione (single fin and rudder version). At the same time a n o t h e r pitch of d r o n e attracted our attention; three old-looking piplanes were crossing t o w a r d s us f r o m the east a b o v e the sea, flying in perfect f o r m a t i o n , rather slowly at the height of a b o u t 2000 metres. T h e s e were Breguet XIXs and they must 116
have seen the Italian as they opened their throttles wide so that to climb higher and fly faster to catch the enemy. T h e Italian, seeing them, t u r n e d 360° t o the right at the m o m e n t t h a t it flew a b o v e C o r f u T o w n , intending t o r e t u r n t o its base. T h e r e ensued an exchange of fire for a b o u t 2 - 3 minutes, close t o the village of Synarades, where a lot of e m p t y cases fell f r o m t h e sky. But t h e Alcione was so m u c h faster a n d it easily fled. Shortly after, we heard b o m b explosions at the N W part of the island; possibly t h a t t h e b o m b e r got rid of its bombs. T h e n the Breguet XIXs flew again over our heads and vanished t o w a r d s t h e east - a n d their landing g r o u n d at P a r a m y t h i a . ' T h e y o u n g A n d r e w was quite certain that the biplanes he had seen were B r e g u e t s indeed he even sketched their wing plan in his diary at t h e time. Yet there were n o aircraft of this type at P a r a m y t h i a at the time, and on this d a t e a trio of G l a d i a t o r s f r o m 112 S q u a d r o n which had taken off f r o m P a r a m y t h i a , engaged a Z.1007bis over C o r f u which escaped them. Bad weather d u r i n g the night of 18/19 M a r c h prevented a f u r t h e r attack on D u r a z z o being m a d e but a reconnaissance on 19 M a r c h again showed this p o r t to be the most promising target, a n d a further strike was laid on. Because of the k n o w n shallowness of the water, it was decided t o a r m t w o aircraft with six 250 lb b o m b s each, plus flares, a n d only o n e with a t o r p e d o . T h e trio set off at 0150, reaching the target area two h o u r s later. Recalled K e n Sims, observer in t h e t o r p e d o - e q u i p p e d aircraft: 'It was a long slog u p t o D u r a z z o , a b o u t 100 miles past Valona. We t o o k a line well out to sea in the hope that the latter place w o u l d n ' t notice w h a t we were u p t o and give warning. After two h o u r s we turned in, c a m e over D u r a z z o at a b o u t 8000 feet a n d started d r o p p i n g flares. T h e h a r b o u r seemed quite full. S o was the air - full of anti-aircraft fire, the place w a s well defended.' Lt Clifford b o m b e d a ship of 3-4000 tons, but did not observe any hits, while L/Air L a u r i e Smith in S u b Lt F o r d e ' s ' F ' saw two explosions after an attack was m a d e on a ship in the n o r t h - e a s t corner of the bay. Sub Lt M a c a u l a y searched for a suitable target for his t o r p e d o meantime; Ken Sims recalled: 'A largish ship which looked like an oil t a n k e r stood out away f r o m a jetty with a fair expanse of water on o n e side of it. I guessed that was what M a c had his eye on. W e did a c o p y book attack such as often practised but seldom achieved. A vertical dive with a jink halfway t o line u p direction a n d check speed, then d o w n again to pull out a n d level olf on the water close t o the target. We seemed terribly u n m a s k e d out there in the light of our o w n flares. But the vertical dive did the trick as far as return fire w a s concerned. I looked back t o see t h e air full of gunfire above us but we got in close with little visible reaction at our level. By the time they started with the small a r m s a n d Breda we h a d d r o p p e d the fish and turned away. T h e r e were some m o m e n t s of suspense before we crossed the h a r b o u r wall but m u c h of the fire trailed behind us. I saw n o balloons but I did see a hit on the target lit as it was by the flares. N o t h i n g spectacular but nevertheless a hit. T h e display went on for some time behind us. I guessed t h e boys with the b o m b s had not d r o p p e d them all at once a n d pulled back for a second go. I wished t h e m luck.' 117
Following this raid bad weather over Albania and Greece frustrated o p e r a t i o n s to an even greater degree. N o t until 21/22 M a r c h was 815 S q u a d r o n again able to launch a raid, and then the single Swordfish sent out to Valona had to beat a hasty retreat when two fighters were seen, the b o m b e r c r a s h i n g on return. Several reconnaissances were flown over the Yugoslavian and Bulgarian borders by 113 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheims at this time, seeking to check on d e v e l o p m e n t s here, since G e r m a n forces were n o w k n o w n t o be in Bulgaria in strength (see C h a p t e r 5). O n 21 M a r c h , 24" G r u p p o C T G.50bis escorted S.79s c a r r y i n g Benito Mussolini and his party f r o m Devoli back to Italy, but an M C 200 of 3 7 l a Squadriglia crashed while patrolling over Valona, the pilot (Sottoten Enrico Pani) being killed. A reconnaissance Z.506B w a s reported attacked by a G l a d i a t o r s o u t h of C e p h a l o n i a Island, the crew claiming to have shot d o w n their t o r m e n t o r ; n o Allied account of this interception has been found.
Macchi C 2 0 0 fighters of 373 a Squadriglia, 153° G r u p p o C T prepare for take off. ( A M I via N
Malizia)
At last Italian reconnaissance discovered the airfields at P a r a m y t h i a , a n d at 0635 on 22 M a r c h , 29 M C 2 0 0 s f r o m the 153° G r u p p o C T at Lecce and Brindisi took off to m a k e a strafing attack. Eight Macchis swept in, claiming two Blenheims destroyed on the g r o u n d ; o n e aircraft of 211 S q u a d r o n was actually hit a n d b u r n t out. As the other 21 patrolled overhead they r e p o r t e d engaging 12 G l a d i a t o r s and claimed t w o shot d o w n with a third as a probable. T h e r e were in fact only t w o of these aircraft from 112 S q u a d r o n in the air, Fit Lt Fraser a n d Pit Off Bowker having scrambled after the b o m b e r s reported over C o r f u , where they e n c o u n t e r e d four Z.1007bis f r o m 47° S t o r m o and the Macchis, reported as usual 118
as 'G 50s'; neither side actually suffered any casualties. Five BR20s f r o m 37" S t o r m o then attacked P a r a m y t h i a in the face of intense AA which d a m a g e d t w o of the b o m b e r s , but little d a m a g e was caused to the target.
C a p i t a n o s Mario Larker and G i u s e p p e Cenni of 239° Squadriglia, 97° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o B a ' T with a member of the unit's groundcrew; Ju87Bs in the background. (C Gari via N
Malizia)
In the a f t e r n o o n 27 m o r e Macchis repeated t h e strafe, while 15 m o r e flew t o p cover. This time t w o Wellingtons were claimed destroyed, o n e of t h e m exploding, whilst a fighter was also claimed. O n e unserviceable Wellington of 37 S q u a d r o n went u p in flames, as did one of the G l a d i a t o r s left behind by 80 S q u a d r o n . Six Ju87s of 239 a Squadriglia were also out f r o m their Italian base, C a p M a r i o Larker leading these t o attack some small ships off C o r f u , claiming o n e sunk and a second d a m a g e d .
Gloster G l a d i a t o r of 80 S q u a d r o n destroyed during an Italian strafe of P a r a m y t h i a on 22 March, 1941. (E
Bevingion-Smith)
119
U n d e r the impression t h a t the Macchis had been G.50bis f r o m Berat, an attack on this airfield was laid on for 23 M a r c h , 13 H u r r i c a n e s of 33 S q u a d r o n f r o m Larissa, led by Sqn Ldr Pattle, rendezvousing with 11 G l a d i a t o r s of 112 S q u a d r o n t o escort six Blenheims f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n to attack this base. A p p r o a c h i n g at low level d u e to heavy cloud, the Blenheims b o m b e d f r o m only 1500 feet, but only m i n o r shrapnel d a m a g e was caused by the AA defences. T w o H u r r i c a n e s were harder hit, a n d were forced t o r e t u r n t o Larissa u n d e r escort by Fig Off H o l m a n ' s section. T h e r e m a i n i n g H u r r i c a n e s r e g r o u p e d close a r o u n d the b o m bers, but near the b o r d e r a 24° G r u p p o G.50bis a t t a c k e d Fig Off D y s o n s V7415, hitting the glycol a n d fuel tanks, escaping fluid almost blinding the pilot. He m a n a g e d a l m o s t to reach Larissa before baling out when t h e engine seized up; he was soon picked u p by G r e e k t r o o p s and returned to the airfield. D u r i n g this interception T e n Enrico G i o r d a n i n o a n d S o t t o t e n Giorgio Moretti of the 24° G r u p p o claimed one H u r r i c a n e shot d o w n and o n e probable. Early in the a f t e r n o o n Sqn Ldr Pattle w a s off again at the head of ten Hurricanes, briefed t o strafe Fier airfield, some miles west of Berat. as t h e fighters a p p r o a c h e d the target they were attacked by an estimated 20 G.50s a n d MC200s, a n d a n u m b e r of dogfights ensued, three G.50bis being claimed shot d o w n , o n e each by Pattle, Fig Off H o l m a n a n d Fig Off W o o d w a r d , w h o also claimed a n o t h e r d a m a g e d ; Fig Off N e w t o n claimed a p r o b a b l e and a d a m a g e d also. As a result the H u r r i c a n e s were scattered all over t h e sky, only Pattle a n d W o o d w a r d actually c a r r y i n g out the strafe on the airfield, where the former claimed three aircraft destroyed. He then spotted a G.50bis at 200 feet, preparing to land, a n d gave this a burst; he saw it roll over, b u t did not witness it crash, so claimed only a probable. O n return he was extremely angry with his pilots for not carrying out the full strafe as briefed. T h e result of the m o r n i n g raid had seen two Ro.37bis and a G.50bis d a m a g e d on the g r o u n d , while n o w o n e further G.50bis went u p in flames; despite t h e claims made, there is n o record of any Italian fighters having been shot d o w n in c o m b a t on this occasion. Italian pilots of 154° G r u p p o claimed one British fighter shot d o w n a n d one probable, while similar claims were put in by the C R 4 2 pilots of 150° G r u p p o ; there were n o R A F losses. T h e m o o n having waned, o p p o r t u n i t i e s for night a t t a c k s had now diminished, a n d the d e t a c h m e n t of Wellingtons at Menidi were ordered t o return t o rejoin 37 S q u a d r o n in Egypt. T h r e e of 815 S q u a d r o n ' s pilots led by Lt L a m b were also despatched in a 267 S q u a d r o n Lodestar, to collect new Swordfish. O n 24 M a r c h , however the m a i n b o d y of 113 S q u a d r o n arrived an Menidi f r o m Egypt, a b s o r b i n g the d e t a c h e d p h o t o - r e c o n n a i s s a n c e flight there. C o m m a n d e d by Sqn Ldr R H Spencer, t h e unit was initially t o attack shipping carrying supplies t o the Italian D o d e c a n e s e Islands in the Aegean, a n d to maintain the reconnaissance sorties over R u m a n i a a n d Bulgaria. T h e s q u a d r o n was a m a z e d to discover that L u f t h a n s a civil Ju 52/3m airliners were still regularly o p e r a t i n g f r o m Menidi, a n d at times shared the circuit with the Blenheim IVs. In 33 S q u a d r o n Fit Lt Y o u n g was posted away, his place at the Flight being taken by Fig O f f ' D i x i e ' D e a n , w h o w a s p r o m o t e d Acting s q u a d r o n also learned of the a w a r d of a Bar t o Fig Off D y s o n ' s D F C in N o r t h Africa. 80 S q u a d r o n gained two m o r e decorations, a D F C 120
head of B' Fit Lt. T h e for actions for Pit Off
Bill Vale (13^ victories) a n d a D F M for Sgt D o n a l d G r e g o r y (seven victories). O n 26 M a r c h however, Sqn Ldr Nedwill, 211 S q u a d r o n ' s new C O , w h o had only flown his first sortie t w o d a y s earlier, b o r r o w e d a G l a d i a t o r f r o m 112 S q u a d r o n to p e r f o r m aerobatics. H e lost c o n t r o l d u r i n g one m a n o u e v r e and crashed to his death. Fit Lt Jones, o n e of t h e flight c o m m a n d e r s , t o o k over c o m m a n d of the unit. O n the other side of the lines d u r i n g the day before, M a g g O s c a r Molinari, w h o had only recently returned t o c o m m a n d the 160° G r u p p o at Devoli on recovery f r o m w o u n d s , h a d also been killed while practising aerobatics in his C R 42!
Macchi C 2 0 0
fighters
campaign. ( A M I via N
of 372" Squadriglia,
153° G r u p p o C T at Brindisi during the
Balkans
Malizia)
T h e 153° G r u p p o C T Macchis were back over P a r a m y t h i a for a n o t h e r strafe early in the a f t e r n o o n of 26 M a r c h . As they a p p r o a c h e d they were met by four 112 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r s , which they again identified as 12 in n u m b e r . O n e G l a d i a t o r was badly d a m a g e d , but the pilot m a n a g e d to land safely, while Fit Lt Schwab pursued the M C 2 0 0 s t o t h e coast, believing that he had possibly m a n a g e d to shoot o n e d o w n into the sea off Perdika. D u r i n g the dogfight two Macchis b r o k e away and strafed the airfield, claiming t w o G l a d i a t o r s a n d a Wellington destroyed. In fact they m a n a g e d to destroy o n e G l a d i a t o r , a n d hit the wreckage of the Wellington which they had already destroyed four d a y s earlier. 121
Italian personnel p o s e with the wreckage of t w o Gladiators, apparently t h o s e destroyed during the late March strafes o n Paramythia. (Bruni via Lucchini/Malizia)
113 S q u a d r o n u n d e r t o o k its first m a j o r raid on 27 M a r c h , Sqn Ldr Spencer leading 11 of the unit's Blenheims t o attack C a l a t o airfield on Rhodes. Nearly 120001b of b o m b s were d r o p p e d , fuel d u m p s and buildings being left on fire, while it w a s believed that o n e aircraft had been destroyed. This action was associated with activity over C r e t e (see C h a p t e r 4) a n d an ' U l t r a ' intercept which indicated an increased level of activity by Italian forces on Rhodes.
113 S q u a d r o n Blenheim IV at Menidi. (S W
Lee)
122
At Y a n i n a 112 S q u a d r o n was ordered to despatch all o p e r a t i o n a l G l a d i a t o r s to P a r a m y t h i a , since it was intended t o re-equip the unit with Hurricanes. Next day three pilots left in a B o m b a y t o collect the first of these f r o m Egypt. In the event these aircraft would go to 33 S q u a d r o n at Eleusis, rather t h a n to 112. D u r i n g 27 M a r c h , six of 30 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheim fighters were flown forward t o P a r a m y t h i a f r o m where next m o r n i n g at 0535 they set c o u r s e for Lecce airfield in Italy, led by Fit Lt T o m H o r g a n . T h e attack was aimed to interfere with possible action against the M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet which might be launched from this airfield. Arriving over the target an h o u r later, they dived from 10000 feet to 1500 feet, an estimated 8 0 - 1 0 0 aircraft of all types being seen on t h e g r o u n d . The Blenheims u n d e r t o o k two strafing passes, t a k i n g the defences completely by surprise. O n e b o m b e r , identified as a C a l 3 5 , was left in flames a n d a n o t h e r collapsed; at least 20 o t h e r s were claimed to have been riddled with bullets. W h e n at last t h e defences o p e n e d u p four of the Blenheims were hit and slightly d a m a g e d . Sgt O v e n s ' aircraft subsequently force-landed at an a d v a n c e d landing g r o u n d as a result. T w o M C 2 0 0 s were scrambled from Lecce a n d three m o r e from Brindisi, but they were u n a b l e t o catch the attackers as they withdrew. T h e s q u a d r o n ' s assessment of the d a m a g e they h a d caused was quite accurate; o n e S.81 w a s destroyed in flames and 25 other aircraft were d a m a g e d , while five airmen were w o u n d e d , o n e of t h e m seriously, as was o n e civilian outside the base. O n 30 M a r c h at 1125, ten Blenheims of 84 S q u a d r o n were despatched without escort t o raid a military c a m p at Elbasan, 20 miles south-east of T i r a n a . Sgt A H u t c h e s o n ' s LI 390 was hit by A A fire a n d he struggled back to force-land at Neapolis, near Koritza. T h e o t h e r nine b o m b e r s were intercepted by 154° G r u p p o C T G.50bis which had scrambled f r o m Devoli, and these took on the Blenheims as they m a d e their attack. LI391 (Sgt G E Bailey) w a s badly s h o t - u p , hit in the nose, fuselage a n d s t a r b o a r d wing, while T2427 (Fig Off I P C G o u d g e ) was also hit - t h e Fiat pilots claimed two Blenheims p r o b a b l y shot d o w n . Sgt Blackburn, the g u n n e r in Fit Lt W T Russell's aircraft, believed that he had shot d o w n o n e of t h e a t t a c k e r s which was seen diving vertically with s m o k e p o u r i n g from its engine; on this occasion crews identified two of their a t t a c k e r s as Re 2000s. T h a t night five of 113 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheims b o m b e d an Italian supply convoy off S t a m p a l i a Island, but without o b v i o u s results. At the end of the m o n t h 80 S q u a d r o n , having received its new Hurricanes, h a n d e d its last four G l a d i a t o r s t o 112 S q u a d r o n , where Fit Lt S c h w a b had just been p r o m o t e d to t a k e over t h e unit from Sqn Ldr Brown. T w o of the unit's tired G l a d i a t o r s (K7932 a n d 7984) were passed on to 21 M i r a at Ptolemais. 80 S q u a d r o n ' s six new H u r r i c a n e s were P2927, V6629, 7344, 7718, 7748 a n d 7808; two had been flown to Greece by Free F r e n c h pilots, F/Sgt J a c q u e s Rivalant and F/Sgt Pierre Wintersdorff, w h o were now posted t o the s q u a d r o n . A Blenheim escorting the H u r r i c a n e s on their ferry flight carried Sqn Ldr J o n e s back f r o m leave in Cairo. T h r e e replacement Blenheim IFs were also received by 30 S q u a d r o n to re-equip its b o m b e r flight, allowing the unit to become entirely fighter-equipped. O n e of the t w o additional units intended for Greece, 208 S q u a d r o n , which was in Palestine, w a s ordered to prepare for the move. T h i s tactical reconnaissance 123
unit, c o m m a n d e d by Sqn Ldr J R Wilson, was equipped with two flights of very w o r n Westland Lysanders and just four Hurricanes; it was sadly deficient in fullytrained reconnaissance pilots and suitable aircraft. T h e second unit d u e to move, 73 S q u a d r o n , would never leave Egypt d u e t o the c o m m e n c e m e n t of the first offensive by the newly-arrived Deutches Afrika K o r p s u n d e r G e n e r a l Erwin R o m m e l in Libya. O n 1 April, 84 S q u a d r o n lost its senior flight c o m m a n d e r when Fit Lt Boehm and his crew were killed in an accident in T2382 at Kiphissia, north-east of Athens, d u r i n g a r o u t i n e flight. 113 S q u a d r o n now moved its Blenheims f r o m Menidi to Larissa, prior to m o v i n g again two days later to a newly-constructed landing g r o u n d at N i a m a t a . This was situated in an area t h a t was partially bog between Larissa a n d Volos. Menidi was required for the r e t u r n of 37 S q u a d r o n ' s Wellingtons on a further d e t a c h m e n t f r o m Egypt. Italian air raids resumed on 2 April, ten Z.1007bis f r o m the 35° S t o r m o and 50" G r u p p o b o m b i n g a heavily defended railway c o m p l e x at F i o r i n a early in the m o r n i n g , where hits on the target were claimed. A n u m b e r of the b o m b e r s were d a m a g e d by AA fire, while o t h e r s were attacked by seven G l a d i a t o r s f r o m 21 M i r a at Ptolemais. T h e pilots claimed two of the C a n t s shot d o w n , actual loss a m o u n t i n g to o n e 35° S t o r m o machine f r o m which o n e m e m b e r of the crew escaped by p a r a c h u t e . At 1255 five m o r e Z.1007bis, three f r o m 260* Squadriglia and t w o f r o m 261 a Squadriglia of the 106" G r u p p o , 47° S t o r m o BT, left G r o t t a g l i e t o raid Volos. O n e turned back early with engine trouble, but t h e o t h e r four b o m b e d their target at 1450, d r o p p i n g eight 250 kg a n d 12 100 kg b o m b s f r o m 2 2 0 0 0 feet. F o u r H u r r i c a n e s of 33 S q u a d r o n and six G l a d i a t o r s of 112 S q u a d r o n were scrambled on w a r n i n g of their a p p r o a c h . Fit Lt Littler and Fig Off Sir J a m e s K i r k p a t r i c k , Bart, in t w o of the Hurricanes, intercepted a n d claimed one b o m b e r shot d o w n , while Fig Off W o o d w a r d , w h o had been delayed in taking off as his H u r r i c a n e was being re-armed at the time, pursued t h e b o m b e r s out t o w a r d s the Gulf of Corinth. Even t h o u g h only the four guns in the p o r t wing had been loaded, he believed that he had shot d o w n t w o of the b o m b e r s in flames on his first pass. T h i n k i n g that there had been four aircraft in the f o r m a t i o n he was pursuing, he then a t t a c k e d a n o t h e r of the b o m b e r s a n d the C a n t flown by T e n M a r i o Bozzi was hit, ditching in the sea off Missolonghi in the Gulf of P a t r a s , where the crew were later rescued f r o m their dinghy. D u r i n g t h e initial a t t a c k s by the H u r r i c a n e s one C a n t of 260 a Squadriglia flown by Sottoten M a u r i z i o M o r a n d i n i had been shot d o w n directly over A l m y r o s airfield ( h o m e of 11 S q u a d r o n ) , falling a few miles away; o n e man had baled out, c o m i n g d o w n n e a r the base and being c a p t u r e d . T h i s was believed to have been the aircraft shot d o w n by Littler and K i r k p a t r i c k , but it may also have been attacked by W o o d w a r d . After the second b o m b e r had g o n e d o w n , W o o d w a r d had continued to p u r s u e t h e survivors, claiming t h a t the last Z.1007bis he a t t a c k e d before his a m m u n i t i o n ran out was badly d a m a g e d . H e recalled: 'I shot d o w n three plus one p r o b a b l e of the " G r e e n M o u s e " s q u a d r o n , supposedly c o m m a n d e d by Mussolini's son - he was believed t o be the leader a n d 124
the p r o b a b l e - I left him s m o k i n g and descending t o w a r d s the western end of the Gulf of C o r i n t h - I had n o m o r e ammunition." It seems that wartime p r o p a g a n d a had m a d e a good story out of this engagement, which W o o d w a r d had been led t o believe. T h e 'Green Mice' emblem was actually carried by S.79s of the 41" G r u p p o BT. not by any of the 47" S t o r m o units. B r u n o Mussolini was indeed c o m m a n d i n g officer of 260 a Squadriglia, but on this occasion the f o r m a t i o n had been led by C a p Pier Luigi Braga. It would seem p r o b a b l e that W o o d w a r d had attacked Ten Bozzi's aircraft twice, thinking that he had shot it d o w n the first time, a n d claiming it as a p r o b a b l e on the second occasion, when he possibly found it a l o n e after it had fallen away f r o m the other t w o aircraft, leading to the belief that there was only o n e survivor f r o m the Italian f o r m a t i o n .
Pilots of 33 S q u a d r o n in front of Hurricane V 7 4 1 9 at Larissa in early April 1941. L t o r: standing: Pit O f f D S F Winsland, Pit Off R D D u n s c o m b e . Pit OITC A C C h e t h a m . Fig Olf P R W Wick ham. Fig Olf D T Moir. Fig Off H J Starrett; sitting: Fig Off E J W o o d s . Fig Off F S H o l m a n , Fit Lt A M Y o u n g . Fig Off V C W o o d w a r d , Sqn Ldr M T StJ Pattle, D F C , Fig Off E H D e a n , Fit Lt J M Littler, Fit Lt G Rumsey (adjutant), Pit Off A R Butcher.
Early April c o n t i n u e d m u c h as late M a r c h , escorted Blenheims a t t a c k i n g Berat on the third d a y of the m o n t h , while on the fourth J u 8 7 s f r o m Lecce raided Greek shipping off C o r f u three times. Olf at 1050, six 239 a Squadriglia aircraft attacked vessels in Dafnila Bay without result. D u r i n g the early a f t e r n o o n four m o r e of this unit's aircraft, plus two f r o m 209" Squadriglia, a t t a c k e d the small freighter Susanah steaming off the coast of the island, a n d C a p C e n n i sank this vessel with a direct hit. At a b o u t 1720 C a p M a r i o Larker led six 239 a Squadriglia machines back to Dafnila Bay where this time the destroyer Proussa was sunk. Six m o r e H u r r i c a n e s (V7730, 7765, 7838, 7854, 7860 a n d 7861) n o w reached Eleusis, three of t h e m flown by the 112 S q u a d r o n pilots and three by pilots of 33 S q u a d r o n , t o which unit they were all issued. T h e y would urgently be needed, for 125
next day British Intelligence had received sufficient ' U l t r a ' intercepts t o be fully a w a r e that the G e r m a n invasion of Yugoslavia a n d Greece was imminent, a l t h o u g h there was n o t h i n g that they could d o other than to w a r n the Yugoslav Government. With evening on 5 April, six Swordfish of 815 S q u a d r o n again arrived at P a r a m y t h i a armed with torpedoes, but reconnaissance had s h o w n that neither V a l o n a n o r D u r a z z o w a r r a n t e d a strike. At 1930 therefore t h e six set out for an offensive sweep over the sea lanes, o n e aircraft c a r r y i n g W ' Wing's W g C d r C o o t e as observer. T w o flew u p the Italian coast t o Bari, t w o t o San Giovanni, while t w o patrolled between O t r a n t o and Valona. N o t h i n g was seen, but as the last pair returned from Valona, Lt C S Lea's P4064 developed engine trouble a n d the propeller flew off. As the Swordfish was t o o low for t h e crew t o bale out, Lea crash-landed in a d r i e d - u p river bed 20 miles short of P a r a m y t h i a . A l t h o u g h t h e aircraft was badly d a m a g e d . Lea and his observer were u n h u r t . They had however c o m e d o w n in a very r e m o t e area, and they were forced to trek out on foot, which would take t h e m three days to do. By the time they reached P a r a m y t h i a again they found a very different war in progress!
Bassi
C o b o l l i Gigli Graffer
Magaldi D e Salvia
Spallacci
Trevisi Fusco
Eight of the Regia Aeronautica's fighter pilots received awards of the Medaglia d'Oro, their nation's highest award for valour, for actions over Greece - but all were m a d e posthumously. They were, from the t o p clockwise: Ten Livio Bassi (395" Sq, 154° Gr), shot d o w n on 2 0 February 1941, d y i n g of w o u n d s sustained on 2 April; C a p G i o r g i o GralTer (365 a Sq, 150° Gr), killed 28 N o v e m b e r 1940; Serg Marcello D e Salvia (354 a Sq, 24° Gr), killed 4 March 1941; Sottoten Ernesto Trevisi (363 a Sq, 150° Gr), killed 14 N o v e m b e r 1940; Ten Alfredo F u s c o (361" Sq, 154° Gr), killed 20 February 1941: Serg Luigi Spallacci (355 a Sq, 24° Gr), killed 11 March 1941; C a p N i c o l a Magaldi (364 a Sq, 1 5 C Gr), killed 27 N o v e m b e r 1940; Sottoten N i c o l o Cobolli Gigli (355 a Sq, 24° Gr), killed 4 March 1941. ( S t a t o Maggiore
via N
Malizia)
126
Chapter
Four
CRETE AND THE SEA LANES, OCTOBER 1940 - APRIL 1941 While t h e British were initially reluctant t o become heavily involved in Greece, the waters a r o u n d the m a i n l a n d were of considerably m o r e i m m e d i a t e interest to them - particularly the integrity of the island of Crete, Italian possession of which could offer a considerable threat to the Royal Navy's c o n t r o l of the Eastern M e d i t e r r a n e a n , a n d of the bases on C y p r u s a n d in Egypt a n d Palestine. Already Italian forces were present in the Aegean area, g a r r i s o n i n g islands in the D o d e c a n e s e g r o u p which had been ceded by T u r k e y following the I t a l o - T u r k i s h War of 1912. Strength on these islands was not sufficient to represent any m a j o r threat when war b r o k e out between Italy a n d the United K i n g d o m in J u n e 1940, but any increase in Italian involvement in the area w a s to be resisted strongly. T h e main Italian D o d e c a n e s e islands (literally Twelve islands) were Rhodes, S c a r p a n t o ( C a r p a t h o s ) a n d S t a m p a l i a (Astypalaia), a n d the smaller Castelorizzo 72 miles east of Rhodes. T h e main islands all featured airfields, four in the case of Rhodes, at M a r i t z a , near R h o d e s town; K a t t a v i a , on the s o u t h e r n tip of the island; G a d u r r a , on t h e coast n e a r K a l a t h o s , a n d K a l a t h o s itself, k n o w n t o both British a n d Italians as C a l a t o . A small air contingent was based on Rhodes.
S a v o i a S.79 believed to have force-landed on Crete about 13 August, 1940. ( A
127
Stamatopoulos)
As early as 19 July, 1940 the first engagement at sea had occurred in the area when the Italian cruisers Giovanni delle Bande Nere a n d Bartolomeo Colleoni were seen near C a p e S p a d a by R A F air reconnaissance. Intercepted by the cruiser H M A S Sydney a n d four destroyers, Bartolomeo Colleoni, was hit by Sydney's gunfire, then t o r p e d o e d and sunk by the destroyers Ilex a n d Havock, 525 m e m b e r s of her crew being rescued by the British warships. N i n e d a y s later Sydney a n d the British cruiser H M S Neptune sortied into the Gulf of Athens and sank a small Italian tanker Ermioni, c a r r y i n g petrol t o the Dodecanese. O n 26 August 1940 a S u n d e r l a n d f r o m 230 S q u a d r o n in Egypt, captained by Fit Lt W W C a m p b e l l , D F C , w h o had been credited with sinking two Italian s u b m a r i n e s d u r i n g June, w a s forced to alight on Greek waters and was interned by the Greeks, while t w o d a y s later an Italian Z.506B floatplane which was s h a d o w i n g t h e British M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet, was intercepted just off the coast of Crete by a Sea G l a d i a t o r fighter f r o m the carrier H M S Eagle. T h e floatplane was shot d o w n by C d r C h a r l e s Keighley-Peach and the crew observed t o bale out within s w i m m i n g distance of the coast, a n d were assumed to have also been interned by the C r e t a n authorities. T h e biggest o p e r a t i o n in the area began d u r i n g the night of 3/4 September when the cruisers Orion and Sydney a n d two destroyers shelled S c a r p a n t o as part of a M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet sortie into t h e Aegean. W h e n the Italian m o t o r t o r p e d o - b o a t s M A S 5 3 6 a n d 537 a t t e m p t e d to interfere, the latter was sunk by Ilex in the K a s o Strait. As d a w n b r o k e Swordfish t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s f r o m H M S Illustrious's 815 a n d 819 S q u a d r o n s raided C a l a t o and G a d u r r a airfields on Rhodes. T h e y were followed by m o r e such aircraft f r o m Eagle"s 813 and 824 S q u a d r o n s , b u t these had been delayed in taking off, a n d as the thirteen b o m b e r s arrived over M a r i t z a airfield, they were to find the defences fully alerted. Fiat C R 3 2 s and C R 4 2 s of 163a Squadriglia were scrambled, o n e of each type colliding d u r i n g the take-off a n d being destroyed, while a second C R 3 2 , flown by Serg A r i s t o d e m o Morri, failed to return. T h e rest however shot d o w n four of the Swordfish (E4C, E 4 H , E 4 K , E4M), o n e falling t o t h e c o m m a n d i n g officer, C a p D'Ajello. T w o of the b o m b e r s c a m e d o w n in the sea, f r o m where E4H was recovered with its crew by an Italian submarine; a n o t h e r (K8043 E 4 M ) forcelanded on S c a r p a n t o island. Of the twelve N a v a l airmen lost, four were killed including Lt D R H D r u m m o n d and his crew, and t h e rest taken prisoners. O n the g r o u n d at G a d u r r a considerable d a m a g e w a s d o n e by the thirty highexplosive a n d twenty incendiary b o m b s d r o p p e d . T w o S.79s of 39" S t o r m o were destroyed and three were d a m a g e d , together with t w o C a n t Z.1007bis, an S.81 a n d an S.82 t r a n s p o r t . F o u r men were badly w o u n d e d and twenty slightly hurt, while a q u a n t i t y of fuel, oil and b o m b s were destroyed. A n u m b e r of h a n g a r s at M a r i t z a were lightly d a m a g e d while a lorry a n d its trailer were destroyed; o n e m a n was injured, as was the case at C a l a t o , w h e r e d a m a g e w a s also negligible. Off the island patrolling F u l m a r s f r o m Illustrious enjoyed some success. At 1030 Lt W L Barnes and Sub Lt A J Sewell of Yellow Section/806 S q u a d r o n engaged four S.79s, these escaping after each pilot had inflicted d a m a g e on them. T h e same pair met two m o r e of these aircraft at 1105, a t t a c k i n g Ten Nicola Dell'Olio's 201" Squadriglia machine a n d s h o o t i n g it d o w n in flames, then 128
Swordfish E 4 H of 813 S q u a d r o n from H M S Eagle is recovered from the sea off R h o d e s after being shot d o w n by 163" Squadriglia A u t o n o m o C T Fiat fighters early on 4 September, 1940. (AMI
via N
Malizia)
d a m a g i n g t h e other. Sub Lt I P G o d f r e y , flying Yellow 3 in N1871 (with L/Air H a r r y Phillips as TAG), hit a n o t h e r in its port engine. T h r e e S.79s of 92° G r u p p o were d a m a g e d d u r i n g these attacks, t w o of t h e m severely, a n d landed with t w o dead a n d five w o u n d e d a b o a r d . M e a n w h i l e at 1005 Lt C d r R A Kilroy (newlya p p o i n t e d c o m m a n d i n g officer of R N A S Dekheila, Egypt, o n passage t o t a k e u p his new post but meanwhile giving 806 S q u a d r o n a helping hand) and Sub Lt S G O r r had been vectored o n t o an aircraft they identified as a C a p r o n i C a l 3 3 b o m b e r - t r a n s p o r t , as it was going into land, a n d this was s h o t d o w n into the sea. T w o o c c u p a n t s were seen to bale out. Their victim would seem in fact to have been an S.81 of 223 a Squadriglia flown by S o t t o t e n Filippo Tedesco. D u r i n g the early a f t e r n o o n at 1345 Red Section met t w o S.79s at 7000 feet 50 miles south of Castello Point. Lt O J Nicolls leading the patrol closed to 100 y a r d s a n d saw bits fly off the s t a r b o a r d engine of the o n e he attacked but the b o m b e r s escaped serious d a m a g e . This attack was followed during the night of 18/19 September by a raid on Rhodes and Leros, a m o r e northerly Italian island, by Egypt-based Wellingtons of 70 S q u a d r o n . Orion a n d Sydney returned t o shell S t a m p a l i a island on 2 O c t o b e r , while four d a y s later the Italian s u b m a r i n e Tricheco accidently sank its 129
sister s u b m a r i n e Gemma in the south-eastern a p p r o a c h e s t o the Aegean. M e a n w h i l e British s u b m a r i n e s had strayed up the west coast of Greece, t o the seas off Albania, where Italian c o n v o y s were delivering t r o o p s prior to the attack on Greece. Here on 22 September H M S Osiris had sunk an escorting torpedoboat Palestro, while d u r i n g 4 - 9 October, H M S Regent sank two ships off D u r a z z o totalling 6088 tons. D u r i n g the night of 13/14 Swordfish f r o m Illustrious a n d Eagle raided Leros whilst r e t u r n i n g from escorting a c o n v o y f r o m Alexandria t o M a l t a , d u r i n g which the M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet had clashed with Italian warships in the I o n i a n Sea. Finally, on 19 O c t o b e r , Italian b o m b e r s f r o m Rhodes flew a 2800-mile r o u n d trip to b o m b the S t a n d a r d Oil C o m p a n y installation on Bahrein Island in the Persian Gulf, refuelling in Eritrea before returning to their base. En route they also b o m b e d D h a h r a n in neutral Saudi Arabia. T h e scene was well set therefore for swift British action t o w a r d s Crete as soon as G r e e c e became involved in the war. Consequently on 29 O c t o b e r , the day after the Italian invasion begun, the first reconnaissance patrols f r o m Egypt reached the island, by a g r e e m e n t with the Greek authorities. T h a t very a f t e r n o o n the first convoy left Alexandria, arriving in Suda Bay on the north-west coast of Crete on 1 N o v e m b e r , a c c o m p a n i e d by the AA cruisers Calcutta a n d Coventry, a n d the cruiser Ajax, which carried the 2nd Battalion, Y o r k s a n d Lancaster Regiment as garrison. T h e Italians reacted at once, 14 S.79s of 34° G r u p p o from Rhodes a t t a c k i n g at 1330, escorted by six C R 4 2 s of 162" Squadriglia. A n u m b e r of m e r c h a n t vessels were b o m b e d and strafed without effect, while the warships put u p a screen of fire, claiming d a m a g e t o o n e b o m b e r , which reportedly left the target trailing s m o k e and flame; n o Italian losses were recorded. By 3 N o v e m b e r a n t i - s u b m a r i n e defences had been laid, a n d c o n v o y s began arriving f r o m the 6th o n w a r d s with stores and defence e q u i p m e n t , which would allow G e n e r a l M e t a x a s to m o v e Greek t r o o p s f r o m the island to the Epirus front. T h e only airfield available on C r e t e was at Heraklion, 70 miles east of Suda Bay, so work was at once put in h a n d t o build a second at Maleme, 11 miles west of Suda for the defence of the new naval base. A l t h o u g h t h e Regia A e r o n a u t i c a ordered its 5 a S q u a d r a Aerea in Libya t o s u p p o r t D o d e c a n e s e garrisons in resisting the British intrusion into the Aegean, little effective work w a s d o n e , and the rest of N o v e m b e r passed quietly by as the British presence on Crete was consolidated. O n 29 N o v e m b e r two Swordfish f r o m Illustrious were detached to H e r a k l i o n t o u n d e r t a k e some limited b o m b i n g of selected targets in the Dodecanese. This action failed to bring forth any reaction a p a r t f r o m a surprise strike against S u d a Bay on 3 December by two S.79s f r o m Libya. C a p Massimiliano Erasi a n d Ten C a r l o Emanuele Buscaglia, of 278 a Squadriglia f r o m El Adem, m a n a g e d to release their t o r p e d o e s beyond the a n t i - t o r p e d o nets, b o t h gaining hits on the cruiser H M S Glasgow, effectively putting her out of action for nine m o n t h s . Elements of the M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet sortied into the Aegean again d u r i n g the middle of the m o n t h and on the night of 16/17 D e c e m b e r six Swordfish of 815 S q u a d r o n f r o m Illustrious carried out an attack against targets on Rhodes. Bad weather prevented all but o n e aircraft from reaching t h e target; a few b o m b s were reported having fallen on R h o d e s town, causing slight d a m a g e to a n u m b e r of 130
Fairey Fulmar fighter of 806 S q u a d r o n from H M S Illustrious N o v e m b e r 1940. (D J Tribe)
visiting Heraklion airfield, Crete, in
buildings but n o casualties. Meanwhile, five Swordfish of 819 S q u a d r o n headed for Stampalia, again meeting bad weather a l t h o u g h four reached the target area, but their b o m b s fell wide and caused n o d a m a g e ; the fifth aircraft released its b o m b s over C o n d r o n i s i island. All returned safely t o the carrier. With the arrival of t h e New Year plans were being prepared in C a i r o for the invasion of the main D o d e c a n e s e islands of R h o d e s and S c a r p a n t o , preceded by a landing on Castelorizzo, which was only some 150 miles west of C y p r u s . T h i s island was required as a f o r w a r d t o r p e d o - b o a t base and was considered to be a relatively easy objective for the newly-formed and therefore inexperienced c o m m a n d o units which were to m a k e the landings. However on the 20th of the m o n t h R h o d e s was suddenly reinforced by the arrival of a contingent of the Luftwaffe, 17 H e l l Is of II/'KG 26, a few reconnaissance J u 8 8 D s f r o m 1(F) /121, and s u p p o r t i n g J u 5 2 / 3 m t r a n s p o r t s arriving f r o m Sicily. T h e arrival of t h e G e r m a n s a d d e d a greater urgency t o O p e r a t i o n ' M a n d i b l e ' , as it was called. Crete was t o be the launching pad as soon as sufficient and suitable landing ships could be organized. Coincidentally, it was t w o d a y s after the arrival of the G e r m a n s t h a t Italians aircraft f r o m the D o d e c a n e s e were at last seen over Crete again. P e r h a p s spurred by the presence of their allies, a pair of 162a Squadriglia C R 4 2 s carried out a reconnaissance of S u d a Bay, where they reported a cruiser, t w o destroyers and three m e r c h a n t vessels. Encountering very heavy AA fire, they also spotted a W a l r u s a m p h i b i a n over the Bay, attacked, a n d claimed it shot d o w n . This aircraft, d e t a c h e d f r o m t h e d a m a g e d cruiser Glasgow and n o w o p e r a t i n g f r o m the Bay, was attacked four times by the Fiats, but Sub Lt J o h n Phillips skilfully evaded each time, t h e W a l r u s sustaining only four hits in the upper mainplane, before AA fire f r o m an a r m e d trawler drove the a t t a c k e r s away. 131
A pair of R h o d e s - b a s e d Fiat C R 4 2 s from the 162" Squadriglia A u t o n o m o C T in flight over the Aegean. Their unit e m b l e m is a black cat arching its back, with the legend 'Varda c e te sbrego!' (Beware lest I claw you!) ( A M I via N
Malizia)
A m o r e m a j o r attack occurred on 29 December, when a b o u t t w o dozen aircraft b o m b e d H e r a k l i o n airfield f r o m altitude w i t h o u t causing any d a m a g e of note. Next day four Swordfish of 815 S q u a d r o n flew into the new airfield at M a l e m e from Dekheila, led by Lt C d r J de F Jago. Six had left this base, landing at Solium t o refuel, but here one had b r o k e n its tail oleo, a second remaining behind to render assistance; this pair would follow a few d a y s later. Some of the unit's g r o u n d personnel had arrived at S u d a Bay with stores and e q u i p m e n t a few days earlier a b o a r d a small coaster, while the other flight remained in the desert for several m o r e weeks. O n e of the Telegraphist/Air G u n n e r s (TAG), Leading Airman Ken Sims, arrived a b o a r d H M S Ajax, a n d recalled: ' W e sailed into Suda Bay a n d were t o set u p a new airfield at Maleme. At this time it was n o m o r e than a dirt strip which was being enlarged by r e m o v i n g small trees a n d bracken. Its position was on the n o r t h e r n coast of t h e island rather t o w a r d s the western end. W e would live in tents set a m o n g s t some trees on the side of a hill to the south a n d o v e r l o o k i n g t h e airstrip. But first t o shift the stores 132
from the boat to the field. It was all-hands to the wheel a n d we split into groups, each with a lorry. Most of these were very ancient a n d evidently had been c o m m a n d e e r e d locally. T h e p o p u l a c e welcomed us - we'd c o m e t o defend the island against those Italians next door.' Lt C d r J a g o had previously been sent t o Suda Bay with t h e original party with orders to a r r a n g e construction of the airfield, a n d have it built within four days! With the aid of local labour, the task had been completed. He had then returned to Alexandria t o t a k e c o m m a n d of 815 S q u a d r o n , then a b o a r d Illustrious which had then been seriously d a m a g e d near M a l t a on 10 J a n u a r y , leaving survivors of the unit free for other operations. O n four recent nights Wellingtons f r o m Egypt h a d carried out limited raids on R h o d e s but without causing very m u c h d a m a g e . N o w , on the night of 30/31 December, it w a s t h e turn of I I / K G 26's H e l l l s t o u n d e r t a k e their first mining mission to the Suez C a n a l Zone. O n l y light AA fire w a s experienced a n d all returned safely. However, the Luftwaffe d e t a c h m e n t suffered its first loss next day when a J u 5 2 / 3 m of I(F)/121 crashed on Rhodes, killing three m e m b e r s of its crew. 815 S q u a d r o n suffered its first loss f r o m Crete on 3 F e b r u a r y , when o n e Swordfish piloted by Lt A W Burnaby D r a y s o n ran out of fuel whilst on an antis u b m a r i n e patrol a n d was forced to c o m e d o w n on the island of Antikythera. T h e crew were u n h u r t , but the aircraft was d a m a g e d beyond repair. T h e night of 4/5 F e b r u a r y saw six Wellingtons of 37 S q u a d r o n set out t o raid M a r i t z a airfield but three returned early with engine problems. T h e remaining three carried out a successful attack, Pit Off A de L T h o m a s taking his big b o m b e r d o w n to 600 feet after he had b o m b e d , a n d machine-gunned h a n g a r s and buildings. O n e C R 4 2 was destroyed on t h e g r o u n d d u r i n g this raid, one S.79 a n d three C R 3 2 s badly d a m a g e d , and o n e each S.79 and S.81 less seriously d a m a g e d . F o u r nights later two m o r e Wellingtons f r o m this unit again raided Rhodes, b o t h crews b o m b i n g what they believed was C a l a t o airfield but was a p p a r e n t l y G a d u r r a . Sqn Ldr A G o l d i n g saw a large explosion following his low-level attack, his aircraft being slightly d a m a g e d by machine-gun fire, while earlier Fit Lt M J Baird-Smith went d o w n to 200 feet a n d m a c h i n e - g u n n e d aircraft dispersed a r o u n d the a e r o d r o m e . T h e crew believed they had destroyed at least t w o multiengined aircraft a n d indeed an S.79 was destroyed a n d a second d a m a g e d , while 30 d r u m s of fuel went u p in flames. Baird-Smith's aircraft (T2812 'A') was hit sixteen times d u r i n g the attack a n d both fuel t a n k s were p u n c t u r e d but it got back to Egypt safely. This mini raid was followed by that of eight Wellingtons of 38 S q u a d r o n , the crews also a p p a r e n t l y mistaking G a d u r r a for C a l a t o but probably b o m b i n g on the fires caused by the earlier raid. O n r e t u r n t h e crews reported several buildings probably hit and a b o u t ten aircraft, three of which were identified as BR20s, believed destroyed. O n e S.79 was badly d a m a g e d , a further six being hit by b o m b splinters. T h e next night seven aircraft of 37 S q u a d r o n again visited G a d u r r a , incendiaries being d r o p p e d a m o n g s t dispersed aircraft, at least o n e observed t o be on fire. O n e S.79 was totally destroyed and a n o t h e r four d a m a g e d , t w o seriously, a s well as 33 d r u m s of fuel being set ablaze. AA fire was intense, Fit Lt L e m o n ' s aircraft (R1095) t a k i n g 133
hits in the fuel tank and having its s t a r b o a r d wheel p u n c t u r e d . This same night Lt L J Kiggell led four of 815 S q u a d r o n ' s Swordfish, equipped with 2501b b o m b s a n d flares, t o attack targets on Stampalia, these being successfully b o m b e d . D u r i n g this period B o m b a y t r a n s p o r t s of 216 S q u a d r o n had been ferrying men, stores and e q u i p m e n t to Heraklion, but as Fit Lt D R Bagnall's aircraft was being u n l o a d e d on 13 F e b r u a r y six C R 4 2 s f r o m R h o d e s arrived overhead a n d began strafing, the B o m b a y being set on fire. Bagnall m a n a g e d to save a n u m b e r of valuable items f r o m the blazing aircraft whilst it was still u n d e r attack. O n this same day S.79s of 34" G r u p p o on Rhodes b o m b e d Maleme, where crews claimed four aircraft destroyed on the g r o u n d , a l t h o u g h n o losses were actually suffered. L / A i r m a n Sims recorded: ' W e hadn't been at M a l e m e long before the Italians m a d e an attack. A b o u t eight S.79s c a m e over at 8,000 feet a n d d r o p p e d a pattern of b o m b s across the field. In t e r m s of d a m a g e d o n e it was pretty ineffective. Holes in the field we could fill up. They should have aimed r o u n d the edges where the aircraft were dispersed or even u p t h e slope where the c a m p was in the trees. But it certainly wasn't g o o d for morale.' O n t h e edge of the airfield, in a small c l u m p of trees, a c o r r u g a t e d iron shed had been erected a n d this became the O p s R o o m . In it was placed a field telephone exchange of ten lines. Lines went to the Bofors guns, the H Q of the Black Watch, w h o provided airfield g r o u n d defence, o n e t o the N a v a l Officer-in-Charge, S u d a Bay and the most i m p o r t a n t of all t o 252 A M E S (radar) station at the t o p of the hill. Ken Sims continues: ' T h e Air G u n n e r s were the o p e r a t o r s and we m a n n e d it in shifts. Also in the hut we rigged our pack set. W h e n our aircraft were on a n t i - s u b m a r i n e patrol an A / G also m a n n e d the pack set as a g r o u n d station. T h e local c h u r c h bell was rigged on a tree outside this hut a n d formed the air raid warning. W h e n we got the buzz f r o m A M E S we would rush out and ring t h e bell and then rush in again to m a n the p h o n e and wait for the D u t y Officer a n d s t a n d b y A / G to c o m e and give a hand.' T h e Italian a t t a c k s of 13 F e b r u a r y were r e s p o n d e d to that night, four Wellingtons of 38 S q u a d r o n raiding Midi Bay airfield on S c a r p a n t o , a n d K a t t a v i a and C a l a t o on Rhodes. At Midi Bay a C R 4 2 was claimed destroyed and AA positions put out of action, while buildings were hit at Kattavia. However AA shot d o w n T2742 ' H ' , flown by Pit Off A B Loveridge, the aircraft crashing on R h o d e s with the loss of all the crew. N e x t night, 14/15th, two 37 S q u a d r o n aircraft b o m b e d R h o d e s a n d S c a r p a n t o h a r b o u r s , but T2821 'T' (Fig Off A G Wright) failed t o return. It was subsequently learned that the b o m b e r had crashed at Koyceges in the m o u n t a i n s of Turkey, 50 miles on f r o m Rhodes, with the loss of all t h e crew; p r o b a b l y it had been d a m a g e d by AA fire, as Italian g u n n e r s claimed t w o b o m b e r s shot d o w n . Following the recent raid on M a l e m e some form of fighter protection for the airfield and S u d a Bay was deemed desirable, a n d three F u l m a r s were despatched f r o m Dekheila for this p u r p o s e on 15 F e b r u a r y . Recalled Ken Sims: 134
.. three F u l m a r s joined us. W e cheered them in. They t o o b r o u g h t a pack set which was also put in the O p s R o o m . As they were short of air gunners, we m a n n e d it. It o p e r a t e d on a different frequency t o o u r s and was used to c o n t r o l the F u l m a r s a n d direct t h e m t o w a r d s enemy aircraft. T h e r e was n o R / T and so the r o u t e of control was a bit tortuous. F r o m A M E S via telephone line. T h e n verbal t o the pack set o p e r a t o r . He then sent off the m o r s e in abbreviated selfevident code t o the A / G in the F u l m a r , w h o then relayed it by voice-pipe t o the pilot. H o w clumsy it all sounds. Yet quite effective if all the links worked.'
Capt L A "Skeets" Harris D S C , RM, (left) w h o led the first flight of Fairey Fulmar
fighters
to
Crete. With him is Lt Cdr A F Black w h o subsequently c o m m a n d e d 805 S q u a d r o n on the island.
(IWM) In charge of the F u l m a r Flight was a Royal M a r i n e pilot, C a p t L A 'Skeets' Harris, D S C , w h o had flown over N4000, with observer Sub Lt E J H Dixon in the back seat. T h e other two crews were Lt P F Scott/L/Air R W o o d f i n e (N1938 '7M') a n d Lt A H M Ash/L/Air W J N e w m a n (N2001). T h e Flight was a t t a c h e d to 815 S q u a d r o n for servicing and administration, a n d would share the tented a c c o m m o d a t i o n and Mess. T h e crews were part of a small g r o u p of F A A aircrews who had arrived in Egypt a few d a y s earlier, having ferried their F u l m a r s f r o m T a k o r a d i (West Africa) on a five-day journey over jungle a n d desert. T h e newly-arrived fighters did not have to wait long for action, for on the day after their arrival (16 F e b r u a r y ) Lt Scott was ordered off in N 1 9 3 8 t o intercept a lone reconnaissance S.79 of 92° G r u p p o f r o m Maritza. Attacked south of the island by what the Italian crew took to be a 'Spitfire', t h e b o m b e r w a s d a m a g e d and one m e m b e r of the crew slightly w o u n d e d . T h a t night a Wellington of 37 S q u a d r o n took off t o attack Rhodes, but en route the port engine of N2757 gave trouble, a n d after jettisoning the b o m b l o a d . 135
Pit Off L J W i n b o l t w a s forced t o t u r n b a c k . S u d d e n l y t h e e n g i n e b u r s t i n t o (lames a n d the airscrew b r o k e loose, h i t t i n g the c o c k p i t a r e a a n d p u t t i n g all the i n s t r u m e n t s o u t of a c t i o n , while the h y d r a u l i c s y s t e m failed. F o r t u n a t e l y they were n o w n e a r the E g y p t i a n c o a s t , a n d were able t o f o r c e - l a n d at Syallia, b u t while d o i n g so Pit Off W i n b o l t w a s killed in t h e c r a s h , a l t h o u g h all t h e rest of t h e crew were unhurt.
Operation 'Mandible' T h e p l a n n e d seizure of i s l a n d s in t h e D o d e c a n e s e w a s well a d v a n c e d by m i d F e b r u a r y , a n d on the 17th ' Z ' W i n g w a s f o r m e d in C a i r o . P r i m a r y o b j e c t i v e w a s t o t a k e R h o d e s ( O p e r a t i o n 'Cordite'), b u t first o b j e c t i v e w o u l d be t h e c a p t u r e of C a s t e l o r i z z o , p l a n n e d for the f o l l o w i n g week, a n d of S c a r p a n t o ( O p e r a t i o n ' A r m a t u r e ' ) . It w a s n o t c o n s i d e r e d necessary t o p r o v i d e air c o v e r for t h e C a s t e l o r i z z o o p e r a t i o n , b u t for the S c a r p a n t o v e n t u r e ' Z ' W i n g w o u l d supply t w o B l e n h e i m a n d o n e W e l l i n g t o n s q u a d r o n s for s t r i k i n g p o w e r , a n d air cover of 12 F u l m a r s of the n e w l y - f o r m e d 805 S q u a d r o n , a i d e d by six of 806 S q u a d r o n , exIllustrious. T h e s e u n i t s w o u l d o p e r a t e f r o m C r e t e , b u t w o u l d be j o i n e d by H M S Formidable, this carrier p r o v i d i n g a d d i t i o n a l air s u p p o r t , i n c l u d i n g her o w n F u l m a r s q u a d r o n , 803. T h e W e l l i n g t o n s a n d B l e n h e i m s w o u l d be w i t h d r a w n f r o m t h e d e s e r t a n d w o u l d be based at H e r a k l i o n , j o i n e d by a flight of 6 S q u a d r o n L y s a n d e r s for r e c o n n a i s s a n c e , while local airfield d e f e n c e w o u l d be in the h a n d s of a t r i o of H u r r i c a n e s t o be d e t a c h e d f r o m 274 S q u a d r o n . Senior Air Staff Officer w a s t o be W g C d r G R Beamish, o n e of the t h r e e d i s t i n g u i s h e d air f o r c e b r o t h e r s (Victor Beamish, D S O , D F C , h a d c o m m a n d e d N o r t h W e a l d airfield in F i g h t e r C o m m a n d ' s 11 G r o u p d u r i n g t h e Battle of Britain, while C h a r l e s Beamish, D F C , w a s o n e of the n i g h t fighter p i o n e e r s of the early d a y s of t h e war). 'Z' W i n g ' s a d v a n c e d H Q w o u l d be at H e r a k l i o n , w h e r e t h e airfield c o m m a n d e r w a s t o be Sqn L d r A J T r u m b l e , recently C O of 261 S q u a d r o n o n M a l t a . O n t h e H Q Staff w a s t o be Fig Off P J V a l a c h o s , D F C , a C a n a d i a n of G r e e k a n c e s t r y , w h o h a d been a W e l l i n g t o n pilot in 148 S q u a d r o n . T h e a c t u a l l a n d i n g force w a s t o consist of t w o G l e n s h i p s c a r r y i n g 14 a s s o r t e d l a n d i n g c r a f t , a c c o m p a n i e d by a cruiser, t w o d e s t r o y e r s a n d t h r e e s u b m a r i n e s . T o c o v e r t h i s force w o u l d be H M S Formidable, o n e cruiser, o n e A A cruiser a n d f o u r destroyers. T o begin s o f t e n i n g u p t h e Italian defences, t w o W e l l i n g t o n s of 70 S q u a d r o n f r o m K a b r i t a n d t h r e e f r o m 38 S q u a d r o n at Shallufa, set o u t t o a t t a c k S c a r p a n t o d u r i n g t h e n i g h t of 17/18 F e b r u a r y , j o i n e d by t h r e e S w o r d f i s h f r o m M a l e m e . O n e of the 70 S q u a d r o n b o m b e r s t u r n e d back with e n g i n e t r o u b l e . N e x t d a y C a p t H a r r i s led his trio of F u l m a r s o n a s t r a f i n g a t t a c k on M i d i Bay airfield ( S c a r p a n t o ) , w h e r e o n e C R 4 2 w a s d a m a g e d o n the g r o u n d . M e a n w h i l e d u r i n g late F e b r u a r y H M S Eagle h a d left A l e x a n d r i a t o meet t w o fast m e r c h a n t m e n , Clan Macauley a n d Breconshire, w h i c h w e r e en r o u t e for this p o r t f r o m t h e W e s t e r n M e d i t e r r a n e a n . Eagle h a d e m b a r k e d six F u l m a r s , t h r e e e a c h f r o m 805 a n d 806 S q u a d r o n s , t o a u g m e n t her small Sea G l a d i a t o r Flight, a n d t w o d a y s o u t , o n 21 F e b r u a r y , the c o n v o y c a m e u n d e r a t t a c k at 1625 by five 136
H e l l Is f r o m 4 / K G 26 on Rhodes. T w o of the 805 S q u a d r o n F u l m a r s were on patrol, flown by Lt C d r A F Black, the c o m m a n d i n g officer, a n d Lt A R Ramsay, a n d these engaged just as the Heinkels c o m m e n c e d their attack. Alan Black recalled: 'Before I was able t o press h o m e my attack I saw o n e of the Heinkels release its bombs, o n e of which a p p e a r e d to go right t h r o u g h the funnel of one of the ships (in fact o n e b o m b did indeed pass straight t h r o u g h Clan Macaulays funnel a n d continued over the side into the sea w i t h o u t exploding!). After R a m s a y had discontinued his a t t a c k s I c o n c e n t r a t e d on the s t a r b o a r d engine of one Heinkel and got so close that my aircraft was covered in oil f r o m t h a t engine, before it stopped. T h e Heinkel then force-landed in the sea. 1 flew a r o u n d it for a few m i n u t e s and saw the crew in the water. O n return to the Eagle I reported to the C a p t a i n . T o a t t e m p t t o rescue t h e crew was deemed to be inexpedient.'
Ll R M a c D o n a l d - H a l l of 806 S q u a d r o n , w h o w a s engaged in c o m b a t with Heinkel H e l 1 Is of K G 26 near R h o d e s on 21 February, 1941.
While this was g o i n g on, t w o F u l m a r s of 806 S q u a d r o n had been scrambled and these also intercepted the Heinkels, Lt R M a c D o n a l d - H a l l a n d Lt P S T o u c h b o u r n e , a C a n a d i a n , s h a r i n g in s h o o t i n g o n e d o w n , which they reported crashed into the sea. Only one Heinkel was actually lost - 1H + BM c a p t a i n e d by 137
O f w Josef Pretsch, a l t h o u g h a second r e t u r n e d with a n e n g i n e b a d l y d a m a g e d and the rear-gunner dead. M a l e m e w a s n o w b e i n g regularly visited by Italian r e c o n n a i s s a n c e aircraft, these g o i n g a b o u t their task u n h i n d e r e d except for usually i n a c c u r a t e AA fire. H o w e v e r o n 24 F e b r u a r y Lt Scott m a n a g e d t o get off in g o o d t i m e o n t h e a p p r o a c h of a n o t h e r ' s n o o p e r ' a n d a l t h o u g h it t o o k the F u l m a r s o m e time t o gain height, Scott did e v e n t u a l l y m a k e c o n t a c t as the S.79 h e a d e d back t o w a r d s R h o d e s a n d c l a i m e d it p r o b a b l y s h o t d o w n following a brief e n g a g e m e n t . At last t h e next d a y , O p e r a t i o n ' M a n d i b l e ' b e g a n , d e s t r o y e r s Decoy and Hereward l a n d i n g 200 c o m m a n d o s in their first action in the M i d d l e East, a n d a n u m b e r of R o y a l N a v y p e r s o n n e l , o n C a s t e l o r i z z o , while t h e g u n b o a t Ladybird l a n d e d a d e t a c h m e n t of R o y a l M a r i n e s . O n l y slight resistance w a s met. At o n c e S.Bls of 56° G r u p p o f r o m R h o d e s , escorted by 163 a S q u a d r i g l i a C R 4 2 s , w e r e sent o u t to b o m b a n d strafe British p o s i t i o n s , c l a i m i n g a hit o n a cruiser; in fact it was t h e g u n b o a t Ladybird w h i c h w a s d a m a g e d , while AA fire f r o m t h e d e s t r o y e r s s h o t d o w n o n e S.81, w h i c h d i t c h e d n e a r the island, t h e crew b e i n g rescued by a Z.506B f l o a t p l a n e . T h i s a i r c r a f t w a s itself c l a i m e d d a m a g e d by t h e ships' g u n n e r s , while d u r i n g the d a y g u n c r e w s a d d e d claims for a f u r t h e r S.81 a n d a r e c o n n a i s s a n c e 'Ro41'(sic) s h o t d o w n . L a t e in t h e d a y t h e t w o d e s t r o y e r s r e t u r n e d t o g e t h e r with the c r u i s e r s Gloucester a n d Bonaventure, c a r r y i n g B' C o m p a n y of the 1st S h e r w o o d F o r e s t e r s , w h o w e r e t o g a r r i s o n t h e island. By n o w it w a s d a r k a n d Hereward signalled for lights t o be p o s i t i o n e d t o e n a b l e the t r o o p s t o be landed. H o w e v e r the vessel w a s advised f r o m t h e s h o r e t h a t e n e m y ships h a d arrived in the vicinity, a n d in c o n s e q u e n c e A d m i r a l R e n o u f o r d e r e d the vessels back to A l e x a n d r i a until the p o s i t i o n b e c a m e clearer. I n d e e d the c o m m a n d o s h a d suffered not only air a t t a c k , b u t a l s o shelling f r o m t w o Italian d e s t r o y e r s , i n c l u d i n g the Crispi, a n d t w o t o r p e d o - b o a t s Liva a n d Libra, w h i c h a r r i v e d f r o m R h o d e s with 100 N a v a l m a r i n e s a n d o t h e r p e r s o n n e l . 50 c o m m a n d o s a n d 15 soldiers. S o o n t h e British f o r c e b e g a n t o give g r o u n d , with a m m u n i t i o n a n d f o o d rapidly d i m i n i s h i n g , a n d while s o m e m a n a g e d t o slip a w a y by night, the m a j o r i t y w e r e forced t o s u r r e n d e r . W h e n R e n o u f ' s ships r e t u r n e d in the early h o u r s of 27 F e b r u a r y t o land the S h e r w o o d F o r e s t e r s a n d their supplies, n o s o u n d s of g u n f i r e were h e a r d , so r e c o n n a i s s a n c e p a t r o l s w e r e d e s p a t c h e d . T h e s e f o u n d small g r o u p s of c o m m a n d o s a n d led t h e m b a c k t o the h a r b o u r , b u t it w a s by n o w o b v i o u s t h a t the o p e r a t i o n h a d failed; a g a i n R e n o u f o r d e r e d his f o r c e s back t o A l e x a n d r i a . As they w i t h d r e w t h e d e s t r o y e r Jaguar c o n t a c t e d a n Italian s h i p in t h e inner h a r b o u r a n d fired t o r p e d o e s , f o u r exp l o s i o n s being h e a r d . A n Italian d e s t r o y e r w a s then e n g a g e d , a n d t w o hits were c l a i m e d b e f o r e it e s c a p e d .
March - April 1941: Crete under Attack T h e m o n t h of M a r c h saw a r a p i d escalation of t h e w a r o v e r the seas a r o u n d G r e e c e , a n d over C r e t e . T h e island itself w a s b e c o m i n g a n e v e r - m o r e i m p o r t a n t s t a g i n g base, a n d w a s as a result t o c o m e u n d e r greatly increased a t t a c k . T h e defences w e r e reinforced just in time for this h o w e v e r , for o n 6 M a r c h six m o r e 138
F u l m a r s (N1915, 1933, 1939, 1947, 2000 a n d 2015) a n d three Buffalos (AS419, 420 and AX814) f r o m 805 S q u a d r o n , led by Lt C d r Black, flew in to M a l e m e f r o m Dekheila. C a p t . Harris' F u l m a r Flight was absorbed into t h e s q u a d r o n . Duties at M a l e m e would include c o n v o y escorts and m a r i t i m e reconnaissance as well as fighter defence, and with the a b s o r b t i o n of the existing fighter flight, Lt C d r Black had twelve pilots available, including himself. T h e o t h e r s were: Lt R A Brabner, M P (who had been elected M e m b e r of P a r l i a m e n t for H y t h e in 1939, and w h o was effectively in c h a r g e of t h e Buffalo flight); Lt T B Winstanley (a former Albacore pilot of 826 S q u a d r o n w h o had been shot d o w n by a Bf 109 during the Battle of Britain); Lt R a m s a y (an Australian); Lt H J C R i c h a r d s o n (an Engineer Officer as well as a pilot); S u b Lt R C Kay; S u b Lt R F Bryant; S u b Lt R Griffin and S u b Lt J H C Sykes (who had been seconded t o 64 S q u a d r o n , RAF, d u r i n g the Battle of Britain, and had been shot d o w n by British AA fire). T h e r e were t w o observers - Lt J o h n S h u t t l e w o r t h and Sub Lt D H C o a t e s , plus S u b Lt Dixon of the original flight, and six T A G s . O n e other observer, S u b Lt R V H i n t o n , was currently in hospital in C a i r o and would follow in d u e course.
Lt (A) Rupert Brabner. M P , 805 Squadron. ( C a p t A F
139
Black)
Lt Alec Ramsay, 8 0 5 s q u a d r o n ( C a p t A F
Black)
Sub Lt Roy H i n t o n (observer), 805 Squadron. (R V
140
Hinton)
T h e mixed force of g r o u n d c r e w , t w o thirds N a v a l ratings a n d the balance on loan f r o m t h e R A F , would arrive shortly, with their e q u i p m e n t , a b o a r d the battleship H M S Valiant. However Lt C d r Black had early problems, for the Buffalos proved troublesome. He recalls: ' T h e Buffalo w a s a delight t o fly - very m a n o e u v r a b l e (compared t o t h e Fulmar). It would have been an excellent fighter but the guns could not be fired because the ends of the wires which were part of the interrupter gear, failed and 805 did not have t h e necessary spares. At n o time did I request t h a t the Buffalos be exchanged for Sea G l a d i a t o r s but I d o r e m e m b e r that in the light of the inadequacy of F u l m a r s against C R 4 2 s I requested that the Sea G l a d i a t o r s , if not required for other operations, should be sent to Maleme, t o reinforce 805.' T h e s q u a d r o n w a s t o suffer its first loss of a F u l m a r on 10 M a r c h when Lt Brabner, with Lt S h u t t l e w o r t h as observer, was forced t o ditch 'L7-Z'. Recalled J o h n Shuttleworth: ' R u p e r t a n d I took off in a panic t o intercept an attack o n Suda Bay (which apparently did not materialize) a n d , I think, w i t h o u t a full load of petrol. Anyhow, t h e engine cut after 85 minutes, over S u d a Bay, a n d we force-landed in the e n t r a n c e t o the Bay with a d e a d engine, m o r e or less alongside H M S Hotspur, w h o picked us u p and t o o k us back to h a r b o u r - n o serious injury t o either of us, b u t I gashed my knee badly on the I F F set when we hit the water.' A b o u t this time the s q u a d r o n received an additional pilot when Lt P R E W o o d s of the S u d a Bay W a l r u s Flight, requested a transfer, a l t h o u g h he had n o fighter pilot training. Lt C d r Black personally helped initiate him into air c o m b a t tactics and on o n e occasion narrowly avoided a collision - Black was acting as target for W o o d s in a n o t h e r F u l m a r t o carry out q u a r t e r attacks. W o o d s a p p a r e n t l y lost sight of the C O ' s aircraft in the final stage of a practice attack a n d passed two or three feet a b o v e it. 'A near thing!' c o m m e n t e d Black. T h e forces on C r e t e and at sea were s u p p o r t e d at this time by the Egyptianbased Wellington b o m b e r s of 257 Wing, which m a d e frequent small-scale night attacks on the Italian airfields in the Dodecanese. Ten such b o m b e r s f r o m 37 a n d 70 S q u a d r o n s attacked G a d u r r a (Rhodes) d u r i n g the night of 10/11 M a r c h , six r e t u r n i n g to repeat the attack two nights later, M a r i t z a and K a t t a v i a airfields also being b o m b e d . D u r i n g these raids o n e S.79 was destroyed a n d four o t h e r s d a m a g e d at G a d u r r a , a n d one S.81 d a m a g e d at Maritza. However Crete's resident striking power — such as it was - was reduced when six of 815 S q u a d r o n ' s Swordfish were detached to P a r a m y t h i a , in north-west Greece, as recounted in the previous chapter. Crete c a m e u n d e r air attack again d u r i n g the night of 12/13 M a r c h when seven b o m b s fell on Heraklion, d a m a g i n g the runway. Next d a y S.79s f r o m 34° G r u p p o BT raided shipping in Suda Bay, but inflicted n o d a m a g e . O t h e r b o m b e r s of this type attacked Mytilene, o n e of the largest Greek Aegean islands, but while the h a r b o u r was b o m b e d , n o d a m a g e was suffered here either. O n the 17th t w o aircraft f r o m 2 P R U f r o m Heliopolis, Egypt, arrived at H e r a k l i o n to carry out sorties over Rhodes. O n e of the arrivals was the modified H u d s o n 141
(N7364), again c a p t a i n e d by Fit Lt Walker, the other a H u r r i c a n e PR1 (V7423), which was painted Royal Blue matt overall, a n d carried t w o 8-inch cameras; it was flown by Fit Lt A M Brown. A deterioration in the weather soon after arrival p o s t p o n e d their mission, a n d the aircraft were ordered to remain at Heraklion until an i m p r o v e m e n t allowed them to proceed with their duties. Next day three of 805 S q u a d r o n F u l m a r s (Lts Brabner, R a m s a y a n d Richardson) had their first e n c o u n t e r w h e n two J u 8 8 s - p r o b a b l y aircraft of LG 1 f r o m Sicily - were seen a n d pursued without success. At A b o u k i r (Egypt) five m o r e F u l m a r s f r o m 806 S q u a d r o n , recently arrived from M a l t a after the d a m a g ing of their carrier, H M S Illustrious, were ordered to p r e p a r e to reinforce 805 S q u a d r o n at Maleme, but at the last m o m e n t they were e m b a r k e d instead on the newly-arrived H M S Formidable for a sortie to M a l t a in s u p p o r t of a convoy from Alexandria.
Brewster Buffalo A S 4 1 9 of 805 S q u a d r o n which turned over during a force-landing after engine failure on 19 March 1941, Lt Brabner at the controls. (D H
Coates)
T h e first m a j o r action occured early on 19 M a r c h when at 0630 ten S.79s f r o m 34" a n d 92" G r u p p o BT set o u t f r o m Rhodes, escorted by five 162 a Squadriglia C R 4 2 s ; their target w a s again shipping in Suda Bay. W e a t h e r closed in as they a p p r o a c h e d , f r u s t r a t i n g their attacks, but they were intercepted by three F u l m a r s (Lt Richardson, Sub Lts K a y and Griffin) and Lt Brabner in Buffalo AS419. T h e Buffalo developed engine trouble however, a n d Brabner was forced to t u r n back, c r a s h - l a n d i n g short of t h e airfield, where the aircraft turned over o n t o its tail; Brabner was u n h u r t . M e a n w h i l e S u b Lt K a y shot d o w n Ten M a r i o C a t a l a n o ' s S.79, a n d was seen t o inflict d a m a g e on two m o r e b o m b e r s before colliding with a fourth and crashing into the sea. Both K a y and L/Air D R S t o c k m a n , his T A G , perished. 142
T h e S.79 with which he h a d collided struggled on as far as S c a r p a n t o where it crashed while a t t e m p t i n g to land and was destroyed, a l t h o u g h only o n e m e m b e r of t h e crew suffered any injury. Lt Richardson also claimed d a m a g e t o o n e b o m b e r , he and Griffin m a n a g i n g to e v a d e a t t a c k s by the escorting C R 42s, a n d returned to Maleme. Nonetheless, the Italian fighter pilots claimed one ' H u r r i c a n e ' shot d o w n and two others probably so, while t h e b o m b e r gunners claimed two m o r e shot d o w n , including t h e o n e which h a d collided. Following the action Lt W o o d s , with S u b Lt C o a t e s in the rear seat, t o o k off to search for the missing aircraft, but saw n o sign of it, or of any survivors f r o m the S.79. S.79s and Z.1007bis b o m b e r s f r o m R h o d e s returned next day t o again attack shipping, claiming d a m a g e t o a destroyer a n d a m e r c h a n t m a n . T h e crews reported being attacked by fighters - presumably 805 S q u a d r o n F u l m a r s - and claimed o n e shot d o w n , but n o defending fighters were actually lost o r d a m a g e d . After waiting for five d a y s for the weather t o improve, the p h o t o reconnaissance aircraft at Heraklion were at last able t o get off on 22 M a r c h . However after 45 m i n u t e s in the air Fit Lt Brown was t a k e n ill and b o t h aircraft turned back. Within an h o u r of their return, six C R 4 2 s f r o m the 162 a Squadriglia swept in low at 1505, led by C a p L e o p o l d o S a r t i r a n a . F o u r strafed the airfield, where they claimed (according to one report) four H u r r i c a n e s destroyed or d a m a g e d , a n d o n e shot d o w n ! A n o t h e r report claimed t h a t their success w a s over six twin-engined aircraft a n d one Hurricane! Actual casualties were the H u d s o n badly d a m a g e d , and a single Blenheim slightly hit. T h e only Hurricane, the 2 P R U machine, suffered no d a m a g e , and was flown back to Mersa M a t r u h that evening. C a p S a r t i r a n a returned at 0700 next m o r n i n g at the head of seven C R 4 2 s , three diving on the airfield where one aircraft was claimed destroyed by strafing. AA fire d a m a g e d t w o of the biplanes, the pilot of o n e of these also misjudging his pull-out, hitting the t o p of the H u d s o n ' s wing with o n e wheel, almost tearing off the undercarriage. He m a d e it back t o S c a r p a n t o where he force-landed. Following this attack the H u d s o n was written off, but not before both engines, all instruments a n d other removable parts had been salvaged, and subsequently flown back to Egypt. O n 24 M a r c h an unserviceable F u l m a r (N1947) was flown back to A b o u k i r by Sub Lt B Sinclair. Here 806 S q u a d r o n was reforming, a n d Sinclair became the first of several 805 S q u a d r o n pilots t o be a t t a c h e d t o this unit. F r o m M a l e m e a day later a Sea G l a d i a t o r , o n e of three which had arrived via H M S Formidable two d a y s earlier, provided the sole air cover for a convoy. AS-22, which came u n d e r attack by three Ju88s n o r t h of G a v d h o s Island. T h e pilot attacked, claiming d a m a g e t o o n e of t h e bombers, a l t h o u g h his own aircraft was hit by return fire and suffered slight d a m a g e . T w o F u l m a r s escorted Lt Winstanley in a n o t h e r Sea G l a d i a t o r (N5517) t o carry out a p h o t o - r e c o n n a i s s a n c e t o Stampalia, Winstanley using a hand-held c a m e r a for this purpose; n o opposition was encountered. Five Blenheims f r o m 30 S q u a d r o n flew into M a l e m e f r o m t h e Athens area in p r e p a r a t i o n for strike on C a l a t o airfield, a n d against S c a r p a n t o . Sqn Ldr Milward in L8446 led three aircraft t o C a l a t o where m a n y H e l l Is were seen, he 143
Lockheed H u d s o n N 7 3 6 4 of N o . 2 P h o t o Reconnaissance Unit written olf at Heraklion on 23 March after a d a m a g e d Italian fighter had collided with o n e wing. It is seen here, stripped of wings, engines and tail unit following the G e r m a n occupation of the island in late M a y 1941. (Bundesarchiv)
personally claiming o n e badly d a m a g e d and hits on four others. Fig Off Smith (K.7105) claimed a n o t h e r four d a m a g e d , while Fig Off Richardson (K7177) carried out a general strafe. O n the r e t u r n flight the crews spotted a 7000 ton m e r c h a n t vessel close t o S t a m p a l i a island and strafed this. After their return t w o Swordfish of 815 S q u a d r o n were sent out at 1830 t o attack this ship, but failed to find it. M e a n w h i l e the o t h e r t w o Blenheims, led by Fig Off Davidson, had m a d e for S c a r p a n t o , but Pit OfTJarvis had turned back with engine trouble; D a v i d s o n continued alone but saw n o aircraft on the airfield here. T h e Italians immediately retaliated for these a t t a c k s by d e s p a t c h i n g three 162a Squadriglia C R 4 2 s t o again strike at Heraklion, while four others flew t o p cover. The d a m a g e d Blenheim was hit again and set on fire, being completely b u r n e d out. AA fire hit o n e of the strafers, the gunners believing t h a t it h a d crashed into the sea; in fact it struggled back to R h o d e s where the pilot m a d e a successful landing. Next m o r n i n g , at a b o u t 0800, three C R 4 2 s of this unit a p p e a r e d over Suda Bay, but their role was reconnaissance on this occasion. Intense and accurate AA fire greeted them, o n e being d a m a g e d by shrapnel splinters. They had m a d e their sortie t o seek evidence of the results of a night a t t a c k on shipping in the h a r b o u r , as will be related later, and were able to report sighting the d a m a g e d cruiser York a n d three or f o u r c a r g o vessels. T h a t evening five 815 S q u a d r o n Swordfish left to attack Stampalia, but were forced back by bad weather. O n return Lt E D J Whatley crashed on M a l e m e airfield; he and his crew escaped injury, but the landing of the rest of the f o r m a t i o n w a s considerably delayed as a result. 144
O n 27 M a r c h t w o m o r e reinforcement Sea G l a d i a t o r s (N5509 a n d 5538) arrived at Maleme, having been flown f r o m D e k h e i l a by Lt Lloyd Keith, a C a n a d i a n , a n d S u b Lt R W M Walsh; b o t h pilots were retained by 805 S q u a d r o n on a brief a t t a c h m e n t . Lt K e i t h had previously flown Sea G l a d i a t o r s a n d Swordfish) with s o m e success whilst serving with H M S Eagle; Walsh had flown H u r r i c a n e s with 111 S q u a d r o n , R A F , d u r i n g t h e Battle of Britain. O n this same day t w o Ju88s f r o m 6 / L G 1, based at C a t a n i a , Sicily, while on an a r m e d reconnaissance south-west of C r e t e attacked a freighter. H o w e v e r a twin-engined fighter reportedly intercepted Uffz August J o h a n n e s m a n n ' s aircraft, p u t t i n g out an engine a n d w o u n d i n g the pilot, who, nevertheless, nursed t h e d a m a g e d aircraft back to C a t a n i a , b u t crashed on landing, all t h e crew being killed. N o such c o m b a t h a s been found in British records. It is feasible t h a t t h e a t t a c k e r m a y have been a B f l l O flying a long-range sortie f r o m Libya or Sicily; such mistakes of misidentification did h a p p e n all t o o often. 815 S q u a d r o n lost a n o t h e r Swordfish on the last d a y of the m o n t h when Lt Whatley again crashed, this time while on p a t r o l off K y t h e r a Island, when his aircraft, 'X' suffered an engine failure. T h e crew got a b o a r d their dinghy a n d reached the island f r o m where they were rescued next day. T o m a k e g o o d these losses four m o r e Swordfish were ferried over f r o m Dekheila; these were ex-829 S q u a d r o n aircraft f r o m Formidable. T h e island was t o be further reinforced on 5 April with the arrival on d e t a c h m e n t of six Blenheim I F s of 30 S q u a d r o n to u n d e r t a k e sea reconnaissances, convoy patrols a n d night fighting. M e a n w h i l e on 3 April Lt Ramsay of 805 S q u a d r o n was u p in a F u l m a r covering the a p p r o a c h of C o n v o y A N F - 2 4 t h r o u g h the A n t i k y t h e r a C h a n n e l , when t w o Ju88s a t t a c k e d the vessels. R a m s a y intercepted o n e of the bombers, a n d while he did n o t observe the results of his a t t a c k , observers a b o a r d ship reported that the J u n k e r s was almost certainly shot d o w n . T h e second b o m b e r then r e a p p e a r e d a n d a t t a c k e d t h e convoy but failed t o gain any hits. T w o h o u r s later at 1857, nine Ju88s attacked, gaining two hits on Northern Prince (10 917 tons) which killed a n u m b e r of t h e crew and started fires. T h e vessel w a s carrying several t h o u s a n d tons of explosives, destined for the G r e e k o r d n a n c e factories; the surviving m e m b e r s of t h e crew were taken off, a n d soon a f t e r w a r d s the ship blew up. T h e previous evening the small freighter Cyprian Prince, also part of this convoy, had been hit a n d d a m a g e d during an attack by H e l l Is of I I / K G 26, but she m a n a g e d to keep u p with the convoy as it proceeded t o w a r d s Piraeus. Yet again H e r a k l i o n c a m e u n d e r attack by C R 4 2 s on 4 April, seven refuelling at S c a r p a n t o and then proceeding to Crete where five strafed the airfield. O n l y slight d a m a g e w a s caused, a l t h o u g h 40 cases of a m m u n i t i o n were destroyed, but again the efficient airfield AA hit o n e of the fighters, a n d this time it did crash into the sea. Serg D o m e n i c o C h i a p p a w a s killed. Lt Brabner of 805 S q u a d r o n w a s on patrol next day w h e n r a d a r picked u p a suspicious plot. Vectored o n t o this, Brabner's F u l m a r soon intercepted the intruder, but fortunately good visibility allowed him t o recognize it as a n u n a n n o u n c e d B o m b a y t r a n s p o r t of 216 S q u a d r o n . This aircraft would d e p a r t again next day, carrying Lt Keith a n d Sub Lt Walsh back t o Dekheila at the end of their brief a t t a c h m e n t to 805 S q u a d r o n .
145
805 S q u a d r o n Fulmar on patrol, flown by S u b Lt R F Bryant. (D H
Coates)
M a l e m e was t o be i n u n d a t e d with aircraft of all types on the 6th, as elements of 208 S q u a d r o n staged t h r o u g h on their way t o Greece. Six 'almost new' Swordfish also arrived for 815 S q u a d r o n , led by Lt Lamb. These had been used by H M S Formidable s Air G r o u p d u r i n g the recent naval o p e r a t i o n s off C a p e M a t a p a n (see later). O n return, they were flown over t o Crete by P o o l pilots, but on arrival at M a l e m e were t a k e n over by 815 S q u a d r o n pilots, w h o flew them on u p to P a r a m y t h i a for o p e r a t i o n s . T h e r e m a i n i n g elements of this s q u a d r o n at M a l e m e suffered a further loss on 9 April when Lt B u r n a b y D r a y s o n and his crew (Sub Lt A Carroll a n d L/Air F Faulks) were forced t o ditch ten miles n o r t h of the island d u e t o engine failure while on a n t i - s u b m a r i n e patrol. O n taking to their dinghy, they f o u n d that it carried n o survival kit, leaving them with n o food or water, while the distress flares did not work. D u e t o unserviceability, only o n e Swordfish was available at M a l e m e t o search for them, but while they could see this taking-off a n d landing, they could not a t t r a c t the crew's attention. After four days and three nights, B u r n a b y D r a y s o n decided t o try t o swim for shore since a wind had s p r u n g u p which was beginning to blow the dinghy further out t o sea. Against the advice of the o t h e r two, he entered t h e sea and s w a m off Shortly after this, the wind direction c h a n g e d a n d blew the dinghy a s h o r e where Carroll a n d Faulks, weak a n d suffering f r o m exposure, staggered t o a nearby village. Here the locals gave t h e m g o a t s milk and eggs before c o n t a c t i n g the military for assistance. B u r n a b y D r a y s o n ' s body w a s washed ashore, and was buried on 14 April. Action c o n t i n u e d meanwhile, a n d on the 11th a Z.1007bis t r i m o t o r of the 172 a
146
Squadriglia o n Rhodes, set off on a reconnaissance over Alexandria, c a r r y i n g Sottoten Alessandro Laurenzi of the Regia M a r i n a as observer. At 1245, when 60 miles n o r t h of Alexandria, it was intercepted by two H u r r i c a n e s from 274 S q u a d r o n , which were on d e t a c h m e n t at Ismailia, Fig Off A A P Weller a n d Pit Off D J Spence s h o o t i n g t h e C a n t d o w n into the sea. T w o survivors of T e n Giulio Gabella's crew were rescued by a S u n d e r l a n d . T h a t night Rhodes' C a l a t o airfield c a m e u n d e r attack by Wellingtons f r o m 37 S q u a d r o n ' s G r e e k - b a s e d d e t a c h m e n t , but after b o m b i n g these were ordered to fly direct to Egypt d u e to bad weather over the A t h e n s area. 172 a Squadriglia tried again next day, a n o t h e r Z.1007bis a p p r o a c h i n g Alexandria. Again two H u r r i c a n e s intercepted, a n d the aircraft was badly d a m a g e d , the pilot being w o u n d e d and one m e m b e r of the crew mortally hit. Although the b o m b e r regained Rhodes, it crash-landed short of its airfield and was destroyed. T h r e e days later H e r a k l i o n w a s once m o r e a t t a c k e d by 162 a Squadriglia C R 4 2 s , six aircraft strafing gun positions a n d dispersed Blenheims, two of these being claimed destroyed. A A w a s as fierce as ever, the Bofors hitting four of the Fiats, three of which were d a m a g e d , the f o u r t h being shot d o w n ; the pilot, Ten L u c i a n o Corsini, was taken prisoner. Next day 815 S q u a d r o n ' s unlucky Lt Whatley again came t o grief, force-landing his Swordfish on K y t h e r a island following engine failure while on an a n t i - s u b m a r i n e patrol. He and his observer were picked up by W a l r u s a m p h i b i a n f r o m S u d a Bay. S o u t h of G a v d h o s island, off the s o u t h e r n coast of Crete, C o n v o y A N - 2 7 en r o u t e for S u d a Bay, was attacked by four Ju88s at 1930 on 17 April. T h e g u n n e r s on the escorting Australian destroyer Vampire engaged a n d claimed d a m a g e t o the p o r t engine of o n e b o m b e r ; the convoy suffered n o d a m a g e . This same day Lt R a m s a y of 805 S q u a d r o n a t t a c k e d a reconnaissance Ju88 but the F u l m a r h a d great trouble in effectively dealing with the fast J u n k e r s and again it escaped without o b v i o u s d a m a g e . Meanwhile Lt Keith and Sub Lt Walsh were o n their way back to M a l e m e , ferrying in two further Sea G l a d i a t o r s (N5535 a n d 5568) for the s q u a d r o n . O n the way they sighted a lone H e l 11 which they a t t e m p t e d t o intercept without success. As a result they were d a n g e r o u s l y low on fuel when they b r o k e cloud over t h e airfield, where the defences at once o p e n e d fire fortunately n o t with any accuracy. Lt Keith again remained on a t t a c h m e n t , b u t Walsh was flown back via a d e p a r t i n g Bombay t o collect a n o t h e r Sea G l a d i a t o r only t o find that n o m o r e were available. At 1305 on the 18th Fig Off Andy Smith set out f r o m M a l e m e in his 30 S q u a d r o n Blenheim to p a t r o l over C o n v o y AN-27 as it a p p r o a c h e d Suda Bay. After 30 m i n u t e s on station he saw two S.79s a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m the south-west of Melos. These were t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s of 2 8 l a Squadriglia, led by C a p G i u s e p p e Cimicchi, on which Smith closed f r o m astern, o p e n i n g fire on the leading aircraft. Black s m o k e p o u r e d f r o m the s t a r b o a r d engine, the u n d e r c a r r i a g e d r o p p e d d o w n , and he believed that the aircraft had fallen into the sea; it had indeed c o m e d o w n , Ten Barbani p u t t i n g it d o w n in t h e water n e a r Camilloni Island, all t h e crew sustaining injuries; they were later rescued by a C a n t floatplane. Meanwhile Smith a t t a c k e d t h e second S.79, seeing s p a r k s f r o m the s t a r b o a r d engine, but the 147
Blenheim was then hit by return fire. As Smith returned t o M a l e m e one of his engines began t o burn as he went into his final a p p r o a c h , but the fire w a s swiftly extinguished by the observer, Pit Off J H Strong.
S a v o i a S.79sil t o r p e d o - b o m b e r of 279° Squadriglia AS, based on R h o d e s during April 1941 for antishipping duties. (F Lonyhi
via
Lucchini/Malizia)
As the t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s h a d carried out their attack, o n e t o r p e d o - t h a t p r e s u m a b l y released by C a p C i m i c c h i - hitting the oiler British Science, three S.79 b o m b e r s f r o m 34° G r u p p o a t t e m p t e d to b o m b f r o m higher level, claiming a hit on a cruiser. T h e y were intercepted by an 805 S q u a d r o n F u l m a r , Sub Lt R o y s t o n Griffin forcing t h e b o m b e r s t o break off their attack, but in fact he may have d a m a g e d all three, a l t h o u g h the crews reported that it was AA shrapnel which struck their aircraft, o n e a i r m a n being w o u n d e d . In r e t u r n the g u n n e r s claimed to have shot d o w n Griffin's fighter, which in fact suffered n o d a m a g e . T h e t o r p e d o e d oiler w a s forced t o reduce speed t o six knots, proceeding a l o n g t o w a r d s Suda Bay; she would be t o r p e d o e d again the following day, a n d was sunk. A steady flow of aircraft were n o w c o m i n g in a n d out between Greece a n d Egypt. O n 18 April a S u n d e r l a n d flown by Fit Lt A M G Lywood alighted on Suda Bay f r o m Greece en r o u t e for Alexandria, c a r r y i n g King Peter of Yugoslavia, G e n e r a l Simonovitch, a n d other m e m b e r s of the Yugoslav Royal Family and of the political a n d military staffs. T w o d a y s later Fit Lt D K Bednall staged t h r o u g h on his way t o S c a r a m a n g a , r e t u r n i n g with 16 R A F passengers a n d t h e A O C ' s wife, M r s D'Albiac, with - of all things - her pet canary! D u r i n g the 20th - the d a y of the big battle over A t h e n s - Blenheims of 30 S q u a d r o n were again out on convoy patrols, as were 805 S q u a d r o n Fulmars. 35 miles south-east of G a v d h o s Island 30 S q u a d r o n ' s Fig Off Smith spotted an S.79 a p p r o a c h i n g C o n v o y AS-26 a n d again carried out a stern attack. After one burst however, his g u n s j a m m e d a n d he was forced to break away. He had nonetheless been successful in c a u s i n g the b o m b e r t o break off its intended attack, a n d believed his s h o r t burst had killed the rear-gunner. 805 S q u a d r o n ' s Lt Ash 148
encountered a Ju88 of 4 / L G 1 from Sicily, a n d a t t a c k e d this t o t h e s o u t h of Crete, w o u n d i n g the pilot, Uffz Berthold Bornschein, before the fast G e r m a n aircraft escaped. Next day C o n v o y AS-26 was again attacked, just s o u t h of G a v d h o s Island, by two Ju88s f r o m 7 / K G 30, also o p e r a t i n g f r o m Sicily. O n e b o m b near-missed British Lord, which was disabled at 1100, the crew being t a k e n off by Vampire, while H M S Auckland took the ship in tow. G u n n e r s on the s l o o p hit Lt Alfred Pich's 4 D + D R , which the pilot was forced t o ditch just off the coast of Crete, t w o of the crew being killed in the crash; Pich a n d o n e other were taken prisoner. O n this day however, t h e C a n e a area of Crete was a t t a c k e d for the first time by Luftwaffe b o m b e r s o p e r a t i n g f r o m bases on the G r e e k m a i n l a n d - Ju88s of I / L G 1 a n d I / K G 51. AA fire struck o n e of t h e raiders, w o u n d i n g a m e m b e r of the crew, b u t the raid m a r k e d the end of Crete's i n d e p e n d e n t little air war. T h e island was a b o u t t o become enmeshed in the main fighting.
The War at Sea At the start of M a r c h the first of a series of c o n v o y s began loading in Alexandria for O p e r a t i o n 'Lustre', the m o v e m e n t of 58 000 t r o o p s - British, C o m m o n w e a l t h , Cypriot and Palestinian, with assorted m o t o r t r a n s p o r t , tanks, guns, stores a n d e q u i p m e n t t o Greece. These convoys were t o carry coded n u m b e r s as follows: ANASANFASFAGGA-
Alexandria, N o r t h b o u n d Alexandria, S o u t h b o u n d Alexandria, N o r t h b o u n d F a s t C o n v o y Alexandria, S o u t h b o u n d Fast C o n v o y Alexandria t o G r e e c e (special troop-carriers, including cruisers) Greece to Alexandria (empty troop-carriers)
O n 4 M a r c h C o n v o y A N - 1 7 left Alexandria for Piraeus, but as it a p p r o a c h e d t h e K a s o Strait near C r e t e next day, Italian b o m b e r s f r o m R h o d e s c o m m e n c e d isolated a t t a c k s by t w o or three aircraft, the first a p p e a r i n g at 1126. T h e nearest they c a m e t o success occurred at 1710, when a single S.79 narrowly missed t o r p e d o i n g t h e AA cruiser Coventry. T h e attack resumed at first light on 6 M a r c h , b o m b e r s and t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s attacking, b o t h S.79s and S.81s being employed; all were driven off by AA fire. At 0710 the escorting destroyer Greyhound d e p t h - c h a r g e d a s u b m a r i n e c o n t a c t , forcing the Anfilnite t o the surface. Here it was riddled with heavy gunfire, sinking after a b o u t half an h o u r , the crew having a b a n d o n e d ship. T h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet, which had been without an aircraft carrier since Illustrious had been d a m a g e d in J a n u a r y , a n d Ark Royal had gone h o m e for a refit, was greatly strengthened on 10 M a r c h by the arrival of the newlycommissioned, a r m o u r e d - d e c k 2 3 0 0 0 ton H M S Formidable (Captain A W la T Bisset). This vessel c a m e u p t h r o u g h the Suez C a n a l in p r e p a r a t i o n for O p e r a t i o n ' M a n d i b l e ' - the p r o p o s e d D o d e c a n e s e invasions m e n t i o n e d earlier in this chapter. Her Air G r o u p consisted of Albacore biplane t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s of 826 S q u a d r o n (Lt C d r W H G Saunt) a n d 829 S q u a d r o n (Lt C d r J Dalyell-Stead), this latter 149
unit o p e r a t i n g a mix of these aircraft and Swordfish; finally 803 S q u a d r o n had ten F u l m a r s , led by Lt J M 'Bill' Bruen. T w o F u l m a r s had already been lost en route f r o m the U K to F r e e t o w n , West Africa, o n e d i s a p p e a r i n g d u r i n g a patrol, the o t h e r force-landing in Vichy F r e n c h Senegal, the crew being interned. T h e Air G r o u p h a d attacked targets a l o n g the coast of Italian East Africa as the carrier a p p r o a c h e d t h e Red Sea, but here two Albacores had been lost to AA fire over M a s s a w a h a r b o u r , Eritrea. O n arrival at P o r t Sudan, the ship had been delayed while the Suez C a n a l had been swept for mines laid by Dodecanese-based H e l l Is. While here t w o F u l m a r s , flown by Lt A J Wright, R M , and Sub Lt W C Simpson, intercepted an Italian 'mailplane' en r o u t e t o S o m a l i l a n d , claiming this probably shot d o w n . Before t h e carrier had sortied, two H e l l l t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s of I I / K G 26 f r o m the D o d e c a n e s e c a m e across elements of the M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet whilst on an a r m e d r e c o n n a i s s a n c e on 16 M a r c h , t o the west of Crete. T h e battleships Warspite a n d Barluim were identified, each pilot selecting o n e as his target and releasing their t o r p e d o e s f r o m low-level a n d at relatively close range. As they turned away c o l u m n s of water were seen where hits might have been expected and b o t h crews believed t h a t they h a d d a m a g e d their targets. This i n f o r m a t i o n was passed t o the Italian N a v a l C o m m a n d , a n d would prove t o have serious consequences for the Italian Fleet. Spurred on by the G e r m a n N a v a l C o m m a n d , the battleship Vittorio Veneto, eight cruisers a n d 13 destroyers put to sea f r o m bases at Naples, T a r a n t o and Brindisi t o interrupt, a n d hopefully intercept, the convoys t r a n s p o r t i n g t r o o p s a n d supplies f r o m Egypt t o Greece. T h e p r o b l e m for the Italians was t o be that the British battleships had n o t in fact suffered any damage T h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n was filling with ships, for on 18 M a r c h C o n v o y AN-21 comprising 13 ships left Alexandria for Greece, while t w o d a y s later four fast m e r c h a n t m e n d e p a r t e d with vital supplies for M a l t a as M W - 6 . T h e latter was escorted by the AA cruisers Calcutta, Coventry a n d Carlisle, with a t t e n d e n t destroyers, a n d by Formidable. T h e carrier t o o k a b o a r d not only her own Air G r o u p , but six a d d i t i o n a l F u l m a r s of 806 S q u a d r o n . T h r e e Sea G l a d i a t o r s also went a b o a r d , but these were for 805 S q u a d r o n and were t o be flown off to M a l e m e at the end of the operation. Both c o n v o y s c a m e u n d e r air attack on 21 M a r c h , t w o Ju88s b o m b i n g the cruiser Bonaventure which h a d joined M W - 6 when near G a v d h o s Island at 1225. Green Section of 803 S q u a d r o n were u p on patrol a n d were vectored t o attack, Lt Bruen, with Lt D J G o d d e n in the rear seat of N1951 '6A', c a t c h i n g LI + D M of 5 / L G 1 (Lt Friedrich-Wilhelm zur Nieden), a n d chasing it d o w n t o sea level in the direction of the Fleet, inflicting severe d a m a g e as they went. Here the warships' AA o p e n e d up, a n d t h e b o m b e r crashed into t h e sea. Sub Lt D H Richards, G r e e n 2, h a d become separated a n d lost in p o o r visibility, b u t he fortuitously e n c o u n t e r e d a patrolling F u l m a r of 805 S q u a d r o n , flown by Lt Ramsay a n d followed him back to Maleme. S o m e w h a t later C a p t H a r r i s a n d Lt Scott of 805 t o o k off and landed their F u l m a r s on Formidable to aid in the patrols over the c o n v o y for the next two days. At 1604, as C o n v o y AN-21 passed t h r o u g h the K y t h e r a C h a n n e l , three J u 8 8 s 150
again f r o m I I / L G 1 suddenly a p p e a r e d at 300 feet out of squally weather, a n d d r o p p e d b o m b s near the t a n k e r Havre. A further Ju88 then arrived a n d a t t a c k e d t h e D a n i s h t a n k e r Marie Maersk (8271 tons), o n e b o m b hitting the bridge a n d causing a n u m b e r of casualties; the t a n k e r c a u g h t fire. T h e crew a b a n d o n e d ship, 27 men being picked u p f r o m the sea by H M A S Stuart, which also recovered two bodies. H M A S Waterhen then put a salvage party a b o a r d , the t w o destroyers w i t h d r a w i n g while the a r m e d trawler Amber stood by. By midnight the fires were under control, engines were started, a n d under her own steam the vessel m a d e for S u d a Bay, arriving there at midday on the 22nd. T h e fires were finally extinguished six h o u r s later, only 500 tons of the oil c a r g o being lost. As the rest of the c o n v o y reached a point south-east of G a v d h o s Island on 22 March, H e l l l t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s of I I / K G 26 attacked, the 3798-ton Greek freighter Embiricos h'icolaos being badly d a m a g e d ; she sank after the crew h a d been rescued. T h e N o r w e g i a n tanker Solheim w a s also badly d a m a g e d , a n d would later also be a b a n d o n e d a n d left to sink. At dusk C o n v o y ASF-21 entered the K y t h e r a Strait, being joined off K u p h o Island by the AA cruisers Coventry a n d Carlisle just as t h r e e S.79s f r o m 34° G r u p p o were positioning t o release their torpedoes. Five m o r e S.79s m a d e b o m b i n g r u n s at higher level, b u t no hits were gained by any of the attackers, the c o m b i n e d fire power of t h e escort s h o o t i n g d o w n o n e of t h e b o m b e r s , which fell in flames t h r o u g h the d a r k e n i n g sky. With the o t h e r convoy (MW-6), o n e of 803 S q u a d r o n ' s F u l m a r s (N1936), was obliged to force-land on K y t h e r a Island with engine trouble. T h e crew were u n h u r t a n d were t a k e n by boat t o Suda Bay. A few d a y s later Lt Cdr Black was flown o u t to the island in a Walrus t o fly the repaired aircraft t o Maleme, recalling: 'The local i n h a b i t a n t s at K y t h e r a were very a n x i o u s to help a n d I well r e m e m b e r when taxying over the shingle beach being most c o n c e r n e d that I might decapitate o n e or t w o w h o got dangerously close t o the propeller. O n the take-off run I had some difficulty in c o u n t e r i n g a tendency of the F u l m a r to swing d o w n the beach and into t h e sea but, in an u n l o a d e d c o n d i t i o n - with g u n s a n d a m m u n i t i o n and W / T set removed, and with little petrol — in t h e end all was well.' Formidable"s d u t y t o M W - 6 w a s completed on 23 M a r c h , a n d she n o w headed back east t o Alexandria. At a c o m f o r t a b l e distance f r o m C r e t e t h e two 805 S q u a d r o n F u l m a r s and the three Sea G l a d i a t o r s were flown off to Maleme. T h e latter were ex-Eagle aircraft (N5513, 5517 a n d 5567). C a p t H a r r i s had a frightening experience on his last patrol f r o m the carrier when his F u l m a r suffered a hydraulic failure while flying on, and landed on o n e wheel. D u r i n g t h e d a y Sub Lt A C Wallace of 803 S q u a d r o n in N 1 9 1 8 c a m e across a lone J u 8 8 , but it escaped. Shortly a f t e r w a r d s he again met a Ju88 - possibly the same machine - a n d claimed to have destroyed it. Elsewhere a single S.79 of 281 a Squadriglia, a unit recently arrived on Rhodes, a t t e m p t e d a t o r p e d o attack on C o n v o y AS-22. Engaged by heavy AA fire. T e n G i o r g i o Sacchetti's aircraft was d a m a g e d . O n 24 M a r c h t h e cruisers Orion, York and Calcutta, r e t u r n i n g f r o m various escort duties t h r o u g h the K y t h e r a Strait, c a m e u n d e r attack by small f o r m a t i o n s 151
of Ju88s at 1257, and again at 1411, but these were driven off w i t h o u t d a m a g e . Calcutta entered S u d a Bay that evening, the other warships remaining at sea t o cover a n o t h e r P i r a e u s - b o u n d convoy. T h e latter w a s b o m b e d in the Salamis Strait by six Ju88s next day, but without d a m a g e . T h i n g s were afoot however, for ' U l t r a ' intercepts had picked u p several pieces of information. G e r m a n twin-engined fighters (obviously Bfl 10s of Z G 2 6 ) f r o m Libya had been ordered t o P a l e r m o (Sicily) 'for special o p e r a t i o n s ' - p r o p o s e d s u p p o r t a n d protection for the Italian Fleet p r e p a r i n g to challenge a supposedly weakened a n d stretched M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet, a n d possibly t o intercept British supply ships t o Greece. T h e G e r m a n N a v a l Liaison Officer in R o m e advised the Italian N a v a l Staff: ' T h e G e r m a n N a v a l Staff considers that at the m o m e n t there is only o n e British battleship. Valiant, in the Eastern M e d i t e r r a n e a n fully ready for action. It is not anticipated that heavy British units will be w i t h d r a w n f r o m the Atlantic in t h e near future. F o r c e " H " is also considered unlikely t o a p p e a r in the M e d i t e r r a n e a n . T h u s t h e situation in the M e d i t e r r a n e a n is at the m o m e n t m o r e f a v o u r a b l e for the Italian Fleet than ever before. Intensive traffic f r o m Alexandria t o t h e G r e e k ports, whereby t h e G r e e k forces are receiving c o n s t a n t reinforcem e n t s in men a n d e q u i p m e n t , presents a particularly worthwhile target for Italian N a v a l Forces. T h e G e r m a n N a v a l Staff considers t h a t t h e a p p e a r a n c e of Italian units in the area south of C r e t e will seriously interfere with British shipping, and may even lead t o t h e c o m p l e t e interruption of t h e t r a n s p o r t of t r o o p s , especially as these t r a n s p o r t s are at the m o m e n t inadequately protected.' It proved t o be a most serious a n d inaccurate assessment by the G e r m a n s , which was t o cost the Italians dear. O t h e r ' U l t r a ' intercepts established that 25 M a r c h was D - D a y minus three for a m a j o r o p e r a t i o n involving R h o d e s C o m m a n d . Next d a y intercepts confirmed t h a t t h e G e r m a n a n d Italian c y p h e r s referred t o t h e same o p e r a t i o n . T h e Italian H i g h C o m m a n d also requested further information a b o u t British c o n v o y s between Alexandria a n d Greece, and ordered a t t a c k s on M a l e m e and H e r a k l i o n t o neutralize British air strength. W i t h this foreknowledge Admiral Sir Andrew C u n n i n g h a m ( C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f , M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet) put his own plans into action. L a t e on the 26th he cancelled s o u t h b o u n d C o n v o y G A - 8 a n d ordered that a P i r a e u s - b o u n d c o n v o y , AG-9, should reverse c o u r s e after d a r k . Vice-Admiral P r i d h a m - W i p p e l l ' s F o r c e 'B' - the cruisers Orion (with early-type ASV radar), Ajax (with the m o r e m o d e r n type, as yet untried in battle), Perth, Gloucester a n d four destroyers of the 2nd Flotilla, currently o p e r a t i n g between Greece and C r e t e - w a s ordered t o assemble 30 miles south of G a v d h o s Island at d a w n on 28 M a r c h . T h e First Battle S q u a d r o n would d e p a r t Alexandria after d a r k the d a y before. D u r i n g the late a f t e r n o o n of 25 M a r c h meanwhile, the cruisers York and Orion entered S u d a Bay, where just as dusk fell they were spotted by a reconnaissance S.79. T h e Italian crew reported the presence of o n e cruiser, t w o destroyers a n d 12 c a r g o vessels, but at 2230 h o u r s Coventry arrived also, t o refuel f r o m the 8324 ton N o r w e g i a n t a n k e r Pericles. A f o u r t h cruiser, Gloucester, had also a n c h o r e d 152
nearby, having similarly refuelled, while York was berthed next to the t a n k e r . U n d e r cover of d a r k n e s s t w o Italian destroyers, Crispi a n d Sella, had slipped out of S t a m p a l i a h a r b o u r c a r r y i n g six o n e - m a n explosive m o t o r - b o a t s (known as M T M s - M o t o s c a f o T u r i s m o Modificato) of the X Flottiglia. T e n miles f r o m the e n t r a n c e t o S u d a Bay the M T M s were lowered into the sea just before midnight, and led by T e n Vascello Luigi Faggioni, headed for the Bay. Just after 0500 on 26 M a r c h the attack c o m m e n c e d , each M T M aimed at selected targets by their pilots, w h o then evacuated t h e craft into their own small liferaft. O n l y three actually hit, t w o (those of Sottoten Vascello Angelo C a b r i n i and S o t t o t e n Tullio Tedeschi) striking York, which had t o be beached with her engine and boiler r o o m s flooded, and with n o power t o o p e r a t e her guns. T h e third, S o t t o t e n L i n o Beccati's craft, hit the Pericles amidships, and badly d a maged her, a l t h o u g h she remained o p e r a t i o n a l a n d c o n t i n u e d to provide oiling facilities. D u r i n g the height of the attack, g u n n e r s a b o a r d York had opened fire at what they presumed to be unseen low-flying aircraft, a n d when Ten F a g g i o n e and his c o m p a t r i o t s — C a b r i n i , Tedeschi, Beccati plus S o t t o t e n Alessio D e Vito a n d Sergente Emilio B a r b e r i - were all found at d a w n floating in their rafts, they were interrogated as t o the locality of their crashed aircraft. Each of these brave men would be a w a r d e d the Medaglia D ' O r o . Admiral C u n n i n g h a m was t o record: 'While t h e Italians as the w h o l e displayed little enterprise a n d intiative at sea, it always amazed me how good they were at these sort of individual attacks. T h e y certainly had men c a p a b l e of the most gallant exploits.' Next day Coventry and t w o destroyers sailed again to provide escort for a collection of 16 e m p t y small British and Greek m e r c h a n t m e n r e t u r n i n g to P o r t Said, guiding them t h r o u g h the K a s o Strait. D u r i n g the m o r n i n g three Ju88s attacked, but were driven off without causing any d a m a g e . A much heavier attack developed in the a f t e r n o o n , 24 Ju88s, a p p a r e n t l y f r o m b o t h I I I / K G 3 0 and I I I / L G 1, a p p r o a c h i n g . Coventry and the destroyers were hard-pressed to provide a d e q u a t e cover, but put u p such a barrage that t w o of the b o m b e r s were claimed shot d o w n . Certainly Obit Walter Weller's 4 D + G R of 7 / K G 3 0 w a s badly hit and crashed on the south coast of Crete, while an aircraft of 8 / L G 1 struggled back t o C a t a n i a , where it crash-landed. Coventry's C a p t a i n G i l m o u r w a s advised that W / T intercepts and r a d a r s indicated that three m o r e b o m b e r s had ditched and had been calling their bases for help, but it seems t h a t these calls were f r o m the t w o aircraft m e n t i o n e d , for n o other losses were suffered. T w o of the m e r c h a n t vessels were d a m a g e d by near-misses d u r i n g the a t t a c k , but m a n a g e d t o stay with the convoy. O n the m o r n i n g of 27 M a r c h the first sighting of elements of the Italian Fleet was m a d e at 1220 by a patrolling Sunderland of 230 S q u a d r o n f r o m S c a r a m a n g a , Fig Off R S Bohm's crew r e p o r t i n g a force of three cruisers and o n e destroyer 80 miles east of C a p Passero, the south-eastern tip of Sicily. These were steering south-east and were possibly en r o u t e to the Greek c o n v o y lanes. T h e force sighted was the 3rd Cruiser Division (Vice-Admiral Sansonetti) c o m p r i s i n g the three heavy cruisers Trieste, Trento and Bolzano, which w a s s p e a r h e a d i n g the Italian Fleet. Behind c a m e the 1st Cruiser Division (Vice-Admiral C a t t a n e o ) with 153
three m o r e heavy cruisers, a n d the 8th Cruiser Division (Vice-Admiral Legnani) with t w o light cruisers; a c c o m p a n y i n g these forces were nine destroyers. They would shortly be joined by Admiral Angelo Iachino, C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f of the Fleet, in his flagship, the battleship Vittorio Veneto, and four destroyers, which were s t e a m i n g f r o m Naples. Q u i t e a f o r m i d a b l e force but n o n e of these warships had any r a d a r . T h i s was the sighting Admiral C u n n i n g h a m had been waiting for, and he ordered the First Battle S q u a d r o n to put to sea after dark. M e a n w h i l e as a ruse for prying eyes, he a p p e a r e d at the Alexandria G o l f C l u b in sporting attire, with overnight case in hand. T h e local J a p a n e s e C o n s u l was k n o w n to spend most a f t e r n o o n s at the golf course, and the sighting of C u n n i n g h a m here was b o u n d t o reach him a n d be passed on to his Axis partners. T h e delusion was c o m p o u n d e d when at 1400 a Z.1007bis reconnaissance aircraft f r o m the 172u Squadriglia on Rhodes, flew over Alexandria u n o p p o s e d , the crew reporting the sighting of two aircraft carriers, three battleships and an u n d e t e r m i n e d n u m b e r of cruisers still in harbour. At 1600 Formidable got u n d e r w a y , flying on her Air G r o u p f r o m Dekheila an h o u r later. D u e t o the s h o r t a g e of TSR ( T o r p e d o - S p o t t e r - R e c o n n a i s s a n c e ) aircraft, 826 and 829 S q u a d r o n s could muster only ten Albacores (five fitted with long-range t a n k s ) a n d four Swordfish between them. Thirteen F u l m a r s were available, three 806 S q u a d r o n aircraft joining those of 803 S q u a d r o n . Admiral C u n n i n g h a m r e t u r n e d to the h a r b o u r after d a r k and went a b o a r d Warspite, the Battle S q u a d r o n d e p a r t i n g h a r b o u r at 1900. Both Formidable and Valiant were equipped with the latest r a d a r e q u i p m e n t . T h e y were joined by Warspite and Barham, and by nine destroyers of the 10th and 14th Flotillas. It would be n o o n of the 28th before Iachino received infomation that the carrier and battleships had put t o sea, and by then his force w a s already u n d e r attack f r o m Formidable's torpedo-bombers. First light on 28 M a r c h found the Battle S q u a d r o n 150 miles south of eastern Crete, a n d here at 0550 five T S R s were launched to search for the Italian ships, while a Swordfish began an a n t i - s u b m a r i n e patrol, and t w o F u l m a r s provided C o m b a t Air P a t r o l (CAP). At a b o u t the same time four of 815 S q u a d r o n ' s Swordfish f r o m Maleme, all a r m e d with t o r p e d o e s , began an offensive search t o the west of the island. D u r i n g this o n e aircraft suffered engine trouble, and the leader led all four back t o base. A F u l m a r w a s sent off by 805 S q u a d r o n t o c o n t i n u e the search, b u t n o t h i n g was seen. T h e first sighting of the Italian Fleet was m a d e at 0720 by Albacore '5B', a b o u t 25 miles south-east of G a v d h o s Island, the crew reporting four cruisers and four destroyers. Twenty m i n u t e s later Lt A S W h i t w o r t h in ' 5 F ' m a d e a second sighting which he reported as four cruisers and six destroyers at a position 20 miles f r o m t h e earlier sighting. '5B' signalled again at 0804, a m e n d i n g its earlier report to four cruisers and six destroyers. W h e n these r e p o r t s were first received it was suspected t h a t the searchers might have seen P r i d h a m - W h i p p e l l ' s F o r c e ' B \ which was in the general a r e a waiting to rendezvous, a n d itself comprised four cruisers a n d f o u r destroyers. However by n o w F o r c e 'B' itself had sighted three unidentified ships 18 miles to the n o r t h , a n d signalled C u n n i n g h a m 154
accordingly. They had spotted 3rd Division cruisers, and these opened fire at 0812, c o n c e n t r a t i n g their aim on Gloucester initially. Salvoes were exchanged, and Gloucester launched her W a l r u s a m p h i b i a n ('Alice II', P5668), flown by Lt H J F Lane, t o spot for the guns. By the time this aircraft had gained height and position t h e e n g a g e m e n t had ceased, the Italians w i t h d r a w i n g westwards. Lt L a n e c o m m e n c e d s h a d o w i n g the cruisers, and quickly spotted a second force the 1st Division, c o m p r i s i n g the cruisers Zara, Fiume and Pola, with a t t e n d a n t light cruisers and destroyers. Admiral Iachino's element was also nearby, ten miles t o the n o r t h , a n d indeed it had been Vittorio Veneto's Ro43 reconnaissancespotter biplane which had m a d e the first sighting of F o r c e ' B \
Meridionali Ro.43 reconnaissance floatplane on the b o w s of an Italian cruiser. (Luce via N
Malizia)
An Ro.43 is launched from the side of an Italian cruiser to search for the British Fleet. (AMI via N
Malizia)
155
On learning of this engagement, C u n n i n g h a m ordered Formidable t o range a strike force. Six Albacores of 826 S q u a d r o n were readied, each armed with a t o r p e d o , but these were not launched immediately d u e t o the w i t h d r a w a l of the Italian units. Instead M a l e m e w a s signalled t o despatch its strike force, but the signal was not relayed to O p s C o n t r o l until 1005, and it was 45 m i n u t e s later when three Swordfish set out, led by Lt M G W Clifford. Meanwhile Formidable's strike w a s ordered off, led by Lt C d r Saunt a n d escorted by Red Section of 803 S q u a d r o n (Lt D C E F G i b s o n in '6J' a n d Pty Off (A) A W T h e o b a l d in N1912), joined by a single Swordfish t o observe the action. T h e i r target was estimated to be a b o u t 80 miles away. F o r c e B' c a m e under attack again at 1100, Vittorio Veneto opening fire at 12 miles r a n g e and expending 94 15-inch shells. Italian observers believed that several hits had been achieved as well as m a n y near-misses. This was not so a l t h o u g h near-misses caused some d a m a g e t o the cruiser Orion. A b o a r d this ship was a y o u n g m i d s h i p m a n experiencing his first taste of action, o n e Philip M o u n t b a t t e n , later D u k e of Edinburgh. His father, Prince Andrew of Greece, was married t o the sister of C a p t Lord Louis M o u n t b a t t e n , c o m m a n d e r of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, currently o p e r a t i n g out of M a l t a , while his sister, Princess Sophie, was married t o Prinz C h r i s t o p h of Hesse, a Luftwaffe pilot and Nazi sympathiser! As Orion c a m e u n d e r attack cruisers of the 3rd Division closed on her s t a r b o a r d q u a r t e r , but at this critical m o m e n t the Albacores of the strike force arrived, only t o be fired on by the British warships - fortunately without any hits being gained. Seeing the Italian ships ahead, the T S R s began to position for attack when t w o Ju88s dived on t h e m out of t h e sun. F o r t u n a t e l y t h e F u l m a r s had spotted them, a n d attacked head-on. L/Air F r e d d y de F r i a s in the back seat of Pty Off T h e o b a l d ' s aircraft, recalled: ' T h e enemy fleet w a s just a b o u t in sight when T h e o b a l d spotted a Ju88 below us. T h e t w o F u l m a r s went into a diving attack (our only c h a n c e of getting an 88) a n d shot it d o w n . At our speed of just over 200 k n o t s you only got t h e one pass. I couldn't see m u c h - there w a s practically n o f o r w a r d vision f r o m the rear seat of a F u l m a r , a n d in any case I was busy looking for other 88s. You didn't last long if you forgot to d o that. T h e 88 must have got off a signal before he went d o w n because we had n o trouble finding the enemy fleet, which was firing everything into the air. But we m a d e our dive w i t h o u t a scratch a n d as we pulled out I had t h e satisfaction of letting off a p a n f r o m the T h o m p s o n s u b - m a c h i n e gun I carried. I claim t o be the only m a n to t a k e on a battleship with a T o m m y gun!' A l t h o u g h t h e F u l m a r crews did not see the Ju88 hit t h e sea, o n e Albacore observer (Lt M G H a w o r t h ) in Lt H M Ellis's ' 4 F ' a p p a r e n t l y confirmed that it went in, a n d a n o t h e r observer (Lt F H E H o p k i n s in the C O ' s '4A') reported t h a t it went d o w n in flames. This is not confirmed f r o m the Luftwaffe records, a l t h o u g h a J u 8 8 of I / L G 1 flown by Uffz G e o r g Albrecht did crash-land on return to K r u m o v o , in d a m a g e d condition. M e a n w h i l e the first sub-flight of Albacores carried out an attack on Vittorio Veneto f r o m the s t a r b o a r d bow, the Italians initially mistaking the aircraft for an 156
expected C R 4 2 escort f r o m Rhodes. W h e n it was realised that an attack was under way, Admiral Iachino w a s relieved to see the t o r p e d o e s miss their m a r k , but the other sub-flight was by then a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m the b e a m as the ship m a n o e u v r e d . A l t h o u g h the crews believed they had gained at least o n e hit on the stern, and possibly a second, the vessel again escaped d a m a g e . N o t long after this first attack, the three 815 S q u a d r o n Swordfish spotted the 3rd Cruiser Division and attacked Bolzano. U n d e r heavy AA fire, they c o m p l e t e d their d r o p , but all three t o r p e d o e s failed to score. T h e g u n n e r s on the cruisers believed that they had shot d o w n one Swordfish. but all returned to Maleme. T h e First Battle S q u a d r o n was now closing on the Italian ships, a n d at 1215 Warspite launched both her Swordfish floatplanes f r o m their c a t a p u l t s t o m a k e visual c o n t a c t ; it was estimated that the o p p o s i n g fleet was t w o h o u r s ' sailing away. O n Formidable a second strike was being prepared, but was pitifully weak - three Albacores and two Swordfish of 829 S q u a d r o n , t o be led by Lt C d r Dalyell-Stead. Again two F u l m a r s would provide escort, led by Lt Bruen, while a further Swordfish was t o g o as observer to report results. T h e s e aircraft flew off at 1222, following which the returning Albacores a n d F u l m a r s of the first strike landed on. Behind t h e m c a m e a pair of C A P F u l m a r s and Gloucester's Walrus. This latter had been a i r b o r n e for nearly four and a half hours, and was dangerously low on fuel, Lt Lane being ordered to land on the carrier to refuel. He had experienced much difficulty in finding t h e ship, a n d had almost diverted to T o b r u k , the nearest landfall. D u r i n g the flight he had seen a lone J u 8 8 and a small flight of S.79s, but both had passed without attacking. M e a n t i m e the Italian cruisers had launched some of their Ro43s to search for the British Fleet, and at 1225 o n e reported sighting Formidable, o n e battleship, six cruisers and five destroyers some 80 miles east of the main Italian units. As the aircraft could not be recovered f r o m the sea d u r i n g action, it w a s ordered t o fly to Rhodes, f r o m where a signal of the sighting was despatched to Admiral Iachino, but as a result he did not receive this until two h o u r s after the British ships had been sighted. Formidable c a m e u n d e r attack at 1254 by two t o r p e d o - c a r r y i n g S.79s f r o m 281 a Squadriglia - possibly the aircraft seen by the W a l r u s crew. These carried out individual attacks, o n e releasing at close range, the o t h e r f r o m 1500 yards. Both missed as the carrier took violent evasive action, her AA g u n n e r s gaining hits on o n e of the b o m b e r s , which nonetheless m a n a g e d t o get back t o G a d u r r a airfield. Following refuelling Gloucester's W a l r u s was ofT again f r o m the carrier at 1400, and was directed to land at S u d a Bay, having first contacted the destroyer Juno, which was o p e r a t i n g in the K y t h e r a C h a n n e l . It was close t o sunset w h e n t h e little a m p h i b i a n finally put d o w n in the Bay. D u r i n g t h e early a f t e r n o o n a Sunderland of 230 S q u a d r o n flown by Fit Lt Lywood had sighted a reported two battleships and three cruisers (actually the five cruisers of the 1st Division) and had signalled Air H Q , Athens. O n receipt of this i n f o r m a t i o n three Blenheims f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n were d e s p a t c h e d and these attacked Vittorio Veneto at 1420. Although the b o m b s fell close, there were n o hits and n o d a m a g e was caused. T h i r t y minutes later six m o r e Blenheims, this time 157
f r o m 113 S q u a d r o n , led by Sqn Ldr Spencer, m a d e a high-level attack on t h e battleship, and once m o r e only near-misses were achieved. Ironically, while waiting to take-off at Eleusis airfield, these aircraft had queued with a L u f t h a n s a Ju52/3m! Even as the Blenheims were attacking, Lt C d r Dalyell-Stead's second strike, which had taken off at 1222, were a p p r o a c h i n g Vittorio Veneto for a head-on attack, while the t w o F u l m a r s machine-gunned t h e bridge and gun turrets t o distract the g u n n e r s ' aim. Leading the trio of Albacores in ' 5 G \ Dalyell-Stead closed t o a b o u t 1000 yards before releasing his t o r p e d o , but almost immediately the Albacore was hit repeatedly, dipped, and crashed into the sea. T h e pilot and his crew (Lt R H C o o k e a n d Pty Off (A) G L Blenkhorn) all perished. T h e two following Albacores d r o p p e d their torpedoes, as did the t w o Swordfish which were c o m i n g in f r o m the s t a r b o a r d side. While it was believed t h a t three hits had been gained, in fact only o n e struck h o m e (probably Dalyell-Stead's), hitting the battleship just a b o v e the outer port screw with a mighty explosion. T h e engines stopped as water flooded into the ship a n d she began to list to port. At this m o m e n t the last of t h e Blenheims attacked, o n e b o m b also scoring a hit when it fell very close to the stern. At a b o u t t h e s a m e time as Vittorio Veneto was u n d e r a t t a c k , the 1st Cruiser Division was also being engaged by o t h e r Blenheims, six f r o m 113 S q u a d r o n led by Fit Lt Rixson a n d five f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n led by Sqn Ldr J o n e s m a k i n g the attack. J o n e s recorded: T h e w e a t h e r was hazy over t h e sea, but we soon found t h e Iti N a v y - t w o g r o u p s of ships steaming like billy-ho for home. T h e y started to zig-zag as soon as they saw us, a n d their AA o p e n e d up. We m a d e a dive attack a n d fairly plastered them. O b s e r v e r s in my s q u a d r o n registered hits on o n e big ship, and we think on a smaller one. T h e y were difficult targets, but quite a n u m b e r must have been d a m a g e d or delayed by near-misses.' Both Zara a n d t h e smaller Garibaldi were near-missed, but not d a m a g e d . O t h e r Blenheims, three m o r e f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n led by the Australian c o m m a n d e r o f ' B ' Flight, Fit Lt D G Boehm. and six f r o m 211 S q u a d r o n led by Fit Lt Jones, found and attacked ships of the 3rd Division, b o t h Trento and Bolzano being near-missed, but neither suffering any d a m a g e . O n e 84 S q u a d r o n crew believed that they had scored hits, F/Sgt G o r d o n later reporting: T h o u g h they c h a n g e d f o r m a t i o n a n d zig-zagged violently, and their AA was reasonably heavy, we were able t o spend some time t a k i n g aim, a n d m a d e a lowlevel a t t a c k . I saw t w o of my biggest b o m b s hit the largest ship amidships. C l o u d s of black and yellow s m o k e issued for a long time and t h e ship stopped.' This was confirmed by the observer, w h o added: i t w a s a hefty but agreeable surprise when I saw those b o m b s hit and just t h e place they were aimed at - right amidships. At first there was just t h e n o r m a l white s m o k e of the b o m b burst, and then c o l u m n s of black and yellow s m o k e shot u p into t h e air t o a height of 200 feet or so. F o r 50 minutes a f t e r w a r d s t h e rear-gunner had a good view of the ship, and gave us a r u n n i n g c o m m e n t a r y over 158
the intercom and we proceeded home. She had stopped and was listing when we lost sight of her.' A l t h o u g h reportedly p a r t of the f o r m a t i o n a t t a c k i n g the cruisers, the c o n t e n t of these c o m m e n t s tends t o lead to the view that G o r d o n and his crew had actually m a d e the final attack on Vittorio Veneto, just at the m o m e n t when 829 S q u a d r o n ' s t o r p e d o e s had also struck home. Certainly the battleship was in close proximity t o the 3rd Cruiser Division at this time.
T h e Italian battleship Vittorio
Veneto limps a w a y from Matapan, her stern low in the water following
the t o r p e d o strike on her. O n e of her Ro.43 reconnaissance aircraft can be seen, d a m a g e d and tilting on the very stern. ( M a r i n a Militaire
via N
Malizia)
T h e crews f r o m 211 S q u a d r o n were less sanguine as t o their results. Fit Lt Jones, the acting C O . recalling: T h e enemy fleet appeared t o be in great confusion and was zig-zagging violently, and now a n d then o n e would cross the c o u r s e of a n o t h e r , or t w o would converge, and there were as a result m a n y p h e n o m e n a l avoidances. We b o m b e d and a d d e d to the confusion. I saw n o hits, but there were plenty of near-misses, which could have d o n e t h e m n o g o o d , a n d when we left the enemy was busy laying a s m o k e screen.' Although Vittorio Veneto had slowed t o a halt, her d a m a g e c o n t r o l party soon had t w o engines restarted, and before long t h e battleship was m a k i n g 16 knots. By 1700 she was heading for T a r a n t o , 420 miles away, by n o w m a k i n g 19 knots. Admiral Iachino was bitter a b o u t the continued absence of any f o r m of fighter protection, which had been promised by both Luftwaffe a n d Regia Aeronautica, but at this range very little other than the h a n d f u l of C R 4 2 s on R h o d e s could have reached the fleet. 159
L e a r n i n g that Vittorio Veneto had been d a m a g e d , C u n n i n g h a m ordered a further strike t o be m a d e at dusk with the intention of finishing off the battleship. All available T S R s were a r m e d , and at 1730 six Albacores of 826 S q u a d r o n and two Swordfish of 829 S q u a d r o n began taking-off, Lt C d r Saunt at their head. O w i n g to the imminence of darkness, they were ordered t o land at M a l e m e on completion of their a t t a c k . Just before the strike force d e p a r t e d , t w o sections of F u l m a r s took-off to patrol overhead, but o n e aircraft suffered engine trouble and was obliged to land on again. T h e other three were vectored o n t o a hostile plot, o n e e n c o u n t e r i n g an S.79 t o r p e d o - b o m b e r f r o m the 34" G r u p p o BT, which had just attacked an unidentified cruiser, claiming a possible hit. T h e F u l m a r could only m a k e a brief attack before the b o m b e r d i s a p p e a r e d , the Italian g u n n e r s believing they had driven off the 'Hurricane'. T h r e e m o r e F u l m a r s were boosted off in anticipation of further attacks, but none materialized. M a l e m e h a d also launched its own further strike, but only t w o t o r p e d o e s remained available, having been ferried over f r o m Eleusis d u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n . At 1655 therefore t w o Swordfish had set out, Lt T o r r e n s - S p e n c e in L9774 a c c o m p a n i e d by Lt Kiggell. Just over an hour later they saw four cruisers a n d six destroyers, but c a m e u n d e r immediate fire. Flying r o u n d , just out of range, they had positioned for a possible o p e n i n g t o attack when Lt C d r S a u n t ' s strike force was seen a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m the east, flying in line astern at a b o u t 100 feet. T o r r e n s - S p e n c e decided t o join the end of the line, but initially caused some confusion as his t w o Swordfish were t h o u g h t to be C R 4 2 s , and avoiding action was taken. By 1925 however, S a u n t had judged the light a n d circumstances t o be right, and c o m m e n c e d the attack in line astern and at low-level. Intense fire met t h e m , splitting u p t h e f o r m a t i o n at 3000 yards f r o m t h e ships, individual attacks developing as the pilots seized o p p o r t u n i t i e s to strike. Blinded by searchlights a n d dense s m o k e , they found sightings difficult to make, a n d several realised that they were releasing at a large cruiser, rather than at Vittorio Veneto. T h e t w o 815 S q u a d r o n aircraft followed t h e carrier planes into the m u r k , as Michael T o r r e n s Spence recalled: 'All the Italian ships m a d e smoke. W h e n I got into t h e s m o k e I could see nothing, and had n o idea w h a t f o r m a t i o n t h e enemy was in, or where the principal targets were, a n d can't imagine how a n y b o d y else could either. I therefore climbed u p t o a b o u t 3000 feet, where I could see d o w n into the f o r m a t i o n and to find a bit of space t o get d o w n into the attack on o n e of the main targets.' S u b Lt G P C Williams in '5A' of 826 S q u a d r o n was the last of Formidable's pilots t o a t t a c k , d r o p p i n g his t o r p e d o at 1945, his target evidently being the heavy cruiser Pola of the 1st Division, which reportedly was hit amidships on the s t a r b o a r d side at 1946. However, Lt T o r r e n s - S p e n c e again entered the arena: 'I selected a Pola class cruiser which had a bit of space on her bow, inside the screen a n d c a m e d o w n into it and slipped the kipper at her! T h e Albacores were credited with hitting the Pola, but 1 d o n ' t believe it! This was p r o b a b l y ten m i n u t e s after the A l b a c o r e attack, and the Italians p r o b a b l y t h o u g h t it was all over.' T o r r e n s - S p e n c e ' s aircraft received slight d a m a g e to its tail d u r i n g t h e action, but
160
T h e ill-fated Italian cruiser Pola, sunk during the closing stages of the C a p e M a t a p a n battle during the night of 2 8 / 2 9 March 1941. ( M a r i n a Militaire lia N Malizia)
this and the other Swordfish returned safely to Maleme, landing at 2120. Indeed only o n e of the strike aircraft failed to reach Crete, Sub Lt Williams ditching '5A' in S u d a Bay when it ran out of fuel. C o m i n g d o w n near Juno, the crew were p r o m p t l y picked u p by t h e destroyer's boat. A witness t o the attack was Pty Off F C Rice D S M , and his observer, Lt C d r A S Bolt, D S C , in o n e of Warspite's Swordfish floatplanes ('Lorna', K8863). T h e crew could take n o part in the attack, to their chagrin, as they had been forced to jettison their b o m b s earlier in the day, prior t o being hoisted back a b o a r d their parent ship for the f u r t h e r launch. With t h e arrival of the T S R s at Maleme, air action for this hectic day was at an end. a l t h o u g h the Italian Fleet was t o be ' s h a d o w e d ' d u r i n g the night by 826 S q u a d r o n ' s Albacores. O n e of these, short on fuel, was also forced t o ditch in Suda Bay when returning f r o m its duty; Lt D W Phillips and his crew were picked u p safely. An assessment of results of the d a y ' s a t t a c k s revealed that 826 and 829 S q u a d r o n s had d r o p p e d 19 torpedoes, 815 S q u a d r o n a d d i n g five more, for five possible hits being claimed; Vittorio Veneto having been t h e main target. In fact only t w o of the 24 t o r p e d o e s had actually struck home, o n e on the battleship and o n e on the cruiser Pola. T h e Blenheims had flown 29 sorties, d r o p p i n g m o r e t h a n 13 t o n s of b o m b s , mainly f r o m m e d i u m altitude. Although returning crews claimed two direct hits on a cruiser, o n e on a destroyer, a n d probably two m o r e on a n o t h e r cruiser, as well as a n u m b e r of near-misses, the only success had been the single hit on Vittorio Veneto. But this was not surprising - b o m b e r s very seldom scored successes against m o v i n g ships when b o m b i n g f r o m altitude. However considering that there was n o fighter opposition to the attacks, and t h a t while at times heavy, the AA fire was generally inaccurate, the results for such a concerted effort seem meagre. Losses had been light however. A p a r t f r o m Lt C d r Dalyell-Stead and the t w o 826 S q u a d r o n Albacores that were forced to ditch, the only o t h e r loss, albeit t e m p o r a r y , was Albacore '5B' (the first aircraft t o spot the Italian Fleet in the morning), which had become lost, the pilot m a k i n g for the nearest 161
landfall on r u n n i n g short of fuel, and landing at Bardia. on the L i b y a n / E g y p t i a n border. Nevertheless t h e dusk strike had been instumental in allowing a considerable victory t o be achieved. A l t h o u g h flying for the d a y had finished, a p a r t f r o m the ' s h a d o w i n g ' T S R s , Admiral C u n n i n g h a m c o n t i n u e d to p u r s u e the Italians westward. T h e subsequent night action in which three cruisers and two destroyers were sunk by t h e British warships has been well d o c u m e n t e d ( T h e Battle of M a t a p a n ' by S W C Pack: Batsford 1961), a n d it will suffice here t o s u m m a r i z e (he events of this d r a m a t i c night. F o r c e 'B' regained contact with elements of the Italian Fleet after the final T S R strike, and eight destroyers were ordered to locate and attack, leaving just four t o screen the larger vessels. At 2210 it was reported that an enemy vessel was lying d a m a g e d and stopped three miles t o t h e east. This was at first t h o u g h t to be Vittorio Veneto, but was found to be Pola. As the Battle S q u a d r o n a p p r o a c h e d t h e scene t w o m o r e heavy cruisers were sighted - Zara a n d Fiume - together with the destroyer Alfieri, with four m o r e destroyers astern. This force had been despatched t o aid t h e crippled Pola, as the Italians were completely u n a w a r e of the proximity of the British Fleet. Warspite and Valiant o p e n e d fire, Fiume soon being hit and sinking a b o u t 2300. Zara was next hit a n d crippled, following which Aljieri went d o w n at 2315, sunk by Barham. T h e latter then transferred her fire t o Zara, which also subsequently sunk. T h e other Italian destroyers attempted a t o r p e d o a t t a c k , but were engaged by Stuart and Havock, o n e of t h e m (Carducci) p r o m p t l y being hit and blowing up. Later t w o o t h e r British destroyers, Jervis and Nubian, were detached to t o r p e d o and sink the a b a n d o n e d Pola, after her crew had been taken off. W i t h d a w n on 29 M a r c h Formidable launched three Albacores at 0430 on search duties, and a n o t h e r to M a l e m e with a message for Lt C d r Saunt. T h e search aircraft returned after two hours having seen n o t h i n g but wreckage a n d m a n y survivors clinging t o debris. T h r e e Swordfish sent out f r o m M a l e m e by 815 S q u a d r o n , returned t o report similar scenes. 230 S q u a d r o n also sent out S u n d e r l a n d s , Fit Lt P R W o o d w a r d in L2160 landing a m o n g s t large patches of oil and wreckage when a b o u t 25 rafts were seen. H e estimated that some 600 men were within sight, but when he had a t t e m p t e d to identify which ship they were from, he received only a p p e a l s for water. All he could d o was inform S c a r a m a n g a of their position and c o n t i n u e his patrol. By a b o u t 0800 t h e Battle S q u a d r o n ' s destroyers were on the scene t o c o m mence rescue o p e r a t i o n s , r e p o r t i n g m a n y corpses, but picking u p m o r e than 900 Italian seamen, including 55 officers. M a n y of those w h o were rescued had been injured, a n d some died later. A b o u t an h o u r after the arrival of the ships, a reconnaissance J u 8 8 a p p e a r e d overhead, a n d fearing an imminent a t t a c k , Admiral C u n n i n g h a m ordered a cessation of rescue w o r k , the Fleet w i t h d r a w i n g eastwards. A signal w a s sent t o t h e Chief of the Italian N a v a l StafT advising that m o r e t h a n 350 survivors were believed to be on rafts, giving their position and r e c o m m e n d i n g that a fast hospital ship be despatched. T h e Italians replied that the Gradisca was already on the way f r o m T a r a n t o . W h e n she arrived, a further 160 seamen were picked up, while that evening the G r e e k destroyer Ydra, 162
picked up a n o t h e r 112. W i t h the 257 taken off Pola by Jervis, it was estimated that some 2400 Italian seamen had lost their lives. At 1325, as Fit Lt W o o d w a r d was nearing the end of his patrol, a B f l l O suddenly a p p e a r e d and attacked t h e S u n d e r l a n d f o u r times. However only a few hits were gained on the elevators and tailplane before it b r o k e away, and no casualties were suffered. W o o d w a r d put d o w n in Suda Bay for m i n o r repairs. T h e anticipated retaliation materialized s o m e w h a t belatedly at 1511, when Formidable's r a d a r detected a n u m b e r of aircraft a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m the n o r t h west. Within three minutes three F u l m a r s were boosted off to join two already u p on C A P , but the latter had been d r a w n off by an a p p a r e n t decoy aircraft, t h e Fleet being left unprotected until the trio climbing u p had reached height. T w e n t y minutes later a dozen Ju88s f r o m I I / L G 1 had c o m e within range, all the g u n s opening up. It was believed that o n e received a direct hit and blew u p before the rest c o m m e n c e d d i v e - b o m b i n g attacks, but there is n o c o n f i r m a t i o n of this. Formidable was n a r r o w l y missed by four b o m b s , but as the last flight of Ju88s began their a t t a c k , the F u l m a r s pounced on t h e m , forcing t h e m t o jettison their b o m b s and turn away. Uffz G e o r g K u n z ' s LI + E P of 6 Staffel w a s attacked by Lt C W R Peever a n d Sub Lt Wallace, t h e b o m b e r c r a s h i n g into t h e sea. An eyewitness reported: "We saw him, slowly it seemed, t h r o u g h the burst of grey smoke, c o m e lower a n d lower, until with a great splash he crashed into the sea t o port, a n d instantly disappeared.' However, K u n z a n d his crew survived to t a k e t o their dinghy. Before falling, the rear-gunner (Gefr Josef Leitermann) had got in a good burst at Wallace's N1918, the F u l m a r being hit m a n y times. As it a p p r o a c h e d the carrier to land on, t h e engine cut a n d it spun into the sea; Wallace and his T A G , L/Air Dooley, managed t o struggle free, suffering only superficial cuts, a n d within minutes were picked up by the destroyer Hasty. S o m e w h a t surprisingly there were n o further a t t a c k s on the Fleet as it headed back t o w a r d s Alexandria. At a b o u t the time of I I / L G l's raid, a reconnaissance M a r y l a n d from 69 S q u a d r o n had been d e s p a t c h e d f r o m M a l t a at the N a v y ' s request in an effort t o discover the results of the battle. This however reported being hit after flying near some unidentified warships, a n d a t t e m p t e d a force-landing on a beach at Z a n t e Island. T h e aircraft (AR727) c a m e d o w n in the sea just s h o r t of the beach and flipped over, the pilot. Fig OfT F R Ainley, being killed a n d t h e n a v i g a t o r , Sgt G Brown, injured. He and the air-gunner, Sgt A E White, got out of the wreck. Local G r e e k s helped t h e m to reach Athens, f r o m where they later evacuated, via s o u t h e r n Greece, t o C r e t e and from there to Alexandria. S o m e weeks later they would arrive back in M a l t a t o rejoin their s q u a d r o n . Later this same a f t e r n o o n Fit Lt I F McCall of 230 S q u a d r o n on patrol in Sunderland L2161, spotted a dinghy c o n t a i n i n g four survivors. T h e crew believed that this was p r o b a b l y f r o m an Italian aircraft shot d o w n by the N a v y , but it is likely that they had seen Uffz K u n z and his crew. D u r i n g the d a y the Regia A e r o n a u t i c a in Italy had at last reacted, Macchi C.200 fighters f r o m G r o t t a g l i e providing belated air cover as the Italian Fleet 163
headed for C a p C o l o n n e , near C r o t o n e . N u m b e r s of Z.1007bis were out searching for the British Fleet, first off being aircraft of the 47° S t o r m o BT, also f r o m Grottaglie, which sent off the first sortie at 0635; by early a f t e r n o o n this unit had despatched twenty-one aircraft. A n o t h e r six machines f r o m the 50° G r u p p o BT at Brindisi were u p in the a f t e r n o o n , following sightings of a cruiser and three destroyers 24 miles south-west of C e p h a l o n i a by o t h e r Z.1007bis of 35° S t o r m o BT, also out f r o m Brindisi. It is believed that these were G r e e k ships f r o m P a t r a s . Twelve Ju87s d r a w n equally f r o m the 208 a and 239" Squadriglia B a ' T were despatched from Lecce after these warships, but failed to locate t h e m after searching f r o m P a x o i Island t o the Preveza region. O n 30 M a r c h reconnaissance aircraft f r o m R h o d e s were also out looking for the British Fleet, but an S.79 of 92° G r u p p o BT f r o m G a d u r r a piloted by Sottoten F e d e r i c o Curti, failed to return, n o reason for its demise having been found. Search aircraft were out again f r o m S o u t h e r n Italy, looking for survivors. A 35° S t o r m o BR C a n t Z.506B floatplane f r o m Brindisi spotted Uffz K u n z and his crew in their dinghy and landed t o rescue them. By late a f t e r n o o n the First Battle S q u a d r o n was almost home. As the capital ships a p p r o a c h e d the G r e a t Pass into Alexandria h a r b o u r , a s u b m a r i n e contact was reported, escorting destroyers carrying out d e p t h c h a r g e a t t a c k s without result. Formidable a n d t h e battleships entered h a r b o u r at 1645, their task well done. S u b m a r i n e s were a b o u t elsewhere however, a n d at 0300 next m o r n i n g two of these, Dagabur a n d Ambra, gained some retribution for t h e Italian N a v y ' s defeat when they intercepted C o n v o y G A - 8 not far f r o m the position where t h e Italian cruisers had been sunk. W o r k i n g together, they each fired a t o r p e d o at t h e British cruiser Bonaventure, which went d o w n almost at once. Destroyers Hereward a n d Stuart raced to the scene, Hereward picking u p 310 survivors whilst the Australian w a r s h i p carried out a d e p t h c h a r g e attack. Dagabur launched a t o r p e d o at her, but a p p a r e n t l y this exploded in her wake, causing n o d a m a g e . Both s u b m a r i n e s then escaped. O n 2 April C o n v o y ASF-22, consisting of seven e m p t y troopships, left Piraeus and joined AS-22 - nine empty freighters - b o u n d for P o r t Said. Escorted by Calcutta and three smaller warships, with F u l m a r s a n d Sea G l a d i a t o r s in r a n g e at Maleme, the c o m b i n e d c o n v o y headed for the K y t h e r a Strait. At 1245 an attack developed when n o air cover was present, t w o S.79s of 281 a Squadriglia and t w o from 34" G r u p p o , all torpedo-carriers, swept in, while three m o r e 34° G r u p p o aircraft b o m b e d f r o m higher altitude in an effort t o distract t h e gunners; all three were d a m a g e d by splinters, as was one of the torpedo-carriers. T h e y claimed hits on t w o steamers, but n o n e actually suffered any d a m a g e . By 1700 the vessels had steamed round the western coast of Crete and were just n o r t h of G a v d h o s Island. Suddenly six Ju88s a p p e a r e d f r o m over the m o u n t a i n s a l o n g the C r e t a n coast, a n d skilfully d i v e - b o m b e d , four b o m b s striking the Greek Koulouros Xenos, while the Homefield (5000 tons) w a s also hit, casualties being suffered on b o t h vessels. Both were a b a n d o n e d by their crews, w h o were picked u p by the escorts. T h e Australian destroyer Voyager put b o a r d i n g parties o n t o both ships, but they were found to be d a m a g e d beyond salvage. Homefield was sent t o t h e b o t t o m by a t o r p e d o fired from Nubian, while the Greek ship went 164
d o w n to gunfire and depth charges. A third ship, SS Teti, had also been d a m a g e d by a near-miss, causing her t o list badly; her skipper was forced t o seek a n c h o r a g e near Lissmore on the C r e t a n coast. Half an h o u r later c a m e a third a t t a c k , three S.81s of 39" S t o r m o BT hitting the M V Devis (6054 tons) with several b o m b s , which set her afire, a n d caused seven fatalities, while 14 o t h e r s were w o u n d e d . T h e fires were soon u n d e r c o n t r o l however, a n d the Devis rejoined the convoy. At twilight a lone 281" Squadriglia S.79 flown by C a p Buscaglia m a d e a final t o r p e d o attack. T h e crew believed that they had hit a large freighter, but no strike had actually been made. Most air/sea action d u r i n g the next two weeks took place a r o u n d t h e G r e e k coast, and not until 18 April w a s a m a j o r naval action t o get u n d e r w a y again. O n this d a t e the M e d i t e r r a n e a n Fleet sailed from Alexandria at 0650 p r e p a r a t o r y t o u n d e r t a k i n g a b o m b a r d m e n t of Tripoli, the main Axis supply port in Libya. This action was designed mainly t o relieve pressure on the British F o r c e s in the Western Desert, but would cause m u c h action over t h e Eastern M e d i t e r r a n e a n d u r i n g the next few days. A screen of three battleships, three cruisers and eight destroyers s u r r o u n d e d H M S Formidable, joined d u r i n g the day by t w o m o r e destroyers that had been escorting an incoming convoy. At 1820 the Fleet was sighted by t w o S.79s f r o m 281" Squadriglia on Rhodes, and a l t h o u g h pursued by a F u l m a r patrol f r o m 803 S q u a d r o n , n o success was seen. Indeed Lt D o n a l d G i b s o n , pilot of '6J', the leading F u l m a r , w a s w o u n d e d in an a r m by return fire and almost completely blinded by hot oil; he recalled: i was shot d o w n by three C a n t b o m b e r s (sic) - I got t o o close in a n d a lot of explosive shells c a m e into my cockpit. T h e aircraft was hit in t h e oil cleaner (I should think); the oil c a m e into my cockpit. W e were 40 miles f r o m the Fleet. T h e engine finally stopped when I w a s a b o u t 2000 feet over Formidable. I knew I could catch a wire, she was into wind. I c a u g h t a wire very fast; this t o r e the b o t t o m out of the aeroplane. I collided with the island a n d set fire t o the petrol refilling station; the tail folded over my head. I skidded on, hit 'A' turret and somersaulted into t h e sea. I was run over by the whole length of the ship; had a great struggle t o get out and was picked u p in the w a k e by H M S Hereward. Alas Peter A s h b r o o k e (Sub Lt P C B A s h b r o o k e , the observer) was lost. I was very y o u n g a n d foolish, a n d should have ditched.' Meanwhile, Red 2 (Pty Off (A) T h e o b a l d and L/Air d e F r i a s in N1912) c o n t i n u e d attacking T e n R o d o l f o G u z a ' s b o m b e r , w o u n d i n g three m e m b e r s of t h e crew before it escaped. T h e badly d a m a g e d aircraft struggled back t o G a d u r r a w h e r e it force-landed with the t o r p e d o still b e n e a t h the fuselage. Because heavy losses of fighters were deemed possible, the carrier had a b o a r d 15 F u l m a r s when she sailed, including six aircraft a n d crews of 806 S q u a d r o n , led by Lt C d r C h a r l e s Evans. O n 19 April the Fleet put into S u d a Bay t o allow the destroyers t o t o p - u p on fuel. As Formidable entered t h e Bay at 1225, r a d a r picked u p a hostile plot; a F u l m a r was on the booster c a t a p u l t , but not m a n n e d . L/Air de F r i a s h a p p e n e d t o be on the Flight Deck with helmet a n d ' M a e West' when Lt G i b s o n , w o u n d e d a r m in plaster, c a m e rushing u p a n d urged the T A G to join him in the F u l m a r (N1912). i just had time t o tighten my harness' recalled 165
F r e d d y d e Frias, 'when we were sent off with the ship out of wind, hardly any way on. high g r o u n d in front of u s . . . and with a pilot on t h e sick list. W h y did I have t o get tangled up with a hero? But we m a d e it O K . t h o u g h the attack did not develop.' Next d a y t h e Fleet was on its way again, heading for Tripoli, but at 1043 an unidentified aircraft a p p e a r e d on the r a d a r . A section of F u l m a r s f r o m 806 S q u a d r o n were on patrol, flown by Lt C d r E v a n s a n d Sub Lt J a c k i e Sewell, t w o of the unit's most combat-experienced pilots, a n d they were vectored o n t o a lone C a n t Z.1007bis, a p p a r e n t l y on passage f r o m C y r e n a i c a to Sicily. T h i s aircraft was shot d o w n by t h e m at 1115. S o m e t w o h o u r s later a small f o r m a t i o n was reported at a distance of a b o u t 25 miles, two m o r e sections of 806 S q u a d r o n F u l m a r s being scrambled to intercept. This proved not to be a b o m b i n g raid, but a f o r m a t i o n of five J u 5 2 / 3 m t r a n s p o r t s f r o m I/'KGzbV.9 on their way t o Africa. Brown Section (Lt J H Shears and S u b Lt P D J Sparke, a f o r m e r TSR pilot with t h e D S C and Bar) spotted t h e m first, and were quickly joined by G r e y Section, led by Lt R S Henley. O n e of t h e t r i m o t o r s escaped n o r t h w a r d s , but t h e o t h e r four were all claimed shot d o w n , t w o of them exploding in the air, suggesting that they were loaded with fuel. It a p p e a r s that o n e of these fell to Lt Shears, but his aircraft was hit by return fire and spun into the sea; he and his observer, S u b Lt Dixon, ex-805 S q u a d r o n , were killed. Robert Henley recalled: ' . . . a f t e r I had m a d e my first attack (on a lone Ju52) I pulled into the sun and watched J o h n n y S h e a r s close f r o m dead astern to within 50 y a r d s or so when he was obviously hit and nosed vertically into the sea. I m a d e a n o t h e r pass and claimed a possible, then returned t o where J o h n n y had g o n e in, t o search for him, in vain.' As four J u 5 2 / 3 m s were officially credited t o the F u l m a r s , it would seem that Lt Henley received credit for one, as did Lt Shears, whilst it is believed that S u b Lt S p a r k e claimed t h e o t h e r two. In fact it seems that only t w o J u n k e r s were actually lost, O f w Josef Kastl a n d Fw Walter Heyer a n d their crews being reported missing. As night fell the Fleet split, Formidable, Ajax, Perth a n d four destroyers d r a w i n g away t o fly off air s u p p o r t , whilst the three battleships and Gloucester, covered by seven destroyers, headed inshore for t h e b o m b a r d m e n t . D u r i n g the early h o u r s of 21 April, Wellingtons f r o m M a l t a b o m b e d the port, while flares were d r o p p e d by Swordfish of 830 S q u a d r o n , also f r o m t h a t island. O t h e r Swordfish and Albacores f r o m 826 a n d 829 S q u a d r o n s f r o m the carrier followed t o d r o p m o r e flares for t h e N a v a l gunners, a n d at 0503 fire was o p e n e d f r o m a range of 11 000 y a r d s by the 15-inch and 6-inch guns. After twenty minutes the Fleet c h a n g e d c o u r s e t o withdraw, firing for a further twenty minutes until the range had opened to 16 000 yards. O n l y d u r i n g this latter p h a s e was any return fire experienced f r o m t h e shore, and that achieved n o hits. O n e Swordfish crashed while landing-on, but the Fleet was soon well away. F o l l o w i n g this a u d a c i o u s enterprise, heavy air attack was expected, but n o n e developed - a sure sign of the c o m p l e t e surprise that had been achieved. At 1110 166
a ' s h a d o w e r ' a p p e a r e d , a n d was intercepted by O r a n g e Section of 803 S q u a d r o n ; it turned out to be a n o t h e r Z.1007bis. Half an h o u r after r e p o r t i n g interception, O r a n g e 2 (Sub Lt Simpson) returned, reporting that the aircraft had been d a m a g e d , but the O r a n g e 1, Lt Wright and his observer. S u b Lt F W Ponting, had lost contact. At last at 1340 c o n t a c t was resumed, and W h i t e Section of 806 S q u a d r o n (Sub Lt Stan O r r and S u b Lt G A Hogg, t w o m o r e of the unit's very experienced c o m b a t pilots) were directed to find Lt Wright a n d lead him back. After flying 20 miles, this pair spotted a D o 2 4 N flyingboat f r o m Seenotstaffel 6, out f r o m Syracruse (Sicily), heading south at 1000 feet, t o o low t o be picked up on the ship's r a d a r at that range. This was attacked at once and forced d o w n o n t o t h e sea with its port engine on fire. It m a d e t w o a t t e m p t s t o take-off again, but hit each time the F u l m a r s attacked it settled in the water, s t r e a m i n g a trail of petrol and oil; it was claimed destroyed. Meanwhile, Lt Wright had at last f o u n d his own way back to Formidable, landing on to report that the Z.1007bis he and Simpson had a t t a c k e d had, in fact, been shot d o w n . D u r i n g the assault on Tripoli a b o u t ten tons of b o m b s and 553 t o n s of shells had been expended, air reconnaissance later r e p o r t i n g that some destroyer berths had been hit and one destroyer badly d a m a g e d , while five m e r c h a n t vessels were burnt out a n d at least four others had been set on fire. As the Fleet headed back t o w a r d s Alexandria, it was a b o u t to enter a new phase of action with G r e e k based units of the Luftwaffe, as will be related in C h a p t e r 6.
167
168
INVASION OF YUGOSLAVIA-
6th. APRIL,1941
OPPOSING AIR UNITS,
LOCATION OF MAIN
Chapter THE
GERMAN
Five INVASION
T h r o u g h o u t the o p e r a t i o n s of the winter o n e t h o u g h t had remained p a r a m o u n t in Allied m i n d s - the possibility of G e r m a n intervention. This threat had a p p e a r e d a s t r o n g eventuality from the first d a y s of British involvement. F o r the hard-pressed British, it was a question of when, rather than if. H o w should they meet such a situation? Stretched t o the limit, it would be very difficult t o deliver and supply a force of sufficient size t o c o u n t e r any serious G e r m a n thrust into the country. T h e s h o r t a g e of airfields m a d e it a l m o s t impossible in any event realistically t o p r o v i d e a viable level of air s u p p o r t to whatever force could be assembled. Yet the cause w a s seen t o be a just one; how could the gallant G r e e k s be deserted in their h o u r of need? H o w would h o m e m o r a l e a n d neutral opinion respond t o such a betrayal? Surely even a lost cause would be smiled u p o n by posterity, given the stakes? F o r the G r e e k s the situation was even m o r e s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d . While the Italians were seen clearly as the enemy, there was m u c h goodwill t o w a r d s the G e r m a n s . While Italy might be held at bay, and with British help even beaten, logically war with G e r m a n y could end in only o n e way - o v e r w h e l m i n g defeat. Therefore, while help for the Italian F r o n t - particularly in the air - was of extreme importance, this should n o n e the less only be accepted if it did not unduly a n t a g o n i z e the G e r m a n s . P e r h a p s G e r m a n y would stay out; it was a delicate balancing trick. In the event t h e British appraisal was the m o r e realistic one. They believed that the G e r m a n s would find it quite unacceptable to see their Italian allies face defeat in the Balkans. They were right; as early as 4 N o v e m b e r 1940, Adolf Hitler h a d ordered a study t o be m a d e of the problems involved in sending G e r m a n t r o o p s t o Greece, and by the 18th of that m o n t h he was giving his views t o the Italian Foreign Minister, C o u n t C i a n o , on his f u t u r e M e d i t e r r a n e a n policy. W e k n o w now, with the benefit of hindsight, that Hitler's mind was already full of the plans for O p e r a t i o n ' B a r b a r o s s a ' - his great c r u s a d e against C o m m u n i s m in the E a s t a n d n o t h i n g would be allowed t o stand in the way of this. By n o w G e r m a n political a n d military d o m i n a t i o n of R u m a n i a was almost complete, assuring supplies of oil for the f o r t h c o m i n g adventure, and now o v e r t u r e s were being m a d e t o Bulgaria. However, even if the latter proved a m e n a b l e , the c o u n t r y was wild a n d little-developed, and it would be M a r c h 1941 at t h e earliest before any m o v e against Greece could be m a d e . T h e m a i n delaying f a c t o r s were the winter 169
AXIS INVASION
OF
YUGOSLAVIA . APRIL
194!
weather a n d the need t o get an a r m y across the River D a n u b e . Efforts would therefore be directed against the British Fleet d u r i n g the winter of 1940-41, and t o this p u r p o s e the relatively experienced anti-shipping units of Fliegerkorps X would be d e s p a t c h e d f r o m N o r w a y t o Sicily, a n d also t o aid the Italians in the neutralization of the island of Malta. F o r the British there w a s just one possibility which might stem disaster - to reach an u n d e r s t a n d i n g with the t w o most powerful Balkan states, T u r k e y and Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia was however rife with internal dissent, under political pressure f r o m the G e r m a n s , a n d in n o m o o d to m a k e c o m m i t m e n t s to lost causes. F o l l o w i n g the t r a u m a s of her virtual rebirth d u r i n g the twenties, Turkey was not a n x i o u s t o become embroiled in the war either. Her forces were woefully ill-equipped a n d u n p r e p a r e d , and only a massive injection of material aid f r o m Britain might p e r s u a d e her to t h r o w in her lot with the Allies. It hardly needs saying that such aid w a s simply not available. D i p l o m a t i c negotiations p r o gressed t h r o u g h o u t the winter as the British tried to talk the G r e e k s into accepting an expeditionary force. It was o n the o t h e r side however, that power politics were achieving m o r e positive results. O n 13 December 1940, Hitler issued a directive for the p l a n n i n g of O p e r a t i o n ' M a r i t a ' , a p r o p o s e d m o v e t h r o u g h Bulgaria t o occupy Grecian M a c e d o n i a , and 170
possibly the whole of m a i n l a n d Greece. T h e basic reason for this o p e r a t i o n was to stabilize the Balkans, preventing the British establishing bases there f r o m which both Italy a n d the R u m a n i a n oilfields might be threatened by b o m b e r aircraft. T h e first m o v e s were m a d e early in J a n u a r y 1941 when G e r m a n t r o o p s were t r a n s p o r t e d t h r o u g h H u n g a r y into R u m a n i a , ready for passage t o Bulgaria. Chosen for this task was the 12th Armee under F e l d m a r s c h a l Wilhelm List, which would be s u p p o r t e d by G e n e r a l Freiherr W o l f r a m von Richthofen's 'crack' Fliegerkorps VIII - a specialized g r o u n d - s u p p o r t f o r m a t i o n , s t r o n g in diveb o m b e r s (Stuka) and g r o u n d - a t t a c k (Schlacht) aircraft. T h e Fliegerkorps was initially to field 153 b o m b e r s (39 J u n k e r s Ju88As and 114 J u n k e r s Ju87Bs) a n d 121 fighters (83 Messerschmitt B f l 0 9 E s a n d 38 BfllOs), and was t o be s u p p o r t e d by liberal quantities of mobile Flak (anti-aircraft artillery). List's c o m m a n d included five Armee K o r p s H e a d q u a r t e r s , a g r o u p of four a r m o u r e d divisions (Panzers), one motorized, t w o m o u n t a i n and 11 o t h e r general divisions - a most f o r m i d a b l e force. After some initial p o s t p o n e m e n t s , bridging of the D a n u b e c o m m e n c e d , the first crossings being m a d e on 28 F e b r u a r y ; next day Bulgaria formally joined the Axis, a n d on 2 M a r c h , Hitler a n n o u n c e d that all o p e r a t i o n s p r e p a r a t o r y t o O p e r a t i o n ' B a r b a r o s s a ' must be completed by 15 May. Well a w a r e of what was afoot, the British n o w decided unilaterally that a force must be despatched to Greece - a decision which was subsequently acceded to by the G r e e k g o v e r n m e n t . T h e first contingent was t o c o m p r i s e an a r m o u r e d brigade and the newly-arrived N e w Zealand Division (less its 3rd Infantry Brigade), plus t w o m e d i u m artillery regiments a n d some anti-aircraft batteries. Events were n o w beginning to accelerate. By Hitler's plan, the G r e e k operation should be little m o r e t h a n a swift formality. O n l y o n e m a t t e r remained o u t s t a n d ing for the c o m p l e t e s u b j u g a t i o n of the Balkans - Yugoslavia must be b r o u g h t into the fold. Indeed, Yugoslavian t r o o p s might even be allowed at a later d a t e to occupy p a r t of Thessalonica. Consequently on 17 M a r c h , the Yugoslav government was asked t o sign the Tripartite Pact, and subject t o certain c o n d i t i o n s relating mainly t o their desire that their c o u n t r y should not thereby be c o m mitted t o any war o p e r a t i o n s , the ministers of Prince Paul's cabinet seemed a b o u t to d o so. Here, however, the c o u r a g e and independence of spirit of the Serbian m a j o r i t y suddenly a n d unexpectedly began t o assert itself. In a wave of protest against the proposals, three Serbian cabinet ministers resigned on 22 M a r c h — it was time for G e r m a n y to wield the iron fist! Next day an u l t i m a t u m was issued, requiring signature by midnight that night. N e g o t i a t i o n s followed, a n d on 25 M a r c h actual signing took place. All now seemed set, particularly as o n e d a y earlier F e l d m a r s c h a l List had reported that the 12th A r m e e was in position in Western Bulgaria, and ready t o invade G r e e c e on 1 April. But the best laid plans can go awry, a n d Yugoslavia remained the j o k e r in the pack. T w o d a y s after signing the Pact a n d becoming a m e m b e r of the Axis, the g o v e r n m e n t was toppled in a ' c o u p d'etat', led by G e n e r a l D u s a n Simonovitch, Chief of the Air Staff, w h o with other officers deposed the Regent and set the 17 year-old Prince P e t e r on the throne. T h e Pact w a s at once repudiated. Hitler's fury at this u p s t a r t action can well be imagined. At a stroke his 171
cherished plans for t h e undisturbed and secure start t o ' B a r b a r o s s a ' had been put at risk! H e decided to act at once. T h e 12th A r m e e was t o stay its hand for the m o m e n t ; ' B a r b a r o s s a ' was p o s t p o n e d for four weeks - four precious s u m m e r weeks which could well have seen the P a n z e r s right into Moscow! Yugoslavia was t o be ruthlessly a n d totally crushed a n d subjugated at once, at the same time as Greece w a s secured. O n 2 April, Army O r d e r N o . 4 was issued; 2nd Armee in Austria a n d H u n g a r y , s u p p o r t e d by Luftflotte 4, was to act simultaneously with 12th Armee in t h e invasion of t h e Balkans. Italy was t o s u p p o r t her ally with an attack into Yugoslavia f r o m N o r t h e r n Albania, while Bulgarian and H u n g a r i a n units were to join the G e r m a n s in their venture. All efforts were t o be given t o a swift a n d crushing Blitzkrieg; the eastern frontiers of R u m a n i a and Bulgaria were to be guarded by t h e forces of those n a t i o n s only. N o reaction by T u r k e y was anticipated. British a n d Greek diplomatic efforts were redoubled, but despite a flight into Yugoslavia by a joint military mission, n o worthwhile agreements could be m a d e in the c h a o s that then prevailed; the T u r k s remained c a u t i o u s and ambivalent. Initial moves were t o be m a d e by 12th Armee, which now had some 20 divisions in Bulgaria, six in the west ready for i m m e d i a t e action. XVIII K o r p s (one a r m o u r e d , o n e infantry a n d two m o u n t a i n divisions) h a d moved t o the west of the River S t r u m a , a n d on 4 April m a d e p r e p a r a t i o n t o cross the River Vardar. It was t o a d v a n c e t h r o u g h the Rupel Pass o n Salonika, Verria a n d Edessa. Allied forces were w a r n e d of a possible attack next day, a n d stood to. F u r t h e r east, XXX K o r p s was t o c a p t u r e t h e N o r t h e r n Aegean ports, right u p t o the Turkish frontier, while XL K o r p s (one a r m o u r e d , o n e infantry a n d o n e SS division) w a s t o enter S o u t h e r n Yugoslavia and head for Skoplje, and then t h e Albanian frontier to link with the Italians on the Epirus F r o n t . T o s u p p o r t 12th Armee, Fliegerkorps VIII had n o w g r o w n to 414 aircraft, while at airfields in Austria, H u n g a r y a n d R u m a n i a , Luftflotte 4 h a d a further 576 - ex-Sicily, F r a n c e and G e r m a n y . O n e h u n d r e d and sixty-eight m o r e were o n call f r o m Fliegerkorps X in Sicily, a n d several of this f o r m a t i o n ' s units were t o m o v e t o south-eastern Italy for o p e r a t i o n s over Western Yugoslavia (see page 180 for Luftwaffe O r d e r of Battle). It will be seen that the whole of Fliegerkorps VIII was based a r o u n d the Sofia area of Bulgaria, comprising, a p a r t f r o m a single reconnaissance Staffel with D o r n i e r D o . 17s, a t r a n s p o r t G r u p p e and a G r u p p e of Ju88As, three G r u p p e n of Stukas, three G r u p p e n of single-engined fighters, together with o n e G r u p p e and t w o additional Staffeln of g r o u n d - a t t a c k fighterb o m b e r s and o n e G r u p p e of Zerstorer, which would also o p e r a t e in the g r o u n d attack role. T h e main b o m b e r strength of G e n e r a l o b e r s t Alexander Lohr's Luftflotte 4 was based in central Austria, while the tactical elements were g r o u p e d in two task forces, o n e at G r a z , near the point at which the b o r d e r s of Austria, H u n g a r y a n d Yugoslavia meet, the other at Arad in R u m a n i a . I I I / J G 5 2 was based at Bucharest in reserve, a n d as i m m e d i a t e defence of the R u m a n i a n oilfields. A p a r t f r o m these forces, seven independent Staffeln of Henschel Hs 126 a r m y coo p e r a t i o n aircraft were attached to 2nd Armee, and six m o r e with 12th Armee in Bulgaria. Generally o n e such Staffel w a s attached to each A r m e e K o r p s , a n d one 172
specialized t a n k c o - o p e r a t i o n unit t o each P a n z e r Division. F r o m Sicily 7 / J G 2 6 , a single Staffel of B f l 0 9 E fighters led by the great 'ace' Joachim Miincheberg, a n d I I I / Z G 2 6 with BfllOs had moved to T a r a n t o and Grottaglie on 5 April, while Sicily-based b o m b e r s stood ready t o o p e r a t e f r o m that island. T h e Regia A e r o n a u t i c a t o o had been reinforced for the c o m i n g operations, a n d its O r d e r of Battle available for use over Yugoslavia a n d Greece can be noted on pages 1 8 2 - 4 . In Greece efforts had been m a d e t o strengthen the R A F , but only a h a n d f u l of Greek aircraft now remained serviceable. Available British units at the start of April are n o t e d on pages 1 8 4 - 5 , as can t h e EVA O r d e r of Battle. A limited flow of reinforcements for the R A F were on their way. T h e less-known factor was still Yugoslavia. G e r m a n assessment of the Yugoslav a r m y w a s t h a t it was ill-equipped a n d its training out of date. Senior officers were elderly a n d regressive in their thinking. H o w e v e r t h e t r o o p s particularly the Serbs - were k n o w n to be brave a n d hardy, likely t o put u p a tough fight in h a n d - t o - h a n d conditions. They were not however, expected to last long when faced with the m o d e r n G e r m a n a r m y - a r e m a r k a b l y a c c u r a t e assessment, as it was t o turn out. T h e air force was also written off as small a n d equipped largely with o u t of date types, but this w a s not necessarily so. Until late 1937 t h e air forces had been completely obsolete, c o m p r i s i n g only auxiliary a r m s to the army a n d navy, equipped with a miscellany of 1920s types, including Breguet XIXs, Potez P o 25s, Avia BH33Es, I k a r u s 10s, D o r n i e r Wals a n d D o Ds. Rising world tension had however b r o u g h t f o r w a r d a plan t o f o r m an independent air force, the J K R V (Jugoslovensko Kraljevsko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo— Royal Yugoslav Air Force), f r o m the nucleus provided by the Army Air Force. This was to have nine regiments by 1943, e q u i p p e d with 1068 m o d e r n aircraft, partly p u r c h a s e d a b r o a d and partly licence-built, backed by a reserve of 369. Each regiment was planned to have three s q u a d r o n s (Grupa), each comprising three flights (Eskadrila). By early 1938 it had become clear that, quite a p a r t f r o m the question of finance, most principal a r m s m a n u f a c t u r i n g n a t i o n s considered the needs of Yugoslavia t o be well d o w n their lists of priorities, a n d in c o n s e q u e n c e such purchases and licences as could be negotiated, had to be grasped with b o t h hands. Bristol Blenheim I a n d H a w k e r H u r r i c a n e I aircraft f r o m Britain, D o r n i e r D o l 7 K b o m b e r s and Messerschmitt B f l 0 9 E fighters f r o m G e r m a n y , a n d Savoia S.79 b o m b e r s f r o m Italy were all purchased, the former three types also being the subject of licence p r o d u c t i o n a r r a n g e m e n t s . T h e indigenous aircraft industry also p r o d u c e d a few IK-2 a n d I K - Z fighters, the latter being fully u p t o international standards, while other types were u n d e r development. This situation of acquiring w h a t could be obtained m e a n t that by 1941 the J K R V was equipped with 11 different types of o p e r a t i o n a l aircraft, 14 different types of trainers and five types of auxiliary aircraft, with 22 different engine models, four different m a c h i n e g u n s and t w o models of aircraft c a n n o n . T h e D o l 7 K for example was a G e r m a n aircraft with F r e n c h engines, Belgian a r m a ment, Czech p h o t o e q u i p m e n t a n d Yugoslav i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n ! It was a Q u a r t e r master's n i g h t m a r e ! 173
A J K R V D o r n i e r D o . l 7 K ; this w a s the 20th German-built aircraft of this type t o be delivered. (Z Jerin)
Because of t h e delays in o b t a i n i n g e q u i p m e n t , the reorganisation of the air force had only c o m m e n c e d at the end of 1939, a n d was not completed until a few d a y s before the o u t b r e a k of hostilities. By this time only a b o u t 340 aircraft were available t o the b o m b e r a n d fighter regiments, with 120 m o r e totally obsolete types serving with the a r m y reconnaissance s q u a d r o n s . T h e r e were plenty of pilots - a b o u t 2000 of them, with c o m m e n s u r a t e n u m b e r s of other aircrew, all of w h o m had received an a d e q u a t e training. All were lacking in o p e r a t i o n a l - t y p e experience, hardly any of the b o m b e r crews having any experience in night or bad weather flying - a factor which would militate against t h e m considerably d u r i n g the p o o r climatic c o n d i t i o n s which prevailed d u r i n g April 1941. T h e fighter pilots had seldom practiced f o r m a t i o n flying in n u m b e r s greater t h a n t w o o r three, or in c o - o p e r a t i o n with o t h e r units, a n d had little aerial g u n n e r y practise d u e to s h o r t a g e of tracer a n d incendiary a m m u n i t i o n . Most of their aircraft were without radio t r a n s m i t t e r s or receivers; flying time in the new M e l 0 9 s (as they were k n o w n in Yugoslavia, a n d as the J K R V machines will be referred to herein to differentiate t h e m f r o m the basically similar Luftwaffe fighters) was particularly low. Since the main airfields would be k n o w n t o an enemy, a b o u t 100 auxiliary fields had been p r e p a r e d d u r i n g the 12 m o n t h s prior to hostilities, but only some 50 of these were ready, most of t h e m practically useless in wet weather t o all but the lightest of aircraft. 174
Yugoslav pilot with a Wright C y c l o n e - p o w e r e d Breguet X I X / 8 of o n e of the Army Aviation G r u p a s of the J K R V . (Z Jerin).
A m o n g s t the regiments, the 2nd Puk was the least ready; previously a reconnaissance regiment, its 48 Po25s, 52BrXIXs and 48 BrXIX/7s had been passed t o t h e a r m y reconnaissance s q u a d r o n s early in 1941, the intention being that it should be re-equipped with heavy fighters such as the Potez 631 or Messerschmitt BfllO, or even the indigenous R313, for the defence of Belgrade and the war industries of Serbia. In the last m o n t h of peace a few H u r r i c a n e s and a s q u a d r o n of M e l 0 9 s were t a k e n f r o m the 4th a n d 6th Puk to provide some semblance of o p e r a t i o n a l readiness, all further H u r r i c a n e p r o d u c t i o n f r o m the Z m a j factory in Z e m u n then being directed to this unit. T h e navy's air c o m p o n e n t had also been re-organised into three h i d r o p l a n s k a k o m a n d a (floatplane c o m m a n d s ) each equivalent to a J K R V regiment, but as only the 2nd a n d 3rd were fully equipped, the 1st H K was i n c o r p o r a t e d into t h e 2nd at late date. 175
Well-comouflaged Messerschmitt M e l 0 9 E s of the JKRV's 32 Grupa, 6th Fighter Puk, seen during 'war games' in summer 1940. T h e aircraft in the centre background carries the c o d e L-5 in black on the fuselage side. (Z
Jerin)
Still in service in April 1941 w a s Dornier Wal N o . 2 0 0 , which had been acquired in 1927. It served with 2 6 H E of 3 H G , and survived the fighting, only t o be scrapped by the Italians subsequently. ( Z Jerin)
176
A look at the m a p shows the h e a d a c h e facing the Yugoslav Staff p l a n n e r s in early 1941, since their c o u n t r y was s u r r o u n d e d on nearly every b o r d e r by unfriendly states. O n l y t h e small segment of s o u t h e r n b o r d e r with Greece could be left out of a direct defence plan. Until a u t u m n 1940 the s o u t h was considered to be u n i m p o r t a n t , but Mussolini's attack o n Greece had m a d e it clear t o all t h a t Yugoslavia was likely soon t o be involved in the war. N o t until the end of F e b r u a r y 1941 w a s a new defence directive, R-41 (Rat 1941 - W a r in 1941) issued t o the a r m e d forces, by which time there were n o f u r t h e r d o u b t s as t o the intentions of the G e r m a n s , whose a r m y was by then already established in Bulgaria. F r o m t h e start of Italy's attack on Greece, b o r d e r incursions mainly by Italian aircraft had been frequent, the first on 5 N o v e m b e r 1940, when s o u t h e r n m o s t Yugoslav M a c e d o n i a was twice b o m b e d with m u c h d a m a g e t o p r o p e r t y , t h e d e a t h of nine p e r s o n s a n d injury t o 21 more. Next d a y 18 H u r r i c a n e s f r o m the 4th P u k were sent f r o m Z a g r e b t o K o n j a r , n e a r Prilep in M a c e d o n i a , while ten M e l 0 9 s of the 102 Eskadrila moved to M o s t a r f r o m Z e m u n - B e l g r a d e t o p a t r o l over the coastal region f r o m Split t o t h e Albanian b o r d e r . F r e q u e n t a t t e m p t s were m a d e t o intercept intruding b o m b e r s and reconnaissance aircraft d u r i n g the next few m o n t h s , in the c o u r s e of o n e of which on 14 D e c e m b e r , 1940 Sgt Vucevic in his H u r r i c a n e forced a G r e e k H s l 2 6 f r o m 3 M i r a t o force-land near Bitolj, t h e crew being interned. D u r i n g this period n o Italian aircraft were shot d o w n , but on 18 N o v e m b e r 1940, an R A F Wellington crashed in the m o u n t a i n s of Veliki G a r a c , f o u r bodies being recovered, including that of an American war c o r r e s p o n d e n t (Ralph Barnes of the N e w York H e r a l d T r i b u n e in Sgt P a l m e r - S a m b o u r n e ' s aircraft of 70 S q u a d r o n - see page 38). O n 23 F e b r u a r y 1941, a S a v o i a S.79 lost in b a d weather after a n a t t a c k on Greece crashed while a t t e m p t i n g a force-landing, the crew being interned, while on 1 M a r c h , a Luftwaffe J u 5 2 / 3 m t r a n s p o r t of I V / K G z b V 1 landed at Skoplje d u e t o a navigational e r r o r with eight military personnel on board. T h e J K R V w a s secretly mobilized on 6 M a r c h , a n d six d a y s later dispersal t o t h e auxiliary airfields began, being completed by 20 M a r c h . However on 3 April, M a j o r Vladimir K r e n defected t o G r a z in Austria in a P o 2 5 , with i n f o r m a t i o n as t o the location of m a n y of these airfields, a n d of the codes a n d cipher used by the air force c o m m a n d , which h a d urgently t o be changed as a result. After the ' c o u p d ' e t a t ' of 27 M a r c h , there had been so m a n y violations of Yugoslav airspace as t o keep the J K R V fighters c o n s t a n t l y on alert. T w o d a y s later Milan D j o r d j e v i c was killed in a c r a s h - l a n d i n g of his M e 109 after r u n n i n g out of fuel d u r i n g a prolonged chase of a G e r m a n reconnaissance aircraft. A few days later a Messerschmitt B f l l O D landed at K r a l j e v o d u e t o a navigational e r r o r during a d e e p p e n e t r a t i o n reconnaissance, and w a s at once seized a n d i n c o r p o r a t e d in the 51st G r u p a at Z e m u n . An H e l l l was also believed t o have been badly d a m a g e d by AA fire over M a r i b o r , Slovenia, on 3 April. These incursions quickly highlighted the i n a d e q u a c y of the g r o u n d observation post n e t w o r k , which was practically non-existent, and of the lack of a d e q u a t e r a d i o c o m m u n i c a t i o n s which were soon t o bedevil the defences t o a considerable 177
degree. By n o w the 4 t h P u k ' s H u r r i c a n e s h a d r e t u r n e d t o their allotted bases f r o m M a c e d o n i a , followed o n 5 April, by the 102 E s k a d r i l a M e l 0 9 s f r o m M o s t a r , w h i c h were i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e 51 G r u p a of t h e 6 t h P u k . T h e i r e n g i n e s were m u c h in need of o v e r h a u l a f t e r nearly five m o n t h s p a t r o l d u t i e s in the s o u t h . T h a t s a m e a f t e r n o o n t h e British C o l M a c d o n a l d visited G e n e r a l B o r i v o j a M i r k o v i c , Chief of the J K R V at Z e m u n t o c o n f i r m w h a t the Y u g o s l a v s a l r e a d y k n e w — t h a t t h e G e r m a n a t t a c k on B e l g r a d e w o u l d c o m m e n c e at 0 6 3 0 next m o r n i n g . As c a n be seen, the J K R V w a s n o t well-placed to meet such a n o n s l a u g h t .
Ten pilots of the 102 Eskadrila, 51 Grupa, at M o s t a r with the Messerschmitt M e l 0 9 E - 3 fighters in late 1940 after Y u g o s l a v airspace had been repeatedly violated by Italian aircraft flying from Albania. (Z Jerin)
T h e O r d e r of Battle at d a w n on 6 A p r i l 1941 for the J K R V is on p a g e 1 8 7 - 1 9 1 . It will be n o t e d t h a t on p a p e r at a n y rate, t h i s w a s a s u b s t a n t i a l l y s t r o n g e r force of relatively m o d e r n a i r c r a f t t h a n t h e c o m b i n e d British a n d G r e e k air forces t o the d o u t h !
The Assault on Yugoslavia F o r t h e s a k e of clarity a n d c o n t i n u i t y t h e a c t i o n s d u r i n g t h e o p e n i n g d a y s of t h e G e r m a n i n v a s i o n will be d e a l t with s e p a r a t e l y , t h o s e a c t i o n s o c c u r r i n g over Y u g o s l a v i a b e i n g r e c o u n t e d first, followed by t h o s e c o n n e c t e d with t h e t h r u s t s i n t o Greece. T h e initial G e r m a n a t t a c k s f o l l o w e d t w o distinctly s e p a r a t e r o u t e s . T h e first a n d p r i n c i p a l p u s h w a s l a u n c h e d by 12th A r m e e f r o m B u l g a r i a f r o m the lower S t r u m a valley in t h r e e w e s t w a r d c o l u m n s in typical Blitzkrieg fashion. T h e n o r t h e r n m o s t w o u l d follow the line K j u s t e n d i l - K r i v a - P a l a n k a - K u m a n o v o Skoplje; t h e c e n t r a l t h r u s t w o u l d be a l o n g t h e r o a d B l a g o e v g r a d - D e l c e v o K o c a n i - S t i p - V e l e s - P r i l e p - B i t o l j , while t h e s o u t h e r n m o s t followed t h e River 178
Strumica t o t h e t o w n of t h e same name. These moves would be s u p p o r t e d by t h e full might of Fliegerkorps VIII. T h e W e h r m a c h t moved across t h e frontier at 0515 on 6 April, following some earlier a t t a c k s by infantry o n b o r d e r fortifications. Dr. G o e b b e l s a n n o u n c e d the declaration of war 45 minutes later at 0600. While Ju87s were at once active in s u p p o r t of the army's spearheads, the p r i m a r y objective for the rest of von Richthofen's units w a s the neutralization of the local elements of the J K R V notably the regiments of the 3rd Mixed Brigade which were responsible for the defence of the whole south-east. Following the moves of 12 M a r c h , the 35 a n d 36 G r u p a of the 5th F i g h t e r Puk were at Kosancic, n e a r Leskovac and at R e z a n o v a c k a K o s a , near K u m a n o v o respectively. T h e 3rd B o m b e r P u k , which had only arrived in t h e area f r o m Skoplje a m o n t h earlier, had three eskadrila of the 64 G r u p a at Obilic, near Pristina (208 a n d 210 Esk) a n d at Stubol, near U r o s e v a c (209 Esk), with a total strength of 30 Yugoslav-built D o l 7 K s . T h e 63 G r u p a , which disposed a similar n u m b e r of G e r m a n - b u i l t Dorniers, w a s at Petrovac, since the regimental c o m m a n d e r had found the field at Bojnik, near Leskovac, t o be u n s u i t a b l e for bombers.
5th Fighter Puk H a w k e r Fury N o . 4 3 , seen later in April after capture by the Italians. Behind it is Breguet X I X N o . 7 7 . (via A
Stamatopoulos)
Before d a w n the fighter pilots of 36 G r u p a were a w a k e n e d with news of the G e r m a n a t t a c k s a n d were ordered t o be p r e p a r e d for i m m i n e n t air raids. T w o Furies went off at sunrise t o patrol t o w a r d s K r a t o v o , but as they d e p a r t e d 1 7 B f l 0 9 E s a n d a single B f l l O - mainly aircraft f r o m Lehrgeschwader 2's G r u p p e n - swept in to attack R e z a n o v a c k a Kosa. Here other pilots were in the seats of their biplanes, the Kestrel engines already ticking over, and most were able t o get into the air before the G e r m a n fighters h a d opened fire; the initial assault destroyed o n t h e g r o u n d only o n e F u r y , o n e R W D 13 a n d three training aircraft. In the air however, the 111 Eskadrila was c a u g h t at a grave d i s a d v a n t a g e at the point of take-off, a l t h o u g h their fate did allow 112 Eskadrila pilots t o gain 179
L U F T W A F F E O R D E R O F BATTLE - BALKANS, 5 APRIL, 1941 Luftflotte 4 4(F)/121
Stab, I and 11 I / K G 2 III/KG 3 I I/KG 4 Stab, I and II/KG 51 III/KG 51
Seyring, Austria Zwolfaxing, Austria Miinchendorf, Austria Aspern, Austria Wiener Neustadt, Austria Schwechat, Austria
Ju88Ds Do.l7Zs Do.l7Zs Hell IPs Ju88As Ju88As
Fliegerfiihrer Graz (under command Kommodore StG 3)
II/JG 54 (less 4 St.) II/StG 77 Stab/StG 3 I/JG 27
Graz, Graz, Graz, Graz,
Bfl09Es Ju87Bs Ju87Bs Bfl09Es
Austria Austria Austria Austria
Fliegerfiihrer Arad (under command Kommodore StG 77)
III/JG 54 Stab, I and III/StG 77 4/JG 54 I/ZG 26 Stab, II and III/JG 77
Arad, Rumania Arad, Rumania Arad, Rumania Szeged, Hungary Deta, Rumania
Bfl09Es Ju87Bs Bfl09Es Bfl 10s Bfl09Es
Attached 2 Armee, Austria/Hungary
2(H)/31 3(H)/13 4(H)/13 3 (H )/21 3(H)/41 3(H)/12 2(H)/32
Pz Pz Pz Pz
serving serving serving serving serving serving serving
XIV Korps XLIX, LI and LII Korps XLI Korps 11th Panzer Division 5th Panzer Division 5th Panzer Division 14th Panzer Division
Hsl26s Hsl26s Hsl26s Hsl26s Hsl26s Hsl26s Hsl26s
Fliegerkorps VIII 2(F)/11 Stab, I and III/StG 2 I/StG 3 Stab, II and III/JG 27 I(J)/LG 2 I/LG 1 II(Sch)/LG 2
Sofia-Filiporci, Bulgaria Belica and Krainici, Bulgaria Belica, Bulgaria Belica and Sofia-Vrba, Bulgaria Sofia-Vrazdebna, Bulgaria Krumovo, Bulgaria Sofia-Vrazdebna, Bulgaria
7/LG 2 10/LG 2 II/ZG 26 7 Seenotdienstaffel IV/KGzbV 1
Sofia-Vrazdebna. Bulgaria Krainici, Bulgaria Krainici and Vrazdebna, Bulgaria Varna, Bulgaria Krumovo, Bulgaria 180
Do. 17s Ju87Bs Ju87Bs Bfl09Es Bfl09Es Ju88As Bfl09Es (two Staffeln) H s l 2 3 As (one Staffel) BfllOs Hsl23As Bfl 10s Various floatplanes Ju52/3ms
Attached 12 Armee, Bulgaria
5(H)/13 serving 2(H)/10 serving 4(H)/22 serving 4(H)/32 serving 1 (H)/l4 Pz serving l(H)/23 Pz serving
XXX Korps XVIII Korps XL Korps XI and L Korps 2nd Panzer Division 9th Panzer Division
Hsl26s Hsl26s Hsl26s Hsl26s Hsl26s Hsl26s
some height before giving battle. In m i n u t e s 11 Furies (including the initial pair on patrol) were shot d o w n , or had been destroyed in force-landings after suffering severe d a m a g e ; seven of the pilots were killed and o n e w o u n d e d , the dead including b o t h eskadrila c o m m a n d e r s , C a p t s Vojislav P o p o v i k (111 Esk) a n d K o n s t a n t i n J e r m a k o v (112 Esk). T h e latter was seen t o r a m the wing of a Bfl 1 0 p r e s u m a b l y deliberately - after his a m m u n i t i o n was exhausted. Eleven victories over the F u r i e s were indeed claimed by the B f l 0 9 E pilots, a n d by Bfl 10 pilots of I I / Z G 2 6 ; t h r e e of these were credited t o Obit Erwin C l a u s e n of I ( J ) / L G 2 (his 6th—8th victories), while Lt Fritz G e i s s h a r d t of this unit claimed four m o r e to bring his personal score t o 17. In r e t u r n the Yugoslavs claimed three B f l 0 9 E s a n d o n e Bfl 10 shot d o w n . O n e aircraft of I(J)/LG2 w a s lost, O f w Heinz E c k h a r d t being reported missing, while one m o r w of this unit's Messerschmitts and three others f r o m II(Sch)/LG2 crashed on return to Vrba, Belica and Plovdiv, t h o u g h w h e t h e r as a direct result of d a m a g e sustained in c o m b a t is n o t k n o w n . H o w e v e r I I / Z G 2 6 lost t w o Bfl 10s, F w H e l m u t Recker and Ulfz Adolf S o n d e r m a n n a n d their g u n n e r s all being lost. T h e Yugoslavs r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e body of a Bulgarian officer was found in the wreckage of one Bfl 10, w h o it was presumed had directed t h e G e r m a n s t o their target. F o l l o w i n g this attack only two 36 G r u p a Furies r e m a i n e d flyable, b o t h setting out later in the day t o Stubol landing g r o u n d to be i n c o r p o r a t e d into 35 G r u p a . O n e ran out of fuel o n the way a n d crash-landed, only o n e surviving. A similar fate t o that suffered by 36 G r u p a had been planned for the sister unit at Kosancic, but when 20 low-flying B f l 0 9 E s a p p e a r e d overhead they failed t o spot the wellcamouflaged Furies of 109 a n d 110 Eskadrila, a t t a c k i n g instead the 16 Breguet X I X s of the 2nd reconnaissance G r u p a of 5th A r m y on n e a r b y Sorlince; these were taken t o be F u r i e s by the Luftwaffe pilots, a n d claimed as such. Only a b o u t a third of the 35 G r u p a pilots were present at the time of the a t t a c k , the regimental c o m m a n d e r , Lt C o l B a j d a k , leading off some m e m b e r s of 110 E s k a d r i l a in an a t t e m p t t o follow the Messerschmitts back t o their base. T h e y were fired on by Yugoslav AA n e a r Pirot, a n d unable t o catch the G e r m a n aircraft, gave u p the chase. They were then moved t o the reserve airfield at Bojnik, ten miles f r o m Kosancic, as a precaution against further attack. At m u c h the same time as I(J)/LG 2 was destroying 36 G r u p a , 20 miles t o the south four Ju87s a t t a c k e d a n d silenced the AA defences a r o u n d P e t r o v a c airfield, Bfl 10s then diving in to b o m b and strafe the 30 D o l 7 K s there, u n d e r cover of a B f l 0 9 E escort. In 20 m i n u t e s 14 of t h e b o m b e r s had been destroyed, as had some liaison and training aircraft. O n e D o r n i e r a t t e m p t e d to t a k e off, b u t stalled and crashed. At t h e end of this attack only three aircraft of 206 Eskadrila a n d t h e
REGIA A E R O N A U T I C A O R D E R O F BATTLE FOR ACTION OVER T H E B A L K A N S - 5 A P R I L , 1941 Comando Aeronautica Albania
A/C
Unit
Base
Comment
Tirana Devoli Valona Devoli Tirana
Two squadriglie only Two squadriglie only Two squadriglie only Two squadriglie only Three squadriglie
Fighters
22° 24° 150" 154" 160"
Gruppo Gruppo Gruppo Gruppo Gruppo
Autonomo Autonomo Autonomo Autonomo Autonomo
CT CT CT CT CT
(37 (26 (20 (27 (30
MC200) G.50bis) MC.200) G.50bis) CR42)
Bombers
101" Gruppo Autonomo B a'T (208\ 238" Squadriglia)
(20 Ju87B)
Tirana
(9 (9 (8 (9 (9 (7 (8 (9
Tirana Berat Peqini Berat Valona Tirana Tirana Durazzo
Reconnaissance
25a 31" 35" 39a 42a 87a 114" 120"
Squadriglia Squadriglia Squadriglia Squadriglia Squadriglia Squadriglia Squadriglia Squadriglia
OA OA OA OA OA OA OA OA
Ro.37bis) Ro.37bis) Ro.37bis) Ro.37bis) Ro.37bis) Ca311) Ca311) Ca311)
4" Squadra Aerea - Bari Fighters
8" Gruppo Autonomo CT (92a, 93a, 94a Squadriglia) 153° Gruppo Autonomo CT (372a Squadriglia 373a Squadriglia 374a Squadriglia) 370" Squadriglia Autonomo CT 356a Squadriglia Autonomo CT
(14 MC200)
Oria
(38 MC200, 9 CR42)
Magg Vincenzo La Carrubba
Magg Alberto Beneforti Brindisi Bari Grottaglie
(12 MC200)
Grottaglie
(6 MC200)
Bari Palese* Cap Vincenzo Sant'Andrea
(*arrived too late for sustained employment over Yugoslavia) Bombers
13" Stormo BT
(24 BR20)
Gioia del Colle
Col Antonio Pirino Magg Giuseppe Aini
(11° Gruppo BT l a , 4a Squadriglia) 182
Ten Col Roberto Pagliocchini
(43° G r u p p o BT 3", 5a Squadriglia) 37° Stormo BT (55° G r u p p o BT 220", 22 l a Squadriglia) (116° G r u p p o B T 276 a , 277 a Squadriglia) 38° Stormo BT 39° G r u p p o BT 51a, 69a Squadriglia) (40" G r u p p o BT 202 a , 203 a Squadriglia) 35° Stormo BT BM
(30 BR20)
Lecce
(16 BR 20)
Foggia Ten Col Giorgio Porta
(15Z.1007bis, 12 Z.506B)
(86° G r u p p o BM 190", 191a Squadriglia) (95° G r u p p o bT 230", 23l a Squadriglia) 47° Stormo BT (106° G r u p p o BT 260", 261a Squadriglia) (107" G r u p p o BT 262 a , 263 a Squadriglia) 50° G r u p p o Autonomo BT (210 a , 21 l a Squadriglia) 104° G r u p p o Autonomo BT (252\ 253a Squadriglia) 105° G r u p p o Autonomo BT (254 a , 255a Squadriglia) 97° G r u p p o Autonomo Ba'T
Brindisi
Col Enrica Grande
Magg Giovanni Morbidelli (26 Z.1007bis) Grottaglie Ten Col Gori Castellani Ten Col Amedeo Paradisi (8 Z.1007bis)
Brindisi
(15 S.79)
Foggia
(15 S.79)
Bari
(20 Ju87)
Lecce
2 a Squadra Aerea -
(23 MC200)
Ten Col Antonio Moscatelli
Padua
Gen D A Tullio Toccolini Ten Col C Magno Grandinetti Ten Col Marco Minio Paullo
Fighters
4° Stormo C T (9° G r u p p o CT) (73a, 96 a Squadriglia) (97a Squadriglia) (10° G r u p p o CT) (84a, 90°, 91 a Squadriglia) 54° Stormo C T (7° G r u p p o CT) (76a, 86a, 98" Squadriglia) (16° G r u p p o CT) (167 a , 168" Squadriglia) (169" Squadriglia)
Col Giuseppe Scarlata
(23 MC200)
Gorizia Alture/Pola Gorizia Ronchi Leg Ten Col Carlo Romagnoli
(22 MC200)
Treviso Treviso
Col Carlo Calosso Magg Marcello Fossetta
(22 MC200)
Ravenna
Ten Col Francesco Beccaria
Udine 183
Bombers
18° Stormo BT (31° Gruppo BT 65a, 66a Squadriglia (37° Gruppo BT 47 s , 48a Squadriglia) 25° Gruppo Autonomo BT (8\ 9 a Squadriglia) 99° Gruppo Autonomo BT (242a, 243a Squadriglia)
(32 BR20)
Aviano
Col Paolo Aitan Ten Col Giuseppe Bordin Magg Pietro Lauri Filzi
(15 BR20)
Forli
(14 BR20)
Vicenza
Magg Gabriele Rivalta Magg Nello Brambilla
Reconnaissance
61° Gruppo Autonomo OA (34a Squadriglia) (36a Squadriglia) 63° Gruppo Autonomo OA (41a, 113a Squadriglia) 71° Gruppo Autonomo OA (38\ 116" Squadriglia) (128a Squadriglia)
Total Strength
Gorizia Gorizia (8 Ca311) (8 Ro.37bis) Alture (14 Ro.37bis) Udine Udine (12 Ro.37bis) Udine Gorizia (7 Ca311)
Aeronautica Albania
2" Squadra Aerea
4" Squadra Aerea
Total
Fighters
140
90
65
295
Bombers
—
61
149
210
Bomber Floatplanes
—
—
12
12
—
20
40
Dive Bombers
20
Reconnaissance
68
41
—
109
228
192
246
666
B R I T I S H AIR F O R C E S O R D E R O F B A T T L E , B A L K A N S - 5 A P R I L , 1941 Roval Air Force Fighters
33 80 112 30
Squadron Squadron Squadron Squadron
at at at at
Larissa and Eleusis Eleusis Yanina and Paramythia Eleusis and Maleme
Sqn Sqn Sqn Sqn
Ldr Ldr Ldr Ldr
M T StJ Pattle E G Jones L G Schwab R A Milward
Hurricanes Hurricanes Gladiators Blenheim IFs
Bombers
11 Squadron at Almyros 84 Squadron at Menidi 113 Squadron at Niamata
Sqn Ldr P Stevens Sqn Ldr H D Jones Sqn Ldr R T Spencer 184
Blenheim Is Blenheim Is Blenheim IVs
211 Squadron at Paramythia 37 Squadron at Menidi
Sqn Ldr A T Irvine Wg Cdr R C M Collard
Blenheim Is Wellington ICs
Sqn Ldr J R Wilson
Lysanders & Hurricanes
Sqn Ldr P H Alington
Sunderlands
Reconnaissance
208 Squadron at Eleusis 230 Squadron detachment at Scaramanga
Fleet Air Arm Fighters
805 Squadron at Maleme:
Lt Cdr A F Black
Fulmars and Sea Gladiators
Bombers
815 Squadron at Paramythia Lt F M A Torrens-Spence Swordfish and Maleme: Additionally, Wellingtons of 257 Wing (38, 70 and 148 Squadrons) from Egypt, flying from the advanced landing ground at Fuka, were available for limited operations.
E L L E N I K I VASSILIKI A E R O P O R I A O R D E R O F B A T T L E - 5 A P R I L , 1941 Fighters
21 Mira at Paramythia 22 Mira at Salonika/'Sedes (would withdraw to Kalambaka/ Vissiliki on advance of German forces) 23 Mira at Larissa 24 Mira at Salonika/Sedes (would withdraw with 22 Mira)
Gladiators PZL P24s PZL P24s Bloch MB151s
Bombers remnants l ese un ts on 32 Mira > h ' ' y remained; ... 1 they were assembled at Menidi. 33 Mira J
Potez 63s Blenheim Is and IVs Battles
Reconnaissance
13 Mira at bases in the Peloponnes 11 and 12 Mira in the Athens area, barely operational
185
Ansons Do22s and Fairey IIIFs
Breguet XIXs of the 601 Eskadrila, 201 Training Grupa, after a strafing attack on Lazarevac by Luftwaffe Bfl 10s on 7 April 1941. (Z
3rd B o m b e r Puk D o . l 7 K s . (Z
Jerin)
Jerin)
186
J U G O S L O V E N S K O K R A L J E V S K O R A T N O V A Z D L H O P L O V S T V O (JKRV) - O R D E R
OF
B A T T L E . 6 A P R I L 1941
Headquarters: Ljesnica
Commander-in-Chief: Brigadni General Borivoje Mirkovic Chief of Staff: Ppk M i o d r a g Lozic
Units under Direct command: Bfl 0 8 and F i l 56
701 Eskadrila VZ (Liaison unit) (Ljesnica) II Ind (LR Recce) Grupa: Mj D r a g o m i r Lazarevic (Veliki Radinci, near Ruma) 21 Eskadrila:
Kp Ranko Milovanovic
22 Eskadrila:
K p Ljuba Jancic
81 (Bomber) Grupa:
9 Blenheim I, 2 Hind
Mj Milutin Bostanic
(Mostar-Ortijes) 14 S.79
261 Eskadrila:
K p Sergije Frantov
262 Eskadrila:
K p Raja N e d e l j k o v i c
lnd Fighter Eskadrila:
K p Mihajlo Grbic
3 Hurricane I. 3 M e l 0 9 , 3 Avia B H - 3 3 E (2 detached at Podgorica)
(Mostar-Kosor)
1st Lovacka Vazduhoplovna Bripida (Fighter Air Brigade): Headquarters: Belgrade-Zemun
C o m m a n d e r : Pk Dragutin Rupcic
702 Eskadrila VZ (Liaison unit) Bfl 08, F i l 56. 2 Me 109
Belgrade-Zemun) 2nd (Fighter) (Kraljevo*)
Puk:
31 Grupa:
Ppk F'ranjo Pirc
Mj Ilija M i l o v a n o v i c
(Knic) 101 Eskadrila:
K p K o s t a Lekic
J
19 M e l 0 9
(Susicko Polje) 141 Eskadrila:
K p Franc Berginc J
(Susicko Polje) 52 Grupa:
Mj Miodrag Blagojevic
(Knic) 163 Eskadrila:
K p M i l o s Bajagic 1
(knic) 164 Eskadrila:
K p I v o Ostric
J
(Knic)
187
15 Hurricane I
6th (Fighter)
Puk:
Ppk Bozidar Kostic
(Zemun-Belgrade*) Mj D a n i l o Djordjevic
32 Grupa: (Prnjavor)
K p Ilija Vlajic
103 Eskadrila:
j
(Prnjavor) 104 Eskadrila:
K p Bora Markovic
27 M e 109
(Prnjavor) K p Milutin G r o z d a n o v i c
142 Eskadrila: (Prnjavor)
Mj A d u m R o m e o
51 Grupa: (Zemun-Belgrade) 102 Eskadrila:
K p M i l o s Zunjic
10 M e 109
K p S a v o Poljanec
3 1K-Z
Kp Todor Gogic
3 IK-Z
(Zemun-Belgrade) 161 Eskadrila: (Zemun-Belgrade) 162 Eskadrila: (Zemun-Belgrade)
2nd Mesovita Va/dulioplowia Brigada (Mixed Air Brigade): Headquarters: N o v a T o p o l a
C o m m a n d e r : Pk J a k o v Djordjevic
703 Eskadrilla VZ (Liaison unit) (Nova Topola) 4th (Fighter)
Puk:
B f l 0 8 and F i l 5 6 Ppk Radislav Djordjevic
(Zagreb*) 33 Grupa:
Mj N i k o l a N i k o l i c
(Bosanski Aleksandrovac) 105 Eskadrila:
K p Aleksandar Radicevic
7 Hurricane I
K p Dragisa Milijevic
6 Hurricane I
(Bosanski Aleksandrovac) 106 Eskadrila: (Bosanski Aleksandrovac) 34 Grupa:
Mj Arsenije Boljevic
(Bosanski Aleksandrovac) 107 Eskadrila:
K p Z a r k o Vukajlovic
8 IK-2
K p Mladen Milovcic
7 Hurricane 1
(Bosanski Aleksandrovac) 108 Eskadrila: (Bosanski Aleksandrovac)
8th (Bomber)
Puk:
Pk S t a n k o Diklic
(Zagreb*) 6 8 Grupa:
Mj Lazar D o n o v i c
(Rovine) 215 Eskadrila:
K p Vladimir Jovicic
6 Blenheim I
K p Serije Vojinov
6 Blenheim I
(Rovine) 216 Eskadrila: (Rovine)
188
69 Grupa:
Mj D o b r o s a Tesic
(Rovine) 217 Eskadrila:
K p Matija Petrovic
6 Blenheim I
K p Vladimir Ferencina
6 Blenheim 1
(Rovine) 218 Eskadrila:
3rd Mesovita Va/duhoplovna Brigada (Mixed Air Brigade): Headquarters: Stubol (Pristina) C o m m a n d e r : Pk N i k o l a Obuljen 704 Eskadrila VZ (Liaison unit) (Stubol Pristina) 3rd (Bomber)
Puk:
B f l 0 8 and F i l 5 6
Pk Z d e n k o G o r j u p
(Skoplje*) Mj Branislav Djordjevic
6 3 Grupa: (Petrovac) 2 0 5 Eskadrila:
Pr M a t o Culinovic
(Petrovac) 2 0 6 Eskadrila:
K p Mihajlo Djonlic
30 D o l 7K
(Pet rovac) 207 Eskadrila:
Kp Miodrag Nikolic
(Petrovac) Mj Branko Fanedl
6 4 Grupa: (Petrovac) 208 Eskadrila:
K p Sima Mijuskovic
(Obilic, near Pristina) 209 Eskadrila:
K p D u s a n Milojevic
3 0 D o l 7K
(Stubol) 210 Eskadrila:
K p Vojislav Grujic
(Obilic)
5th (Fighter)
Puk:
Ppk Leonid Bajdak
(Nis*) 35 Grupa:
Mj Vasa Z i v a n o v i c
(Kosancic) 109 Eskadrila:
K p Pavle G o l d n e r
(Kosancic) 110 Eskadrila: 36 Grupa: (Rezanovacka Kosa) 111 Eskadrila:
j
J
K p O y o Sep Mj D r a g o Brezovsek
K p Vojislav P o p o v i c
(Rezanovacka Kosa) 112 Eskadrila:
15 H a w k e r Fury
K p K o n s t a n t i n Jermakov
(Rezanovacka Kosa)
189
15 H a w k e r Fury
4th Bomharderska Vazduhoplovna Brigada (Bomber Air Brigade): Headquarters: Ljubic (Cacak) C o m m a n d e r : Pk Petar Vukcevic 705 Eskadrila VZ (Liaison unit) (Ljubic) 1st (Bomber)
B f l 0 8 and F i l 5 6
Pk F e r d o Gradisnik
Puk:
(Novi Sad*) Mj Branko Malojcic
61 Grupa: (Bjeljina) 201 Eskadrila:
K p Dragisa Nikodijevic
6 Blenheim 1
K p Stevan Filipovic
5 Blenheim I
(Davidovac) 202 Eskadrila: (Davidovac) Mj Krsta Lozic
62 Grupa: (Bjeljina) 203 Eskadrila
K p T o d o r Pavlovic
6 Blenheim I
K p N i k o l a Ivancevic
6 Blenheim 1
(Bjeljina) 204 Eskadrila: (Bjeljina)
7th (Bomber)
Ppk H i n k o D r a g i c - H a u e r
Puk:
(Mostar*) Mj D u s a n Sofilj
66 Grupa. (Preljina, near C a c a k )
K p Kresimir Boras
211 Eskadrila: (Preljina)
K p Aleksandar D o b a n o v a c k i
212 Eskadrila:
13 S.79
(Preljina) Mj R a n k o Raskovic
67 Grupa: (Gorobilje, near U z i c k a Pozega)
K p Arsenije Ikanjikov
213 Eskadrila:
13 S.79
(Gorobilje) 214 Eskadrila:
K p Jefta Bosnjak
(Gorobilje)
Army
Aviation:
**l VIGrupa (Ruma)
I Army
15 aircraft
2 V I G r u p a (Sorlince, near Leskovac)
V Army
16 aircraft
3 V I G r u p a (Staro T o p o l j e . near D j a k o v o )
II Army
19 aircraft
4 V I G r u p a (Velika G o r i c a (Kurilovac), near Zagreb)
IV Army
18 aircraft
5 VIGrupa (Tetovo)
III Army
14 aircraft
6 V I G r u p a (Cerklje and Brega, near Brezice)
VII Army
16 aircraft
7 V I G r u p a (Smederevska P a l a n k a )
VI Army
18 aircraft
S a m o s t a l n a Izvidjacka Eskadrila (Jasenica-Mostar)
4 aircraft
(Coastal Army C o m m a n d o ) **VIGrupa -
Vazduhoplovna
Izvidjacko G r u p a (Air Reconnaissance Group). All aircraft were
obsolete: types included Breguet XIX, X1X/7, X I X / 8 and Potez P o 2 5
190
Navy
Aviation:
Headquarters: Kastel Luksic, 2 Hidroplanska
ar Split
Komanda:
Commander: Kbb
la Nardeli
Kk Marjan Butkovic
(Divulje*) 3 Hidrogrupa:
P b b Avgust Groselj
5 Hidroeskadrila:
P b b Jovan Mikolic
5 Sim XIV, 1 S M
P b b Igor Beran
6 Do22, 1 PVT-H
(Tijesno) 25 Hidroeskadrila: (Zlarin and Visovac) 4 Hidrogrupa:
P b b T o m i s l a v Mihelic
26 Hidroeskadrila:
P b b Albin Pavlinic
5 D o Wal. 1 S M . 1 P V T - H
Pf Franjo Pavic
2 Sim XIV, 6 - 7 10. 1 Sim/XII
(K rapanj-J ad rtovac) 15 Hidroeskadrila: (Vodice)
3 Hidroplanska
Komanda:
Kk Eduard Pikl
(Boka K o t o r s k a * ) 1 Hidrogrupa: I Hidroeskadrila:
P b b Pavle Z u p a n P b b Albin Unger
5 Sim XIV. 1 S M
P b b Stevan Rajter
2 - 3 Sim XIV. I He 8 (also had 8 - 1 0 elderly training aircraft on its inventory)
(S Krtole) II Hidroeskadrila: (S Rosa)
2 Hidrogrupa: 20 Hidroeskadrila:
P b b Vladeta Petrovic P k o Milan Malnaric
6 Do22
(Orahovac) 6 D o Wal. 1 D o D , 1 Fleet.
21 Hidroeskadrila: P b b Oskar Bizjak
2 PVT-H
(Dobrota) 1 Sim XIV, 1 P V T - H , 2 I O ,
SHEskadrila (training unit for auxiliary
P b b Ivan K o n t e
1 - 2 Sim XI, 1 Fleet. 1 D H M o t h , few S M
tasks, based at Razetinovac, nr Trogir)
Notes:
(1) *The locations marked thus were the peacetime bases of the Puk or K o m a n d a . (2) T h e J K R V also had ten training units (TE - Trenazna Eskadrila), s o m e of which were incorporated in the operational regiments, and s o m e were independent units. T h e y were equipped with Breguet XIX, P o t e z 25 and Caproni 310 aircraft, and a large number of primary training aircraft mostly of Yugoslav origin, but J u n g m a n n biplanes.
191
including G e r m a n
Biicker
(3) U n i t d e s i g n a t i o n s used are listed b e l o w w i t h direct t r a n s l a t i o n s a n d t h e nearest
RAF
equivalent: JKRV
RAF
Puk (Regiment)
Wing
Grupa (Group)
Squadron
Eskadrila
Flight
N B : Hidroplanska K o m a n d a (Floatplane C o m m a n d o ) equivalent to a J K R V Puk Rank abbreviations used here relate to the Yugoslav ranks set oul below. In the text the English translation and its abbreviation is used for the sake of clarity. JKRV
Naval - K a p e t a n Bojnogbroda
Ranks -Captain
PK
-Pukovnik
-Colonel
Kbb
Ppk
-Potpukovnik
- Lieutenant Colonel
Kf
- Kapetan Fregate
Mj
-Major
-Major
Kk
- K a p e t a n Korvete
-Commander
Kp
-Kapelan
-Captain
Pbb
- P o r u c n i k Bojnogbroda
- Lieutenant C o m m a n d e r
Pr
-Porucnik
—1st Lieutenant
Pf
- Porucnik Fregate
- Lieutenant
Ppr
- Potporucnik
- 2 n d Lieutenant
P k o - P o r u c n i k Korvete
192
- N o direct comparative rank
- Sub-Lieutenant
An Ikarus-built Blenheim I b o m b e r of the J K R V on delivery. 62 of these aircraft had been received by April 1941, and 20 m o r e were in various stages of production. (Z
Jerin)
A Dornier D o l 7 Z - 2 bomber of I 1 I / K G 3 as e m p l o y e d during the initial raids on Belgrade, and thereafter throughout the campaign. 5 K + F R , seen here in flight, served with the gruppe's 7 Staffel. (Bundesarchiv)
193
regimental c o m m a n d e r ' s aircraft at Skoplje airfield remained intact, these all flying t o join 209 Eskadrila at Stubol. W h e n at a b o u t 0700 news was received at 64 G r u p a of the disaster which had befallen 63 G r u p a at Petrovac, M a j F a n e d l led off his w h o l e unit of D o r n i e r s t o b o m b the G e r m a n a r m o u r between Kjustendil a n d G u e s e v o in Bulgaria. At Kjustendil they found the tail of a c o l u m n some 17 miles long which they b o m b e d with 100kg b o m b s and then strafed. Several aircraft were hit by r e t u r n fire, but all safely reached their airfields. As the Luftwaffe's first wave returned t o its airfields, other aircraft were o n the way t o attack Veles, Stip, Stracin and Kriva P a l a n k a , elements also strafing the railway u p the V a r d a r Valley and the practically deserted Nis airfield. Here H p t H e r b e r t Ihlefeld, c o m m a n d e r of I(J)/LG2, w a s hit by small a r m s fire and w o u n d e d slightly in the head. He crash-landed his d a m a g e d Messerschmitt on a nearby hill a n d became a prisoner. While the D o r n i e r s at Petrovac were still burning, Skoplje, Stip and Veles were all heavily b o m b e d by Ju87s a n d Ju88s, escorted by Bfl 10s which also strafed. O n e of the latter was claimed shot d o w n by t h e AA defences at Skoplje - possibly o n e of the two aircraft lost by I I / Z G 2 6 on this date, which have already been mentioned. T h r o u g h o u t the d a y Fliegerkorps VIII's S t u k a s were active against the Yugoslav defences, especially on the K u m a n o v o - S k o p l j e axis. T h e little t o w n of Kriva P a l a n k a , eight miles f r o m the border, was occupied by 0800, the next objective for the P a n z e r s being Stracin, 17 miles f u r t h e r u p the r o a d . Here the a d v a n c e was held by s t r o n g defences, but without proper AA guns, the Yugoslavs soon fell victim t o the Ju87s and Hsl23s. O n e of the latter was the only casualty, shot d o w n by a single lucky r o u n d f r o m the rifle of a Yugoslav sergeant. Uffz H a n n e n b e r g crash-landed his little biplane which was destroyed by fire, a n d he was taken prisoner. At 1020 Skoplje a n d Nis were again b o m b e d , while at 1100 ten B f l 0 9 E s strafed D o l 7 K s of 64 G r u p a at Stubol as these were awaiting o r d e r s for their next attack on the G e r m a n c o l u m n s . Fifteen of the b o m b e r s were destroyed or badly d a m a g e d , a l t h o u g h three 208 Eskadrila m a c h i n e s m a n a g e d to get into the air d u r i n g the attack a n d followed the Messerschmitts back t o their base at Vrba. Here they b o m b e d lines of Luftwaffe aircraft on the g r o u n d , claiming at least four destroyed; they flew t o Obilic airfield n e a r Pristina to land. D u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n s t r o n g f o r m a t i o n s of B f l 0 9 E s a n d 110s again a t t a c k e d P e t r o v a c where g r o u n d crews of 63 G r u p a were frantically trying t o repair s o m e of the d a m a g e d Dorniers. After 15 m i n u t e s all ten d a m a g e d aircraft had been destroyed or reduced t o irreparable condition. This b r o u g h t 3rd Puk losses d u r i n g the day t o 41 destroyed or badly d a m a g e d , with three m o r e slightly d a m a g e d , t o which must be added the 16 Breguets of the reconnaissance unit. Fliegerkorps VIII claimed a total of 60 aircraft destroyed d u r i n g the day, including the 11 Furies and an unidentified aircraft shot d o w n , plus 34 D o 17s and 14 Furies (in fact mainly Breguet XIXs) destroyed on the g r o u n d . Losses included one B f l 0 9 E , t w o D o l 7s (of which m o r e later) and a Ju87 missing (the latter O f w H e r b e r t Flor's aircraft of 3/StG2, lost over Popliwista), one H s l 2 3 , one Ju87, t w o Bfl 10s and six B f l 0 9 E s destroyed, plus t w o Ju87s a n d five B f l 0 9 E s d a m a g e d - a l t h o u g h this total 194
includes losses and d a m a g e suffered in accidents also. An H s l 2 6 of l(H)/23, a t t a c h e d to 12th Armee, was also lost in the Kriva P a l a n k a area, Fw Ewald Bruns and H p t H a n s H o f f m a n being reported missing in 6K + EH. A second H s l 2 6 of 3(H)/21 was r e p o r t e d destroyed on the g r o u n d in this area d u r i n g the day - possibly by the b o m b s of the trio of Yugoslav D o l 7 K s . T h e r e a f t e r action in t h e south was devoted mainly t o g r o u n d s u p p o r t , not only of the drive on Skoplje, but also for the s o u t h e r n thrust which pushed t h r o u g h the t o w n of Strumica d u r i n g the m o r n i n g , before bearing south t o w a r d s the G r e e k frontier.
J u n k e r s J u 8 7 B S t u k a d i v e - b o m b e r s o v e r the B a l k a n s . April 1941. [Bib fur
Zeit)
While von Richthofen's units had been opening the a t t a c k s in the south, G e n O b s t Lohr's Luftflotte 4 c o m m e n c e d the second most i m p o r t a n t role allocated t o the G e r m a n forces by Hitler in his Directive No.25 - p u n i s h m e n t of the Belgrade g o v e r n m e n t . While the Fiihrer himself spent the night in his special train in a tunnel on the Wiener Neustadt-Fiirstenfeld railway, and G o r i n g followed o p e r a tions f r o m a h e a d q u a r t e r s at Semmering, Austria, the Luftwaffe prepared a massive strike on the capital which was to follow Fliegerkorps V l l l ' s initial actions by a b o u t one hour. W h e n the first a l a r m s were s o u n d e d in the city at 0645, 74 Ju87s from S t G 7 7 were a p p r o a c h i n g between 8 0 0 0 - 1 0 000 feet, with 160 H e l l Is of I I / K G 4 a n d D o l 7 Z s f r o m K G 2 a n d 3, with escorting Bfl 10s at 1 1 0 0 0 - 1 2 000 feet. 100 B l l 0 9 E s (including 56 aircraft f r o m Stab, II a n d I I I / J G 77) providing t o p cover at 15 000 feet. 195
T h e Yugoslavs were in no way taken by surprise. Indeed the AA defences had already reported the a p p r o a c h of one raid from R u m a n i a at 0300, leading to a false alarm, while listening posts on the frontier had heard the engines of Fliegerfiihrer Arad's aircraft w a r m i n g u p well before t a k e off. At Z e m u n 51 G r u p a had been b r o u g h t t o alert well before daylight. By the time news of the a t t a c k s on R e z a n o v a c k a K o s a and P e t r o v a c were received, a n d of G e r m a n reconnaissance aircraft over areas near Belgrade, the first patrol was already in the air, a l t h o u g h n o t h i n g was t o be seen.
*
First off in defence of Belgrade on 6 April, 1941 were the Rogozarski IK-Z fighters of the 51 Grupa, 6th Fighter Puk. o n e of which is seen warming u p on the city's Z e m u n airfield. (Z
Jerin)
W h e n the first big Luftwaffe raid a p p r o a c h e d , 51 G r u p a had its third patrol of the m o r n i n g in the air, while a second f o r m a t i o n f r o m 32 G r u p a was also airborne. T h e G e r m a n aircraft began to a p p r o a c h in G r u p p e strength at intervals of 15 minutes, and as the first small d o t s a p p e a r e d in t h e sky t o the n o r t h , all 51 G r u p a ' s fighters scrambled in two parallel c o l u m n s f r o m the grassy surface of Z e m u n airfield. Twenty-five miles to the north-west at P r n j a v o r the Me 109s of 32 G r u p a also took to the air in three flights. O n e of the 51 G r u p a ' s I K - Z s was obliged to turn back with engine trouble, but 34 Yugoslav interceptors headed for the first intruders:
196
51 G r u p a
32 G r u p a
161 162 102 103 104 142
Eskadrila Eskadrila Eskadrila Eskadrila Eskadrila Eskadrila
two IK-Zs three I K - Z s ten Me 109s seven Me 109s six Me 109s six Me 109s
6th Fighter Puk pilots with one of their M e l 0 9 E s . (Z
Jervin)
T h e five IK-Zs m a d e the first c o n t a c t with the b o m b e r s , but within m o m e n t s the B f l 0 9 E s of J G 7 7 were u p o n them a n d a fierce series of fights c o m m e n c e d . Ten claims were t o be m a d e for the defenders, five by the Messerschmitts of 102 Eskadrila a n d five by the IK-Zs, but three of the Yugoslav fighters were shot d o w n , six m o r e being badly hit and subsequently destroyed or d a m a g e d in forcelandings; t w o pilots were killed, while five m o r e were w o u n d e d . T h e dead were C a p t Milos Zunjic, c o m m a n d e r of 102 Eskadrila, and 2/Lt Dusan Borcic of 161 Eskadrila, w h o s e aircraft, c a r r y i n g the n u m b e r "10', crashed on the b a n k s of the D a n u b e , 12 miles n o r t h of the city. 2/Lt E d u a r d Banfic of 162 Esk baled out, w o u n d e d , while C a p t . Mihailo Nikolic of 102 Eskadrila crash-landed after suffering w o u n d s in an attack by a Bfl09E, claiming to have first shot d o w n a Ju87. Sgt D j o r d j e Stojanovic of 102 Eskadrila force-landed his M e l 0 9 when it was hit a n d set on fire by t h e rear gunner of a d o o m e d twin-engined b o m b e r ; he was badly b u r n e d as his aircraft was totally engulfed in flames. C a p t Sava Poljanec, c o m m a n d e r of 161 Eskadrila, claimed an H e l l l (or Do. 17) a n d a
197
B f l 0 9 E shot d o w n , r e t u r n i n g with n o a m m u n i t i o n a n d with his I K - Z badly d a m a g e d by a n o t h e r G e r m a n Messerschmitt which he avoided in a spin. As he landed his aircraft was strafed by a Bfl 10, suffering severe d a m a g e while the pilot suffered w o u n d s also. M e a n w h i l e C a p t Milan Zunic and Sgt Vladimir Puzic of 102 Eskadrila claimed a further twin-engined b o m b e r shot d o w n between them, a n d Sgt Milisav Semiz a Ju87. Lt D r a g o s l a v Krstic and Sgt V u k a d i n Jelic f r o m t h e same unit dived out of the sun on a large f o r m a t i o n of bombers, Jelic claiming o n e in flames while Krstic was hit by return fire a n d crash-landed on Z e m u n airfield. As 51 G r u p a ' s survivors returned, the unit f o u n d it had only five M e l 0 9 s and three I K - Z s still airworthy. Following this initial attack c a m e the Messerschmitts of 32 G r u p a , the pilots of which claimed four m o r e b o m b e r s shot d o w n for the loss of two of their own n u m b e r , 1/Lt Vasa K o l a r o v a n d F/Sgt D r a g o l j u b Milosevic b o t h baling out safely; several m o r e M e l 0 9 s were hit and d a m a g e d , o n e crash-landing. As the last f o r m a t i o n of Ju87s withdrew at a b o u t 0800, H u r r i c a n e s of 52 G r u p a f r o m the 2nd P u k at K n i c a p p e a r e d on the scene, three N C O pilots of 163 Eskadrila engaging o n e of the S t u k a s which they believed they had shot d o w n . D u r i n g this initial attack the pilots of J G 7 7 claimed ten victories, o n e pilot of the S t a b s s c h w a r m claiming a Bfl09, unidentified pilots of II G r u p p e m a k i n g six m o r e claims, while Obit Armin Schmidt a n d Lt Emil O m e r t of III G r u p p e each claimed Messerschmitts. O f w Riehl of this unit claimed a fighter identified as a 'Dewoitine' - a l m o s t certainly o n e of the IK-Zs. Six m o r e aircraft were claimed destroyed on the g r o u n d , two each by the Stab a n d the t w o G r u p p e n .
Yugoslav Grupa. (Z
fighter
pilots, o n e with his baby daughter, with a Messerschmitt
Jerin)
198
M e l 0 9 E of the 32
D u r i n g this raid it had not been easy for the Yugoslavs t o gain a clear account of what had in fact h a p p e n e d . Several 51 G r u p a pilots, having lost their wingmen and run out of a m m u n i t i o n , had landed at Z e m u n to rearm, then taking off and returning t o t h e fray. AA batteries had fired at all a n d sundry - not surprisingly finding that they could not distinguish between friendly a n d hostile Messerschmitts! W h e n the first indication of the a p p r o a c h of the raiders had been received a training unit (201 G r u p a ) at Lazarevac, 25 miles t o the south had put seven old Potez 25s into the air. led by C a p t Ivanovic of 602 Eskadrila to see if they could help. Arriving over the city after the attack hkd ended, they were able only t o t a k e a few p h o t o s of t h e c a r n a g e below. Next day Ivanovic was removed f r o m his p o s t . . . T h e next attack occurred at a b o u t 1000 and lasted a b o u t an hour, 57 Ju87s and 30 Messerschmitts a p p e a r i n g overhead. Nine Me 109s of 32 G r u p a . with six IK-Zs. a n d M e l 0 9 s of 51 G r u p a took off, the latter n o w c o m m a n d e d by C a p t Gogic, since the previous c o m m a n d e r , M a j A d u m R o m e o had at once been removed by the Brigade C o m m a n d e r d u e to his lack of activity during the first attack. This time the interceptors claimed two Ju87s forced to land a n d a Bfl09E shot d o w n , but Sgt Strbenk's Me 109 was hit by a n o t h e r escorting B f l 0 9 E and he b r o k e away t o land. Shortly a f t e r w a r d s he was killed in a 102 Eskadrila Messerschmitt; two m o r e 32 G r u p a Messerschmitts were d a m a g e d , 2/Lt Lajh c r a s h - l a n d i n g o n e of these on the airfield. O n e patrol of 101 Eskadrila Messerschmitts f r o m 31 G r u p a at K r a g u j e v a c followed the S t u k a s as they d e p a r t e d , C a p t Zivica Mitrovic reportedly s h o o t i n g d o w n two of them before he w a s shot d o w n a n d killed by t h e escort: his w i n g m a n was also shot d o w n , but m a n a g e d to bale out. T h e y had joined the fight over Belgrade w i t h o u t the orders of their g r u p a c o m m a n d e r . T w o m o r e a t t a c k s followed d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n , o n e at 1400 by 94 twinengined b o m b e r s f r o m the airfields a r o u n d Vienna, escorted by 60 fighters, a n d o n e at 1600 m a d e by 90 Ju87s and 60 fighters. T h e first of these was met by six 51 G r u p a a n d 12 32 G r u p a fighters, these units claiming o n e a n d three victories respectively (one b o m b e r was claimed by C a p t Gogic and 1/Lt Vujicic of 162 Eskadrila jointly). T h r e e 32 G r u p a Messerschmitts were shot d o w n ; 1/Lt Bogdan Presecnik baled out with severe burns, while 1/Lt D o b r i c a N o v a k o v i c and Presecnik's w i n g m a n . F/Sgt Petrov, were both killed. D u r i n g these a f t e r n o o n raids J G 7 7 m a d e t w o m o r e claims, o n e for an aircraft on the g r o u n d by III G r u p p e , and o n e shot d o w n by II G r u p p e . I I I / J G 54 also claimed successes over three Yugoslav Messerschmitts, credited to Obit. H a n s - E k k e h a r d Bob, Kapitiin of 9 Staffel for his 20th victory; to Lt M a x - H e l l m u t h O s l e r m a n n for his ninth, and to Obit G e r h a r d Koall as his first. D u r i n g the day's actions a n u m b e r of victories were also claimed by the Bf 110s of I / Z G 26, two Messerschmitts being credited to Uffz Stiegleder of this unit. T o t a l Luftwaffe claims over Belgrade a m o u n t e d to 19 M e l 0 9 s a n d four unidentified types. In o n e of the regarded by his little experience aircraft without
a f t e r n o o n e n c o u n t e r s Lt Keseljevic of 142 Eskadrila, 32 G r u p a unit c o m m a n d e r as something of an 'enfant terrible' - w h o had flying the Me 109, had taken off to chase G e r m a n twin-engined success, when he heard frantic calls f r o m M a j Djordjevic, his 199
G r u p a c o m m a n d e r : "All into the air! All into the air! 100 G e r m a n aircraft over N o v i Sad!' Seeing c l o u d s of exploding AA shells in the distance, he headed for t h e m , observing m a n y small d o t s that gradually t r a n s f o r m e d themselves int o aircraft, i never saw so m a n y aircraft together in my life, not even in a p h o t o or in the c i n e m a . . . ' he recalled. He had never flown at altitude in the Messerschmitt before, n o r used the oxygen e q u i p m e n t ; he longed for his old F u r y , in which he would have felt m o r e at home. Alone in the sky, he picked the last f o r m a t i o n of b o m b e r s , chose o n e a n d opened fire with all guns. T h e b o m b e r evaded to the right, a n d he was soon out of a m m u n i t i o n for his 2 0 m m F F wing guns, c o n t i n u i n g t h e attack with the t w o n o s e - m o u n t e d 7.9mm guns, which were not loaded with tracer or incendiary bullets. He was so close that he could not miss, but t h e b o m b e r would not g o d o w n ; instead it began flying large circles far behind its c o m p a t r i o t s . Convinced t h a t it was totally a r m o u r e d , he watched in f r u s t r a t i o n as something black separated f r o m the lonely J u 8 8 - it was a m a n whose p a r a c h u t e swiftly opened. Still t h e J u n k e r s circled over P r n j a v o r , close to 32 G r u p a ' s airfield, and n o w regimental c o m m a n d e r Kostic and 2/Lt Lajh arrived to attack. T h e n c a m e 2/Lt Kapesic of 103 Eskadrila, but still the b o m b e r circled, on a n d on, lower a n d lower, with n o sign of serious d a m a g e or fire. At last it crashed east of P r n j a v o r . T h e dead pilot w a s f o u n d still in his seat, t h e a u t o m a t i c pilot switched on T h e fighting over Belgrade on 6 April h a d cost the 6th P u k five pilots killed a n d seven w o u n d e d ; eight of its aircraft were shot d o w n and 15 d a m a g e d . Additionally t w o fighters f r o m the 2nd Puk had also been lost; they had between t h e m claimed some 22 LuftwafTe aircraft shot d o w n a n d two m o r e forced to land. G e r m a n losses had actually been substantially lower then this; d u r i n g the first raid 8 / K G 3 recorded the loss of two D o . l 7 Z s , o n e of t h e m 5K + D S flown by Uffz H e i n z - W e r n e r N e u w i r t h , while I / Z G 26 suffered the loss of n o less t h a n five Bfl 10s, some of which were p r o b a b l y a m o n g s t t h o s e claimed by the Yugoslavs as twin-engined b o m b e r s . Of these five, four were shot d o w n (two reportedly lost to t h e AA defences) with the loss of three of t h e crews - O f w Willi Messemer, Lt Reinhold E y m e r s a n d Obit K u r t Krebitz and their g u n n e r s - whilst the fifth was destroyed in a crash-landing. O n e m o r e crash-landed and it a p p e a r s that a seventh m a y also have been d a m a g e d . D u r i n g the later raids K G 51 was heavily a t t a c k e d by fighters, o n e I G r u p p e Ju88A being d a m a g e d 60%, one 35% a n d o n e 20%; n o loss of o n e of these aircraft was recorded however, so the identity of the aircraft claimed by t h e four 32 G r u p a pilots c a n n o t be ascertained. D u r i n g t h e day's raids I I / S t G 77 lost four Ju87s, including S2 + B M flown by O f w Heinz Ritter and S2 + G N (Uffz G o t t f r i e d Lannewers); a B f l 0 9 E of S t a b / J G 54 was also lost. T h e Yugoslav 2nd Puk had seen relatively little c o m b a t , a l t h o u g h its H u r r i c a n e s and Me 109s had flown m a n y patrols in their sector between C a c a k K r a l j e v o - K r a g u j e v a c and Paracin. Few aircraft had r a d i o sets, a n d c o m m u n i cations were extremely primitive, so they were generally informed t o o late t o join t h e battles over Belgrade. During o n e patrol however, N e d e l j k o Pajic of 31 G r u p a engaged an Hs 126 (5D + A K ) of 2(H)/31 over the Velika M o r a v a valley, n e a r P a r a c i n , as it w a s flying at some 8000 feet at a leisurely pace. Pajic dived at 200
Henschel H s l 2 6 A of Heeraufklariingsgruppe 32; t w o Staffeln from this unit operated over the Balkans during Lucchinij
April
1941. T h i s
example
is seen
later
in
the
month
at
Athens
airport. (Bruni
via
Malizia)
full speed on it, but overshot, his fire missing the reconnaissance aircraft. T u r n i n g after it, he had t o d r o p his speed a l m o s t t o t h e stall t o have a n y c h a n c e of hitting it as Lt H a n s Pichler threw the agile aircraft into a series of t i g h t - t u r n i n g evasive manoeuvres. After several a t t e m p t s , d u r i n g which t h e observer a p p e a r e d to have been killed by his fire, Pajic got in some telling strikes and the d o o m e d Henschel p o u r e d forth a trail of black s m o k e as it went into a gentle dive before c r a s h i n g in flames; the j u b i l a n t fighter pilot then performed a n u m b e r of victory spirals overhead. While the a t t a c k s on Belgrade had continued, S t u k a s had started to b o m b t r o o p s a n d artillery positions on the n o r t h e r n Yugoslavian-Bulgarian b o r d e r f r o m m i d d a y , but n o invasion by g r o u n d forces followed. O t h e r aircraft flew reconnaissances a n d m a d e a t t a c k s on strategic railways, bridges, airfields, t r o o p c o n c e n t r a t i o n s etc t h r o u g h o u t the c o u n t r y . F r o m the Luftflotte 4 area and Fliegerfiihrer G r a z , harrassing a t t a c k s were m a d e on Yugoslav defences o n t h e Austrian a n d Western H u n g a r i a n borders, penetrating d e e p into Western Bosnia. At 0600 reconnaissance aircraft strafed Banja L u k a airfield in Bosnia, 180 miles f r o m any frontier, while at 0700 B f l 0 9 E s of 3 / J G 27 attacked Potez 25s and h a n g a r s at L j u b l j a n a airfield. H e r e the Messerschmitt of a y o u n g u n k n o w n , O b f h r H a n s - J o a c h i m Marseille, was hit in the fuselage by an AA shell, but returned to G r a z without f u r t h e r trouble - he would soon become o n e of the Luftwaffe's most f a m o u s fighter pilots. Later in the d a y Velika G o r i c a airfield near Z a g r e b w a s a t t a c k e d , t w o eskadrila of the 4 reconnaissance G r u p a of IV A r m y being totally annihilated with the loss of 18 Breguet XIX/8s and some Potez 25s. VII Army's 6 G r u p a at Cerklje and Brege, near Brezice, 22 miles north-west of Z a g r e b suffered a similar fate. Both a t t a c k s were carried out by I I / S t G 77 Ju87s escorted by Bfl09s. It seems t h a t on at least o n e occasion these were aircraft of J G 7 7 , which claimed eight aircraft destroyed on the g r o u n d (five by II G r u p p e and three by 201
Ill G r u p p e ) d u r i n g a m i d d a y raid; o n e B f l 0 9 E was shot d o w n by AA. Obit Heinz Deuschle r e t u r n i n g t o his unit on 9 April. T h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y Luftwaffe aircraft attacked positions at the rear of IV a n d VII Yugoslav Armies, which were responsible for the defence of a b o u t 100 miles of b o r d e r with Austria and H u n g a r y , a l o n g the River D r a v a between D r a v o g r a d and Gyekenyes. H u r r i c a n e s and IK.-2s of the 4th P u k were u n a b l e t o hinder them as they b o m b e d and strafed, since the J K R V fighters were based t o o far away at Bosanski Aleksandrovac, 150 miles f r o m the area. A p a r t f r o m the ill-fated Dorniers, the Yugoslav b o m b e r s also played little part on this first day. In the 1st P u k , the 23 Blenheims of 61 G r u p a were transferred f r o m Bijeljina, 60 miles west of Belgrade, t o D a v i d o v a c in the M o r a v a valley, only 45 miles f r o m the Bulgarian border. T h e P u k ' s other G r u p a , No.62, was ordered t o send out two pairs of b o m b e r s on armed reconnaissances of t h e R u m a n i a n frontier d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n , but n o t h i n g was found to attack.
Sergeant M u r k o (left) of 216 Eskadrila. 68 G r u p a of the 8th Bomber Puk with his groundcrew in front of his Blenheim 1. M u r k o w a s the first Yugoslav pilot t o b o m b targets in Austria on 6 April 1941. attacking G r a z railway station. (Z
Jerin)
T h e 8th P u k ' s Blenheims at Rovine, in the Banja L u k a area of Western Bosnia, spent most of the d a y on the g r o u n d and were lucky not to be spotted by Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft. D u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n s o m e aircraft f r o m 68 G r u p a ' s 216 Eskadrila were sent out to attack targets in Austria, b o m b i n g railway stations at Fiirstenfeld and G r a z , and airfields at G r a z and Wiener N e u s t a d t with 100kg b o m b s . O n e became lost, c r a s h i n g into a m o u n t a i n in 202
south-east Austria. T w o 4th Puk H u r r i c a n e s were sent as escort, but lost their charges in cloud, where o n e fighter pilot a t t e m p t e d to intercept s o m e Bfl09Es. Sgt K a r e l M u r k o was the first of t h e few pilots t o attack targets in t h e Steyr area of Austria d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n . Loaded with four b o m b s , they were ordered to b o m b G r a z station f r o m 1000 feet. Reported M u r k o : 'Because of the m u r k y weather we didn't fly at the prescribed height of 2,500 metres, but pressed d o w n t o t h e g r o u n d a n d followed s o m e river courses a n d rail tracks, which led us directly to G r a z . T h e r e we must climb t o a b o u t 500 metres for better orientation a n d when we discovered the railway j u n c t i o n 1 put my Blenheim in a gentle dive. T h r e e b o m b s went d o w n amid the t r a c k s and there were only o n e o r t w o trains, but t h e f o u r t h o n e was a direct hit on a large twostorey building, obviously some sort of magazine. W e were convinced that no air raid w a r n i n g was given before our b o m b s exploded, as we could see people quietly walking in the streets. T h e r e was n o enemy reaction over the t o w n , a l t h o u g h I climbed in a large circle t o some 700 metres t o observe t h e d a m a g e . In the low flight h o m e I emerged over the a e r o d r o m e of Talerhof near Leibnitz crowded with Messerschmitts and Stukas. S o m e Me 109s scrambled after me, but only o n e was persistent e n o u g h t o c a t c h me when I was already over o u r own territory. After o n e short burst of his guns, this adversary also turned for home, and I returned safely t o Rovine, where my mechanics f o u n d only t w o small holes in the tail surfaces.
Fiat B R 2 0 M b o m b e r of 48" Squadriglia, 37" G r u p p o . 18" S t o r m o B T in action over south-western Yugoslavia. (N
Malizia)
T h e remaining Yugoslav Blenheims in the 11th Independent G r u p a were retained for long range reconnaissance u n d e r the direct c o m m a n d of the c o m m a n d e r of the J K R V . Brigade G e n Borivoje Mirkovic. F r o m the large airfield at Veliki Radinci, 45 miles north-west of Belgrade, they had already despatched o n e pair of aircraft t o attack Arad in the m o r n i n g , and a n o t h e r pair t o attack T e m i s o a r a airfield in R u m a n i a , where the S t u k a s and Messerschmitts of Fliegerfiihrer Arad were based. W i t h o u t fighter cover, these were real suicide missions, and sure 203
Italian-based C a n t Z.1007bis b o m b e r s were also making raids on Y u g o s l a v i a from the first day, including these Brindisi-based aircraft from 210* Squadriglia, 50° G r u p p o A u t o n o m o BT. (AMI
via N
Malizia)
e n o u g h only o n e aircraft f r o m the T e m i s o a r a raid returned two h o u r s later, reporting a successful attack on the railway station a n d tracks. T h e other Blenheim of this pair a n d both those attacking Arad were shot d o w n , o n e of the latter by H p t Arnold Lignitz, G r u p p e n k o m m a n d e u r of I I I / J G 5 4 , for his 20th victory.
Italian bombers pass over a Y u g o s l a v N a v y seaplane base, where t w o Dornier Wal flying-boats are seen on the water, (via A
Stamatopoulos)
204
T h e third area of activity d u r i n g t h e d a y was in the west, where f r o m 0630 o n w a r d s reconnaissance aircraft of the Regia A e r o n a u t i c a l 4 ;| S q u a d r a Aerea a p p e a r e d o v e r h e a d , followed half an hour later by b o m b e r s and by units of Fliergerkorps X. At 0700, 15 C a n t Z.1007bis raided M o s t a r , a n d five Fiat BR20s b o m b e d Split, the p e r m a n e n t bases of the N a v a l Air Force's 2 H i d r o k o m a n d a and S k o l a s k a eskadrila; the arsenal at Tivat a n d Zelenika in Boka K o t o r s k a were also a t t a c k e d . After a further 30 minutes 22 Luftwaffe b o m b e r s , covered by 15 fighters, attacked Rajlovac and S a r a j e v o airfields, d r o p p i n g 88 250kg and 220 50kg b o m b s , while 26 m o r e b o m b e r s attacked M o s t a r a n d four hit Boka K o t o r s k a . M e a n w h i l e B f l 0 9 E s of 7 / J G 2 6 strafed P o d g o r i c a airfield.
Third b o m b e r type e m p l o y e d by the J K R V w a s the S a v o i a S.79. T h i s aircraft of the 7th B o m b e r Puk w a s based in the Mostar region. (Z
Jerin)
Apart f r o m some AA guns, the sole defence of this large area lay in the h a n d s of nine fighters f o r m i n g t h e I n d e p e n d e n t Flight of the 2nd Fighter School - three M e l 0 9 s and three H u r r i c a n e s at K o s o r airfield in the M o s t a r area, a n d three old Avia BH33Es, t w o of which were on d e t a c h m e n t at Podgorica. Both these were shot d o w n d u r i n g t h e attack by 7/JG 26, o n e over the airfield at 1205 by O b i t J o a c h i m M i i n c h e b e r g (34th victory) a n d one five minutes later during a violent dogfight over the m o u n t a i n s by Lt K l a u s Mietusch (6th victory); these fighters were claimed by the G e r m a n pilots as Furies, 1/Lt M i l e n k o Milivojevic a n d F/Sgt D j o r d j e Cvetkovic both being killed - the latter on his 29th birthday. M i i n c h c b e r g then went on t o claim a Breguet XIX destroyed on the g r o u n d . 205
Twice m o r e d u r i n g the day Fliegerkorps X b o m b e d P o d g o r i c a , while M o s t a r suffered f r o m m o r e air raid warnings d u r i n g t h e day t h a n any o t h e r t o w n in Yugoslavia - nine in all, a l t h o u g h most were c o n c e n t r a t e d on the three airfields. T h e last attack included a strafe of Ortijes airfield by escorting Bfl 10s. T h e Savoia S.79s of the 7th Puk had been hitting back, initially in s u p p o r t of Yugoslav t r o o p s w h o went o n t o t h e offensive against Italian defences a r o u n d t h e Drin valley a r e a of the Albanian frontier, near Scutari. 66 G r u p a , led by 4 B o m b a r d e r s k a Brigada Col P e t a r Vukcevic, attacked T a r a b o s h i t airfield near Scutari, together with military c a m p s and bridges on the D r i n a n d Buene rivers, returning without loss. O t h e r S.79s of the 81 I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a at M o s t a r Ortijes were also given similar targets, o n e eskadrila b o m b i n g T a r a b o s h i t airfield also. O r d e r e d t o g o out again in t h e a f t e r n o o n , these b o m b e r s were being prepared when the I I I / Z G 26 Bfl 10s swept in to strafe as mentioned above. F o u r of the Messerschmitts spotted the bombers, t w o of which were destroyed a n d three d a m a g e d . T h e remainder, four in n u m b e r , were sent to attack a c o l u m n heading u p t o Z a r a - B e n k o v a c r o a d .
81 Independent G r u p a S a v o i a S.79 destroyed at Mostar-Ortijes airfield on 6 April, 1941 by strafing Messerschmitt Bfl 10s of II1/ZG26. Italian officers are inspecting b o m b s which had been laid out ready t o arm the aircraft, following the cessation of hostilities. (Z
Jerin)
Meanwhile soon after m i d d a y 4 a S q u a d r a Aerea had returned in force, ten Z.1007bis f r o m the 260 a , 261 •' a n d 263 a Squadriglia a t t a c k i n g M o s t a r where they c a m e u n d e r interception by the M e l 0 9 s and Hurricanes, which split t h e m u p into t w o f o r m a t i o n s . O n e Messerschmitt pilot, Sgt G r u j i c , shot d o w n a 206 a Squadriglia C a n t flown by S o t t o t e n G i o v a n n i Delia C o s t a , while two m o r e were d a m a g e d ; the Italian g u n n e r s claimed two Messerschmitts shot d o w n in return. 206
Subsequently C a p t Stipcic in a n o t h e r of the M e l 0 9 s claimed a Luftwaffe twinengined aircraft shot d o w n d u r i n g the day; t w o of the Messerschmitts were d a m a g e d d u r i n g these skirmishes, one of t h e m p r o b a b l y by O f w Richard Heller of I I I / Z G 26, w h o claimed a Yugoslav M e l 0 9 shot d o w n s o u t h of Sarajevo d u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n for his 5th victory; a second was also claimed by this unit.
Yugoslav H a w k e r Hurricane I of the Fighter S c h o o l Independent Fighter Eskadrila at M o s t a r - K o s o r airfield, (via A
Stamatopoulos)
K o t a r was also attacked by nine Italian Ju87s of the 239 a Squadriglia, 97° G r u p p o Ba'T d u r i n g the afternoon, o n e of these being shot d o w n by AA and t w o d a m a g e d . Their attack d a m a g e d a single D o r n i e r Wal flyingboat of 21 H E at D o b r o t a . S o o n after c a m e ten more high-flying Z.1007bis of 35° S t o r m o BT, which a t t e m p t e d w i t h o u t success t o hit the Tivat arsenal; three were d a m a g e d by AA. Finally a lone reconnaissance S.79 a p p e a r e d over M o s t a r , 1/Lt Fasovic in o n e of the H u r r i c a n e s gaining several hits on it before it escaped. 2a S q u a d r a Aerea units in N o r t h e r n Italy which were d u e t o attack targets in Slovenia, C r o a t i a and the N o r t h e r n Adriatic coastal area were prevented by bad weather which was spreading steadily f r o m the west, a l t h o u g h some small G e r m a n f o r m a t i o n s did encroach on these areas d u r i n g the day. Yugoslav N a v y units on the coast had also been relatively inactive. D u r i n g an attack on the 2 H K base at Divulje, a R o g o z a r s k i P V T - H training seaplane with a speed of less than 150 m p h tried in vain to intercept the five 37° G r u p p o BT BR20s, while 3 H K Do.22s and S I M XIVs covered the minelayer Jastreh as it laid a minefield before the h a r b o u r of Budva. As daylight ended, all activity in the air c a m e t o a halt until a b o u t 2300, when a 207
small force of G e r m a n b o m b e r s appeared over Belgrade, d r o p p i n g b o m b s on the fires t h a t were still burning. Such intrusions c o n t i n u e d until 0400, causing considerable panic a m o n g s t the already shocked inhabitants. D u r i n g the d a y the city had suffered attack by 484 b o m b e r s a n d Stukas, which h a d d r o p p e d 360 t o n s of b o m b s . M o s t of the estimated 4000 people killed in Belgrade d u r i n g the c a m p a i g n died on this first day; m o r e t h a n half t h e n u m b e r were never f o u n d , since d u r i n g the o c c u p a t i o n which followed, n o a t t e m p t was m a d e to remove the debris. T h e Luftwaffe h a d d r o p p e d all categories of b o m b s f r o m small incendiaries t o 1000kg landmines, carried by H e l 1 l P - 4 s of I l / K G 4. Seven hundred a n d fourteen buildings were totally destroyed, 1888 heavily d a m a g e d and 6615 d a m a g e d to a lesser extent - 4 7 % of the total building stock in the city. O n l y a small p r o p o r t i o n of these were military targets of any sort. S o m e air raid shelters had also been hit, including o n e in the C h u r c h of Alexander Nevsky, where 70 people had died, a n d a n o t h e r where u p t o 200 were believed t o have lost their lives. T h r o u g h o u t the c o u n t r y on this first d a y the J K R V had flown 474 sorties, 377 by fighters, 93 by b o m b e r s a n d four by reconnaissance aircraft, a p a r t f r o m t h e efforts of the a r m y reconnaissance and naval units. Forty-seven fighters, 45 b o m b e r s and three reconnaissance aircraft had been destroyed o r d a m a g e d , together with a b o u t 50 a r m y reconnaissance BrXIXs and Po.25s.
O n e of 20 Fieseler F i l 5 6 Storch light aircraft e m p l o y e d by the J K R V for liaison duties. (Z
Jerin)
T h e focus of activity on t h e g r o u n d remained in the south on 7 April, where Fliegerkorps VIII directed most of its activity in s u p p o r t of the n o r t h e r n m o s t of t h e c o l u m n s penetrating M a c e d o n i a . D u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n these t r o o p s would reach the V a r d a r river a n d enter Skoplje. T h e central c o l u m n also reached the V a r d a r at Veles, while t h e s o u t h e r n thrust crossed t h e same river t o t h e south a n d reached p o i n t s on the Yugoslav-Greek border. A t t a c k s were also m a d e on the 208
t o w n s of Stip, Veles and G r a d s k o , and on the 64 G r u p a airfields at Obilic a n d Stubol. N o t a Yugoslav fighter remained available t o c o u n t e r the o m n i p r e s e n c e of the Luftwaffe, but the J K R V sought to send out the b o m b e r s of the 1st a n d 3rd P u k s against the a r m o u r e d c o l u m n s t h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y , some 60 sorties being made. First off at 0600 were five D o . l 7 K s which hit t r o o p s in the open at Slaviste, near Stracin, a t t a c k i n g with c o m p l e t e surprise a n d escaping u n s c a t h e d . T r i o s of Blenheims f r o m 201 Eskadrila of the 1st Puk followed at hourly intervals, the first returning u n m o l e s t e d , but thereafter the G e r m a n F l a k crews then began t o get their eyes in. T h e last trio despatched by 61 G r u p a returned well s h o t - a b o u t , while at 1500 62 G r u p a lost t h e c o m m a n d e r of 204 Eskadrila, C a p t Ivancevic, when his Blenheim w a s shot d o w n in flames. O n e m o r e Blenheim f r o m 61 G r u p a a n d t w o f r o m 62 G r u p a were obliged t o crash-land o n r e t u r n f r o m sorties, while a badly w o u n d e d pilot of the latter unit d a m a g e d his aircraft in a force-landing. These losses were caused in n o small extent by t h e worsening weather, which forced pilots of the later flights t o launch their a t t a c k s at an altitude of only some 600 feet, where they were extremely vulnerable t o t h e G e r m a n fire.
Bob
Geisshardt Miincheberg
Ubben
Lignitz
Baagoe
Omert
Heller
Ihlefeld
Huy
Mutherich
Rodel
N o t e a b l e Luftwaffe fighter pilots active over the Balkans during April and May 1941 (the number of victories claimed by each man are indicated in brackets: Obit Joachim Miincheberg, 7/JG 2 6 (1); Lt Fritz Geisshardt, I(J)/LG 2 (6); Obit Hans-Ekkehard Bob. 9 / J G 54 (2): Obit Kurt U b b e n , 8/JG 77 (1); Obit Arnold Lignitz, 1I1/JG 54 (1); Lt Emil Omert, 8/JG 77 (3): F w Richard Heller, I1I/ZG 2 6 (1); Obit Hubert Mutherich, 5 / J G 54 (2); Obit S o p h u s Baagoe. 5 / Z G 26 (1), w h o w a s killed on 14 M a y 1941; Hpt Herbert Ihlefeld, 1(J)/LG 2 (1): Obit Wolf-Dietrich Huy, III/JG 77, w h o undertook successful
fighter-bomber
attacks on British ships; Obit G u s t a v Rodel, 1I/JG 27 (6).
209
two
(E Obermaier)
T h e D o r n i e r s were m o r e f o r t u n a t e , eight m o r e f r o m 64 G r u p a and four f r o m 63 G r u p a a t t a c k i n g c o l u m n s between Stracin a n d Kriva P a l a n k a d u r i n g the m o r n i n g with only a single b o m b e r suffering slight d a m a g e . N o fighters were met t h r o u g h o u t the day, t h o u g h during a t t a c k s on the 64 G r u p a airfields these m a n a g e d to destroy three m o r e D o . l 7 K s on the g r o u n d . T h e last attack was m a d e d u r i n g t h e early evening by four 63 G r u p a aircraft, which were n o w i n c o r p o r a t e d in 208 Eskadrila. Six 35 G r u p a F u r i e s took off f r o m Bojnik at o n e point to try and intercept some G e r m a n b o m b e r s , but four suffered gun j a m s , a n d n o n e were able t o catch the faster Luftwaffe aircraft. Luftflotte 4 was also active, particularly t h e units of Fliegerfiihrer Arad, which penetrated further s o u t h on this date, t o attack airfields in C e n t r a l Serbia in the general area of Belgrade. Ju87s and Bfl 10s failed to find a n y o p e r a t i o n a l bases of the J K R V ' s main units, but did discover 201 T r a i n i n g G r u p a ' s field at Lazarevac, south of the city. Here the 36 aircraft of 601 and 602 Eskadrila were strafed, 12 being destroyed in flames a n d 17 m o r e badly d a m a g e d . At Smederevska P a l a n k a most of the 18 Breguet XIXs of the VI Army's 7 V I G r u p a were dealt with in similar fashion, as were 3 V I G r u p a ' s aircraft attached to II Army at S t a r o T o p o l j e , near D j a k o v o . N o a d e q u a t e fighter o p p o s i t i o n could be offered, as t h e surviving elements of the 6th P u k were engaged over the capital itself t h r o u g h o u t the day. Luftwaffe tactics here proved very different on 7 April, n o repetition of the mass a t t a c k s of the previous d a y being f o r t h c o m i n g . Instead t h r o u g h o u t the m o r n i n g and early a f t e r n o o n small f o r m a t i o n s of three or four aircraft a p p r o a c h e d high a b o v e the clouds, dived t h r o u g h t h e m t o b o m b and retreated at once. 32 a n d 51 G r u p a sent u p aircraft t o intercept every intrusion, some pilots m a k i n g u p t o eight scrambles d u r i n g the d a y as a result. Several victories were claimed without loss, a l t h o u g h some fighters suffered d a m a g e . O n e of these (an I K - Z flown by 2/Lt Milisav Semiz) was hit by r e t u r n fire f r o m three b o m b e r s and landed having been hit 56 times, 20 bullets having lodged in t h e engine a n d airscrew. At a b o u t 1600 however, larger f o r m a t i o n s a p p e a r e d , including 24 twin-engined b o m b e r s , 26 Ju87s a n d an escort of a b o u t 45 B f l 0 9 E s a n d Bfl 10s. O n e claim for a Bfl 10 shot d o w n was m a d e by an I K - Z pilot near Novi Sad, but the fiercest clash occurred when nine M e l 0 9 s of 32 G r u p a engaged t h e d i v e - b o m b e r s further west as these were a t t a c k i n g railway installations at Indjija, ten miles f r o m Krusedol (Prnjavor), where the Yugoslav unit was based. T h r e e b o m b e r s were claimed shot d o w n , but B f l 0 9 E s f r o m 4 / J G 54 then dived on the Yugoslav Messerschmitts, eight of which were either shot d o w n or severely d a m a g e d . F o u r claims were s u b m i t t e d by the pilots of 4 / J G 54, t w o by Obit H a n s Philipp (his 24th and 25th victories), o n e by O f w M a x Stotz for his 16th, and o n e by an unidentified pilot. O t h e r claims d u r i n g the d a y included three m o r e M e l 0 9 s , three Hurricanes, t w o I K - Z s a n d a ' P Z L ' by Luftwaffe units. Five Yugoslav pilots were actually killed: C a p t Miha K l a v o v a (104 Eskadrila) Sgt Vladimir G o r u p (103 Eskadrila) 2/Lt Jovan Kapesic (103 Eskadrila) Sgt Milivoje Boskovic (104 Eskadrila) Wt Off Branislav T o d o r o v i c (103 Eskadrila) 210
Sgt G o r u p w a s believed to have shot d o w n a Bfl 09 E before he fell. Additionally, Sgt Stojanovic was w o u n d e d , Sgt Stelcer baled out u n h u r t , a n d 2/Lt M i o d r a g Aleksic (142 Eskadrila) claimed a Bfl()9E shot d o w n , but was hit by two more and force-landed some way f r o m P r n j a v o r . T h e r e is a strong possibility that t h e three d i v e - b o m b e r s claimed by the 32 G r u p a pilots before the unit's demise, were Ju88s rather than Ju87s. Luftwaffe records indicate no losses of Ju87s over Belgrade on this date, but I / K G 51 did lose three J u 8 8 A s t o fighters, including 9 K + G L ( L t H a n s - J u r g e n Kriiger), 9K + M K ( O f w J o h a n n Gerritzen) and 9K + K H ( U f f z Schmitt). O t h e r losses on this d a t e included a D o . l 7 Z of 3 / K G 2 over the capital (possibly the aircraft claimed as a Bfl 10), while a second aircraft f r o m the G r u p p e ' s 2 Staffel (U5 + H R ; M a j Dreyer, the G r u p p e n k o m m a n d e u r ) crashed n e a r N o v s k a , n e a r Z a g r e b , cause u n k n o w n . Losses t o o t h e r causes were high, a I I / K G 51 Ju88A c r a s h - l a n d i n g at Recita in R u m a n i a and requiring writing-off, while a second such b o m b e r , this time f r o m I I I / K G 51, was also destroyed in a c r a s h - l a n d i n g at Arad d u e t o engine failure. T w o of I / S t G 77's Ju87s collided over the same airfield d u r i n g the d a y with the loss of b o t h aircraft and pilots, while a third o v e r t u r n e d whilst landing. F u r t h e r s o u t h at Sofia, I I / Z G 26 recorded severe d a m a g e t o one Bfl 10 d u r i n g a crash-landing. Since P r n j a v o r had been spotted by the G e r m a n s d u r i n g the main a f t e r n o o n engagement, the decision was swiftly taken to move all r e m a i n i n g airworthy J K R V fighters to Veliki Radinci, an airfield f r o m which t h e Blenheims of 11 Independent Reconnaissance G r u p a had been transferred to M a j u r , near Sabac, 22 miles t o t h e south. T h a t evening therefore four M e l 0 9 s left P r n j a v o r , a l t h o u g h o n e crashed while landing at Veliki Radinci d u e to the fatigue of the pilot, C a p t G r o z d a n o v i c , w h o was gravely injured. T h r e e I K - Z s and t h r e e of the last M e l 0 9 s of 51 G r u p a also moved to this airfield, the last five 32 G r u p a Messerschmitts following next m o r n i n g . 2nd Puk fighters were also active on 7 April, patrolling over C e n t r a l Serbia in expectation of Luftwaffe a t t a c k s on factories in K r a g u j e v a c and Kraljevo which in the event never materialized. However, when at 1000 t w o pairs of 31 G r u p a Me 109s took off on o n e such patrol, o n e pair spotted t w o H s l 2 6 A s east of the M o r a v a river, almost at t h e same position as that shot d o w n by Pajic on the previous day. Pilots K o d r a and C r n j a n s k i opened fire and hit the first Henschel at once and it went d o w n t o crash near the m o n a s t e r y of St P e t k a ; the pilot, Josef Ricklin, a n d his observer were killed. M e a n w h i l e the second H s l 2 6 A m a d e good its escape u n h a r m e d . In the n o r t h t o o , t h e Blenheims were out in s o m e strength, 8th Puk aircraft leaving Rovine airfield in the early h o u r s t o attack the railway j u n c t i o n at F e l d b a c h , a n d o t h e r targets. In bad w e a t h e r the trio became lost, only o n e actually arriving over Austria where the crew b o m b e d a bridge and road in U p p e r Steyr t h r o u g h an o p e n i n g in the cloud. Finally e m e r g i n g i n t o clear sky over Wiener N e u s t a d t , they were fired on by F l a k , o n e shell severing a fuel line which caused an emergency landing, the crew becoming prisoners. At 1000 b o t h G r u p a were ordered to attack railway s t a t i o n s and airfields in H u n g a r y , 68 G r u p a heading for Szeged with eight aircraft while six f r o m 69 211
G r u p a m a d e for Pecs. At a r o u n d n o o n B f l 0 9 E s of 5 / J G 54 intercepted Blenheims near Pecs - a p p a r e n t l y the 68 G r u p a f o r m a t i o n - a n d claimed six shot d o w n , two by the Staffelkapitiin, O b i t H u b e r t Miitherick (9th a n d 10th victories), o n e each by Lt W o l f g a n g S p a t e a n d Lt Josef P o h s (8th), and t w o by unidentified pilots. T w o m o r e Blenheims were claimed in the Szeged area by H u n g a r i a n AA gunners. Five 68 G r u p a Blenheims were shot d o w n by fighters, all the crews being killed including the G r u p a c o m m a n d e r , M a j Lazo D o n o v i c , the 215 Eskadrila c o m m a n d e r , C a p t Vladimir Jovicic, and the 216 Eskadrila c o m m a n d e r C a p t Sergije Vojinov, t o g e t h e r with Lts Andrija Pozder a n d R a d o m i r Lazarevic, a n d all the n a v i g a t o r s and gunners. T h e survivors reported that the airfield they had sought t o attack w a s e m p t y , so they had d r o p p e d most of their b o m b s on the railway network. T h r e e B f l 0 9 E s were believed to have been shot d o w n in return, but only o n e of these claims was considered certain. T h e three surviving aircraft m a d e for base, but o n e landed at Novi Sad when it ran out of fuel, the o t h e r t w o then being fired at by 'friendly' AA. O n e was hit a n d force-landed nearby, so that only o n e returned to Rovine, its nose plexiglass completely shattered - it was the aircraft that had m a d e t h e initial attack on Austrian soil on the previous day. M e a n w h i l e the 69 G r u p a f o r m a t i o n had also suffered casualties - p r o b a b l y to the H u n g a r i a n AA - t h e unit c o m m a n d e r , M a j D o b r o s a v Tesic being shot d o w n and killed over Pecs, while three m o r e Blenheims were hit a n d d a m a g e d . Most b o m b s had hit airfields in the area where units of the H u n g a r i a n Air F o r c e was based, but d a m a g e had not been ascertained. While t h e unescorted Blenheims had been suffering such fearful depredations, the H u r r i c a n e s and lK-2s of the 4th P u k had again been flying patrols over t h e same general area without event, o t h e r t h a n occasionally t o chase a high-flying reconnaissance aircraft over Bosnia and C r o a t i a .
T h e Hurricane 1 of the Independent Fighter Eskadrila crash-landed by Sgt Delic following c o m b a t in the M o s t a r area on 7 April, 1941. (Z
Jerin)
212
Small f o r m a t i o n s of b o m b e r s f r o m Fliegerkorps X a t t a c k e d m a n y targets in the west d u r i n g t h e d a y , a l t h o u g h without escort, I I I / Z G 26 r e t u r n i n g t o Sicily on this d a t e , followed on 8 April by 7 / J G 26. T h e r e was only o n e e n c o u n t e r in this part of Yugoslavia d u r i n g t h e day, when soon after m i d d a y a small f o r m a t i o n of Ju88s headed over M o s t a r t o w a r d s Sarajevo. C a p t D a n i l o G r b i c and Sgt Delic of the I n d e p e n d e n t F i g h t e r T r a i n i n g Flight gave c h a s e in two Hurricanes, but were both hit by return fire. Sgt Delic m a n a g e d to reach the airfield and crash-land despite the w o u n d s he had suffered, but C a p t G r b i c c o n t i n u e d to p u r s u e t h e b o m b e r s n o r t h w a r d s . Suddenly he was bounced by B f l 0 9 E s , a p p a r e n t l y f r o m the n o r t h , and was forced t o bale out of his crippled H u r r i c a n e , suffering severe w o u n d s ; he subsequently died from loss of blood. It seems possible that his victor was Lt H a n s Beisswenger of 6 / J G 54, w h o claimed o n e such victory on this date. D u e t o the p o o r weather, most Italian a t t a c k s were m a d e against shipping targets, r a t h e r t h a n inland, except on the A l b a n i a n frontier where units of A e r o n a u t i c a Albania were active against Yugoslav t r o o p s w h o had advanced 30 miles into t h a t c o u n t r y in places. In return 81 G r u p a sent seven S.79s t o attack D u r a z z o and T i r a n a d u r i n g the morning. A further trio became lost in cloud soon after t a k e off, and were subsequently s h o t - u p by Yugoslavian AA defences at Boka K o t o r s k a on the coast, o n e of the b o m b e r s actually being shot d o w n . With the 7th P u k , 66 G r u p a was g r o u n d e d d u e t o t h e c o n d i t i o n of the airfield at Preljina, but 67 G r u p a sent out several flights t o attack targets at the front, o n e crew claiming to have shot d o w n a Fiat fighter which a t t e m p t e d t o attack them. Little activity w a s u n d e r t a k e n by the a r m y reconnaissance G r u p a s or the naval units, only Breguet XIXs of 4 V I G r u p a m a k i n g a few a t t a c k s on a bridge over the D r a v a at Gyekenyes. By evening on 7 April the J K R V disposed 83 fighters, 86 b o m b e r s and eight twin-engined reconnaissance aircraft; t h e air force had lost nearly 60" o of its o p e r a t i o n a l aircraft in 48 hours! T h e w e a t h e r deteriorated further the next d a y as t h e s o u t h e r n m o s t of the 12th Armee c o l u m n s crossed the frontier into G r e e c e and advanced on Thessalonika. Of greater i m m e d i a t e d a n g e r t o the Yugoslavs was t h e r o u t e taken by the n o r t h e r n thrust, which n o w s w u n g n o r t h f r o m S k o p l j e t h r o u g h the K a c a n i k G o r g e t o w a r d s K o s o v o Polje, a n d u p a parallel valley n o r t h of K u m a n o v o t o w a r d s B u j a n o v a c and the M o r a v a river valley. While climatic c o n d i t i o n s ailbut g r o u n d e d F l i e g e r k o r p s VIII, d e s p e r a t e efforts were m a d e by the J K R V t o delay this new direction of attack which now threatened m a n y of that force's own airfields. All targets previously notified to 4th Bomber Brigade were cancelled a n d a m a x i m u m effort was ordered against the forces in the Kacanik G o r g e by 1st Puk and 11 I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a Blenheims, 3rd Puk D o . l 7 K s and 7th Puk S.79s, joined by the H u r r i c a n e s of the 2nd P u k ' s 52 G r u p a - a total strength of a b o u t 70 aircraft. In t h e event the b o m b e r s would be sent out in widely-spaced trios t o attack the eight miles of closely-packed G e r m a n convoys. O n l y the Savoia crews were f o r t u n a t e to find g a p s in the cloud, allowing t h e m t o b o m b relatively unscathed f r o m 3000 feet; all other units were forced d o w n to the c l o u d base at 3 0 0 - 5 0 0 feet, w h e r e they were very vulnerable to light a u t o m a t i c Flak and even infantry small-arms fire. 213
T h e Blenheims of 62 G r u p a encountered the severest F l a k , the first trio being led in to attack by the Puk c o m m a n d e r , Col F e r d o G r a d i s n i k . Lt B r a n k o G l u m a c , observer in t h e second aircraft, later reported: 'Col Gradisnik at t h e sight of n u m e r o u s t a n k s on t h e S k o p l j e - K u m a n o v o r o a d pressed his Blenheim even lower in the drizzle, which obscured the visibility t o a b o u t 500 metres (1700 feet). 1 saw o n e of his b o m b s going d o w n and exploding, but at practically t h e same m o m e n t violent flames e r u p t e d f r o m t h e s t a r b o a r d wing fuel tank of his Blenheim. A few seconds later also f r o m the port wing flames erupted and the Blenheim crash-landed besides t h e r o a d . In the next second we were over it, but o u r gunner Zecevic saw the Blenheim explode.' It was later discovered t h a t the pilot, Sgt Zivan J o v a n o v i c , and t h e Colonel had been killed, but that the g u n n e r , Sgt Terzic, had got out with his clothes on fire, rolling in t h e wet grass at t h e feet of some astonished G e r m a n soldiers as he sought to extinguish the flames. Even as the first Blenheim struck the g r o u n d , so t o o was the third hit a n d fell, t h o u g h Lt G l u m a c considered t h a t this might possibly have been shot d o w n by an Hs 126 which he spotted in the valley n e a r b y ; this w a s not so in fact, both b o m b e r s having fallen t o Flak. T h e next two sections f r o m 62 G r u p a failed to find the target in clouds and did not b o m b , but aircraft of 61 G r u p a were m o r e successful, e n c o u n t e r i n g slightly improved weather which allowed them t o attack and escape w i t h o u t severe d a m a g e . T h e y were followed by a further four Blenheims a n d a single H a w k e r Hind biplane f r o m 11 I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a , which a t t a c k e d o n e of the c o l u m n s n o r t h of K u m a n o v o . T h e Blenheim flown by C a p t Z i v o m i r Petrovic was shot d o w n , all on b o a r d being killed, while a second Blenheim became lost and landed at 61 G r u p a ' s airfield at D a v i d o v a c . T h e Hind crashed into M o u n t Vlasic in heavy cloud when some 20 miles f r o m base, Lt Rastislav Pesic and his observer, Sgt G a r d a s e v i c , both being killed. T h r e e D o . l 7 K s of 64 G r u p a ' s 210 Eskadrila then a t t a c k e d , t w o being s h o t - u p by small a r m s fire. As they headed back for base, Sgt Josip Telar's b o m b e r was a t t a c k e d and shot d o w n by two Bfl 10s, only the pilot surviving t o bale out. T h e H u r r i c a n e s then swept in t h r o u g h a patch of very bad weather to strafe, headed by aircraft of 163 Eskadrila led by Lt Boris C i j a n ; they were followed by C a p t Ivo Ostric and his 164 Eskadrila, but o n e of these fighters w a s hit and crash-landed by the r o a d : Lt Pantelijc G r a n d i c leapt out a n d m a n a g e d t o run t o safety, escaping c a p t u r e . T h e raids failed signally t o slow d o w n the G e r m a n s , w h o were meeting only limited resistance on t h e g r o u n d . At last Fliegerkorps VIII m a n a g e d t o send out some Bfl 10s t o strafe the J K R V airfields at Stubol a n d Obilic, where 10-12 aircraft (including some D o . l 7 K s ) were destroyed or. the g r o u n d . T h e only claim against the G e r m a n s occurred when an infantry d e t a c h m e n t claimed a reconnaissance aircraft shot d o w n near K o s o v s k a Mitrovica, this aircraft reportedly falling into the River I bar. This may have been an H s l 2 6 A (5F + D H ) of 1(H)/14, flown by Uffz W a l d o T h a i s e n , the only loss of the d a y recorded by t h e Fliegerkorps, which was reported missing over K a l i n d r a , Greece. D u r i n g the d a y further W e h r m a c h t forces moved d u e west f r o m Skoplje t o w a r d s T e t o v o t o cut 214
off all forces in s o u t h e r n M a c e d o n i a f r o m the rest of the c o u n t r y . In this area Breguet XIXs of 5 R e c o n n a i s s a n c e G r u p a b o m b e d a bridge over the V a r d a r in an effort to delay this latest thrust, but without success. T h i s unit's 3 Eskadrila now moved t o an airfield at F i o r i n a in n o r t h e r n Greece t o c o n t i n u e operations. Meanwhile d u r i n g the early h o u r s other divisions f r o m 12th A r m e e based in n o r t h e r n Bulgaria h a d crossed t h e frontier, a d v a n c i n g t o w a r d s Nis a n d central Serbia with the objective of an a d v a n c e t h r o u g h the M o r a v a valley t o Belgrade. Fliegerkorps VIII provided some s u p p o r t , a l t h o u g h this was less effective t h a n in the past d u e t o the weather. Ju87s operated over o n e c o l u m n closing on Pilot and Bela P a l a n k a , b o m b i n g both towns. F o r t y b o m b e r s raided Nis, Leskovac and other m o r e d i s t a n t targets. In return a dozen 3rd Puk D o . l 7 K s attacked at low level, b o m b i n g t r o o p s advancing u p the River N i s a r a in the Pirot area. Before the d a y was out the 3rd Puk's airfield at Stubol had been occupied by the G e r m a n s , and they were d a n g e r o u s l y close t o Obilic, t h e D o r n i e r s flying out to Kraljevo and G o r o b i l j e , near Uzicka Pozega, where 66 G r u p a ' s S.79s were based. W h e n the t o w n of Bela P a l a n k a , 45 miles east of Nis, was assaulted d u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n , the 35 G r u p a Furies flew out to strafe before p r e p a r i n g to evacuate t o K r a l j e v o next m o r n i n g . W h e n the G e r m a n attack had c o m m e n c e d , 3rd Puk crews had collected t w o new D o . l 7 K s f r o m the factory at Kraljevo, but o n e further b o m b e r had remained there. N o w a test pilot, Nikolai J a n k o v s k i , t o o k ofT in this aircraft t o b o m b targets in the Nis area. Here t w o Messerschmitts gave chase, but J a n k o v s k i escaped. B o m b e d - u p again, he then flew south t o attack t h e c o n v o y s in t h e Kacanik G o r g e where he d r o p p e d 90 small b o m b s . Small a r m s fire and Flak hit the D o r n i e r , J a n k o v s k i being hit and w o u n d e d in the leg. but he m a n a g e d t o get his riddled b o m b e r back t o K r a l j e v o a n d t o land safely. In t h e far n o r t h elements of 2nd Armee crossed the D r a v a river in several places and occupied M a r i b o r in p r e p a r a t i o n for drives into Slovenia and Croatia. Ju87s and B f l 0 9 E s provided close s u p p o r t , while Luftflotte 4 m e d i u m b o m b e r s raided targets in the area. O n e of the latter was claimed shot d o w n by Yugoslav infantry fire at Banja L u k a , crashing on military b a r r a c k s in the town. H u r r i c a n e s patrolled over Slovenia and n o r t h C r o a t i a , clashing several times with G e r m a n fighters, but without result. O t h e r 4th Puk H u r r i c a n e s escorted three 8th Puk Blenheims to attack a target in s o u t h e r n Austria, but most of the latter unit's b o m b e r s were g r o u n d e d , awaiting orders, which were subsequently cancelled, t o attack C r o a t s of the 108th Infantry Regiment w h o were in rebellion at Bjelovar. T h e remaining fighters of the 6th Puk were now all at Veliki Radinci, reinforced by five H u r r i c a n e s of 105 Eskadrila, 33 G r u p a , 4th P u k , led by C a p t Radicevic. T h e M e l 0 9 s of the 2nd Puk's 31 G r u p a at K r a g u j e v a c were g r o u n d e d because rain had caused the airfield to bccome t o o soft and waterlogged for operations. N e w s of t h e G e r m a n a d v a n c e on Nis resulted in plans being d r a w n up to b u r n the aircraft if they remained stuck in the m u d ; the meteorological forecast was p o o r , and r u m o u r s a b o u n d e d of an i m m i n e n t p a r a t r o o p assault. In the west meanwhile, S.79s of 81 I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a raided Italian positions at Z a r a in p r e p a r a t i o n for an assault by the Yugoslav J a d r a n s k a Division. Regia A e r o n a u t i c a units f r o m Albania and the 2 a S q u a d r a Aerea b o m b e d Yugoslav 215
t r o o p s still a d v a n c i n g t o w a r d s Scutari, while the base of the 2nd and 3rd T o r p e d o Boat Divisions at Sibenik was also raided. TwO Fiat fighters then strafed m o o r e d D o r n i e r Wal flyingboats of 26 H E , 2 H K at J a g r t o v a c , three of t h e four aircraft there being destroyed. Lt R a t k o J o v a n o v i c again took ofT in his old P V T - H trainer to try a n d intercept. Elsewhere a l o n g the coast Do.22s a n d Sim XI Vs flew reconnaissances.
Rogozarski Sim XIV
floatplanes
of 1 H E . 1 Hidrogrupa at B o k a K o t o r s k a . (Z
Jerin)
T h e 12th A r m e e c o l u m n threatening s o u t h e r n M a c e d o n i a advanced t h r o u g h T e t o v o a n d Prilep t o w a r d s Bitolj on 9 April, this thrust a n d that on N i s receiving most Fliegerkorps VIII s u p p o r t on this date. D u r i n g the m o r n i n g snow fell in Serbia and M a c e d o n i a , t h e Blenheims of 61 G r u p a at D a v i d o v a c being g r o u n d e d by a ten inch fall, while the 31 G r u p a Messerschmitts at K r a g u j e v a c remained immobilized, joined now by 52 G r u p a ' s H u r r i c a n e s at Knic. All these airfields were n o w t h r e a t e n e d , particularly when Nis fell d u r i n g the late m o r n i n g . T h e only aircraft t h a t could be moved at once were t h e Furies at Bojnik a n d Kosancic, where all d a m a g e d or unserviceable aircraft were first b u r n e d . Breaking t h r o u g h dense fog, t h e biplanes were then fired on by Yugoslav t r o o p s in the west M o r a v a valley, Lt Pisarev carrying out an emergency landing when his F u r y was hit by small a r m s fire. Worse followed when a P V T trainer, flown by C a p t O t o Sep, c o m m a n d e r of 110 Eskadrila, w a s hit by AA and crashed, the pilot being mortally injured. Breguet XIXs f r o m 5 G r u p a ' s eskadrila at F i o r i n a b o m b e d the c o l u m n a d v a n c i n g on Bitolj, but o n e of these elderly aircraft was shot d o w n , C a p t Stokic, the eskadrila c o m m a n d e r , a n d his gunner being killed, while the observer, Lt Krasojevic, w a s badly w o u n d e d . 3rd, 6th a n d 7th P u k units also failed t o o p e r a t e d u e t o the weather, but in t h e n o r t h elements of Luftflotte 4, including the aircraft of Fliegerfiihrer G r a z and A r a d , were out a t t a c k i n g t r o o p s a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s t h r o u g h o u t the area. Airfields were also attacked, including Cerklje where 6 VI G r u p a was based, and 216
A factory-fresh e x a m p l e of the Ikarus I K - 2 fighter, eight of which were still in service with 107 Eskadrila of the 4th Fighter Puk in April fighters.
(Z
1941, seeking c o m b a t on the 9th against Luftwaffe
Jerin)
Rovine, h o m e of the 8th B o m b e r P u k . At a b o u t 1400 t w o Staffeln of B f l 0 9 E s from I I I / J G 54 a p p r o a c h e d Rovine just as t w o IK-2s of 107 E s k a d r i l a f r o m Bosanski A l e k s a n d r o v a c were landing. O n e of these, flown by Sgt B r a n k o Jovanovic, engaged the Messerschmitts in a seven-minute dogfight d u r i n g which the pilot employed every o u n c e of his skill a n d t h e obsolescent fighter's extreme manoeuvreability t o escape d a m a g e . This allowed five 108 E s k a d r i l a H u r r i c a n e s t o arrive a n d join t h e c o m b a t , followed by o t h e r s f r o m 106 Eskadrila and m o r e IK-2s also, a l t h o u g h a third Staffel of B f l 0 9 E s also a p p e a r e d on the scene. In a melee r a n g i n g f r o m R o v i n e t o Bosanski A l e k s a n d r o v a c , t h e Yugoslav pilots claimed o n e or t w o Messerschmitts shot d o w n , but lost three of their o w n n u m b e r . O n e victory was claimed by Sgt Z i v o r a d T o m i c , a n d it w a s believed that a second G e r m a n fighter had p r o b a b l y fallen to C a p t D r a g i s a Milijevic, c o m m a n d e r of 106 Eskadrila, w h o w a s then himself shot d o w n and killed. A second H u r r i c a n e w a s also lost, F / S g t Mitic baling out b u r n e d a n d bruised, while an IK2 was also s h o t d o w n , Sgt Stikic being badly w o u n d e d . T h e G e r m a n s then, obviously low on fuel, b r o k e off and headed away n o r t h . T h r e e victories were indeed claimed by I I I / J G 54, but the claims were for one H u r r i c a n e by Lt Erwin Leykauf (his 6th victory) a n d t w o IK-2s, o n e by O b i t H a n s - E k k e h a r d Bob, the 9 Stalfel c o m m a n d e r , t h e other by Obit G e r h a r d Koall - o n e of t w o victories he 217
was to claim over Yugoslavia. G e f r F a b i a n of this unit was reported missing, returning a few d a y s later — possibly shot d o w n d u r i n g this c o m b a t . Although clearly recorded in Yugoslav a c c o u n t s as occurring on 9 April, this e n g a g e m e n t was noted by the G e r m a n s as having taken place on 7 April. T h i s difference over what evidently was the same c o m b a t has not been resolved, but on the evidence available 9 April has been accepted here as the likely date. T o w a r d s evening r u m o u r s that the G e r m a n s were nearing K r a g u j e v a c panicked 31 G r u p a personnel into b u r n i n g all their mired-in M e l 0 9 s there, only t o discover subsequently that the enemy were still 40 miles distant! In the south-west t h e Italians now c o u n t e r - a t t a c k e d in Albania, 81 I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a S.79s a t t a c k i n g the Z a r a area again at 1100. gaining hits on the naval arsenal and on the main a m m u n i t i o n d u m p with d e v a s t a t i n g results. 2 a S q u a d r a Aerea aircraft a t t a c k e d Sibenik and Divulje once more, nine fighters strafing the seaplane base at the latter location w h e r e they hit a n u m b e r of w o r n out I k a r u s S M and 10 aircraft that had been m o o r e d as decoys. Five m o r e F i a t s a t t a c k e d the 5 H E base at Tijesno on M u r t e r Island, and here three Sim XIVs were destroyed, t w o m o r e being d a m a g e d . 3 H K at Boka K o t o r s k a was more active, and one pilot. Ivan K o r o s a in a Do.22 N o . 3 0 7 of 20 HE, spotted a c o n v o y of 12 t r a n s p o r t s and eight destroyers crossing the Adriatic d u r i n g the day. H e attacked twice in t h e face of intense AA, but without success. T h r e e m o r e Do.22s raided D u r a z z o h a r b o u r , but were driven off by the weight of defensive fire. O v e r the Albanian fron a Ro.37bis reconnaissance aircraft of 114" Squadriglia O A was shot d o w n by AA in the O k h r i d - S t r u g a area. M a r F r a n c e s c o L o j a c o n o crashing in Italian-held territory.
Y u g o s l a v sailors with a D o . 2 2 K j ( k n o w n as the D o . H by the Navy). N o . 3 0 2 w a s the first of the type to be delivered and differed from those that followed in points of detail - notably the four-bladed propeller and a retractable radiator. (Z
Jerin)
218
T h e next day, 10 April saw 12th Armee elements enter Bitolj and the fighting in Yugoslavian M a c e d o n i a neared its end. In the north-west 14th Panzer Division occupied Z a g r e b and a new independent C r o a t State was proclaimed. With weather universally b a d over the c o u n t r y as a whole, all g r o u n d units facing the G e r m a n s were in full retreat, and n o requests were even m a d e for J K R V support. Flights were u n d e r t a k e n to seek m o r e secure airfields in the west, but all were hidden beneath cloud in the valleys of this m o u n t a i n o u s area. As aircraft f r o m Luftflotte 4's airfields in Austria, R u m a n i a and H u n g a r y swept over t h e n o r t h e r n areas, the 6th P u k ' s fighters remained g r o u n d e d at Veliki Radinci; only the H u r r i c a n e s of the attached 105 Eskadrila were able t o get into the air a n d engage in a few skirmishes. In these circumstances, in c o m m o n with much of the Yugoslav a r m e d forces, the J K R V now began to disintegrate fast. At Knic r u m o u r s of a G e r m a n a r m o u r e d c o l u m n a p p r o a c h i n g caused t h e H u r r i c a n e s of 52 G r u p a t o try a n d get off in d r e a d f u l weather. Five 164 Eskadrila fighters got into t h e air, but t w o collided a l m o s t immediately, C a p t Ostric and Lt M a t o M o m c i n o v i c both being killed. A third flew into a m o u n t a i n s i d e in fog a few minutes later, Veljko Vujicic suffering m o r t a l injuries; the t w o survivors then gave u p a n d returned to Knic. H e r e the aircraft of 163 Eskadrila were rendered unserviceable, but w h e n news then c a m e t h r o u g h that t h e G e r m a n s were in fact still far away, feverish a t t e m p t s were m a d e t o repair the least d a m a g e d . T h e situation at D a v i d o v a c w a s genuinely m u c h m o r e serious as G e r m a n forces entered P a r a c i n , only three miles away. Despite fog a n d soft snow all Blenheims on the airfield took off. Of ten 61 G r u p a aircraft, o n e crashed at t h e end of the r u n w a y , a l t h o u g h fortunately the crew survived u n h u r t . Less f o r t u n a t e were t h e crew of the 11 I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a Blenheim which had landed at D a v i d o v a c t w o d a y s earlier; as the pilot pulled it off the g r o u n d , the b o m b e r stalled and all four men a b o a r d were killed in the crash which followed. T h e nine remaining 61 G r u p a machines meanwhile successfully reached Bjeljina 150 miles away, u n d e r t a k i n g the whole flight at an altitude of only 80 feet; here they joined 62 G r u p a . T h e Furies of 35 G r u p a were also on the move f r o m K r a l j e v o t o Preljina near C a c a k . F r o m here they were off again t o strafe a c o l u m n n e a r t h e town of C u p r i j a in the M o r a v a valley, flying on to land at Sarajevo, Breguet XIXs of 7 V I G r u p a were also out a t t a c k i n g a r m o u r e d c o l u m n s in this area, V l a d o J a n k o v i c ' s aircraft being hit by F l a k . W o u n d e d , he m a d e for Smederevska P a l a n k a , but on landing found that his observer, 1/Lt S l o b o d a n Mihic had also been hit, a n d had died in the air f r o m loss of blood. Already at this stage some aircrews were beginning to consider escape f r o m their o b v i o u s l y - d o o m e d country. F r o m Uzicka Pozega, Sgt P e t k o Milojevic of 64 G r u p a ' s 210 E s k a d r i l a took off in his D o . l 7 K to fly t o the Soviet U n i o n , but crashed in t h e C a r p a t h i a n m o u n t a i n s while passing over R u m a n i a , all three m e m b e r s of the crew being killed. A second crew had intended to follow, but flew instead to M o s t a r where they sought t o escape a b o a r d an 81 I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a S.79 which w a s t o fly out next day. All was c h a o s with this latter unit, since an uprising of the C r o a t Ustashi had caused virtual disintegration, leaving crews completely demoralized. O n e S.79 flown by 1/Lt B r a n k o P r o d a n o v i c of 211 219
Eskadrila did get off for Russia during 10 April, but this also crashed n e a r M a m a i a as it a t t e m p t e d the flight; there w a s only o n e survivor. F u r t h e r d e m o r a l i z a t i o n occurred next d a y w h e n t o t h e shock of the D o r n i e r crews, the C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f removed Col G o r j u p f r o m his position at the head of the 3rd B o m b e r P u k , holding him responsible for the disastrous losses suffered by 63 G r u p a on the g r o u n d on 6 April; his place w a s t o be taken by M a j D r a g o m i r Zikic. T h e o n e b o m b e r unit which had suffered few casualties was t h e 7th P u k with its Savoias, but the crews of these were also at low e b b since they were u n a b l e t o o p e r a t e d u e t o their airfields being covered with snow. W h e n the G e r m a n s were r u m o u r e d to have reached K r a l j e v o on 11 April, the crews of 66 G r u p a , w h o were nearest the a p p r o a c h i n g enemy, decided either t o set fire t o their b o m b e r s , or to fly t h e m out. A few got to M o s t a r , their peacetime base, where the last 12 S.79s of t h e Puk were then assembled. In the situation prevailing, the crews soon decided to follow the example of those of 81 G r u p a , a n d t o escape either t o t h e Soviet U n i o n , o r t o Niksic in M o n t e n e g r o . S a b o t a g e was now a d d e d to their problems, for several of the waiting S.79s were found to have had the tyres of their u n d e r c a r r i a g e s slashed, and there were n o spares available. Finally, eight m o r e Savoias set off for Russia d u r i n g 11 April, four f r o m each unit, but only four got t h r o u g h ; 1/Lt Milos Jelic with seven passengers landed at Kisinev, 1/Lt H i n k o Soic a n d five o t h e r s c a m e d o w n at S t a r a y a F a r m o s i k a , 1/Lt U r o s Djeric at Savat with four on b o a r d , and 1/Lt Z i v k o Milojkovic at P r v o m a y s k a y a . Of the others which set off, C a p t Jefta Bosnjak, c o m m a n d e r of 214 Eskadrila, heavily-laden with ten men, crashed in m o u n t a i n s 30 miles after take off, while Sgt B r a n k o T o m i c ' s similarly-laden aircraft, c a r r y i n g t h e crew of Sgt Milojevic's 64 G r u p a D o r n i e r a m o n g s t others, crashed into M o u n t Igman in the S a r a j e v o area; in b o t h aircraft all those a b o a r d were killed. T h e third Savoia landed in H u n g a r i a n T r a n s y l v a n i a , where t h e crew were interned; in late 1942 the Italians exchanged this aircraft for t w o Fiat C R 4 2 s with the H u n g a r i a n Air Force. This latter force also gained a D o . l 7 K which was obliged t o land in their territory, a n d a Blenheim, flown in by a J K R V defector of H u n g a r i a n extraction; this was later employed as a liaison aircraft. T h e fate of t h e fourth missing Savoia is not k n o w n . M e a n w h i l e however, f o u r m o r e 81 I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a S.79s and at least four f r o m the 7th Puk reached Niksic safely, where the crews prepared to fly on to Greece. T o return to 10 April however, while t h e b o m b e r force had begun its ultimate disintegration, the Blenheims of the 8th P u k and 11 I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a had remained at Rovine a n d M a j u r , g r o u n d e d by the weather. T h e units of t h e N a v a l Aviation were also beginning to fall a p a r t , at least insofar as the 2nd H i d r o p l a n s k a K o m a n d a w a s c o n c e r n e d . S o m e of this unit's pilots decided t o fly to Boka K o t o r s k a t o join 3 H K , which was still in good shape, and d u r i n g the day t w o of 5 H E ' s d a m a g e d Sim XIVs were repaired a n d flown u p t o be i n c o r p o r a t e d in 1 H E . A Do.22 f r o m a n o t h e r of 3 H K ' s units, 20 H E , m a d e a spirited attack on an Italian t a n k e r near Bari, claiming a near-miss which it w a s believed had caused some d a m a g e . T h e only o t h e r achievement of the d a y was recorded by fighters f r o m the 4th P u k , this unit's H u r r i c a n e s claiming a single Messerschmitt shot d o w n when chasing a n u m b e r of reconnaissance aircraft over 220
Bosnia. T h e unit was similarly-engaged next day, this time claiming a Bfl 10 shot d o w n over N o v a G r a d i s k a . D u r i n g 11 April, m o r e of 2 H K ' s aircraft reached Boka K o t o r s k a , three Do.22s of 25 H E and a Wal flyingboat ( N o 258) f r o m 26 H E arriving f r o m Z l a r i n to be i n c o r p o r a t e d into 20 a n d 21 HEs.
The N a v y ' s D o r n i e r D o . 2 2 K j s remained active until late in the fighting. (Z
Jerin)
W e a t h e r h a d cleared s o m e w h a t in the west on this day, t h o u g h it remained p o o r in the east where Fliegerkorps VIII c o n t i n u e d to give s u p p o r t to 12th Armee units. In all sectors t h e W e h r m a c h t was p u n c h i n g d e e p into the hinterland, a n d on this d a t e a bridgehead was gained over the Sava river at S a b a c in Serbia. In the north-west and in Bosnia Yugoslav forces were in full retreat, Luftwaffe aircraft flying overhead to r e c o n n o i t r e and attack unscathed. N i n e Ju87s f r o m I I / S t G 77 raided three of the remaining airfields at Banja L u k a , Bihac and Prijedor. Small f o r m a t i o n s also appeared over the capital for the first time in three days. T h e y met n o interception, the 6th Puk not even being advised of the raids. Few o r d e r s t o o p e r a t e were received by the J K R V , and t h r o u g h o u t the day only 31 sorties were m a d e by fighters and 14 by b o m b e r s as most remaining units prepared t o w i t h d r a w d e e p into the c o u n t r y . 221
Bjeljina had become the favoured haven, aircraft flying in all d a y f r o m Srem, M a j u r , K l e m a k , and even T o p o l j e , f r o m which base the Breguets of 3 V I G r u p a arrived. T h e y were not secure here however, for the Luftwaffe now launched a t t a c k s on airfields in t h e north-east, Bfl 10s destroying a few 1 V I G r u p a Breguets at N o v i Sad, while at 1530 t w o S c h w a r m e of these Z e r s t o r e r swept in below cloud over Bjeljina itself, destroying a 7th P u k S.79, t w o Blenheims, a few Breguets and some Biicker J u n g m a n n s . O n t h e River D a n u b e the 1st and 2nd S q u a d r o n s of river monitors, which had been o p e r a t i n g near the H u n g a r i a n border, now began w i t h d r a w i n g t o w a r d s N o v i Sad, c o m i n g u n d e r repeated attack by Stukas, while in the south-west the Italian 2nd and 9th Armies in Albania a t t a c k e d Yugoslav t r o o p s near Scutari, s u p p o r t e d by fighters. N e a r Sibenik three Italian Ju87s attacked 2nd Division t o r p e d o boats, the crews claiming t o have hit t w o of t h e attackers with r e t u r n fire. T h e s e would seem t o have been aircraft of 238 a Squadriglia, 101° G r u p p o Ba'T; the Regia A e r o n a u t i c a recorded on 12 April t h a t o n e of these aircraft w a s shot d o w n by AA and a second was forced t o ditch in the Adriatic, T e n C a r l o Bongiovanni a n d his gunner being lost in t h e former aircraft - it seems likely t h a t these losses actually occurred the d a y before. W i t h the Yugoslavs now 'in extremis', H u n g a r i a n forces joined t h e attack, crossing t h e b o r d e r in several places in t h e n o r t h e r n sector. J u n k e r s J u 8 6 and C a p r o n i C a l 3 5 b i s twin-engined b o m b e r s of the 4th a n d 3rd Regiments respectively, were despatched to b o m b N o v i Sad, but were recalled when it was learned that the Luftwaffe had already a t t a c k e d this airfield. Instead they b o m b e d frontier forts, while Heinkel H e l 7 0 A aircraft f r o m the 5th Reconnaissance Regiment u n d e r t o o k reconnaissance sorties. Fiat biplane fighters f r o m the 1st a n d 2nd Regiments were also c o m m i t t e d t o the venture, but in the event were called on only t o m a k e additional reconnaissance sorties. D u r i n g the evening a battalion of 120 H u n g a r i a n p a r a t r o o p s had been ordered t o secure bridges over a canal j o i n i n g the rivers Tisa and D a n u b e in the S r b o b r a n a n d V r b a s area. F o u r Savoia S.75 t r a n s p o r t s t o o k off, each carrying 30 men, but o n e crashed as it departed Veszprem, 23 of those a b o a r d being killed. T h e mission was then p o s t p o n e d , but was later sent olf after d a r k n e s s h a d fallen. In bad weather the t r o o p s were d r o p p e d 15-20 miles short of their objective and were unable to c o m p l e t e their task. T h e weather of 12 April was m u c h as it had been on the previous day; indeed in the east Fliegerkorps VIII was g r o u n d e d by the conditions, a n d failed to o p e r a t e at all. T o t h e n o r t h and west Fliegerfiihrer Arad was particularly active over Belgrade and S a r a j e v o , a n d over the remaining airfields at Bjeljina, Sokolac, M o s t a r a n d Banja Luka. T h i s c o m m a n d would despatch 64 b o m b i n g and 28 d i v e - b o m b i n g sorties d u r i n g the day, backed u p by 50 Z e r s t o r e r and 23 fighter flights. T h e J K R V at the start of the day still possessed 41 fighters, 37 b o m b e r s and nine long-range reconnaissance Blenheims, b u t once again few sorties were u n d e r t a k e n - 14 by fighters, 11 by b o m b e r s and seven by the reconnaissance unit - a n d the strength available was on the point of further significant reduction. At Veliki Radinci, 6th Puk had suffered the loss of t w o of its remaining M e l 0 9 s d u r i n g a strafing attack by Luftwaffe fighters on 11 April. N o w early the next day 222
the unit's g r o u n d crews burned the last 11 aircraft - eight M e l 0 9 s and three IKZs, together with t w o or three H u r r i c a n e s of 105 Eskadrila. T w o or three m o r e of the latter unit's H u r r i c a n e s flew over t o Bjeljina, and o n e m o r e reached S a r a j e v o with a few 6th P u k trainers - mainly J u n g m a n n s . At a r o u n d the same time 11 I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a burned t w o unserviceable Blenheims at M a j u r , the other seven aircraft flying to Bjeljina also. N o sooner had these moves been completed then at 0730 three Staffeln of Bfl 10s swept in low over Bjeljina, u n d e r t a k i n g three strafing passes. It proved to be o n e of the most effective a t t a c k s of t h e c a m p a i g n . A b o u t ten 1st P u k Blenheims and the seven 11 G r u p a aircraft were destroyed, as were the 105 Eskadrila Hurricanes, the Breguet xIXs of 1 and 3 V I G r u p a s , a n d a considerable n u m b e r of trainers. W h e n the Zerstorer d e p a r t e d , Bjeljina had just t w o 1st Puk Blenheims, one H u r r i c a n e , a few Biicker trainers a n d some o t h e r biplane trainers left flyable. T h e t w o Blenheims were at once ordered off to m a k e good their escape, but o n e w a s then shot d o w n over Bosnia by Yugoslav AA, a n d the o t h e r was destroyed on the g r o u n d by strafing Italian fighters as soon as it landed at Niksic. T h e J K R V w a s d o w n to five or six Blenheims still a i r w o r t h y , all of the 8th Puk on the soft airfield at Rovine. At K n i c m e a n w h i l e the last two H u r r i c a n e s of the 2nd P u k ' s 163 Eskadrila took off to escape a p p r o a c h i n g G e r m a n vehicles, flying t o Z e m u n . Here 1/Lt Boris C i j a n went in and landed but was at once taken prisoner by G e r m a n civilians. A w a r e t h a t all was not well, the pilot of the second H u r r i c a n e , the unit c o m m a n d e r , C a p t Milos Bajagic, b r o k e off his landing run and headed for Bjeljina. Before he could reach this destination however, his fuel ran out and he a t t e m p t e d t o crash-land near Valjevo, 40 miles short of t h e airfield; he w a s mortally w o u n d e d in the crash, which destroyed his aircraft. Still the least hard-hit of the fighter units was the 4th P u k , which still had airworthy five or six H u r r i c a n e s and four or five IK-2s. T h e unit c o n t i n u e d to chase reconnaissance aircraft d u r i n g the day, but all escaped, except o n e J u 8 8 of I I / K G 51 ( 9 K + L P , flown by O b i t H e l m u t Westen) which w a s shot d o w n by a H u r r i c a n e pilot in t h e Banja L u k a area (Luftwaffe records indicate this loss as occurring on 11 April, together with the following combat). O t h e r b o m b e r s f r o m this unit attacked M o s t a r airfield where they were intercepted by o n e of the last t w o fighters available t o the I n d e p e n d e n t Fighter Eskadrila - a H u r r i c a n e and an M e l 0 9 , both of which were in t h e air patrolling t o t h e n o r t h a n d west of the city. F r a n j o G o d e c in the H u r r i c a n e attacked F w Giigel's Ju88, using u p all his a m m u n i t i o n , but his fighter was hit by fire f r o m the rear gunner, and he baled out at 10 000 feet, suffering a b r o k e n leg. T h e M e l 0 9 failed to m a k e c o n t a c t , and would be destroyed on t h e g r o u n d by strafing fighters next day. T h e r e were still 10-11 D o . l 7 K s of 64 G r u p a serviceable at G o r o b i l j e , these taking off d u r i n g t h e day t o attack c o l u m n s in the M o r a v a valley, led by M a j B r a n k o Fanedl. S p o t t i n g an i m p o r t a n t u n d a m a g e d bridge over the M o r a v a at C u p r i j a , he personally attacked this, gaining t w o direct hits with 100kg bombs, which nonetheless failed to demolish the target. His b o m b e r was then hit by Flak and crashed ten miles to the n o r t h , all on b o a r d being killed. O n e m o r e D o r n i e r was d a m a g e d , but got back t o base. T h e remaining eight serviceable aircraft left late for Butmir, near Sarajevo. 223
Early in the m o r n i n g the S t u k a s of Fliegerfiihrer Arad had again gone out looking for the Yugoslav m o n i t o r s on the D a n u b e , finding these at 0730 at C i b a , 20 miles f r o m Novi Sad. Even as the attack on Bjeljina was u n d e r w a y by the Bfl 10s, t h e Ju87s dived on these vessels again, c o n c e n t r a t i n g their attack on t h e 1st S q u a d r o n ' s Drava. T h i s vessel had shelled the H u n g a r i a n frontier airfield at M o h a c z on 6 April, a n d again t w o days later. Since then she had evaded repeated S t u k a attacks, but now nine of the d i v e - b o m b e r s gained hits on her. These generally proved quite ineffective against t h e foot thick deck a r m o u r , but by c h a n c e one went straight d o w n the funnel a n d exploded in the engine r o o m . Fifty-four m e m b e r s of t h e crew were killed, only 13 escaping f r o m their stricken vessel. D u r i n g the attack g u n n e r s on the m o n i t o r s claimed three Ju87s shot down. In t h e c o u r s e of t h e night of 12/13 April G e r m a n forces entered Belgrade, while next m o r n i n g further crossings were m a d e of the Sava river, the advance progressing into Bosnia. T h e Yugoslav High C o m m a n d was forced t o admit that there w a s n o w n o m o r e fighting in M a c e d o n i a and Slovenia, a n d that the W e h r m a c h t had a d v a n c e d d e e p into C r o a t i a . An urgent appeal t o t h e British Foreign Minister seeking an answer to a request m a d e on 6 April for massive military aid, elicited the reply t h a t n o n e could presently be given. A G r e e k representative also arrived to advise of the very serious situation which had now developed in t h a t c o u n t r y , as will be recounted later in this chapter. While this envoy was flown back to his o w n c o u n t r y f r o m Niksic by M a j D u s a n Milojevic, c o m m a n d e r of 209 Eskadrila, in a D o . l 7 K , G e n D a n i l o K a l a f a t o v i c was ordered to seek a cease-fire with the G e r m a n s . Luftwaffe b o m b e r s were very active d u r i n g t h e day, a t t a c k i n g t r o o p c o n c e n t r a t i o n s and airfields, while K G 51 Ju88s attacked the health resort of Ilidza on specific o r d e r s f r o m Adolf Hitler, since he had been advised t h a t the Yugoslav g o v e r n m e n t had taken refuge in hotels there. Few sorties were flown by the J K R V ' s remaining aircraft - eight fighter a n d four b o m b e r sorties only. All the former were u n d e r t a k e n by the 4th P u k , o n e H u r r i c a n e pilot claiming a Bfl 10 shot d o w n n o r t h of Banja L u k a , while a n o t h e r H u r r i c a n e was destroyed d u r i n g the day, the pilot, V o j a G r b i c , being badly w o u n d e d . A r o u n d n o o n t h e weather again deteriorated as t h e evacuation of Butmir w a s being p r e p a r e d . At this the c o m m a n d e r of the 2nd Air Brigade ordered all remaining aircraft of the 4th a n d 8th P u k s t o be destroyed and all personnel t o w i t h d r a w by r o a d t o Sarajevo. In the latter area there were already 15 000 airmen w h o it was planned t o employ as infantry as t h e G e r m a n s a p p r o a c h e d f r o m three directions. At the last m o m e n t the order was cancelled, a n d all surviving aircraft at R a j l o v a c and Butmir were flown t o Niksic. T h e Furies of 35 G r u p a also m a d e for this base, but on the way met 12 Italian fighters. Details of this engagement a r e not available, but a p p a r e n t l y losses were suffered on b o t h sides. T h e Regia A e r o n a u t i c a w a s quite active at this time, and it was reported that Italian fighters had again strafed the Yugoslavian floatplane base at Trogir on 12 April, claiming six m o r e aircraft destroyed here. This is not recorded by the Yugoslavs, but on 13 April it was noted that Divulje was attacked by strafing fighters, o n e f l o a t p l a n e being destroyed here, while t h e S H E Training Eskadrila's 224
35 G r u p a Fury, N o . 5 3 , lined u p with a R o g o z a r s k i Fizir and a P V T , both trainers, together with other aircraft at the cessation of hostilities. ( via A
Stamatopoulos)
base n e a r T r o g i r w a s also a t t a c k e d . T h e s e a t t a c k s were p r o b a b l y those noted by t h e Italians. Of m o r e i m p o r t , seven Ju87s of 208 a Squadriglia, 101° G r u p p o B a T , a c c o m p a n i e d by C R 4 2 s of 160° G r u p p o Aut C T a n d M a c c h i C.200s of 150" G r u p p o Aut C T , a t t a c k e d M o s t a r ' s airfields. O v e r the target, where t w o h a n g a r s were hit d u r i n g t h e raid, M a g g G i u s e p p e D o n a d i o ' s J u 8 7 was hit a n d the G r u p p o c o m m a n d e r force-landed. H e and his g u n n e r were c a p t u r e d and rather roughly handled by some Yugoslav soldiers before being imprisoned with some Luftwaffe S t u k a pilots; they would be liberated a few d a y s later. M e a n w h i l e the escorting fighters strafed, t h e C R 4 2 pilots claiming 11 aircraft destroyed and the M a c c h i pilots 22 more. Yugoslav records indicate that the latter fighters destroyed all the remaining S.79s which had been a b a n d o n e d after their tyres had been slashed, a n d m a n y other aircraft, including t h e I n d e p e n d e n t Fighter Eskadrila's last M e l 0 9 . Italian aircraft were also active over Albania, b o m b i n g a n d strafing Yugoslav forces w h o still retained the initiative here, a n d were u n a w a r e of t h e disasters which had befallen their c o m r a d e s everywhere else. Indeed they would not be advised of this until s o m e d a y s after the fighting with the G e r m a n s had ended. Next d a y - 14 April - 15 G e r m a n b o m b e r s attacked M o s t a r - O r t i j e s airfield as a follow-up t o t h e Italian attack. W h e n t h e Italians subsequently occupied t h e city they c o u n t e d m o r e t h a n 100 aircraft destroyed or badly d a m a g e d on the airfields there. T h e LuftwafTe also launched a d a r i n g c o u p at Bjeljina. H e r e a reconnaissance Bfl 10 f r o m Fliegerfiihrer Arad passed over the airfield, followed by 11 Ju87s, 23 Bfl 10s and 18 Bfl09Es. While t h e S t u k a s a n d Z e r s t o r e r a t t a c k e d and pinned d o w n the defence, 17 t r o o p - c a r r y i n g J u 5 2 / 3 m t r a n s p o r t s swept in to land, t h e soldiers leaping out and swiftly overwhelming t h e defenders t o t a k e possession of the airfield; they c a p t u r e d 210 of the defenders at a cost of three dead a n d f o u r w o u n d e d . 225
D u r i n g the d a y G e n Mirkovic, the C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f , h a n d e d over c o n t r o l of the remaining o p e r a t i o n a l elements of the J K R V t o Col Petar Vukcevic, c o m m a n d e r of 4th B o m b e r Brigade. T h e latter had his surviving aircraft c o n centrated at three locations; at M o s t a r were a b o u t 100 aircraft, nearly all of which were d a m a g e d ; at T r e b i n j e a quantity of trainers were assembled, whilst at Niksic were all types including eight D o . l 7Ks, seven or eight S.79s, at least seven Furies, o n e H u r r i c a n e , three Lockheed 10A Electras, some C a p r o n i Ca310s, a few Bfl08s, s o m e Biicker J u n g m a n n s a n d m a n y o t h e r types, a b o u t 60 Breguet XIXs and Potez 25s a m o n g s t t h e m - a p p r o x i m a t e l y 130 aircraft altogether at the airfield here ( K a p i n o Polje). T h e r e were also 3 0 - 4 0 000 airmen assembled a r o u n d these bases.
D a m a g e d Biicker B u i 3 1 J u n g m a n n at Mostar. (via A
Italian troops e x a m i n e a Biicker B u i 3 1 at Mostar. (via A
226
Stamatopoulos)
Stamatopoulos)
War b o o t y from Y u g o s l a v i a for the Italians. In the foreground are t w o Rogozarski Fizir trainers, while in the background are a number of Biicker B u l 3 1 J u n g m a n n s . already repainted in Italian national marking for service with Regia Aeronautica training units. ( A
Stamatopoulos)
T h e g o v e r n m e n t now left Pale, near Sarajevo, for Niksic f r o m where they were to be evacuated. Late in the a f t e r n o o n two R A F S u n d e r l a n d flyingboats arrived at Boka K o t o r s k a to t a k e out d i p l o m a t s and British personnel. M e a n w h i l e K i n g Peter also arrived in Niksic just as f o u r Italian S.79s were b o m b i n g the town. An h o u r later he left in a 7th Puk S.79 flown by M a j D u s a n Sofilj, c o m m a n d e r of 66 G r u p a , m a k i n g for Greece. Fired on by A A along the Adriatic coast, the crew shot off flares, following which R A F fighters arrived t o escort the Savoia and an a c c o m p a n y i n g D o . l 7 K into P a r a m y t h i a . Its arrival will be detailed later. Italian aircraft remained active, Ju87s. BR 20s and S.79s attacking a l o n g the Albanian frontier; o n e J u 8 7 of 101° G r u p p o B a T was hit and force-landed and two m o r e were d a m a g e d , all by AA, while a t t a c k i n g a bridge at P o d g o r i c a . Italian fighters claimed one Yugoslav b o m b e r shot d o w n , but no details of such an engagement have been discovered, unless t h e aircraft was in fact o n e of t h e surviving Hurricanes, of which m o r e later. T h e a t t a c k s on bridges at Podgorica a n d D o l o j a n i were repeated next day, a n d again t h e Italian S t u k a s suffered t o t h e effective Yugoslav AA batteries here, o n e 238 a Squadriglia J u 8 7 being shot d o w n a n d a second d a m a g e d . F i n d i n g n o m o r e resistance on 15 April, the G e r m a n s pushed on t h r o u g h Bosnia t o enter Sarajevo, while most Luftwaffe activity was directed against ports in the s o u t h e r n coastal a r e a s t o prevent withdrawals, or any British a t t e m p t at reinforcement. G e r m a n aircraft joined Italian b o m b e r s in raiding shipping in Boka K o t o r s k a a n d D u b r o v n i k , whilst an Italian m o t o r i z e d c o l u m n now a d v a n ced u p the D a l m a t i a n coast to occupy Split and threaten M o s t a r . This city was reached on 16 April, but m e a n t i m e the G e r m a n advance had slowed everywhere in anticipation of imminent u n c o n d i t i o n a l s u r r e n d e r . O n 15 April, the Yugoslav C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f ordered n o further firing on Axis aircraft, while at n o o n on this day the evacuation c o m m e n c e d , an 'air bridge' t o n o r t h e r n G r e e c e being established which was t o be maintained for t w o days. 227
T h e D o . l 7 K s and S.79s u n d e r t o o k most of the flights, joined by the five r e m a i n i n g Lockheed lOAs (two had been shot d o w n , o n e in Greece on 7 April, a n d one near Belgrade on an unrecorded date). Each aircraft m a d e its sorties loaded not only with evacuees, but also with 50kg of gold bars f r o m the State Treasury. T w o or three of these aircraft were destroyed in landing accidents in Greece, but most reached either P a r a m y t h i a or Yanina. M a n y of the smaller training a n d liaison types also reached P a r a m y t h i a including Br XIXs, Po.25s, a B f l 0 8 and a Sim X. They were joined here by the remaining Br XIXs of 5 V I G r u p a f r o m Fiorina, which had lost several of its aircraft during a strafe on this Greek airfield by G e r m a n fighters. O n e of t h e S.79s which did not m a k e it was c a r r y i n g G e n Mirkovic t o Greece on 16 April when it was fired on by G r e e k AA near Preveza, a n d was hit. T h e aircraft crashed, t h e fuselage b r e a k i n g into two parts, a n d Mirkovic w a s badly injured, a g o v e r n m e n t minister w h o was travelling with him losing his life. Vojislav Rakic tried in vain t o reach Greece in t h e sole surviving Hurricane, but was forced by bad weather to return to Niksic, where the fighter was a b a n d o n e d . O n an earlier d a t e - believed to be 15 April, but possibly o n e d a y earlier - it had been engaged in a clash with Italian fighters and had been hit 37 times, but was still flyable. While the 'air bridge' aircraft escaped interception t h r o u g h o u t the three days of the evacuation, not all aircraft were so f o r t u n a t e . D u r i n g 16 April Macchi C.200s of 150° G r u p p o scrambled f r o m V a l o n a t o intercept aircraft identified as 'Yugoslav Blenheims', t w o of these being claimed shot d o w n and a third p r o b a b l y so between C a p Linguetta a n d Saseno. T h e r e is little d o u b t t h a t these were the very similar-looking C a p r o n i Ca.310s of 603 T r a i n i n g Eskadrila a t t e m p t i n g t o escape t o Greece via C o r f u , at least o n e of these aircraft being lost in such c i r c u m s t a n c e s d u r i n g the d a y , all six people a b o a r d being killed in the crash. T h e surrender was signed on 17 April, but while all flights were supposed t o cease at once, still some aircraft c o n t i n u e d to leave the c o u n t r y , the last off at 1600 being a 209 Eskadrila D o . l 7 K flown by M a j Milojevic, w h o had already u n d e r t a k e n two r o u n d trips d u r i n g the two preceding days. His aircraft would later be one of those t o reach Egypt and join the R A F . Milojevic himself would be killed on 19 D e c e m b e r , 1943 when flying in a B-24 Liberator b o m b e r of the U S 15th Air F o r c e during a raid on Augsburg. In their brief fight, t h e J K R V had suffered the loss of 49 aircraft to Axis fighters a n d F l a k , with m a n y m o r e d a m a g e d beyond repair; a n o t h e r six had been shot d o w n by Yugoslav AA defences in error. These losses had cost the lives of 27 fighter pilots a n d 76 b o m b e r aircrew. Eighty-five m o r e aircraft had been destroyed on the g r o u n d by air attack, while m a n y o t h e r s had been destroyed or disabled by their o w n crews, or had crashed d u r i n g o p e r a t i o n s , or in evacuation flights. Between 40 a n d 50 aircraft reached Greece, the fates of which will be recorded later; at least two Hurricanes? two Furies, o n e D o . l 7 K and one S.79 were c a p t u r e d intact by the invading forces, as were a n u m b e r of trainers and 28 various floatplanes of the N a v a l Aviation. A m o n g s t naval vessels c a p t u r e d w a s the floatplane tender Zmaj, c a p a b l e of carrying ten aircraft, which was t o become the G e r m a n - m a n n e d minelayer Drache. T h e surrender also resulted in 375 000 228
Yugoslav t r o o p s becoming prisoners of the G e r m a n s , with 30 000 m o r e in Italian hands. T h e only items not to end u p in hostile h a n d s were ten Curtiss P-40B T o m a h a w k fighters f r o m the United States, e a r m a r k e d for delivery in M a y and diverted instead t o the R A F . While the surviving aircraft of the J K R V and A r m y Aviation m a d e their way to f r e e d o m further south, so t o o had a n u m b e r of the o p e r a t i o n a l types of the N a v a l units. O n 13 April a further three Do.22s f r o m 25 H E of the 2 H K at Zlarin had flown to Boka K o t o r s k a for i n c o r p o r a t i o n in 3 H K ' s 20 H E . When the news of the a p p r o a c h i n g cease-fire became k n o w n t o t h e crews of this K o m a n d a on 15 April, most determined to escape. Early t h e next d a y therefore, seven Do.22s f r o m 20 a n d 25 H E left O r a h o v a c , five of t h e m r e a c h i n g C o r f u at 0700. O n e returned early t o base, while a second suffered engine t r o u b l e and was then hit by AA a n d landed at Santa Q u a r a n t a , Albania. T h e crew u n d e r t o o k repairs offshore, a n d remained uninterfered with; the aircraft took off again, reaching C o r f u two hours later. At 1400 three m o r e Do.22s took ofT, t w o of which reached C o r f u , a l t h o u g h t h e third became lost a n d returned to O r a h o v a c . T w o Sim XI Vs of 1 H E then set out, o n e reaching C o r f u , but o n e suffering d a m a g e f r o m AA fire f r o m t h e Albanian m a i n l a n d . This aircraft c a m e d o w n on the sea, but was taken in tow by a G r e e k fishing boat, which put into P a k i o s . T h e floatplane w a s f o u n d not t o be airworthy however, a n d was a b a n d o n e d . A third Sim XIV a n d the sole He 8 of 11 H E then followed, but t h e Sim caught fire in t h e air and had t o alight on t h e sea. T h e elderly Heinkel (No. 192) returned to base t o raise the alarm, a n d the crew of the stricken aircraft were subsequently rescued, a l t h o u g h all suffered burns. Next d a y eight of the Do.22s and the one surviving Sim XIV reached Patras, where in the a f t e r n o o n to t h e surprise of all, the He 8 also arrived, lt had set out again in the c o m p a n y of a n o t h e r Sim XIV, but this t o o had been forced to turn back. D u r i n g the evening t h e ten escapee floatplanes flew on together t o Salamis, a n d f r o m there to S u d a Bay. Crete. T h e c a m p a i g n in Yugoslavia w a s at an end.
The sole Heinkel He8, N o . 1 9 2 , of 11 H E which escaped with other N a v a l floatplanes t o Greece, and then Crete. (Z
Jerin)
Greece - The First Round While the Yugoslavs were staggering under the initial G e r m a n blows on 6 April, the first moves against Greece were also u n d e r w a y . T h e r e had at least been a declaration of war, the G e r m a n A m b a s s a d o r in Athens, Prinz E r b a c h - S c h o n b e r g presenting an a p p r o p r i a t e note to the Hellenic g o v e r n m e n t at 0530 that m o r n i n g , at which time the first t r o o p s crossed the Bulgarian b o r d e r s t o begin the assault on Salonika and north-east Greece generally.
Pit off Bill Winsland of 33 S q u a d r o n , seen in the N o r t h African Desert later in 1941. [DSF
Wins/and)
As G e r m a n forces streamed t h r o u g h t h e Rupel Pass, the Royal Air F o r c e waited tensely for news. Pit Off Winsland of 33 S q u a d r o n at Larissa later recorded: 'We heard the news before d a w n , got up, washed in freezing water a n d dressed. Everyone was tense; o u r feelings and t h o u g h t s were confused - what was g o i n g to h a p p e n now? O u r a r m y was on the retreat in Egypt; the G r e e k s were only just m a n a g i n g to hold the Italians back in Albania; had we sufficient British t r o o p s to hold t h e G e r m a n s in Greece? W h a t was going to h a p p e n in the air? While we had sufficient to cope with the Italians, surely we were g o i n g to be hopelessly o u t n u m b e r e d by the G e r m a n s ? F o r weeks past we had heard of colossal G e r m a n air forces f o r m i n g u p in Bulgaria. W h a t were we in for? Little did we k n o w ! In the a f t e r n o o n (having been on instant readiness all m o r n i n g , with all available H u r r i c a n e s parked at the end of the r u n w a y , facing into wind, ready for take off) all available H u r r i c a n e s (12) t o o k off for an offensive patrol over Bulgaria. I had the g o o d f o r t u n e to be flying next to Sqn Ldr Pattle. Suddenly we spotted eight M e l 0 9 s a n d dived t o a t t a c k . This was my first really good look at a H u n f r o m close quarters. I saw the C O beside me shoot d o w n t w o of t h e m in a few seconds. 230
What a sight. I shall never forget it. W h a t s h o o t i n g too. A t w o second hurst from his eight g u n s at the first enemy machine caused a large piece t o break off in mid air, while the machine turned over vertically o n t o o n e wingtip as the pilot baled out - his p a r a c h u t e opened while his feet were still in the cockpit but he got clear in spite of the c h u t e o p e n i n g so soon. A similar fate awaited the second enemy machine which went spiralling d o w n in flames. I did not have time t o see what h a p p e n e d t o its pilot."
O n e of the first R A F pilots t o achieve success against the Luftwaffe over G r e e c e w a s 33 Squadron's F/Sgt Len C o t t i n g h a m .
T h e B f l 0 9 E s were aircraft of 8 / J G 27, led on p a t r o l over the Rupel Pass area by Obit A r n o Becker; Becker was o n e of those shot d o w n a n d killed, his aircraft Black 2 - c r a s h i n g in flames. He was possibly Sqn Ldr Pattle's second victim; the first w a s u n d o u b t e d l y Lt K l a u s F a b e r . w h o baled out t o become a prisoner. F/Sgt Len C o t t i n g h a m claimed a third Bfl09 shot d o w n , f r o m which he saw the pilot bale out. As the G e r m a n pilot floated d o w n , a n o t h e r Messerschmitt circled r o u n d to give protection, a n d C o t t i n g h a m p r o m p t l y attacked this aircraft. It would seem t h a t this was the fighter u n d e r attack by Winsland, w h o added: 'While all this w a s in full swing a n d machines were twisting and t u r n i n g in all directions I found myself directly on the tail of a n o t h e r Hun at w h o m I let off burst after burst, but either he was m a d e of cast iron or possibly my s h o o t i n g wasn't so hot! I fear it w a s the latter as I have had cause t o discover several times since. H o w e v e r , I d o k n o w the cause - excitement - which is something. I start firing with t h e centre of the gunsight dead on target, then find myself a few seconds later aiming purely by my tracer - looking r o u n d the edge of the sight instead of t h r o u g h it! O n this occasion the enemy plane merely " v i b r a t e d " all 231
over a n d started a diving turn to the left. I c o n t i n u e d t o chase it but still could n o t get it d o w n . Luckily a n o t h e r H u r r i c a n e (F/Sgt C o t t i n g h a m ) suddenly c a m e diving at it as well a s myself a n d at last the enemy " b o u g h t his packet".' T h e two pilots claimed a half share each, whilst Fig Off Peter W i c k h a m claimed o n e m o r e shot d o w n o u t of a trio he engaged. A p a r t f r o m the loss of Becker and F a b e r , O f w G e r h a r d F r o m m i n g was w o u n d e d a n d crash-landed his badly d a m a g e d 'Black 8', while a f o u r t h pilot baled out of 'Black 6' a n d returned to his unit o n foot, u n h a r m e d . M e a n w h i l e further south Fig Off D o w d i n g of 80 S q u a d r o n had been scrambled at 1500 as a r e c o n n a i s s a n c e J u 8 8 D from 2(F)/123 (4U + E K ) a p p r o a c h e d Athens. Sighting the intruder, he chased it out over the Gulf of C o r i n t h , exchanging fire with the gunners. T h e H u r r i c a n e received a few minor hits before he delivered the m o r t a l blow, the G e r m a n m a c h i n e falling into t h e sea off P a t r a s , with the loss of Uffz Fritz Dreyer a n d two of his crew. A Blenheim w a s sent out by 113 S q u a d r o n on a r e c o n n a i s s a n c e t o Z a n t e Island at 1515 - possibly t o look for the crew of the d o w n e d Junkers. T h e G r e e k air force was also active d u r i n g the day. T h e P Z L s of 22 M i r a and the few serviceable Bloch 151s of 24 Mira now moved to K a l a m b a k a / V a s s i l i k i airfield, where they were soon t o be joined by the G l a d i a t o r s of 21 Mira. D u r i n g the day C a p t A n d o n i o u , c o m m a n d e r of 22 Mira, intercepted a reconnaissance aircraft t h o u g h t t o be Bulgarian, over Kilkis, 20 miles n o r t h of Salonika, and claimed this shot d o w n . It seems m u c h m o r e likely t h a t this w a s o n e of the Hs 126s reported lost o p e r a t i n g in s u p p o r t of 12th Armee. D u r i n g a n o t h e r sortie 1/Lt P I k o n o m o p o u l o s , flying o n e of the Bloch 151s, claimed a reconnaissance D o . 1 7 shot d o w n over the estuary of the River S t r y m o n - p r o b a b l y o n e of the aircraft recorded as missing by Fliegerkorps VIII, a n d almost certainly f r o m 2(F)/11. As night fell both sides' air forces were active against c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . Six Wellingtons of 37 S q u a d r o n raided an a m m u n i t i o n train and various installations in Bulgaria at Sofia, G o r n a D j u n m a y a and Simitly, while Blenheims f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n a t t a c k e d a railway station 50 miles further s o u t h , and others f r o m 113 S q u a d r o n raided Petrich. T w o of the latter, L9338 a n d T2168, crash-landed on return, while one Wellington was d a m a g e d by Flak. T h e Luftwaffe activity in the opposite direction achieved quite e x t r a o r d i n a r y success out of all p r o p o r t i o n to the effort expended. As evening fell a force of a b o u t 20 J u 8 8 s f r o m I I I / K G 30 in Sicily t o o k off t o attack the m a j o r Greek supply p o r t of P i r a e u s which w a s heavily congested with m e r c h a n t vessels, including three ships loaded with a m m u n i t i o n and explosives, a m o n g s t other stores. T h e G e r m a n intention was to m a k e a low level c o m b i n e d b o m b i n g and mining a t t a c k . They were followed some time later by 11 He I l l s f r o m 2 / K G 4 led by H p t Kiihl, which were t o mine the bay outside the p o r t . 7 Staffel of K G 30, led by Hpt H a j o H e r r m a n n , w a s flying the low position as the Ju88s a p p r o a c h e d their target. T h o s e aircraft flying higher carried mines only, but H e r r m a n n ' s flight were m o r e heavily laden with b o t h mines and b o m b s . Weather at higher levels was a t r o c i o u s , a n d several of the other crews were forced to jettison their mines 232
a n d r e t u r n early. 7 Staffel pressed on however, H e r r m a n n a n d his crew m a r k i n g the r o u t e with flares. In Piraeus at 2035 the air raid a l a r m was sounded - n o t for the first time t h a t evening - a n d within half an h o u r H e r r m a n n ' s Staffel s w o o p e d on the h a r b o u r , a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m the direction of C o r i n t h . Diving f r o m 10 000 feet to 3000 feet, he c o n c e n t r a t e d on a large freighter by the quayside which w a s accurately hit. O v e r the next t w o h o u r s b o m b e r s continued t o a p p e a r o v e r h e a d a n d m a n y ships sustained hits, several quayside buildings also being destroyed. Fires raged and at the height of the attack the 7529 ton Clan Fraser, which had been partially u n l o a d e d , but still h a d 250 tons of T N T a b o a r d , w a s hit three times, s o m e of her crew being killed. O t h e r b o m b s fell alongside the b u r n i n g freighter, destroying buildings, stores and e q u i p m e n t , including a n u m b e r of crated H u r r i c a n e fighters, t h e blast f r o m which lifted t h e ship out of the water a n d s n a p p e d its m o o r i n g lines. This was p r o b a b l y the explosion reported by H e r r m a n n and his crew, the Shockwave f r o m which a p p a r e n t l y hurled their J u 8 8 a r o u n d like a leaf. By n o w one of the other explosive-carrying ships, the 7100 ton City of Rouhaix w a s also on fire. At a b o u t this time the British N a v a l Attache (Athens), R e a r - A d m i r a l C E Turle, arrived on t h e scene and immediately ordered t h a t tugs should tow t h e blazing ships f r o m the h a r b o u r . He was however overruled by the p o r t a u t h o rities w h o feared t h a t , as the h a r b o u r had been mined, a s u n k e n ship might block the channel a n d deny a n y shipping movements. A p a r t f r o m a few large fires the situation a p p e a r e d t o be almost u n d e r c o n t r o l , a l t h o u g h there was a horrified awareness of the d a n g e r of explosion posed by Clan Fraser, her sides glowing with the heat of the fires raging t h r o u g h her. T w o lighters, loaded with 50 t o n s of T N T , were still secured alongside the d o o m e d ship and volunteers were called to salvage these. Admiral Turle's aide, C d r J o h n Buckler, took over c o m m a n d of one tug a n d set out to secure one lighter when, suddenly at 0315, Clan Frazer blew u p with a vast explosion and resultant fireball, which engulfed not only the t w o lighters, but Buckler's t u g and other vessels nearby. M i n u t e s later City of Rouhaix also went up, her c a r g o of a m m u n i t i o n (destined for Turkey) demolishing further buildings, o t h e r ships and lighters. T h e series of explosions were so severe t h a t w i n d o w s in Athens, seven miles away, were shattered, a n d the blasts were reportedly heard u p t o 150 miles away. T h e port was devastated and a total of 11 m e r c h a n t vessels were destroyed, a m o u n t i n g to 41 789 tons, together with t w o tugs, 60 lighters and 25 caiques; other vessels were d a m a g e d , s o m e seriously.*
* N B Merchant vessels destroyed at Piraeus, night of 6 / 7 April 1941:British:
Clan Fraser
(7529 tons)
Petalli
(6564 tons)
City
(7108 tons)
Evoikos
(4792 tons)
(1988 tons)
C
(1706 tons)
Styliani
(3256 tons)
Ayalliani
(1656 tons)
Acropolis
(1393 tons)
Hak von
(1100 tons)
of Rouhaix
Cyprian Maltese
Patris
Prince
Greek:
233
Louloudis
(4697 tons)
T h r e e British cruisers had been present in port - H M A S Perth, H M S Ajax and Calcutta. All fortuitously avoided serious d a m a g e and evaded the m a n y mines in the h a r b o u r to reach the open sea safely. Here they saw the c o n v o y A N F 25 (the last of the ' L u s t r e ' convoys - see C h a p t e r 6) a p p r o a c h i n g , the vessels being diverted to Salamis and Volos. Piraeus would be closed to all shipping for ten days, some 20 merchant vessels being stranded outside the h a r b o u r , devoid of fuel and water; a n u m b e r of these would subsequently fall victim t o air attack as a result. Even when the port was re-opened, the d a m a g e had been so severe that it was u n a b l e to function efficiently. M e a n w h i l e the small force of b o m b e r s responsible for this calamity t o the Allied cause, returned to Sicily minus one of their n u m b e r . H e r r m a n n ' s 4 D + AR had been hit in the port engine by AA fire, a n d rather t h a n risk the long flight back on o n e engine, H e r r m a n n headed instead for Rhodes. O n arrival here however, he was advised to hold off landing as an R A F air raid w a s in progress. Only t w o Wellingtons of 38 S q u a d r o n from Shallufa, Egypt, were over the island, Pit Olf C S Davis a t t a c k i n g M a r i t z a airfield where he believed that six aircraft h a d been set on fire. At least o n e S.79 h a d succumbed, for when H e r r m a n n finally received permission to land, with his fuel practically exhausted, his aircraft ran off the r u n w a y a n d almost collided with the wreckage of the Italian b o m b e r . ( H e r r m a n n would subsequently gain f a m e and t h e coveted Ritterkreuz as originator of the 'Wilde S a u ' (Wild Boar) form of single-engined night fighter defence of t h e Reich in 1943).
O n the first day of the G e r m a n offensive t w o of 113 Squadron's Blenheim IVs c a m e t o grief at N i a m a t a . T h e nearest, which straddled a ditch, broke its back. (S W
234
Lee)
6 April had also seen t h e arrival of some further r e i n f o r c e m e n t s for the Allied side when the first elements of 208 (Army C o - o p e r a t i o n ) S q u a d r o n reached Eleusis, via Crete; t h e unit flew in three H u r r i c a n e s and eight Westland Lysanders. Activity over Greece was m o r e limited on 7 April, as the Luftwaffe continued t o c o n c e n t r a t e its main efforts over Yugoslavia, but the R A F was busy, f o r m a t i o n s of Blenheims going out to attack G e r m a n c o l u m n s inside Yugoslavia, often b o m b i n g with telling effect. O n e such attack by nine aircraft f r o m 11 S q u a d r o n was escorted by a dozen of 33 S q u a d r o n ' s H u r r i c a n e s early in the a f t e r n o o n , three m o r e of the unit's Blenheims r e t u r n i n g t o attack similar targets east of Strumica later in the day, this time with an escort of t w o Hurricanes. As the little f o r m a t i o n turned for h o m e , Sqn Ldr P a t t l e spotted a single aircraft several t h o u s a n d feet below which he identified as a D o r n i e r Do.215, a n d diving on this, he claimed to have shot it d o w n in flames. This m a y have been a Do.17 f r o m the Stabstaffel of S t u k a g e s c h w a d e r 2, which suffered 15% d a m a g e f r o m enemy action during the d a y in the T h e o d a r i s t i area; other losses of Do.17s on this d a t e were over n o r t h e r n a r e a s of Yugoslavia. A Ju87 of 3/StG 1 flown by Obit Bruno Dilley, was lost while a t t a c k i n g Greek c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in the Verria area of M a c e d o n i a , a l t h o u g h Dilley and his g u n n e r survived t o r e t u r n t o their unit later. A Yugoslav Lockhced 10A ( Y U - S B D ) f r o m the J K R V ' s t r a n s p o r t G r u p a had delivered official mail f r o m Valjevo, west of Belgrade, t o A t h e n s on this date. While r e t u r n i n g f r o m Athens, it refuelled at Thessalonika, but soon after take off from here it was hit by British AA fire and was forced to land n e a r the village of K h a l k i d o n , where it was a b a n d o n e d . D u r i n g the m o r n i n g of 8 April, eight Blenheims of the R A F ' s 11 S q u a d r o n again took off t o attack targets in the Strumica region, but o n e crashed on takeoff and the o t h e r s were forced to r e t u r n by bad visibility. Eight m o r e f r o m 211 S q u a d r o n with an escort of nine 33 S q u a d r o n Hurricanes, attacked Petrich airfield in the south-west corner of Bulgaria, which had been occupied by the Luftwaffe. After the b o m b i n g , the H u r r i c a n e s strafed and several aircraft were reportedly left in flames, t w o of them by Sqn Ldr Pattle. D u r i n g the d a y the Lysanders and H u r r i c a n e s of 208 S q u a d r o n were transferred f r o m Eleusis t o K a z a k l a r , 15 miles s o u t h of Larissa, t o begin operations. Amongst o t h e r units, notification of m o r e d e c o r a t i o n a w a r d s were received at this time, 211 S q u a d r o n being advised of the gazetting of D F C s for Fig Offs Buchanan a n d D u n d a s , a n d for Pit Off Pearson. A c o m m u n i q u e issued by the Greek forces stated that on this d a t e small forces of G e r m a n p a r a t r o o p s had been d r o p p e d behind their positions in the F o r t Rupel a n d F o r t Ussita areas. Seventy had been c a p t u r e d and the remainder annihilated. D u r i n g t h e day ' U l t r a ' intercepts indicated to the British c o m m a n d that XL K o r p s would threaten to outflank t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h forces in their initial defensive positions by a t t a c k ing f r o m the direction of Bitolj. As a result of this i n f o r m a t i o n the G O C decided t o begin w i t h d r a w i n g his t r o o p s t o new positions in the M o u n t O l y m p u s area. Bad weather again prevented any worthwhile b o m b e r o p e r a t i o n s and restricted fighter activity on 9 April. 80 S q u a d r o n sent out a six-Hurricane patrol, but these became lost in the m o u n t a i n s in c o n d i t i o n s of heavy cloud, a n d were obliged to land at Larissa. F r o m this airfield a pair of 33 S q u a d r o n ' s fighters were 235
33 S q u a d r o n pilots at the time of the G e r m a n invasion of Greece. L t o r: Fit Lt 'Dixie' D e a n . Fig Olf Peter W i c k h a m , Fig Off Vernon W o o d w a r d , Fig Off D a v i d Moir and pit Off Charles Chetham. (E C R
Baker)
scrambled. Sqn Ldr Pattle spotting a twin-engined aircraft by c h a n c e as it was d i s a p p e a r i n g into the m u r k . Believing it t o be a Ju88, he got in o n e good burst into its s t a r b o a r d engine before losing it to sight, a n d returned to claim it d a m a g e d with flame gushing f r o m t h e stricken engine. After lunch he was informed that a b o m b e r had crashed in the vicinity of his engagement, a n d with Fig Off H o l m a n he d r o v e to the site to inspect t h e remains. His victim would in fact a p p e a r to have been a n o t h e r D o . l 7 Z (U5 + BT) of 9 / K G 2 which had been flown by Uffz Ulrich S o n n e m a n n .
A Blenheim IV leads replacement Hurricanes t o Greece, the latter fitted with long-range tanks for the journey. V 7 7 9 5 is being flown by e x - M a l t a fighter pilot, Sgt J K 'Jock' Norwell. U K
236
Norwell)
D u r i n g t h e day 33 S q u a d r o n was joined by ' C ' Flight of 208 S q u a d r o n on d e t a c h m e n t , Fit Lt L G Burnard leading in two H u r r i c a n e s (one an u n a r m e d p h o t o - r e c o n n a i s s a n c e machine) a n d a Lysander; Fig Off R J H a r d i m a n a n d Fig Off R R Stephenson were the other pilots. At Eleusis meanwhile a Blenheim IV arrived f r o m Egypt via Crete, together with six new Hurricanes, for which it had been navigating. O n e of these was flown by Fig Off h starrett, w h o then returned to 33 S q u a d r o n , a n d o n e by Fig Off F J Aldridge, w h o w a s a t t a c h e d to 80 S q u a d r o n on arrival. T h e other f o u r pilots were all veterans of 261 S q u a d r o n on M a l t a , w h o had been rested f r o m o p e r a t i o n s ; these four — Sgts Jim Pickering, H a r r y Ayre, ' J o c k ' Norwell a n d O R B o w e r m a n - were t o m a k e their o w n way back t o Egypt, hitching a lift on a returning B o m b a y next day. T h e new H u r r i c a n e s were V7732, 7745, 7747, 7795, 7823 a n d 7852.
Ferry pilots waiting t o return t o Egypt in the 216 Squadron B o m b a y behind them. L to r: Sgt Harry Ayre, Sgt 'Jock' Norwell, Sgt 'Drac' B o w e r m a n and Sgt Jim Pickering. (J
Pickering)
By night 30 S q u a d r o n Blenheim I F s stood at readiness at Eleusis, o n e being ordered ofT at 0520 on 10 April t o intercept an aircraft held in the searchlights at 8000 Teet over Athens. Identifying it as a Ju88, F / S g t Innes-Smith a t t a c k e d , but his o p p o n e n t dived away rapidly, the rear g u n n e r r e t u r n i n g fire and o b t a i n i n g a single hit on t h e Blenheim. An unconfirmed report w a s subsequently received that an aircraft had crashed near S c a r a m a n g a Bay. O n t h e g r o u n d all was far f r o m well for t h e Allies. While t h e G r e e k s had again attacked on the Epirus F r o n t on 9 April, that same d a y a r m o u r e d units of the G e r m a n XVII Armee G r u p p e had entered Salonika despite sustained resistance by three G r e e k divisions u n d e r G e n e r a l Bacopoulos, a n d next d a y all fighting in Eastern M a c e d o n i a would c o m e t o an end. In Yugoslavia the P a n z e r s were slicing t h r o u g h the defences everywhere; with n o news f o r t h c o m i n g of events within t h a t u n h a p p y c o u n t r y , a Blenheim f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n had been flown t o S a r a j e v o d u r i n g 9 April, carrying a Greek general t o try a n d ascertain the position a n d see if any concerted action might be possible. It w a s not. Weather yet again prevented m u c h activity on 10 April; d u r i n g the early 237
GERMAN ADVANCE THROUGH
GREECE, APRIL 1941
a f t e r n o o n nine Blenheims f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n got t h r o u g h t o attack c o l u m n s on the Prilep-Bitolj r o a d , but one observer was badly w o u n d e d and his pilot slightly hit by g r o u n d fire. At 1530 five Blenheim IFs of 30 S q u a d r o n took off t o strafe the same r o a d , while ten b o m b e r Blenheims f r o m 11 S q u a d r o n escorted by a n u m b e r of 33 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s headed for this same target, a n d four m o r e H u r r i c a n e s f r o m 80 S q u a d r o n m a d e for Bitolj itself. Sqn Ldr Milward led his fighter-Blenheims in a successful attack which was believed t o have caused m u c h d a m a g e , but the main f o r m a t i o n was attacked by a n u m b e r of Bfl09Es and Bfl 10s. C l o u d provided cover which prevented losses being suffered, while Sqn Ldr Pattle of 33 S q u a d r o n got a burst into a Bfl 10 which he reported crashed in flames; he then attacked a Bfl09, seeing the pilot bale out before the aircraft spun down. T w o Bfl 10s f r o m 7 / L G 2 were lost d u r i n g t h e day, as was a B f l 0 9 E of S t a b / J G 27, but all a p p a r e n t l y as a result of accidents. O n e Bfl 10 flown by Obit Peters was d a m a g e d in a c r a s h - l a n d i n g near Botevgrad, the g u n n e r dying of the injuries he received, while a second crashed near the airfield of Krainici in Bulgaria, far f r o m the Prilep-Bitolj area, O b i t Gravinghoff and his gunner being killed. Obit H e r b e r t M a r d a a s of J G 27 w a s also killed when he crashed into a m o u n t a i n near Bogomila in bad weather. 238
M e a n w h i l e the 80 S q u a d r o n q u a r t e t t e strafed vehicles a n d t r o o p s , and a small a m m u n i t i o n d u m p s o u t h of Bitolj. Heavy return fire w a s e n c o u n t e r e d and the engine of Fit Lt ' T i m b e r ' W o o d s ' H u r r i c a n e was hit, seizing u p immediately. W o o d s was able t o locate a level field and put his aircraft d o w n on its belly at once, recalling: 'As I c l a m b e r e d out t h e aircraft went on fire. O n e of the o t h e r s - Ginger (Pit Off S t i l l ) - c i r c l e d r o u n d with his wheels d o w n as if a b o u t to land. I realised he would never m a k e it a n d waved him away. T h e field was m u c h t o o r o u g h for a H u r r i c a n e landing, t h o u g h I would have liked to have ridden back with him. T h e Jerries were a b o u t a mile a w a y and a patrol w a s after me, so I sprinted away as hard as I could go in the direction of our lines. I should think that I ran for a b o u t a q u a r t e r of an h o u r when a patrol of Aussies picked me up. I was just a b o u t dead beat. T h e y quickly got into position and put a few shots in the direction of t h e a d v a n c i n g Jerries, w h o at once pushed off. T h e Aussies said they had seen me land and had c o m e out at once, for they could also see the G e r m a n s m a k i n g t o w a r d s t h e aircraft. We c o n t i n u e d back t o their position in some hills, where they fed me and then sent me back in a car.' While raiding targets in G r e e c e a J u 8 7 of I I I / S t G 77 flown by Fw Willi Holtgreve ( F H + K P ) was reported missing in the L a m i a area. F u r t h e r west a Z506B floatplane of the 86° G r u p p o BM b o m b e d a railway bridge over the River A r k a d e i k a , n o r t h of Kyparissia. O t h e r raids and reconnaissances were flown by the Regia A e r o n a u t i c a , while Italian fighters strafed various targets. O n e Italian aircraft was claimed shot d o w n d u r i n g the d a y when 1/Lt I k o n o m o p o u l o s of 24 M i r a intercepted a reconnaissance Z1007bis. By night the Swordfish d e t a c h m e n t at P a r a m y t h i a - reinforced by six new aircraft f r o m H M S Formidable - resumed operations. O v e r the next few nights the Italians would be stopped f r o m using Valona h a r b o u r , four m o r e ships being claimed sunk here. T h e collapse of Greek resistance in Eastern M a c e d o n i a now allowed t h e G e r m a n s to begin m o v i n g s o u t h w a r d s , a n d over the next five days the British forces facing t h e m began w i t h d r a w i n g t o the partly-prepared Servia line. Early in the m o r n i n g of 11 April, Fliegerkorps X b o m b e r s f r o m Sicily again a p p r o a c h e d the G r e e k coast. Sqn Ldr Pattle of 33 S q u a d r o n w h o had taken off after breakfast t o fly t o a satellite airfield, was vectored o n t o a n u m b e r of unidentified lowflying aircraft near Volos. He identified these as J u 8 8 s and H e l 1 Is which were att e m p t i n g t o lay mines in t h e sea at t h e e n t r a n c e to Volos h a r b o u r . Attacking at once, he claimed one of each shot d o w n . It would seem that b o t h his victims were J u 8 8 s however, I I I / K G 30 losing Obit H a n s Schaible's 4 D + JR of 7 staffel and Lt W i m m e r ' s 4 D + F S of 8 Staffel, with their respective crews. A little later six 84 S q u a d r o n Blenheims set out to b o m b the Prilep-Bitolj r o a d , where t a n k s a n d lorries were reported hit, as was a n e a r b y train. T h e G e r m a n s were ready for them this time however, a n d a hail of g r o u n d fire hit all six aircraft, F/Sgt L Nuthall's Blenheim being shot d o w n a n d all t h e crew killed. Bad weather prevented further sorties by Blenheims of 11,30 and 113 S q u a d r o n s , all of which were scheduled t o operate. However a new d e t a c h m e n t of Wellingtons from 38 S q u a d r o n in Egypt arrived during the day, a n d were in action that night 239
against Sofia a n d Veles. *C' Flight of 208 S q u a d r o n w a s also o p e r a t i n g d u r i n g 11 April, m o v i n g f o r w a r d again to K a z a k l a r , joined now by a further H u r r i c a n e and two m o r e pilots. Fliegerkorps VIII aircraft were active over Greece d u r i n g t h e day, 4 N e w Z e a l a n d Brigade r e p o r t i n g being attacked by G e r m a n aircraft in the Servia area, casualties being suffered. O t h e r Luftwaffe a t t a c k s were m a d e on t r a n s p o r t vehicles in the K o z a n i region. D u r i n g the d a y S t a b / S t G 2 again lost a Do.17 when T 6 + F A w a s reported missing near Xanthe. T h e crew of Obit G e r h a r d Krieger later returned, suffering f r o m various w o u n d s , t o report that they had been shot d o w n by AA. After d a r k Sqn Ldr Milward of 30 S q u a d r o n , u p on patrol in Blenheim I F K.7095, engaged a J u 8 8 in searchlights at 8000 feet north-west of Athens. As he a t t a c k e d , his aircraft was hit by return fire and burst into flames, a n d while he was able t o bale out, his g u n n e r , Sgt J o h n C r o o k s , was killed. Believed by t r o o p s on the g r o u n d to be a G e r m a n , he was shot at in his p a r a c h u t e ; he then narrowly avoided high tension cables and crashed into a glasshouse, escaping this whole c a t a l o g u e of m i s f o r t u n e s with n o m o r e t h a n a severe shaking. M a n y g r o u n d observers reported that a J u 8 8 was seen to spin d o w n and crash with an explosion, but this may well have been the falling Blenheim, or b o m b s . N o Ju88 was reported lost a n d the only identification of Milward's possible o p p o n e n t m a y have been a J u 8 8 A of 9 / L G 1 which crash-landed on r e t u r n f r o m a sortie over Crete, 60% d a m a g e d . R A F Blenheims a n d H u r r i c a n e s were out over the Bitolj-Veles r o a d d u r i n g t h e m o r n i n g of 12 April, while in the a f t e r n o o n Sqn Ldr Pattle led a f o r m a t i o n of 33 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s on a sweep u p t h e S t r u m a valley. East of Salonika a lone aircraft identified as a D o 215 was intercepted and this was at once claimed shot d o w n by Pattle. As t h e s q u a d r o n returned t o w a r d s Larissa they were warned of hostile aircraft in the vicinity a n d almost at once encountered a reported three S.79s 3000 feet below, a p p a r e n t l y escorted by Bf 109s. O r d e r i n g three sections t o take on the fighters, Pattle led Fig Offs H o l m a n and Starrett d o w n on the b o m b e r s , reportedly sending o n e d o w n in flames, while the other pair claimed a second. Pattle then engaged the Bfl09s, r e p o r t i n g hits on o n e which caused a panel t o fly olf t h e s t a r b o a r d wing a n d the wheels were seen t o d r o p d o w n . Fliegerkorps VIII reported the loss of a J u 8 8 on this d a t e - possibly an aircraft of I / L G 1 - but t h e details of this casualty are n o t included in t h e Q u a r t e r m a s t e r ' s Loss Returns. Luftwaffe b o m b i n g sank the 674 t o n ship Retriever off Phleves o n this date, 11 of the crew losing their lives. D u e t o b o m b i n g and aerial minelaying activities a r o u n d S c a r a m a n g a , 230 S q u a d r o n ' s d e t a c h m e n t of S u n d e r l a n d flyingboats here had to be w i t h d r a w n t o S u d a Bay, Crete. With d a r k n e s s , six of 815 S q u a d r o n ' s Swordfish at P a r a m y t h i a were serviceable and available for renewed a t t a c k s on h a r b o u r s in Albania a n d Italy. Five Swordfish flew d o w n to Eleusis to exchange t o r p e d o e s for mines, p r e p a r a t o r y t o a mission t o D u r a z z o . H o w e v e r r u m o u r t h a t the Yugoslavs had possibly c a p t u r e d this p o r t f r o m the Italians led to a last m i n u t e cancellation, and t h e attack was directed on Brindisi instead. At 0130 Lt T o r r e n s - S p e n c e led off six aircraft, five with mines and one with a t o r p e d o , t h e f o r m a t i o n climbing u p to 10000 feet a n d a p p r o a c h i n g within 25 240
miles of the target. Heavy cloud covered the Italian coast at 6000 feet, but a break was f o u n d and the h a r b o u r was located by its flashing lighthouse. G l i d i n g d o w n , the pilots saw before t h e m a large n u m b e r of ships in the r o a d s t e a d ; it was assumed t h a t these were p r e p a r i n g for a d a s h across t o D u r a z z o . L / A i r m a n K e n Sims flying in S u b Lt R u d o r f s L9743 'R' recalled: 'With t o r p e d o e s we would have had a b o n a n z a . But w h a t t o d o with mines? T h e r e was n o point in p u t t i n g them in the inner h a r b o u r e n t r a n c e as planned. Instead we selected a largish ship, turned over the h a r b o u r e n t r a n c e a n d c a m e back at her. As we did so the shore batteries w o k e u p t o our presence and opened up O u r ship looked big as we flew over her at a b o u t 100 feet. She was anchored and we d r o p p e d the mine right alongside. W e h o p e d they would take long e n o u g h t o get u n d e r w a y t h a t the mine would activate as she s w u n g in t h e current. We were not to k n o w the result at the time t h o u g h later I gathered it had not been effective.' However Sub Lt M a c a u l a y , flying the single t o r p e d o - a r m e d aircraft, launched at a t a n k e r which w a s claimed as hit, o n e crew reporting seeing a large flash d o w n o n t h e water as they d e p a r t e d . All Swordfish landed safely at P a r a m y t h i a at dawn.
Junkers J u 8 8 A - 4 over Greece, April 1941. ( B i b f i i r Z e i l )
241
An i m p r o v e m e n t in the weather allowed the air forces out in greater strength on 13 April. F r o m Bulgaria a n d Eastern Yugoslavia, the Luftwaffe now began to intrude m o r e forcefully into Greek airspace, a n d d u r i n g the m o r n i n g some 70 b o m b e r s attacked Volos, the p o r t being devastated. A m o n g s t the ships lost was the 7140 ton City oj Karachi, while the 5000 t o n N o r w e g i a n t a n k e r Brattdal w a s severely d a m a g e d and was considered a total loss. O n e raid by 20 Ju88s of 1/LG 1 was intercepted by seven 33 S q u a d r o n Hurricanes, t h e G e r m a n unit r e p o r t i n g t h e loss of Ju88A Ll + U H flown by Lt G e r t Blanke. Fig Off Peter W i c k h a m c a u g h t a reconnaissance Bfl 10 f r o m 7 ( F ) / L G 2 over M o u n t O l y m p u s and shot it d o w n in flames (L2 + H R , flown by Lt G e o r g Lange). It is possible that the b o m b e r was shot d o w n by Sqn L d r Pattle, since a diary lists five victories for him next day, t w o of these being Ju88s. A second J u 8 8 w a s lost on 13 April when an aircraft of I I / L G 1 f r o m Sicily (LI + E N , flown by F w H a n s G a r z of 5 Staffel) ditched in t h e sea off Crete, m a n y miles t o the south. However L G 1 were also in action against Piraeus, h a r b o u r on 14 April, where Lt G e o r g Sattler a t t a c k e d a 6000 t o n m e r c h a n t vessel in the wrecked h a r b o u r , seeing the blast of his b o m b s t h r o w the vessel against the q u a y . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , there is a distinct lack of d o c u m e n t a r y evidence c o n c e r n i n g Pattle's sorties in mid April. O v e r the Albanian f r o n t action occurred on 13 for the first time since the G e r m a n invasion had begun. H e r e Sqn Ldr S c h w a b led the 112 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r s on an offensive patrol over K o r i t z a , seeing eight 104° G r u p p o BT S.79s escorted by a recorded 'three M e l 0 9 s and o n e G - 5 0 ' (almost certainly all M C 2 0 0 s of 153° G r u p p o CT). S c h w a b claimed the 'G-50' s h o t d o w n , but Pit OfT B r u n t o n was forced t o bale out when the propeller flew off his aircraft; he returned on muleback with the aid of local peasants. G u n n e r s in the S.79s claimed o n e G l a d i a t o r shot d o w n a n d t w o probables. R A F Blenheims were very active t h r o u g h o u t t h e day, but at last their a p p a r e n t virtual i m m u n i t y w a s t o c o m e t o an end as the Luftwaffe finally m a n a g e d to intercept o n e unescorted raid. 211 S q u a d r o n had already u n d e r t a k e n t w o raids d u r i n g the m o r n i n g on vehicles and t r o o p c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in the F i o r i n a region, both u n d e r H u r r i c a n e escort; n o opposition had been e n c o u n t e r e d . At 1500 t h e unit was briefed t o send six m o r e b o m b e r s t o the area, b u t this time n o H u r r i c a n e s were available. O n l y seven serviceable Blenheims could be mustered for this o p e r a t i o n to Prilep but as they were being m a d e ready a signal arrived f r o m A H Q , calling for o n e aircraft t o carry out a p h o t o - r e c o n n a i s s a n c e sortie over V a l o n a and D u r a z z o . Pit Off Jack H o o p e r was the o b v i o u s choice for this task, his aircraft being t h e only o n e not already ' b o m b e d - u p ' , so off he went. W g C d r ' P a d d y ' C o o t e , O / C Western Wing, decided to g o along with the raid as an observer t o assess the progress of the G e r m a n advance, while his d e p u t y , Sqn Ldr L E Cryer, D F C , would a c c o m p a n y a n o t h e r crew. T h e f o r m a t i o n would be led by Sqn Ldr Irvine, the c o m m a n d i n g officer. As the b o m b e r s a p p r o a c h e d L a k e Prespa, some 40 miles s h o r t of the target zone, three B f l 0 9 E s f r o m 6 / J G 2 7 were seen closing rapidly on the rear 'vie' of three Blenheims, t h e g u n n e r s at once o p e n i n g fire. H p t H a n s - J o a c h i m Gerlach, leading t h e G e r m a n f o r m a t i o n attacked L8449 (Fig Off AC Godfrey), which caught fire almost at once. O n l y G o d f r e y m a n a g e d to bale out, a n d he later 242
recalled: "We were ordered t o dive. N e x t thing t h e cockpit w a s a m a s s of flames. As they blazed u p in my face I tore the hatch back and j u m p e d . 1 noticed that there were three aircraft in t h e air - all in flames. My crew w a s dead.' His aircraft crashed near the village of K a r i a where it was joined almost immediately by a second Blenheim. T h i s was L8604, shot d o w n by Uffz Fritz G r o m o t k a ; Fig O f f C E V T h o m p s o n , D F C , and his crew did not survive. Less t h a n a m i n u t e later L I 5 3 9 w a s falling in flames, hit by Fw H e r b e r t Krenz, a n d again only the pilot, F / S g t A G James, was able to bale out, b r e a k i n g his ankle on landing n e a r t h e village of Mikrolimni; this aircraft crashed n e a r t h e south-west shore of the lake. T h e leading 'vie' n o w c a m e u n d e r a t t a c k , and first t o fall was L1434 in which Sqn L d r C r y e r was flying as passenger to Fit Lt L B B u c h a n a n , D F C . Hit by Hpt G e r l a c h , B u c h a n a n was critically injured, but m a n a g e d a controlled ditching in the south-eastern c o r n e r of Lake Prespa. An u n c o n f i r m e d report stated that Cryer and B u c h a n a n both died of their injuries in an Albanian hospital. M e a n w h i l e UfTz G r o m o t k a had his second victory when Fig Off R V H e r b e r t ' s L4819, in which W g C d r C o o t e was flying, crashed n e a r the village of T r i g o n o n ; one p a r a c h u t e was seen, partially o p e n , but all the crew died. Sqn Ldr Irvine was now alone, but L8478 did not last long. F w K r e n z speedily overhauled the Blenheim a n d sent it d o w n to crash near Vigla, again with the loss of all the crew. T h e t w o survivors, G o d f r e y a n d James, m a d e c o n t a c t and buried t h o s e of their dead c o m r a d e s that they could find before m a k i n g their way by foot, mule and Greek lorry t o Larissa, 150 miles distant! Even as this slaughter was t a k i n g place, nine m o r e Blenheims f r o m 113 S q u a d r o n had set off 15 minutes later at 1515, heading for t h e same target, but with an escort of six Hurricanes. T h e Blenheims were led by Fit Lt D F R i x s o n , w h o recalled: ' W e were going u p the line t o b o m b t h e enemy f o r w a r d troops. In the valley as we went n o r t h , we suddenly saw far m o r e aircraft than we had ever seen in the air before, a n d g o i n g d o w n t h e other side of the valley t o attack o u r forward t r o o p s later confirmed as a Luftwaffe b o m b e r f o r m a t i o n . I r e m e m b e r o u r H u r r i c a n e s fussing a r o u n d us like bees, but obviously both f o r m a t i o n s had the same instructions " d o not leave y o u r b o m b e r s " because a l t h o u g h only a few miles a p a r t n o n e interfered with t h e other.' D u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n Fig Olf Vernon W o o d w a r d of 33 S q u a d r o n carried out a lone reconnaissance to Bitolj and Vire. He was intercepted by three Bfl09s, o n e of which he claimed to have shot d o w n , believing that he had seen the pilot bale out. H e then finished his reconnaissance a n d returned unscathed. T h a t night five Wellingtons of 38 S q u a d r o n attacked Sofia again, but o n e failed t o return. Sofia came u n d e r attack again d u r i n g the night of 13/14 April, six Wellingtons f r o m 37 S q u a d r o n ' s d e t a c h m e n t at M e n i d i raiding t h e city's marshalling yards. Light Flak was encountered and Sgt D D Strickland's T2875 w a s slightly d a m a g e d . D u r i n g the r e t u r n flight Pit Off W D Costello's crew spotted a c o n v o y of a b o u t 30 243
vehicles, the pilot taking the big aircraft d o w n to strafe, the g u n n e r s causing m u c h a p p a r e n t confusion. Eight m o r e Wellingtons were despatched by 38 S q u a d r o n at Shallufa, briefed to attack the same target. T w o failed to locate their destination in bad weather, but the rest b o m b e d , one crew reporting seeing a Bfl 10 with a searchlight installed in its nose. H o w e v e r n o interceptions were reported. It was on 14 April, as the British a r m y completed its w i t h d r a w a l t o the O l y m p u s - S e r v i a line, t h a t i m p r o v i n g weather and reduction of effort over Yugoslavia, allowed aerial activity over Greece t o show a m a r k e d increase. Early in the d a y six Blenheims f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n , escorted by four Hurricanes, attacked vehicles and t r o o p s n o r t h of Ptolemais. Intense Flak was experienced a n d t w o Bfl09s also attacked the bombers, four Blenheims being d a m a g e d , o n e of which was believed to have crash-landed in Yugoslavia. S o m e five h o u r s later at 0930, eight m o r e 113 S q u a d r o n Blenheims were off with an escort of ten Hurricanes, seven f r o m 33 S q u a d r o n and three f r o m 80 S q u a d r o n . R e t u r n i n g f r o m a t t a c k i n g targets n o r t h of Ptolemais, Ju87s were seen d i v e - b o m b i n g Allied t r o o p s near Servia and o n e of these was claimed shot d o w n by Pit Off Bill Vale of 80 S q u a d r o n ; a Blenheim gunner fired at o n e of the dive-bombers, reporting seeing s m o k e and flame p o u r i n g f r o m this aircraft, but this is believed to have been the m a c h i n e a t t a c k e d by Vale. An h o u r later over t h e E p i r u s F r o n t , ten Z.1007bis b o m b e r s of 35° S t o r m o BT were a t t a c k e d by nine G l a d i a t o r s of 21 Mira near Yanina. O n e of the latter was claimed shot d o w n by the g u n n e r s in one b o m b e r , a n d one by an escorting 153° G r u p p o C T MC200; n o losses of any G l a d i a t o r s have been recorded. D u r i n g the d a y a further claim for a G l a d i a t o r was submitted by Uffz G r o m o t k a of I I / J G 2 7 s o u t h of Fiorina. O v e r A t h e n s three H u r r i c a n e s of 80 S q u a d r o n a n d four Blenheim fighters of 30 S q u a d r o n scrambled t o intercept Ju88s a n d Bfl 10s a t t a c k i n g Piraeus early in the a f t e r n o o n . T h e Blenheims failed to m a k e c o n t a c t , but it seems that one H u r r i c a n e was hit a n d force-landed. An h o u r later pairs of H u r r i c a n e s were despatched by 33 S q u a d r o n to patrol over t r o o p s in the Servia area w h o were n o w u n d e r c o n s t a n t S t u k a attack. Fig Offs W o o d w a r d and D e a n c a m e across six of the diveb o m b e r s as they were peeling off t o attack m o t o r t r a n s p o r t , and three were claimed shot d o w n with three others d a m a g e d . W o o d w a r d claiming two destroyed a n d o n e d a m a g e d , and 'Dixie' D e a n t h e remainder. Greek P Z L pilots of 22 M i r a also intercepted Ju87s d u r i n g the day, o n e being claimed shot d o w n by Sgt A r g y r o p o u l o s n e a r T r i k k a l a . Several Ju87s were indeed lost over the area d u r i n g the day, a n d it is believed that o n e of these was p r o b a b l y that shot d o w n by Vale earlier in the m o r n i n g . It seems t h a t I / S t G 3 lost O f w Rudolf S c h n u r a w a and his gunner over Servia, while 9 / S t G 2 lost O b i t C h r i s t i a n B a n k e and F w G e o r g H o s e r in T 6 + K T south-west of M o u n t O l y m p u s . A second 9 Staffel aircraft was badly d a m a g e d a n d crashlanded on its r e t u r n to Prilep-West, O f w Paul L a c h m a n n and his g u n n e r b o t h having been w o u n d e d . 2 / S t G l , recently arrived f r o m Libya, lost A5 + EK to fighters near T r i k k a l a (obviously the victim of the G r e e k PZL); F h r Walter Seeliger and G e f r K u r t Friedrich were taken prisoner, and were t a k e n t o the 244
H e a d q u a r t e r s of Colonel Stanley C a s s o n , w h o wrote: 'A c o u p l e of y o u n g d i v e - b o m b e r airmen were b r o u g h t in t o me in the late a f t e r n o o n . T h e subaltern was y o u n g (Seeliger was 19 at the time) a n d d a r k , his c o m p a n i o n , a sergeant, w a s bullet-headed, m o r o s e and sullen . . . t h e subaltern was a Viennese d a n d y . He wore elegant riding breeches a n d field boots, an odd c o s t u m e for an a i r m a n . 1 thrust him a n d his surly friend into a c o w s h e d , our only available prison. After an h o u r there he asked to see me and c o m p l a i n e d , after m a n y salutes a n d heel-clickings, t h a t it was very cold there. I told him that he had visited Thessaly of his own volition - that no one had invited him, a n d reminded him that G r e e c e in Spring is very chilly in the evenings; he should have brought his overcoat. Later we sent him t o Athens.' (Seeliger did not remain in captivity long, being released when A t h e n s fell; Friedrich was not so f o r t u n a t e however, for he had already been moved to Egypt, and remained in Allied h a n d s for the duration.) G e r m a n records actually list the losses suffered by 2 / S t G 3 a n d 2/StG 1 as occurring one day later, b u t the British r e p o r t of the c a p t u r e of Seeliger and Friedrich shows this u n d o u b t e d l y t o be an administrative error in the case of the StG 1 aircraft. N o claims were m a d e for any Ju87s on 15 April, and it therefore seems likely that the S t G 3 loss w a s similarly entered a d a y late. Late that evening a n o t h e r pair of 33 S q u a d r o n ' s H u r r i c a n e s were r e t u r n i n g t o Larissa f r o m a fruitless o n e and a half h o u r patrol when they became separated in heavy cloud. Recalled Pit Off Winsland: i sighted what I t h o u g h t to be a friendly G r e e k or British fighter. However, after circling r o u n d it I identified it as a G e r m a n Henschel 126. W h a t a gift - or so I t h o u g h t . But again I had the old trouble - excitement! T o m a k e things m o r e difficult t h e enemy put d o w n his flaps a n d cruised at a b o u t 7 0 m p h so that 1 had to shoot past him after each a t t a c k . H e also used his c a m o u f l a g e t o his best a d v a n t a g e by flying low - 500 feet - thereby giving me n o r o o m t o dive away d o w n w a r d s after attacking. All this was, of course, very m u c h t o his credit and courage. However, all that w a s n o excuse for my not having blasted him out of the sky with the first attack. After my last burst at him I could n o longer see him flying, yet neither could I find the machine smashed u p on t h e g r o u n d . However, I can at least say t h a t a report c a m e in next d a y f r o m Field H Q that a Henschel 126 had been found wrecked n e a r K a t e r i n e and t h a t it crashed at the very time and place I claimed to have been a t t a c k i n g it - but with this difference — the G r e e k s claimed having got it by Acc-Acc!' Nonetheless the Hs 126 - believed to have been a machine f r o m 2(H)/10 - was credited t o Winsland; the crew survived, a l t h o u g h Obit H a n s W i e d e m a n n , t h e observer, w a s w o u n d e d . A second H s l 2 6 (5F + A H ) f r o m 1 (H)/14 was shot d o w n in the Larissa area, the pilot - Lt H a n s Wendler - being killed; his victor was a P Z L pilot of 23 M i r a , Col C a s s o n recording of this busy day: ' I n the early a f t e r n o o n a G e r m a n Henschel, an ancient type of craft used for reconnaissance and p h o t o g r a p h y , as obsolete for fighting p u r p o s e s as a Lysander, 245
c a m e p o p p i n g a l o n g over us all by itself at the ridiculous height of a b o u t 3000 feet. T h i s looked like o u r a f t e r n o o n off, a n d everybody with any kind of machine gun loosed off at it f r o m all over the plain. This pilot of that Henschel must surely have been d r u n k . However, n o n e of us hit him, and over he went across the ridge between us a n d Larissa. T h e other side a Greek in an ancient Potez machine (sic) chugged up into the air a n d shot him d o w n ; a n d that was that. I rather think that a b o u t now t h e G e r m a n s were beginning t o get a little a b o v e themselves and were reck less."
P Z L P - 2 4 fighters of the EVA remained active during April, and were involved in several successful e n g a g e m e n t s with Luftwaffe aircraft. G e r m a n personnel e x a m i n e a d a m a g e d e x a m p l e on a captured airfield. A second can be seen in the background, c o m p l e t e l y burnt out. ( A
Stamatopoulos)
By this d a t e the Luftwaffe had been reinforced by the arrival of three t r a n s p o r t G r u p p e n , K G z b V 1, 2 and 3 in Bulgaria, with quantities of Ju52/3ms. T h e s e m a d e their presence felt on 14 April, when t r o o p s of the 19th Australian and 4th N e w Zealand Brigades holding positions a r o u n d Servia and P o r t a s Pass, reported seeing n u m e r o u s aircraft of this type air-lifting infantry t o t h e K o z a n i Plain. A Blenheim a t t e m p t e d to deliver unfused b o m b s (by a i r d r o p ) t o t r o o p s at G r e v e n a d u r i n g the day, w h o were t o use these for demolition purposes. However the b o m b e r was intercepted by an unidentified Bfl09, a n d was d a m a g e d , being forced t o r e t u r n t o base, its mission uncompleted. T h e day also saw t h e arrival at P a r a m y t h i a of Wg C d r Dudley Lewis f r o m A H Q , w h o had instructions t o disband Western Wing a n d a r r a n g e t h e evacuation of b o t h P a r a m y t h i a a n d Yanina. T h e G l a d i a t o r s of 112 S q u a d r o n and the last five Blenheims of 211 S q u a d r o n were to m o v e t o Agrinion t o c o n t i n u e o p e r a t i o n s , the Blenheims beginning ferrying d o w n the g r o u n d personnel - nine t o an aircraft — next morning; this o p e r a t i o n would take three d a y s t o complete. Fliegerkorps VIII 246
aircrew claimed to have shot d o w n a Fairey IMF f l o a t p l a n e of 11 M i r a over Athens; the c l a i m a n t s were p r o b a b l y a b o m b e r crew, but n o G r e e k crew casualties are recorded, a l t h o u g h t h e aircraft may have force-landed without casualties t o personnel. As already mentioned, o n e source has credited Sqn Ldr ' P a t ' Pattle of 33 S q u a d r o n with five victories during five different sorties on this d a t e - a Bfl09 at 0710. Ju88s at 0843 a n d 1740. a Bfl 10 at 1004 and an S.79 at 1308. I I / K G 51 lost two Ju88s on this date, o n e shot d o w n d u r i n g a raid on Illidza, the crew baling out u n h u r t , while the second crash-landed at Pecs airfield on return, after suffering battle d a m a g e . T h e s e would thus seem to have been the o p p o n e n t s of 33 S q u a d r o n either d u r i n g the m o r n i n g or evening raids. With regard to the other victories m e n t i o n e d , few possibilities exist. T h e only B f l 0 9 lost on this d a y w a s that flown by H p t G e r l a c h , Staffelkapitan of 6 / J G 27, w h o w a s taken prisoner when his aircraft was hit in the engine during a strafing a t t a c k . T h e only possible identity of the Bfl 10 is a D o . l 7 Z of 10/KG 2 which crash-landed in R u m a n i a 60% d a m a g e d - a highly unlikely c a n d i d a t e , while n o Italian t r i m o t o r b o m b e r s are recorded lost in c o m b a t with fighters on this d a t e , a l t h o u g h o n e Z.1007bis of the 262 a Squadriglia, flown by Ten M a r i o di Angelis, was reported shot d o w n by AA fire over Preveza h a r b o u r d u r i n g an attack by five of these b o m b e r s . It is very unlikely that this was involved however, as its loss was r e p o r t e d far f r o m the area over which 33 S q u a d r o n was operating. As recorded earlier, it w a s on this d a t e that K i n g Peter of Yugoslavia was flown out f r o m Niksic in a 7th P u k S.79, heading for Greece. At P a r a m y t h i a d u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n a D o . l 7 K flew in, followed by the Savoia which was flying a white flag and was escorted by six 112 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r s . T h e y o u n g m o n a r c h a n d his Prime Minister were at once provided with a G u a r d of H o n o u r c o m p o s e d of airmen of 211 S q u a d r o n . T h e K i n g c o m m e n t e d that it was the smartest guard he had seen, and most certainly the first on a battlefield. O n e of those involved was C o r p o r a l T o m H e n d e r s o n , w h o recalled: ' W h a t His Majesty d i d n ' t k n o w was that 90% of t h e gear we were wearing was b o r r o w e d f r o m o u r c o m r a d e s , there was a dire s h o r t a g e of decent u n i f o r m s and e q u i p m e n t at t h e time. O n e piece of luggage unloaded off t h e S.79 w a s reported to c o n t a i n the Yugoslav C r o w n Jewels! It may have been true, but true or not it brightened u p o u r lives at a time when our luck a p p e a r e d t o be r u n n i n g out.' (It p r o b a b l y was true, for a week later the Jewels were taken a b o a r d H M S Defender at K a l a m a t a a n d carried t o Egypt.) Later that evening the K i n g left for Menidi in the S.79, escorted by a Blenheim, but n o w as already described, Yugoslav aircraft began arriving in n u m b e r s mainly S.79s, D o . l 7 K s and Lockheed Electras, but also including the large n u m b e r of smaller biplanes of m a n y types. T o m H e n d e r s o n remembers: 'As far as I c a n recollect the Yugoslav boys (S.79s and D o . l 7 s mostly) began arriving on 12th o r 13th a n d over a period of a b o u t three d a y s kept trickling in I saw n o Furies or H u r r i c a n e s but an odd Lockheed twin-engined aircraft was present. I have never seen such magnificent u n i f o r m s as some of the Yugoslav c h a p s w o r e - a n d such marvellous moustaches!' 247
By t h e end of this d a y the n u m b e r of Yugoslav machines present at P a r a m y t h i a had reportedly reached 44, but others were landing elsewhere. T w o multi-engined aircraft, believed to have been C a p r o n i 310s f r o m 603 T r a i n i n g Eskadrila, c a m e d o w n on the island of C o r f u . O n e of these landed on G a r i t s a airfield but nosed over in m u d d y conditions. N o o n e on b o a r d was hurt but t h e aircraft was d a m a g e d ; the passengers were t a k e n f r o m the island by boat t o t h e south. T h e second aircraft landed a b o u t 20 minutes later at Lefkimi, on t h e south-east tip of C o r f u , in a field unsuitable for a take-off, and was a b a n d o n e d . Both aircraft were later b u r n e d by t h e C o r f i o t s to prevent t h e m falling into Italian hands. By night British b o m b e r s were again out in some force. N i n e of 38 S q u a d r o n ' s Wellingtons f r o m Egypt were briefed t o attack a bridge s p a n n i n g the V a r d a r at Veles. Led by W g C d r W P J T h o m s o n , they a t t a c k e d t h r o u g h heavy F l a k , t w o crews believing t h a t their b o m b s had hit the target; Pit Off H W E L a n e reported seeing the west end of the bridge collapse. H o w e v e r Fig Off H W A d a m s ' Wellington (R1099), w a s seen t o be shot d o w n , all t h e crew being lost. Blenheims f r o m 11 S q u a d r o n a t t a c k e d vehicles, a r m o u r and t r o o p s in the M o u n t O l y m p u s area. M e a n w h i l e seven Swordfish f r o m 815 S q u a d r o n staged t h r o u g h P a r a m y t h i a , h e a d i n g for V a l o n a at 2350, led by Lt Torrens-Spence; all were armed with t o r p e d o e s on this occasion. In poor, hazy visibility, t h e f o r m a t i o n climbed t o a b o u t 8000 feet before gliding in to attack independently. O n l y six m a d e the a t t a c k , for Lt C S Lea had been forced t o turn back early d u e t o technical problems. T a r g e t s were not f o u n d where they had been expected, and all aircraft had to fly r o u n d the h a r b o u r looking for ships. T o r r e n s - S p e n c e found and attacked one vessel - 'there was a big bang and no mistake a b o u t it' - which was a p p a r e n t l y a 7000 ton a m m u n i t i o n ship. Sub Lt M a c a u l a y reported having got a strike on a m e r c h a n t vessel of some 6000 t o n s after Lt H A S w a y n e had missed it f r o m astern. In t h e d a r k n e s s the a t t a c k i n g crews overestimated the sizes of their respective targets but not the results - the steamer ' L u c i a n o ' , a 3329-ton freighter, w a s sunk, as was t h e smaller ' S t a m p a l i a ' (1228 tons). T w o crews failed t o find targets after a 4 5 - m i n u t e search a n d returned with their torpedoes, but P4137 crewed by S u b Lts W C S a r r a a n d J Bowker hit t h e water a n d crashed; they survived to become prisoners. After landing at P a r a m y t h i a t o refuel, the six remaining aircraft left for Eleusis at d a w n on 15 April. Immediately they had left, before the m a s s of Yugoslav aircraft at P a r a m y t h i a could be refuelled a n d got away, M C 2 0 0 s of the 22° G r u p p o C T swept in t o strafe, claiming six b o m b e r s and one fighter destroyed, plus ten aircraft d a m a g e d . S o m e sources have stated that all 44 aircraft were destroyed o r d a m a g e d , but this is not so, as nine would be flown out to Egypt on 19 April. At least o n e a i r m a n was killed d u r i n g the a t t a c k . Meanwhile nin G.50bis f r o m the 24° G r u p p o C T were attacking Yanina, while 15 m o r e flew t o p cover. Six of 112 S q u a d r o n ' s G l a d i a t o r s m a n a g e d t o get off a n d a s h a r p dogfight began. Pit Off B r u n t o n got on the tail of o n e Fiat, but his g u n s j a m m e d and he was attacked by a n o t h e r , his aircraft being badly s h o t - u p , while he was w o u n d e d . As he c a m e in to land several G.50s followed, but the airfield defences d r o v e t h e m off. T w o G.50s were claimed d a m a g e d d u r i n g this fracas, whilst t h e Italian pilots claimed three 248
G l a d i a t o r s shot d o w n a n d three probables, six f u r t h e r aircraft being claimed destroyed on t h e g r o u n d . N o R A F losses o r casualties were suffered o t h e r t h a n t o Brunton's aircraft, but the Yugoslav S.79 at this airfield was destroyed, and other Yugoslav machines may also have fallen victim t o the strafing. At a b o u t 1100 a n o t h e r Yugoslav D o . l 7 K flew in, c a r r y i n g the R A F liaison officer to Yugoslavia, Sqn Ldr T G M a p p l e b a c k , w h o advised t h e c o m m a n d i n g officer at P a r a m y t h i a t h a t further Yugoslav aircraft were d u e t o arrive that a f t e r n o o n . Since t h e airfield was in the process of e v a c u a t i o n , it was requested that an R A F officer remain behind to direct the i n c o m i n g aircraft to fly on to Agrinion, w h e r e the G r e e k s had agreed they might be based. After flying on t o Y a n i n a t o advise Wg C d r Lewis of these a r r a n g e m e n t s , M a p p l e b a c k returned to M o n t e n e g r o in the D o r n i e r t o c o n f i r m them. F o u r S.79s a n d six D o . l 7 K s arrived at 1400, a n d were met by 211 S q u a d r o n ' s Medical Officer, Fit Lt W P Griffin, w h o advised t h e m of t h e new destination. T h e f o u r S a v o i a s and t w o of t h e D o r n i e r s left p r o m p t l y , but the pilots of the remaining four ignored Griffin's pleas to leave at once. Within m i n u t e s an estimated 40 B f l 0 9 E s s w o o p e d d o w n on t h e airfield, a n d all four b o m b e r s were destroyed. O v e r Eastern G r e e c e t h e Allied airfields also suffered a bad day. Bill Winsland of 33 S q u a d r o n recorded: "What a day. Reveille 5 A M . C o l d , d a r k m o r n i n g . R o u g h , b u m p y j o u r n e y with a dozen o t h e r pilots in the back of a lorry t h r o u g h the almost deserted a n d ruined t o w n (Larissa) over b r o k e n roads, over hill a n d dale t o our satellite airfield ( C h u r t o n ' s B o t t o m ) - well a w a y f r o m the main a e r o d r o m e (Larissa) and safer f r o m b o m b i n g . An h o u r or two later we were in o u r cockpits, engines w a r m i n g u p and ready t o t a k e to the air at a m o m e n t ' s notice w h e n the o r d e r s c a m e t h r o u g h on o u r radios. At a b o u t 7 A M the first a l a r m w a s s o u n d e d A few seconds later (we were already lined u p i n t o wind and engines r u n n i n g ) six H u r r i c a n e s roared into t h e air. We had reached some 10 000 feet in cloud, when suddenly my m a c h i n e shook violently a n d t r e m e n d o u s vibration set up. I t h o u g h t at first t h a t I had been j u m p e d and hit by an enemy fighter a n d so t o o k evasive action by half rolling o n t o my back and diving. However, there was n o response f r o m my throttle - a n d n o t h i n g behind me either. W h a t had actually h a p p e n e d was that my c r a n k c a s e had fractured causing oil t o stream out a n d so seize u p the engine. T h e speed of the machine forced the propeller t o k e e p turning m u c h against the will of the engine, so causing friction a n d t r e m e n d o u s vibration I was lucky considering t h e situation - the main a e r o d r o m e was in sight and it looked as t h o u g h it might be possible t o reach it in a long glide f r o m a b o u t 7000 feet. I had t o use h a n d - p u m p i n g emergency devices t o lower flaps a n d the undercarriage - but j u d g e d everything O K , t h a n k G o d , a n d reached the main a e r o d r o m e (Larissa) w i t h o u t any further d a m a g e to the aircraft. I was lucky again t h a t I c a m e across n o enemy fighters on that glide! O n stepping out of my aircraft I learnt that nine Messerschmitt 109s had only 20 m i n u t e s previously shot d o w n two of our machines on their take-offs and a f t e r w a r d s strafed all our other m a c h i n e s on the g r o u n d - t w o were still b u r n i n g after I had landed - I had seen t h e flames a n d s m o k e d u r i n g my forced landing.' 249
A 33 S q u a d r o n pilot inspects Lt J a c o b Arnoldy's Messerschmitt B f l 0 9 E of II/JG 77 after its crashlanding at Larissa on 15 April. 1941.
C l o s e - u p of the tail of Arnoldy's Bfl09F. s h o w i n g victory bars indicating his six previous victories, mainly achieved over N o r w a y in 1940.
T h i s attack on Larissa had occurred at 0650, w h e n t h e s t a n d - b y flight of H u r r i c a n e s flown by Fit Lt Mackie, Pit Off C h e t h a m a n d Sgt G e n d e r s , were scrambled just as B f l 0 9 E s of I I / J G 77 - an estimated 15 in n u m b e r , but actually only eight s t r o n g - swept over the airfield in threes. T h e first trio n a r r o w l y missed the barely-airborne Hurricanes, but the next three c a u g h t t h e m at 1500 feet. Lt 250
J a c o b Arnoidy o b t a i n i n g hits on C h a r l e s C h e t h a m ' s aircraft. O n l o o k e r s saw the latter c o m e d o w n in a seemingly controlled glide a n d d i s a p p e a r behind some trees outside the airfield b o u n d a r y ; he was in fact killed. A r n o i d y now overshot the other pair of H u r r i c a n e s and J o h n M a c k i e immediately latched o n t o his tail and m a n a g e d to put a few s h o t s into the Messerschmitt before Fw O t t o K o h l e r engaged him f r o m astern. T h e H u r r i c a n e flipped over, c a u g h t fire and exploded on crashing, killing the C a n a d i a n pilot. M e a n w h i l e A r n o i d y - an 'Experte' of the N o r w e g i a n C a m p a i g n of the previous Spring - had been hit in the chest by Mackie's quick burst a n d struggled to bale out at 1000 feet. As he floated d o w n over the airfield G r e e k soldiers fired on him. It is not k n o w n whether he was hit again, but he died within a short time, in the Medical Officer's tent. His aircraft - ' W h i t e 5'; Werk N r 5277 - m a d e an almost perfect belly-landing and was virtually u n d a m a g e d ; just t w o bullet holes below the cockpit h o o d , in line with the pilot's chest.
Sgt G e o r g e Genders, 33 S q u a d r o n .
T h e o n e remaining Hurricane, piloted by Sgt G e o r g e G e n d e r s , participating in his first c o m b a t , m a n a g e d t o evade the Messerschmitts and t o get on F w K o h l e r ' s tail; Kohler, like A r n o i d y a m e m b e r of 4 Staffel, w a s shot d o w n and crash-landed not far f r o m the airfield. However, when a party arrived t o c a p t u r e the pilot, he was n o w h e r e to be seen - the cockpit contained his p a r a c h u t e only. K o h l e r evaded c a p t u r e and eventually rejoined his unit. O n t h e airfield several aircraft 251
had been destroyed, including o n e m o r e H u r r i c a n e , a G l a d i a t o r (N5783) which was still on the strength of 33 S q u a d r o n , and several G r e e k aircraft including a c a p t u r e d S.79, s o m e A v r o T u t o r s , Potez 63s and an unserviceable Bloch 151. D u r i n g the day, 26 B f l 0 9 E s f r o m Stab, II and I I I / J G 77 claimed a total of 19 aircraft destroyed on t h e g r o u n d in the Larissa area; it is possible that their claims included the Yugoslav D o r n i e r s at P a r a m y t h i a . At a b o u t the same time as the attack on Larissa w a s t a k i n g place, other B f l 0 9 E s f r o m I I / J G 2 7 a p p r o a c h e d t h e Greek airfield at K a l a m b a k a / V a s s i l i k i yvhere the r e m n a n t s of the EVA fighters had assembled, a p a r t f r o m the eight P Z L s of 23 M i r a , which were still at Larissa. Here some 15 fighters - Bloch 151s, G l a d i a t o r s and P Z L s - h a d just scrambled on report of the a p p r o a c h of an estimated 18 b o m b e r s with fighter escort. At the last m o m e n t t h e f o r m a t i o n turned away t o w a r d s T r i k k a l a , but just as the first Greek fighters reached the b o m b e r s , they were met by the Messerschmitts, some 20 strong. O n e of the Bloch pilots, Cpl G e o r g e M o k k a s , w a s reported to have shot d o w n t w o of t h e b o m b e r s , but he was then shot d o w n a n d killed by O b i t G u s t a v Rodel, w h o identified the unfamiliar Bloch as a H u r r i c a n e , for his 15th victory. A few minutes later Rodel claimed o n e of the G l a d i a t o r s shot d o w n , while at t h e same time O f w O t t o Schulz claimed a P Z L (his 5th victory). A n o t h e r G l a d i a t o r was then claimed by Lt Ernst Borngen, while at 0705, 15 m i n u t e s after t h e opening of the action, Rodel claimed a P Z L and Obit Wilhelm Wiesinger a G l a d i a t o r (his 9th victory). O n e G l a d i a t o r , flown by C a p t Kellas, c o m m a n d e r of 21 Mira, was hard hit a n d the slightly-wounded pilot at once c r a s h - l a n d e d , his aircraft bursting into flames. Sgt A Katsarelles of 22 M i r a was shot d o w n in his P Z L , but survived with severe w o u n d s , while a n o t h e r of this unit's pilots, 1/Lt B K o n t o g i o r g o s , received slight w o u n d s . Immediately these airfield a t t a c k s were over, two L y s a n d e r s f r o m 208 S q u a d r o n t o o k off f r o m Larissa, t o carry t h e t w o 211 S q u a d r o n pilots, sole survivors of t h e Blenheim massacre of t w o d a y s ' earlier, t o Athens. Fig Off G o d f r e y was passenger in Fig OfT D B W a y m a r k ' s L4719, while Sgt J a m e s was with Pit Off J W Stewart in L4690. Almost at once fighters were seen which were t h o u g h t to be H u r r i c a n e s , but they were soon recognised as hostile; b o t h L y s a n d e r s dived for t h e g r o u n d a n d a t t e m p t e d t o carry out evasive tactics at an altitude of a few feet. T h e Messerschmitts were u p o n t h e m swiftly, L4690 going d o w n almost at once; the Lysander hit t h e g r o u n d at a b o u t 200 m p h disintegrating and catching fire. Stewart survived the crash with only m i n o r injuries, but J a m e s was killed. M e a n w h i l e t h e other L y s a n d e r w a s being pursued by a n o t h e r Messerschmitt, at which G o d f r e y discharged a pan of a m m u n i t i o n f r o m the single Vickers m a c h i n e gun without success. It was only a matter of m i n u t e s before they t o o were hit and crashed into the g r o u n d at speed. G o d f r e y , w h o had already been hit in o n e h a n d , losing t w o fingers, suffered severe leg injuries in the crash, but W a y m a r k walked away with scratches only. R o u n d a b o u t this time a n o t h e r P Z L f r o m 23 M i r a at Larissa had given chase t o a Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft, which Sgt Pericles K o u t r o u b a s w a s credited with having shot d o w n in the L i t o c h o r o area, near M o u n t O l y m p u s . Shortly after this c o m b a t , he t o o was intercepted by G e r m a n fighters, and was 252
shot d o w n a n d killed. Fliegerkorps VIII claims d u r i n g t h e d a y included t h e H u r r i c a n e , t w o P Z L s a n d three G l a d i a t o r s by I I / J G 27, three H u r r i c a n e s by I I / J G 77 over Larissa d u r i n g the m o r n i n g - the third slightly after the initial pair - while I(J)/LG 2 was a p p a r e n t l y credited with o n e or t w o L y s a n d e r s a n d the third P Z L . At Larissa following the J G 77 attack, Pit OfT Winsland w a s asked t o carry out a flight a n d gun test in a H u r r i c a n e which had just u n d e r g o n e a r o u t i n e inspection. 'I was asked t o test this m a c h i n e immediately - when a p o o r b l o o d y lowest of t h e low Pilot Officer is " a s k e d " t o d o a n y t h i n g its really a b l o o d y order! - I had started the machine a n d was taxying a l o n g t h e edge of t h e a e r o d r o m e t o t h e takeoff point when suddenly t h e surface of t h e d r o m e to my right b e c a m e a mass of exploding c a n n o n shells a n d incendiary fire f r o m a low level g r o u n d attack there were n o less t h a n 12 or m o r e 109s diving in f o r m a t i o n across the d r o m e , strafing everything they saw yet again. H o w they did not see me I just d o n ' t know. N o t only w a s I in a perfectly good a e r o p l a n e - t h e o t h e r s - most of them anyway, were already d a m a g e d - but I was b u m p i n g a l o n g t h e surface, t h e sun flickering on my cockpit h o o d and shiny wings and my p r o p was, of course, revolving - e n o u g h t o have attracted every H u n ' s a t t e n t i o n o n e would have t h o u g h t . G o d ! W a s I scared. I lowered my seat a n d crouched u p d o u b l e inside t h e cockpit in an effort t o get some protection f r o m t h e engine in front and the small bit of a r m o u r plating behind. T h e situation looked so awful that I felt like u n d o i n g my straps, j u m p i n g out of t h e cockpit a n d r u n n i n g t o the nearest slit trench, b u t since that would have looked very bad in f r o n t of all the G r e e k and British g r o u n d a i r m e n in t h e trenches, I seemed t o have n o real alternative but t o take off right t h r o u g h the middle of it all. It was not a pleasant prospect especially after hearing of the fate of my t w o friends u n d e r t h e s a m e circumstances. However, in the heat of the m o m e n t I soon found myself in the air. In those particular m o m e n t s I did a little thing which again I will never forget. I behaved like an ostrich, my action only m a k i n g my existence m o r e precarious t h a n ever and giving me n o possible additional protection - I took olf by i n s t r u m e n t s with my head and shoulders in a c r o u c h e d position below the sides of the cockpit, believing for s o m e a m a z i n g a n d unexplained reason or o t h e r t h a t if my head was not visible the enemy would not shoot at me! Just o n e of those peculiar things o n e d o e s in a really terrifying m o m e n t , I suppose. I kept my m a c h i n e low a n d flew a w a y at full throttle h o p i n g to evade such hopeless odds. Having left t h e a e r o d r o m e well behind me I climbed u p into t h e sun. Fires repeatedly a p p e a r e d here, there and everywhere (on the drome). T h e r e must have been far m o r e t h a n just those 12 Messerschmitts on t h e j o b (afterwards I learnt that a second wave of 20 a t t a c k e d the a e r o d r o m e , while I was gaining height). D u r i n g that climb I suddenly heard a terrific yell over my r a d i o f r o m s o m e o n e on the g r o u n d w h o was a p p a r e n t l y w a t c h i n g the aircraft t h o u g h they did not k n o w w h o w a s the pilot. An agitated voice shouted " H u l l o H u r r i c a n e , look out, beat it, there are five 109s just a b o v e and behind you." Few H u r r i c a n e s have ever dived m o r e quickly a n d vertically! I had just got over t h a t fright a n d w a s again climbing when I spotted 12 109s below me, flying s o u t h near my a e r o d r o m e .
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H a v i n g t h e a d v a n t a g e of height I decided that I should at least m a k e o n e attack on them, even if 1 did beat it afterwards! Accordingly I positioned myself between t h e m and the sun a n d dived vertically d o w n on t o p of t h e enemy f o r m a t i o n , firing all the time (grossly out of range at first) and flattened out just a b o v e their heads and pointing in the o p p o s i t e direction. I had c o m e a n d g o n e t o o quickly for them to d o much a b o u t me. G o n e so quickly in fact that I didn't have time t o observe the results of my attack!' O n e source stated t h a t 14 H u r r i c a n e s were destroyed d u r i n g these t w o a t t a c k s on Larissa.
T o p : on arrival in Greece in March 1941 Pit Off L A S G r u m b l e y and his crew (Sgt J T Latimer and Sgt S W Lee) of 113 Squadron's trategic reconnaissance flight pose proudly with their pristine Blenheim IV. T 2 1 7 7 , A D - V . A m o n t h later the same aircraft is inspected at N i a m a t a by Luftwaffe aircrew (above): the bomber had been disabled with most of the unit's other aircraft, during the strafe of 15 April. N o t e the Dornier D o . l 7 Z b o m b e r s in the far background of this photo. (S W and Bib Fur
Zeil)
254
Lee
Larissa, Kalambaki/Vassiliki and P a r a m y t h i a were not t h e only targets however, for at 0750 waves of B f l 0 9 E s attacked N i a m a t a , h o m e of 113 S q u a d r o n , where crews were breakfasting prior to t a k i n g off on a raid. T h i s first attack by eight Messerschmitts destroyed six of t h e unit's Blenheims a n d w o u n d e d four airmen. T w o hours later three Bfl09s f r o m I I / J G 2 7 swept over the airfield and several m o r e Blenheims were rendered unserviceable, two m o r e airmen being w o u n d e d . Bofors fire was fairly accurate and t w o of the a t t a c k e r s were hit, but both got back to Bitolj where one crash-landed. At 1100 four m o r e Bfl09s a p p e a r e d over N i a m a t a and proceeded to destroy four m o r e Blenheims; they were followed by a n o t h e r q u a r t e t t e 45 m i n u t e s later, these d a m a g i n g o n e m o r e Blenheim a n d the station Magister c o m m u n i c a t i o n s aircraft. An h o u r later c a m e the final attack of t h e d a y on this field, all remaining Blenheims being shot u p a n d rendered unserviceable. D u r i n g these a t t a c k s all m o t o r vehicles on t h e airfield were also destroyed, as was m u c h tented a c c o m m o d a t i o n . 113 S q u a d r o n had ceased t o exist as an o p e r a t i o n a l unit; ten Blenheims had been destroyed or d a m a g e d beyond repair. Fit Lt Rixon recalled: "There was very little, if any. early warning. 1 have a vivid recollection of my air gunner c r o u c h i n g u n d e r a little bridge firing off a .38 revolver at the Iron Crosses!' By t h e end of t h e d a y F l i e g e r k o r p s VlII's claims for aircraft destroyed o n t h e g r o u n d totalled 22, including f o u r Hurricanes, t w o Blenheims, t w o Potez 63s and 13 unidentified types. F u r t h e r s o u t h at 0845, 25 Ju88s f r o m I / L G 1 a n d I / K G 51 had a p p e a r e d over Athens where they were intercepted by six H u r r i c a n e s of 80 S q u a d r o n and four Blenheim l F s of 30 S q u a d r o n . Pit Off Bill Vale claimed t w o b o m b e r s shot d o w n , Sgt Ted Hewett o n e and one probable, while one each were claimed by Pit Off Still a n d F/Sgt Rivalant, o n e of t h e F r e n c h pilots. A sixth w a s claimed by a new pilot. Pit Off Roald Dahl, w h o had only arrived at Eleusis the previous evening, having flown a replacement H u r r i c a n e f r o m Egypt. O n this, his first o p e r a t i o n a l sortie, a n d with only seven h o u r s ' experience on Hurricanes, D a h l c a m e across six bombers. A t t a c k i n g f r o m astern he was greeted by a hail of fire f r o m t h e rear g u n n e r s but succeeded in getting on the tail of one and, after a short burst, saw pieces fly off its s t a r b o a r d engine; t h e crippled J u n k e r s slowly tumbled d o w n , three crew being seen to bale out. In spite of the intense r e t u r n fire only o n e bullet hit Dahl's V7826, this piercing the propeller. O n e of these claims was a d j u d g e d t o be the unit's 100th victory of the war. A n o t h e r of the s q u a d r o n ' s recent replacement pilots. Fig Off T h e H o n David C o k e , a former Battle of Britain pilot, ranged further n o r t h and encountered a n u m b e r of B f l 0 9 s - p r o b a b l y aircraft of I(J)/LG 2 - a n d claimed o n e shot d o w n . S o m e time later, at 0930, o n e of t h e Blenheims, piloted by Pit O f f T H C Alison, c a m e across ten Ju88s at 12 000 feet over the capital, but these dived t o attack shipping in the h a r b o u r . T h e Blenheim caught u p with o n e of the raiders and Alison m a d e a s t a r b o a r d q u a r t e r a t t a c k , but b r o k e away a s the b o m b e r was diving t o o steeply. Sgt C o n n o r s , the air g u n n e r , sighted a n o t h e r J u n k e r s and they closed t o 75 yards; t h e crew believed 255
t h a t this aircraft was shot d o w n after C o n n o r s had fired 1250 r o u n d s at it. O n e of the L G 1 aircraft, LI + J K , was flown by Lt Sattler, w h o reported seeing his b o m b s hit an 18 000 t o n t r a n s p o r t ; on the r e t u r n flight he believed t h a t he saw his target sinking. T h i s was possibly the Clan Cumming which had been temporarily repaired after being seriously d a m a g e d d u r i n g t h e raid on Piraeus d u r i n g the night of 6/7 April, and had been towed into t h e Bay of Athens; she now struck a mine and sank. T w o other large m e r c h a n t vessels, the Goalpara (5314 tons) a n d ' Q u i l l o a ' (7765 tons) were both severely d a m a g e d by air attack in Eleusis Bay, a n d both beached. As the Ju 88s overflew Eleusis airfield on their return t o K r u m o v o , air g u n n e r s sprayed H u r r i c a n e s seen a b o u t to t a k e off, but n o d a m a g e w a s recorded. It is believed that 80 S q u a d r o n ' s o p p o n e n t s were the I / K G 51 aircraft, t w o of which were lost in c r a s h - l a n d i n g s at K r u m o v o as a result of severe d a m a g e . T w o m o r e of this unit's b o m b e r s landed at Salonika with m i n o r AA d a m a g e . 30 S q u a d r o n p r o b a b l y engaged the I / L G 1 aircraft, this unit losing Uffz K a r l Stiitz and his crew in LI + S K ; a second aircraft crash-landed at K o z a n i with engine trouble and was completely destroyed (although the crew survived), while a third crash-landed at S a l o n i k a with AA d a m a g e a n d was written off. D u r i n g the m o r n i n g there were several o t h e r actions reported. At 1000 Sgt V G H u d s o n , R A A F , an 11 S q u a d r o n Blenheim pilot, w a s flying t h e unit's Magister from A l m y r o s t o Larissa t o collect o p e r a t i o n a l o r d e r s f r o m W i n g H Q , when several Bfl 09s a p p e a r e d a n d attacked him. A l t h o u g h not hit, he w a s forced d o w n short of Larissa - almost certainly by I(J)/LG 2. T e n m i n u t e s later he took off a n d m a d e for t h e airfield, arriving just before a n o t h e r of the heavy a t t a c k s which rendered most aircraft unserviceable, a l t h o u g h the Magister escaped with a few holes in the port wing. Shortly thereafter H u d s o n flew safely back t o Almyros. At K a z a k l a r d u r i n g the d a y Fit Lt Lewis Burnard of 208 S q u a d r o n was briefed to carry out a tactical reconnaissance, but on t a k e ofT the H u r r i c a n e struck the wing of a poorly-dispersed Greek P Z L . O n his return the u n d e r c a r r i a g e collapsed on landing, the H u r r i c a n e suffering further d a m a g e . With the G e r m a n a d v a n c e n o w a p p r o a c h i n g the O l y m p u s - S e r v i a line, and t h r e a t e n i n g t o outflank the defenders, the decision had been taken t o begin w i t h d r a w a l of the Imperial force t o T h e r m o p y l a e . T h e reason for this latest move was again an ' U l t r a ' intercept, which indicated t h a t G e r m a n a r m o u r would be o p e r a t i n g to the s o u t h of the O l y m p u s line by this date. F o l l o w i n g the m o r n i n g a t t a c k s o n t h e Allied airfields, A V M D'Albiac w a s flown u p to Larissa in a Lysander t o see for himself the extent of the d a m a g e and losses. As a result of the g r o u n d forces' planned w i t h d r a w a l a n d t h e day's air attacks, t h e airfields at Y a n i n a , K a z a k l a r , P a r a m y t h i a , Larissa, N i a m a t a and A l m y r o s were t o be evacuated. 33 S q u a d r o n ' s remaining H u r r i c a n e s would join 30 a n d 80 S q u a d r o n s at Eleusis, while 112 S q u a d r o n ' s G l a d i a t o r s would s h a r e H a s s a n i with 208 S q u a d r o n . T h e remaining Blenheims of 11 a n d 84 S q u a d r o n s would g o t o Menidi, f r o m where the Wellington d e t a c h m e n t s of 37 a n d 38 S q u a d r o n s would leave for Shallufa. T h e few remaining Blenheims of 211 S q u a d r o n would withd r a w to Eleusis. T h a t evening a H u r r i c a n e was despatched by 80 S q u a d r o n to d r o p a message bag t o 11 S q u a d r o n at Almyros, c o n t a i n i n g instructions for the 256
move. U n f o r t u n a t e l y the d r o p was m a d e in the w r o n g a r e a on an airstrip still u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n . As a result t h e cannister was not located until next morning, the w i t h d r a w a l not taking place until the evening of 16 April as a result. W h e n stock could be taken late on 15 April, the strength of the R A F had been seriously reduced, as had the remaining elements of the EVA. R A F o p e r a t i o n a l n u m b e r s were now as follows:
11 84 113 211
Bombers Squadron 8 Squadron 9 Squadron 0 Squadron 5 208
Blenheims Blenheims Blenheims Blenheims Squadron
Fighters 30 S q u a d r o n 14 Blenheim I F s 33 S q u a d r o n 5 Hurricanes 80 S q u a d r o n 11 H u r r i c a n e s 112 S q u a d r o n 12 G l a d i a t o r s 2 Hurricanes, 5 L y s a n d e r s
By 16 April all was going badly for the Allies. Whilst t h e Imperial forces were still m a n a g i n g to w i t h d r a w in good order across the Plain of Thessaly, i m p r o v e d weather now b r o u g h t t h e m u n d e r c o n s t a n t and heavy air attack just at the point at which the cover afforded by the m o u n t a i n s ran out. T o the west, the a d v a n c e of the G e r m a n X L K o r p s units f r o m Skoplje threatened t o outflank t h e gallant but nearly exhausted Army of the Epirus. T h e offensive against the Italians had already been b r o k e n off, whilst t h e evacuation of the airfields close behind the front - particularly that at P a r a m y t h i a - d e n u d e d the G r e e k soldiers of the residue of air cover t h a t they had been enjoying. T o ensure the security of these forces, a rapid w i t h d r a w a l s o u t h w a r d s was required, but t o give u p t h e territory c a p t u r e d with such sacrifice f r o m the Italians would be quite u n a c c e p t a b l e t o the t r o o p s on m o r a l e g r o u n d s . All looked hopeless, a n d d u r i n g the d a y general P a p a g o s would explain to G e n e r a l M a i t l a n d - W i l s o n the plight of his a r m y and suggest a British w i t h d r a w a l t o save the c o u n t r y f r o m the full devastation of war. F o r t h e R A F 16 April proved somewhat quieter as the reorganization associated with the general w i t h d r a w a l south was put into effect. D u r i n g the m o r n i n g t w o of 80 S q u a d r o n ' s H u r r i c a n e s were successful in intercepting a raid on K h a l k i s h a r b o u r by some 20 Ju88s f r o m I ( K ) / L G 1 a n d I / K G 51. Fig Off G r a h a m c a u g h t o n e - p r o b a b l y 9 K + F M of K G 51, flown by Uffz J o h a n n e s Uhlick - a n d shot it d o w n north-east of Poltika. A second b o m b e r - LI + H L of L G 1 flown by Obit H o r s t Beeger - was shot d o w n by AA fire into t h e sea off Khalkis. T h i s was p r o b a b l y the same aircraft pursued by Pit Off D a h l as it lined u p t o b o m b an a m m u n i t i o n ship in the h a r b o u r . H e only had time t o get off a short burst before o v e r t a k i n g it in a steep dive, a n d was a m a z e d t o see it plunge straight into t h e sea not far f r o m its intended target. T w o o t h e r Ju88s were lost in crash-landings subsequent to this sortie, possibly both having suffered d a m a g e f r o m AA fire. O n e c a m e d o w n n e a r Salonika with 40% d a m a g e , whilst the o t h e r crashed at K r u m o v o while trying t o land; the latter was a c o m p l e t e write-off, a l t h o u g h all crew m e m b e r s survived in both aircraft. D u r i n g the d a y H u r r i c a n e s of 33 S q u a d r o n were sent out either singly or in pairs to provide cover for the c o n v o y s crossing the Thessaly Plain. D u r i n g o n e such sortie Fig Off Dyson was ordered to d r o p a message bag to one c o n v o y 257
n o r t h of Lamia, but while a t t e m p t i n g to d o so, flying low a n d slow with full flaps d o w n , a b o m b exploded just ahead of him, the blast flipping his aircraft over on its back; he just m a n a g e d t o regain control, a n d returned t o Eleusis badly s h a k e n - a b o m b splinter had even ripped the oxygen mask off his face! O n a n o t h e r sortie F/Sgt Len C o t t i n g h a m spotted an Hs 126 observation aircraft of 1(H)/14 ' s n o o p i n g a r o u n d ' a n d claimed to have shot this d o w n . T h e G e r m a n s reported that this aircraft was 40% d a m a g e d by AA over Tirnavas, rather than by fighters, F w Richter, the observer, being killed, a l t h o u g h the pilot survived u n h u r t . It seems likely that he failed t o spot his attacker, a n d incorrectly identified the c a u s e of the d a m a g e suffered. T w o of 208 S q u a d r o n ' s reconnaissance H u r r i c a n e s were ordered forward t o o p e r a t e f r o m an advanced landing g r o u n d at P h a r s a l a d u r i n g the day, but next d a y they would be w i t h d r a w n t o Eleusis, where they were t o be attached t o 80 S q u a d r o n . At this base Sqn Ldr ' P a t ' Pattle, 33 S q u a d r o n ' s illustrious c o m m a n d e r , was now both c o m b a t fatigued and ill. A l t h o u g h feverish, he would barely accept medication, let a l o n e consider hospitalization, and insisted on c o n t i n u i n g t o fly. H e did however allow his a d j u t a n t . Fit Lt Rumsey, t o t a k e over the m o r e m u n d a n e duties of s q u a d r o n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . Eleusis noted the arrival of t w o Yugoslav S.79s and t w o Lockheed lOAs f r o m P a r a m y t h i a d u r i n g t h e day, all carrying g o v e r n m e n t personnel. T h a t evening a D o . l 7 K c a m e in to land at Menidi f r o m the same location, but met an unexpected reception, as Marcel C o m e a u (a 33 S q u a d r o n a i r m a n ) recorded: 'Its o c c u p a n t s , surviving the blitz u p o n P a r a m y t h i a on April 15th and the t w o more heavy b o m b i n g a n d strafing a t t a c k s while their aircraft u n d e r w e n t repairs, did not t a k e kindly t o the volume of small-arms fire which now greeted them f r o m trigger-happy erks at Menidi. T h e aircraft circled t h e a e r o d r o m e for a full half h o u r , kept aloft by airmen pot-shooters. W h e n it eventually landed and discharged its voluble c a r g o of irate, fist-brandishing Yugoslavs, the erks m a d e themselves scarce ' In the o p p o s i t e direction, t w o S u n d e r l a n d s of 230 S q u a d r o n were flown u p t o K o t o r h a r b o u r on the Yugoslav coast by Sqn Ldr P R W o o d w a r d and Fig Off E Brand, ostensibly t o e v a c u a t e t h e British Legation party which w a s supposed t o have m a d e its way there f r o m Belgrade. O n arrival there was n o sign of the British party, but a n u m b e r of foreign d i p l o m a t s a n d their staff were present, all anxiously a w a i t i n g s o m e form of t r a n s p o r t . Rather t h a n return e m p t y - h a n d e d , the t w o flyingboats flew back with 44 such persons a b o a r d , plus four British subjects, o n e of w h o m was a w o u n d e d Blenheim pilot. T o w a r d s evening six 80 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s were again scrambled, this time intercepting b o m b e r s - again reported as Ju88s - which were a t t a c k i n g a m u n i t i o n s factory half a mile f r o m Eleusis. Pit Off Vale and Pit Off Still each claimed one destroyed near the target, whilst Sgt Ted Hewett chased a n o t h e r to t h e n o r t h a n d claimed this shot d o w n as well. T h e s e would a p p e a r to have been D o . l 7 Z s of S t a b s t a f f e l / K G 2, which lost three such aircraft - reportedly in the Larissa area. T h e s e were U 5 + G A ( L t L u d w i g Rohr); U 5 + BA (Lt Heinrich H u n g e r ) a n d U 5 + DA (Hpt K o n r a d Ebsen); all the crews failed t o return. 258
D u r i n g the d a y the remaining Greek fighters at K a l a m b a k a / V a s s i l i k i were w i t h d r a w n to A m p h i k l i a / L o d i , at the foot of M o u n t P a r n a s s u s , t o avoid the danger of their being c a u g h t on the g r o u n d by Luftwaffe fighters now that the w h e r e a b o u t s of their existing base was k n o w n . T w e n t y - o n e fighters - 11 P Z L s , eight G l a d i a t o r s and t w o Bloch 151s - flew d o w n to their new airfield. M e a n w h i l e P a r a m y t h i a and n e a r b y K a t s i k a were again strafed by Bfl09s, the pilots of which claimed three aircraft destroyed at the former airfield and t w o at the latter. T h e three remaining 815 S q u a d r o n Swordfish at Agrinion returned t o Eleusis where they joined the o t h e r three aircraft of the Greek d e t a c h m e n t in evacuating t o r p e d o e s and mines t o Crete. Fliegerkorps VIII recorded its own losses for the day as three Ju88s destroyed, o n e Do.17 and two Ju88s missing, five Ju88s. o n e Bfl09, four Do.17s a n d o n e J u 8 7 d a m a g e d . O n e H u r r i c a n e was claimed shot d o w n a n d five unidentified aircraft destroyed on the g r o u n d . Next day K a m p f g e s c h w a d e r 2 again reported the loss of a D o . l 7 Z , this time from I G r u p p e (U5 + NH), in the same area as on 16 April, but this was t o be the only Luftwaffe loss t h a t day. O n l y o n e R A F claim was m a d e w h e n Sgt Barker of 80 S q u a d r o n set off to d r o p a message to the 19th Australian Brigade at Katerine. H a v i n g completed his task he w a s intercepted by three Bfl 09s, a p p a r e n t l y f r o m I I I / J G 77, which he m a n a g e d to evade, claiming one shot d o w n ; this was confirmed by the Australian troops. Twenty-seven Bfl09s (eight of t h e m J a b o s ) from Stab, II a n d I I I / J G 77 were out a t t a c k i n g shipping a n d airfields near Volos, claiming a direct hit on a freighter and two aircraft destroyed on the g r o u n d . O n e aircraft of I I I / J G 77 was hit by AA and 60% d a m a g e d , the pilot c r a s h - l a n d i n g at D o j r a n s k o on return, but n o aerial c o m b a t s were reported! At Eleusis 30 S q u a d r o n was ordered to despatch half its Blenheim fighters to C r e t e for c o n v o y patrols and sea reconnaissances, seven aircraft leaving for M a l e m e next d a y in consequence. T h e last of the 16 Wellingtons detached to Eleusis also d e p a r t e d on 17 April, a l t h o u g h t w o were forced t o r e t u r n temporarily with m i n o r technical problems. A further Luftwaffe b o m b i n g attack on Piraeus sank t h e Greek vessel Petrakis Nomikos (7020 tons). Following the c a p i t u l a t i o n of the Yugoslav armies, r u m o u r s were rife in Greece that surrender was imminent. T h e K i n g of the Hellenes was determined that his c o u n t r y should fight on, a n d resolved t o stay in A t h e n s until the last possible m o m e n t , a l t h o u g h o t h e r s counselled that he and his g o v e r n m e n t should evacuate t o C r e t e forthwith. At 1245 on 18 April, 16 H u r r i c a n e s f r o m 33 a n d 80 S q u a d r o n s flew low over Athens to strengthen m o r a l e a m o n g s t the p o p u l a t i o n , but in t h e city martial law was declared. T h e president, Alexander Korizis, was against a retirement t o Crete, since he considered that p r o - G e r m a n elements would then seize power on the mainland and seek an armistice. F o l l o w i n g an emergency cabinet meeting at which n o decision was reached, this u n h a p p y man shot himself, having learned that the c o m m a n d e r of the Army of the Epirus, Lt G e n G e o r g e T s o l a k a g l o u , had initiated negotiations with the G e r m a n 12th Armee for its surrender. M r K Kodzias, the G o v e r n o r of Athens, took over as t e m p o r a r y Premier until relieved by the King two days later; E m m a n u e l T s o u d e r o s was then a p p o i n t e d . O n e of his first actions was t o replace G e n T s o l a k a g l o u . and o r d e r the Army of 259
t h e E p i r u s t o fight on. It was by then t o o late however, t h e Army's officers d e p o s i n g t h e new c o m m a n d e r a n d c o n t i n u i n g their negotiations with t h e G e r m a n s ; a surrender would take place on 21 April. At this point a British w i t h d r a w a l f r o m the mainland was agreed between G e n e r a l Wavell, t h e S u p r e m e C o m m a n d e r , a n d the Greek King, o n e of the main reasons being the strength of the o p p o s i n g air forces, a n d t h e inability to c o u n t e r t h e m with the resources a n d airfields available. M e a n w h i l e d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n of 18 April the 16 H u r r i c a n e s were again in the air at 1315 on a defensive patrol, but n o t h i n g was seen. D u r i n g the d a y the fighter force w a s reinforced by the arrival of five more H u r r i c a n e s f r o m Egypt, together with new pilots for the t w o s q u a d r o n s ; these were Fig Off G D NoelJ o h n s o n (V7800); Sgt M W Bennett (V7773); Sgt F H Leveridge (V7760); Sgt A F Butterick (W9243) a n d Sgt R T W a r e (W9297). With all the Blenheims now c o n c e n t r a t e d at Menidi, it was decided that all crews would o p e r a t e u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l of 11 S q u a d r o n . C o n s e q u e n t l y 14 Blenheims - six each f r o m 11 a n d 84 S q u a d r o n s , a n d t w o f r o m 211 S q u a d r o n were olf individually d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n to m a k e b o m b i n g and strafing a t t a c k s on G e r m a n c o l u m n s in t h e K o z a n i , Katerine, a n d L a k e K a s t o r i a area. D u r i n g o n e such sortie Sqn Ldr H D Jones, 84 S q u a d r o n c o m m a n d i n g officer, w a s attacked by t w o Bfl 10s in the Larissa area, and was chased t o the coast near M o u n t M a v r o v o u n i , where he was obliged t o ditch L1391 in t h e sea. Local villagers saw the crew climb into their dinghy a n d start p a d d l i n g t o w a r d s t h e shore, a local m o t o r boat starting out t o meet them. At this j u n c t u r e the Bfl 10s dived on the dinghy a n d strafed it - Sqn L d r Jones, F / S g t J W e b b and Sgt H Keen were all killed, their bodies being recovered a n d buried in the nearby village of Keramidi. A second Blenheim - T 2 3 4 8 of 11 S q u a d r o n - was caught in the K o z a n i area by a B f l 0 9 E of 9 / J G 77 flown by obit Armin Schmidt, and was shot d o w n after it had attacked a G e r m a n t r o o p c o l u m n in which eight soldiers were killed a n d 15 w o u n d e d ; Pit Off Patrick M o n t a g u e - B a t e s a n d his crew were all lost. D u r i n g the day J u 8 8 s of I / L G 1 were briefed t o attack r o a d s leading t o w a r d s Larissa which were n o w congested with retreating British a n d G r e e k t r o o p s and refugees. Elements of 4 N e w Z e a l a n d Brigade were c a u g h t by the low-flying aircraft, a n d the Brigade Intelligence Officer, an elderly M a j o r n a m e d Ted D a w s o n , w a s seen firing a Bren L M G at t h e strafers; his c o u r a g e w a s not rewarded, for m o m e n t s later the gallant soldier fell t o the g r o u n d mortally w o u n d e d . T h e steady evacuation of all but first-line aircraft f r o m Greece c o n tinued early on 19 April when three 81st I n d e p e n d e n t G r u p a S.79s ( N o s 3712-4), t w o 3rd B o m b e r P u k D o . l 7 K s (3348, 3363) and three Lockheed lOAs (YU-SAV, -SBA and S B B of Aeroput) all flew off f r o m Eleusis and Menidi for Egypt. They were soon followed by a further S.79 (3702) and by the nine Yugoslav seaplanes which had reached S u d a Bay late on 17 April. Initially seven of the D o . 2 2 K j s a n d t h e single Sim XIV (No. 157) set off, with an R A F liaison officer a b o a r d No.309, for the flight to A b o u k i r . En r o u t e a p p a r e n t l y they passed over a G r e e k freighter evacuating personnel, a n d terrified all a b o a r d , w h o identified the aircraft as hostile! All arrived safely, but No.302 suffered 260
d a m a g e w h e n it hit t h e beach d u r i n g its landing. O n e f u r t h e r D o . 2 2 K j which had been left behind at Salamis d u e t o engine trouble, reached S u d a Bay next day, flying o n t o A b o u k i r on 27 April. T h e ancient H e 8 was left behind in S u d a Bay d u e t o lack of range, and it was subsequently sunk here. T h e D o r n i e r s (302, 6-7— 8 - 9 - 1 1 - 1 2 a n d 313) later served with 2 (Yugoslav) S q u a d r o n u n d e r R A F c o m m a n d in Egypt. Altogether a b o u t 40 J K R V a n d N a v a l Aviation pilots flew o u t of Yugoslavia t o join t h e Allied forces, while a b o u t 200 m o r e airmen m a d e g o o d their escape by ship or on foot.
Y u g o s l a v N a v a l airmen with D o r n i e r D o . 2 2 K j N o . 3 0 8 after arrival in Egypt. (Z
Jerin)
T h e t w o R A F Wings had by n o w been abolished and Air Vice-Marshal D'Albiac took personal c o m m a n d of the remaining units f r o m his h e a d q u a r t e r s in Athens. 19 April w a s to p r o v e a busy d a y for t h e R A F , beginning at 0635 when Sqn L d r Pattle w a s reported to have intercepted b o m b e r s a p p r o a c h i n g A t h e n s the first of an a l m o s t c o n t i n u o u s chain of raids t h r o u g h o u t the day - a n d a p p a r e n t l y claimed two Ju88s shot d o w n and a third probable. T h e r e is n o c o n f i r m a t i o n of such losses f r o m the G e r m a n records on this occasion. At d a y b r e a k Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft spotted the Australian, New Z e a l a n d a n d G r e e k t r o o p s retreating across the Thessaly Plain w h e n they were near P m o k o s . S o o n some 40 Ju87s arrived, b o m b i n g a n d strafing, a n d causing m u c h d a m a g e a n d c o n f u s i o n , and m a n y casualties. O n this occasion seven H u r r i c a n e s of 80 S q u a d r o n , led by Fit Lt W o o d s , arrived in the area and 261
T h e Y u g o s l a v He8, N o . 192, partially submerged after being a b a n d o n e d
in Suda Bay, Crete, is
inspected
late in
by newly-arrived
German
troops after the fall of the island
May
1941. (A
Stamatopoulos)
p r o m p t l y claimed four of t h e S t u k a s shot d o w n before escorting B f l 0 9 E s of I I / J G 2 7 could intervene. C h e e r i n g t r o o p s reported seeing at least three of these crash; t w o were claimed by Pit OfT Bill Vale, flying V7134, and o n e each by Fig Off D o w d i n g and F/Sgt Rivalant. A p p a r e n t l y t w o Ju87s were lost, o n e f r o m S t a b / S t G 2 , crewed by O b i t Sebastian Ulitz/Ofw Emil K u k l a u , which crashed southwest of Elasson with the d e a t h of the crew (recorded by the G e r m a n s as having been on 18 April), and o n e of I / S t G 3 which crash-landed n e a r Kozani, Lt H e r b e r t Wingelmayer being killed and his g u n n e r w o u n d e d . T h e escorting Messerschmitts then attacked, two H u r r i c a n e s being claimed shot d o w n , o n e each by O b i t Wilhelm Wiesinger and one by Uffz Alfred Heidel; in fact only Sgt C a s b o l t ' s aircraft was hit, and he was able t o r e t u r n t o Eleusis without u n d u e trouble. C a s b o l t claimed to have d a m a g e d one of the attackers, a n d Fig Off Trollip to have shot o n e d o w n , but n o Messerschmitts were hit on this occasion. T h e next time O b i t Wiesinger operated however, he was t o be shot d o w n by g r o u n d fire while strafing, and became a prisoner - but only until t h e fall of G r e e c e a few d a y s later. F u r t h e r defensive patrols were m a d e by the H u r r i c a n e s , o n e at 0758 seeing nothing, while at 0920 seven 33 S q u a d r o n aircraft were led off by Pattle t o cover the L a m i a area, where t h e a r m y was still hard-pressed as it a p p r o a c h e d the end of its c u r r e n t withdrawal. H e r e a lone Hs 126 f r o m l ( H ) / 2 3 was seen - 6 K + A H , flown by Fw H e r m a n Wilhus. A l t h o u g h t h e slow reconnaissance machine was flying very low, Pattle led his section d o w n o n t o its tail a n d fired a brief burst 262
into it. His attack was followed by Fig Off W o o d w a r d , and then by Fit Lt Littler, after which the Henschel c a u g h t fire, tipped forward and crashed in flames. T h e H u r r i c a n e s r e g r o u p e d a n d c o n t i n u e d their patrol for a n o t h e r half an h o u r when an estimated nine Bfl09Es (actually five aircraft f r o m I I I / J G 7 7 ) were enc o u n t e r e d head-on. Pattle's quick reactions allowed him t o get on the tail of o n e Messerschmitt, and he reported t h a t following his attack it went d o w n in a glide, flipped over and crashed into the g r o u n d inverted. T h e sky was now full of dogfighting aircraft, but Pattle m a n a g e d to get on the tail of a n o t h e r B f l 0 9 which he spotted flying low d o w n in a valley t o w a r d s Lamia. He believed that he had killed the pilot with his first burst, as this aircraft went into a dive and crashed. M e a n w h i l e Fig Off W o o d w a r d had claimed a further Messerschmitt, as had Fig Off Moir, whilst Fit Lts Littler and Mitchell b o t h claimed d a m a g e to others. In return Moir's aircraft w a s badly hit and he w a s forced d o w n at A m p h i k l i a , where P 2 6 4 3 was later destroyed as there were n o spares available t o repair it. Fit Lt Mitchell's aircraft was also hard hit, but he was able t o get back a n d force-land at Eleusis. T h r e e H u r r i c a n e s were claimed shot d o w n by the G e r m a n pilots, o n e each by Obit K u r t U b b e n , Uffz J o h a n n Pichler and O f w Erwin Riehl. H o w e v e r U b b e n ' s B f l 0 9 was badly d a m a g e d and he force-landed in Allied lines, while the Staffelkapitan of 9 / J G 7 7 , Obit Armin Schmidt, w a s shot d o w n and killed n o r t h east of Lamia. A third Messerschmitt flown by O b i t W e r n e r Patz, was also hit a n d crash-landed at Larissa d u r i n g the day, but there is n o definite c o n f i r m a t i o n that he had been involved in the fight with 33 S q u a d r o n . Subsequently Stabsarzt D r S t o r m e r of this G r u p p e flew d o w n in a Fieseler Storch a n d landed to pick u p U b b e n and fly him out; so sudden had been the c o m b a t that U b b e n believed his aircraft had been hit by g r o u n d fire. By n o w Pattle's condition had worsened t o a point where Sqn Ldr ' T a p ' Jones, now acting as Wing C o m m a n d e r , Eleusis, ordered him t o reduce his flying and to t a k e off only when the air raid a l a r m s o u n d e d . P a t t l e took him at his w o r d , and was in the air again with Sgt Casbolt when the a l a r m went off at 1450. T h e t w o flew a r o u n d for some time without seeing anything, and b e c a m e separated before Pattle at last saw t w o aircraft over K h a l k i s h a r b o u r — C a s b o l t had found the raiders, a n d as P a t t l e watched, the J u 8 8 he was a t t a c k i n g went d o w n trailing black smoke. Pattle then spotted a n o t h e r b o m b e r heading n o r t h a n d diving for its lines. Giving chase, he soon c a u g h t u p a n d a t t a c k e d , r e p o r t i n g t h a t it dived into the sea after its crew had baled out. O n e J u 8 8 w a s indeed reported lost in this area, 9K + EK of I / K G 5 1 being lost, a l t h o u g h t h e G r u p p e n k o m m a n d e u r , H p t Heinrich H a h n , w h o w a s a b r o a d , survived to return to his unit. A second J u 8 8 f r o m I / L G 1 flown by H p t Siegfried von E i c k h o r n crash-landed at Salonika d u e t o icing-up, the pilot being injured. A m p h i k l i a / L o d i , the landing g r o u n d at which Fig Off M o i r h a d c o m e d o w n , was t o be the target of the Luftwaffe's latest surprise attack on 19 April. D u e t o the d i s r u p t i o n of t h e w a r n i n g system, n o n e of the Greek fighters now based there were able t o get a i r b o r n e as Bfl09s swept overhead, strafing with great efficiency and skill. All b u t three of the 21 P Z L s , G l a d i a t o r s and Blochs were destroyed. T h e G e r m a n pilots claimed ten 'Glosters' and nine unidentified aircraft destroyed, 263
plus one Spitfire (sic) shot d o w n over the airfield - p r e s u m a b l y a Bloch 151 a t t e m p t i n g to join the c o m b a t . T h e three surviving fighters were ordered to fly t o Eleusis; only 23 Mira's few P Z L s , now based at Argos in t h e P e l o p o n n e s e remained to offer any G r e e k aerial resistance. F r o m Menidi the last remaining Wellington of the 37 S q u a d r o n d e t a c h m e n t took off t o fly back t o Shallufa. N o r t h - w e s t of C r e t e t h e aircraft was attacked by unidentified fighters - p r o b a b l y C R 4 2 s - but w a s not hit despite several passes. T h e rear g u n n e r believed that he might have hit o n e of the attackers, the b o m b e r reaching its destination safely. A p p a r e n t l y Pattle w a s again involved in an interception at 1820, when according t o his fitter's diary he engaged a n u m b e r of Bfl09s, claiming o n e shot d o w n a n d possibly a second, but n o further losses were recorded by the Luftwaffe in such circumstances. T w o D o . l 7 Z s were lost by I / K G 2 d u r i n g the day, both a p p a r e n t l y t o s m a l l - a r m s fire f r o m Imperial infantry, o n e crew being lost a n d o n e surviving, whilst a n o t h e r D o r n i e r f r o m I I I / K G 2 suffered severe AA d a m a g e , and a H s l 2 3 g r o u n d - a t t a c k aircraft of II(Sch)/LG 2 was hit t o a lesser degree. Italian aircraft now turned their a t t e n t i o n f r o m the Yugoslav coastal area t o the A r m y of t h e Epirus, Ju87s a t t a c k i n g Greek c o l u m n s t h r o u g h o u t t h e day, while 150° G r u p p o C T Macchi fighters strafed the airfields at K a t s i k a and Yanina, claiming four G l a d i a t o r s destroyed on the g r o u n d , with a fifth probable. As n o serviceable aircraft were based at these fields any longer, these were p r o b a b l y either derelict wrecks, o r dummies.
Aircraft burn at Menidi following II,/ZG 26's strafe on 2 0 April, 1941. Blenheims and other aircraft can be seen on the airfield. (S W
Lee)
264
Despite its losses, the R A F c o n t i n u e d t o operate. T h e t w o 208 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s were out on reconnaissance sorties d u r i n g the d a y in the h a n d s of Fit Lt B u r n a r d and Pit Olf A t t w o o d , while by night 15 of t h e remaining Blenheims u n d e r t o o k individual a t t a c k s in the K a t e r i n e area, all r e t u r n i n g with the d a w n on 20 April. If 15 April had been t h e worst d a y so far for t h e R o y a l Air F o r c e in Greece, the 20th was to be its ultimate nemesis. Faced by the c o n t i n u e d successful resistance of t h e British air units, the Luftwaffe now launched a sustained attack on the Athens area. At d a w n t w o H u r r i c a n e s f r o m 80 S q u a d r o n were u p on patrol, but a l t h o u g h hostile aircraft were reported a p p r o a c h i n g , n o n e were seen. Soon 12 m o r e H u r r i c a n e s were a i r b o r n e f r o m Eleusis, six d r a w n f r o m each of the s q u a d r o n s , and these began to patrol t o t h e s o u t h of D o m o k o s . Again n o Luftwaffe aircraft were seen, but as the f o r m a t i o n headed for h o m e a lone D o . l 7 Z of I I I / K G 2 was e n c o u n t e r e d near Larissa - p r o b a b l y U 5 + ES, flown by Lt G e r t L a u r i a n t . It w a s at once engaged by several H u r r i c a n e s a n d shot d o w n into t h e sea, but Fig Off F r a n k H o l m a n ' s fighter, V7860, a p p e a r e d to be hit by r e t u r n fire a n d he b r o k e a w a y t o m a k e a belly-landing in a field near M e g a r a . Striking an obstruction, the H u r r i c a n e flipped over on its back, the pilot's neck being b r o k e n in t h e crash. Between 0550 a n d 0650, 36 B f l 0 9 E s of Stab, II a n d I I I / J G 77, five of t h e m carrying b o m b s , a t t a c k e d shipping targets a r o u n d Athens, claiming a direct hit on a 3000 ton steamer a n d a near miss on a 1500 ton vessel. A S c h w a r m f r o m III G r u p p e b r o k e off t o attack Menidi airfield, where they claimed five Blenheims destroyed on the g r o u n d , including o n e by O b i t K u r t Lasse. Several were indeed badly hit, a n d an ancient Valentia biplane t r a n s p o r t of 216 S q u a d r o n (JR9764) went u p in flames. A b o u t an h o u r later a f o r m a t i o n of Bfl 10s f r o m I I / Z G 26, led by O b i t Ralph von Rettburg, m a d e a second strafe of t h e airfield, their arrival coinciding with that of a Blenheim flown by Sgt Vernon H u d s o n , which the latter m a n a g e d t o get d o w n and taxi t o safety seconds before the Messerschmitts hit t h e target. F o r his second lucky escape in four d a y s he received the n i c k n a m e - 'Lucky'! Marcel C o m e a u graphically described the second strafe: 'Preceded by a terrified assortment of stray d o g s racing across the landing g r o u n d , the 110 destroyers hit Menidi. Bellies scraping the grass, they flashed past as if propelled by t h e r h y t h m i c t h u m p i n g of their c a n n o n s . Suddenly t h e a e r o d r o m e was alight with Bofors and small-arms fire. A G r e e k J u n k e r s burst into flames on the h a n g a r a p r o n . A Blenheim collapsed suddenly on a broken oleo. T h e noise w a s terrific. So low were the Messerschmitts flying that a n e a r b y Bofors sent a burst into a n o t h e r Bofors across t h e a e r o d r o m e , killing t h e officer in charge. T h e n they were diving back for a second run in O u t in the open a bunch of eight Aussie soldiers having a late breakfast alternated between t a k i n g m o u t h f u l s of tinned sausage and rifle-potting the passing aircraft. A dozen c o l u m n s of s m o k e a r o s e a m o n g the Blenheims.' LAC ' P a d d y ' Duff, an 11 S q u a d r o n mechanic, was seen t o g r a b a Lewis gun f r o m an unserviceable 84 S q u a d r o n Blenheim and walk u p t h e c e n t r e of t h e airfield, blazing a w a y f r o m the hip at the o n c o m i n g Zerstorer. Miraculously he was not 265
hit! D u r i n g t h e t w o raids four Blenheims had been totally destroyed, t w o each f r o m 11 and 211 S q u a d r o n s , o n e m o r e f r o m 84 S q u a d r o n had been seriously d a m a g e d , a n d a n o t h e r five f r o m all three units had been less seriously hit. A Yugoslav S.79 had also g o n e up in flames, as had the G r e e k J u n k e r s and the Valentia.
Valentia J R 9 7 6 4 of 216 S q u a d r o n burnt out at Menidi following the 20 April strafe. (E Smith)
Bevington-
T w o h o u r s later at 0945, two 80 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s were despatched t o intercept G e r m a n aircraft reported to be a t t a c k i n g K h a l k i s h a r b o u r , where the Greek Moscha L. Goulandri (5199 tons) was b o m b e d and sunk. As t h e British fighters a p p r o a c h e d , they were attacked by three B f l 0 9 E s f r o m S t a b / J G 27, Pit Off Still (V7748) p r o m p t l y being shot d o w n a n d killed n e a r T a n a g r a by M a j W o l f g a n g Schellmann, while Sgt Bennett's V7356 was badly d a m a g e d , a l t h o u g h he m a n a g e d t o r e t u r n t o Eleusis. By m i d d a y f o r m a t i o n s of Luftwaffe b o m b e r s and fighters were r o a m i n g over the plains of S o u t h e r n G r e e c e at will, b o m b i n g and strafing almost with impunity, a l t h o u g h t h e few H u r r i c a n e s at Eleusis were constantly going out on patrol. Bill W i n s l a n d of 33 S q u a d r o n recalled: ' S o m e h o w or o t h e r d u r i n g that hectic d a y t h o u g h I* went u p a n u m b e r of times I never m a d e c o n t a c t with the enemy. T h e r e was a good deal of cloud a b o u t , a m o n g s t which their b o m b e r s a n d fighters sneaked in and out. Every time we spotted any m a c h i n e s they hopped into the c l o u d s so t h a t we were often u n a b l e t o get any " d u c k - s h o o t i n g " at all. O t h e r s however had very different stories t o tell. Every time they went u p they ran into absolutely h o r d e s of the bastards! T h o u g h 1 never fired my g u n s that d a y I honestly think it m a d e me an older m a n . I was on edge every second. Every speck on my windscreen was an enemy, every bird behind me w a s a H u n ; my head was all but twisted off my neck with continuously looking r o u n d behind my tail. In a n d a r o u n d every cloud I expected to c o m e u p against o n e of those hordes. I honestly t h o u g h t I was b o u n d to "catch my p a c k e t " t h a t day. We all t h o u g h t the same d e e p d o w n somewhere.' 266
At last at a b o u t 1400, 29 B f l 0 9 E s f r o m II and I I I / J G 77 a p p e a r e d over Eleusis a n d T a n a g r a airfields, Sqn Ldr P a t t l e engaging o n e f o r m a t i o n f r o m III G r u p p e a n d claiming t w o shot d o w n d u r i n g a brief c o m b a t . O n e of these is believed t o have been the aircraft flown by Uffz Fritz Borchert, which failed to return, whilst the second was d a m a g e d a n d crash-landed at Larissa. T h e G e r m a n pilots claimed a further 13 aircraft destroyed on the g r o u n d .
Messerschmitt B f l 0 9 E of III/JG 77 crash-landed on Larissa airfield on 20 April 1941, the pilot being captured. It is possible that this aircraft had been d a m a g e d in c o m b a t by Sqn Ldr 'Pat' Pattle of 33 Squadron
(IWM
and F. C
Jones)
267
At 1535 Eleusis itself came u n d e r attack by I I / J G 27 B f l 0 9 E s , their fire destroying several aircraft including t w o 33 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s and t w o of the three surviving Greek fighters here. A petrol bowser was hit a n d set on fire, AC Cyril B a n k s of 33 S q u a d r o n p r o m p t l y j u m p i n g into the blazing vehicle and driving it clear of t h e other Hurricanes. Six R A F personnel were also slightly w o u n d e d d u r i n g the attack. Fit Lt D a v i d s o n of 30 S q u a d r o n had a n a r r o w escape; at t h e c o n t r o l s of a Blenheim, he had just arrived in t h e circuit as the Messerschmitts a p p e a r e d , but believing these t o be Hurricanes, he c o n t i n u e d his a p p r o a c h , waiting his o p p o r t u n i t y t o land. Suddenly t o his h o r r o r he realised that the fighters were hostile, a n d seeing a cloud of s m o k e over t h e c o r n e r of the airfield rising f r o m s o m e b u r n i n g aircraft or m o t o r vehicles, he hurriedly put d o w n and 'hid' in this Pit Olf Roald D a h l later wrote of the attack: T h e r e were m a n y 109s circling t h e a e r o d r o m e , and o n e by o n e they straightened o u t a n d dived past the h a n g a r s , spraying the g r o u n d with their guns. But they did something else. T h e y slid back their cockpit h o o d s a n d as they c a m e past they threw out small b o m b s which exploded when they hit the g r o u n d and fiercely flung quantities of large lead balls in every direction then I saw the men, t h e g r o u n d crews, s t a n d i n g u p in their slit trenches firing at the Messerschmitts with their rifles, reloading a n d firing as fast as they could, cursing and s h o u t i n g as they shot, a i m i n g ludicrously, hopelessly, aiming at an a e r o p l a n e with just a rifle. At Eleusis there were n o o t h e r defences. Suddenly the Messerschmitts all turned and headed for h o m e , all except one, which glided d o w n a n d m a d e a s m o o t h bellylanding on t h e a e r o d r o m e . ' T h i s was O f w Fritz Rockel in Werk Nr.4952, w h o s e shin had been shattered by a bullet. D a h l continues: T h e n there w a s chaos. T h e G r e e k s a r o u n d us raised a s h o u t a n d j u m p e d on t o the fire tender a n d headed out t o w a r d s the crashed G e r m a n aeroplane. At the s a m e time m o r e G r e e k s streamed out f r o m every c o r n e r of the field, s h o u t i n g and yelling a n d crying for the blood of the pilot. It was a m o b intent u p o n vengeance a n d o n e could not b l a m e them.' F o r t u n a t e l y for Rockel, R A F personnel reached him first a n d he was lifted f r o m the cockpit a n d driven to the Medical Officer for emergency t r e a t m e n t . Bill W i n s l a n d had a n a r r o w escape d u r i n g this attack: 'I w a s e n j o y i n g the luxury of a hot bath, when suddenly all hell was let loose on the building; t w o c a n n o n shells smashed t h r o u g h the w i n d o w over the bath and exploded against t h e tiled wall three feet to my right, and just below t h e level of the t o p of the g o o d old-fashioned cast iron bath. Bits of c o n c r e t e and shell hit the outside of t h e bath without penetrating it, a n d t h e w i n d o w glass spent its force against the inside t o p edge before falling quite gently o n t o t h e water a n d settling d o w n all over me without actually cutting me or d a m a g i n g the "family jewels" at all!' ' P a t ' Pattle w a s a i r b o r n e at t h e time t h e attack developed, a n d c a m e u p o n a Ju88 268
which he claimed shot d o w n at 1541. H e then returned t o Eleusis t o replenish his a m m u n i t i o n ready for t h e next attack. However, following t h e assault on t h e airfield, t h e r e had been a p a u s e in activity which allowed a little time for the g r o u n d crews t o bring the m a x i m u m possible n u m b e r of H u r r i c a n e s u p t o readiness state. Sqn Ldr ' T a p ' J o n e s decided that if n o f u r t h e r attack had developed by 1800, all available H u r r i c a n e s would u n d e r t a k e an offensive sweep in an effort to raise morale a m o n g s t the civilian p o p u l a t i o n of A t h e n s and the s u r r o u n d i n g areas, a n d as a boost t o the defenders of Eleusis as well as t o t h e pilots themselves. However at a b o u t 1645 a f o r m a t i o n of 100 plus Ju88s a n d D o . l 7 s , escorted by Bfl09s and 110s was reported a p p r o a c h i n g Athens. T h e J u n k e r s — aircraft of I / L G 1 - peeled off t o m a k e low-flying a t t a c k s on shipping at Piraeus, while individual Bfl 10s of I l / Z G 26 scoured the area, s h o o t i n g u p likely targets. O n e a p p e a r e d over Eleusis just as the H u r r i c a n e s - nine of 33 S q u a d r o n a n d six of 80 S q u a d r o n - were p r e p a r i n g to t a k e off. F o r t u n a t e l y , n o n e were hit, a n d all took t o t h e air individually, climbed t o 20 000 feet a n d h e a d e d for Piraeus, f o r m i n g sections of two or three en route. T h e first trio t o arrive over the port, flown by Fig Offs W i c k h a m , Starrett a n d ' P i n g ' N e w t o n , c a u g h t 15 Ju88s d i v e - b o m b i n g ships in the h a r b o u r ; indeed, the Greek hospital ship Ellertis was sunk d u r i n g the a t t a c k . T h e three H u r r i c a n e s followed t h e m d o w n and attacked as they pulled out of their dives; W i c k h a m claimed one shot d o w n , whilst the Rhodesian N e w t o n claimed t w o more. Just then Pit Off Vale arrived on the scene, reporting seeing s o m e 30 Ju88s: i carried out eight a t t a c k s o n t h e Ju88s. O n e c a u g h t fire a n d started g o i n g d o w n , so 1 left him a n d attacked a n o t h e r . Big c h u n k s b r o k e a w a y f r o m his wings and fuselage, a n d s m o k e p o u r e d f r o m his engines. H e went d o w n vertically. I was then attacked by a 109, but I easily o u t m a n o e u v r e d him, had a crack at some more, a n d c a m e h o m e when my a m m o was exhausted.' O n e J u 8 8 flown by Uffz H e l m u t Benke (LI + Z H ) was lost near A t h e n s with all the crew; a second, L l + U K , piloted by O b f h r W e r n e r Ziegler, was hit by a H u r r i c a n e ' s fire and the navigator, G e f r Heinrich B a u m g a r t n e r , received three bullets in the head and neck, dying almost at once. T h e g u n n e r s believed that they had shot d o w n the a t t a c k i n g fighter, r e p o r t i n g seeing it fall i n t o t h e sea near K a l a m a k i (it was p r o b a b l y the crash of Renke's J u 8 8 they had seen, o r t h e explosion of bombs). A second H u r r i c a n e then a t t a c k e d , p u t t i n g the s t a r b o a r d engine out of action. T h i s was also claimed hit by G e f r H a n s B a u m a n n , the r a d i o o p e r a t o r / a i r gunner, a n d was seen m a k i n g for land. H o w e v e r the J u 8 8 was rapidly losing height and a l t h o u g h the crew threw out all r e m o v a b l e e q u i p m e n t to reduce weight, it ditched in shallow water near Karies, at the foot of m o u n t Athos. T h e r e m a i n i n g m e m b e r s of the crew survived t h e crash. A third Ju88 suffered engine trouble, but struggled back t o K r u m o v o , where it crash-landed. T h e H u r r i c a n e hit by B a u m a n n was p r o b a b l y t h a t flown by H a r r y Starrett (V7804), which c a u g h t fire as a result. Starrett decided to fly back to Eleusis t o a t t e m p t t o save his aircraft, and Bill Winsland witnessed his a p p r o a c h , wheels-up: 'A H u r r i c a n e c a m e in, in flames f r o m end to end, t o try a n d land at Eleusis. H e 269
was holding off, g o i n g u p a n d d o w n between 5 0 - 1 0 0 feet, being terribly burnt n o d o u b t , a n d "feeling" for the g r o u n d , almost certainly being u n a b l e t o see it, except possibly at right angles sideways. H e soon hit t h e g r o u n d very hard.' T h e H u r r i c a n e had almost slid to a halt when the glycol tank blew u p and the aircraft was enveloped in flames. Starrett m a n a g e d t o get out, but had been very severely burned; he w a s rushed t o hospital but died t w o d a y s later. F o u r m o r e 80 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s now joined the battle. Fit Lt W o o d s leading Sgt C a s b o l t , a n d t h e F r e n c h m a n F/Sgt Pierre Wintersdorff, t o attack a f o r m a t i o n identified as Bfl 10s, but p r o b a b l y c o m p o s e d of D o . l 7 Z s f r o m 1 and I I I / K G 2, escorted by the twin-engined Messerschmitts. W o o d s carried out two or three s e p a r a t e attacks, believing that he had p r o b a b l y shot d o w n t w o before b r e a k i n g off t o r e t u r n t o Eleusis t o rearm. Wintersdorff claimed o n e aircraft shot d o w n in flames, which he identified as an ' F W 187', but he w a s then attacked by a Bfl 10 a n d w o u n d e d in one leg; his H u r r i c a n e was hard hit and he baled out into the sea f r o m where he was soon rescued. Sgt Casbolt claimed two aircraft as Bfl 10s, but was also then a t t a c k e d f r o m astern and had his r u d d e r shot away. Breaking away, he encountered a Bfl09 which he reported he had shot d o w n in flames. M e a n w h i l e t h e f o u r t h pilot, Sgt Ted Hewett, found himself a b o v e six Bfl09s and later reported: i dived o n the rear one, and he rolled on his back, a n d crashed t o the g r o u n d with s m o k e p o u r i n g out. I m a d e a similar attack on a second, a n d the pilot baled out. T h e n I had a g o at a third, but didn't see what h a p p e n e d this time.' These Messerschmitts were possibly f r o m I I I / J G 77, t w o aircraft f r o m this unit crash-landing, badly d a m a g e d . T h r e e D o . l 7 Z s also failed to return; U 5 + A L (Uffz H e l m u t Riem), U 5 + H L (Lt J o a c h i m Brtidern) a n d U 5 + A R ( O b l t Ludger H o l t k a m p e ) were all lost with their crews. A p p a r e n t l y B f l 0 9 E s f r o m 4 / J G 27 were also involved in c o m b a t at this time, possibly with the 80 S q u a d r o n aircraft. Obit Rodel claimed three H u r r i c a n e s shot d o w n in just over ten minutes, 1657-1708, while O f w Schulz claimed a n o t h e r at 1710. At Eleusis t h e returning H u r r i c a n e s were being refuelled and rearmed as swiftly as possible, before climbing back into the fray. Sqn Ldr Pattle w a s by n o w very ill with influenza, his t e m p e r a t u r e having been recorded as 103°. Nonetheless he took off with Fig Off Vernon W o o d w a r d , following Fit Lt W o o d s , w h o was now off for the second time. Pattle and W o o d w a r d had not taken off before, as their aircraft had not been ready. W o o d w a r d recalled: 'I took off late with Sqn Ldr Pattle - we climbed into a s w a r m of Ju88s protected by masses of Messerschmitt 110s. We were overwhelmed. In sun I recall s h o o t i n g a 110 off Pattle's tail, in flames, then p r o b a b l y a Ju88. Shortly a f t e r w a r d s Pattle got a confirmed Ju88 (or Bfl 10). Subsequently I lost c o n t a c t with him, then d a m a g e d three m o r e 110s, then, being out of a m m u n i t i o n returned tentatively t o Eleusis. It was all over - for that day." Ahead of W o o d w a r d , Pattle was seen going t o t h e aid of the H u r r i c a n e flown by 270
Fit Lt ' T i m b e r ' W o o d s , which w a s being attacked by a Bfl 10. He opened fire at this aircraft a n d it was seen t o burst into flames (presumably t h e aircraft W o o d w a r d had seen him destroy), just as W o o d s ' H u r r i c a n e also c a u g h t fire and dived into Eleusis Bay. T w o m o r e Bfl 10s latched o n t o the tail of Pattle's AS988, and it quickly began to blaze - there was an explosion, a n d the wreckage fell into the sea. Fit Lt J i m m i e Kettlewell arrived on t h e scene just in time t o see the demise of his gallant leader a n d attacked o n e of the t w o Messerschmitts responsible, s h o o t i n g this d o w n into t h e Bay also. H e t o o was then attacked by yet a n o t h e r Bfl 10, a n d was forced to bale out when V7807 w a s badly hit. He landed heavily, c r a c k i n g t w o vertebrae in his spine. Yet a n o t h e r H u r r i c a n e was falling to the 110s at this time; F / S g t C o t t i n g h a m h a d claimed t h r e e of the big Z e r s t o r e r in flames, but he was hit by a f o u r t h a n d w o u n d e d , baling out of his stricken aircraft. T h e pilots of 1I/ZG 26's 5 Staffel, led by H p t T h e o d o r Rossiwall, claimed five H u r r i c a n e s shot d o w n in this engagement, o n e each by Rossiwall himself (his 12th victory), Obit S o p h u s Baagoe (for his 14th), O f w H e r m a n n Schonthier, Uffz Fritz Muller a n d O f w T h e o d o r P i e t s c h m a n n . However two of the G r u p p e ' s aircraft were lost in return 3U + E N (Obit K u r t Specka) and 3U + F N (Fw G e o r g Leinfelder), while a third crash-landed with severe d a m a g e . P r o b a b l y o n e of the last pilots in t h e air was Pit OfT D a h l , w h o saw n u m b e r s of aircraft before a t t a c k i n g a J u 8 8 which was already going d o w n to ditch in the sea. He was shot at by the g u n n e r s even as the aircraft started t o settle in the water! D a h l m a n a g e d to get his badly d a m a g e d H u r r i c a n e - the result of earlier tussles with Messerschmitts - back t o Eleusis.
Junkers Ju88A-4. believed to be from K G 51, seen at A t h e n s in April 1941, following the capture of the capital. (Bruni via
Lucchini/Malizia)
271
D u r i n g this d a y of incessant c o m b a t , the Luftwaffe claimed 14 H u r r i c a n e s a n d o n e Spitfire (sic) shot d o w n , whereas eight H u r r i c a n e s had actually been lost, a n d a ninth badly d a m a g e d ; four pilots had been killed, o n e died subsequently, t w o were w o u n d e d and o n e injured. T h e G e r m a n s also claimed three aircraft destroyed on t h e g r o u n d at Agrinion airfield (possibly Yugoslav S.79s a n d D o . l 7 K s ) , six at T a n a g r a (where the last of t h e EVA b o m b e r s - Blenheims, Battles a n d P o t e z 63s - were all destroyed), five at Menidi ( R A F Blenheims) a n d seven (four Blenheims and three Hurricanes) at Eleusis. T h e aerial victories had been credited four t o I I / J G 27 and five t o 5 / Z G 26, t h e c l a i m a n t s for the remaining five being uncertain, but p r o b a b l y pilots of 4 a n d 6 / Z G 26. T o t a l Luftwaffe losses a m o u n t e d t o f o u r D o . l 7 Z s , t w o Ju88As, three Bfl 10s a n d five B f l 0 9 E s (one of which crashed into a hillside in bad visibility). T h e H u r r i c a n e pilots were credited with 20 shot d o w n , the b r e a k d o w n of types differing in v a r i o u s reports; this account considers the claims t o have been for five Ju88s, eight Bfl 10s, o n e ' F W 1 8 7 , o n e D o . 1 7 a n d five Bfl09s. Eight were also listed as p f o b a b l e s , including seven twin-engined types and a Bfl09. F o u r t e e n of the 20 ' c o n f i r m e d ' were claimed d u r i n g the final battle, as were t h e eight probables; g r o u n d defences claimed t w o m o r e Bfl09s shot d o w n . F o r the R A F , t h e greatest loss had t o be that of Sqn Ldr Pattle, w h o in his last battle h a d accounted for what may well have been his 50th victory (by far the top-scoring R A F pilot of t h e war). Twenty-six year-old M a r m a d u k e T h o m a s St J o h n Pattle, a first generation S o u t h African of English parentage, would never be forgotten by t h e small b a n d of survivors. C h r i s t o p h e r Buckley in t h e official history ('Greece and Crete'; H M S O ) stated: i n t e r m s of heroism in t h e face of odds, the pilots of these 15 fighters deserve t o rank with the heroes of the Battle of Britain. T h e y destroyed 22 enemy aircraft, p e r h a p s eight more, but in the action they lost a third of their n u m b e r . And that indeed constituted a Pyrrhic victory.' (The q u o t e d 22 victories seems t o have been m a d e u p of an addition of t h e 14 ' c o n f i r m e d ' a n d eight 'probables', or alternatively the total claimed by the defences for t h e whole day, including t h e t w o claimed by t h e gunners; b o t h these e q u a t i o n s a d d u p t o 22.) T h e 15 H u r r i c a n e s which t o o k part in t h e final battle over Athens had been flown by:80 Squadron Fit Lt W J W o o d s , D F C (V7852) Killed in action Fit Lt G F G r a h a m Fit Lt G W V Kettlewell (V7807) Injured in action Fig Off T h e H o n D A C o k e Pit Off R D a h l Pit Off W Vale, D F C Sgt E W F Hewett, D F M Sgt C E C a s b o l t F/Sgt P Wintersdorff (V7718) W o u n d e d in action 272
33 Squadron Sqn Ldr M T StJ Pattle, D F C and Bar (AS988) Killed in action Fig Off H Starrett (V7804) Died of b u r n s Fig OfT V C W o o d w a r d Fig Off P R W W i c k h a m Pit Off P A N e w t o n F/Sgt L C o t t i n g h a m (V7765) W o u n d e d in action Even as the battle raged over Athens, the last two r e c o n n a i s s a n c e H u r r i c a n e s of 208 S q u a d r o n had m a n a g e d t o carry out three sorties f r o m Eleusis, flying over the battle areas t o the s o u t h of Elasson, Larissa, A l m y r o s a n d L a m i a , Ju52s being seen landing t r o o p s a n d g u n s n e a r this last location. All sorties were c o m p l e t e d without interception, but on this d a t e the unit's last three Lysanders at H a s s a n i were ordered to fly t o Argos in the Peloponnese. T h a t night the R A F a t t e m p t e d t o hit b a c k , all available r e m a i n i n g Blenheims at M e n i d i going olf at ten m i n u t e intervals f r o m 0300 o n w a r d s t o b o m b K o z a n i a n d K a t a r i n e airfields, a n d a n y m o t o r vehicles which might be seen. T h e G e r m a n s pressed their a d v a n t a g e next m o r n i n g , starting at Eleusis which was attacked between 0700 a n d 0730 by 20 Fliegerkorps Ju87s and escorting Bfl09Es, which strafed. It had become a p p a r e n t f r o m previous a t t a c k s t h a t t h e Luftwaffe hoped to t a k e Eleusis for their o w n early use, a n d whilst strafing a t t a c k s had been m a d e , n o b o m b s had been d r o p p e d . A l t h o u g h several H u r r i c a n e s had been d a m a g e d in these attacks, few had been destroyed, a n d with t h e realization that b o m b e r s would p r o b a b l y not a p p e a r , t h e d a m a g e d aircraft had been moved into o n e of the h a n g a r s where they could be repaired reasonably free f r o m a t t a c k . O n this m o r n i n g however, t h e S t u k a s proved the reading of t h e situation wrong, splitting u p t o attack the hangars. T h e o t h e r s c o n t a i n e d only t r a i n i n g a n d n o n c o m b a t a n t machines, but seven Ju87s attacked t h a t c o n t a i n i n g the Hurricanes, gaining four hits. Light AA fire seemed to have n o effect, a n d a b r e a k d o w n in the raid w a r n i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n had prevented any fighters being scrambled in time; t w o H u r r i c a n e s in the h a n g a r were destroyed a n d several o t h e r s suffered further d a m a g e . W h e n t h e Bfl09s c a m e d o w n t o strafe, t h e AA g u n n e r s had m o r e success, claiming t w o shot d o w n ; it would a p p e a r that o n e at least was hit, B f l 0 9 E 5599 of I(J)/LG 2 c r a s h - l a n d i n g near Larissa after the attack. M e n i d i was next to be attacked, 12 B f l 0 9 E s strafing at 1100, followed by Bfl 10s. Several Blenheims were d a m a g e d , o n e of t h e m beyond repair. T h e fighters also attacked Agrinion, claiming t w o aircraft destroyed here - p r e s u m a b l y a b a n d o n e d Yugoslav machines. At 1445 it was Eleusis's t u r n for a repeat visit, but between the t w o raids the last two Swordfish of 815 S q u a d r o n still there had d e p a r t e d for Crete, flown by Lts Oxley a n d Clifford. It a p p e a r s t h a t 31 Bfl09s f r o m II and I I I / J G 7 7 were also involved in this a t t a c k , and in strafing Menidi airfield, eight aircraft being claimed destroyed on the g r o u n d by these units. Between 1340 a n d 1440 the t w o J G 77 G r u p p e n sent o u t 36 m o r e aircraft t o Piraeus, w h e r e six J a b o s claimed a direct hit on a ship in h a r b o u r . O n e II G r u p p e aircraft was hit by AA, Uffz Pfeifer c r a s h - l a n d i n g his d a m a g e d fighter and returned on foot t h a t evening. 273
O v e r t h e s a m e a r e a two Bfl 10s of 5 / Z G 26 collided, Fw Helmut Recker a n d O g f r Heinz N a g e l a n d their crews surviving u n h u r t . In the Larissa area a D o . l 7Z of S t a b / S t G 2 (T6 + G A ) was shot d o w n , O f w Josef Engler a n d his crew all being injured and taken prisoner. A Hs 126 of 2(H)/10 flew low over Australian lines in the T h e r m o p y l e area a n d was shot d o w n by a Bren gunner of 2/1 st Field C o m p a n y . F w H a n s Kaisch was unable t o c o n t r o l the aircraft (T1 + K K ) which nosed over, hit the g r o u n d and exploded, killing t h e crew. Elsewhere a Ju88 of I / K G 51 sustained d a m a g e and crash-landed on return to K r u m o v o . D u r i n g the d a y the Luftwaffe had been involved in an incident of rather different c h a r a c t e r . A J u 5 2 / 3 m of I I / K G z b V 172 flown by F w Werner, was carrying a d o z e n p a r a t r o o p s of F a l l s c h i r m j a g e r R e g i m e n t 1 t o the Balkans, when it strayed across the Bulgarian frontier into T u r k i s h airspace near Edirne. T u r k i s h AA g u n s at once opened fire and the aircraft fell in flames on Bulgarian soil at O t o p e n i , all on b o a r d being killed. Alarmed that some f o r m of invasion might be threatening, t h e T u r k i s h a r m e d forces were put o n i m m e d i a t e alert, two s q u a d r o n s of Vultee V 11GB a t t a c k - b o m b e r s and o n e of P Z L P 24 fighters at once being moved t o f o r w a r d airfields in t h e area. N o t h i n g further transpired, however. T h a t evening Greek forces defending the Larissa area surrendered to F e l d m a r s c h a l List, while on the Albanian F r o n t the Army of t h e E p i r u s capitulated to the G e r m a n s also, Y a n i n a airfield and t o w n falling to the Adolf Hitler SS M o t o r i s e d Division. It w a s time for the R A F t o get out of Greece - quick!
C a n t Z . 1 0 0 7 b i s b o m b e r s of 47° S t o r m o BT m o v e over from Italy to a Greek airfield for further operations.
In the foreground
is a burnt out
RAF
Blenheim; behind are b o m b e r s from
Squadriglia, 106° G r u p p o (left) and 263 a Squadriglia. 107" G r u p p o (right) (via
274
A
261 a
Stamatopoulos)
Chapter
Six
EVACUATION
Junkers J u 8 7 B s of the Luftwaffe on a Greek airfield. In the left foreground is the burnt-out wreck of an EVA P o t e z 25. (Bib fur
Zeit)
Following t h e surrender of t h e A r m y of t h e E p i r u s and the d a m a g i n g air a t t a c k s of 20 a n d 21 April on the A t h e n s area, the British forces prepared to leave G r e e c e as quickly but in as g o o d o r d e r as was possible. O n l y Menidi suffered f u r t h e r heavy attack on 22 April, 31 Bfl09s of II and I I I / J G 7 7 again sweeping in t o strafe. Recorded Marcel C o m e a u : 'Messerschmitt fighters over Menidi put on an a e r o b a t i c display which would have d r a w n a c r o w d in times of peace. Yellow-nosed 109s skimmed a r o u n d the 275
perimeter, m a k i n g daisy-cutting turns, chasing stray a i r m e n d o w n the trenches, and firing at everything a n d everybody. T w i c e f o r m i n g line-astern they roared flat-out across the grass t o w a r d s the hangars, stood on o n e wing, and sped like letters t h r o u g h a letter-box t h r o u g h the g a p between the sheds. Messerschmitts a p p e a r e d suddenly f r o m below hedges, a m o n g tents, and r o u n d hangar corners. Airmen in tree-tops and trenches, firing at them, s t o o d in a d m i r a t i o n of their flying skill.' Eight British aircraft were claimed destroyed by the G e r m a n pilots, a n d indeed a n u m b e r of Blenheims were destroyed (some of t h e m aircraft which had been d a m a g e d in earlier raids), whilst o t h e r s were d a m a g e d . By n o w 11 S q u a d r o n had only four left still serviceable, a n d two of these were M a r k Is which had recently been returned by t h e Repair and Salvage Unit after previous d a m a g e had been m a d e g o o d . Between raids these, together with t h o s e r e m a i n i n g in 84 and 211 S q u a d r o n s , began e v a c u a t i n g personnel t o Crete. Each aircraft carried nine passengers at a time. O n landing at Heraklion, 11 S q u a d r o n ' s N 3 5 6 0 burst a tyre, s w u n g violently a n d suffered t h e collapse of an oleo leg; the pilot b r o k e an a r m , but there were n o other casualties. While flying back t o Menidi f r o m H e r a k l i o n for a n o t h e r load of passengers, the lucky Australian, Sgt H u d s o n , experienced a further m i r a c u l o u s escape. His Blenheim (L1481) w a s intercepted by five C R 4 2 s f r o m R h o d e s and was badly shot-up; he just m a n a g e d to m a k e a force-landing on the surface of the sea near a small ship, a n d was soon rescued. H u d s o n ' s ordeal was far f r o m over however, for as the vessel a n d a n o t h e r which w a s a c c o m p a n y i n g it a p p r o a c h e d N a u p l i a h a r b o u r , they were a t t a c k e d by Ju87s. Since both were carrying munitions, this was m o r e t h a n usually d a n g e r o u s . Both c a u g h t fire, o n e blowing u p on reaching port, while that on which H u d s o n was present, was a b a n d o n e d . As he and the crew s w a m for s h o r e they were machine-gunned by the S t u k a s , which swept low over t h e burning ships. Nonetheless, H u d s o n m a n a g e d t o get a s h o r e safely, a n d subsequently hitched a lift on a n o t h e r Blenheim for Crete. S o o n after take-off, this was attacked by a Bfl 10 a n d badly d a m a g e d , b u t m a n a g e d to reach Heraklion. H e would receive a D F M for his service in Greece, but after r e t u r n i n g t o Africa his b o m b e d - u p Blenheim collided with a n o t h e r while he w a s p r e p a r i n g to t a k e off for a night sortie d u r i n g June. O n this occasion the aircraft blew up, but yet again he survived — u n i n j u r e d , but u n d e r s t a n d a b l y shaken! At t h e o t h e r airfields t h e R A F w a s also n o w in the process of withdrawal. F r o m H a s s a n i the 14 G l a d i a t o r s of 112 S q u a d r o n (only six of which were operationally serviceable) a n d f o u r remaining L y s a n d e r s of 208 S q u a d r o n left for Crete's H e r a k l i o n airfield. 112's g r o u n d party had only just reached Athens f r o m t h e E p i r u s F r o n t , but they were ordered n o w to m o v e t o Argos in the Peloponnese, f r o m where they were t o be evacuated. T h e y would reach their destination next d a y after negotiating scores of o v e r t u r n e d vehicles on t h e C o r i n t h - A r g o s r o a d , but only t o find that some 11 000 R A F a n d Army personnel had got there before t h e m , a n d t h a t the t w o ships on which they were t o leave had been sunk! D u r i n g the night of 23/24 April they moved on again t o w a r d s 276
N a u p l i a , c o m i n g u n d e r c o n s t a n t air attack w h e n daylight r e t u r n e d , but here at last they were t o be ferried out to waiting warships by a n u m b e r of loading barges. M e a n w h i l e on 22 April Sqn Ldr P R W o o d w a r d h a d flown in t o S c a r a m a n g a in a 230 S q u a d r o n S u n d e r l a n d , evacuating 18 R A F passengers and m e m b e r s of t h e Greek Royal F a m i l y t o S u d a Bay, Crete. F r o m Eleusis soon after d a w n six H u r r i c a n e s were flown d o w n to M e g a r a landing g r o u n d , ten miles south - n o m o r e t h a n a field on t h e coast, s u r r o u n d e d by olive groves. H e r e as soon as it was light, several h u n d r e d local villagers - old men, w o m e n a n d children - a p p e a r e d and scattered a r m f u l s of heather and bracken over t h e flattened grass in an a t t e m p t to c a m o u f l a g e the new strip. T h e fighters were hidden a m o n g s t the gnarled olive trees, not being called u p o n for action t h r o u g h o u t t h e day. T h a t evening they were ordered to m o v e on to Argos w h e r e the other 12 flyable H u r r i c a n e s f r o m Eleusis had arrived a few h o u r s earlier in various states of repair. Argos was a n o t h e r smallish field a m o n g s t the olive groves, the pilots finding t h a t t h e closeness of t h e trees gave t h e m some p r o b l e m s when landing. A Greek training field, A r g o s w a s t o be shared with large n u m b e r s of A v r o 626s and T u t o r s , all t h e surviving P o t e z 25As of 1 M i r a , eight P Z L s of 23 M i r a , a n d a miscellany of other elderly aircraft; all machines were dispersed amongst the groves. G r o u n d defence was provided by local G r e e k t r o o p s with t w o Bofors g u n s a n d t w o H o t c h k i s s m a c h i n e guns; in the confusion the British AA unit allocated t o defend t h e airfield had g o n e t o the w r o n g location. Nervy G r e e k g u n n e r s had opened fire as the first of the H u r r i c a n e s arrived, a n d o n e had been badly d a m a g e d . C o m m a n d of t h e R A F forces in t h e area w a s assumed by Air C d r J W B G r i g s o n , D S O , D F C , w h o sought to provide r e a r g u a r d protection a n d cover for t h e retreating t r o o p s a n d ships evacuating them. T h e shipping was c o n t i n u i n g to suffer severely f r o m the weight of Luftwaffe attacks, particularly in the shattered r e m n a n t s of the port of Piraeus. H e r e 23 vessels had been sunk in t w o days, including the hospital ship Ellenis. N e a r b y , at M e g a r a , the old G r e e k destroyer Psara was a t t a c k e d by J u 8 7 s whilst at a n c h o r . She put u p a fierce b a r r a g e in a vain a t t e m p t t o protect herself but was soon hit by a heavy b o m b which shattered her f r o m bow t o bridge - 40 c r e w m e n were killed by this one b o m b ; Psara slowly s a n k , leaving 118 survivors. A second Greek destroyer was lost later this same d a y when Ydra w a s c a u g h t escorting a c o n v o y of ships leaving P i r a e u s d u r i n g the evening. An estimated 35 J u 8 7 s arrived a n d Ydra was hit almost straight away, all her g u n s being put out of action, a n d a b o u t 50 of her crew killed - the destroyer was a b a n d o n e d , a n d later sank. M a n y survivors reached t h e shore; o t h e r s were picked u p f r o m t h e sea. M e r c h a n t vessels were hunted d o w n and attacked wherever they could be f o u n d , a n d there were m a n y such targets. Ju87s f r o m I / S t G 2 f o u n d choice pickings in the Gulf of C o r i n t h where, at Antikyra, the 1300-ton t a n k e r Theodora, loaded with petrol, was c a u g h t by 2 Staffel, F w Horst H e r m a n n being a m o n g s t those w h o claimed hits on the defenceless vessel; the skipper a n d 12 crew were killed. N e a r b y t h e small coastal t a n k e r Theodol 2 (657 tons) w a s also hit a n d started to b u r n fiercely. R e m a i n i n g crewmen on the larger t a n k e r tried t o m o v e their vessel t o safer waters, but it went a g r o u n d and t h e c a r g o began t o leak out. 277
Soon petrol on the sea started to burn; Theodol 2 exploded and sank, whilst Theodora w a s completely burnt out. A third vessel, t h e small freighter Thraki, also succumbed to the Stukas. However the a t t a c k e r s did not escape u n s c a t h e d d u r i n g this d a y of intense action against shipping a n d g r o u n d targets - a J u 8 7 of I I I / S t G 77 (Fl + A N ; O b i t Wilde) was lost in the Eleusis area, while t w o Bfl09Es, o n e f r o m S t a b / J G 27 (Uffz C a p l a n missing) a n d o n e f r o m I I / J G 27 (Uffz Rohlfs w o u n d e d ) were lost over M o l o s and Larissa. ' U l t r a ' intercepts had by n o w indicated t o the British c o m m a n d that C r e t e was likely t o be the next G e r m a n objective, a l t h o u g h C y p r u s also seemed to be at risk to provide a 'stepping-stone' t o Syria a n d Iraq if t h e situation in t h o s e c o u n t r i e s w a r r a n t e d further involvement. Even as the R A F elements were arriving in C r e t e therefore, Air Chief M a r s h a l L o n g m o r e and Air Vice-Marshal D'Albiac flew in on a short visit to assess the requirements of a fighter defence. T h e i r conclusions: ' N o intention of r e f o r m i n g R A F Greece H Q . Left W g C d r ( p r o m o t e d Acting G p C a p t ) Beamish as Wing H Q , Sqn L d r T r u m b l e effective o/c Heraklion. 112 S q u a d r o n to remain until relieved by flight of 33 S q u a d r o n . O t h e r flight at M a l e m e - with 100" o reserve pilots at both a e r o d r o m e s as they will be on ' s t a n d by' d u r i n g daylight hours. M a l e m e congested so will request C - i n - C Med to m o v e 815 S q u a d r o n out, e n a b l i n g H u r r i c a n e s and remaining F A A fighters t o be dispersed, including in olive groves. At H e r a k l i o n n o n a t u r a l cover but aircraft pens built.' (signal t o Air Ministry). Lt S u t t o n , Senior Observer a n d FAA Liaison Officer in Greece, n o w arrived at M a l e m e with o r d e r s to direct construction of an u n d e r g r o u n d o p e r a t i o n s r o o m , but already the first three Swordfish of 815 S q u a d r o n were ordered to leave for Egypt. This was a 300-mile flight to M e r s a M a t r u h , Lt Kiggell t a k i n g off to lead Lt L a m b and S u b Lt Rudorf. After a b o u t an h o u r ' s flight R u d o r f s engine began to play up, and sighting a c o n v o y t h r o u g h a g a p in the clouds, he headed d o w n , intending t o ditch near o n e of t h e ships. O n emerging into clear air directly over the vessels, he spotted a section of F u l m a r s climbing t o w a r d s him, a n d fearing that these might consider his aircraft t o be hostile, he climbed back into cloud, thereby losing sight of the convoy. As a result he decided to head on for M e r s a M a t r u h , landing there safely after s o m e four hours, ten m i n u t e s over t h e sea, despite his faulty engine. Kiggell a n d L a m b had already arrived, t h o u g h both had experienced engine misfires. T h e F u l m a r s seen by Rudorf h a d c o m e f r o m H M S Formidable, n o w well on her way back to Alexandria after the actions over Tripoli (see C h a p t e r Four). Fighter patrols had been maintained all d a y as the presence of ' s h a d o w e r s ' had constantly been reported, but it was 1724 h o u r s before a raid was finally detected a p p r o a c h i n g . T w o sections of F u l m a r s intercepted two Ju88s 30 miles out, as m o r e g r o u p s a p p e a r e d on the r a d a r screens. All available interceptors were scrambled, and by the time t h e a t t a c k e r s got near, 14 F u l m a r s were in the air. T h e first pair of b o m b e r s (aircraft of 8 / L G 1) were attacked by G r e e n Section of 803 S q u a d r o n (Lt Bruen a n d Sub Lt Richards) and G r e y Section of 806 S q u a d r o n (Lt Henley a n d S u b Lt Sparke). G r e e n Section forced one J u n k e r s t o jettison its b o m b s and m a k e off into clouds, possibly d a m a g e d , while the second 278
raider, flown by Ufl'z G e r h a r d Pfeil, was also seen t o jettison its b o m b s before it was shot d o w n into t h e sea by Julian Sparke: Henley's guns h a d failed t o operate. Lt Jasper G o d d e n , Bruen's observer in '6A', N1951, recalled: ' W e saw n o t h i n g until the Fleet was well on its way back t o Alexandria — at a b o u t 1700 h o u r s we spent 30 m i n u t e s in c o m b a t with t w o Ju88s. O n e w a s shot d o w n - not by us - all 1 had was a T h o m p s o n s u b - m a c h i n e gun - you could see the 0.45in. bullets trickling out of the muzzle — the muzzle velocity was so low!' Black and W h i t e Sections of 806 S q u a d r o n also intercepted a lone Ju88, reported to be a ' s h a d o w e r ' , a n d this was claimed p r o b a b l y destroyed by Lt C d r Evans, Sub Lt Sewell and Sub Lt O r r . N o d a m a g e w a s caused t o t h e Fleet, but it had certainly not been 'all action' for the fighters; G o d d e n continues: ' D u r i n g t h e Tripoli o p e r a t i o n Bill (Bruen) and 1 flew ten sorties totalling 23 h o u r s - fighter patrols over the Fleet. Very m o n o t o n o u s indeed - especially for the n o n driver. T h e average sortie was t w o and a half hours, spent scanning the (mostly blue) skies with b i n o c u l a r s and supping oxygen.' Interceptions next d a y all proved to be patrolling S u n d e r l a n d s , a n d at 1100 on 23 April, the Fleet entered Alexandria safely.
Dornier D o . l 7 Z s o f f t h e coast of Greece, seeking Allied shipping. (Bibliotech
279
fur
Zeitung)
At Argos on the m o r n i n g of the 23rd, g r o u n d crews were w o r k i n g hard in very primitive c o n d i t i o n s to get as m a n y H u r r i c a n e s as possible serviceable, but m a n y t o o l s a n d s p a r e parts had been lost d u r i n g the retreat, a n d only sufficient aircraft would be readied for limited patrols and reconnaissance sorties. D u r i n g o n e reconnaissance d u r i n g the late m o r n i n g Pit OfT Vale (in V7134) e n c o u n t e r e d a Do. 17 near the airfield and chased it away, claiming d a m a g e ; it is possible that this was 5 K + D S of I I I / K G 3, reported shot d o w n by AA n e a r C o r i n t h ; Uffz Wiesmiiller a n d his crew were lost. T w o m o r e H u r r i c a n e s had been despatched on a defensive patrol t o t h e n o r t h , these e n c o u n t e r i n g three Ju88s of I / L G 1 in the process of b o m b i n g the road between Athens and C o r i n t h . T h e y had been out on a r m e d reconnaissance looking for ships between the m a i n l a n d a n d Crete, but failing to find any, h a d decided to attack a secondary target rather than carry their b o m b s back t o base. Fig Off N e w t o n attacked LI + L K , causing considerable d a m a g e and w o u n d i n g b o t h the n a v i g a t o r and r a d i o o p e r a t o r / g u n n e r . W i t h t h e s t a r b o a r d engine k n o c k e d out, Uffz Alt crash-landed the b o m b e r a m o n g s t olive groves n e a r Almyros. T h e trio of J u n k e r s had previously a t t a c k e d a lone B f l 0 9 E of S t a b / J G 77 in error; O f w Sawallisch had returned fire and hit o n e of the b o m b e r s , o n e m e m b e r of the crew being killed. T h e pilot m a n a g e d to regain his base at K r u m o v o before force-landing. A further section of H u r r i c a n e s w a s sent to give some protection to hardpressed Piraeus, where the pilots saw m a n y Ju87s d i v e - b o m b i n g shipping. Sgt G e n d e r s m a d e a spirited attack on these, claiming three shot d o w n ; on this occasion n o definite c o n f i r m a t i o n of any G e r m a n losses has been found. However it is possible that this e n g a g e m e n t m a y have actually occurred on 24 April, when t h r e e S t u k a s were reported missing, but n o Allied fighter claims for such aircraft have been f o u n d . M e a n w h i l e five replacement H u r r i c a n e s had arrived at A r g o s f r o m Maleme, flown by 80 S q u a d r o n pilots. N o sooner were these d o w n however, when h o r d e s of Luftwaffe aircraft a p p e a r e d overhead, the G e r m a n s having discovered the w h e r e a b o u t s of t h e R A F fighters. An estimated 2 0 - 2 5 D o . l 7 s m a d e a level b o m b i n g attack f r o m altitude, followed by a similar n u m b e r of Ju88s which diveb o m b e d , escorting Bfl09s f r o m II and I I I / J G 77 then sweeping d o w n t o strafe. Marcel C o m e a u recorded: 'Spitting fire, the 109s hit t h e strip at 400 m p h - cutting d o w n t h e Bofors almost before they h a d a c h a n c e t o fire. A H u r r i c a n e , hit by a c a n n o n roared across the landing field, c a u g h t in a ditch a n d flipped over on its F o u r m o r e H u r r i c a n e s , quickly a i r b o r n e , d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m view, b u t most remaining fighters were destroyed on the g r o u n d before pilots could reach N e a r b y a h a n d f u l of Greek A v r o trainers folded up in flames.'
crews shell, back. of the them.
T h e H u r r i c a n e which had been hit a t t e m p t i n g t o t a k e off was piloted by Sgt G e o r g e Barker - he w a s slightly w o u n d e d and b u r n e d . O t h e r pilots hauled him out of t h e cockpit a n d helped him t o a n e a r b y slit trench. It seems f r o m the records of Fliegerkorps VIII that he had been shot d o w n by a Bfl 10. Eyewitness Comeau continued: ' T h e r e w a s a 208 S q u a d r o n Lysander a i r b o r n e , s k i m m i n g t h e trees with its wheels 280
Camouflaged Hurricane of 80 S q u a d r o n at Argos. (E G
Jones)
barely 50 y a r d s away with a diving 109 on its tail. H u g g i n g the g r o u n d the 'Lizzie' flew past us, its parasol wing and squat body already ripped by the strings of tracers hacking into the aircraft like golden chisels. N e i t h e r fire f r o m o u r machine guns n o r the d e s p a r a t e bursts of .303 f r o m t h e rear g u n n e r could alter the c o u r s e of events. As the pilot threw his m a c h i n e t o w a r d s the protection of a tree-lined gulley, a burst at point-blank range f r o m the fighter sent it crashing into the hillside.' T h e crew, Fig Off R H C Burwell and Sgt F e l d o n , survived the crash, the pilot shaken a n d the g u n n e r slightly injured. T h e y had been shot d o w n by a pilot of I I I / J G 77, w h o claimed the Lysander as a P Z L . D u r i n g an earlier attack on airfields a r o u n d Athens by B f l 0 9 E s of II and I I I / J G 7 7 a n d I ( J ) / L G 2 , H p t F r a n z Lange, K o m m a n d e u r of I I / J G 7 7 , had reportedly been shot d o w n a n d killed n e a r K a r o p i , s o u t h of Athens, by a direct AA hit. It is possible that he w a s shot d o w n by Sgt G e n d e r s , w h o claimed o n e B f l 0 9 d u r i n g the m o r n i n g , either while returning f r o m the sortie t o Piraeus, or when scrambled f r o m Argos. N u m b e r s of G e r m a n aircraft c o n t i n u e d t o attack t h e airfield d u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n , but it was not until shortly before sunset that a f u r t h e r m a j o r attack developed. T h r e e H u r r i c a n e s were u p on patrol, o n e of t h e m flown by Pit Off Winsland, w h o recalled: ' T h r e e of us were u p together on a dusk patrol over o u r retreating a r m y when suddenly o n e fire after a n o t h e r blazed up below us, particularly a l o n g the road and r o u n d our own landing field. We were as n e r v o u s as hell already, a n d t h e sight of the fires did not improve matters, as it m e a n t enemy fighters were strafing our t r o o p s f r o m treetop height and we could not see them. T h e fading light 281
V 7 7 7 3 . an 80 S q u a d r o n Hurricane carrying the n a m e "Surrey' below the cockpit, lies in a dry river bed on the edge of A r g o s airfield following a crash-landing. It w a s inspected here by G e r m a n photographer. B e n n o W u n d s h a m m e r . IB
war
Wundshammer)
Hurricane V 3 7 3 2 stands a b a n d o n e d amongst the olive trees at Argos, surrounded by the shattered wrecks of EVA A v r o T u t o r trainers. (B
Wundshammer)
282
Wrecked
Hurricanes
at Argos. T h e s e
machines give the impression
of having
unserviceable by the groundcrcws, rather than destroyed by strafing. (Bundesarchii•)
Smashed A v r o T u t o r s at Argos. (Bundersarchiv)
283
been
rendered
F o u r pages of 8 0 S q u a d r o n ' s Operational Diary were discovered, written in draft, in the cockpit of an a b a n d o n e d Hurricane at A r g o s by the G e r m a n war photographer B e n n o W u n d s h a m m e r . O n e such page is displayed here. (B
Wundshammer)
284
together with their excellent c a m o u f l a g e m a d e it virtually impossible t o distinguish a n y t h i n g below f r o m the s h a d o w s of fields and w o o d s and i n n u m e r a b l e fires. It was o b v i o u s that there were swarms of enemy m a c h i n e s s o m e w h e r e below us, but I a m d a m n e d if I could see them. D u r i n g that p a t r o l I w a s on edge f r o m start t o finish. M y head never stopped turning u p and d o w n , r o u n d and r o u n d for fear of being surprised by the enemy's covering fighters s o m e w h e r e high a b o v e us. T h e failing light, the fires, the dense c o l u m n s of black smoke, all t h o s e enemy machines, the k n o w l e d g e that sometime shortly t h r o u g h lack of fuel we w o u l d have t o g o d o w n to land with the enemy ruling the air - all t h o s e t h o u g h t s did not put me at my ease. Eventually we could keep in the air n o longer and went d o w n to land. T h e w o o d in which we had hidden all o u r g r o u n d e d machines was in flames. T h i r t y twin-engined G e r m a n fighters had raked it with cannon-shell and m a c h i n e g u n fire a few minutes before we landed - a n d once again we never saw t h e m . W h e n I say "we" I only refer t o t w o of us w h o were following o u r leader, for, strangely e n o u g h , o u r leader had seen them as he a f t e r w a r d s admitted. His action therefore of not a t t a c k i n g t h e m may seem bad in t h e eyes of m a n y . His defense however for not d o i n g so w a s quite reasonable, a n d I a d m i t I would have d o n e t h e same had I been leader. S u p p o s i n g we had a t t a c k e d and shot d o w n four each (almost impossible and extremely unlikely anyway) the enemy would never have noticed the difference, and we would certainly have suffered very heavily in the process. He m a i n t a i n e d that in this case it would not have been clever or a n y t h i n g else to have attacked - it would have been sheer stupidity, especially as the r e m a i n i n g t w o of us were comparatively inexperienced pilots at the time. T h a n k G o d , a n y w a y , for what he eventually did!' O n the airfield all available H u r r i c a n e s had been p r e p a r i n g t o t a k e off at 1800 t o carry out an urgently-ordered shipping protection patrol, but when an estimated 40 BfllOs of I / Z G 26 - led by M a j Wilhelm M a k r o c k i - arrived, only t w o (Fig Off C o k e and Pit O f f D a h l ) had d e p a r t e d . All the remaining H u r r i c a n e s were hit, but the pilots m a n a g e d to scramble clear a n d reach the safety of n e a r b y slittrenches, a l t h o u g h Sgt Ted Hewett received a shrapnel w o u n d in t h e back while sheltering. T h e Z e r s t o r e r remained over the airfield for s o m e 40 minutes, blasting every wreck again a n d again. Airmen on t h e g r o u n d , hiding a m o n g s t t h e olive groves a n d in trenches, fired at the low-flying aircraft with m a c h i n e guns and rifles; Cpl K i m b e r of 33 S q u a d r o n was seen to hit o n e in its s t a r b o a r d engine and it flew off trailing smoke. Air C o m m o d o r e G r i g s o n stood in the centre of the field with a rifle, calmly p o t - s h o o t i n g at the m a n y targets while an a i r m a n acted as his loader. By the end of the attack some 13 H u r r i c a n e s had been wrecked, including the last reconnaissance aircraft of 208 S q u a d r o n . Almost all t h e Greek aircraft h a d been destroyed, the Luftwaffe claiming 53 destroyed at A r g o s d u r i n g the day. O n l y two H u r r i c a n e s were found still t o be flyable following this latest attack, plus the five aircraft which had been airborne. T w o of these, t h o s e flown by C o k e a n d D a h l , returned t o t h e scene of devastation shortly after the Messerschmitts had departed, the pilots having been u n a w a r e of the attack. As they a p p r o a c h e d Argos, D a h l sighted a small twin-engined aircraft, which he assumed t o be a G e r m a n reconnaissance machine, a n d dived to get on the tail of this. As he lined 285
u p t o a t t a c k , Fig O l T C o k e flew u p alongside a n d waggled his wings. It was only then that D a h l realised this his intended victim was an R A F Rapide, which was m a k i n g for Argos as part of t h e evacuation force. T h e Luftwaffe had also attacked Menidi, M e g a r a and H a s s a n i d u r i n g the day, BfllOs of I I / Z G 26 claiming t w o twin-engined aircraft destroyed at Menidi, where o n e 6 Staffel aircraft was shot d o w n by the g r o u n d defences; the pilot survived but his gunner, UlTz K u r t Schwan, w a s killed. At M e g a r a six aircraft were claimed and at H a s s a n i four more. A m o n g s t those destroyed were the six Do.22s of 2 M i r a which had been converted into l a n d p l a n e s by the substitution of wheeled u n d e r c a r r i a g e s for their n o r m a l floats. O n e B f l 0 9 E of I I I / J G 77 crashlanded at A l m y r o s d u r i n g t h e day.
T h e Stukas m o v e t o S o u t h e r n G r e e c e t o c o n t i n u e the pursuit of the retreating C o m m o n w e a l t h forces. Armourers prepare to rearm these J u 8 7 B s with recently de-crated bombs.
At t h e e n t r a n c e t o S u d a Bay, Crete, the 300-ton f o r m e r whaler, H M S Syvern, was attacked by Ju87s, the c a p t a i n a n d some of the crew being killed and others w o u n d e d , a l t h o u g h t h e vessel herself survived. It m a y have been while returning from this raid that the S t u k a crews spotted a S u n d e r l a n d of 230 S q u a d r o n , which was m o o r e d at S c a r a m a n g a . T h i s aircraft, ' P \ L2161, had a t t e m p t e d without success t o t a k e off on three engines, so Fit Lt I F McCall had returned to moorings. Seven Ju87s then strafed, the ' b o a t being repeatedly hit a n d the inner fuel t a n k s c a t c h i n g fire; the aircraft rapidly became a mass of flames and a refuelling lighter alongside w a s also engulfed. While t h e attack was in progress the t w o midships g u n n e r s , Sgts V C C o r d e r y a n d G C Starkey, remained at their posts, keeping u p a steady fire. T h e y claimed o n e J u 8 7 shot d o w n in flames and o t h e r s hit — a l t h o u g h it was possibly d u r i n g this e n g a g e m e n t that Sgt G e n d e r s a n d his w i n g m a n a p p e a r e d overhead a n d attacked t h e dive-bombers. Both 286
g u n n e r s finally a b a n d o n e d the sinking and blazing S u n d e r l a n d , but on j u m p i n g into t h e sea o n e admitted that he could not swim and had t o be aided t o safety by the other. Both were subsequently a w a r d e d the Military Medal. T h i s attack b r o u g h t Fliegerkorps VIII's claims for aircraft destroyed d u r i n g the d a y t o one flyingboat. six twin-engined aircraft, 50 unidentified types, t o g e t h e r with o n e H u r r i c a n e a n d one "PZL' shot d o w n .
D a m a g e d P Z L P - 2 4 of 23 Mira. E V A , a b a n d o n e d on A r g o s airfield. N o t e the unit e m b l e m o n the fuselage side ahead of the roundel - a long-legged crab. (Bunclesarchiv)
During a n o t h e r attack on S u d a Bay that m o r n i n g , a patrolling Blenheim IF fighter of 30 S q u a d r o n , flown by Fig Off R E M Blakeway, intercepted a n d attacked t w o Ju88s without o b v i o u s results. Seven o t h e r Blenheims f r o m this unit flew u p to Eleusis to pick u p a g r o u p of stranded personnel f r o m 33 a n d 80 S q u a d r o n s , but whilst there Fig Off R i c h a r d s o n inspected an a b a n d o n e d Blenheim fighter which had a smashed tailwheel. W i t h the help of several others, the aircraft's tail was raised o n t o a trolley and pushed o n t o t h e runway. Richardson then set off d o w n the r u n w a y and got a i r b o r n e , flying safely back to M a l e m e where t h e aircraft was soon repaired. Five large twin-engined tank landing craft - k n o w n as 'A' Lighters for security p u r p o s e s - each c a p a b l e of carrying 900 troops, had arrived in S u d a Bay d u r i n g the previous few d a y s t o assist in the evacuation of t r o o p s f r o m G r e e c e (to be 287
organized as O p e r a t i o n "Demon', a n d d u e t o c o m m e n c e d u r i n g t h e evening of 24 April). T w o of these vessels, A1 (Sub Lt D Peters) a n d A19 (Lt C d r P C H u t t o n in c o m m a n d of the Lighter S q u a d r o n ) now sailed u p to M e g a r a at 1700 hours, intending to find seclusion u n d e r rocky cliffs in nearby inlets or coves until required. While they were seeking suitable hiding places, six Ju87s suddenly appeared and d i v e - b o m b e d b o t h craft. Neither was hit, but A1 had her light A A guns put out of action before shelter was f o u n d u n d e r a cliff at P a k i Island. F u r t h e r east, at Lavrion Bay, near Raphtis, a third 'A' Lighter, A6 (Sub Lt J D Sutton), arrived just as Ju88s c a m e in t o attack a small G r e e k steamer in the bay. A6 opened fire with her t w o p o m - p o m s and as o n e J u 8 8 - a p p a r e n t l y 9K + C K of I / K G 51 flown by Lt Dietrich Sachweh, swept by, black s m o k e was seen p o u r i n g f r o m the aircraft before it was reported t o have crashed into the sea. A second aircraft f r o m this unit flown by O f w Ernst M u n d l e i n , w a s also hit by AA fire, the pilot and t w o m e m b e r s of the crew being w o u n d e d . F o l l o w i n g this attack, Ju87s arrived on t h e scene and whilst A6 survived m a n y near misses, t h e craft was riddled by m a c h i n e gun fire; she went into hiding until required. E v a c u a t i o n of non-essential key personnel f r o m C r e t e w a s n o w u n d e r w a y , some 20 flyable Blenheim b o m b e r s f r o m 11, 84 a n d 211 S q u a d r o n s , in varying stages of repair, flying out t o Heliopolis via F u k a , while t w o m o r e of 815 S q u a d r o n ' s Swordfish also left, flown by Lt Torrens-Spence, the c o m m a n d i n g officer, a n d Lt Clifford. T h e y carried Sqn Ldr T o m W i s d o m ' s p u p p y , 'Wimpey', a m o n g s t their passengers. T w o u n a r m e d B O A C E m p i r e flyingboats, G - A E U I ' C o o r o n g ' (Capt J L M Davys) and G - A D U V ' C a m b r i a ' (Capt F V W F o y ) arrived at S u d a Bay d u r i n g the d a y with a 230 S q u a d r o n S u n d e r l a n d to aid in the evacuation. Both ' b o a t s had been partially c a m o u f l a g e d , but time had only allowed the u p p e r surface of the m a i n p l a n e s and fuselage t o be painted. It was ' C o o r o n g ' s ' second trip - she had carried 35 t r o o p s t o Alexandria d u r i n g t h e previous evening. A n o t h e r arrival was S u n d e r l a n d L2160 of 230 S q u a d r o n , which landed in t h e bay with 11 passengers evacuated f r o m S c a r a m a n g a , including K i n g G e o r g e and C r o w n Prince P a u l of Greece, Sir Michael Palairet, the British Minister in Athens, a n d his wife a n d d a u g h t e r . T h e y were followed in by a 228 S q u a d r o n S u n d e r l a n d with 50 R A F personnel a b o a r d . At Argos, following t h e d a y ' s d i s a s t r o u s attacks, Air C o m m o d o r e G r i g s o n ordered that the seven remaining H u r r i c a n e s should fly out t o M a l e m e at dawn; t h e nine pilots left without aircraft t o fly were t o be evacuated in the Rapide, which had arrived safely despite Dahl's attentions. After d a r k three Lodestar t r a n s p o r t s of 267 S q u a d r o n flew in to collect key personnel, t h e aircrafts' crews r e p o r t i n g seeing t h e b u r n i n g hulks of 18 aircraft and m u c h m o t o r t r a n s p o r t on fire, as well as t w o blazing oil t a n k e r s in t h e nearby h a r b o u r . At 0430 the H u r r i c a n e s and L o d e s t a r s set out for Crete, followed by f o u r Greek A v r o T u t o r s and t h e sole r e m a i n i n g P Z L fighter, a n d five A n s o n s of 13 M i r a (N51, 52, 55, 56 a n d 61), the latter loaded with personnel. O n e m o r e of these, flown by W g C d r L o r d F o r b e s f r o m t h e R A F ' s Air H Q , flew u p t o Eleusis t o collect the wife of a Greek G o v e r n m e n t official, but as light crept over the airfield, Messerschmitts a p p e a r e d overhead and swooped d o w n to strafe the helpless Anson, setting it afire. N o n e of those a b o a r d were hurt, but F o r b e s ' a d v e n t u r e s were only just 288
beginning! N o a i r w o r t h y Allied aircraft were n o w left on t h e m a i n l a n d ; only a h a n d f u l of seaplanes remained at some of the coastal h a r b o u r s . T h r o u g h o u t 24 April t h e Luftwaffe w a s t o c o n t i n u e its assault on Allied shipping in particular. T h r e e vessels had arrived in N a u p l i a Bay before d a w n , the Greek Nicolaou Georgios (4108 tons) a n d t h e British Cavallo (2269 tons) a n d Santa Clara Valley (4665 tons). All were loaded with a m m u n i t i o n a n d explosive, while the latter also carried 500 mules a n d some horses - t h e Greek A r m y h a d used some 2 0 0 0 0 mules for t r a n s p o r t a t i o n of supplies in the m o u n t a i n s d u r i n g the w a r t o date. It w a s immediately clear that there were n o facilities for u n l o a d i n g the explosives, b u t the Veterinary Officer sought t o have as m a n y a n i m a l s released into t h e sea as possible before air a t t a c k s c o m m e n c e d . At a b o u t 1100 the first wave of Ju87s arrived overhead, f o u r direct hits killing f o u r m e m b e r s of t h e crew a n d c a u s i n g the vessel t o sink with t h e loss of m a n y of t h e animals still tethered below. An h o u r later the Cavallo went d o w n , while at a b o u t 1500 t h e G r e e k vessel, which had been repeatedly hit a n d set on fire, blew u p with a mighty blast which caused d a m a g e t o m a n y buildings ashore. Elsewhere t w o hospital ships, t h e 2068-ton Andros a n d 875-ton Policos, were sunk at L o u t r a k i a n d M e t h a n a respectively, while t h e defenceless A - l lighter at P a k i Island was a t t a c k e d at evening by f o u r Ju87s and sent t o t h e b o t t o m by five direct hits; her crew had already evacuated the vessel a n d g o n e ashore. T h e worst disaster occurred at Piraeus at 1800, where the G r e e k luxury yacht Hellas had arrived to help with t h e evacuation. C a p a b l e of carrying over 1000 passengers, 500 m e m b e r s of the British c o m m u n i t y , mainly Maltese a n d Cypriots, h a d c o m e a b o a r d t o g e t h e r with m a n y of t h e Australian walking w o u n d e d a n d their nurses. At this point Ju88s appeared and dive-bombed the h a r b o u r , the yacht a n d a n e a r b y jetty being set on fire; hard-hit, the Hellas soon sank with the loss of m a n y lives, only a few of those on b o a r d surviving. O n e of those was Wg C d r Lord F o r b e s , pilot of the ill-fated Anson earlier in t h e day; he m a n a g e d t o swim a s h o r e and later reached Crete a b o a r d a caique. At Piraeus t w o m o r e small G r e e k m e r c h a n t m e n were also sunk - Teti Nomikou (1882 tons) and Dimitrios Nomicos (1171 tons). T h e s e attacks had not been m a d e entirely w i t h o u t cost t o the Luftwaffe, a l t h o u g h n o fighter defence of any sort could be offered. T w o of I / S t G 2's Ju87s (T6 + J H , Uffz W a r t m a n n / G e f r Zapletal; T 6 + L K , G e f r H e r m a n n / G e f r Lange) were lost in the A t h e n s area, as w a s a J u 8 8 of I / K G 51; a n o t h e r Ju87 f r o m I / S t G 3 (S7 + LL, Lt E d m u n d R e i c h a r d t / U f f z Riegel) w a s r e p o r t e d missing n e a r Khalkis. T h e three S t u k a s may have been the aircraft claimed s h o t d o w n by Sgt G e n d e r s of 33 S q u a d r o n o n the previous day. A B f l 0 9 E of I I / J G 77 also c a m e d o w n near Athens, the pilot - f u t u r e ' E x p e r t e ' Lt Siegfried F r e y t a g - being wounded. D u r i n g the d a y a 228 S q u a d r o n S u n d e r l a n d flew 40 personnel f r o m S c a r a m a n g a t o S u d a Bay, including Air Vice M a r s h a l D'Albiac and General Sir T h o m a s Blarney, c o m m a n d e r of t h e Australian forces. This island w a s c o m i n g under increasing attack now however, Ju88s a t t a c k i n g a G r e e k vessel, the 5524ton Kyriaki in S u d a Bay a n d sinking her. Lt Winstanley of 805 S q u a d r o n was u p on patrol in a Sea G l a d i a t o r a n d m a d e t w o a t t a c k s on the b o m b e r s , but without 289
Short Sunderland I flyingboats of 228 Squadron off S c a r a m a n g a with typical Greek terrain in the background.
(IWM)
observed results. However Blenheim fighters of 30 S q u a d r o n were out a r o u n d the island on s h i p p i n g patrol, a n d at 1775 Pit Off L W Basan spotted a Ju88 dead a h e a d - L l + K H of I / L G 1, flown by F w Walter Z u c k e r . A p p r o a c h i n g a p parently unseen, Basan put four bursts into the aircraft, which m a d e off t o the north-east, pouring- black s m o k e . Another pilot subsequently saw this aircraft dive i n t o the sea. Z u c k e r however, subsequently claimed that he had been shot d o w n by G l a d i a t o r s , his crew claiming to have shot d o w n o n e of t h e attackers. M o r e Blenheim fighters - this time M a r k I V F s of 203 S q u a d r o n , which had seen c o n s i d e r a b l e action over East Africa, flying f r o m Aden - now arrived on Crete, five of these aircraft flying in led by Sqn Ldr J M N Pike; a n o t h e r four would arrive next d a y led by Sqn Ldr J P D G e t h i n . Each aircraft carried a n u m b e r of g r o u n d crew a n d a supply of spares, including tail wheels - frequent victims of H e r a k l i o n ' s rutted landing g r o u n d ! In the o p p o s i t e direction went 208 S q u a d r o n ' s six Lysanders and the last P Z L , all E g y p t - b o u n d . D u r i n g 24 April t h e full evacuation of t r o o p s f r o m Greece c o m m e n c e d u n d e r the c o d e n a m e O p e r a t i o n ' D e m o n ' . This was m a d e easier by t h e availability of the vessels of F o r c e Z, which had originally assembled for the invasion of Rhodes. This included three assault ships - Glenearn, Glengyle a n d Glenroy, six of the 18 'A' Lighters, a n d s u p p o r t t r a n s p o r t . Glenroy u n f o r t u n a t e l y went a g r o u n d in 290
As 2 0 8 S q u a d r o n ' s remaining Lysanders evacuated G r e e c e for Egypt, o n e c a m e t o grief on Crete's Heraklion airfield, losing a wheel. ( £
Beuington-Smith)
Alexandria h a r b o u r a n d would play n o part. Six beaches were selected for the main e m b a r k a t i o n s and were designated as follows: Beach C Beach D Beach P
Raphina Raphtis Megara
Beach S Beach X Beach Z
Nauplia Monemvasia Kalamata
(see M a p on page 292 for locations) M a n y t h o u s a n d s of t r o o p s were n o w gathering at these points, a n d all r o a d s leading to t h e m were b e c o m i n g heavily congested with British, Australian and New Zealand m o t o r t r a n s p o r t , Greek o x - d r a w n w a g g o n s a n d t h o u s a n d s of fleeing refugees. T h e first evacuations were scheduled for the night of 24/25 April f r o m N a u p l i a a n d Raphtis, a n d d u r i n g the late a f t e r n o o n vessels began a p p r o a c h ing these sites. As they did so, two H e l l Is attacked, hitting Glenearn, which began to b u r n , f o u r casualties being suffered. However the fires were extinguished and she c o n t i n u e d t o her destination. O n arrival at 2200 off N a u p l i a the t r a n s p o r t Ulster Prince, which was a c c o m p a n y i n g her, ran hard a g r o u n d , a n d could take n o further part in the o p e r a t i o n . All else went well, 6685 personnel (including M a r i a n n e , a beautiful b l o n d e d a n c i n g girl f r o m M a x i m ' s in Athens) were ferried out to the waiting vessels by lighter A-5, ten smaller 'B' lighters launched by Glenearn, each c a p a b l e of carrying 70 passengers, a n d the ships' boats. Glenearn a l o n e e m b a r k e d 5100, the rest going a b o a r d the escorting warships. A m o n g s t those at N a u p l i a were a party f r o m 113 S q u a d r o n , w h o had m a d e their way f r o m N i a m a t a , led by Fit Lt Rixson. He recalled: 'It was particularly galling a n d h u m b l i n g t o see the very poorly equipped Greek peasants going n o r t h t o war, a r m e d p e r h a p s with old fashioned rifles, when we were running a w a y . After crossing the C o r i n t h C a n a l , we f o u n d a railway train which we fired and d r o v e to, or near the port, which w a s a g a t h e r i n g place for 291
SOUTHERN EVACUATION "C" R a p h i n a D'
Raphtis
'S' N a u p l i a
GREECE BEACHES
"P" M e g a r a 'X' M o n e m v a s i a 'Z' K a l a m a t a
292
people like ourselves, a n d other military s u p p o r t units w h o were h o p i n g to get away. T h e r e was a fair a m o u n t of general disorder, but the S q u a d r o n w a s extremely well disciplined a n d received praise f r o m an Irish G u a r d s staff m a j o r w h o was e n d e a v o u r i n g to c o - o r d i n a t e the evacuation as t h e r e was considerable unruliness a m o n g s t the various nationalities a n d a r m s being evacuated. We were evacuated with m a n y others, getting to a variety of N a v a l ships, using landing type barges. T h e N a v y looked after us very well, a l t h o u g h t h e R A F was not all that p o p u l a r as naturally t h e G e r m a n air force had c o n t r o l of t h e air, and there was very little protection for t h e N a v a l ships.' At R a p h t i s 5750 m o r e t r o o p s - mainly New Z e a l a n d e r s - were ferried out to Glengyle and the AA cruiser Calcutta by A-6, the corvette Salvia, and o t h e r smaller vessels. A-6 then carried 500 m o r e men d o w n the coast t o Zea Island for later e v a c u a t i o n . T h e vessels f r o m the t w o beach areas rendezvoused at 0800 a n d set c o u r s e for Suda Bay, arriving safely late in the a f t e r n o o n of the 15th despite attack by three Ju88s, o n e of which was claimed p r o b a b l y shot d o w n by t h e AA guns of the escorting warships. At d a w n six Blenheim I F s f r o m 30 S q u a d r o n f r o m M a l e m e a n d three M a r k I V F s of the newly-arrived 203 S q u a d r o n f r o m Heraklion had been sent off to cover the vessels, but had not been advised of each other's involvement, a n d consequently Blenheim pursued Blenheim! However at 0800, as the t w o sets of shipping rendezvoused, Fig Off Smith of 30 S q u a d r o n spotted two Ju88s at a b o u t 4000 feet and attacked b o t h , claiming hits on o n e which dived a w a y p o u r i n g black s m o k e ; the other was believed to have been hit by t h e ships' AA, but in neither case has any record of d a m a g e been found in German documents. T h e day was to see the virtual end of the main fighting, when the T h e r m o p y l a e Pass was taken after a heroic defence by A N Z A C t r o o p s - on A N Z A C Day! U n d e r c o n s t a n t assault by Fliegerkorps VIII Stukas, the Allied t r o o p s had been unable t o halt the t w o Panzer Divisions and the infantry of 141 M o u n t a i n Division, a l t h o u g h at least 15 t a n k s were claimed destroyed a n d as m a n y m o r e temporarily out of action. W i t h d r a w a l t o t h e next line of defence w a s ordered. Meanwhile o t h e r G e r m a n t r o o p s occupied L e m n o s a n d o t h e r Aegean islands. Aircraft of Fliegerkorps VIII again strafed Argos airfield, claiming 19 aircraft destroyed - but these were obviously some of t h e d a m a g e d a n d wrecked aircraft left here. While escorting three Ju87s at m i d d a y , o n e of t w o B f l 0 9 E s of I I I / J G 77 was shot d o w n by AA n e a r N a u p l i a , Fw O t t o Unertl of 9 Staffel being killed. T h e anti-shipping forces were again out in strength; b o m b - c a r r y i n g B f l 0 9 E s f r o m I I I / J G 77 were led off f r o m T a n a g r a by M a j Alexander von Winterfeldt (an exWorld War I pilot), t o hunt for shipping engaged in the e v a c u a t i o n . In N a u p l i a Bay the stranded Ulster Prince was soon s p o t t e d , a n d while von Winterfeldt and his a d j u t a n t , Lt Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber, carried out distracting mock a t t a c k s t o d r a w off the AA fire. Obit Wolf-Dietrich H u y gained a direct hit on the t r a n s p o r t f r o m low level. T h e Messerschmitt pilots subsequently reported that the ship poured forth heavy s m o k e a n d at once capsized. It a p p e a r s however that Ju87s attacked at the same time, as did Ju88s of I / L G 1. Lt Gerd S t a m p of the latter unit reported seeing his b o m b strike the vessel which soon became a 293
blazing wreck. All three a t t a c k i n g units believed that they had been responsible for t h e sinking! By now H u y ' s Rotte were very low on fuel and were forced t o land at C o r i n t h airfield, still behind British lines. Here they discovered cans of fuel on t h e a b a n d o n e d base, a n d after refuelling, started their engines again with hand c r a n k s , r e t u r n i n g t o T a n a g r a where it had been assumed that they had all been shot d o w n . O t h e r b o m b e r s sank the Greek George A Dracoulis (1570 tons) off Piraeus. T w o of I / L G I s b o m b e r s then spotted a c o n v o y a p p r o a c h i n g d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n - this w a s the next phase of the e v a c u a t i o n u n d e r w a y , the 16 082-ton Dutch vessel Pennland a n d t h e Thirland Castle, with an escort provided by the AA cruiser Coventry and three destroyers, on their way f r o m Suda Bay t o M e g a r a - Beach P. T h e Ju88s attacked at a b o u t 1500 h o u r s , one b o m b shattering Pennland's bridge a n d wheelhouse, putting her c o m p a s s e s a n d stearing gear out of a c t i o n . T h e destroyer H M S Griffin went to her aid, a n d for a while she headed o n t o w a r d s M e g a r a , but the d a m a g e was t o o great, a n d she turned south for Crete, a c c o m p a n i e d by Griffin. At 1650 the b o m b e r s r e t u r n e d , o n e gliding out of the sun to place two b o m b s directly o n t o the ship, o n e of which pierced the deck a n d exploded in the engine r o o m , killing three of the crew. C a p t van D a l k e n gave t h e o r d e r t o a b a n d o n , a n d before she sank 300 survivors were rescued by the a t t e n d a n t d e s t r o y e r . T w o m o r e destroyers were ordered to join the Megara force, followed later by a n o t h e r three. Despite the loss of the Pennland, 5900 persons - mainly Australians - were evacuated f r o m M e g a r a that night, including 1500 sick a n d w o u n d e d and 80 nurses. Lighter A-19 suffered engine failure a n d was a b a n d o n e d , some 300 t r o o p s being left behind at M e g a r a as a result.
228 Squadron's Sunderland T 9 0 4 8 . D Q - N , evacuating R A F personnel just prior to its loss in a night landing accident on 25 April, 1941. ( I W M )
294
A n o t h e r of 228 S q u a d r o n ' s u b i q u i t o u s S u n d e r l a n d s - T 9 0 4 8 - had flown u p to the G i t h e o n area in search of an R A F party, but on l a n d i n g Fit Lt H W L a m o n d was met by a Greek air force officer w h o directed him to fly further u p the c o a s t . Here flashes f r o m a hand-held mirror were spotted and the 'boat alighted to find the missing g r o u p of 101 officers and men of 112 S q u a d r o n , 52 were flown o u t , L a m o n d promising to return that evening, o r d e r s permitting. T r u e to his w o r d , he returned after d u s k , but as he a t t e m p t e d to land the Sunderland struck an o b s t r u c t i o n and crashed. L a m o n d and three of the crew survived, but two of these were seriously injured. They drifted for several h o u r s on a n u p t u r n e d wing until picked up, but L a m o n d then elected to stay with the injured, the three of them subsequently b e c o m i n g prisoners when the G e r m a n s overran the area. O n C r e t e three m o r e of 815 S q u a d r o n ' s Swordfish returned to Egypt d u r i n g t h e day, while efforts were redoubled t o f o r m a viable fighter defence for t h e island. D u e t o s h o r t a g e of H u r r i c a n e s 80 S q u a d r o n was required to leave only four pilots on the island, t h e r e m a i n d e r being evacuated t o Egypt in a 267 S q u a d r o n Lodestar. T h e s e four. Fig Off W a n k l y n Flower, Pit Off Vale, F/Sgt Rivalant and Sgt Bennett, joined o t h e r s of 33 S q u a d r o n t o f o r m a c o m p o s i t e unit with seven H u r r i c a n e s (V7181, 7461, 7761, 7795, 7800, 7826 a n d W9297). O n e of these had an irreparable hole some ten inches in d i a m e t e r t h r o u g h the main s p a r of one wing, but was still t o be used d u e t o the small n u m b e r s available; the pilots agreed t o take t u r n s in flying it, a l t h o u g h it was feared that any tight turning would p r o b a b l y result in the wing b r e a k i n g off! F r o m Egypt C o n v o y A G 14 headed out t o w a r d s C r e t e t o aid in the e v a c u a t i o n ; Glenearn, on her second trip, was joined by the Khedive Ismail a n d the D u t c h Slamat, escorted by three warships. T o w a r d s evening the vessels were twice attacked in the K a s o Strait by three S.79s, but n o d a m a g e was d o n e . O n arrival in S u d a Bay t h a t night increasing congestion w a s f o u n d . T w o m o r e 'A' Lighters A-15 and 20 - had arrived, as had a Yugoslav s u b m a r i n e , Nehojsa, a n d t w o t o r p e d o - b o a t s which had been at sea for eight d a y s since leaving C a t t a r o Bay. An unusual craft to arrive was a refuelling barge which had been used by 230 S q u a d r o n ' s d e t a c h m e n t at S c a r a m a n g a . T h i s carried 600 gallons of aviation fuel and was fitted with four salvaged Vickers machine guns, m a n n e d by Sqn Ldr Alington, three o t h e r R A F men, a Colonel and a private soldier of t h e Greek Army a n d three n u r s i n g sisters! T h e barge had reached S u d a Bay w i t h o u t being attacked. As these various vessels reached Crete, t h e c o n v o y loaded with t r o o p s f r o m the M e g a r a beaches w a s also n o w on its way s o u t h w a r d s t o w a r d s the island, but with daylight on 26 April it c a m e u n d e r attack by a c o n s t a n t procession of small f o r m a t i o n s of aircraft. First c a m e t w o Ju87s, then a pair of b o m b - c a r r y i n g Bfl09Es, then a few D o . l 7 Z s . At midday a d o z e n Ju87s a t t e m p t e d t o attack, but their f o r m a t i o n was b r o k e n u p by fire f r o m Coventry a n d the destroyers, while three 203 S q u a d r o n Blenheim fighters which were in the vicinity on patrol, a t t e m p t e d to engage. Sqn Ldr G e t h i n attacked eight of the Stukas, hits being observed on several f r o m both front and rear guns. O b s e r v e r s on the ships reported that at least o n e was seen to be shot d o w n , but n o G e r m a n losses are 295
recorded. G e t h i n c o n t i n u e d his pursuit for ten minutes, but could not gain on the fleeing aircraft. Fig Off E W L a n e - S a n s o m was attacked by a reported five Bfl09s and o n e Ju87, his aircraft receiving some hits in t h e wings, but he escaped by diving a w a y a n d leading his pursuers over the naval barrage.
A Junkers Ju88A leaves on a sortie from its new Greek airfield, passing over the remains of o n e of the previous residents - a Greek Blenheim IV which exhibits evidence of a fighter strafe, b o t h 7.9mm bullets and 2 0 m m c a n n o n shells having passed through the fuselage.
(Bundesarchiv)
At 1150 three Ju88s f r o m I / L G 1 a t t a c k e d , but gained n o hits, while a further attack by three m o r e at 1315 achieved n o m o r e success. As the vessels app r o a c h e d S u d a Bay, Hurricanes, F u l m a r s and Sea G l a d i a t o r s f r o m M a l e m e and 30 S q u a d r o n Blenheims appeared overhead. At 1800 the c o n v o y put into S u d a Bay; Thurland Castle had six feet of w a t e r in her hold d u e t o d a m a g e to her plates 1 caused by n e a r misses, but there were n o casualties a m o n g s t the 3500 t r o o p s she carried. M e a n w h i l e Glenearn, Khedive Ismail and Slamat, escorted by Calcutta and four destroyers had set o u t for Greece, d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n c o m i n g u n d e r increasingly heavy attack by f o r m a t i o n s of Ju87s and 88s. T h e most determined attack came at 1820 as the vessels entered the Gulf of N a u p l i a , o n e S t u k a narrowly missing Glenearn, shock wave d a m a g e so loosening her plates t h a t the enginer o o m flooded and the engines were put out of action. T h e destroyer Griffin again gave assistance, t o w i n g the crippled ship safely back t o Suda Bay. Slamat 296
was also slightly d a m a g e d by o n e small b o m b , while Khedive Ismail suffered six casualties f r o m a near miss. D u r i n g the d a y the 6303 t o n Greek Maria Stathatou was b o m b e d and sunk off Piraeus, while d u r i n g the late a f t e r n o o n the Sprapasloaded with British t r o o p s - was a t t a c k e d off Melos a n d s o m e casualties were suffered. Off the n o r t h coast of C r e t e a n o t h e r convoy, AG-15, heading for Suda Bay f r o m Egypt, w a s b o m b e d , t h e t r a n s p o r t Scottish Prince being hit and a b a n d o n e d . T h e Australian destroyer Vampire a n d the trawler Grimsby went to her aid, put s o m e of the crew back on b o a r d , and the vessel reached her destination u n d e r her own steam. A m a j o r evacuation a t t e m p t was again p r o g r a m m e d for the h o u r s of darkness, but meanwhile d r a m a t i c events were occurring on the m a i n l a n d . F o r s o m e time prior to the G e r m a n advance, the British Admiralty a n d the C o m m a n d e r - i n Chief M e d i t e r r a n e a n , Admiral C u n n i n g h a m , had been considering t h e blocking of t h e C o r i n t h C a n a l , separating mainland Greece f r o m the P e l o p o n n e s e in t h e event of evacuation. Blocking with a sunken ship w a s considered, but o p p o s e d by the Greeks. At last, after n o action had been agreed, on 24 April Lt C M B C u m b e r l e d g e , R N R , w a s given the task. O b t a i n i n g eight d e p t h charges and a magnetic mine, he had these lashed together and lowered into the water with a seven-day delay d e t o n a t o r attached. R e p o r t s suggest t h a t this devise exploded on 1 or 2 M a y , sinking a ship. W h a t e v e r the truth, Italian engineers were called in and by 10 M a y t h e canal was o p e n again, a l t h o u g h fouled by t h e s t r u c t u r e of t h e bridge, which as will be seen later, w a s demolished; this would not be cleared until 17 M a y (see C h a p t e r 8). M e a n w h i l e however the G e r m a n s sought t o seize the bridge over t h e canal to cut the Allied retreat f r o m T h e r m o p y l a e . Available for this task was Fallschirmjager Regiment 2(FJR2) of the Luftwaffe u n d e r t h e c o m m a n d of O b e r s t Alfred Sturm, which had arrived in Bulgaria during M a r c h . T h e p a r a t r o o p s h a d originally been intended to land on the island of L e m n o s in the event of a British o c c u p a t i o n of t h e island, but this had not been necessary, o r d i n a r y infantry landing u n o p p o s e d . T o carry the a i r b o r n e force was K G z b V 2, a t r a n s p o r t G r u p p e of four Staffeln with some 53 J u n k e r s Ju52/3ms, plus a n u m b e r of D F S 230 gliders (and their J u 5 2 / 3 m tugs of I / L u f t l a n d e s g e s c h w a d e r 1) which would carry a b a c k - u p force of sappers. Shortly before 0600 on 26 April, Ju88s of 1 / K G 5 1 carried out a high-level b o m b i n g attack on Allied positions a r o u n d t h e C a n a l , a p p a r e n t l y to locate and pinpoint t h e sites of t h e AA defences. O n the hour a force of 2 0 - 3 0 Ju87s, escorted by an estimated 8 0 - 1 0 0 BfllOs (including aircraft of 1/ZG 26) attacked all ten such gun positions, while the escorting Zerstorer strafed the g u n pits as well as t r a n s p o r t on the n e a r b y roads. Within 30 m i n u t e s all the g u n s were out of action, a l t h o u g h a p p a r e n t l y they had hit o n e Bfl 10 - U 8 + A L of 3 / Z G 26, which later crashed with the loss of UfTz Wilhelm Rodel a n d his g u n n e r ; a J u 8 7 f r o m I / S t G 3 was also lost near Larissa. As suddenly as they started, t h e a t t a c k s ceased, but before t h e defenders could react, the J u 5 2 / 3 m s a p p e a r e d , flying in vies of three at 200 feet, a n d began to disgorge t w o battalions of F J R 2. T h e defending force c o m p r i s e d three c o m p a n i e s of 2/6th Australian Battalion and a d e t a c h m e n t of sappers, plus a c o m p a n y f r o m 297
Junkers J u 5 2 / 3 m transports operate from a Greek airfield, the remnants of a burnt-out P Z L P - 2 4 still present nearby. N o t e that unusually, this P - 2 4 still had its wheel-spats fitted. (Bib fur
Zeit)
19th N e w Z e a l a n d Battalion, aided by a s q u a d r o n of a r m o u r e d cars of the N Z cavalry a n d four t a n k s f r o m H Q S q u a d r o n , 4th Hussars. F J R 2's 1st Battalion under H p t H a n s K r o h was d r o p p e d n o r t h of t h e bridge while H p t P i e t z o n k a ' s 2nd Battalion fell t o the south, the p a r a t r o o p s engaging the defenders in battle while 12 D F S 230s led by Lt Wilhelm F u l d a were released t o land near t h e bridge, carrying 52 F a l l s c h i r m p i o n e r e u n d e r Lt Hiiffner. T h e J u 5 2 / 3 m tugs, led by Obit Schweitzer, put their c h a r g e s in an ideal position for an accurate landing, Lt Hiiffner and his g r o u p of s a p p e r s swiftly c a p t u r i n g the bridge intact. While this was h a p p e n i n g B f l 0 9 E s of II(Sch)/LG 2 shot u p t h e a p p r o a c h r o a d s t o n o r t h a n d south t o seal off the area. While m a n y p a r a t r o o p s were lost d u r i n g the d r o p , not a single J u 5 2 / 3 m was shot d o w n , a l t h o u g h o n e t u g was d a m a g e d by AA, a n d o n e m e m b e r of the crew was killed. By 0800 the fighting a r o u n d the bridge was virtually at an end - but not before the defenders had managed to blow it, despite its c a p t u r e . C h a r g e s had been a t t a c h e d t o the bridge supports, a n d as G e r m a n s a p p e r s e n d e a v o u r e d t o dismantle these, t w o British officers set off the d e t o n a t o r s with carefully-aimed rifle fire; it was t o little avail, for a t e m p o r a r y s t r u c t u r e w a s soon installed t o replace it. Casualties a m o n g s t t h e battle-weary a n d dispirited defenders were relatively light, a l t h o u g h four a r m o u r e d vehicles had been k n o c k e d out before they could 298
even get into action. However over 900 British, Australian a n d New Z e a l a n d t r o o p s were taken prisoners, as were some 1450 Greek soldiers w h o had played n o part in the fighting. T h e cost t o FJR 2 was 63 killed a n d 174 w o u n d e d f r o m a force of a b o u t 800. T h e loss of the bridge did mean that 4th New Zealand Brigade u n d e r Brigadier E Puttick, which was holding the area n o r t h of Athens, was now cut off f r o m the evacuation beaches in the P e l o p o n n e s e . O n receipt of this news, the N e w Z e a l a n d e r s prepared plans for a c o u n t e r attack a n d if necessary, a swim across the C a n a l , but orders were received for t h e m to m a k e instead for R a p h i n a and Port Raphtis, where they and 1st A r m o u r e d Brigade would be evacuated d u r i n g the following night.
R A F personnel in retreat through Southern Greece. ( I W M )
Despite this setback t h e evacuation planned for the night of 26/27 April proceeded as planned. Beaches C , D. S, T and Z all featuring in the night's activities, while the destroyer Nubian called at Myli in the Gulf of N a u p l i a t o e m b a r k H Q personnel including G e n e r a l M a i t l a n d - W i l s o n ( G O C Greece) and Prince Peter of Greece, a n d their staffs — only to find t h a t a Sunderland had already flown t h e m o u t . T o t a l s brought out were: Beach C - R a p h i n a 3503 f r o m nearly 4500, in Glengyle a n d t h e destroyers. Beach D - P o r t R a p h t i s 4720 in Salween a n d H M S Carlisle. 4000 remained. 299
Beach S - N a u p l i a
Beach T - T o l o n Beach Z -
Kalamata
2968, mainly in H M S Orion. N o t r o o p s reached Khedive Ismail a n d the C a p t a i n of Slamat delayed sailing, hoping t o e m b a r k m o r e t h a n the estimated 500 that had got a b o a r d . Despite repeated signals, it was well past 0400, m o r e t h a n an h o u r behind schedule, when this vessel left. 1550 in H M A S Perth, Isis and Stuart. 570 m o r e were lifted to S a u n d y Bay in A-5 for later evacuation. 8650 of 15 000 in Dilwara, City of London and Costa Rica\ the t r o o p s here were disorganized and in a p o o r state of morale, having discarded m u c h of their equipment a n d arms. T h i s delayed loading and resulted in the large n u m b e r left behind.
As a result of the delays at N a u p l i a , d a w n on the 27th found the c o n v o y f r o m this beach well behind schedule. T h e AA cruiser Calcutta was positioned between t h e t w o t r a n s p o r t s ready for the i m p e n d i n g assault, but when the first attack came at 0715, t h e Ju87s dived on Slamat with precision, gaining several near-misses before t w o large b o m b s struck her, killing m a n y a b o a r d , including C a p t L u n d i n g a . T h e destroyer Diamond went t o t h e aid of t h e blazing vessel, t a k i n g off m o r e t h a n 500 t r o o p s a n d crewmen. A second destroyer, Wryneck, was sent t o assist, recovering some 50 soldiers a n d some more m e m b e r s of the crew f r o m b o a t s a n d rafts. After sinking the hulk with a n u m b e r of torpedoes, the t w o warships set off after the c o n v o y . Wryneck calling for fighter s u p p o r t at 1025. At 1115 a fighter a p p r o a c h e d Diamond which the crews of both destroyers initially took t o be a Hurricane, as it a p p e a r e d t o be painted black and white below in the c u r r e n t R A F style. It proved to be a Bf 109 however, which suddenly swooped d o w n and strafed Diamond's c r o w d e d deck, causing m a n y casualties amongst the t r o o p s and gun crews there. Almost immediately a J u 8 8 followed, this releasing t w o b o m b s , o n e of which split o p e n the hull with a near miss, t h e other exploding in the e n g i n e r o o m . M i n u t e s later Wryneck suffered a similar attack by a B f l 0 9 a n d a Ju88, three b o m b s striking the ship, o n e of which penetrated the e n g i n e r o o m of this vessel also. Both destroyers sank swiftly, a n d within 15 m i n u t e s of each other. S o m e 63 survivors would get a s h o r e t o safety next day, but a r o u n d 1000 men lost their lives in this d i s a s t r o u s attack. M e a n w h i l e the K a l a m a t a c o n v o y had also c o m e u n d e r a t t a c k , initially by a single D o . 1 7 at a b o u t 0800; this was claimed p r o b a b l y shot d o w n by the g u n n e r s on the destroyer Defender, but u n f o r t u n a t e l y their fire also hit a pursuing Blenheim of 30 S q u a d r o n (K7177; VT-N), which w a s f o u n d to be d a m a g e d beyond repair when F / S g t Innes-Smith got back to Crete. T w e n t y minutes later 12 Ju87s a p p e a r e d , six t a k i n g Defender as their target; s h r a p n e l f r o m a near miss killed o n e soldier on deck, but g u n n e r s believed t h a t they had shot d o w n o n e S t u k a and d a m a g e d a second. T h r e e Blenheim I V F s of 203 S q u a d r o n , which had just overflown t h e b u r n i n g Slamat, arrived o n t h e scene a n d attacked, reporting that the f o r m a t i o n comprised 20 dive-bombers, six Bfl 10s and some Bfl09s. Sqn Ldr Pike in T1821 fired three bursts into o n e Ju87, but was attacked by 300
several other aircraft, his own machine suffering severe d a m a g e . Fit Lt J C Whittall (L9237) a n d Pit OfT J K Wilson (L9215) chased a Bfl 10 of I / Z G 26, but after being seen to close in and fire a burst f r o m the s t a r b o a r d q u a r t e r , Whittall's Blenheim d i s a p p e a r e d in a steep dive and was not seen again. It was presumed that the Australian a n d his crew had been shot d o w n by the Messerschmitt they had been chasing, or another. While Pike returned t o H e r a k l i o n , Wilson maintained a lone p a t r o l over the ships. Observers a b o a r d the destroyer Hero reported seeing a Blenheim s h o o t d o w n a Ju87, and this may have been a S t u k a of I I I / S t G 77 (Fl + M N ) , flown by O b i t H a r r y L a c h m a n n , shot d o w n by Pike; this was t h e only Luftwaffe casualty however, and was reported lost t o AA near N a u p l i a . F u r t h e r sections of Blenheims c o n t i n u e d to patrol over the various small c o n v o y s t h r o u g h o u t t h e day, but there were n o other engagements, a l t h o u g h a t t a c k s on the vessels c o n t i n u e d . High level raids were m a d e by single D o r n i e r s at 0840 a n d 1101, a dozen Ju88s m a k i n g a m o r e determined attack at 1215 - w i t h o u t result. T h e c o n v o y f r o m R a p h i n a / R a p h t i s was also attacked by three Ju88s at 1205, t h e assault ship Glengyle being near-missed and strafed, m a c h i n e g u n fire killing o n e soldier and w o u n d i n g t w o others. As the various vessels neared t h e n o r t h e r n coast of Crete t w o m o r e Ju88s a t t e m p t e d to d i v e - b o m b , but were driven off by intense AA fire, but at 1445 three m o r e of these b o m b e r s c a u g h t the t r a n s p o r t Costa Rica, laden with 2400 t r o o p s 20 miles n o r t h of Maleme. A 500-kg b o m b exploded close alongside, splitting the hull, but fortunately t h e ship began t o settle only slowly, allowing three destroyers t o c o m e alongside and rescue all a b o a r d . T h e vessel sank at 1600. Lighter A-20 had been d a m a g e d by an air attack in Suda Bay and was u n a b l e to t a k e any p a r t in the evacuation as a result, but d u r i n g the d a y A-15 set out for M o n e m v a s i a , with Lt C d r H u t t o n , the c o m m a n d e r of t h e s q u a d r o n , a b o a r d , following his recent a d v e n t u r e s with A-19. A b o u t eight miles short of the destination t h e craft was c a u g h t by the Luftwaffe a n d sunk with the loss of all on b o a r d . S u d a Bay w a s also attacked by Ju88s d u r i n g the day, o n e of these being intercepted by a pair of 805 S q u a d r o n F u l m a r s , Lt Scott a n d Sub Lt Bryant claiming to have d a m a g e d it. Lt C d r Black in Sea G l a d i a t o r N 5 5 6 8 also patrolled over the Bay, while a 33 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e flown by Fig Off K i r k p a t r i c k intercepted a reconnaissance Ju88, 7A + A M of 4(F)/121, a n d shot this d o w n into the sea with the loss of Lt H a n s Michaelis and his crew. A n u m b e r of G r e e k vessels were also b o m b e d and sunk a r o u n d the coasts of G r e e c e d u r i n g the d a y , including Danapris (2113 tons) olf Piraeus, Ypanis (1459 tons) and Maiotis (1712 tons). O n the mainland Luftwaffe a t t a c k s on t h e retreating Allied t r o o p s had also continued. O n the a p p r o a c h e s t o M a r k o p o u l o n , en route t o P o r t Raphtis, elements of 19th and 20th Australian Brigades and 4th N e w Z e a l a n d Brigade had just immobilized their t r a n s p o r t before heading for the beaches, a n d were breakfasting in nearby olive groves when a b o u t 20 Bfl 10s f r o m I / Z G 26 swept in, followed by Ju87s. A t t a c k s c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h o u t the d a y a n d m a n y casualties were suffered by t h e a l m o s t defenceless troops, a l t h o u g h their small a r m s fire brought d o w n t w o of the Bfl 10s, o n e crashing near S p a r t a with the d e a t h of the 301
gunner, while the o t h e r crash-landed with severe d a m a g e , t h e crew surviving u n h u r t . A further B f l l O of I I / Z G 26 was brought d o w n near Athens while strafing - again without injury to the crew — while a Do.17 of I1I/KG 2 (U5 + D T ) was lost d u r i n g a sortie to Tripolis, n o r t h of S p a r t a . It was on this d a t e however that Athens fell t o the invaders. Y o u n g Andrew S t a m a t o p o u l o s recorded: i happened t o be in A t h e n s when the G e r m a n s entered t h e c i t y . . . t h e night of 26/27th was a n i g h t m a r i s h one We well knew the G e r m a n s were at t h e d o o r of Athens. I was living in City Palace hotel, Stadiou Street. At 0010 h o u r s of 27th there was a c o n t i n u o u s noise of traffic a l o n g the Stadiou Street. W e t h o u g h t it was the G e r m a n s entering. N a y ! T h e s e were the r e a r g u a r d s of t h e British a n d C o m m o n w e a l t h Expeditionary F o r c e in Greece. T h e y were mostly lorries of all sorts in an endless c o l u m n , going o n e after a n o t h e r , very close, like an endless snake. T h e y had their curfew lights lit. T h e y moved f r o m O m o n o i a S q u a r e to S y n d a g m a S q u a r e t o w a r d s P h a l e r o n . This movement lasted until 0100. T h e n it was all quiet but the traffic began again at 0230 until a b o u t 0400. T h e n quiet again. S h u t t e r s closed. N o people in t h e streets - a deathly silence. At 0800 a motor-cycle, with a G e r m a n flag wrapped so the swastika could be well seen fixed at the back seat, passed very fast directed f r o m O m o n o i a S q u a r e t o S y n d a g m a Square. We felt an impact on our lungs - it w a s o c c u p a t i o n , it was tyranny.' T h e big Victory P a r a d e began a b o u t 0830 and lasted for an h o u r - until 0930. G e r m a n Generals, including the c o m m a n d e r of the Luftwaffe units in Greece, G e n e r a l W o l f r a m von Richthofen, stood in front of G r a n d e Bretagne Hotel (Panepistemiou Street) while the motorized t r o o p s and P a n z e r s passed in front of them, c o m i n g f r o m O m o n o i a Square. T h e t a n k s were painted nearly black and so were clad their drivers. T h e r e were m a n y very big t a n k s that caused awe but the granite faces of their seasoned servants were still worse, a n d a bad omen of w h a t was still t o come. T h e r e were also m a n y lorries (Opel-Blitz) full of t r o o p s carrying their rifles and S p a n d a u m a c h i n e guns. T h e air was full of roar. At 0900 h o u r s there appeared a D o . 1 7 f r o m the direction of Piraeus and flew in circles above Athens for a b o u t 20 minutes. Shortly after there a p p e a r e d f r o m the direction of the Acropolis a flight of three H s l 2 3 , at the height of a b o u t 1000 metres. Five minutes later t h e r e began t h e flypast f r o m south-west t o w a r d s north-east at the height of a b o u t 1000 metres. T h e r e came the following types and n u m b e r s of aircraft in the o r d e r that they are written: 25 H s l 2 3 ; 25 Ju87; 25 M e l 10; 25 Ju88; 25 M e l 0 9 E ; 25 Do.17; 25 H e l l l and again 25 M e l 0 9 E . Lastly 25 Savoia Marchetti S.79 - these last over despised by the G e r m a n s a n d a s h a m e d of t h e Greeks. Later d u r i n g the d a y there flew nearly constantly over A t h e n s one or two H s l 2 6 a n d Fi 156, all t o o often flying in circles over t h e sacred rock of t h e Acropolis w h e r e the G e r m a n s had hoisted the swastika.'
Late in the evening, d u e t o the congestion in S u d a Bay a n d the increasing level of Luftwaffe attack on Crete, five of the t r a n s p o r t s used in O p e r a t i o n "Demon" sailed for Alexandria in C o n v o y GA-14, carrying m a n y t h o u s a n d s of evacuated troops. These vessels - Glengyle, Salween, Khedive Ismail, Dilwara and City of London reached their destination without further attack. T h e evacuation was c o n t i n u i n g 302
however, and at 2200 the cruiser Ajax and three a t t e n d a n t destroyers arrived off Raphtis, where A-6, three caiques and the ships' b o a t s c o m m e n c e d ferrying out the waiting troops. By 0330 on 28 April 4640 had been e m b a r k e d , including 2500 in Ajax alone. T h e destroyer Havock was despatched t o n e a r b y R a p h i n a where 800 t r o o p s - mainly N e w Z e a l a n d e r s - were rescued f r o m i m m i n e n t c a p t u r e . This small force had been left behind and were s u r r o u n d e d by G e r m a n t r o o p s , some of w h o m had advanced within a q u a r t e r of a mile of the beach. With d a w n on 28 April three Blenheim fighters f r o m 203 S q u a d r o n approached t o escort the vessels, but while lowering their u n d e r c a r r i a g e s a n d flashing the letter of the day, they were nonetheless fired on by o n e of the destroyers. N o d a m a g e was initially reported, but a few minutes later Pit OfT P J G o r d o n - H a l l in L9044 reported to the f o r m a t i o n leader that his s t a r b o a r d engine h a d c a u g h t fire and he was returning t o Crete. A mile a n d a half short of R e t i m o the aircraft, having lost height steadily, c a m e d o w n in the sea, where G o r d o n Hall was trapped in his seat. Sgt Poole, the navigator, just m a n a g e d t o free him as the Blenheim slipped beneath the waves, b o t h then climbing into the dinghy which the gunner had released. T h e trio then began p a d d l i n g for the shore, but while still a mile out, they were surprised to be met by a Greek soldier w h o had s w u m out t o aid them. Passing a rope a b o a r d t h e dinghy, he proceeded t o tow them t o shore! Subsequently a signal of protest was despatched to the N a v y by A H Q Crete, three Blenheims having recently been fired on in this m a n n e r after m a k i n g p r o p e r recognition signals! Actions over the whole area of S o u t h e r n G r e e c e a n d t h e sea lanes between there and Crete, c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h o u t the day. F r o m S u d a Bay a Seagull a m p h i b i a n (A2-17), normally the c a t a p u l t aircraft a b o a r d the Australian cruiser H M A S Perth, took off for a reconnaissance patrol t o the evacuation beaches. Off M o n e m v a s i a at a r o u n d 0900, it was attacked by a lone Ju88, fire f r o m this b o m b e r causing sufficient d a m a g e t o require a force-landing; Fit Lt E V Beamont and his naval crew took t o their dinghy before the a m p h i b i a n sank. Luftwaffe aircraft were very active in this area, crews also r e p o r t i n g discovering a n u m b e r of seaplanes on t h e water at M o n e m v a s i a , four of which were claimed as destroyed. T h e s e would a p p e a r to have been D o . 2 2 G floatplanes of the G r e e k 12 Mira, only o n e of which was later t o escape t o Egypt. T h e G e r m a n s also at last caught u p with o n e of the t w o remaining 'A' Lighters, nine Ju87s a t t a c k i n g A-5 off M o n e m v a s i a just after it had landed 480 soldiers, including m a n y w o u n d e d , a little t o the n o r t h of the h a r b o u r . T h e first Stuka strafed, then d r o p p e d t w o bombs, both of which struck the craft just as the g u n n e r s shot d o w n the attacker, which was seen to crash with a mighty splash as it began pulling out of its dive. T h e remaining eight d i v e - b o m b e r s completed their attacks, but only o n e further b o m b struck the lighter as the g u n n e r s claimed a second attacker shot d o w n . Despite t h e ferocity of t h e a t t a c k , no m e m b e r s of the crew suffered injury, but all were forced to a b a n d o n the very badly d a m a g e d A-5, all reaching s h o r e safely. Subsequently further waves of Ju87s and 88s b o m b e d t h e s t r a n d e d vessel again, and she eventually went d o w n in shallow water with her bow blown completely away. A particularly heavy attack on K a l a m a t a sank all caiques in h a r b o u r here, 303
while an estimated six mines or delayed-action b o m b s effectively closed the port t o any f u r t h e r rescue ships. A n o t h e r Luftwaffe aircraft landed on Melos Island, 65 miles n o r t h of S u d a Bay, the crew d e m a n d i n g the i m m e d i a t e surrender of the island u n d e r dire threat of intensive b o m b i n g . T h e islanders refused categorically to c a p i t u l a t e in this way, a n d several severe attacks followed, m a n y small vessels being sunk in the h a r b o u r , while a large n u m b e r of magnetic mines were d r o p p e d . F r o m C r e t e a single Blenheim I F of 30 S q u a d r o n , flown by Fit Lt Walker, and carrying t h e w a r c o r r e s p o n d e n t , Sqn Ldr ' T o m m y ' W i s d o m as observer, u n d e r took a reconnaissance for 'strays' on the beaches of S o u t h e r n Greece. N o n e were seen in t h e area Gulf of K o l o k y t h i a t o G i t h e o n , but off C a p e M a t a p a n fishing b o a t s were seen a n d inspected to identify any loaded with evacuees. Off K a r a v i island a small ship was s p o t t e d u n d e r attack by t w o BfllOs, a n d a p p r o a c h i n g unseen, W a l k e r opened fire on one, seeing strikes. T h e t w o Messerschmitts dived away, t h e g u n n e r s returning fire, a n d when W a l k e r returned t o Crete, it was t o find that his aircraft had been hit in the port wing and engine nascelle. N e a r e r to Crete, Fig Off K i r k p a t r i c k of 33 S q u a d r o n e n c o u n t e r e d an observation-type aircraft, which he tentatively identified as an Hs 126 o r Italian Ro.44, claiming t o have shot this d o w n . It is believed to have been an Aegean-based aircraft of t h e Regia A e r o n a u t i c a , but further details have not been discovered. O n C r e t e p r e p a r a t i o n s for t h e continued air defence of the island were being pressed, but a new airfield at P e d i a d a Kastelli, west of Maleme, was rendered completely unserviceable as it was by n o w clear t h a t it could not be ready in time. 112 S q u a d r o n was now established at H e r a k l i o n , but only six of its 14 G l a d i a t o r s were serviceable. It was decided t o send o n e flight back t o Egypt therefore, a n d on the toss of a coin the eight pilots of 'A' Flight flew out in a Bombay, the flight's g r o u n d crew following by sea next day. Ten pilots r e m a i n e d u n d e r Fit Lt Fry, h o p i n g to receive early reinforcements of H u r r i c a n e s ; their strength was rapidly a u g m e n t e d by t h e arrival of six new pilots f r o m 1430 Flight, recently arrived f r o m East Africa, u n d e r Fit Lt J E D e n n a n t . 805 S q u a d r o n at M a l e m e also despatched some of its less-essential g r o u n d personnel t o Egypt at this time, 23 N a v a l ratings a n d b o r r o w e d R A F other r a n k s leaving by ship. F o u r n o n c o m b a t w o r t h y F u l m a r s had already flown back t o A b o u k i r , leaving only five F u l m a r s and the seven Sea G l a d i a t o r s operational, a l t h o u g h in need of p r o p e r servicing. T h e t w o remaining Buffalos were also totally unserviceable now. At the same airfield 30 S q u a d r o n could boast seven o p e r a t i o n a l Blenheim IFs, but all were suffering c o n s t a n t wear and tear f r o m the long c o n v o y patrols and sea reconnaissances. R e i n f o r c e m e n t s generally were urgently needed! W h e n the plans for O p e r a t i o n ' D e m o n ' had been d r a w n up, it had been intended that the night of 28/29 April should see e v a c u a t i o n s only f r o m M o n e m v a s i a . H o w e v e r with an estimated 7000 men still at K a l a m a t a , an urgent c h a n g e of plan was required. T w o cruisers - Perth and Phoebe - a n d six destroyers, t o be k n o w n as 'B' Force, were assembled and set out f r o m Suda Bay t o carry out the evacuation of all possible t r o o p s f r o m K a l a m a t a ; their d e p a r t u r e was s h a d o w e d by G e r m a n aircraft. By 1930 t h e force had arrived at a point 20 miles south-west of the port, a n d from here the destroyer Hero was sent into h a r b o u r t o m a k e c o n t a c t . As she a p p r o a c h e d , it w a s o b v i o u s t h a t a battle was 304
raging, m a n y fires and streams of tracer bullets being observed. At a b o u t 1800 a G e r m a n m o t o r i z e d unit consisting of 300 t r o o p s in trucks, t w o a r m o u r e d cars and t w o t r a c t o r s hauling 60 p o u n d e r g u n s had swept d o w n the m a i n road into K a l a m a t a , r u n n i n g into a unit of the 4th Hussars. In an e n g a g e m e n t lasting 15 minutes, the British force had put o n e a r m o u r e d car out of action before r u n n i n g out of a m m u n i t i o n . T h e G e r m a n s then entered t h e t o w n , c a p t u r i n g a n u m b e r of small units, including the N a v a l Sea T r a n s p o r t Officer, w h o had been in c h a r g e of the evacuation. G r o u p s of New Zealanders, Australians and RASC t r o o p s p r o m p t l y c o u n t e r a t t a c k e d , o n e g r o u p being led by Sgt J D H i n t o n of t h e N Z Reinforcement Battalion, a n d these g r o u p s routed the G e r m a n s . By 0100 t h e t o w n had been cleared at a cost t o the i n t r u d e r s of all their g u n s and m o t o r t r a n s p o r t , a n d a b o u t 150 men taken prisoner. However d u r i n g the fighting Sgt H i n t o n , w h o w o u l d later receive the a w a r d of the Victoria C r o s s for his part in this action, had been w o u n d e d and t a k e n prisoner.
Junkers Ju87R d i v e - b o m b e r s on a Greek airfield - apparently A r g o s - prepare for another attack o n British shipping. T h e Hurricane in the foreground is believed to be V7773, illustrated earlier, after any worthwhile painting on the fabric covering of the rear fuselage has been stripped by souvenir hunters. N o t e the orange gas-warning d i a m o n d on the t o p of the rear fuselage, ahead of the tail fin, also visible on the previous p h o t o g r a p h of this aircraft. (Bundesarchii)
305
M e a n w h i l e at 2045 when Hero was still some three miles offshore, a signal l a m p f r o m the land flashed the news that the G e r m a n s were in the h a r b o u r . A m o t o r launch was sent a s h o r e t o ascertain the situation, while C a p t Sir Philip Bowyer-Smith, c a p t a i n of Perth, and officer in c h a r g e of the o p e r a t i o n , was radioed for instructions. He p r o m p t l y decided t o call off the e v a c u a t i o n , fearing that his force would provide easy targets t o any hostile warships at sea, since the British vessels would be silhouetted against the fires ashore. T h e possible presence of s u b m a r i n e s had also been reported. In fact n o s u b m a r i n e s or other warships were in t h e area, as Hero was ordered t o rejoin B' F o r c e to head for Suda Bay. H o w e v e r Hero's m o t o r launch crew were advised that a n u m b e r of t r o o p s had assembled on a beach two miles south-east of the port, a n d other b o a t s were sent to start ferrying them o u t . At 0110 three m o r e destroyers arrived to help, and when these warships departed at 0230, 332 t r o o p s had been e m b a r k e d . U n f o r t u n a t e l y a b o u t 3000 m o r e t r o o p s had reached K a l a m a t a d u r i n g 28 April, bringing the total here t o the vicinity of 10 000, of w h o m a b o u t 4000 were British, Australian and New Zealanders, nearly 4000 were Palestinian and C y p r i o t pioneers, 1500 were Yugoslav soldiers, a n d t h e r e m a i n d e r mainly Greek and Yugoslav civilian w o m e n and children. W h e n the main force arrived next m o r n i n g , a surrender of these mainly u n a r m e d and n o n - c o m b a t a n t t r o o p s was arranged for 0530. T h o s e w h o wished to effect their own escapes were given permission t o d o so, a n d m a n y parties set out d o w n the coastline t o seek any vessels t o get a w a y in. S o m e officers were assembling their surrendering t r o o p s on t h e beach at daylight, when a force of Ju87s arrived. U n a w a r e of t h e surrender, these a t t a c k e d at once, 200 men being killed or w o u n d e d . M o r e successful o p e r a t i o n s had continued at M o n e m v a s i a , where Ajax and four destroyers had been detailed t o c o n t i n u e t h e evacuation. Delayed by a search for a suspected s u b m a r i n e , the cause of the a l a r m proved to be the crew of t h e Seagull shot d o w n d u r i n g t h e day, w h o had fired a distress flare. T h e y were picked u p by Havock just n o r t h of K y t h e r a Island. T h e f o u r destroyers finally arrived off M o n e m v a s i a just before midnight, but with t h e aid of six 'B' Lighters (e\-Glenearn craft, d e s p a t c h e d t o aid the evacuation after their parent vessel was d a m a g e d ) and t w o caiques, all those waiting a s h o r e were b r o u g h t out, totalling 4320, mainly N e w Z e a l a n d e r s of 6 Brigade, including G e n e r a l Freyberg. It had been intended that o n c o m p l e t i o n , the 'B' Lighters should all be destroyed, but in the rush t o leave before d a w n only o n e or t w o were actually sunk. T h i s proved just as well, for several of these craft were taken over by escaping t r o o p s a n d G r e e k s left behind in the Peloponnese, bringing them t o safety. Almost 700 R A F personnel f r o m Argos had reached K y t h e r a Island during t h e previous d a y on an old Greek freighter, a n d were now waiting at Kapsali Bay with 60 British and 60 Greek soldiers. D u r i n g the night t h e sloop Auckland a n d t w o corvettes arrived, with a single 'B' Lighter d r o p p e d off by Ajax on her way t o M o n e m v a s i a , and all were picked u p safely. Amongst the m a n y small vessels which would reach S u d a Bay, was A-6, the last of the five 'A' Lighters despatched t o Greek waters. T h e e v a c u a t i o n was n o w nearing an end, a n d at 1100 on 29 April a c o n v o y of six t r a n s p o r t s coded GA-15, sailed for Alexandria, carrying 10931 evacuees, including m a n y w o u n d e d a n d 306
sick t r o o p s , m e r c h a n t seamen rescued from sunken vessels, nurses, w o m e n and children, and even Italian prisoners of war. Soon after d e p a r t i n g h a r b o u r , a single Ju88 a p p e a r e d and attacked one of the escorting destroyers, H M S Nubian, causing some d a m a g e with a near miss; the crew believed t h a t they had shot their a t t a c k e r d o w n . F r o m Alexandria t h e First Battle S q u a d r o n set out t o rendezvous with the convoy, c o m m a n d e d by Rear Admiral Rawlings in H M S Barhanr, this force included a second battleship, Valiant, a n d a destroyer escort c o m p r i s i n g those vessels which had recently b r o u g h t c o n v o y G A - 1 4 safely into Alexandria. Air cover was provided by F u l m a r s of 803 S q u a d r o n , reinforced by a d e t a c h m e n t f r o m 806 S q u a d r o n , a b o a r d H M S Formidable. Crete had suffered its first air raid alarm of the day at 1015. just before the c o n v o y d e p a r t e d , when a n u m b e r of H u r r i c a n e s were scrambled f r o m Maleme. Over S u d a Bay Fig Off Vale in V7781 spotted a D o . 1 7 h e a d i n g o u t t o sea and pursued it t o within 400 yards, firing all his a m m u n i t i o n , while t h e rear g u n n e r maintained a c o n s t a n t return fire, which gained several hits on the H u r r i c a n e , n o n e of t h e m serious. He last saw the b o m b e r losing height, with black s m o k e p o u r i n g f r o m its p o r t engine. O n this d a t e Sqn Ldr J o n e s and Fig Off W a n k l y n F l o w e r were t o d e p a r t Crete, leaving t h e small M a l e m e d e t a c h m e n t u n d e r Vale's command. T h e a l a r m s o u n d e d again at 1615 as some 20 Ju88s a p p r o a c h e d S u d a Bay. T h i s time all available H u r r i c a n e s were scrambled, as well as 805 S q u a d r o n ' s F u l m a r s and Sea G l a d i a t o r N 5 5 0 9 in the h a n d s of Lt C d r Black. Again it was Vale, this time in V7795, w h o m a d e c o n t a c t , seeing nine b o m b e r s at 6000 feet, t w o of which he attacked. H e r e p o r t e d t h a t following a short burst, the first fell away with flames p o u r i n g f r o m the s t a r b o a r d engine and crashed just n o r t h of Maleme. Giving chase t o two m o r e which were heading out t o sea, he got close e n o u g h t o fire after five minutes, his victim this time a p p a r e n t l y diving into the sea. Circling above, he spotted t w o survivors in t h e water, r e p o r t i n g this t o control. As he returned t o Maleme, he encountered a n o t h e r Ju88, carrying out a head-on a t t a c k , but after a short burst, he ran out of a m m u n i t i o n . T h e b o m b e r s had a t t a c k e d shipping in the bay, the G r e e k freighter Konistra (3537 tons) being badly hit and beached. T w o Bofors g u n s sited to protect the anchorage, were also k n o c k e d out, but without any casualties t o the g u n crews. O n this occasion n o Luftwaffe b o m b e r losses a p p e a r to have been recorded. Following the attack on Melos the previous d a y , a report was received that four Ju52s had landed there. T w o Blenheims were despatched by 30 S q u a d r o n on an offensive reconnaissance, but no aircraft or t r o o p s were t o be seen. After dark three destroyers - Hero, Isis a n d Kimberley — were despatched t o K a l a m a t a t o discover the situation and rescue any t r o o p s seen. O n arrival their m o t o r launches were sent a s h o r e t o t h e beach used d u r i n g the night of 28/29, but only a small party of 16 officers and 17 men were found and taken off. T h e s e reported that small isolated g r o u p s were still fighting in and a r o u n d the t o w n , but that the situation was very confused. These three vessels would return next night (30 April/1 May), with a little m o r e success, rescuing 202 m o r e men. G u n f i r e could be heard, but the rescued advised that this was the last m o p p i n g u p of a few gallant b a n d s of men w h o preferred to fight on, r a t h e r t h a n surrender. T h a t 307
same night t w o m o r e destroyers, Havock and Hotspur, were sent to Melos t o e v a c u a t e a reported 3500 t r o o p s , a l t h o u g h it w a s still not clear whether t h e G e r m a n s had landed or not. Boats went a s h o r e t o find only 692 men, including a b o u t 400 Palestinians, t h e rest being mainly C y p r i o t s a n d a few Indians. T h e s e were all taken a b o a r d , together with a n u m b e r of Greek soldiers and fishermen. O n arrival at S u d a Bay o n e of the 'soldiers' turned out t o be a Greek girl, wearing helmet a n d greatcoat. At sea on 30 April the First Battle S q u a d r o n had been joined by Perth and Phoehe with three destroyers, when 80 miles south of the K a s o Strait, this powerful force escorting c o n v o y G A - 1 5 for the next 12 hours. Perth and Nubian were then despatched t o see the vessels safely into h a r b o u r , t h e rest of t h e s q u a d r o n returning to the vicinity of Greece. T h e only a l a r m had c o m e at 0924 when r a d a r reported enemy activity. W h i t e Section of 806 S q u a d r o n h a d encountered five Fiat C R 4 2 s , obviously f r o m R h o d e s , but after a brief engagement without any d a m a g e t o either side, t h e Italians had d e p a r t e d . Despite t h e a p p r o a c h of several aircraft t o w a r d s the island, C r e t e suffered n o actual incursions until the evening. Just after 1700 hours, six Ju88s were seen low over S u d a Bay, a n d were intercepted by Fig Off Vale, w h o chased t h e m n o r t h w a r d s . H e reported: 'I attacked o n e after a very long chase, firing nearly all my a m m u n i t i o n into it f r o m very close r a n g e and it hit the sea. (Ed: Again n o Luftwaffe losses were recorded over C r e t e on this date). I was then fired u p o n by a n o t h e r J u 8 8 which came u p in line abreast, so I carried out a q u a r t e r attack which finished off my a m m o . N o a p p a r e n t d a m a g e . While r e t u r n i n g t o base I saw four aircraft in line astern, very low d o w n . I went very close and recognised t h e m as Blenheims with what a p p e a r e d t o be English markings. . . . I reported this a n d was informed that n o Blenheims were airborne.' Obviously t h e O p e r a t i o n s R o o m at M a l e m e was u n a w a r e of w h a t was going on at H e r a k l i o n , for the four Blenheims were 203 S q u a d r o n aircraft, the v a n g u a r d of t h e d e t a c h m e n t n o w ordered back t o Egypt. Each c a r r y i n g three g r o u n d crew, the aircraft had just taken off f r o m H e r a k l i o n , and were h e a d i n g off for Egypt. En r o u t e they a p p r o a c h e d the Battle S q u a d r o n and were intercepted by t w o sections of F u l m a r s . O r d e r s - which had not been conveyed to Sqn L d r G e t h i n of 203 S q u a d r o n - required aircraft a p p r o a c h i n g t h e Fleet t o d o so in line astern with the leader firing the c o l o u r s of the day. Leading A i r m a n d e F r i a s was in the rear seat of Petty Officer T h e o b a l d ' s F u l m a r (N1912) and recalled: ' W i t h o u r J u 8 8 c o m p l e x , they were fair g a m e . . . fortunately we only d a m a g e d t h e m on the first run a n d realised as we turned in for a n o t h e r g o that they couldn't be 88s if we could have t w o goes at them!' T h e Blenheim a t t a c k e d , but Pit Off Wilson's L9215 w a s only slightly d a m a g e d . T h e o t h e r F u l m a r s pulled away when Very lights were fired and the Blenheims c o n t i n u e d on their way. O n r e t u r n t o Formidable both T h e o b a l d a n d de F r i a s were g r o u n d e d p e n d i n g a possible c o u r t martial, but this w a s a p p a r e n t l y soon forgotten when action intensified in the weeks t o follow. M e a n w h i l e a n o t h e r 308
d e p a r t u r e on this d a t e was the flight f r o m M a l e m e of the last serviceable Swordfish of 815 S q u a d r o n , flown by Sub Lt I J Evans; t h e g r o u n d party left on the SS Destro. A m o n g s t t h e small vessels still arriving at S u d a Bay f r o m Greece was a little caique c a r r y i n g G p C a p t A G Lee with a party of 12 R A F personnel, a mixed party of 20 British troops, Palestinians, G r e e k s a n d C r e t a n s . T h e y had reached K y t h e r a d u r i n g the previous night, rested, and then sailed for C r e t e at d a w n . A n o t h e r arrival was a L o d e s t a r which landed at M a l e m e , bringing G e n e r a l Wavell t o the island. Driven to the Army H e a d q u a r t e r s at Platanias, he relieved G e n e r a l M a i t l a n d - W i l s o n of his brief c o m m a n d of 'Creforce', passing this t o t h e just-arrived G e n e r a l Freyberg. He brought with him the enlightening, if disturbing, news that the plans for the G e r m a n invasion of C r e t e had been deciphered (by ' U l t r a ' intercepts - a fact which he did not disclose t o Freyberg). Sufficient Ju52s were n o w dispersed in S o u t h e r n Greece t o land an estimated 3^1000 p a r a t r o o p s in o n e sortie, while the Luftwaffe had been ordered not to destroy the airfields at M a l e m e and Heraklion, n o r the landing g r o u n d at Retimo. An a i r b o r n e invasion was thus highly probable. T h e Luftwaffe had also been ordered not to mine S u d a Bay. T h i s intelligence n o w allowed F r e y b e r g t o plan his defence accordingly, a n d he requested permission to reposition his forces which were deployed mainly for a s e a b o r n e invasion. Wavell was u n a b l e t o explain t o F r e y b e r g the reason behind his refusal of this entirely reasonable request - the need to refrain f r o m any action which might lead G e r m a n Intelligence t o suspect the security of their E n i g m a cipher traffic. Crete's security had to bow to the greater benefits likely t o spring f r o m the m a i n t e n a n c e of ' U l t r a ' s ' secrecy in the future. In t h e early h o u r s of 1 M a y , Sunderland T 9 0 5 0 of 230 S q u a d r o n left S u d a Bay for Alexandria in the h a n d s of Wg C d r Francis. A b o a r d were Air Vice-Marshal D'Albiac, G e n M a i t l a n d - W i l s o n and several m e m b e r s of t h e Greek Royal Family, including Prince P a u l a n d his wife and two children. O p e r a t i o n ' D e m o n ' was at an end, a n d with it t h e c a m p a i g n in Greece. British forces h a d d e p a r t e d their last foothold on mainland Europe. ' D e m o n ' had been an u n d o u b t e d success in itself. An estimated 50 732 troops, including 60 Greek soldiers, had been evacuated by the Royal N a v y , a n d by t r a n s p o r t s u n d e r their protection. T h i s w a s f r o m a total of 62 564 British a n d C o m m o n w e a l t h personnel sent t o Greece. M a n y h u n d r e d s more, including 800 air and g r o u n d personnel of the EVA, escaped by other means - in small Greek merchant vessels, caiques, fishing boats, etc. M o r e were rescued from isolated beaches in the P e l o p o n n e s e by destroyers of the Royal Hellenic N a v y (seven of which, with the cruiser Averoff, t w o t o r p e d o b o a t s and five submarines, would reach Alexandria and later serve alongside the Royal Navy). It was believed that some 3000 British a n d C o m m o n w e a l t h t r o o p s were killed or presumed killed d u r i n g the c a m p a i g n , and a b o u t 9000 taken prisoner, including British n o n - c o m b a t a n t troops. C o n t e m p o r a r y G e r m a n figures for losses suffered d u r i n g the invasion of Greece included 70 officers and 1414 men killed, 181 officers and 3571 men w o u n d e d , plus 192 Luftwaffe aircrew killed or w o u n d e d . It was believed that additionally a b o u t 500 Allied soldiers, mainly Australians, 309
were lost at sea d u r i n g the evacuation, together with a b o u t 600 seamen, Royal N a v y and M e r c h a n t Marine. Finally m o r e t h a n 1700 personnel had been evacuated by air f r o m Greece, C r e t e and Yugoslavia by the end of April. T h e n u m b e r of sorties t o g e t h e r with passengers carried a r e s h o w n on the table below: Greece-Crete : Greece-Egypt : Crete-Egypt 230 Squadron; Sunderland 228 Squadron; Sunderland BOAC; Empire fiyingboat 216 Squadron; Bombay 267 Squadron; Lodestar Totals:
12/385
1/15
5/227 —
7/268
: Yugo-Greece
2/48
—
1/40
—
—
13/550
—
—
2/25
11/158
—
—
3/31
6/52
—
6/71
38/1028
17/612
2/48
Within the next t w o d a y s 216 S q u a d r o n would increase the n u m b e r s evacuated by its B o m b a y s t o m o r e t h a n 350, mainly surplus aircrew a n d o t h e r key personnel. Sgt G E F o r d , w h o had joined the s q u a d r o n in 1927, ferried m o r e than 100 passengers t o Egypt personally. Blenheims had also been used t o ferry a limited n u m b e r of aircrew f r o m G r e e c e to Crete, and later f r o m C r e t e t o Egypt. F u r t h e r personnel had been ferried t o C r e t e by t h e four J u n k e r s G - 2 4 s and three J u 5 2 / 3 m s of E E E S ; these civil airliners had been fired on by British warships on m o r e than o n e occasion for obvious reasons, a n d one had sustained slight d a m a g e . D u e t o the confusion existing at the end of the fighting in G r e e c e orders failed t o arrive in time for t h e m t o be evacuated t o Crete, a n d only o n e G - 2 4 m a d e good its escape, the others being c a p t u r e d by G e r m a n troops. During five m o n t h s ' service in Greece, the Royal Air F o r c e h a d claimed 231 aircraft shot d o w n , of which 150 were Italian; 94 p r o b a b l e s had also been claimed in air c o m b a t , while 28 aircraft were claimed destroyed on t h e g r o u n d , with five m o r e probables. In the same period the EVA had claimed the destruction of 58 Italian a n d five G e r m a n aircraft, plus 23 probables, t h e J K R V a d d i n g claims for at least a n o t h e r 30 Luftwaffe machines. Against these claims, the R A F had lost 72 aircraft in c o m b a t , 55 destroyed on the g r o u n d a n d 82 a b a n d o n e d . 148 aircrew were reported killed and 15 as prisoners. Additionally, 815 S q u a d r o n , Fleet Air A r m , lost t w o aircraft on o p e r a t i o n s , plus three ditched and t w o force-landed d u e t o o p e r a t i o n a l accidents, resulting in o n e killed and five prisoners. G r e e k losses included 32 aircraft in c o m b a t (seven reportedly t o AA fire), which cost at least 55 killed a n d 18 badly w o u n d e d , a n d a p p r o x i m a t e l y 130 o p e r a t i o n a l aircraft, together with n u m e r o u s training types, destroyed on the g r o u n d . M o r e t h a n 500 operational Yugoslav aircraft are k n o w n to have been destroyed or c a p t u r e d . Italian losses for the period 28 O c t o b e r 1940-30 April 1941 were recorded as 65 in c o m b a t or to AA, plus 495 d a m a g e d , 371 of t h e m t o AA. A further 14 were 310
destroyed on the g r o u n d where 71 more were d a m a g e d , ten of t h e m seriously. Five additional aircraft were shot d o w n over Yugoslavia, a n d 22 d a m a g e d there. These o p e r a t i o n s cost 240 aircrew dead or missing a n d 70 w o u n d e d . C l a i m s over G r e e c e totalled 218 British and Greek aircraft shot d o w n , plus 55 probables, while a further live a n d one p r o b a b l e were claimed against the Yugoslavs. D u r i n g April the Luftwaffe recorded the loss of 182 aircraft (60%—100% d a m a g e d ) t o all causes, of which a b o u t 164 are believed to have been lost in c o m b a t , including a b o u t 50 in o p e r a t i o n s over Yugoslavia. Aircrew losses a m o u n t e d t o 150 officers and 42 N C O s killed or missing. C l a i m s totalled 110 aircraft shot d o w n , 3 0 - 4 0 of t h e m Yugoslavian, and 246 destroyed on the g r o u n d , of which a r o u n d 140 were British and Greek machines. Luftwaffe losses included 54 Bfl09Es, 34 Ju88s, 29 Ju87s, 29 Do. 17s, 23 BfllOs, six H s l 2 6 s , t w o H s l 2 3 s , o n e H e l l l a n d four 'hack" aircraft.
A Blenheim I of 84 S q u a d r o n . L1388, VA-W, photographed at Athens o n 2 May, 1941 by Italian personnel. I Brum via Lucchini/
Malizia)
311
Chapter THE DEFENCE
Seven
OF CRETE
- PHASE
I
T h e start of M a y 1941 found a tense air of expectant calm p e r v a d i n g the skies a r o u n d C r e t e following t h e conclusion of t h e evacuation. T h a t C r e t e would soon be invaded was already k n o w n . W h a t could be d o n e t o stiffen the island's defences in the lull while t h e G e r m a n s pressed forward their p r e p a r a t i o n s for the next r o u n d was a greater problem. In N o r t h Africa the victorious British a r m y which h a d c o n q u e r e d all C y r e n a i c a with such d a s h and elan four m o n t h s earlier, had been driven back in i g n o m i n i o u s defeat by advanced elements of G e n e r a l R o m m e l ' s newly arrived Afrika K o r p s . M a l t a was still suffering desperately f r o m the air a t t a c k s of the Sicily-based Luftwaffe, a n d was barely holding on. T r o u b l e was brewing in Iraq and Syria, hostility by pro-Axis elements in the former a n d aggrieved Vichy F r e n c h authorities in the latter, t h r e a t e n i n g imminent military action. O n l y in East Africa w a s there some light on the horizon, for here the m a i n Italian colonial forces in Eritrea and E t h i o p i a had been totally defeated, allowing reinforcements already experienced and battle-hardened, t o be released for service further north. At h o m e in the United K i n g d o m t o o the crisis of 1940 was now passed, and a l t h o u g h the night 'Blitz' was at its height, t h e i m m e d i a t e threat of invasion seemed m u c h reduced now that Intelligence could point to the movement of large p a r t s of the G e r m a n forces t o t h e East. At last w o r t h w h i l e supplies of t a n k s and aircraft could be released for the war in the M i d d l e East, a n d indeed were already at sea. "Tiger" C o n v o y w a s on its way t o Alexandria, comprising five heavily-escorted large freighters carrying 295 t a n k s and 53 crated H u r r i c a n e fighters, on t h e safe arrival of which d e p e n d e d any future plans for t h e area. Until this c o n v o y arrived, Air Chief M a r s h a l L o n g m o r e had available to him just 90 twin-engined aircraft (Wellingtons, Blenheims - b o t h b o m b e r s and fighters - a few Beaufighters and M a r y l a n d s ) a n d 43 H u r r i c a n e fighters t o cover all his responsibilities in Egypt, Libya, Iraq, C y p r u s a n d Crete. Twenty-five H u r r i c a n e s a n d their pilots a b o a r d the old training carrier Argus, intended for Greece, had been diverted t o M a l t a , whevw there was also a d e s p e r a t e need for fighters. U n b e k n o w n to the British however a b o n u s awaited them with which they were t o s u p p l e m e n t t h e still meagre fighter force. Just prior t o the G e r m a n invasion a G r e e k P u r c h a s i n g Mission, having been unsuccessful in securing supplies of m o d e r n fighter aircraft f r o m Britain, visited t h e United States intent on fulfilling their requirements. However the only aircraft m a d e available for 312
i m m e d i a t e delivery were thirty G r u m m a n F 4 F - 3 A Wildcats, originally destined for the U S Navy; these were snapped up with the promise of a further fifteen to follow, a n d a r r a n g e m e n t s m a d e for t h e m t o be shipped t o Greece. By the time the American freighter carrying these crated aircraft reached P o r t Suez, having sailed via t h e C a p e and Suez C a n a l , Greece had already fallen. T h e story goes that the U S N a v y test pilot in c h a r g e of the small t e a m w h o were to erect a n d test these aircraft, Lt C d r Henry C o o p e r , d r e w the a t t e n t i o n of t h e Royal N a v y t o the crates (an u n n e u t r a l act!) and machinery w a s put in action for the British t o t a k e over these aircraft. (Named Martlet III by the R o y a l N a v y - a few M a r t l e t s were already in service with the Fleet Air A r m - the aircraft retained their s t a n d a r d non-specular light grey finish a n d U S serial n u m b e r s : BuAer 3875 t o 3904, a l t h o u g h surviving aircraft would later be r e n u m b e r e d in the British AX serial range). T h e U S had also agreed t o t h e sale of 30 Curtiss P-40Bs to Greece, while the R A F proposed to supply 30 Curtiss H-75A M o h a w k s (exF r e n c h contract), but events overtook deliveries of either type. F r e e d o m of passage u p the Red Sea and t h r o u g h the Suez C a n a l h a d also b r o u g h t urgent supplies of fuel for beseiged M a l t a t o t h e eastern end of the M e d i t e r r a n e a n . T h u s the main area of activity d u r i n g early M a y looked set to occur over the vital sea lanes. O n C r e t e activity would tend t o centre a r o u n d t h e two main airfields, M a l e m e and H e r a k l i o n , where not only the fighter a n d anti-aircraft defences but also the early-warning r a d a r service w a s being improved. 252 A M E S at M a l e m e was already fully o p e r a t i o n a l at the start of M a y , but 220 A M E S at H e r a k l i o n was still being installed, t h e speed of events having o v e r t a k e n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o g r a m m e . F r o m the former field Hurricanes, F u l m a r s , Sea G l a d i a t o r s and Blenheim fighters m a i n t a i n e d c o n t i n u o u s patrols over S u d a Bay on the first day of the new m o n t h , a l t h o u g h n o c o n t a c t was m a d e with reported intruding reconnaissance aircraft. O t h e r G l a d i a t o r s of 112 S q u a d r o n patrolled over t h e H e r a k l i o n area, but all was quiet, despite the closeness of Italian units in this area, which were now being strengthened by t h e arrival of H e l l Is of I I / K G 4, which were flying in to G a d u r r a airfield on Rhodes. H e r a k l i o n noted the arrival of a single p h o t o - r e c o n n a i s s a n c e H u r r i c a n e f r o m 2 P R U in Egypt. V7428, which was flown by Fit Lt A C P e a r s o n , was fitted with three 14-inch c a m e r a s ; the u n a r m e d aircraft was t o carry out a sortie over Rhodes, but on arrival in t h e target area, it e n c o u n t e r e d a n u m b e r of patrolling C R 42s, P e a r s o n being obliged t o a b a n d o n his mission a n d r e t u r n t o Egypt. T h e only other e n g a g e m e n t this d a y occurred over the sea where the First Battle S q u a d r o n was patrolling s o u t h e r n waters. In t h e c o u r s e of t h e d a y o n e section of F u l m a r s f r o m Formidable, which were providing cover, were vectored o n t o a hostile plot, Lt Peever a n d Pty Off (A) W T Chatfield e n c o u n t e r i n g a lone Ju88 - obviously a reconnaissance aircraft - which b o t h a t t a c k e d . Withering return fire hit Peever's aircraft, which suffered d a m a g e t o the rear fuselage a n d t o the observer's c o m p a r t m e n t , a l t h o u g h Pty Off (A) F C o s t o n , the T A G , escaped injury. Chatfield then got in a good burst as t h e J u n k e r s b r o k e away, but n o d a m a g e was actually caused. S t r o n g winds which whipped u p dust s t o r m s over C r e t e reduced flying on 2 313
May, only a few uneventful patrols being u n d e r t a k e n . T h e plan for t h e e m p l o y ment of the H u r r i c a n e s was t o m a i n t a i n aircraft at readiness. O n early w a r n i n g of enemy aircraft being plotted o n e aircraft would c o m e t o s t a n d b y ; if enemy aircraft a p p r o a c h e d the island, a n d were positively identified as hostile, the s t a n d b y aircraft would take-off. D u r i n g periods of congestion at S u d a Bay, when u n l o a d i n g ships, s t a n d i n g patrols were maintained. T h e periods of readiness were a great strain on the pilots, and it was deemed desirable t o pool pilots of t h e units at M a l e m e t o relieve t h e burden. Lt C d r Black offered 33 S q u a d r o n t h e services of a n u m b e r of his m o r e experienced pilots, a n d over t h e next few d a y s half a dozen of the N a v y pilots familiarized themselves with the H u r r i c a n e . T h e s t o r m y c o n d i t i o n s this d a y allowed urgently needed servicing t o be carried out, while f r o m M a l e m e o n e unserviceable F u l m a r was flown back to Egypt, leaving just six of these fighters on the island, n o n e of t h e m in t h e best of condition. A n o t h e r F u l m a r , this one f r o m 803 S q u a d r o n on Formidable, was forced t o ditch while on patrol, t h e crew being rescued by escorting destroyer H M S Waterhen. T h e carrier and the Battle S q u a d r o n would return t o Alexandria next day. Next m o r n i n g Luftwaffe intrusions over C r e t e resumed, s p o r a d i c a t t a c k s being m a d e on S u d a Bay t h r o u g h o u t the day. M o s t of these intrusions were by small g r o u p s of aircraft, but at 1440 an estimated 24 b o m b e r s - Ju88s of I / K G 5 1 a n d I / L G 1 - arrived overhead t o b o m b a n d d a m a g e a supply vessel. F o u r H u r r i c a n e s a n d a Sea G l a d i a t o r (N5567) were scrambled, C a p t H a r r i s in the latter aircraft intercepting three of the b o m b e r s but finding to his chagrin t h a t only o n e of his g u n s would fire. T h e H u r r i c a n e pilots enjoyed m o r e success; Sgt G e n d e r s in V7800 claimed t w o J u n k e r s shot d o w n a n d t w o others d a m a g e d , Fig Off W o o d s (V7461) claimed o n e and o n e d a m a g e d , Fig Off M o i r a p r o b a b l e a n d Fig Off N e w t o n o n e m o r e d a m a g e d . AA gun teams a r o u n d S u d a Bay submitted t w o further claims for b o m b e r s destroyed but t h e aircraft seen falling were p r o b a b l y those d o w n e d by the Hurricanes. In the event t w o aircraft f r o m 1 Staffel of K G 51 were lost, F w F a n d e r l ' s 9K + L H crashing o n the island, whilst Lt Rudolf O r t n e r ' s 9K + G H went into the sea off Suda Bay, the pilot at least being rescued. Interrogation of prisoners established that 1 / K G 51 had only arrived at K r u m o v o on 18 April with eight aircraft, only three of which had survived to participate in this raid. A n o t h e r a t t e m p t t o r e c o n n o i t r e R h o d e s was m a d e by a 2 P R U H u r r i c a n e , this time V7823 in the h a n d s of Fit Lt Brown, but again the mission was aborted owing t o heavy cloud. Next m o r n i n g a Blenheim f r o m 30 S q u a d r o n reconnoitred Piraeus h a r b o u r t o check on the n u m b e r of ships present, but n o m o v e m e n t s were observed. T h e aircraft overflew Hassani airfield where a n u m b e r of aircraft were seen which had been well-dispersed. W i t h weather m o r e sultry t h a n had been t h e case over recent days, t h e intrusions over S u d a Bay c o n t i n u e d on 4 M a y , 16 J u 8 8 s a p p e a r i n g at a b o u t 1800 hours. T h e supply ship d a m a g e d d u r i n g the previous d a y ' s raid was n o w sunk, while o n e of the AA g u n positions was also hit a n d t w o m e m b e r s of the g u n crew were w o u n d e d . F o u r H u r r i c a n e s and a F u l m a r were scrambled, Lt Brabner in the N a v a l fighter claiming o n e b o m b e r shot d o w n over the Bay, while the 314
H u r r i c a n e s chased the o t h e r s off t o the n o r t h . Fig Off N e w t o n claimed o n e p r o b a b l e , Fig Off W o o d s (V7461) a n d Fig Off N o e l - J o h n s o n (V7826) each claiming t w o d a m a g e d , only breaking off and r e t u r n i n g w h e n t h e s o u t h e r n extremities of the G r e e k mainland appeared below. T w o m o r e b o m b e r s were claimed d a m a g e d by t h e guns. D u r i n g this attack o n e J u 8 8 f r o m I / K G 51 was badly d a m a g e d - possibly by Brabner - a n d crashed at K r u m o v o on return and was destroyed. O n e m o r e b o m b e r f r o m I / L G 1 was also hit, landing at Eleusis with a dead engine.
A new arrival with 33 S q u a d r o n late in the c a m p a i g n w a s Fig OfT G e o r g e N o e l - J o h n s o n . (Mrs
K
Noel-Johnson)
F r o m H e r a k l i o n t h e P R U H u r r i c a n e at last accomplished its reconnaissance of R h o d e s and returned to Egypt with its p h o t o g r a p h s . At sea Luftwaffe b o m b e r s attacked and sank a m e r c h a n t vessel between Piraeus a n d Istanbul (Turkey). T h i s turned out to be a neutral T u r k i s h ship, the 2485-ton Trahzon. F o r the first time in some d a y s t h e R A F Wellingtons were over t h e area by night, t w o b o m b e r s f r o m 148 S q u a d r o n out of F u k a raiding K a t t a v i a and G a d u r r a airfields on Rhodes, a S.79 being d a m a g e d at the latter location. T h e G e r m a n s also operated by night 24 h o u r s later (5/6 May), H e l l l s of I I / K G 4 f r o m G a d u r r a d r o p p i n g mines in Alexandria h a r b o u r a n d t h e Suez C a n a l . Meanwhile on 5 M a y Ju88s again appeared over S u d a Bay in small n u m b e r s , but now also a p p r o a c h e d the Heraklion area. H u r r i c a n e s were u p f r o m Maleme, Fig Off N o e l - J o h n s o n m a k i n g c o n t a c t with a lone aircraft but u n a b l e t o get 315
within firing r a n g e . A m o n g s t t h e p a t r o l s flown, o n e H u r r i c a n e w a s piloted by C a p t H a r r i s of 805 S q u a d r o n b u t n o e n e m y a i r c r a f t were seen. It w a s n o t until t h e early e v e n i n g t h a t a n effective i n t e r c e p t i o n w a s m a d e , Fig Off Vale (V7181) c a t c h i n g a J u 8 8 over the Bay a n d c l a i m i n g it s h o t d o w n ; he a l s o c l a i m e d a second as d a m a g e d , b u t n o b o m b e r s of t h i s t y p e w e r e r e c o r d e d as lost o n t h i s d a t e . O v e r the H e r a k l i o n sector J u 8 8 s were i n t e r c e p t e d by t w o 112 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r s flown by C a n a d i a n Pit Off L L Bartley a n d Pit Off J e r r y W e s t e n r a , the N e w Z e a l a n d e r , e a c h pilot c l a i m i n g a b o m b e r d a m a g e d . O n a solo p a t r o l Sgt R a l p h W a r e , recently a t t a c h e d t o t h e u n i t , i n t e r c e p t e d a r e c o n n a i s s a n c e S.79 high over the airfield a n d claimed it p r o b a b l y s h o t d o w n , t h i s a c t i o n a p p a r e n t l y b e i n g c o n f i r m e d b y a r m y witnesses. P a t r o l s c o n t i n u e d o v e r t h e a p p r o a c h e s t o t h e island next d a y , b u t w i t h o u t a n y e n g a g e m e n t s o c c u r r i n g . O n this d a t e a 230 S q u a d r o n S u n d e r l a n d flew o u t six m e m b e r s of t h e G r e e k R o y a l F a m i l y a n d nineteen o t h e r p e r s o n n e l t o E g y p t . T h e K i n g h o w e v e r declined t o leave.
The 'Tiger' Convoy Operation O n 6 M a y Formidable a n d t h e five c r u i s e r s of t h e First Battle S q u a d r o n p u t t o sea f r o m A l e x a n d r i a for their p a r t in the ' T i g e r ' C o n v o y o p e r a t i o n . D u e t o the p r e v i o u s n i g h t ' s aerial m i n i n g , t h e ships h a d t o be led o u t of h a r b o u r individually by m i n e s w e e p e r s , a l t h o u g h D W I W e l l i n g t o n s (fitted with d e - g a u s s i n g r i n g s O f r o m 1 G R U w e r e being e m p l o y e d t o e x p l o d e the m a g n e t i c m i n e s w h i c h t h e G e r m a n b o m b e r s h a d laid. H a v i n g j o i n e d the d e s t r o y e r e s c o r t o u t s i d e h a r b o u r , Formidable flew o n her Air G r o u p , w h i c h i n c l u d e d F u l m a r s of b o t h 803 a n d 806 S q u a d r o n s . T h e initial task of the S q u a d r o n w a s t o e s c o r t f o u r large m e r c h a n t vessels a n d t w o t a n k e r s , c a r r y i n g 24 0 0 0 t o n s of fuel, t o M a l t a . ' T i g e r ' C o n v o y w a s a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m t h e west m e a n w h i l e , e s c o r t e d by F o r c e ' H ' f r o m G i b r a l t a r . R e n d e z v o u s w a s t o be m a d e n e a r M a l t a , a n d t h e five big f r e i g h t e r s escorted t o A l e x a n d r i a . H a l f w a y t o t h e island r e n d e z v o u s , Ajax a n d t h r e e d e s t r o y e r s were d e t a c h e d t o b o m b a r d Benghazi by night (7/8 M a y ) , h a r b o u r i n s t a l l a t i o n s a n d s h i p p i n g b e i n g successfully s h o t - u p . W h i l e r e t u r n i n g t o r e j o i n the m a i n force, these w a r s h i p s e n c o u n t e r e d t w o Axis t r a n s p o r t s , o n e of w h i c h blew u p violently when a t t a c k e d , t h e s e c o n d r u n n i n g a s h o r e a n d being left in flames. Very p o o r visibility a n d o c c a s i o n a l rain f r u s t r a t e d m a n y efforts by t h e Luftwaffe's r e c o n n a i s s a n c e aircraft t o find the fleet o n the 8th. F r e q u e n t r a d a r p l o t s indicated t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e searchers, r a d i o i n t e r c e p t s i n d i c a t i n g t h e o c c a s i o n a l fleeting s i g h t i n g s w h i c h w e r e achieved. D u r i n g the early p a r t of the m o r n i n g Blue S e c t i o n of 803 S q u a d r o n w a s v e c t o r e d o n t o t w o Italian b o m b e r s , identified as C a n t Z . 1007s. B o t h w e r e engaged a n d b o t h believed s h o t d o w n . R e c o r d e d L / A i r T i m D o o l e y , T A G in S u b Lt W a l l a c e ' s N 1 9 1 3 : ' W e circled r o u n d a n d w a t c h e d o u r target dive i n t o t h e sea; t h e r e w a s n o sign of o u r leader (Lt P e e v e r / P t y Off (A) C o s t o n ) - t h e last I saw of t h e m they w e r e following their target d o w n , still k n o c k i n g pieces off it.' T h e F u l m a r failed t o r e t u r n a n d w a s a s s u m e d s h o t d o w n by r e t u r n fire f r o m its victim. Early in t h e a f t e r n o o n r a d a r indicated t h a t a n u m b e r of e n e m y a i r c r a f t w e r e 316
a p p r o a c h i n g and t w o sections of F u l m a r s were scrambled t o join 806 S q u a d r o n ' s W h i t e Section (Lt M a c D o n a l d - H a l l and his T A G , L/Air H a r r y Phillips, in N1990, with Lt T o u c h b o u r n e flying as W h i t e 2 in N1865) which was already airborne. M a c D o n a l d - H a l l recalls: ' W e c a m e across two H e l l Is. T h e first of which 1 r a t h e r stupidly flew in f o r m a t i o n with some 50 y a r d s behind, but m a n a g e d to b l o w - u p the Heinkel's s t a r b o a r d engine, t h e debris of which being glycol a n d fuel, s m o t h e r e d my cockpit and I watched it cartwheel d o w n and hit the sea. I then rejoined T o u c h b o u r n e a n d we harrassed, attacked and shot d o w n t h e other Heinkel p r i o r t o returning t o Formidable. My hydraulics had been d a m a g e d and the s t a r b o a r d wheel would not c o m e d o w n , a n d the port wing w a s badly d a m a g e d by t h e rear-gunner's fire, as w a s the p o r t tyre. I landed with o n e leg d o w n , the other retracted and the wheel deflated.' M e a n w h i l e G r e e n Section of 803 S q u a d r o n (Lt Bruen a n d Lt G o d d e n in N1951, with S u b Lt Richards flying G r e e n 2) intercepted a n o t h e r H e l l l which Bruen shot d o w n . A f o u r t h Heinkel was claimed by a n o t h e r 806 S q u a d r o n section, shot d o w n into t h e sea by Lt L S Hill; his No.2, Lt G B Davie (late of 805 S q u a d r o n ) crashed into t h e sea on r e t u r n i n g t o t h e carrier, only the T A G surviving. T h e claims m a d e were very accurate, and it a p p e a r s that W h i t e Section's victims were p r o b a b l y b o t h aircraft of 6 Staffel, K G 2 6 - 1 H + A P flown by O f w Willi Kleinknecht a n d 1H -l-FB (Obit H e r m a n n Pfeil). T h e r e were n o survivors. O n e of the o t h e r Heinkels was f r o m 4 Staffel (Obit E b e r h a r d Stiiwe's 1H + BC), t h e o t h e r f r o m 5 Staffel, 1H + F N flown by Obit M a x Voigt; t h e crews perished. T h e s e b o m b e r s had been despatched t o attack the Suez area. L a t e r in t h e a f t e r n o o n t w o sections f r o m 806 S q u a d r o n e n c o u n t e r e d J u 8 8 'snoopers', Lts Henley a n d S p a r k e believing they had shot d o w n an aircraft of 2(F)/123 off C a p Passero. In fact they had d a m a g e d it, w o u n d i n g t w o m e m b e r s of t h e crew, but it regained its base at C a t a n i a , Sicily. Lts M a c D o n a l d - H a l l a n d T o u c h b o u r n e were u p again t o w a r d s the end of the d a y a n d they t o o engaged a lone Ju88, r e p o r t i n g t h a t it h a d crashed into t h e sea with n o survivors following their a t t a c k . T h e bad w e a t h e r which had saved the fleet f r o m sustained air attack also had tragic consequences for a n u m b e r of Formidable's aircraft. T w o Albacores on a n t i - s u b m a r i n e a n d reconnaissance patrols were lost, only o n e crew being rescued, while a F u l m a r crewed by P t y Off (A) Chatfield and L/Air C F N o r m a n crashed into the sea with the loss of both men. D u r i n g t h e d a y M a r y l a n d s of 39 S q u a d r o n at F u k a u n d e r t o o k a n u m b e r of maritime reconnaissance sorties to the south a n d n o r t h of the fleet, but t w o were lost. A H 2 9 6 , flown by Lt A U M Campbell, S A A F , was intercepted by a B f l 0 9 E of 3/JG 27 f r o m G a z a l a (piloted by H p t G e r h a r d H o m u t h ) while flying n e a r t h e N o r t h African coast between Bardia and T o b r u k , and was shot d o w n into the sea off D e r n a with the loss of all a b o a r d . Pit Off J W Best had instructions to land A H 2 8 1 at M a l t a on c o m p l e t i o n of his sortie t o the n o r t h of the ships, but d u e t o technical difficulties, he was forced t o c o m e d o w n at M e t h o n e on the s o u t h e r n tip of t h e Peloponnese, n e a r C a p e Akritas, where the crew was c a p t u r e d . ( O n e g u n n e r . Sgt J A Q u i t z o w , later escaped f r o m the P O W c a m p at Salonika a n d got back t o Egypt.) 317
F a r to the west 'Tiger' C o n v o y and Force ' H ' also c a m e u n d e r intense attack by G e r m a n and Italian aircraft f r o m Sardinia and Sicily. D u r i n g these actions, five Axis aircraft were claimed shot d o w n by F u l m a r s f r o m H M S Ark Royal for the loss of two fighters a n d o n e crew. T h a t night however o n e of t h e freighters was badly d a m a g e d by a mine and blew u p some h o u r s later. T h e crew were taken off, but 57 t a n k s a n d ten crated H u r r i c a n e s went d o w n with t h e ship. A second vessel w a s slightly d a m a g e d by the explosion of a mine c a u g h t by her mine-sweeping p a r a v a n e . By 0800 on 9 M a y t h e First Battle S q u a d r o n was 120 miles t o the s o u t h of M a l t a , while 'Tiger' C o n v o y was 90 miles t o the west. T h e weather remained uncertain, with m a n y fog patches and visibility less t h a n two miles. By early a f t e r n o o n the fuel c o n v o y f r o m Alexandria had safely reached the island, a n d at 1515 'Tiger' C o n v o y and escorting destroyers joined forces with t h e Battle S q u a d r o n some 40 miles off M a l t a . Axis aircraft searched all day, but the only c o n t a c t c a m e when Lts Henley and S p a r k e of 806 S q u a d r o n again c a u g h t a reconnaissance Ju88, this time a machine f r o m 1(F)/121, which they attacked and badly d a m a g e d ; the J u n k e r s crashed on return t o C a t a n i a and was totally destroyed, a l t h o u g h t h e crew survived. At 1600 o n e of the searchers at last located t h e ships, but n o attack developed before d a r k n e s s fell. T h e ' s n o o p e r s ' were out in force next m o r n i n g , but in variable visibility they experienced t r o u b l e in m a i n t a i n i n g contact when sightings were made. Similarly patrolling F u l m a r s were u n a b l e t o achieve any effective interceptions. A H e l l l sighted and pursued by Lts M a c D o n a l d - H a l l and T o u c h b o u r n e disappeared into the murk before they could get within range. A little later the a p p r o a c h of a n o t h e r hostile caused a scramble t o be ordered, but as Lt T o u c h b o u r n e ' s N 1 8 6 5 was boosted off by c a t a p u l t the aircraft crashed over the s t a r b o a r d side, b o t h the pilot a n d his T A G , L/Air C H T h o m p s o n , perishing. As a result of this fatal accident the r e m a i n i n g crews were not keen to m a k e use of the booster in spite of assurances f r o m engineers. In an effort t o raise m o r a l e a n d restore confidence, t h e C o m m a n d e r (Flying), C d r C J N Atkinson, allowed himself to be boosted off even t h o u g h he had n o t flown a F u l m a r before. N o t long after this there was w a r n i n g of enemy aircraft in the area and three sections of F u l m a r s were ranged for take-off, t h e booster being used. In the last aircraft was newly-attached S u b Lt Basil Sinclair (ex 805 S q u a d r o n ) a n d his T A G , L/Air F r e d d y d e Frias, w h o recalled: 'I asked him (Sinclair) if we were t o be boosted - " S h o u l d n ' t think so. I've only got eight h o u r s o n F u l m a r s and I've never d o n e a booster. They'll p r o b a b l y s h o o t off the o t h e r s and then we'll d o a n o r m a l take-off." I relaxed but was soon shaken when we were waved u p t o the loading position. Sinclair must have m a d e some frantic signals because he throttled back and the Flight Deck Officer h o p p e d u p on t o t h e stub plane. I heard everything t h r o u g h the intercom which Sinclair had left on. " W h a t ' s the snag?" (enquired the F D O ) " N o n e except I've never been boosted or even had a briefing" (replied Sinclair) " N o time t o argue, there's a gaggle (of enemy aircraft) on the plot. Listen, when you are on the trolley I'll wind you up. G e t your s t r a p s as tight as you can. N o r m a l take-off flaps a n d course pitch. Let the stick centre itself, put y o u r hand behind it a n d tuck y o u r elbow into your guts. O p e n the throttle t o full take-off power and tighten u p the 318
screw. T h e n lift y o u r left h a n d a n d p u t y o u r h e a d b a c k a g a i n s t the p a d . W h e n y o u d r o p y o u r h a n d I'll give y o u a m o m e n t t o p u t it at t h e back of t h e t h r o t t l e so it w o n ' t close, t h e n off y o u go!" I sat t h e r e horrified. In m y m i n d I still h a d the p i c t u r e of t h e F u l m a r w h i c h h a d p r a n g e d off t h e b o o s t e r f l o a t i n g d o w n t h e s t a r b o a r d side w i t h t h e T A G s t r a p p e d in the rear seat, w h i c h h a d c o m e a d r i f t , with his h e a d at a n o d d a n g l e a n d o b v i o u s l y d e a d . T h e pilot h a d s l u m p e d f o r w a r d b u t a p p e a r e d t o be m o v i n g a bit. T h e n it s a n k as it r e a c h e d the stern a n d the p l a n e g u a r d h a d n ' t picked u p a n y t h i n g . W e w e r e n o w m o u n t e d on the b o o s t e r c a r r i a g e a n d the e n g i n e r o a r e d . I saw the o p e r a t o r p u s h t h e lever a n d felt the u s u a l r u s h of b l o o d t o m y face. T h e r e w a s a yell f r o m u p f r o n t a n d m y h a n d flew t o t h e c a n o p y - j e t t i s o n h a n d l e . But it w a s only Sinclair yelling "It w o r k s ! It works!"' Still b a d visibility c o n t i n u e d to p r o t e c t t h e fleet, a n d only o n e f u r t h e r e n g a g e m e n t w a s t o o c c u r as t h e vessels n e a r e d A l e x a n d r i a on 11 M a y . O n c e a g a i n L t s H e n l e y a n d S p a r k e w e r e involved, this intrepid pair a t t a c k i n g a f o r m a t i o n of J u 8 8 s f r o m II a n d I I I / L G 1. E a c h selected a t a r g e t , H e n l e y a t t a c k i n g a n a i r c r a f t f r o m 5 Staffel, his fire w o u n d i n g t h e g u n n e r , O g f r H o r s t G o l d n e r . S p a r k e m e a n w h i l e closed t o very s h o r t r a n g e on O f w O t t o Engel's L I -FIR f r o m 7 Staffel, b u t either collided with, o r w a s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y s h o t d o w n by, t h e b o m b e r , t h e t w o a i r c r a f t falling t o g e t h e r i n t o the sea. O n l y o n e p a r a c h u t e w a s seen by H e n l e y w h o t h e n failed t o locate its o c c u p a n t in t h e sea. A c c o r d i n g t o r e p o r t s , Lt C d r E v a n s , volatile c o m m a n d e r of 806 S q u a d r o n , d e m a n d e d t h a t a s e a r c h b e m a d e as sea c o n d i t i o n s w e r e very slight a n d oily c a l m . H e c o n s i d e r e d t h a t if J u l i a n S p a r k e or his T A G , L / A i r A r t h u r R u s h , h a d baled o u t , o r if their a i r c r a f t h a d f o r c e - l a n d e d , t h e r e w a s a very g o o d c h a n c e t h a t they w o u l d be f o u n d . C a p t a i n Bisset h o w e v e r refused t o allow such a search as it w a s a l r e a d y late a f t e r n o o n , a n d t h e d a n g e r s i n h e r e n t in a l l o w i n g t h e c a r r i e r t o slow d o w n while a search was m a d e r e q u i r e d him t o p u t t h e safety of t h e ship, its e s c o r t s a n d the c o n v o y first. T h e m o r a l e of the aircrew a b o a r d w a s b a d l y affected by t h i s ruling. L a t e o n t h e m o r n i n g of 12 M a y t h e r e f o r e , ' T i g e r ' C o n v o y a n d t h e First Battle S q u a d r o n s t e a m e d i n t o A l e x a n d r i a , c a r r y i n g 2 3 8 t a n k s a n d 43 H u r r i c a n e s for Wavell's forces. T e n of the fighters w o u l d be f l o w n t o C r e t e d u r i n g the f o l l o w i n g week for issue t o 33 a n d 112 S q u a d r o n s . T h e relatively heavy a t t r i t i o n suffered by t h e F u l m a r s d u r i n g this o p e r a t i o n left o n l y a few serviceable a b o a r d t h e c a r r i e r , a n d until o t h e r s c o u l d be r e n d e r e d so, Formidable w o u l d be u n a b l e t o p u t t o sea t o escort w a r s h i p s a n d c o n v o y s between E g y p t a n d C r e t e . O n a r r i v a l in p o r t C h a r l e s E v a n s w a s rested f r o m his l o n g spell a s c o m m a n d i n g officer of 806 S q u a d r o n , this unit b e i n g t a k e n o v e r by Lt C d r J N G a r n e t t , a f o r m e r S w o r d f i s h pilot with 830 S q u a d r o n o n M a l t a , w h o h a d recently c o m m a n d e d the S e a G l a d i a t o r F l i g h t a b o a r d H M S Eagle.
Continued Defence of Crete W h i l e t h e s e a c t i o n s o v e r t h e sea h a d been u n d e r w a y , o p e r a t i o n s a r o u n d C r e t e h a d c o n t i n u e d in a d e s u l t o r y f a s h i o n , daily p a t r o l s n e t t i n g n o e n g a g e m e n t s 319
between 7 a n d 10 M a y . D u r i n g this period five unserviceable Blenheims were flown out t o Egypt for c o m p l e t e overhaul, while 805 S q u a d r o n was further depleted in like m a n n e r , three F u l m a r s a n d t w o Sea G l a d i a t o r s leaving on t h e 8th, o n e m o r e F u l m a r on the 10th, a n d a n o t h e r Sea G l a d i a t o r next day. T h i s left the unit with just t w o F u l m a r s a n d four Sea G l a d i a t o r s ; of t h e three Buffalos t w o were unserviceable, the other badly d a m a g e d . O n 8 M a y meanwhile C o n v o y A N 30, four m e r c h a n t m e n en r o u t e t o Crete - were subjected t o an evening attack south of the K a s o Strait by H e l l Is of K G 2 6 . A t o r p e d o struck the 4998-ton Rawnsley, leaving her badly d a m a g e d a n d c a p a b l e only of eight knots. T a k e n in tow by the armed trawler Grimsby a n d escorted by the destroyer Waterhen, she reached H i e r a p e t r a Bay in south-east Crete, where she was a n c h o r e d . She was heavily b o m b e d next evening and sank d u r i n g the m o r n i n g of 12 M a y . Finally, d u r i n g the evening of the 11th five Bfl 10s of I I / Z G 76, which had arrived at A r g o s f r o m N o r t h G e r m a n y four d a y s earlier, swept in over Heraklion airfield t o strafe. Insufficient w a r n i n g allowed only a single 112 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r to get into the air, but Bofors and Lewis g u n n e r s opened fire as the Zerstorer swept r o u n d t h e airfield. As they completed their circuit, Pit Off Bowker attacked one and a low level dogfight c o m m e n c e d , d u r i n g which the lone G l a d i a t o r pilot a t t e m p t e d to lead his o p p o n e n t s over t h e gun positions. After a few m i n u t e s the Bfl 10s m a d e off t o the north-west, Bowker landing t o claim o n e p r o b a b l y shot d o w n . N e x t d a y o n e of 2 P R U ' s H u r r i c a n e s again arrived at this airfield prior t o m a k i n g a reconnaissance of the G r e e k airfields at Hassani, Eleusis, Menidi a n d Argos, and of t h e C o r i n t h C a n a l , where n o sign of any obstruction was n o t e d . At M a l e m e t h e c o m p o s i t i o n of the fighter defence n o w u n d e r w e n t a c o m p l e t e c h a n g e when W g C d r F r a n c i s landed his 230 S q u a d r o n S u n d e r l a n d in S u d a Bay, bringing with him Sqn Ldr E A Howell t o t a k e over c o m m a n d of 33 S q u a d r o n , together with three relatively inexperienced pilots, Fig Off A R Butcher, a f o r m e r 112 S q u a d r o n pilot, and Sgts Butterick and Leveridge, w h o had joined t h e unit in Greece but had been evacuated back t o Egypt. T h e m a j o r i t y of the unit's pilots were n o w a b o u t t o leave, a s it was intended that m o r e replacements would soon fly in with new Hurricanes. Of t h e originals, only Fit Lt W o o d w a r d a n d Pit Off D u n s c o m b e would remain, together with the ex-1430 Flight pilot, Fit Lt Mitchell. T h e new c o m m a n d i n g officer, Sqn Ldr Howell, w a s a highly experienced fighter pilot and former instructor, w h o had not however flown on operations, n o r even flown a H u r r i c a n e . Next d a y W g C d r F r a n c i s e m b a r k e d as m a n y passengers as it was possible t o c r a m i n t o the S u n d e r l a n d (T9050), every space being occupied until 74 were a b o a r d as well as the t e n - m a n crew; this even included six s t a n d i n g in the lavatory! M o s t of these evacuees were aircrew, including the seven d e p a r t i n g 33 S q u a d r o n pilots, a n u m b e r of Blenheim crews, including Fit Lt Rixson of 113 S q u a d r o n , a n d C a p t J a m e s Roosevelt, son of the U S President, w h o had been in Greece a n d C r e t e as a 'Military observer and adviser!'. It is interesting t o n o t e that d u e t o the s h o r t a g e of trained and experienced aircrew in Egypt, o r d e r s had been issued re priorities for evacuation, indicating o r d e r s of preference beginning with Blenheim pilots, then Wellington pilots, followed by H u r r i c a n e pilots. 320
A m o n g s t t h e crew members, r a d i o o p e r a t o r s were t o be given priority over air gunners, then observers. After aircrew, engineer officers were the next most i m p o r t a n t category, followed by cypher and signals officers a n d airmen. Accounts officers, c a r p e n t e r s and metal w o r k e r s were b o t t o m of the list! T h u s laden, W g C d r F r a n c i s had t r o u b l e getting the Sunderland into the air, t h e big flyingboat, having the largest n u m b e r of persons ever to be carried in such an aircraft, requiring some three miles run before it finally lifted f r o m t h e water. At M a l e m e patrols c o n t i n u e d , but high-flying reconnaissance aircraft were not t o be intercepted on 13 May. At 1100 on this d a t e Pit Off D u n s c o m b e overshot the r u n w a y while c o m i n g in to land f r o m a practice flight, c r a s h - l a n d i n g H u r r i c a n e V7800 a n d d a m a g i n g it. This serious loss w a s s o m e w h a t offset by t h e arrival of t w o replacement aircraft (V7714 a n d W9298) in the h a n d s of Sgts C D Ripsher, a Scot, a n d W e l s h m a n Glawil Reynish, w h o were led t o the island by a 30 S q u a d r o n Blenheim; b o t h men remained to strengthen 33 S q u a d r o n . A n u m b e r of aircraft pens had by now been c o n s t r u c t e d f r o m s a n d b a g s a n d earth-filled petrol d r u m s , while t o provide some defence for the g r o u n d e d Hurricanes, o n e a i r m a n h a d constructed a small gunpit a n d installed a Lewis gun. A n u m b e r of Bofors were sited on either side of the r u n w a y . While 33 S q u a d r o n w a s being rebuilt, Fig Off Bill Vale was o p e r a t i n g virtually as a ' o n e - m a n air force' so far as 80 S q u a d r o n was c o n c e r n e d , with his personal H u r r i c a n e , V7795. T h e only o t h e r m e m b e r of the unit still present was Sgt Bennett, while H u r r i c a n e V7181 was on the unit's strength, a l t h o u g h shared with t h e N a v a l pilots of 805 S q u a d r o n . T h a t same evening at 2000 Vale scrambled in the latter aircraft after an unidentified plot reported flying off the coast. Within 30 minutes he had been vectored o n t o a Ju52 and had landed again, claiming t o have shot this d o w n into the sea. At Heraklion a n u m b e r of aircraft, identified as BfllOs, a t t a c k e d the airfield in a desultory fashion which caused little d a m a g e a n d a few m i n o r casualties t o a r m y personnel. Five G l a d i a t o r s got off, t w o flown by 1430 Flight pilots, but only Pit Off W e s t e n r a was able t o attack, fighting with six of t h e i n t r u d e r s a n d getting in several good bursts, t h o u g h his own fighter was badly shot a b o u t , landing with four m a i n s p a r s shot t h r o u g h , large areas of fabric missing a n d n u m e r o u s bullet holes. T h i s action, witnessed by m a n y of the defenders on the g r o u n d , had proved quite a tonic t o morale. Airfield defence Bofors a n d Lewis g u n s kept u p an intense fire, as did a c o n v o y offshore. This included the D u t c h t r a n s p o r t Nieu Zeeland, carrying t h e Royal M a r i n e s of the 23rd Light AA, w h o put u p such a b a r r a g e that they were able t o report o n e of the low-flying aircraft shot d o w n into the sea. This would seem to have been a reconnaissance B f l l O of Aufklarungsstaffel XI Fliegerkorps, crewed by Uffz Scharlow and O b i t H o l t h o f e r . It would seem that yet again s o m e of the r e p o r t s of BfllOs related t o D o . l 7 s , for on this d a t e U 5 + D K (Lt K a t e r s ) of I / K G 2 failed to return f r o m an attack on H e r a k l i o n , while three m o r e of t h e unit's aircraft returned t o Menidi suffering AA d a m a g e . D u r i n g the nights of 12/13 a n d 13/14 M a y , Wellingtons f r o m 257 W i n g (37, 38, 70 and 148 S q u a d r o n s ) f r o m Egypt were over airfields in G r e e c e and t h e D o d e c a n e s e Islands but results were negligible. C r e t e had not been left free f r o m night raids either, frequent small-scale forays by H e l 1 Is being m a d e f r o m time t o 321
time. A new airstrip c a m e into use by the Luftwaffe, c o n s t r u c t e d on the recentlyoccupied island of Melos. T h e first really serious a t t a c k s on the R A F in C r e t e were launched on 14 M a y , beginning at first light when a n u m b e r of Ju88s b o m b e d S u d a Bay and M a l e m e airfield, six b o m b s falling on the latter target, d a m a g i n g o n e of 30 S q u a d r o n ' s unserviceable Blenheims; the unit's o p e r a t i o n a l aircraft had already been despatched to H e r a k l i o n t o u n d e r t a k e c o n v o y escort sorties. T h e three H u r r i c a n e s at readiness were not ordered off, but at 0600 60 Bfl09s of II and I I I / J G 77 swept over the airfield a n d beach. T h i s time the two fighters piloted by Sgts Ripsher a n d Reynish were scrambled at once, t u r n i n g and twisting t o gain altitude as they c a m e u n d e r a t t a c k . T h e y were quickly followed by Sqn Ldr Howell, w h o was attacked head-on by a g r o u p of five Messerschmitts just as he became airborne. T h e s e flashed past, but o t h e r s then attacked as he gained height, but already t w o aircraft were falling in flames. Sgt Reynish had shot d o w n o n e B f l 0 9 (believed to be t h a t flown by G e f r H a n s G a b l e r of 6 / J G 77) which fell inverted into the hills, but he was then shot d o w n by a n o t h e r , the H u r r i c a n e (V7714) falling blazing into the sea. Reynish, on his first o p e r a t i o n a l sortie, was able t o bale out, but was presumed lost. In fact he m a n a g e d to swim t o w a r d s the shore and after t w o h o u r s was picked u p by a C r e t a n fishing boat. H e finally got back to M a l e m e to find that he had been given u p for dead.
Sqn Ldr E A Howell, 33 Squadron's c o m m a n d i n g officer on Crete during M a y 1941. H e is seen here following his escape from captivity and return to England in 1942. ( W g Cdr E A
322
Howell)
Meanwhile Sqn Ldr Howell, having evaded his attackers, spotted two m o r e Bfl09s flying low over the sea: i went right on the tail of t h e second 109 till I was in close f o r m a t i o n on him,' he later recorded, i could have lifted my nose and touched his tail with my p r o p . . . the H u r r i c a n e shook and s h u d d e r e d as r o u n d s p o u r e d into him, bits b r o k e away a n d a white trail burst f r o m his r a d i a t o r as c o o l a n t c a m e p o u r i n g out. He turned slowly, t o the right in a gentle dive. I w a s determined t o see my first victory confirmed and m a d e the mistake of following him d o w n . I h a d n o difficulty as he was past t a k i n g evasive action a n d I continued p o u r i n g a m m u n i t i o n into him (this was p r o b a b l y Uffz Willi Hagel of 4 Staffel, w h o failed to r e t u r n ) till I noticed tracer c o m i n g past me. T h e other 109 was on my tail. I realised my mistake a n d pulled quickly u p into a t u r n to port, then flick rolled over into a steep turn the o t h e r way a n d found myself c o m i n g in on t h e enemy's q u a r t e r and gave him a burst. . . . W e screamed d o w n together to water level . . . I kept him d o d g i n g in a cloud of bullets a n d spray till I ran out of a m m o . . . he w a s certainly full of holes.' T h e third H u r r i c a n e , W9297 flown by Sgt Ripsher, w a s seen by t h o s e at M a l e m e t o attack Bfl09s flying out t o sea a n d was believed t o have shot o n e d o w n , which hit the sea with a mighty splash (this w a s p r o b a b l y in fact Howell's victim, Uffz Hagel's aircraft). T w o Messerschmitts then latched o n t o Ripsher's' Hurricane, which took d e s p e r a t e evasive action before heading for M a l e m e as the aircraft was repeatedly hit - it is believed by Lt Emil O m e r t of 8 Staffel. Ripsher h a d lowered his u n d e r c a r r i a g e and flaps in an a t t e m p t to land, but tragically the H u r r i c a n e was hit by Bofors fire a n d crashed on the edge of t h e airfield, killing the pilot. O u t of fuel a n d a m m u n i t i o n , Howell landed w9298 at Retimo landing g r o u n d , his non-arrival at M a l e m e being assumed t o indicate his loss also. T h o s e Messerschmitts not engaged with the trio of defenders strafed M a l e m e airfield, o n e unserviceable H u r r i c a n e and the unserviceable F u l m a r going u p in flames, while d o w n on the beach the three Buffalos were all hit. In S u d a Bay a t a n k e r was hit and set on fire, while further u p the coast t h e island's principal t o w n of C a n e a was b o m b e d . Later in the m o r n i n g a further small f o r m a t i o n of Bfl09s repeated t h e a t t a c k , but caused little d a m a g e - there were not m a n y targets left. F o u r H u r r i c a n e s were claimed shot d o w n , o n e by I I / J G 77 a n d three by III G r u p p e (one by Lt von Eichel-Streiber), this unit claiming five m o r e destroyed on the g r o u n d . It w a s then t h e turn of Heraklion, where a b o u t a d o z e n I I / Z G 2 6 BfllOs a p p e a r e d overhead. T w o G l a d i a t o r s were off, Fig Off Stan Reeves of 1430 Flight and Pit Off W e s t e n r a getting airborne. T h e N e w Z e a l a n d e r bounced o n e of the low-flying Zerstorer, t h a t flown by Obit S o p h u s Baagoe, a 14-victory ' E x p e r t e ' from 5 Staffel, t h e aircraft falling into t h e sea just offshore, the pilot and his g u n n e r , O f w Daniel Becker, being killed; this aircraft was also claimed by the Bofors g u n n e r s whose accurate fire b r o u g h t d o w n a second Messerschmitt, 3U -I- E M of 4 Staffel. T h e latter crash-landed half a mile f r o m t h e airfield with the port airscrew, fin a n d r u d d e r all shot away. G e f r Adolf Ketterer a n d his g u n n e r , G e f r H a n s B r o m b a , were b o t h c a p t u r e d . Returning B f l l O pilots claimed four victories; Fig Off Reeves' G l a d i a t o r w a s badly d a m a g e d a n d force-landed. T w o 323
Messerschmitt Bfl IOC Zerstorer of Z G 2 6 pass over Greek caiques while on patrol around the Aegean islands. (Bib fur
Zeit)
m o r e G l a d i a t o r s were d a m a g e d on the g r o u n d . Several of the Bfl 10s had carried bombs, whilst o t h e r s were seen t o jettison long-range t a n k s over the coastline. Little serious d a m a g e resulted f r o m this attack. Just before dusk M a l e m e was again alerted when aircraft were heard a p p r o a c h ing, a n d o n this occasion o n e of the Bofors gun crews obtained a direct hit on a Messerschmitt, which reportedly blew u p and fell into the sea. T h i s was p r o b a b l y Lt von Eichel-Streiber's B f l 0 9 E f r o m I I I / J G 77 which returned heavily d a m a g e d from an evening a t t a c k , d u r i n g which three m o r e aircraft were claimed destroyed on the g r o u n d . Von Eichel-Steiber crashed at M o l a o i on return, his aircraft being written-off. T h e s e a t t a c k s on M a l e m e by Bfl09s m a d e it a p p a r e n t t o G r p C a p t Beamish and his staff that the Luftwaffe was now o p e r a t i n g f r o m bases in the Peloponnese, which m e a n t t h a t further b o m b e r raids would enjoy full fighter protection. T h u s the few d e f e n d i n g H u r r i c a n e s were likely t o become entangled with the Messerschmitts while the b o m b e r s o p e r a t e d u n d i s p u t e d . Beamish and Sqn L d r Howell discussed the possibility of operating H u r r i c a n e s f r o m Egypt, using M a l e m e a n d H e r a k l i o n as advanced bases. T h i s w a s considered impractical in view of the distances involved and the small n u m b e r of fighters available. Howell suggested as an alternative that his small force a t t e m p t t o intercept the incoming b o m b e r s over the G r e e k islands before they met their escorts. T h i s w a s an idea 324
which r e c o m m e n d e d itself to Beamish, once sufficient reinforcing H u r r i c a n e s became available. W h e n d a r k n e s s at last closed in over M a l e m e it b r o u g h t only t e m p o r a r y respite, for three H e l l Is soon a p p e a r e d to attempt a low level attack with 50kg b o m b s a n d machine-gun fire. T h o s e on t h e g r o u n d replied with small-arms fire, and o n e b o m b e r was obviously hit, a large piece of engine cowling clattering d o w n o n t o the airfield where it was retrieved as a t r o p h y . Five Wellingtons f r o m 257 W i n g flew the other way t o attack the Luftwaffe's airfields in s o u t h e r n Greece again. Little d a m a g e resulted a l t h o u g h a n u m b e r of fires were seen following the raid on Menidi, while at Hassani six aircraft were believed destroyed and as m a n y as eighteen fires seen burning. However there is n o record of any Axis aircraft being destroyed or d a m a g e d this night. T h e assault resumed at 0500 on 15 M a y when a single b o m b e r a p p r o a c h e d unobserved and d r o p p e d a stick of b o m b s on Maleme, d a m a g i n g a Blenheim a n d w o u n d i n g three a i r m e n in a lorry. T h e airfield was now b e c o m i n g t o o d a n g e r o u s for these aircraft, a n d an h o u r later the last three serviceable Blenheims d e p a r t e d for Egypt, o n e of t h e m accompanied by an 805 S q u a d r o n Sea G l a d i a t o r . Half way t o M e r s a M a t r u h the G l a d i a t o r ' s engine failed and Lt Peter Scott was obliged t o ditch. T h e Blenheim circled the position, but could see n o sign of the pilot, w h o was n o t found by a 228 S q u a d r o n Sunderland sent out t o pick him up.
D o m i e r D o . l 7 Z b o m b e r s from K G 2 and 3 were to play a considerable part in the attack o n Crete during M a y 1941. (Bib fur
Zeil)
325
N o sooner had the Blenheims gone than an estimated nine Bfl 09s swooped on the airfield, s h o o t i n g u p dispersed aircraft and gun positions, while a second Staffel circled a b o v e at 3—4000 feet, and a n o t h e r at 10 000 feet as t o p cover. Fit Lt V e r n o n W o o d w a r d , w h o s e D F C had just been a n n o u n c e d , w a s at readiness, and recalled: 'I started my aircraft a n d seconds later whilst c o m m e n c i n g t o taxi the engine stopped and burst into flames. I j u m p e d out and dashed to a s t a n d b y aircraft (partially u/s 1 recall). N o time t o fasten p a r a c h u t e or harness - again a t t e m p t ed to get a i r b o r n e , but as I gained g r o u n d speed there were t w o 109s firing at me f r o m 6 0 0 - 8 0 0 yards - I almost m a d e it, but flames again, so u p u n d e r c a r r i a g e and skid to a s t o p a n d exit very smartly t o cover in a ditch off the edge of the airstrip. F r a n k l y I'd had e n o u g h for o n e d a y - it had t o be the most u n c o m f o r t able few m i n u t e s of my life - if there is such a thing as a " g u a r d i a n angel" he was w o r k i n g o v e r t i m e t h a t d a y on my behalf!' A Sea G l a d i a t o r also a t t e m p t e d to take-off, but tipped over, t r a p p i n g the pilot. At once a N e w Z e a l a n d soldier rushed t o his aid a n d freed him, but t h e Messerschmitts then p r o m p t l y shot u p this aircraft a n d a second Sea G l a d i a t o r n e a r b y ; t h e wrecked Buffalos also received a further strafing. D u r i n g a lull in the a t t a c k s four further replacement H u r r i c a n e s arrived f r o m M e r s a M a t r u h , flown by 30 S q u a d r o n pilots, guided a n d escorted t o t h e island by a 24 S A A F S q u a d r o n M a r y l a n d . T w o of the fighters (N2610 a n d V7827) landed at M a l e m e for 33 S q u a d r o n , while t h e o t h e r t w o went t o H e r a k l i o n for 112 S q u a d r o n . T h e ferry pilots would not remain and would return to Egypt on a d e p a r t i n g S u n d e r l a n d . A further raid on M a l e m e and S u d a Bay at midday by D o . l 7 s of I I I / K G 2 b r o u g h t a scramble for several Hurricanes, but no contact was m a d e , a l t h o u g h o n e D o r n i e r was hit by AA shrapnel. F o l l o w i n g this attack m o r e aircraft evacuated the airfield; the last remaining Swordfish of 815 S q u a d r o n (P4272 'H'), which had almost been a b a n d o n e d , had been m a d e flyable by t h e a r m a m e n t Officer, Lt Denis Lough, and t h e servicing party. Lough, w h o was also a pilot, decided t o fly t h e aircraft out himself, t a k i n g S u b Lt D o n a l d C o a t e s of 805 S q u a d r o n with him as navigator. It was agreed that they would act as guide for f o u r G r e e k A v r o T u t o r s , each c a r r y i n g three Greek military personnel, t o Egypt. First however, the little f o r m a t i o n had t o fly t o Heraklion, where, D o n a l d C o a t e s recalled: ' W e were fired u p o n by all t h e defences a l o n g the n o r t h coast — n o o n e believed there were any Alliea aircraft left in Crete, let alone a f o r m a t i o n of five! - and had the greatest difficulty in landing.' Next m o r n i n g they set o u t for M e r s a M a t r u h , all arriving safely. Just before dusk M a l e m e w a s subjected to a n o t h e r strafing attack by a dozen Bfl09s, but little f u r t h e r d a m a g e was caused. By night t w o supply ships left S u d a Bay for P o r t Said, t h e Lossiemouth carrying 2000 n o n - c o m b a t a n t t r o o p s f r o m the island. A n u m b e r of warships provided escort, including t h e cruiser Dido, which itself carried £7 000 000 of G r e e k bullion t o safety. Just before d a y b r e a k on 16 M a y , at the n o r t h e r n end of t h e K a s o Strait, Lossiemouth suffered an engine 326
failure, thereby presenting an ideal target to any m a r a u d i n g b o m b e r or submarine. F o r t u n a t e l y t h e engines were soon restarted, and t h e c o n v o y got u n d e r way again. At 1145 five S.79s appeared and subjected the vessel t o a sustained a t t a c k , but while straddled by bombs, she was not hit. Again d a w n on 16 M a y b r o u g h t a resumption of a t t a c k s on Maleme. At 0615 H u r r i c a n e s were scrambled a n d Fig Off Vale in V7795 e n c o u n t e r e d a n u m b e r of Bfl09s, o n e of which he claimed t o have shot d o w n . A m i d d a y scramble b r o u g h t n o further c o m b a t , but at a b o u t 1600 Sqn Ldr Howell set off in N 2 6 1 0 t o carry out a reconnaissance over t h e island of Melos at G r p C a p t Beamish's request. Seeing n o t h i n g hostile on the island after the 20-minute flight f r o m Maleme, he was heading back t o w a r d s C r e t e when he spotted a lone J u 5 2 ( I Z + G X of I V / K G z b V 1, flown by F w Walter Steinbach), flying low over the sea in the o p p o s i t e direction. T h r e e separate attacks were required t o set the port engine and wing on fire, following which the t r i m o t o r t r a n s p o r t turned on its back and fell into t h e sea, n o survivors being seen. C o n t i n u i n g on t o w a r d s Crete, Howell then saw m o r e aircraft below, again flying in the o p p o s i t e direction. T h e s e were Ju87s of I / S t G 2, escorted by BfllOs of I I / Z G 26, which had just attacked M a l e m e and S u d a Bay. Closing on the S t u k a s and c o m i n g u n d e r fire f r o m m a n y rear-gunners, he selected o n e and attacked it, w h e r e u p o n it flicked over on its back and headed t o w a r d s the sea in a vertical dive - p r o b a b l y an evasive tactic. A n u m b e r of Bfl09s n o w took shots at the H u r r i c a n e as they sped past on their way back to Greece, but n o d a m a g e was sustained.
Messerschmitl BH09E 'Black 4'. Ilown by O f w Herbert Perrey of 8 / J G 7 7 after being shot d o w n by Lt A R Ramsay of 805 S q u a d r o n , Fleet Air Arm. near M a l e m e on 16 May, 1941. (iia D H
327
Coates)
M e a n w h i l e all t h e other serviceable 33 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s had been scrambled f r o m M a l e m e , this time flown by t h e N a v a l pilots of 805 S q u a d r o n w h o h a d been on readiness. T h e y soon ran into Bfl09s, f r o m b o t h I(J)/LG 2 a n d I I I / J G 77, Lt Ash being shot d o w n into the sea almost at once a n d w a s killed. Lt Richardson's H u r r i c a n e w a s also seen to be u n d e r a t t a c k , a n d he baled out not far f r o m t h e airfield, his p a r a c h u t e a p p a r e n t l y failing t o open. His body was found by local peasants, w h o laid him in their village church. T h e third pilot, Lt R a m s a y in V7461, e n c o u n t e r e d Bfl 09s of 8 / J G 77 a n d shot d o w n t w o of t h e m , O f w H e r b e r t Perrey's 'Black 4' force-landing on its belly n e a r a village, while Lt H a r a l d M a n n baled out, w o u n d e d , but m a n a g e d t o e v a d e c a p t u r e , R a m s a y ' s H u r r i c a n e was badly d a m a g e d in the fight, a n d he put d o w n at Retimo, causing t h o s e at M a l e m e t o believe that all three 805 S q u a d r o n pilots had been lost. Bill Vale had been on p a t r o l over S u d a Bay in his 80 S q u a d r o n aircraft when t h e raid a p p r o a c h e d , a n d he w a s soon in the thick of the fight. U n a b l e t o prevent the Ju87s a t t a c k i n g the shipping in the Bay on his own, he w a s able t o attack one which he claimed to have shot d o w n , before being a t t a c k e d by Bfl09s which he evaded w i t h o u t d a m a g e . T h i s latest victim raised his personal score t o 28 a n d three s h a r e d , seven of t h e m claimed whilst flying f r o m M a l e m e . T h e t w o Luftwaffe fighter units involved in this raid each claimed t w o victories, o n e of t h o s e by I ( J ) / L G 2 being credited t o Lt G e i s s h a r d t . T h e d i v e - b o m b e r s had caused considerable d a m a g e d u r i n g their a t t a c k . T w o t a n k e r s were hit, the 1 0 6 9 4 - t o n D a n i s h Eleanora Maersk being set alight before she could discharge her cargo, a n d with several of her crew killed, she w a s beached n e a r K a l a m i P o i n t , w h e r e she b u r n e d for five days. T h e British chartered Logician (5993 tons) a n d Arayhank (7258 tons) were b o t h set on fire, the former being a total loss, while three Greek ships were sunk - Nicolaou Ourania (6397 tons), Thermoni (5719 tons) and Kythera (1070 tons). Since t h e start of M a y fifteen supply ships had reached S u d a Bay, but eight of these had been sunk o r d a m a g e d in h a r b o u r , a n d only 15 000 t o n s of stores had actually been offloaded, including just 3000 t o n s of m u n i t i o n s f r o m t h e anticipated total of 27 000 tons. At H e r a k l i o n meanwhile, 112 S q u a d r o n was p r e p a r i n g to put its t w o new H u r r i c a n e s into use, but only three pilots h a d previously flown t h e type, a n d only Fit Lt F r y h a d any real experience. C r e t e w a s hardly the ideal place t o u n d e r t a k e o p e r a t i o n a l training, but most pilots m a n a g e d t o get at least o n e flight between raids. W h e n yet a n o t h e r strafing attack by Bfl 10s a p p r o a c h e d - this time u n d e r t a k e n by thirty aircraft of I and I I / Z G 26 - both H u r r i c a n e s a n d three G l a d i a t o r s were ordered off. F r y in H u r r i c a n e V7857 m a n a g e d t o b o u n c e o n e of eight Messerschmitts at 6000 feet and got s o m e telling hits on Uffz E r h a r d Witzke's 3 U + S M of 4 Staffel. U n f o r t u n a t e l y for him, as he b r o k e a w a y Witzke's gunner, F w K a r l R e i n h a r d t , got an a c c u r a t e burst of fire into the H u r r i c a n e ' s engine and as it streamed glycol, F r y was forced t o bale out. S t r u c k a glancing blow by t h e tailplane as he did so, he landed three miles f r o m t h e airfield with a badly bruised chest. M e a n w h i l e Witzke's Messerschmitt was forced to ditch as he struggled t o get back t o Argos, when t h e d a m a g e d port engine failed. Rescued f r o m the sea by a C r e t a n fishing b o a t , the crew were b r o u g h t back to C r e t e where they were hospitalized. 328
T h e second H u r r i c a n e h a d c o m e u n d e r attack by o t h e r BfllOs, a n d forcelanded after sustaining d a m a g e , but Bofors g u n n e r s of 7th Australian Light AA Battery hit U 8 + M K of 2 Staffel, this aircraft c r a s h i n g into t h e sea with the loss of Uffz Erwin Bauer a n d G f r K a r l - H e i n z H e l d m a n n . At Retimo d u r i n g the d a y a low-flying Henschel H s l 2 6 , p r o b a b l y f r o m 4(H)/22, a p p e a r e d , obviously on reconnaissance. Australian t r o o p s were entrenched in the hills on either side of the airfield, and t w o G r e e k battalions a r o u n d Adhele village, their j o i n t small-arms fire bringing d o w n this aircraft. O n b o a r d were found p h o t o g r a p h s of t h e area which indicated t h a t their positions were so well-concealed that only o n e trench could be seen f r o m the air. D u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n nine Beaufighters of 252 S q u a d r o n , newly arrived in the M i d d l e East f r o m t h e U K , a n d led by Sqn Ldr R G Yaxley, M C , flew f r o m M a l t a to H e r a k l i o n . This followed an appeal by G r p C a p t Beamish t o Middle East H Q for a strike t o be m a d e on s o u t h e r n P e l o p o n n e s e airfields w h e r e t h e deadly Bfl09s were assumed to be located. While they were being p r e p a r e d for a d a w n strike on 17 M a y , Wellingtons also attacked these targets by night, four aircraft f r o m 37 S q u a d r o n and o n e f r o m 70 S q u a d r o n raiding Argos, while eight f r o m 38 S q u a d r o n were briefed t o attack Molaoi. T h e latter proved difficult to find, but was attacked successfully, f o u r aircraft being claimed destroyed here. Five m o r e Wellingtons f r o m 148 S q u a d r o n a t t a c k e d M e n i d i in s o u t h e r n Greece, where violent explosions were seen, a n d it was believed that at least two aircraft had been destroyed. In fact the giant J u n k e r s G 3 8 G F + G G of K G r z b V 172 was destroyed; this four-engined 'flying-wing' m a c h i n e had been pressed into service with t h e Luftwaffe e x - L u f t h a n s a , where it had been registered D - A P I S , a n d carried t h e n a m e 'Generalfeldmarschal von H i n d e n b u r g ' . A H s l 2 6 was also destroyed d u r i n g t h e raid. Finally, two m o r e 38 S q u a d r o n Wellingtons a t t a c k e d M a r i t z a airfield on Rhodes, where t w o Z.1007s, an S.81 a n d a C R 4 2 were d a m a g e d , t o g e t h e r with various buildings, a power station a n d h a n g a r , several vehicles and 21 d r u m s of fuel. Before d a w n on 17 M a y t h e Beaufighters of 252 S q u a d r o n left H e r a k l i o n in three s u b flights of three aircraft each, t o attack Hassani, A r g o s and M o l a o i airfields. Sqn Ldr Yaxley led Fig Off P S Hirst a n d S u b Lt K H o l m e , F A A , t o Hassani, where it was believed some twenty Ju52s were hit; actually o n e of these t r a n s p o r t s f r o m the Transportstaffel VIII F l i e g e r k o r p s w a s destroyed a n d f o u r others of Sanitats-Flug-Bereitschaft 7 quite badly d a m a g e d , but Hirst's aircraft (T3228) was hit by Flak a n d crashed, he and Sgt E R P a y t o n losing their lives. Fit Lt R E Jay's s u b night of Fig Off J C D a v i d s o n and S u b Lt I F Fraser, FAA, went t o A r g o s where Bf 110s of I and I I / Z G 26 were reported lined u p wingtip t o wingtip. 13 of these Z e r s t o r e r were hit, three being destroyed and the other ten d a m a g e d , as was o n e m o r e of I I / Z G 76. T h e final trio - Fig Off J W Blennerhassett, Fig Off G J L e m a r and Fig Off J B H o l g a t e - hit the coastal strip at M o l a o i where a n u m b e r of Bfl09s a n d He 11 Is were believed to have been d a m a g e d . After refuelling at Heraklion the eight surviving Beaufighters returned to M a l t a . While this attack was u n d e r w a y M a l e m e was submitted t o further intense g r o u n d strafing, the last F u l m a r (N1932 'B') a n d last Sea G l a d i a t o r being 329
destroyed. D u r i n g the m a n y such a t t a c k s being e n d u r e d , personnel not required immediately on the airfield retreated to slit trenches prepared in the s u r r o u n d i n g hills; hence casualties were kept t o a m i n i m u m . Early in t h e a f t e r n o o n the three remaining serviceable H u r r i c a n e s were scrambled - V7795 (Fig Off Vale), V7761 (Lt C d r Black) a n d N 2 6 1 0 (flown by a pilot of 33 S q u a d r o n ) - as Ju88s a p p r o a c h e d . Bill Vale claimed d a m a g e t o o n e aircraft on this occasion, but later in t h e d a y he a n d Black were u n a b l e to m a k e an interception when ordered off again. At H e r a k l i o n , d u r i n g a lull in attacks, three m o r e H u r r i c a n e s flew in f r o m Egypt, led by a S o u t h African M a r y l a n d . T h e ferry pilots, also f r o m 30 S q u a d r o n , were t o return to collect further aircraft ready for a n o t h e r reinforcement flight. Several Ju87s f r o m I / S t G 2 at S c a r p a n t o spotted a large vessel in the K a s o Strait a n d dived to a t t a c k . T h e white-painted 7938-ton craft was the hospital ship Aba, which escaped d a m a g e but sent out an urgent SOS. A patrolling S u n d e r l a n d of 228 S q u a d r o n was ordered t o the area, but when Fit Lt J C O G r u n e r t arrived the d i v e - b o m b e r s had already gone. However an aircraft believed t o be a Ju88 was sighted, a n d this a t t e m p t e d to b o m b the low-flying S u n d e r l a n d . T h e cruisers Phoebe, Dido and Coventry were also ordered t o investigate, and shortly after their arrival, their r a d a r indicated an incoming raid. M o r e S t u k a s a p p e a r e d overhead a n d proceeded t o both d i v e - b o m b a n d strafe Aba and Coventry, both of which were near-missed. M a c h i n e - g u n n i n g of the cruiser's deck w o u n d e d several m e m b e r s of t h e crew, including Pty Off A E S e p h t o n , a gun director. Although seriously hurt, S e p h t o n refused medical aid and c o n t i n u e d t o direct the fire of his battery until t h e Ju87s d e p a r t e d . H e succumbed to his w o u n d s next day, subsequently being a w a r d e d a p o s t h u m o u s Victoria Cross. D u r i n g t h e d a y the Luftwaffe lost o n e of its elderly air-sea rescue He60 floatplanes when D I + E K of 2/126 crashed into the sea when out f r o m Scaram a n g a , believed d u e t o an accident r a t h e r than hostile action. T h e pilot, F w Karl W o t t g e w a s killed in the crash. A further accidental crash occurred when a Ju52 of K G z b V 1 c a m e t o grief when landing at the newly-constructed airstrip on Melos. D u r i n g this period H e l 1 Is of 1I/KG 4 f r o m G a d u r r a (Rhodes) were maintaining a limited but regular night assault on Alexandria and the Suez C a n a l Z o n e , mainly mines being d r o p p e d in the h a r b o u r a n d canal. O n this night eleven Heinkels set out to mine but Fw. H a n s Borcher's aircraft (5J + K M ) was shot d o w n in flames by a H u r r i c a n e of 94 S q u a d r o n , flown by S o u t h African Lt A H M M o o l m a n , the b o m b e r having been illuminated by searchlights. Tragically the blazing aircraft crashed o n t o a h o u s e killing six Egyptians as well as the crew. At M a l e m e the m o r n i n g of 18 M a y was spent by 805 S q u a d r o n burying Lt Richardson in C a n e a cemetery following his d e a t h t w o d a y s previously. As the truck c a r r y i n g t h e funeral party returned t o Maleme, it w a s attacked by a Bfl09, a l t h o u g h all a b o a r d escaped injury. Almost c o n t i n u o u s strafing a t t a c k s were m a d e d u r i n g the m o r n i n g by Bfl09s a n d 110s, w i t h o u t interception. At 1200 however, a Royal M a r i n e Bren-gun crew (Sgt T H H a w k s w o r t h and M a r i n e R G K i m b e r ) shot d o w n a Bfl 10, believed t o have been an aircraft of 6 / Z G 26 flown by Lt Heinz Knecht a n d F w G e o r g Schultz, which c a m e d o w n in the sea southeast of Spetsai island while trying to get back to Argos after suffering d a m a g e ; t h e crew were rescued f r o m t h e water. 330
Sgt Vernon Hill flew in the last replacement
Hurricane t o Crete on
18 M a y , 1941 -
his first
operational flight. H e never landed, being shot d o w n and killed as he a p p r o a c h e d the airfield by F w O t t o N i e m e y e r of 4 / J G 7 7 . (G
Hill)
Ju87s of I / S t G 2 d i v e - b o m b e d M a l e m e and S u d a Bay, where the R F A oiler Olna was seriously d a m a g e d a n d beached, while Bfl09s also strafed M a l e m e in s u p p o r t of the Stukas. In the midst of this attack a lone replacement H u r r i c a n e arrived f r o m Egypt, piloted by 21 year-old W e l s h m a n , Sgt Vernon Hill, on his first o p e r a t i o n a l flight. P r o b a b l y short of fuel a n d u n a w a r e that the attack was in progress, since he w a s not in r a d i o c o n t a c t , Sgt Hill lowered his u n d e r c a r r i a g e and prepared to land just as eight Messerschmitts swept in behind him. Obviously suddenly a w a r e of his predicament, he was seen to pull away out t o sea as the 109s vied to get on his tail. As one overshot, w a t c h e r s believed that he may have shot this d o w n , but by then F w O t t o Niemeyer of 4 / J G 77 had got in a telling burst of fire and the H u r r i c a n e crashed into t h e sea with a mighty splash, Hill being killed. T h e only G e r m a n loss recorded d u r i n g this raid w a s for a Ju87 (T6 + J H ) flown by Uffz Ernst T a u s c h e r , which was hit by AA fire and crash-landed; the pilot was killed, but t h e gunner (Uffz During) survived and evaded capture. M e a n w h i l e a 331
n u m b e r of H e l 1 Is a p p e a r e d overhead, o n e b o m b scoring a direct hit on the pen sheltering Sqn Ldr Howell's Hurricane, N2610, which went u p in flames. O n the other side of the airfield Fig Off Vale's faithful V7795, a n d V7761, were both put out of action. L A C E a t o n a n d AC1 Marcel C o m e a u were buried in their gunpit by o n e b o m b burst, but were quickly d u g out by others, before suffering any serious effects. W i t h t h e attack still in progress, C o m e a u headed for the shelter of a n e a r b y slit trench just as t w o elderly C r e t a n civilians reached it, a n d just as a n o t h e r b o m b landed close by, causing the walls of the trench t o collapse, a n d again burying C o m e a u . T h i s time he managed to free himself, but could n o longer see t h e C r e t a n s . Digging frantically with his bare hands, he m a n a g e d t o locate and free them, a l t h o u g h o n e died soon afterwards. H e would later receive the Military M e d a l for this action. Following this attack only o n e H u r r i c a n e remained serviceable at Maleme, W9298, which was flown off by Lt C d r Black on a reconnaissance of K a l a m a t a a n d t h e s u r r o u n d i n g area. O n his return G r p C a p t Beamish ordered t h a t t h e m i n i m u m o p e r a t i o n a l f o r m a t i o n was t o be a pair, a n d no-one, including Black a n d Howell, were t o fly the H u r r i c a n e again u n a c c o m p a n i e d . H e r a k l i o n was also attacked repeatedly, a n d the airfield was rendered unserviceable. T w o H u r r i c a n e s and t w o G l a d i a t o r s were a i r b o r n e at the time, a n d were ordered to land instead at Retimo. T h e remaining H u r r i c a n e and G l a d i a t o r s at H e r a k l i o n were n o longer flyable. O n arrival at R e t i m o t h e four pilots were ordered t o e v a c u a t e t o Egypt, and after refuelling, all t o o k off. Fig Off A R Costello and Sgt W Bain flew the t w o Hurricanes, Fit Lt D e n n a n t and Pit Off Westenra the G l a d i a t o r s ; all arrived safely. D u r i n g the d a y a Bfl 10 o f 4 / Z G 26 on a very low-level reconnaissance over R e t i m o was hit by Lewis-gun fire and crashlanded. Reportedly, the pilot w a s w o u n d e d and on c a p t u r e was found t o have amazingly detailed m a p s of the landing g r o u n d with him, these showing all gun positions, and even slit trenches were prominently shown. Strangely, G e r m a n records indicate that the aircraft did not fall, b u t landed back at base in a d a m a g e d c o n d i t i o n ! T h a t evening at 1800 Fit Lt Lywood b r o u g h t S u n d e r l a n d N 9 0 2 0 d o w n on the waters of S u d a Bay t o deliver a few passengers and some freight, but primarily to t a k e back t o Egypt a full load of personnel, including Fig Off Vale a n d Lt C d r Black, the latter ordered by C d r G H Beale, officer c o m m a n d i n g Maleme, t o m a k e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s t o Rear Admiral Boyd that m o r e fighter aircraft should be sent. Black's unit, 805 S q u a d r o n , was n o w represented by just Lt R a m s a y a n d Sub Lt H i n t o n , t w o T A G s , L/Air T o m Jarvis and L/Air Bill J a r y , a b o u t 55 g r o u n d personnel, a n d n o aircraft. T h i s party w a s t o return by sea should no further aircraft b e c o m e available. Additionally, Lt Keith of this unit was still in hospital on the island, suffering f r o m dysentry. 33 S q u a d r o n still expected the arrival of further Hurricanes, a n d new aircraft pens were in the c o u r s e of construction. N o a d d i t i o n a l reinforcements were e a r m a r k e d for C r e t e however, other than seven F u l m a r s of 800X S q u a d r o n . These aircraft were currently at sea and were d u e t o guide a delivery of H u r r i c a n e s f r o m t h e carrier Furious t o M a l t a , a n d then after refuelling, fly on t o Maleme. T h e y were not however, d u e until 21 M a y , by which time t h e order had 332
been rescinded d u e t o t h e start of t h e G e r m a n invasion of Crete, and they remained instead on Malta. U n d e r cover of d a r k n e s s twelve Wellingtons, d r a w n equally f r o m 38 and 70 S q u a d r o n s , headed for airfields in southern Greece. T h r e e were u n a b l e t o locate their specified target area, o t h e r s returned with r e p o r t s of m a n y fires as a result of the b o m b i n g . O n e Wellington was attacked by a twin-engined night fighter but was not hit. Early on 19 M a y some 40 b o m b - c a r r y i n g Bfl09s a t t a c k e d M a l e m e without prior w a r n i n g having been received. After scattering 50kg f r a g m e n t a t i o n b o m b s over t h e area, they flew out t o sea before returning t o strafe. W h e n this attack ended all the airfield's Bofors g u n s had been silenced and a n u m b e r of casualties suffered by t h e gun crews. Cpl F E Pacey's crew a n d gun were buried by t h e earth t h r o w n u p by a near-miss, but were d u g out, shaken but u n h u r t . Sgt H Yates' g u n continued firing despite several strafes, t h e crew claiming hits on a n u m b e r of Messerschmitts before their gun was put out of action.
T h e last serviceable Hurricane o n Crete, W 9 2 9 8 'X', which w a s t o be flown out to Egypt by Sgt Maurice Bennett on 19 M a y , 1941. (Wg Cdr E A
Howell)
D u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n the Messerschmitts returned and resumed s h o o t i n g - u p the airfield and s u r r o u n d i n g area. Close t o the aircraft pens, the r e d o u b t a b l e C o m e a u had found an intact Vickers ' K ' machine-gun in a s a n d b a g g e d pit, while fellow 33 S q u a d r o n a i r m a n L A C R G ' G i n g e r ' S t o n e installed a Browning salvaged f r o m a Hurricane. O n e very low-flying B f l 0 9 c a m e within r a n g e a n d both opened fire, reporting hits which k n o c k e d off a piece of the aircraft, this falling o n t o the airfield. Subsequently t h e s u r r o u n d i n g area was heavily b o m b e d by t w o Staffeln of H e l l Is. In between these a t t a c k s G r p C a p t Beamish ordered 333
Sqn Ldr Howell t o d e s p a t c h all a i r w o r t h y H u r r i c a n e s at M a l e m e t o Egypt, but by n o w only W9298 remained flyable. F r o m the m a n y hopefuls eager to m a k e this flight, Howell selected the sole remaining 80 S q u a d r o n pilot, t h e seemingly forgotten Sgt M a u r i c e Bennett, w h o took off forthwith. At Heraklion three m o r e G l a d i a t o r s had been m a d e a i r w o r t h y , and these t o o left for Egypt, flown by Fig Off D H V S m i t h a n d Sgts P O Bates a n d Ware. T h e r e were n o m o r e o p e r a t i o n a l aircraft left on C r e t e - the first p h a s e of the island's defence w a s at an end.
334
THE
Chapter
Eight
INVASION
OF
CRETE
As the G e r m a n armies had swept t h r o u g h Yugoslavia a n d Greece, G e n e r a l l e u t n a n t K u r t Student, c o m m a n d e r of XI Fliegerkorps which c o m p r i s e d the Luftwaffe's p a r a t r o o p and air landing divisions a n d their associated air t r a n s p o r t units, having recovered from the w o u n d s he suffered in Belgium d u r i n g the M a y 1940 o p e r a t i o n s , had a p p r o a c h e d H e r m a n n G o r i n g with a p r o p o s a l for the c a p t u r e of Crete. T h e elite p a r a t r o o p s were great favourites of Adolf Hitler's a n d G o r i n g had referred Student t o him. T h e plan was o p p o s e d by F e l d m a r s c h a l Keitel, the Chief of Staff, w h o favoured the use of the F l i e g e r k o r p s against Malta, which he considered t o be a priority target for such action. S t u d e n t ' s ideas appealed t o t h e Fiihrer however; he saw t h e m as the "crowning glory' of t h e Balkans c a m p a i g n , closing t h e Eastern M e d i t e r r a n e a n t o t h e British N a v y , a n d offering a s p r i n g b o a r d for f u r t h e r a d v e n t u r e s in N o r t h Africa, the Suez C a n a l and the oil-rich territories t o the east. However O p e r a t i o n ' B a r b a r o s s a ' had already been delayed a m o n t h f r o m M a y t o J u n e as a result of t h e Balkan o p e r a t i o n s , and n o t h i n g . Hitler decreed, must be allowed to p o s t p o n e this further. Already he had ordered the w i t h d r a w a l of most units f r o m Greece, c o n t r o l of which was t o be left t o the Italians so far as possible. He was prepared to issue Directive No.28 for O p e r a t i o n ' M e r k u r ' ('Mercury') for t h e invasion of Crete, but, he advised Student, it must be accomplished by the t r o o p s of XI Fliegerkorps alone, s u p p o r t e d by the air power of Fliegerkorps VIII, a n d it must be u n d e r t a k e n by mid M a y . G e n e r a l l e u t n a n t Student began at once, o r d e r i n g the p a r a t r o o p and air landing divisions f r o m their bases in G e r m a n y to m a k e with all speed for S o u t h e r n Greece. Travelling by road and rail, these forces b e c a m e delayed in the M a c e d o n i a n m o u n t a i n s by the m o v e m e n t n o r t h w a r d s of 2nd Panzer Division for ' B a r b a r o s s a ' , the latter enjoying priority on t h e roads. As a consequence 22nd (Airborne) Division was held in R u m a n i a , G e n e r a l l e u t n a n t Ringel's 5th M o u n t a i n Division of Austrian m o u n t a i n t r o o p s w h o had already taken a p r o m i n e n t part in the fighting in Greece, being substituted. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , a l t h o u g h in themselves an elite force also, t h e Alpenjiiger were not trained for airlanding o p e r a t i o n s - particularly in the face of determined opposition. All units had reached Greece by 14 May, the last t o arrive being the 1st and 2nd C o m p a n i e s of the Assault Regiment, but other delays were resulting in the p r o p o s e d d a t e for t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of the o p e r a t i o n , originally fixed for 17 M a y , t o be deferred. 335
G e n e r a l G e r h a r d ' s air contingent of XI Fliegerkorps had w i t h d r a w n all their t r a n s p o r t aircraft f r o m the Balkans t o G e r m a n y for overhaul after their considerable t r a n s p o r t activities d u r i n g t h e invasion, but by 15 M a y almost 500 aircraft were back at airstrips in S o u t h e r n Greece. T h e s e were not the hard-surfaced p e r m a n e n t airfields a r o u n d Athens however, but earth strips where the o p e r a t i o n of heavy aircraft raised dense c l o u d s of dust which c h o k e d air-intakes and blinded pilots, reducing the r a t e at which f o r m a t i o n s could be operated a n d greatly increasing the risk of accident. C o u p l e d with this, some 9000 t o n s (650 000 gallons) of aviation fuel would be required for t h e t r a n s p o r t aircraft t o allow three waves - an estimated 1500 sorties - t o be launched on the first day. T h e t a n k e r Rondine c a r r y i n g m u c h of this fuel t o Piraeus, f r o m where it would be p u m p e d into 45-gallon d r u m s and despatched by road to the airfields, was delayed by t h e fallen bridge in t h e C o r i n t h C a n a l , t h e result of t h e earlier a i r b o r n e o p e r a t i o n detailed in C h a p t e r 6. A n o t h e r vessel w a s d u e t o arrive f r o m Italy very shortly carrying 8000 40-gallon d r u m s of fuel, while four m o r e vessels, o n e a t a n k e r , were not far behind. As a b o n u s 1500 t o n s of British aviation fuel was discovered at D r a p e t z o n a , near Athens, a b a n d o n e d u n b u r n e d d u e t o a disagreement with the G r e e k authorities over plans for large-scale demolitions. While the C o r i n t h C a n a l w a s being cleared the plans for the p r o p o s e d O p e r a t i o n ' M e r k u r ' were being finalized. T h e forces available were t o be divided into three c o m p o n e n t s : G r o u p West u n d e r G e n e r a l m a j o r Eugen Meindl; G r o u p Centre under Generalmajor Wilhelm Siissmann; G r o u p East under G e n e r a l l e u t n a n t Julius Ringel. Actual landings were t o be preceded by c o n t i n u o u s b o m b i n g a n d strafing of t r o o p c o n c e n t r a t i o n s and k n o w n AA gun positions, first by m e d i u m b o m b e r s a n d then by Stukas, s u p p o r t e d by fighters and Zerstorer. Initially t w o c o m p a n i e s of the 1st Assault Regiment were t o land via 27 D F S 230 gliders south of M a l e m e airfield, t o nullify any surviving AA positions and to attack the c a m p ; nine m o r e gliders c a r r y i n g the H e a d q u a r t e r s battle g r o u p would have t h e c a p t u r e of t h e bridge over t h e T a v r o n i t i s river as their objective. Within m i n u t e s the main body of 1st Assault Regiment - three battalions with over 1850 t r o o p s - would be d r o p p e d by J u 5 2 / 3 m s t o c a p t u r e the airfield. Simultaneously d e t a c h m e n t s f r o m G r o u p C e n t r e c o m p r i s i n g two m o r e c o m p a n ies of 1st Assault Regiment would land south a n d west of C a n e a , the island's capital, and S u d a Bay in 30 m o r e gliders, with a similar AA suppression role. Five m o r e D F S 230 c a r r y i n g G e n e r a l m a j o r Siissmann a n d his Staff would follow, together with the p a r a t r o o p s of FallschirmjagerRegiment 3 (FJR 3), w h o were later to be reinforced by 100th M o u n t a i n Regiment, t o c a p t u r e C a n e a , S u d a t o w n and G a l a t a s . D u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n of this first d a y t h e second wave of t r a n s p o r t s would carry 1500 m o r e p a r a t r o o p s of F J R 2 t o G r o u p Centre's second set of objectives in the Retimo area, while G r o u p East - the p a r a t r o o p s of F J R 1 reinforced by 2nd Battalion of F J R 2 — would d r o p near H e r a k l i o n . 5th M o u n t a i n Division (less 100th M o u n t a i n Regiment) would follow later, o n e battalion by sea direct, while a second was detailed to disembark in the M a l e m e area. T a n k s , vehicles, AA w e a p o n s , anti-tank g u n s a n d engineer t r o o p s would also follow by sea. As 336
s o o n a s t h e airfields at M a l e m e a n d H e r a k l i o n h a d been c a p t u r e d , J u 5 2 / 3 m s w o u l d fly in r e i n f o r c e m e n t s a n d supplies, p r i o r i t y being given t o t h e c a p t u r e of M a l e m e . 15 750 a i r b o r n e a n d 7000 s e a b o r n e t r o o p s w e r e t o p a r t i c i p a t e . T o c a r r y t h e s e f o r c e s t h e air c o m p o n e n t of XI F l i e g e r k o r p s c o m p r i s e d 520 J u 5 2 / 3 m t r a n s p o r t s in ten G r u p p e n a n d 72 D F S 230 gliders. T h e y w e r e c o m m a n d e d a n d based as follows: Group
Base
Commander
Kampfgeschwader zbV 1 I/Kampfgeschwader zbV 1 II/Kampfgeschwader zbV 1 I/Kampfgeschwader zbV 172 II/Kampfgeschwader zbV 172
Oberst Wilke Maj Forster Hpt Arnold Willerding Maj Krause Maj Bodekuhl
Dadion, Megara and Corinth
Kampfgeschwader zbV 2 Kampfgruppe zbV 60 Kampfgruppe zbV 101 Kampfgruppe zbV 102
Oberst Budinger von Heyking Maj Walter Hammer Oberstlt Ernst Mundt Maj Walter Erdmann
Topolia
Kampfgeschwader zbV 3 Kampfgruppe zbV 40 Kampfgruppe zbV 105 Kampfgruppe zbV 106 I/Luftlandesgeschwader I (DFS 230 glider tugs)
Oberst Buchholz Maj Deutsch Maj Reinhold Wenning
Tanagra
Maj Stein
In s u p p o r t of t h e i n v a s i o n G e n e r a l m a j o r W o l f r a m F r e i h e r r v o n R i c h t h o f e n ' s V I I I Fliegerkorps comprised:
228 m e d i u m b o m b e r s , 205 S t u k a s , 114 Z e r s t o r e r , 119 fighters a n d 50 r e c o n n a i s s a n c e a i r c r a f t . 514 of these 716 a i r c r a f t were serviceable at this time. T h e u n i t s were:
S t a b , I a n d I I I / K G 2 u n d e r O b e r s t H e r b e r t Rieckhoff III/KG 3
D o . l 7 Z at M e n i d i D o . l 7 Z at M e n i d i
I, I I / L G 1 I I / K G 26 Stab, I I / S t G l under Oberst Walter Hagen Stab, I/StG2 under Oberst O s k a r Dinort
J u 8 8 A at H e l 11 at J u 8 7 B at J u 8 7 B at Molaoi J u 8 7 B at J u 8 7 B at J u 8 7 B at
Eleusis Eleusis Argos
and Mycene I I I / S t G 2 u n d e r H p t H e i n r i c h Briicker Scarpanto I/StG3 Argos I, II, I I I / S t G 7 7 Argos under M a j Clemens Graf von Schonborn-Wiesentheid S t a b , I, I I / Z G 26 u n d e r M a j J o h a n n Schalk Bfl 10 at A r g o s 337
I I / Z G 76 II, I I I / J G 77 u n d e r M a j Bernhard W o l d e n g a I(J)/LG 2 u n d e r H p t H e r b e r t Ihlefeld 2(F)/11 2/Seeaufkl G r 126 Seenotdienststaffel 7 7(F)/LG2 Aufkl Staffel XI Fliegerkorps (detached)
B f l l O at B f l 0 9 at B f l 0 9 at Do.l7P, H e 6 0 at Do.24 at BfllO BfllO
Argos Molaoi Molaoi Hsl26A Scaramanga Scaramanga
Additionally 1 I / K G 4 was based at G a d u r r a (Rhodes) but concerned mainly with mining o p e r a t i o n s against Alexandria and Suez C a n a l . T h e p a r a t r o o p s themselves were all Luftwaffe personnel. P a r t of their a d v a n t a g e in the f o r t h c o m i n g conflict lay in that the British a u t h o r i t i e s did not k n o w how m a n y divisions of these t r o o p s were available, or w h a t their organization, equipment and o p e r a t i n g m e t h o d s were. T h e y were kitted out with w e a t h e r p r o o f p a d d e d overalls, t o p p e d with leather jerkins a n d r o u n d , p a d d e d crash helmets. D u r i n g the actual d r o p most carried only Luger 08 pistols, p l a t o o n c o m m a n d e r s a l o n e c a r r y i n g their M P 3 8 machine-pistols. T h e mens' M P 3 8 s a n d M G 3 4 light m a c h i n e - g u n s were carried in special five-foot containers, f o u r t o each aircraft, these being fitted t o specially-adapted racks in the b o m b bays of the t r a n s p o r t s and d r o p p e d at the same time as the p a r a t r o o p s j u m p e d . A n u m b e r of trained m a r k s m e n were included in each section, a n d for t h e m t h e c o n t a i n e r s carried M a u s e r rifles fitted with telescopic sniper sights. T h e r e were also d e t a c h m e n t s f r o m anti-tank units with anti-tank rifles, four flame-thrower sections and m o r t a r equipped detachments.
A Rhodes-based Fiat C R 4 2 fighter of the 163" Squadriglia A u t o n o m o C T at the time of the invasion of Crete. (N
Malizia)
338
E a c h m a n w a s issued with t w o d a y ' s r a t i o n s ; special W i t t i e r b r e a d ; p r o c e s s e d c h o c o l a t e ; rusks; t a r t a r i c acid; s u g a r ; thirst q u e n c h e r s . E a c h c o m p a n y w a s e q u i p p e d with p o r t a b l e w a t e r sterilising e q u i p m e n t , a l t h o u g h it w a s i n t e n d e d t o fly in 1500 g a l l o n s of fresh w a t e r daily t o G r o u p West o n c e M a l e m e airfield w a s c a p t u r e d . M e d i c a l officers a n d orderlies w o u l d a l s o be d r o p p e d , e q u i p p e d with c o m p r e h e n s i v e m e d i c a l s u p p l i e s i n c l u d i n g t u b e s of b l o o d for t r a n s f u s i o n s in the field. T h e y w o u l d a l s o c a r r y supplies of a c a f f e i n - s o d i u m solicylate s o l u t i o n t o inject i n t o t h o s e suffering f r o m e x t r e m e fatigue, while all t r o o p s w e r e issued with b e n z e d r i n e t a b l e t s t o c o m b a t tiredness. T h e G e r m a n s c o u l d also look t o their Italian allies for help at sea f r o m d e s t r o y e r s a n d m o t o r t o r p e d o b o a t s , if not f r o m t h e I t a l i a n Fleet a s a w h o l e , as well as such s u p p o r t as m i g h t be offered by t h e C o m a n d o A e r o n a u t i c a E g e o w h i c h n o w h a d serviceable 21 b o m b e r s , f o u r t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s , 2 0 fighters, f o u r fighter-reconnaissance floatplanes and two reconnaissance floatplanes. These were: 39° Stormo: 92° G r u p p o BT (200\ 201" Squadriglia) 41° G r u p p o AS (204a, 205" Squadriglia) 281a Squadriglia Autonomo 50° G r u p p o Autonomo BT (210", 211° Squadriglia) 172" Squadriglia RT 161" Squadriglia Autonomo 162a Squadriglia Autonomo 163a Squadriglia Autonomo Sezzione Soccorso
AS
CM CT CT
S.79
Gadurra, Rhodes
S.84
Gadurra, Rhodes
S.79sil Z.1007bis
Gadurra, Rhodes Maritza, Rhodes
Z.1007bis Ro.43/Ro.44 CR42 CR32/CR42 Z.506B
Maritza, Rhodes Leros Scarpanto G a d u r r a , Rhodes Rhodes
O n 25 M a y , 231" S q u a d r i g l i a f r o m the 95° G r u p p o B T at Brindisi w o u l d fly t o R h o d e s with six Z . 1 0 0 7 b i s for o p e r a t i o n s over C r e t e , r e m a i n i n g until 1 J u n e , w h e n t h e a i r c r a f t were passed t o t h e 50° G r u p p o a n d t h e u n i t r e t u r n e d t o Italy. W h i l e t h e s e p r e p a r a t i o n s h a d been u n d e r way, s u p p l y ships h a d c o n t i n u e d t o a r r i v e in C r e t e ' s h a r b o u r s , while fast w a r s h i p s c a m e in by night t o d r o p off vital supplies a n d p e r s o n n e l . F r e s h a r r i v a l s included 2000 R o y a l M a r i n e s at S u d a Bay, 2/Leicesters at H e r a k l i o n , 1/Argyll a n d S u t h e r l a n d H i g h l a n d e r s at T y m b a k i , t o g e t h e r with small a r m o u r e d e l e m e n t s c o m p r i s i n g 16 M a r k VI light t a n k s of 3rd H u s s a r s a n d nine ' M a t i l d a ' t a n k s of 7th R o y a l T a n k R e g i m e n t , all w a r - w e a r y m a c h i n e s . Artillery included eight 3.7-inch h o w i t z e r s a n d 49 elderly field g u n s , m a i n l y F r e n c h a n d Italian 75 m m a n d 100 m m pieces, with v a r y i n g q u a n t i t i e s of a m m u n i t i o n . F u e l s u p p l i e s h a d increased, a n d while n o a i r c r a f t r e m a i n e d o n the island, M a l e m e a n d R e t i m o h a d 5000 g a l l o n s a n d H e r a k l i o n 10 0 0 0 g a l l o n s for a n y u n i t s w h i c h m i g h t e m p l o y t h e airfields as f o r w a r d bases. 180 0 0 0 weekly r a t i o n s h a d been a m a s s e d , sufficient t o k e e p ' C r e f o r c e ' fed for six weeks. At n e a r l y
339
42 000 men, the garrison was n o w far stronger than the G e r m a n s estimated. T h e n u m b e r s included 17 247 British, including the 2000 Marines, over 600 R A F a n d 425 Royal N a v y personnel, a n d a b o u t 1000 Palestinian a n d Cypriot pioneers. However only a b o u t 6400 of these were deemed c o m b a t a n t s . T h e r e were also however 6540 N e w Z e a l a n d e r s and 7702 Australians, mainly infantry, plus a b o u t 10 250 G r e e k s , including 2800 well-armed and m o t i v a t e d C r e t a n police. Most of the G r e e k s however were poorly-trained and ill-equipped and included 800 EVA c a d e t s a n d 300 military cadets. Dispositions were as follows:- a r o u n d M a l e m e a n d C a n e a were the 5th a n d 10th Brigades of the N e w Z e a l a n d Division and t w o G r e e k battalions, all c o m m a n d e d by Brigadier-General Puttick, while Suda Bay w a s defended by most of the M a r i n e s u n d e r Lt G e n e r a l E C Weston, plus four Australian a n d one Greek battalions. At M a l e m e the M a r i n e s and t h e Royal Australian Artillery each maintained ten Bofors g u n s and crews, the M a r i n e s also providing two pairs of 3-inch AA g u n s at C a n e a , and five m o r e two-gun sections of these w e a p o n s at S u d a Bay, together with t w o 3.7-inch batteries, 16 Bofors and two four-barrelled machine-guns, plus 24 searchlights in three clusters. Artillery s u p p o r t for t h e infantry in the C a n e a - S u d a Bay area c a m e f r o m ' Z ' Battery of 15th C o a s t Regiment with four 6-inch, two 4-inch and two 12-pounder guns. Seven light t a n k s and t w o ' M a t i l d a s ' were also allocated to the area. F u r t h e r a l o n g t h e coast at Retimo, the landing g r o u n d was protected by four Australian and t w o G r e e k battalions, a n d t w o ' M a t i l d a ' tanks, u n d e r the c o m m a n d of Brigadier G A Vasey, whilst in the H e r a k l i o n Sector Brigadier B H C h a p p e l had three British, t w o Australian and three G r e e k battalions, with six light a n d four ' M a t i l d a ' tanks. 'X' Battery of 15th C o a s t Regiment had ten 4-inch g u n s here, while A A cover was provided by ten Bofors of 156th LA A Battery, Royal Artillery, ten Royal M a r i n e Bofors, four 3-inch two-gun sections and t w o p o m - p o m s , also m a n n e d by the Marines. In reserve G e n e r a l F r e y b e r g had 4th N e w Z e a l a n d Brigade in t h e K a r a t s o s area, 1/Welsh in the Akrotiri area, and 1 /Argyll a n d Sutherland H i g h l a n d e r s at T y m b a k i . T o g u a r d against s e a b o r n e invasion Admiral C u n n i n g h a m had assembled a very substantial fleet; four battleships, 19 cruisers and 43 destroyers, divided into two large f o r m a t i o n s which were cruising t o the west of C r e t e t o keep the Italian Fleet at bay, a n d seven light forces, each c a p a b l e of dealing with a n y invasion c o n v o y e n c o u n t e r e d . A l t h o u g h ' U l t r a ' intercepts had indicated t h e new invasion d a t e as 20 M a y , it would be only o n e day prior to this that Middle East C o m m a n d would be informed, a l t h o u g h interrogation of a i r m a n prisoners had already divulged not only the d a t e but the likely time of the c o m m e n c e m e n t of t h e assault. T h u s it was t h a t at 0530 on the m o r n i n g of 20 M a y the first of almost 500 heavily-laden J u 5 2 / 3 m t r a n s p o r t s began taking off, h a m p e r e d by the billowing c l o u d s of dust which rose to 3000 feet, a n d required a 2 0 - m i n u t e interval between the take-off of each Staffel t o allow visibility t o clear. As a result it took over an h o u r for the various G r u p p e n t o assemble into f o r m a t i o n over K y t h e r a Island before h e a d i n g s o u t h t o a p p r o a c h C r e t e f r o m the west, over the Antikythera Strait. 340
Junkers J u 5 2 / 3 m transports at a S o u t h e r n Greek airfield. D r u m s of urgently-awaited gasoline have been d u m p e d in the foreground, ready for use. {Bib fur
Zeil)
Already disaster had struck however; first off had been t h e glider tugs of I / L L G 1, with their D F S 230 charges trailing behind, each glider c a r r y i n g ten fullyequipped assault t r o o p s including the pilot, w h o w a s expected to participate in the fighting on landing. T h e glider carrying G e n e r a l m a j o r Siissmann, c o m m a n d e r of Luft Division 7, a n d six m e m b e r s of his Staff, w a s buffeted by the slipstream of a low-flying H e l l l of I I / K G 2 6 which passed close by, causing t h e towing cable t o snap. O b i t K r u p p e , the pilot, w a s u n a b l e t o retain c o n t r o l a n d the wings b r o k e off under the stress, the fuselage spiralling d o w n to crash on the little island of Aegina in Athens Bay; all a b o a r d perished. T h e H e l 1 Is, joined by K G 2 D o . l 7 s f r o m Menidi, were first over C r e t e just after 0700, a p p r o a c h i n g the M a l e m e - C a n e a area and subjecting t h e defenders t o intensive and c o n c e n t r a t e d b o m b i n g , m a n y b o m b s falling a r o u n d the airfield and on the slopes of K a v k a z i a Hill (known as Hill 107), which overlooked t h e airfield, and where 22nd New Z e a l a n d Battalion were entrenched. D u e t o the effective slit trenches which had been d u g by the soldiers a n d airmen here in recent weeks, casualties were relatively light. At the airfield the rear parties f r o m 30 a n d 33 S q u a d r o n s n u m b e r e d 229 officers and men, t o g e t h e r with three officers a n d 50 ratings of 805 S q u a d r o n . Following t h e bombers, StG 2's Ju87s arrived including 1 Staffel led by O b i t F r a n k N e u b e r t who, d u r i n g the Polish C a m p a i g n of S e p t e m b e r 1939, h a d gained 341
the first aerial victory of the war. Staffel u p o n Staffel of Bfl09s and BfllOs a c c o m p a n i e d the Stukas, strafing f r o m low-level. T h e Luftwaffe's attack seemed well c o - o r d i n a t e d for whenever the m a r a u d i n g fighters c a m e u n d e r fire f r o m any well-concealed AA guns, be they Bofors, Lewis, Vickers or Brens, the S t u k a s a p p e a r e d t o be called in t o deal with them; t h e intensity and accuracy of t h e resultant a t t a c k s invariably silenced the particular target. O n the airfield the empty pens, r e m a i n i n g gun positions, a n d the wrecks of the H u r r i c a n e s and Buffalos were repeatedly strafed by fighters which a p p e a r e d suddenly f r o m behind surr o u n d i n g hills, or a l o n g t h e beach at very low-level. Intermittently the defenders scored successes against the low-flying strafers, as when six Bfl09s were seen circling over T h e o d h o r o i Island, just east of Maleme, prior to sweeping across the beach t o w a r d s the airfield - every g u n that could fire put u p such a terrific b a r r a g e that almost at once the leading aircraft. Black 3 of 5 / J G 77, flown by O b i t Berthold J u n g , was hit a n d he b r o k e away back out to sea, trailing black smoke. T h e following pair both took hits in t h e engine. Obit G e r h a r d R a h m a n d O f w W e r n e r P e t e r m a n n c r a s h - l a n d i n g W h i t e < a n d Black 1 on the beach. M e a n w h i l e J u n g , obviously fearing that his d a m a g e d fighter would not get back to Greece, t u r n e d back again and crash-landed near Maleme, while the t h r e e remaining fighters gave u p their a t t e m p t t o attack a n d fled out t o sea. T h e defenders believed these had been hit also, for all were observed trailing black s m o k e , but this w a s obviously caused by the DB601 engine's exhaust. All three pilots w h o had been shot d o w n survived, but o n e of the wingmen was assaulted by local peasants, w h o pulled him out of his cockpit, a C r e t a n w o m a n hacking off his ring finger, c o m p l e t e with e n g a g e m e n t ring, with a carving knife before t r o o p s could get t o t h e m a n d t a k e t h e m into custody. T h e tugs and gliders of I / L L G 1 arrived at 0805, releasing the t o w s over the sea t o allow M a j K o c h ' s I Battalion of t h e Assault Regiment t o land on target. Misty c o n d i t i o n s and s m o k e caused a n u m b e r of the glider pilots t o misjudge their landing area, which was in the valley of the Tavronitis, just behind Hill 107. As a result several crashed on the rocky slopes nearby, killing or injuring the occupants. O t h e r s c a m e d o w n in isolated areas, where they were swiftly dealt with by the defenders. A C C o m e a u of 33 S q u a d r o n was again in the thick of the action, t w o gliders c r a s h - l a n d i n g close to the trench in which he was sheltering. A p p r o a c h i n g the nearest with s o m e trepidation, a r m e d only with a rifle, he was nonetheless sufficiently c o m p o s e d t o s h o o t the first t w o dazed soldiers w h o c a m e staggering o u t . As m o r e men followed from b o t h gliders, C o m e a u beat a hasty retreat t o cover. M a j K o c h gathered as m a n y men of 4 C o m p a n y as he could find a n d advanced on the c a m p a r e a s of 22nd N Z Battalion at the base of Hill 107, where it had been hoped t o catch t h e N e w Z e a l a n d e r s off g u a r d a n d u n p r e p a r e d . T h e c a m p was nearly e m p t y however, so the G e r m a n s turned to their m a i n objective, the c a p t u r e of the hill. Since Hill 107 d o m i n a t e d the airfield, whoever controlled it, controlled M a l e m e - a n d the p r o m p t seizure of o n e of the airfields w a s vital t o t h e success of t h e whole o p e r a t i o n . As the men advanced u p t h e slopes they were suddenly met by a hail of fire f r o m well dug-in defenders; a m o n g s t those w h o fell dead or seriously w o u n d e d was M a j K o c h ; t h e survivors were pinned d o w n , unable to move. 342
A crumpled D F S 2 3 0 glider, its duty d o n e , lies in a Cretan field. (Bib fur
Zeit)
Just a mile a w a y t o the west 12 m o r e gliders carrying 3 C o m p a n y u n d e r Lt von Plessen, a p p r o a c h e d the d r i e d - u p river-bed, only t o c o m e u n d e r heavy fire f r o m the fully alerted defenders. T h e vulnerable D F S 230s, c o n s t r u c t e d as they were of t u b u l a r steel, c a n v a s and w o o d , m a d e easy targets d u r i n g their slow descents, and m a n y o c c u p a n t s were killed o r w o u n d e d in flight. O n e glider went d o w n in flames and a n o t h e r was hit by a heavy burst as it touched d o w n . O t h e r s b r o k e u p on landing, but von Plessen and sufficient n u m b e r s of his men survived t o attack t h e New Z e a l a n d e r s on each bank of the river at its m o u t h , a n d to c a p t u r e their positions, thereby silencing their AA guns. T h i s extemely i m p o r t a n t if brief action was t o ensure the ultimate success of the whole venture, for now at 0820 the first elements of the main p a r a t r o o p force a p p e a r e d o v e r h e a d , t h e slow J u 5 2 / 3 m s flying a steady c o u r s e at u n d e r 400 feet to d r o p 1800 men, very little anti-aircraft gunfire being experienced. Within minutes h u n d r e d s of parachutists were disgorged over the M a l e m e area, I Battalion c o m i n g d o w n to the east and west of the airfield, while II and IV Battalions landed amidst very little resistance t o the west of the river. A c c o m p a n y i n g t h e m were t w o h e a v y - w e a p o n s c o m p a n i e s with 20 m m anti-tank rifles a n d small pack-howitzers. Ill Battalion was less f o r t u n a t e however. Because the 600 p a r a t r o o p s were d u e t o land on or near the beach to a p p r o a c h M a l e m e village a n d t h e airfield f r o m t h a t direction, the 50 J u 5 2 / 3 m s of K G r z b V 102 c a m e in over C a n e a Bay a n d were forced to fly inland to prevent the p a r a c h u t i s t s being blown out t o sea by the wind prevailing. T h i s b r o u g h t t h e m over Bofors gun positions at Pirgos and near M o d h i o n , several being shot d o w n . O n e was seen to fall out of c o n t r o l into a batch of parachutists, while a second fell in flames as the 343
men a t t e m p t e d to j u m p out, a third splashing into the sea. O n e m o r e forcelanded n e a r C a n e a with o n e m e m b e r of t h e crew d e a d , a n d a fifth aircraft w a s badly d a m a g e d , c r a s h - l a n d i n g on return to T o p o l i a . Most of t h e u n f o r t u n a t e III Battalion j u m p e d over t h e slopes of s u r r o u n d i n g hills, c o m i n g d o w n on heavily-defended New Z e a l a n d positions w h e r e they were greeted by intense s m a l l - a r m s fire. M a n y were killed or w o u n d e d as they floated d o w n ; o t h e r s were c a u g h t in trees and shot before they were able t o free themselves, while yet m o r e were injured landing on t h e rocky terrain. M a n y of the survivors were never able t o get to their w e a p o n s c o n t a i n e r s , whilst those of 10 C o m p a n y c a m e d o w n a m o n g s t dwellings in the M o d h i o n valley, where a n u m b e r were cut d o w n by m a c h i n e - g u n n e r s attached to the N e w Z e a l a n d Engineers as they a t t e m p t e d t o free themselves f r o m their harnesses. Local villagers attacked others, men, w o m e n a n d children a r m e d with knives, axes and even ancient flintlock rifles, killing several. Within an h o u r all t h e Battalion officers, including the c o m m a n d e r — M a j Scherber — were dead or seriously w o u n d e d ; over t w o t h i r d s of this unit, nearly 400 men, would die in the fighting. M e a n w h i l e nine m o r e gliders carrying M a j Braun's d e t a c h m e n t , which b r o u g h t with it anti-tank guns, motor-cycles, m o r t a r s a n d flame-throwers, c a m e d o w n in the T a v r o n i t i s valley with the objective of seizing the old iron bridge over the river. A l t h o u g h B r a u n w a s killed when a burst of machine-gunfire raked the D F S 230 in which he was travelling, the objective w a s quickly achieved, demolition c h a r g e s removed a n d the crossing secured. W i t h m a n y units of p a r a t r o o p s now d o w n and a r m e d , fierce fighting was developing at t h e eastern end of the R A F c a m p w h e r e g r o u p s of airmen were being cut off as the G e r m a n s infiltrated. O n e small p a r t y of six airmen f r o m 33 S q u a d r o n held out in their trench until their a m m u n i t i o n ran out, and then a t t e m p t e d to retreat as p a r a t r o o p e r s a p p r o a c h e d over the iron bridge. O n l y three m a d e it, ACs Banks, E a t o n a n d Dixon all being killed. An urgent call went out for medical aid on the airfield and 30 S q u a d r o n ' s a m b u l a n c e , driven by L A C H F Betts, with L A C N J D a r c h as medical orderly, ventured out across t h e open area u n d e r fire. A l t h o u g h w o u n d e d in the back by t w o bullets, D a r c h helped rescue a n u m b e r of w o u n d e d and got t h e m t o c o m p a r a t i v e safety. T h e R A F men were c o n g r e g a t i n g mainly on the lower slopes of Hill 107 in small parties, trying t o reorganize a n d f o r m u l a t e some plans for defence a n d survival. It had been p r o p o s e d that in the event of invasion, officers and N C O s of the t w o units w o u l d defend allocated sections, and would each be responsible for small g r o u p s of airmen. F o l l o w i n g the initial landings, Sqn Ldr Howell m a d e his way t o 22nd N Z Battalion H Q where he discussed events with C d r Beale a n d Colonel A n d r e w , VC. C o m i n g u n d e r sniper fire, the t h r e e carried out a reconnaissance of t h e f o r w a r d area t o inspect t r o o p disposition, C o l A n d r e w expressing his satisfaction with these before returning to his c o m m a n d post. Beale and Howell, a c c o m p a n i e d by a h a n d f u l of airmen, c o n t i n u e d t o t h e area where gliders had landed when suddenly a shot rang out and Beale fell, a bullet in his stomach. At a b o u t t h e s a m e instant Howell was hit by machine-gunfire, o n e bullet smashing his left shoulder, a second striking his right f o r e a r m ; an a i r m a n was also hit in t h e ribs. 344
N o w u n d e r c o n t i n u o u s fire, the w o u n d e d C d r Beale, aided by an a i r m a n , m a n a g e d to apply a t o u r n i q u e t to Howell's right a r m a n d dragged him t o his feet t o get him u n d e r cover. T h e y placed him in a hollow d u g into a hillside, Beale promising to send a rescue party for him. T w o airmen volunteered t o remain with their C O , but o n e of these was sent t o gain safety (he w a s subsequently captured). So severe was the pain and loss of blood suffered by Howell that he begged the remaining a i r m a n t o s h o o t him. W h e n the plea was refused Howell ordered him to escape, but he t o o was c a p t u r e d while trying t o regain British-held g r o u n d . W h e n a rescue p a r t y eventually arrived they f o u n d t h e Sqn L d r unconscious, soaked in blood and covered in flies. Believing him d e a d , they left him where he lay.
Sqn Ldr E A Howell in prison hospital at Kokinia, recovering from the w o u n d s he suffered during the fighting
at Maleme. (Wg Cdr E A
Howell)
Ill-armed a n d in a hopeless position the various g r o u p s of a i r m e n were now led away f r o m the vicinity of the airfield by their officers or N C O s , some aided by N e w Z e a l a n d officers; most headed inland for safety. F i g h t i n g side by side with t h e m had been the F A A personnel, r e m n a n t s of 805 a n d 815 S q u a d r o n s . Lt Alf Sutton, w h o had been acting as C d r Beale's principal assistant, h a d dug a hole near a Royal M a r i n e g u n position with his b a y o n e t , t a k i n g p o t - s h o t s at parat r o o p s f r o m here until Ju87s attacked the M a r i n e s a n d put the g u n s out of action. U n d e r c o n s t a n t sniper fire they m a n a g e d to get o n e g u n w o r k i n g again. At the b o t t o m of the hill L A C D e n t o n , an R A F mechanic a t t a c h e d to 815 S q u a d r o n , m a n n e d a Lewis g u n until the barrel b u r n e d out, then retreated up the hill. Lt R a m s a y , n o w in c h a r g e of 805 S q u a d r o n , mustered his party on high g r o u n d overlooking the c a m p , a n d a l t h o u g h inadequately a r m e d and under c o n s t a n t attack both by aircraft a n d p a r a t r o o p s , they held o n t o their position, inflicting m a n y casualties. A second g r o u p f r o m this unit were led to high g r o u n d by S u b 345
Lt H i n t o n . a r m i n g themselves f r o m a G e r m a n w e a p o n s c o n t a i n e r . Concealed in olive groves, w i t h o u t food or water, they consoled themselves f r o m a gallon c o n t a i n e r of rum, liberated f r o m the Mess. W h e n the attack on M a l e m e c o m m e n c e d , a n u m b e r of airmen were in Sick Q u a r t e r s suffering f r o m Dysentry, including Lt Keith of 805 S q u a d r o n and 30 S q u a d r o n Medical Officer, Fit Lt T H Cullen. A l t h o u g h feeling very groggy, Lloyd Keith vacated his sick bed and spent most of t h e d a y stalking G e r m a n snipers, a r m e d only with his revolver; reputedly, he accounted for m o r e than one. A l t h o u g h t o o weak t o walk properly, Fit Lt Cullen attended t o w o u n d e d t h r o u g h o u t the fighting, c o n t i n u i n g to d o so until his post was overrun a n d he was taken prisoner. Even then he carried on alone in a n e a r b y village, without sleep for three days, until c a p t u r e d New Z e a l a n d medical officers were sent to assist him. O v e r 1000 w o u n d e d passed t h r o u g h his h a n d s before further aid was m a d e available. S o m e of t h e airmen had joined N e w Z e a l a n d t r o o p s in h u n t i n g the p a r a t r o o p s , a m o n g t h e m a party f r o m 33 S q u a d r o n led by Fit Lt W o o d w a r d , including the i n d o m i t a b l e A C C o m e a u , and AC Hess, a middle-aged G e r m a n - b o r n Jew w h o had served in the W e h r m a c h t d u r i n g the First W a r . Still t h e flights of J u n k e r s a p p e a r e d overhead, and at 1000 h o u r s G e n M a j Meindl, c o m m a n d e r of G r o u p West, was p a r a c h u t e d in with his Staff. U n a w a r e of M a j K o c h ' s d e a t h on Hill 107. he m a d e for this location t o join 1 Battalion. Revealing himself f r o m cover, he raised a signal flag directed at where he supposed K o c h t o be. H e w a s at once hit in the hand by a bullet, and then cut d o w n by a burst of machine-gun fire. A l t h o u g h painfully w o u n d e d , the G e n e r a l c o n t i n u e d t o direct o p e r a t i o n s however. An h o u r later a n o t h e r flight of t r a n s p o r t s d r o p p e d large quantities of urgently needed a m m u n i t i o n , s o m e heavy machineguns, h a n d g r e n a d e s a n d m o r t a r bombs. Most of this fell into N e w Z e a l a n d hands, w h e r e the a m m u n i t i o n proved particularly welcome as m a n y machine pistols had been retrieved f r o m fallen o r c a p t u r e d p a r a t r o o p s and put t o use. F u r t h e r to the west a d e t a c h m e n t of 74 men u n d e r Lt M a u r b e had been d r o p p e d t o r e c o n n o i t r e the village of P e d i a d a Kastelli, t h e site of t h e u n c o m pleted airfield near K i s s a m o s Bay; they were also t o seize the little port. T h e area was defended by 1 G r e e k Battalion, an ill-trained a n d u n d e r - a r m e d force of a b o u t 800 men, together with a d e t a c h m e n t of C r e t a n police and a n u m b e r of New Z e a l a n d officers a n d N C O s , all c o m m a n d e d by M a j T G Bedding. T h e G e r m a n s had the m i s f o r t u n e t o land amongst the G r e e k s , m a n y p a r a c h u t i s t s being killed in t h e air o n the way d o w n . T h o s e w h o landed were stalked a n d killed with knives or clubs d u e t o the lack of weapons. By 1100 the 28 survivors of M a u r b e ' s force, 15 of w h o m were w o u n d e d , had been r o u n d e d u p and taken prisoner. W h e n the area was eventually o v e r r u n several d a y s later stories of Greek 'atrocities', evidenced by the mutilated bodies of p a r a t r o o p s knifed or clubbed t o d e a t h , outraged the G e r m a n s into t a k i n g reprisals against the local civilian p o p u l a t i o n , believing t h e m to have been responsible. O v e r 200 male civilians were r o u n d e d u p a n d shot - the start of a long a n d bloody v e n d e t t a between the island's i n h a b i t a n t s a n d t h e o c c u p a t i o n forces. M e a n w h i l e at the same time as the initial glider landings had taken place 346
a r o u n d Maleme, G r o u p C e n t r e had c o m m e n c e d its assault on C a n e a and S u d a Bay. Following the untimely d e a t h of G e n M a j Siissmann in the air crash, c o m m a n d of Luft Division 7 had passed to Oberst Richard Heidrich, c o m m a n d e r of F J R 3. First t o t o u c h d o w n here were t w o c o m p a n i e s of 1 Battalion of the Assault Regiment u n d e r H p t G u s t a v A l t m a n n , w h o were t o c a p t u r e AA positions on the Akrotiri peninsula. T h e D F S 230s c a m e u n d e r heavy fire f r o m their p r o p o s e d objectives, three or f o u r being hard hit and caused t o crash, whilst the survivors were widely dispersed. M o r e than half the force b e c a m e casualties, while most o t h e r s were swiftly r o u n d e d up and c a p t u r e d . Eight m o r e gliders c a m e d o w n near the gun battery they were t o put out of action s o u t h of C a n e a , but o n e landed near a Royal M a r i n e section whose fire raked t h e glider, killing three of t h e occupants. As the r e m a i n i n g t r o o p s clambered out, all were shot d o w n . However the rest of Lt Alfred G e n z ' s 1st C o m p a n y assembled for their attack a n d swiftly overwhelmed t h e gun battery. T h e y then a t t e m p t e d to t a k e a n e a r b y r a d i o station, but were halted by the determined efforts of the defending Marines. O n l y 27 of G e n z ' s force survived, later joining forces with the p a r a t r o o p s of F J R 3. Lt Rodulf T o s c h k a ' s small unit of three gliders which had c o m e d o w n in the middle of C a n e a , also awaited t h e aid of the p a r a c h u t e forces after c a p t u r i n g their target gun position. T o s u p p o r t the valiant assault units, some 1800 men of F J R 3 were t o be d r o p p e d west of C a n e a , I and II Battalions t o land in Prison Valley on either side of t h e C a n e a - A l i k i a n o u r o a d , whilst III Battalion was to land n e a r K a r a t s o s a n d a l o n g t h e coast road. T h e s e areas were heavily strafed by Bfl09s just before the landings c o m m e n c e d , the first wave of over 150 J u 5 2 / 3 m s then a p p r o a c h i n g . A l t h o u g h several g u n sites had been put out of action by the glider troops, o t h e r s put u p a sustained fire, causing the t r a n s p o r t s t o veer away a n d break f o r m a t i o n . T h e result was that the p a r a c h u t i s t s fell over a wide area in scattered groups. O n l y t w o o r three J u n k e r s were actually shot d o w n (believed to have been aircraft of K G r z b V 102 and 105), but included a m o n g s t them was an aircraft of T r a i n i n g Staffel, Fliegerkorps VIII, flown by F w J o a c h i m Meyer, and still bearing the civil registration D - A T R N . O n e t r a n s p o r t was claimed shot d o w n by M a r i n e B V J o n e s a r m e d with a Bren gun, while t h e Bofors gun m a n n e d by L / C p l T o m Neill and his M a r i n e crew was seen to obtain hits on several aircraft. D u e t o the scattering which had occurred m a n y elements of FJR 3 were t o o weak to be effective, while much of M a j H e i l m a n n ' s III Battalion had fallen a m o n g s t their c o m r a d e s of I and II Battalions. T h o s e w h o had the misfortune t o fall near G a l a t a s were immediately routed by the N e w Z e a l a n d e r s of 19th Battalion, the m a j o r i t y being killed. U p o n landing n e a r t h e C a n e a - A l i k i a n o u road, H p t von der Heydte's I Battalion was strafed by a low-flying Bfl09, but without suffering casualties. By dint of fierce fighting the p a r a t r o o p s finally succeeded in c a p t u r i n g t w o vitally i m p o r t a n t hills a mile or so south of G a l a t a s . T w o c o m p a n i e s of 19th Battalion at once c o u n t e r - a t t a c k e d , s u p p o r t e d by t w o light tanks, but they were driven back, o n e of the t a n k s being k n o c k e d out by a 37 m m anti-tank gun, its t w o - m a n crew being killed. H o w e v e r these actions had already cost F J R 3 nearly a third of its strength in casualties, a n d the remaining men were fighting desperately t o hold o n t o t h e g r o u n d taken. 347
*t With a pair of escorting Messerschmitt Bfl 10s waiting in the foreground, large numbers of Junkers J u 5 2 / 3 m s are prepared for take off o n a dusty P e l o p o n n e s e airfield. (Bib fur
Zeit).
As the first wave of J u 5 2 / 3 m s returned to Greece, they had lost n o m o r e t h a n seven of their n u m b e r over M a l e m e , C a n e a a n d S u d a Bay, but as they reached their airfields most were forced to circle t o allow the c l o u d s of dust t h r o w n u p by the first d o w n t o subside. Several aircraft collided on t h e g r o u n d after landing, o r were d a m a g e d in other accidents. Anxiously awaiting news f r o m the invading forces, H e a d q u a r t e r s of XI F l i e g e r k o r p s in A t h e n s were ignorant of the catastrophies that had befallen m u c h of both G r o u p s , m a n y of the r a d i o t r a n s m i t t e r s carried in the D F S 230s having been d a m a g e d o r destroyed in the landings. D u r i n g the early a f t e r n o o n a single J u 5 2 / 3 m arrived over M a l e m e airfield carrying M a j Snowatzki and an airfield servicing unit. Spotting a G e r m a n flag on the western perimeter, S n o w a t z k i believed this t o indicate t h a t the airfield had been c a p t u r e d , a n d ordered the pilot to land. As t h e J u n k e r s a p p r o a c h e d however, it c a m e u n d e r heavy fire and was badly d a m a g e d t h o u g h the pilot m a n a g e d t o pull out t o sea a n d return t o Athens, where S n o w a t z k i reported on the dire position at Maleme. At a b o u t the same time a r a d i o message c a m e t h r o u g h f r o m F J R 3, advising of t h e failure t o c a p t u r e C a n e a and S u d a Bay, a n d in the light of this u n f a v o u r a b l e news G e n e r a l S t u d e n t delayed the second wave attack on R e t i m o and H e r a k l i o n . O v e r M a l e m e strafing fighters c o n t i n u e d to mill a r o u n d , Bfl09s seeking to 348
winkle out defiant gun sites. During o n e such attack Lt R Parry-Lewis, the local M a r i n e c o m m a n d e r , was w o u n d e d , while M a r i n e K i m b e r , already credited with at least o n e success, was mortally w o u n d e d whilst m a n n i n g a Lewis gun. M e m b e r s of 30 S q u a d r o n not occupied in defending the lower slopes of Hill 107 gave s u p p o r t t o t h e N e w Zealanders. Pit Off R K C r o w t h e r , in c h a r g e of the d e t a c h m e n t , led a h a n d f u l of men to m o p u p a band of p a r a t r o o p s on the far side of the hill, where some 30 or so R A F a n d FAA personnel had been c a p t u r e d . S o desperate was one G e r m a n officer to seize the hill that he employed these prisoners as a h u m a n shield in an a t t e m p t t o gain a footing. S o m e of prisoners were shot by N e w Z e a l a n d e r s w h o mistook t h e m for G e r m a n s as they app r o a c h e d , but Pty OfT W h e a t o n of 805 S q u a d r o n and a 30 S q u a d r o n a i r m a n , LAC H o l l a n d , were then ordered t o a p p r o a c h the N e w Z e a l a n d lines and tell t h e m t o surrender. As they reached s h o u t i n g distance, the pair called out t h a t they were going t o m a k e a d a s h for cover, but at that m o m e n t Pit Off C r o w t h e r ' s 30 S q u a d r o n party, a n d men of 33 S q u a d r o n led by Cpl H a r r i s o n , suddenly attacked t h e G e r m a n s f r o m b o t h flanks. T h e remaining prisoners a t t e m p t e d t o reach safety d u r i n g the confused fighting, but a b o u t half of t h e m were killed before the G e r m a n s were shot d o w n or dispersed. L A C H o l l a n d was one of the casualties, badly w o u n d e d in t h e back, but was rescued by t h e N e w Zealanders. Pit OfT C r o w t h e r then led his band in a c o u n t e r - a t t a c k on some G e r m a n s w h o had gained c o n t r o l of t h e eastern side of the R A F c a m p . Despite c o n s t a n t strafing by Bfl09s and fierce close-combat with the paratroops, t h e R A F c a m p area was regained, a n d with the failure t o c a p t u r e the hill, the p a r a t r o o p s called in Ju87s and BfllOs t o attack the defenders again. Late in t h e a f t e r n o o n a pair of J u 5 2 / 3 m s again tried to land on the airfield, but were driven off by a hail of small-arms fire f r o m the t r o o p s on the beach. Finally however, d u r i n g t h e evening t w o d e t a c h m e n t s f r o m t h e Assault Regiment managed to t a k e Hill 107 despite fierce N e w Z e a l a n d resistance. T h e i r victory found t h e m almost out of a m m u n i t i o n , but n o c o u n t e r - a t t a c k came. T h e y had secured ultimate c o n t r o l of the airfield by this c o u p , and f r o m this point the battle was lost for the defenders. At C a n e a m e a n t i m e b o t h sides had sought to c o n s o l i d a t e their positions while Messerschmitt fighters cruised above, obviously uncertain of the locations of their own troops. D u r i n g o n e sortie H p t P a u l Kleiner's B f l l O of 4 / Z G 26 ( 3 U + H M ) was shot d o w n near C a n e a with the loss of the crew, whilst J G 7 7 ' s low-flying B f l 0 9 E s c o n t i n u e d t o t a k e regular losses. F w Niemeyer of 4 Staffel was shot d o w n and killed in Yellow 9, while Obit O t t o G r o b e , f r o m the same Staffel survived being shot d o w n in Black 5 and m a n a g e d t o e v a d e c a p t u r e , later returning to his unit. A third Bfl09, this f r o m 7 Staffel, w a s lost when F w Dietrich S a a k e was similarly b r o u g h t d o w n in W h i t e 6, he b e c o m i n g a prisoner. W h e n the attack on C a n e a had begun K i n g G e o r g e of the Hellenes, his cousin Prince Peter, a n d t h e Greek P r i m e Minister, M r T s o u d e r o s (himself a Cretan), were at t h e King's villa south-west of t h e town. O n e glider landed just 300 y a r d s a w a y but its o c c u p a n t s were swiftly dealt with, while a n u m b e r of p a r a t r o o p s d r o p p e d less t h a n half a mile away, a l t h o u g h they m a d e off in a different 349
direction. Led by t h e British Military Attache, Colonel J S Blunt, with an escort of 40 N e w Z e a l a n d and Greek soldiers, the Royal P a r t y was guided to the n e a r b y m o u n t a i n o u s region, heading south. It would t a k e t h e m three d a y s a n d nights t o trek south t o Ayia Roumeli, where their further a d v e n t u r e s will be related later. In S u d a Bay, while fighting went on ashore, t h e Bay P a t r o l , c o m p r i s i n g minesweepers, former whalers and m o t o r launches, c a m e u n d e r increasing air attack. T h e minesweeper Widnes and the S o u t h African whaler Kos 23 were both b o m b e d , a n d consequently beached, as was the 6200-ton freighter Dalesman, which had arrived a few d a y s earlier with c o n v o y AN-30; fortunately casualties were light. T h e defenders at R e t i m o and Heraklion had been spared the m o r n i n g assaults by the air landing forces, a l t h o u g h a reconnaissance D o . l 7 P of 2(F)/11 had a p p e a r e d over the latter airfield at 0800, a high-level b o m b i n g attack then following; f r o m then until m i d d a y aircraft were c o n s t a n t l y overhead, b o m b i n g a n d strafing, but c a u s i n g few casualties. At R e t i m o defence was provided by t w o Australian battalions, 2/11th and 2 / l s t , and by t w o G r e e k battalions, with t w o M a r k VI t a n k s in s u p p o r t . T h e r e were n o heavy AA guns, the Australians relying on t r i p o d - m o u n t e d Brens and a few Vickers machine-guns. Here the G e r m a n plan called for O b e r s t S t u r m , c o m m a n d e r of F J R 2, t o d r o p with his H e a d q u a r t e r s and o n e and a half c o m p a n i e s very near t o the airfield, f r o m where he w a s t o direct operations. M a j K r o h , o n e of the leaders of the successful C o r i n t h C a n a l a t t a c k , was t o land with I Battalion to the east of the airfield, which he w a s t o c a p t u r e , while H p t W e i d m a n n ' s III Battalion was t o land in a n d a r o u n d the village of Perivolia, f r o m where an advance on the town of R e t i m o was t o be made. At 1600 several Staffeln of Bfl 10s c o m m e n c e d strafing t h e area while Ju87s went after specific targets and D o . l 7 s b o m b e d and strafed f r o m low level. T h e Australian g u n n e r s put u p an intense barrage which shot d o w n t w o of I / K G 2's D o r n i e r s and severely d a m a g e d a third. Both Obit Heinz Schmidt's U 5 + E H and Lt M a x G r a f von D i i r k h e i m ' s U 5 + BH fell in flames; two m o r e of these b o m b e r s f r o m I I I / K G 2 also suffered damage. Fifteen m i n u t e s later t w o dozen Ju52/3ms were c o u n t e d a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m out t o sea, these crossing t h e coast t o the east of t h e Australian positions, but then t u r n i n g to fly parallel with the coast, where advanced units of F J R 2 began d r o p p i n g . M o r e a n d m o r e t r a n s p o r t s followed until an estimated 160 were over the target zone. Despite the lack of any opposition in the air, the d r o p was highly-disorganized, t r o o p s c o m i n g d o w n in t h e w r o n g sequence, and as a result being scattered over a wide area. Partly this was d u e t o the confusion by then reigning on t h e d e s p a t c h landing g r o u n d s in Greece where Staffeln were being ordered off as soon as they were refuelled. It was also t o an extent occasioned by t h e intense fire put u p by t h e Australian gunners. G r o u p s of aircraft were b r o k e n u p as bullets and shell f r a g m e n t s riddled the fuselages of t h e slow-moving J u n k e r s , killing a n d w o u n d i n g m a n y of the men inside. At least seven aircraft were seen to fall in flames, t w o or three crashing n e a r Perivolia, whilst others headed out t o sea trailing tails of fire; two m o r e collided. A m o n g s t those lost were t w o f r o m I / K G z b V 172 (one of these being 350
4V + IW flown by F w Rudolf Krause); two m o r e were lost by I / L L G 1, while Uffz Karl K o h n l e ' s 1 Z + F R of I / K G r z b V 1 also failed to r e t u r n . As with t h e earlier d r o p s , m a n y p a r a t r o o p s were killed even before reaching the g r o u n d ; large n u m b e r s of 1 Battalion t r o o p s actually fell within the Australian positions where Bren and Vickers g u n n e r s took a heavy toll. Intended t o s u p p o r t III Battalion, this force had fallen completely in the w r o n g area, but despite the losses a n d tribulations, M a j K r o h eventually m a n a g e d t o assemble quite a s t r o n g force, reinforced by a heavy w e a p o n s d e t a c h m e n t with m o r t a r s , anti-tank guns, light howitzers a n d heavy machine-guns. At m u c h the same time Heraklion had also c o m e u n d e r renewed attack. Following a lull in t h e air b o m b a r d m e n t , a c o n t i n u o u s s t r e a m of a t t a c k e r s a p p e a r e d f r o m 1600 o n w a r d s , a t t a c k i n g the airfield and g u n sites here. At o n e point an estimated 50 S t u k a s were overhead, these being aircraft of H p t Brucker's III G r u p p e of S t G 2 f r o m S c a r p a n t o , but courageously the defenders c o n t i n u e d to hit back. W h e n H e l l Is of I I / K G 26 c a m e in at low-level t w o were hit, 1H + Z P (Obit K u r t von Stetten) a n d 1H + M P b o t h c r a s h - l a n d i n g on the airfield where von Stetten's crew were taken prisoner, the other crew evading capture. Strafing Bfl09s were joined by Rhodes-based C R 4 2 s , a n d these were followed in by BfllOs of I I / Z G 26. T h e latter were h u n t i n g for surviving gun sites, but accurate fire shot t w o 4 Staffel aircraft d o w n into the sea. T h e Staffelkapitan, O b i t Reinhold Heubel (3U + A M ) and his g u n n e r were killed, but Uffz O t t o Stein and G e f r Dietrich H e r m a n n m a n a g e d to ditch 3U + C N and reached the shore where they were c a p t u r e d ; they would be released later. Shortly after 1800 the first of some 240 J u 5 2 / 3 m s c a m e in, flying at a b o u t 100 feet over the sea, but climbing u p to 250 feet t o d r o p their charges. T h e results were close t o disaster for the G e r m a n s ; gunfire enveloped the f o r m a t i o n , hitting m a n y aircraft a n d killing n u m b e r s of p a r a t r o o p s before they could even j u m p . Several t r a n s p o r t s fell a w a y trailing flame and p a r a c h u t e s as men a b o a r d tried desperately t o get clear. O n e u n f o r t u n a t e was seen t o catch his p a r a c h u t e on t h e tail of o n e aircraft as it headed out to sea. T h e big t r i m o t o r s crashed, or glided d o w n t o force-land all r o u n d the area, 15 b u r n t - o u t wrecks subsequently being found in the i m m e d i a t e Heraklion sector alone, while o t h e r s fell in the sea K G r z b V 101 bore t h e b r u n t of the losses, at least eight of this unit's aircraft being shot d o w n including G 6 + K L (Obit H a n s R e h r m a n n ) , G 6 + G K (Ofw Heinz O t t o ) a n d G 6 + EK (Uffz H e l m u t Biewendt). As with the landings at Retimo, the d r o p had been u n c o - o r d i n a t e d , reserve and b a c k - u p t r o o p s often landing a h e a d of the m a i n units. Second wave t r a n s p o r t s which arrived over the d r o p p i n g z o n e in sections were easy targets for the defenders, the final t r o o p s being d r o p p e d some three and a half h o u r s after t h e initial landings. II Battalion suffered worst, being almost wiped out immediately on arrival. Half the force landed a m o n g s t units of the Black W a t c h , only o n e officer and a few dozen men surviving the initial minutes. T h e s e men were then found t o be very vulnerable when a bayonet c h a r g e was launched at the west end of the airfield by the Scots, d u r i n g which large n u m b e r s of G e r m a n s were killed. O n e small g r o u p succeeded in establishing themselves in some Greek b a r r a c k s t o the west of the airfield, where they were t o hold out for 24 hours. Of the other 351
half of t h e battalion, which c a m e d o w n in the positions of 2/4th Australians, only five men survived; these later escaped by s w i m m i n g along the coast to safety. T h e o t h e r three b a t t a l i o n s c a m e d o w n m o r e safely t o t h e east a n d west, but t o o far f r o m their objectives t o be able to influence the fighting; indeed they saw only s p o r a d i c action before night fell at the end of this most violent day. O w i n g to the lack of information c o m i n g f r o m the R e t i m o area but believing the landing g r o u n d t o have been c a p t u r e d . Air H e a d q u a r t e r s in A t h e n s ordered a F i l 5 6 c o m m u n i c a t i o n s aircraft (presumably f r o m 2(H)/31) t o be despatched to this sector t o obtain an u p - t o - t h e - m i n u t e situation report. Arriving during t h e early evening the pilot landed at Retimo, only for he and his observer t o be taken prisoner by t h e Australians, thus leaving Air H Q n o n e t h e wiser. W i t h the arrival of night, nine Wellingtons f r o m 257 W i n g in Egypt were d e s p a t c h e d f r o m F u k a t o raid the mainland airfields in Greece, but they a t t a c k e d the p e r m a n e n t bases, rather than the landing g r o u n d s where g r o u n d crews were performing Herculean t a s k s t o bring back some semblance of order and serviceability a m o n g s t the t r a n s p o r t fleet. At Eleusis a lone J u 8 8 of W e k u s t a 76 was d a m a g e d by 70 S q u a d r o n bombs, while a t t a c k s on Menidi a n d T o p o l i a achieved nothing. At least o n e Wellington b o m b e d Argos, where a single J u 8 7 of S t a b S t / S t G 2 w a s destroyed a n d a second d a m a g e d . T h e Royal N a v y w a s also out, C a p t M a c k ' s F o r c e 'E', c o m p r i s i n g the destroyers Jervis, Nizam a n d Ilex, passing t h r o u g h t h e K a s o Strait t o b o m b a r d S c a r p a n t o . Fire was opened at 0245 against the airfield, where it was hoped to catch t h e d i v e - b o m b e r s of StG 2. In the event, the only d a m a g e was caused t o t w o of the S t a b Staffel's D o . 17 'hacks', t w o g r o u n d c r e w airmen being w o u n d e d . M e a n w h i l e A d m i r a l King's F o r c e 'C' (the cruisers Naiad and Perth, a n d four destroyers) had also passed t h r o u g h the Strait d u r i n g the evening, where it c a m e u n d e r attack by Italian t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s f r o m R h o d e s , but these failed t o inflict any d a m a g e . Six Italian M T B s then attacked, again without success, the destroyer Juno engaging these and claiming that four were d a m a g e d by machine-gunfire before being driven off. W h a t n o n e of t h e British warships had spotted was t h e flotilla of 25 small ships which had sailed from P i r a e u s t o the island of Melos d u r i n g the day, c a r r y i n g 2330 reinforcement t r o o p s f r o m III/100 M o u n t a i n Regiment ( I I I / G J R 100), a n d s u p p o r t i n g units with anti-aircraft guns, a m m u n i t i o n and supplies. It was intended that this c o n v o y would sail for M a l e m e next day. M o r n i n g on 21 M a y f o u n d the G e r m a n s most f a v o u r a b l y placed at Maleme, where d a y b r e a k a t t a c k s by Bfl09s and Ju87s prevented t h e N e w Z e a l a n d e r s launching any organized c o u n t e r - a t t a c k against the critical Hill 107. A p a r t f r o m t h e c o n s t a n t strafing however, it was relatively quiet here a n d a r o u n d C a n e a , with only skirmish activity occurring. T h e various R A F and F A A parties, mainly without a r m s , were gradually being led a w a y f r o m t h e f o r w a r d areas. T h e two largest g r o u p s had congregated to the east of Hill 107, the 30 S q u a d r o n party with 23rd Battalion n e a r the village of D h a s k a l i a n a , while the main 33 S q u a d r o n party w a s a l o n g Vineyard Ridge with 21st Battalion. E v e r y o n e w a s keeping their heads well d o w n , as Hs 126 spotter aircraft were m e a n d e r i n g overhead, looking for targets for t h e S t u k a s and Messerschmitts. T o t h e s o u t h of the hill was 252 352
A M E S , t h e r a d a r station, a n d this c a m e u n d e r air attack by Bfl09s and BfllOs d u r i n g the m o r n i n g , 17 of the 56 R A F personnel b e c o m i n g casualties, or subsequently being c a p t u r e d . M a n y of t h e FAA personnel had gathered in t h e s a m e area, including S u b Lt H i n t o n ' s small party. Roy H i n t o n recalls: ' D a w n found myself a n d a b o u t four of my t r o o p s in a trench covered in bracken. W e had a field of observation downhill and d u e east. After some time I got out to have a pee and lo a n d behold, some G e r m a n s were c o m i n g over the t o p of t h e hill. T h i s w a s an occasion when I was t h a n k f u l I was the open c h a m p i o n sprinter at school. We m a d e it t o the hollow of the valley, scrambled u p t h e o p p o s i t e side and fortunately c a m e across a motley crowd of o u r o w n troops. W e lay a l o n g the ridge t a k i n g p o t - s h o t s at the G e r m a n s on the o t h e r side of t h e valley. T o my h o r r o r I found I was receiving some 20 shots in return to every o n e fired by me and realised I was firing tracer bullets!' As the m a j o r i t y of t h e R A F a n d F A A were u n a r m e d , Lt S u t t o n requested permission for t h e m t o be w i t h d r a w n . It was agreed that they could m a k e for C a n e a , but would have t o defend their present positions first until t h e return of the N e w Z e a l a n d e r s f r o m their a t t e m p t e d c o u n t e r - a t t a c k . Lt R a m s a y a n d the a r m e d F A A p a r t y took t h e right flank, while Lt S u t t o n a n d the R A F g r o u p covered the left; the u n a r m e d men were ordered to r e m a i n u n d e r cover; the g r o u p w a s n o w a b o u t 160 strong. S o o n after t h e initial strafing attacks had been made, a section of J u 5 2 / 3 m s a p p e a r e d , c a r r y i n g desperately needed a m m u n i t i o n for the Assault Regiment. Intense gunfire m a d e it impossible for t h e m to land o n t h e airfield, but t h e f o r m a t i o n leader, Uffz Griinert, decided to try and land on the rock-strewn beach. His gallant a t t e m p t was successful, but a second aircraft which tried t o follow was raked with machine-gunfire as it landed, and then blew u p as it received a direct hit f r o m a m o r t a r . In a d e s p e r a t e bid t o aid his men in t h e assault on Maleme, G e n e r a l S t u d e n t decided t o c o m m i t most of his remaining p a r a t r o o p s (about 550 men) t o t h e battle here, a n d at a b o u t 0900 m o r e J u 5 2 / 3 m s arrived carrying just over half this force, led by O b e r s t B e r n h a r d Ramcke. T h e y were d r o p p e d successfully as there was n o w virtually n o anti-aircraft fire a w a y f r o m the environs of the airfield. R a m c k e at once took over c o m m a n d of all the t r o o p s in t h e area, except t h e w o u n d e d G e n e r a l Meindl, w h o would be flown out t o A t h e n s later in the day. W i t h this success in h a n d , S t u d e n t felt justified in d e s p a t c h i n g a battalion of 5th M o u n t a i n Division, originally intended for H e r a k l i o n , together with the remaining t w o c o m p a n i e s of p a r a t r o o p s . H e n c e at a b o u t 1300 h o u r s t r o o p carrying J u 5 2 / 3 m s arrived over M a l e m e with the m o u n t a i n infantry, whilst others c o m m e n c e d d r o p p i n g the final batch of parachutists. O n e of the first t r a n s p o r t s t o t o u c h d o w n on the airfield burst into flames as it received a direct hit, while others careered a l o n g on s m a s h e d undercarriages. T h e t r a n s p o r t s were n o w being deliberately sacrificed to get the t r o o p s d o w n , aircraft after aircraft going u p in flames or sliding a l o n g on their bellies, shedding wings a n d engines, while t r o o p s evacuated the still-moving aircraft as rapidly as possible and raced for cover. Yet 353
o t h e r s c r a s h - l a n d e d on t h e beach, m a n y riddled with bullets a n d full of dead or dying men. Of six that c a m e d o w n near o n e M a o r i unit, only 20 men emerged alive, a n d these at once became prisoners. T h e t w o c o m p a n i e s of p a r a t r o o p s had also c o m e d o w n in M a o r i lines between Pirgos a n d Platanias, where they were slaughtered before they could regroup. O n the airfield M a j Snowatzki's servicing unit had now safely arrived and was immediately d o w n t o business clearing the r u n w a y of wrecks, m a k i n g g o o d use of a c a p t u r e d Bren carrier to shunt shattered fuselages and wings t o the perimeters. By 1600 some 60 aircraft had landed, a n d by nightfall m o r e than 80 wrecks were piled up a l o n g the sides of the r u n w a y , but all the m o u n t a i n t r o o p s had arrived. M a j D e u t s c h ' s K G r z b V 40, specially formed for the o p e r a t i o n had been practically wiped out, m o r e t h a n 20 of the unit's aircraft being wrecked. D u r i n g the landings a n u m b e r of J u 5 2 / 3 m s had ventured over the C a n e a area while waiting to land, and here several had been shot d o w n or d a m a g e d . Still m a n n i n g his mobile Bofors gun here, L / C p l Neill and his M a r i n e t e a m had been unofficially credited with s h o o t i n g - d o w n , or at least d a m a g i n g , some nine aircraft d u r i n g t h e t w o days. Each time low-flying aircraft a p p e a r e d , he would wait for the last o n e t o c o m e within range before opening fire; when c o n d i t i o n s got sticky, he would hitch t h e gun t o a light lorry and m o v e t o a new position.
By the evening of 21 M a y , 1941 the north coast of Crete w a s b e c o m i n g littered with crash-landed J u 5 2 / 3 m transports as these aircraft were literally flown into the ground t o get reinforcements o n t o the island. ( / / Schliepacke
via A
Price)
354
T o the n o r t h of C r e t e a M a r y l a n d of 39 S q u a d r o n , flown by the Australian C O , Wg Cdr A M c D B o w m a n , on a reconnaissance f r o m Egypt, encountered a single J u 5 2 / 3 m m a k i n g for the island, believed to have been F w Alfred T i m m e ' s 9 P + F K of K G r z b V 40, which was p r o m p t l y d e s p a t c h e d into t h e sea. An i m p o r t a n t discovery by a n o t h e r reconnaissance aircraft, this time a Blenheim of 45 S q u a d r o n , was m a d e when Fit Lt J M D e n n i s and his crew spotted a n u m b e r of small craft escorted by destroyers, m a k i n g for C r e t e f r o m Melos. It was the reinforcement c o n v o y with heavy e q u i p m e n t , arrival of which was critical t o t h e success of the G e r m a n invasion. M e a n w h i l e elsewhere on the island action had c o n t i n u e d . At 1345 a small 300ton coastal p a t r o l vessel, Syvern, which had escaped the Luftwaffe's attention in S u d a Bay u p t o this point, was suddenly strafed by an aircraft identified as a Ju88, but almost certainly was H p t Wilhelm M a k r o c k i ' s B f l l O (U8 + AB) f r o m S t a b I / Z G 26. D u r i n g the first pass every gunner of Syvern fell w o u n d e d , o n e of t h e m mortally, but others took their places at the small a u t o m a t i c w e a p o n s as the a t t a c k e r returned again a n d again. O n the sixth pass, so close did t h e Messerschmitt c o m e that when an a m m u n i t i o n locker on the coaster's deck blew up, pieces of debris hit the fighter's port engine, and t h e stricken m a c h i n e smashed into the vessel's mast, then plunged into the sea. M a k r o c k i , a ninevictory 'Experte', was killed, as was his 47 year-old observer/gunner, H p t Heinrich Eisgruber. Fires a b o a r d Syvern were extinguished and she limped back into h a r b o u r with only two m e m b e r s of her crew u n w o u n d e d . H e r a k l i o n had again suffered heavy b o m b i n g a n d strafing a t t a c k s d u r i n g the m o r n i n g , delivered by Ju87s and do.17s, s u p p o r t e d by I I / Z G 2 6 BfllOs. Australian Bofors g u n n e r s and Royal M a r i n e s m a n n i n g 3-inch N a v a l AA g u n s and p o m - p o m s , put u p a spirited defence, s h o o t i n g d o w n a 5 Staffel B f l l O (3U + L N flown by Lt Dietrich O l d e n b u r g ) and I I I / K G 2 D o . 1 7 (U5 + O R ) c a p t a i n e d by Lt H u g o Schilling; both crews were lost. It is possible that these guns also b r o u g h t d o w n a reconnaissance Bfl 10 f r o m Fliegerkorps XI's AufklarungsstafTel - 40 + D H flown by Fw Richard Pielchen was lost during a sortie t o the island. F o l l o w i n g this latest aerial b o m b a r d m e n t , M a j Schulz's I I I / F J R 1 attacked H e r a k l i o n t o w n f r o m the west, h o p i n g to c a p t u r e the h a r b o u r . Fierce fighting ensued, a n d t h e western end of the h a r b o u r actually fell t o the G e r m a n s , but British a n d Greek forces c o u n t e r - a t t a c k e d , forcing the surviving p a r a t r o o p s out of t o w n by the evening. By this time F J R 1 had lost m o r e t h a n 1000 men. D u r i n g the fighting the Australians of 2/4th Battalion had c a p t u r e d a n u m b e r of G e r m a n Very signal pistols a n d signal codes, and were able t o use these t o c a u s e supplyd r o p p i n g J u 5 2 / 3 m s t o release their c a r g o e s of supplies and a m m u n i t i o n o n t o the Australian positions.
Air-Sea Actions Well a w a r e t h a t a s e a b o r n e force had t o get t h r o u g h soon, t h e Royal N a v y w a s out in force t h r o u g h o u t the next 48 hours, but the Luftwaffe was ready to challenge t h e w a r s h i p s a n d o n e of the biggest air-sea battles of the w a r t o d a t e 355
developed. After m a k i n g an uneventful sweep a r o u n d Maleme, C a n e a and K i s s a m o s Bay d u r i n g the night of 20/21 M a y , F o r c e ' D ' (the cruisers Dido, Orion, Ajax a n d four destroyers) w a s retiring westwards t h r o u g h the A n t i k y t h e r a Strait d u r i n g the m o r n i n g of the 21st, when Ju88s of I / L G 1 attacked, Ajax being d a m a g e d by near misses. O n e of the attackers was Lt Sattler's LI + BK, which failed t o release its 2800kg SC1400 b o m b on pulling out of its attack dive. U n wieldly with the heavy b o m b still a b o a r d , the b o m b e r was hit m a n y times in the port wing a n d fuselage before escaping. Sattler was soon back in the air, joining a force f r o m I and I I / L G 1, a n d Ju87s of Stab, I and I I I / S t G 2 , which a t t a c k ed a substantial naval force d u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n and evening. F o r c e ' D ' had rendezvoused with A d m i r a l Rawlings' F o r c e ' A T (the battleships Warspite a n d Valiant a n d six destroyers). N o vessels were hit d u r i n g these raids, a l t h o u g h there were some n a r r o w escapes, a n d Sattler believed that he had gained a direct hit on a cruiser. T h e gunfire f r o m this s t r o n g e r fleet proved deadly however, three b o m b e r s being claimed shot d o w n a n d two m o r e d a m a g e d . T w o Ju87s were actually lost, T 6 + L R (Uffz Heinz Rauser) of 7 Staffel and T 6 + H S (Lt Dieter Schilling) of 8 Staffel, both crews being reported killed, a Stab machine r e t u r n i n g t o S c a r p a n t o badly d a m a g e d with b o t h Lt Elmar G o b l e t and his gunner mortally w o u n d e d , while an aircraft of 2 Staffel returned with a badly w o u n d e d gunner. A Ju88 of I I / L G 1 w a s also hit and d a m a g e d . F u r t h e r east F o r c e ' C ' c a m e u n d e r severe attack from mid m o r n i n g until early a f t e r n o o n f r o m Aegean-based units, including both Regia A e r o n a u t i c a aircraft and Ju87s f r o m I I I / S t G 2 f r o m S c a r p a n t o . Just before 1300 the destroyer Juno was hit by t h r e e b o m b s , t w o of which exploded in the boiler a n d engine rooms, while the third d e t o n a t e d the magazine. Broken in t w o by the explosions, she sank in two minutes, 128 m e m b e r s of her crew perishing; 97 were plucked f r o m the sea. W h e n hit she had been u n d e r attack f r o m Ju87s f r o m I I I / S t G 2 as well as by Z1007bis b o m b e r s of 50° G r u p p o BT. D u r i n g the various a t t a c k s on F o r c e ' C ' and F o r c e D ' the Axis believed that they had also severely d a m a g e d t w o cruisers a n d a destroyer a n d hit at least four m o r e warships, but in fact Juno was the only casualty. Just before dusk on 21 M a y F o r c e D ' again entered t h e A n t i k y t h e r a Strait t o repeat the previous night's sweep a l o n g the M a l e m e - C a n e a coastline. Again S t u k a s of H p t Bruckner's I I I / S t G 2 f r o m S c a r p a n t o a t t a c k e d , but were met by intense and a c c u r a t e AA gunfire, the g u n n e r s believing that they had shot d o w n t w o o r three of t h e Stukas, o n e of which was seen t o break into t w o and plunge into the sea. T h i s w a s clearly F w F r a n z Kohl's T 6 + G S f r o m 8 Staffel, which failed t o return, while a second Ju87, flown by Obit Heinz Rutkowski, ditched near K y t h o s Island, only the g u n n e r , F w O t t o S c h u p p , surviving. Just before midnight F o r c e ' D ' encountered t h e reinforcement c o n v o y of caiques and coasters heading for Maleme, a n d Admiral Glennie's destroyers at once a t t a c k e d , c a u s i n g great destruction d u r i n g the next t w o a n d a half hours. At the start of the action t w o caiques were seen to burst into flames, a n d a steamer believed t o have been the 1601-ton R u m a n i a n Carmen Sylvaobviously carrying a m m u n i t i o n , blew up. S o m e were sunk by p o m - p o m fire, others raked by 356
machine-guns. G e r m a n soldiers could be seen leaping into t h e sea, their cries for help being audible a b o v e the s o u n d s of battle. T h e escorting Italian destroyer Lupo gallantly tried t o defend her charges. A l t h o u g h hit by n o less t h a n 18 shells, she m a n a g e d t o stay afloat and even launched t w o t o r p e d o e s at the British ships. F o u r Italian M T B s aided her, but to little avail. M o r e than half t h e c o n v o y was sunk, just ten caiques m a n a g i n g to evade attack in the d a r k n e s s , these t u r n i n g back t o w a r d s Melos. T h e British force had prevented the first sea invasion t a k i n g place, a n d m u c h heavy e q u i p m e n t - tanks, lorries, heavy w e a p o n s and a m m u n i t i o n went to the b o t t o m . It w a s estimated by t h e jubilant Admiral G l e n n i e a n d his staff that some 4000 t r o o p s must have perished, but in fact losses were only a little over 300. A further 1650 had been rescued f r o m the sea by the d a m a g e d Lupo, by a second Italian destroyer (Lira), which c a m e out to help, a n d by G e r m a n a n d Italian airsea rescue aircraft. O n e single c a i q u e did get t h r o u g h however, landing its t r o o p s n e a r C a n e a . H e r e they had o r d e r s to attack British g u n positions on the slopes of Akrotiri, but most b e c a m e casualties as they landed, and all the o t h e r s bar o n e were killed, w o u n d e d or c a p t u r e d as they battled t h r o u g h the s u b u r b s of C a n e a . T h e sole survivor m a n a g e d t o reach the positions held by elements of I / F J R 3. A second c o n v o y of 38 caiques and steamers intended for H e r a k l i o n was ordered back t o Piraeus on receipt of the news of the fate of the M a l e m e - b o u n d flotilla, but this collection of vessels was now being hunted by A d m i r a l King's F o r c e 4 C\ which was sweeping in f r o m the east. It would be 0830 before the convoy w a s sighted as it headed away n o r t h w a r d s , a n d only o n e troop-filled c a i q u e was sunk by Perth's gunfire before G e r m a n b o m b e r s located F o r c e 'C' a n d a t t a c k s c o m m e n c e d . A d m i r a l K i n g ordered his force to retire and head west t o w a r d s the A n t i k y t h e r a C h a n n e l . Harried by Ju88s f r o m I and I I / L G 1, a n d by Do. 17s of K G 2 which b o m b e d from higher level, the force soon began to sustain casualties, the cruisers Naiad and Carlisle both being hit, t h e former suffering serious d a m a g e . In r e t u r n t w o Ju88s were shot d o w n , Lt Wolfgang Schweickhardt's LI + I K failing t o return, while O f w Heinrich Bocker's LI + L L ditched in the sea just off M o n e m v a s i a , after struggling back to the G r e e k coast; he a n d his crew were rescued. Ju87s were also out, but erroneously attacked the Italian destroyer Sagittario which had gone out to escort the r e t u r n i n g caiques; o t h e r s d a m a g e d a n o t h e r Italian destroyer, the Sella. At 1312 F o r c e ' C , which was still u n d e r heavy air a t t a c k , called for assistance f r o m t h e Battle S q u a d r o n , which was on station t o t h e west of Crete. As the t w o forces converged, Warspite was attacked by Ju87s and received a direct hit on her s t a r b o a r d side. T w o b o m b - c a r r y i n g B f l 0 9 E s f r o m 8 / J G 77 then swept in, flown by Obit H u y a n d Obit U b b e n , each of w h o m also scored direct hits on the battleship's s t a r b o a r d gun positions. T h e ships were also u n d e r attack by BfllOs from S t a b and I / Z G 26, O b i t Fritz von W u t h e n a u ' s 3U + C C of S t a b Staffel being shot d o w n . T h e cruisers Gloucester a n d Fiji were b o t h hit by 250 kg b o m b s d r o p p e d by J u 8 7 s f r o m I and I I I / S t G 2, but neither vessel w a s seriously d a m a g e d . H o w e v e r t h e destroyer Greyhound sank a few m i n u t e s after being hit by three b o m b s just before 1400. 357
T w o destroyers were at once ordered t o rescue survivors, whilst Gloucester a n d Fiji stood by t o p r o v i d e cover; it was the prelude t o disaster. Sections of Ju87s a n d Ju88s at once pounced on the isolated ships and within minutes Gloucester had succumbed to a welter of b o m b s rained u p o n her by O b i t D r Ernst Kupfer's Staffel of Stukas; she sank following an external explosion. S o m e 500 survivors were later rescued by Italian ships and G e r m a n air-sea rescue aircraft, a l t h o u g h t h e crews of both t h e cruiser's W a l r u s 'spotters' were a m o n g s t those lost. M e a n w h i l e the other warships c o n t i n u e d to fight back, o n e J u 8 8 of 5 / L G 1 being hit a n d severely d a m a g e d . F w H a n s Richter struggled t o regain his base but the aircraft crashed in flames just n o r t h of Eleusis, the crew perishing. T w o other b o m b e r s f r o m I I / L G I were also d a m a g e d , both c r a s h - l a n d i n g o n return. Following the sinking of Gloucester, Fiji a n d the t w o destroyers a t t e m p t e d to vacate t h e area with all speed, but at 1745 they were spotted by a lone Bfl 09 J a b o of I / L G 2. T h e unidentified pilot carried out a single-handed attack on Fiji with his single 1000kg b o m b , scoring a near-miss which t o r e a hole in t h e cruiser's plates. A second aircraft f r o m this unit then arrived, gaining a direct hit on the forward boiler r o o m . At 1915 Fiji capsized with t h e loss of 276 of her crew. As dusk fell t h r e e destroyers of C a p t Lord Louis M o u n t b a t t e n ' s 5th Flotilla arrived in t h e area f r o m M a l t a , a n d were ordered t o assist the destroyer Kandahar in rescue o p e r a t i o n s t o the Fiji survivors. Before reaching the position of this vessel's demise however, a signal ordered the ships t o divert t o Crete, where they were t o move inshore t o b o m b a r d M a l e m e airfield, and intercept a suspected s e a b o r n e invasion. As o n e destroyer was suffering a steering fault, Lord Louis headed into C a n e a Bay with only his Kelly a n d Kashmir. Here they discovered a t r o o p - l a d e n caique, which was soon badly d a m a g e d by their gunfire; a short b o m b a r d m e n t of M a l e m e airfield was then u n d e r t a k e n before they d e p a r t e d f r o m the target area. O n leaving t h e bay a n o t h e r c a i q u e was spotted and left in flames, but at daylight the ships were still well within range of Luftwaffe a t t a c k . At 0755 they were seen by a b o u t t w o dozen Ju87s of I / S t G 2, led by H p t H u b e r t u s Hitschhold, which a t t a c k e d at once. T h e initial b o m b s were avoided, but Kashmir w a s then hit a m i d s h i p s a n d sank within two minutes. Even as she went d o w n o n e of her O e r l i k o n g u n n e r s c o n t i n u e d firing, a n d was believed to have shot d o w n o n e of t h e attackers. As Kelly m a n o e u v r e d violently t o avoid a similar fate her g u n n e r s t h o u g h t that they saw at least t w o m o r e S t u k a s fall into t h e sea. Kelly then took a hit in her engine r o o m a n d rolled over at once, half the ship's c o m p a n y losing their lives. Survivors, including Lord Louis, were strafed in the sea before t h e destroyer Kipling arrived on the scene t o pick t h e m up, also rescuing survivors f r o m Kashmir. Ju88s then attacked, a n d whilst u n d e r t a k i n g d e s p e r a t e avoiding action, Kipling scraped the u p t u r n e d hull of Kelly, tearing a hole in her o w n side. A l t h o u g h attacked several times more, she escaped further d a m a g e a n d arrived safely at Alexandria. T h e survivors of the t w o sunken destroyers had s o m e w h a t over-estimated their successes against the highly m a n o e u v r e a b l e Stukas. O n l y o n e aircraft f r o m 2 Staffel had been shot d o w n , the w o u n d e d Obit Wilhelm Kaiser being rescued f r o m the sea, his g u n n e r (Ofw P a u l Golla) losing his life, while a second aircraft was badly d a m a g e d and crashed on its return to base. 358
T h e Luftwaffe had effectively w o n this r o u n d however, and the Royal N a v y would not again venture into the waters n o r t h of C r e t e by day; the way was now open for the s e a b o r n e elements of the invasion. By night the ships still a p p e a r e d , mainly t o carry supplies and assist with evacuation. It will be recalled that the Greek Royal P a r t y had begun a j o u r n e y across the island on foot on 20 May. By n o w they had reached an isolated, desolate spot at Ayia Roumeli on the south coast, where after midnight on the night of 22/23 M a y they were taken out to the destroyer Decoy in a small local m o t o r boat; the G r e e k b o d y g u a r d and C r e t a n guides remained behind t o c o n t i n u e the fight. Decoy rejoined F o r c e ' A T a n d would be subjected to air attack and a possible s u b m a r i n e e n c o u n t e r before reaching Alexandria six nights later. While the naval/air battles of 22 and 23 M a y had been u n d e r w a y , on the land the fighting c o n t i n u e d . At last at 0330 on the night of 21/22, the 20th New Z e a l a n d and 28th M a o r i Battalions launched a c o u n t e r - a t t a c k on the airfield at Maleme, s u p p o r t e d by three light t a n k s of 3rd Hussars. Despite fierce opposition, t h e N e w Z e a l a n d e r s were nearing their objective at d a w n , threatening both t h e airfield and the i m p o r t a n t high g r o u n d to the south, but o n e tank had been k n o c k e d out by an anti-tank gun, the o t h e r t w o suffering gun stoppages. While being w i t h d r a w n , they c a m e u n d e r air attack, and one m o r e tank was destroyed. By mid m o r n i n g the whole of Brigadier Hargest's 5th Brigade had been c o m mitted to the battle, but the g r o u n d gained could not be held, a n d all units began withdrawing. With t h e airfield still in their hands, t h e G e r m a n s c o n t i n u e d flying in men a n d supplies at an increasing tempo, J u 5 2 / 3 m s landing at the rate of one every five minutes. Aircraft f r o m I and I I / K G z b V 1 p r e d o m i n a t e d , s o m e bringing in heavy e q u i p m e n t , including Kubelwagen utilities. Aircraft c o n t i n u e d to pile u p on the airfield, at least 20 m o r e crashing, crashlanding, or suffering less-severe d a m a g e , while three K G r z b V 105 aircraft were shot d o w n . A further dozen either returned t o T o p o l i a o r T a n g a r a in a d a m a g e d condition, or c r a s h - l a n d e d on arrival d u e t o the state of the r u n w a y s there. P e r h a p s because of the profligate wastage of t r a n s p o r t s , Brigadier Hargest gained the impression that the G e r m a n s were evacuating, and signalled Division H Q accordingly. W h a t had actually been seen was p r o b a b l y t h e air evacuation of w o u n d e d back to the m a i n l a n d . A r o u n d m i d d a y on 22 M a y the Luftwaffe again m a d e heavy a t t a c k s on the S u d a Bay area, but in d o i n g so lost a J u 8 7 of S t a b / S t G 77 a n d a B f l l O of I I / Z G 76 ( M B + F N : Lt W e r n e r H o f f m a n n ) ; a further B f l l O f r o m I I / Z G 26 crash-landed at Maleme. D u r i n g the p r e p a r a t i o n for these a t t a c k s disaster had struck I/StG 3 at Argos when two S t u k a s collided on take-off, o n e c r a s h i n g in flames. Its 500 kg b o m b exploded and b r o u g h t d o w n a third aircraft just getting airborne. T h e pilots of the t w o aircraft which collided, O b i t Wilhelm E b n e r a n d Uffz H e r b e r t M a r q u a r d t , were both injured, while their g u n n e r s were killed. Additionally ten g r o u n d personnel were either killed or seriously injured. P e r h a p s as a c o n sequence of the loss of these three machines and t w o experienced crews, added t o the o p e r a t i o n a l losses of the previous t w o days, reinforcements would soon arrive. 7 a n d 8 Staffeln of I I I / S t G 1, led by H p t H e l m u t M a h l k e , would arrive f r o m N o r t h Africa next day, a n d immediately g o into action. By now 5th N e w Z e a l a n d Brigade had begun pulling out of the M a l e m e area, 359
taking u p reserve positions behind 10th Brigade in the C a n e a area. All the time elements of the newly-arrived m o u n t a i n t r o o p s of G J R 100 were pushing the retreating Kiwis, while G J R 85 skirted the defences and m a d e t o w a r d s S u d a Bay, a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m inland. D u r i n g the evening I I / F J R 3 began a series of heavy a t t a c k s on 10th Brigade positions a l o n g Prison R o a d t o w a r d s G a l a t a s Heights, where the defenders were just a b o u t able t o hold on. T h e a d v a n c e w a s temporarily halted by a c h a r g e carried out by 6th Greek Battalion. W i t h evening G e n e r a l l e u t n a n t Ringel arrived at M a l e m e to t a k e over c o m m a n d of all g r o u n d forces, his o r d e r s f r o m Luftflotte 4 including: (1) t o secure M a l e m e airfield (2) t o clear S u d a Bay (3) t o relieve the p a r a t r o o p s at R e t i m o (4) t o m a k e c o n t a c t with the forces at H e r a k l i o n , a n d thereafter, (5) t o occupy t h e whole island. At H e r a k l i o n early m o r n i n g air reconnaissance w a s followed by supplyd r o p p i n g Ju52/3ms, while BfllOs f r o m I and I I / Z G 26 strafed a n d d r o p p e d b o m b s on the airfield and its defences. S o m e b o m b i n g of H e r a k l i o n town and areas t o the west also took place, intensified at 1800 when D o . 17s a n d BfllOs carried out a heavy attack as a preliminary to a further p a r a t r o o p d r o p . At least t w o of the t r o o p - c a r r i e r s were shot d o w n - both aircraft of K G z b V 172, including Fw Wilhelm Friedrich's 4V + D T . S o m e 500 men landed t o the east of the airfield a n d 300 m o r e t o the west of the town. S o m e of the latter got into t h e built-up area u n d e r cover of darkness, b u t were soon m o p p e d up next d a y , even civilians and priests t a k i n g an active part. T h e r e m a i n d e r d u g themselves in two miles west of t h e t o w n , cutting road c o m m u n i c a t i o n s with R e t i m o and C a n e a . T h o s e w h o had c o m e d o w n near the airfield occupied a ridge overlooking both the field and the nearby r a d a r site of 220 A M E S . A r m e d with m o r t a r s and heavy machine-guns, they were able to sweep the airfield with fire. Local a r m y units were only partly successful in ousting them, a l t h o u g h a n u m b e r of 15-17 year-olds were included a m o n g s t the prisoners taken. A p a r t f r o m the J u n k e r s shot d o w n over the Heraklion sector, a n o t h e r reconnaissance B f l l O was also lost in the area, L2 + P R of 7(F)/LG 2, piloted by Obit Erich Kissel, failing t o return. T h e small s o u t h coast port of H i e r a p e t a w a s also attacked d u r i n g the d a y
G e r m a n personnel inspect an a b a n d o n e d M a l e m e airfield. (J-L
fighter-Blenheim
Roba)
360
IF of 30 S q u a d r o n (K7177, V T - N ) on
when t h e Regia A e r o n a u t i c a m a d e a further brief a p p e a r a n c e . C R 4 2 s f r o m R h o d e s and S c a r p a n t o , carrying pairs of 50 kg b o m b s u n d e r w i n g - the first use of t h e aircraft as a fighter-bomber - b o m b e d and strafed; very little d a m a g e resulted from this attack. With nightfall c a m e the R A F ' s b o m b e r s f r o m Egypt again, but this time three 70 S q u a d r o n Wellingtons carried urgently-needed supplies of a m m u n i t i o n and medical e q u i p m e n t , which were d r o p p e d from 200 feet t o t h e defenders of C a n e a , Heraklion and Retimo; at the latter location the stores fell into the sea. Blenheims a n d M a r y l a n d s were also t o operate, the latter being prevented f r o m take-off by extremely bad weather conditions. However at 0300 Sqn L d r J O Willis of 45 S q u a d r o n led off five Blenheims f r o m F u k a , briefed t o b o m b Maleme. Becoming separated in the d a r k n e s s and in a storm, t w o failed to reach the target. T h e other three b o m b e d individually, Lt E Jones, S A A F , seeing his b o m b s s t r a d d l e t h e airfield. It seems t h a t a J u 5 2 / 3 m of K G r z b V 60 w a s destroyed by b o m b i n g d u r i n g this attack.
German
troops pile u p a m m u n i t i o n
boxes in front of the engineless a b a n d o n e d
30 S q u a d r o n
Blenheim, K 7 1 7 7 . V T - N . N o t e the wing of a J u 5 2 / 3 m immediately behind that of the British aircraft, and another of these transports in the background. {Bib fur
Zeit)
W i t h M a l e m e firmly in their hands, the G e r m a n s now began g a t h e r i n g in the w o u n d e d - b o t h their own and British - f r o m the various medical posts and from the field. By n o w 33 S q u a d r o n ' s badly w o u n d e d c o m m a n d e r , Sqn Ldr Howell, had been found by passing p a r a t r o o p s after lying u n a t t e n d e d in the open for 361
three days. Realizing that he was still alive, they gave him some water, and a little later a G e r m a n rescue party carried him t o a nearby village where he received some r u d i m e n t a r y t r e a t m e n t f r o m Fit Lt Cullen, the 30 S q u a d r o n d o c t o r . O t h e r 33 S q u a d r o n g r o u p s had also fared badly; Pit Off Ray D u n s c o m b e had been killed in the fighting, while Sgt Alec Butterick had been seriously w o u n d e d . His g r o u p had engaged in h a n d - t o - h a n d fighting with the p a r a t r o o p s d u r i n g which he was shot t h r o u g h the left knee by a burst of machine-gunfire. T a k e n prisoner, he would be held in a barn for several d a y s w i t h o u t care and food, with a g r o u p of other prisoners, including some civilians; the civilians were then t a k e n outside and shot. T h r e e other pilots from the unit were c a p t u r e d - Fig Off Butcher and Sgts Reynish a n d Leveridge - as was t h e Admin Officer, Pit Off W E Myhill. A m o n g s t the airmen killed was A C Hess, the G e r m a n - b o r n Jew. T h o s e seriously w o u n d e d were soon t o be flown t o Athens in Ju52/3ms, including C d r Beale, the C O of Maleme. Here Sgt Butterick would have his shattered leg a m p u t a t e d , while Sqn Ldr Howell would m a k e a r e m a r k a b l e recovery f r o m his wounds.
Sgt Alec Butterick of 33 S q u a d r o n , o n e of those pilots left on the island at the time of the invasion. H e w a s w o u n d e d during the fighting and subsequently became a prisoner. ( M r s J
Hubbold)
At M a l e m e the t r a n s p o r t s c o n t i n u e d t o stream in, bringing reinforcements; on this d a t e these included 95 M o u n t a i n Artillery Regiment; 95 A n t i - T a n k Battalion a n d 55 M o t o r - C y c l e Battalion, plus advanced elements of G J R 141. It was n o w considered safe for Bfl 09s t o o p e r a t e f r o m the airfield, and a n u m b e r of aircraft f r o m I I I / J G 77 flew in at once, o n e crashing on arrival. It would n o w be possible to m a i n t a i n s t a n d i n g patrols over the battle zones, n o n e of which was m o r e than a b o u t five m i n u t e s flying time away. 362
'Graveyard' of British aircraft at M a l e m e including, in the foreground, the engineless remains of Brewster Buffalo *Z' of 805 Squadron. (F Lankeman
via J-L
Roba)
It was just at the point of the arrival of direct fighter s u p p o r t that R A F Egypt began t o become m o r e fully involved in the fighting. T h e r e was little e n o u g h available at this time in the Desert in any event. Air C o m m o d o r e R a y m o n d Collishaw's 204 G r o u p , with its H Q at M a ' a t a n Bagush, was to be responsible for o p e r a t i o n s over C r e t e - it had already had the j o b of d e s p a t c h i n g replacement H u r r i c a n e s f r o m 102 M a i n t e n a n c e Unit at A b o u k i r t o t h e island. Available t o Collishaw was 258 (Fighter) Wing of H u r r i c a n e s (1 S A A F , 3 R A A F , 73 and 274 S q u a d r o n s ) u n d e r G r p C a p t C B S S p a c k m a n ; 3 R A A F and 73 were in the process of reforming after sustained a n d costly fighting at T o b r u k . T h e m e d i u m - b o m b e r force comprised the Blenheim W i n g with 14, 45 and 55 S q u a d r o n s (Blenheim IVs) plus the newly-arrived and untried 24 S A A F S q u a d r o n with M a r y l a n d s ; 257 W i n g u n d e r W g C d r W H M e r t o n was already active over the area by night; it comprised three s q u a d r o n s of Wellingtons - 37, 38 and 70 - t o g e t h e r with a n u m b e r of crews f r o m the currently reforming 148 S q u a d r o n , recently w i t h d r a w n f r o m Malta. Finally there w a s 6 S q u a d r o n with L y s a n d e r s and a few tactical-reconnaissance Hurricanes, and a d e t a c h m e n t of maritime-reconnaissance M a r y l a n d s f r o m 39 S q u a d r o n . F u r t h e r to the east, in the A l e x a n d r i a - C a i r o - S u e z area, was 252 (Fighter) Wing, p a r t of 202 G r o u p , with responsibilities for the defence of this area. T h e Wing currently comprised 250 S q u a d r o n , still forming with T o m a h a w k s ; 94 S q u a d r o n with H u r r i c a n e s but with the m a j o r i t y of its pilots inexperienced S o u t h Africans just learning their trade, and mainly responsible for night defence of the area; a 363
few F u l m a r s of 806 S q u a d r o n at A b o u k i r , a n d the G l a d i a t o r s of 2 a n d 5 S q u a d r o n s , Royal Egyptian Air Force. Air C o m m o d o r e Collishaw was a n x i o u s t o strike at M a l e m e by day on 23 May, five Blenheims of 14 S q u a d r o n and three H u r r i c a n e s of 274 S q u a d r o n , the latter fitted with non-jettisonable long-range fuel t a n k s n o r m a l l y used for ferrying duties, being detailed to m a k e the attack. T h e leading Blenheim developed a fault just after take-off, all turned back and t h e raid was a b o r t e d . At 1300 seven of t h e S A A F M a r y l a n d s set off, but t w o of these were also forced t o return early. O n arrival over M a l e m e t h e other five b o m b e d and strafed f r o m low-level. Lt C S K e a r n e y reported s h o o t i n g a motor-cyclist ' w h o foolishly tried to ride across the a e r o d r o m e d u r i n g t h e strafing', as he later recalled. T h r e e others p a t t e r n - b o m b e d in f o r m a t i o n , believing that they had caused considerable d a m a g e . T h e y also reported seeing G e r m a n d i v e - b o m b e r s in action over S u d a Bay as they were bombing. T h i s attack was followed by t h e arrival of four Blenheims f r o m 45 S q u a d r o n , which d r o p p e d 20 lb and 40 lb f r a g m e n t a t i o n b o m b s : the leader, Pit Off P J Vincent in V5624, w a s assumed shot d o w n , as his aircraft failed t o return, he a n d his crew later being r e p o r t e d killed; the Luftwaffe claimed t w o Blenheims shot d o w n d u r i n g this a t t a c k . Finally t w o Beaufighters of 252 S q u a d r o n , t h e only such available, which had just arrived in Egypt f r o m M a l t a , swept in to strafe J u 5 2 / 3 m s which were seen d i s e m b a r k i n g troops, Sqn Ldr Yaxley a n d Sub Lt Fraser claiming four destroyed. T h e sum total of these a t t a c k s w a s estimated to a m o u n t t o ten J u 5 2 / 3 m s destroyed: G e r m a n records indicate that six were actually lost, mainly aircraft of K G r z b V 106 a n d I / L L G 1. T h e aircraft spotted a t t a c k i n g targets in S u d a Bay by the S o u t h Africans may well have been fighters, for d u r i n g this day B f l 0 9 s and Bfl 10s hunted d o w n the five T h o r n e y c r a f t M T B s (MTB67, 213, 214, 216 a n d 217) of 10th Flotilla, which had been d o i n g invaluable work here recently, a n d all were destroyed. T w o were claimed by Uffz Rudolf Schmidt of 5/JG 77 and o n e by F w F r a n z Schulte of 6 Staffel, while Lt J o h a n n e s Kiel of I / Z G 26 claimed several M T B s and small craft sunk o r d a m a g e d . H o w e v e r Ju87s of I/StG 77 were also h u n t i n g for s e a b o r n e targets in this area, Uffz W e r n e r W e i h r a u c h of 2 Staffel claiming the sinking of a s u b m a r i n e , possibly a G r e e k craft, and a minesweeper d u r i n g these attacks. T h e a t t a c k s on the Bay had by n o w so d a m a g e d the h a r b o u r installations t h a t the N a v a l Officer-in-Charge began m a k i n g plans to move his H Q t o S p h a k i a , on the south coast. H e r a k l i o n t o w n , which again c a m e under heavy air attack by large f o r m a t i o n s of D o . l 7 s , escorted by Bfl 10s, had by now largely been evacuated except for the hospitals. P a r a t r o o p s t o the west of t h e t o w n a t t e m p t e d to filter across t o join those t o the east of the airfield, m a n y skirmishes developing. An u l t i m a t u m to s u r r e n d e r t h e t o w n w a s flatly refused by t h e defenders. T h e airfield w a s still secure, a n d was n o w d u e for s o m e renewed use as a f o r w a r d base. F r o m Sidi H a n e i s h airfield, o n t h e Egyptian coast, 73 S q u a d r o n w a s ordered t o despatch six H u r r i c a n e s t o land at H e r a k l i o n , f r o m where they were t o o p e r a t e against the unescorted t r a n s p o r t aircraft flying in t o Maleme, a n d t o strafe the t r o o p s there and those a r o u n d H e r a k l i o n . 364
At d e p a r t u r e time, 1135, a Blenheim arrived t o u n d e r t a k e the navigating, t h e formation setting out over the sea, Fig Off G E G o o d m a n leading the fighters. T w o h o u r s later five H u r r i c a n e s returned; G o o d m a n reported that they had flown over a n u m b e r of British naval vessels which had put u p such a t r e m e n d o u s barrage t h a t t h e f o r m a t i o n had been scattered. H e feared t h a t t h e Blenheim a n d one of the H u r r i c a n e s - V7424 flown by Sgt B o b Laing, a T a s m a n i a n in the R N Z A F , might have been shot into the sea. In t h e circumstances, he had decided to return with the surviving aircraft of his flight. 73 S q u a d r o n was ordered t o try again, a n d at 1520 t h e same five pilots, plus one replacement, set off again, led this time by a 24 S A A F M a r y l a n d . S o o n after their d e p a r t u r e the "missing" Blenheim a p p e a r e d a n d landed at Sidi Haneish, the pilot reporting that after becoming separated d u r i n g the b a r r a g e he met u p with Sgt Laing's H u r r i c a n e , a n d t h a t the pair had c o n t i n u e d t o w a r d s Crete, where he presumed Laing had landed at Heraklion. And indeed he had, as he later recalled: ' H a v i n g passed over the bleak looking slopes of the m o u n t a i n range I soon sighted t h e crossed r u n w a y s of H e r a k l i o n , close by t h e t o w n s h i p of C a n e a . H a v i n g circled the landing strip I noticed some g o o d sized b o m b craters in the r u n w a y but as the place seemed deserted I decided to land. I m a d e a g o o d landing, r u n n i n g d o w n to the south-east t o w a r d s the beach. T h e propeller clanked t o a standstill a n d there was not a sound, which t o say the least was most eerie! I stepped out of the aircraft and decided to walk to the nearest building, a stone hut some 300 yards away. H a v i n g g o n e a few yards a machine-gun opened u p on the aircraft a n d myself, with some degree of accuracy, and I realised I was not alone. T o r e t u r n t o the H u r r i c a n e would have been of little use as it w a s merely a sitting duck and I decided to run for it. Bullets began to whistle r o u n d and I dived for a small depression in t h e g r o u n d , which gave me a little cover. I remained there lying with my head t o w a r d s the direction of the machine-gunfire t o m a k e a smaller target; also my d a r k blue tunic against the r u n w a y was quite fair camouflage. T h e y gave the H u r r i c a n e and myself the w o r k s for quite a time a n d I tried to pluck u p c o u r a g e t o m a k e a bolt for it - luckily my mind was m a d e up for me by the a p p r o a c h of a British " M a t i l d a " t a n k , which rumbled up a n d shielded me f r o m the fire of the machine-gun. T h e t a n k c o m m a n d e r , an A r m y m a j o r , lifted u p the t r a p d o o r of the t a n k , greeted me with a smile and apologised for the reception I got. Having exchanged views on t h e situation and the Bosch in particular, he suggested I taxi the aircraft d o w n to the revetment area, a b o u t half a mile d o w n t h e runway, where I would find some shelter. A p p a r e n t l y he w a n t e d to save the aircraft, as in those days pilots were m o r e easily replaced than aircraft. F o r t u n a t e l y the engine w a s not d a m a g e d and I was able t o taxi d o w n at high speed, helped a l o n g with bursts of fire f r o m the Bosch machine-guns, w h o were very active at this time.'
Within half an The Hurricane sheltered with adds: ' W e could d o
h o u r six BfllOs arrived a n d c o m m e n c e d strafing the gun positions. was soon sighted and was reduced to a blazing wreck. B o b Laing o t h e r s as the airfield was constantly b o m b e d and strafed, a n d he n o t h i n g a b o u t it. except the Aussie-manned g u n s accounted for 365
Sgt B o b Laing of 73 S q u a d r o n after his eventful lone landing at Heraklion. (R I Laing)
several aircraft but at a very heavy cost to themselves. W i t h o u t my plane I was a mere spectator of the o p e r a t i o n in progress, a n d o n e experienced a terrible feeling of frustration to witness H e r a k l i o n being reduced to a shambles.' Just a b o u t dusk in the midst of yet a n o t h e r raid by a b o u t a d o z e n Ju88s, 73 S q u a d r o n ' s six H u r r i c a n e s arrived. Despite being low on fuel, the fighters a t t e m p t e d to intercept, both Fig Olf G o o d m a n and Pit Off J H W a r d claiming b o m b e r s d a m a g e d d u r i n g a brief skirmish as they pursued t h e m over C a n e a and out t o sea, before they were obliged t o break away a n d headed back t o H e r a k l i o n . T h e airfield had been heavily pitted with craters, t w o H u r r i c a n e s b r e a k i n g their tailwheels on landing as a result. T h e airfield w a s still u n d e r smalla r m s fire f r o m the p a r a t r o o p s positioned on the ridge and behind rocks on the perimeter, a n d as the pilots headed for shelter, they h a d constantly t o t h r o w themselves fiat for cover. T w o H u r r i c a n e s were rapidly refuelled and were sent u p to patrol until dusk, but n o t h i n g m o r e was seen. After a hurried c o n s u l t a t i o n with the O C Land Forces, G o o d m a n learned that there was n o stock of .303 a m m u n i t i o n for t h e H u r r i c a n e s a n d only limited fuel available. It was decided that as the H u r r i c a n e s could offer little assistance they should return t o Egypt in the morning. F o l l o w i n g a night's desultory sleep, the six H u r r i c a n e s prepared to d e p a r t , Laing and G o o d m a n squeezing into the cockpit of W9198, G o o d m a n using his c o m p a n i o n ' s knees as a seat, the p a r a c h u t e pack having been discarded and 366
stowed into the fuselage. Before heading for Egypt all pilots were to use u p their remaining a m m u n i t i o n by strafing enemy positions a r o u n d the airfield, which they did. B o b L a i n g continues: ' O u r j o u r n e y back across the M e d i t e r r a n e a n was uneventful f r o m enemy point of view but we struck a head wind d u r i n g the last h u n d r e d miles and with petrol low, we were feeling a n y t h i n g but comfortable. We finally landed at Sidi Haneish in a s a n d s t o r m with o u r petrol gauges registering zero. Surely Allah had been with us and my only c o m p l a i n t was t h a t I was so stiff and n u m b e d after sitting for three h o u r s in a c r a m p e d cockpit and used as a cushion for the pilot. However, 1 gave t h e flight c o m m a n d e r a big hand a n d said: " T h a n k s Benny - a lot."' T h e y were the first to arrive, landing at 0830 but were followed shortly by Pit Off W a r d ; n o o t h e r s returned t o base. It was later learned t h a t Fig Off R F D o n a t i had run out of fuel a n d force-landed V7802 at F u k a , Pit Off F M M o s s c o m i n g d o w n just inside R a s el K a n a z i s with V7879 also out of fuel. Of the o t h e r two Pit Off R L G o o r d (V7736) a n d Pit Off R H L i k e m a n (V7764) n o t h i n g was ever heard. It w a s assumed that both h a d c o m e d o w n in t h e water, t h e severe s a n d s t o r m over the coast a n d out to sea p r o b a b l y c o n t r i b u t i n g to their loss.
T h e wreckage of Wellington L 7 8 6 6 'R' of 37 S q u a d r o n which crash-landed at Heraklion during the night of 2 3 / 2 4 M a y , 1941. Sgt W R Faulkner and his crew later became prisoners. (Bundesarchiv)
D u r i n g the previous night of 23/24 M a y , t h e Wellingtons had again been out, five of six 37 S q u a d r o n aircraft b o m b i n g Maleme, o n e having returned early with technical problems. O n l y t w o of these returned f r o m t h e raid: Sgt W R F a u l k n e r belly-landed L7866 at H e r a k l i o n safely in the d a r k , he and his crew all surviving the crash, while Sgt G E Harris ditched T2875 in the sea 140 miles n o r t h of M a ' a t a n Bagush near to a cruiser, which rescued all the crew; of Sgt H J Mew's T 2 8 9 5 n o t h i n g m o r e was heard, and it w a s assumed that it had either been shot d o w n by Flak or had c o m e d o w n in the sea on the return j o u r n e y . A n o t h e r four of these b o m b e r s were despatched by 38 S q u a d r o n , three b o m b i n g Maleme, 367
where at least o n e J u 5 2 / 3 m of K G r z b V 102 was destroyed, the crews seeing this on fire after their bombing; O f w K u r t Schulz and two m e m b e r s of his crew were a p p a r e n t l y a b o a r d at the time, a n d were killed.
R A F reconnaissance s h o w s M a l e m e airfield littered with Ju52/3ms, most of them wrecked.
At S u d a Bay d u r i n g the h o u r s of d a r k n e s s the destroyers Jaguar a n d Defender arrived c a r r y i n g 200 C o m m a n d o s of C o l o n e l R E Laycock's 'Layforce'. 750 m o r e of these elite t r o o p s were d u e next night, and were t o land at Selinos Kastelli on t h e south-western tip of the island. In the event when the three destroyers c a r r y i n g t h e m - Isis, Hero and Nizam - arrived, the weather proved t o o bad a n d t h e ships were recalled t o Alexandria. M e a n t i m e when Jaguar a n d Defender d e p a r t e d S u d a Bay well before d a w n on 24 M a y , they carried with t h e m 250 naval personnel n o longer required on Crete, including t h e F A A party c o m m a n d e d by Lt K e i t h and S u b Lt H i n t o n of 805 S q u a d r o n . Next night, as the second p a r t y of 'Layforce' were trying without success t o get a s h o r e at Selinos Kastelli, the minelayer Abdiel slipped into S u d a Bay with a c o n s i g n m e n t of a m m u n i t i o n , leaving again with 60 w o u n d e d a n d four G r e e k C a b i n e t Ministers aboard. Selinos Kastelli w a s already a location which was beginning t o gain t h e Luftwaffe's a t t e n t i o n , for early on 24 M a y the crew of a Royal N a v y m o t o r launch. M L 1 0 1 1 , which had sheltered just olf s h o r e d u r i n g t h e night, spotted t w o Ju88s and seven Bfl 10s passing overhead soon after 0630, as they prepared to sail. At first t h e crew t h o u g h t they had escaped a t t e n t i o n , but suddenly the t w o Ju88s b r o k e f o r m a t i o n and dived on the launch, followed by the Messerschmitts. Lt A H Blake ordered the Lewis g u n n e r t o open fire, and so close did Lt F r a n z Reiner of I I / Z G 76 a p p r o a c h in M 8 + AC, that the g u n n e r was able t o shoot the 368
B f l l O d o w n into t h e sea. Despite this success, the launch w a s riddled and o n e m e m b e r of the crew killed. T h e rest s w a m t o s h o r e where they met u p with Lt S u t t o n ' s mixed F A A / R A F party m a k i n g for S p h a k i a . After walking some distance with great difficulty, well a w a r e that p a r a t r o o p s were in the vicinity, the party found a c a i q u e and sailed the rest of t h e way in this after d a r k . At a b o u t t h e time M L 1 0 1 1 was being attacked, a motorized barge left Selinos Kastelli for Egypt, loaded with w o u n d e d . T h i s was also attacked just off the coast a n d sank with great loss of life; a few survivors m a n a g e d to swim ashore. O p e r a t i o n s on the n o r t h coast continued. After t h e d e p a r t u r e of 73 S q u a d r o n from H e r a k l i o n . Luftwaffe air a t t a c k s c o n t i n u e d , seven BfllOs and a n u m b e r of Do.17s a n d J u 8 7 s b o m b e d and strafed the airfield at 0800. Sgt S Wilson's M a r i n e Bofors crew were seen to shoot d o w n o n e twin-engined aircraft, believed to have been a B f l l O but p r o b a b l y Lt J o h a n n Schweigl's Do.17 (T6 + EA) of Stabst 1/StG 2, before his g u n site c a m e u n d e r attack. Of the crew of six o n e was killed a n d four o t h e r s seriously w o u n d e d . A j u 8 8 (LI + D N ) of I I / L G 1, flown by F w H e r b e r t Schelm, also failed t o return f r o m an o p e r a t i o n a l sortie. J u 5 2 / 3 m s c o n t i n u e d t o fly into M a l e m e with men and supplies, t a k i n g out w o u n d e d on their return flights, but such was the c h a o s here that some 20 m o r e aircraft would be written-off d u r i n g t h e day, mainly in landing accidents; K G r z b V 1 recorded the loss of ten aircraft alone, I / L L G 1 losing seven more, and K G r z b V 102 a further six.
A Junkers J u 5 2 / 3 m c o m e s in to land at M a l e m e over the wreckage of o n e of 805 Squadron's Brewster Buffalo fighters, (via A
Stamatopoulos)
369
370
r
German
i. ii. in. IV. v. vi. vii.
'Warspite'Force 'Glenroy* 'Ajax' Force 'Orion* Force "Orion* Force 'Dido* Force 'Perth' Force
B B B B D
Al 22.5.41 26.5.41 28.5.41 29.5.41 29.5.41 29.5.41 30.5.41
» British warships d a m a g e d
1.'Juno* ForceC 21.5.41 2.'Fiji' F o r c e B 22.5.41 3 . ' G l o u c e s t e r * F o r c e B 22.5.41 4."Greyhound* Force B 22.5.41 5.*Kashmir* 5 t n D F 23.5.41 6.'Kelly' 5th DF 23.5.41 7.'lmperiar Force B 29.5.41 8 . * H e r e w a r d ' F o r c e B 29.541
ill B r i t i s h w a r s h i p s s u n k
convoy,
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Airborne
airfields
airfields
transport
Luftwaffe
n i g h t o f 21/2 2 . 5 . 4 1
Interception
Other
Luftwaffe
CRETE ; Airborne Invasion & Naval/Air Actions, May,1941
avdhos
C a n e a experienced such an intensity of air attack d u r i n g t h e 24th t h a t t h e British H e a d q u a r t e r s was w i t h d r a w n t o Suda Bay, a l t h o u g h t h e AA defences of this area were seriously reduced, a n d all small craft in the h a r b o u r had been sunk or d a m a g e d . T o the west of C a n e a a fierce battle for the G a l a t a s Heights w a s now in progress, heavy b o m b i n g by Ju87s at 1630 preceding a determined assault on the t o w n by I I / G J R 100, w h o had taken their objectives by evening. T h e S t u k a s of StG 1 were forced t o pay a heavy price for their involvement, II G r u p p e losing F w K l o t z e r in the G a l a t a s area, while a second aircraft f r o m this unit crashlanded at M a l e m e a n d w a s totally destroyed, one m o r e force-landing on D o k o s Island while trying to regain its base at Argos. T h e engine of a I / S t G 1 aircraft flown by F w Wilhelm Joswig was hit, the pilot being forced t o ditch in t h e sea; he and his g u n n e r were rescued by a D o . 2 4 flying boat 26 h o u r s later. An eyewitness saw Klotzer's aircraft c o m e d o w n : i saw a plane c o m e d o w n suddenly at a very steep angle a n d hit t h e curving slope of the hill behind S u d a Bay. It bounced several times along the g r o u n d in great b o u n d s , raising c l o u d s of dust and shedding bits of itself as it went. T h e n it disappeared behind a ridge and a few m o m e n t s later a c o l u m n of black s m o k e a n d an echoing explosion a n n o u n c e d its c o m p l e t e destruction'. According t o G e r m a n records the three II G r u p p e S t u k a s all fell victim t o causes o t h e r t h a n hostile fire; o n e suffered engine trouble, o n e ran out of fuel, and o n e was obliged to force-land d u e t o technical problems. A Bfl 10 of 2 / Z G 26 w a s also hit whilst strafing Retimo, Uffz Heinz G r y c h t o l , the pilot, being w o u n d e d , but m a n a g e d to regain his base. D u r i n g t h e night of 24/25 M a y t h e N e w Z e a l a n d e r s of 23rd Battalion c o u n t e r attacked, driving the G e r m a n m o u n t a i n t r o o p s out of G a l a t a s again. T h e pressure was on however, and again the N e w Z e a l a n d e r s were driven back, being forced to evacuate the t o w n again later in the a f t e r n o o n of the 25th - this time permanently. By n o w G e n e r a l F r e y b e r g w a s starting to have grave d o u b t s of his ability t o hold Crete. W i t h o u t air s u p p o r t , and with his t r o o p s u n d e r c o n s t a n t air attack, t h e situation w a s becoming impossible. N e x t evening (26 M a y ) he would cable G e n e r a l Wavell requesting permission to c o m m e n c e evacuation of S u d a Bay, followed by R e t i m o a n d Heraklion. Wavell would not accede to his plea, urging him instead t o c o n t i n u e the fight, but advising that if it proved impossible t o hold S u d a Bay, he was t o withdraw on R e t i m o a n d c o n t i n u e t o block t h e G e r m a n m o v e e a s t w a r d s f r o m there. F u r t h e r t r o o p s and t a n k s were promised, a l t h o u g h in t h e event these would not be f o r t h c o m i n g . Already in fact some t r o o p s were retreating s o u t h w a r d s t o w a r d s S p h a k i a , G e n e r a l W e s t o n having instigated the initial stages of evacuation. O n learning of the latest situation, W i n s t o n Churchill cabled e n c o u r a g e m e n t to Freyberg, while urging Wavell that all possible aid be sent. H e suggested t o the Chiefs of Staff that long-range Beaufighters be used to s u p p o r t the army and protect ships (although only a h a n d f u l of 252 S q u a d r o n aircraft were available, Beaufighters of 272 S q u a d r o n were arriving f r o m the U K ) , and that further t r o o p s be sent t o t h e south coast ports. Air Chief M a r s h a l Sir C h a r l e s P o r t a l , Chief of the Air Staff, was discouraging: the few Beaufighters available would 371
British prisoners of war march past the remains of a Hurricane on M a l e m e airfield; n o t e J u 5 2 / 3 m transport in the background, ( d a J-L
Rohu)
need t o have their secret ASV sets removed first, he advised t h e P r i m e Minister, and could not be readied until t h e last d a y of M a y at the earliest. Even then they would carry only sufficient fuel t o o p e r a t e over C r e t e for an h o u r at a time, n u m b e r s available would only allow o n e s q u a d r o n t o be operated initially, a n d lack of spares would m a k e keeping t h e m serviceable a p r o b l e m . T h e scheme was a b a n d o n e d . By 27 M a y , F r e y b e r g would again cable Wavell requesting permission t o start evacuating, a n d after c o n s u l t a t i o n with M r Churchill, Wavell finally agreed. O n 25 M a y meanwhile, 204 G r o u p ' s involvement in t h e battle over C r e t e was m u c h increased. Already d u r i n g the night 37 S q u a d r o n Wellingtons had again set out t o raid M a l e m e , a l t h o u g h only t w o actually reached and b o m b e d the target. At d a w n however, f o u r M a r y l a n d s of 24 S A A F S q u a d r o n a p p e a r e d overhead, b o m b i n g a n d m a c h i n e - g u n n i n g the airfield and s u r r o u n d i n g t r o o p positions. T h e y were followed by six 14 S q u a d r o n Blenheims, led by Sqn Ldr D C Stapleton, t h e crews of which saw a n u m b e r of J u 5 2 / 3 m s already on fire as a result of the S o u t h African's a t t a c k , and added their light b o m b s t o the carnage. An estimated 24 aircraft were considered t o have been destroyed or badly d a m a g e d , a l t h o u g h m a n y of those hit were almost certainly already wrecked. O n e Blenheim was slightly d a m a g e d by Flak splinters in return, t h e gunner of which was w o u n d e d in o n e foot. At G e r a w l a 274 S q u a d r o n had by n o w received four H u r r i c a n e s fitted with long-range tanks. T h e pilots were not happy however, for not only did the t a n k s slow the H u r r i c a n e s d o w n a n d m a k e t h e m less m a n o e u v r e a b l e , but also the a r m o u r plating behind the seats had to be removed and a m m u n i t i o n reduced to c o m p e n s a t e for t h e weight of t h e extra fuel. Stated one: ' T h e additional t a n k s gave the H u r r i c a n e a range of 900 miles c o m p a r e d with the n o r m a l r a n g e of 600 miles. T h e r e were t w o additional t a n k s - o n e port, o n e 372
British prisoners of war prepare t o board a J u 5 2 / 3 m for transport t o the mainland. In the background (left) is another of these aircraft, while to the right is a D o . l 7 Z bomber. (F Lankeman
via
J-L
Roba)
s t a r b o a r d . T h e p o r t tank emptied first, then the s t a r b o a r d tank. Air locks were liable t o develop owing t o bad refuelling or severe b u m p s in t h e air a n d t h r o w t h e system o u t of commission. Y o u never knew when the port tank emptied if the s t a r b o a r d tank was going t o feed t h r o u g h . If y o u r s t a r b o a r d tank refused t o w o r k over the sea, that was the end.' Nonetheless, t h e four H u r r i c a n e s prepared to leave for M a l e m e at 0530 accomp a n y i n g two Blenheims of 45 S q u a d r o n . O n e fighter burst its tailwheel on takeoff and a b o r t e d , but the o t h e r three rendezvoused with o n e of t h e Blenheims, t h e other having crashed on take-off from Sidi Barrani. N e a r C r e t e the little f o r m a t i o n entered dense, low-lying cloud and became separated, all but o n e H u r r i c a n e a b a n d o n i n g the strike and returning separately t o Egypt. Only Pit Off A J C H a m i l t o n c o n t i n u e d alone in V7562 t o w a r d s Maleme. O v e r S u d a Bay he encountered an aircraft identified as a Ju88, claiming this shot d o w n in the sea. T h e only LuftwafTe loss recorded was B f l l O 3U + C P of I I / Z G 26, which reportedly ditched 30 kilometres west of Melos d u e t o engine trouble, G e f r Heinz N a g e l a n d his g u n n e r being posted as missing. However, H a m i l t o n ' s aircraft n o w developed the feared fuel problems, and he landed at H e r a k l i o n where the u n d e r c a r r i a g e suffered severe d a m a g e on the cratered runway. 373
T h e next strike was carried out by six m o r e Blenheims f r o m 45 S q u a d r o n , which d r o p p e d 201b a n d 401b b o m b s f r o m 1 4 0 0 0 feet, seeing t h e m fall a m o n g s t the clutter of t r a n s p o r t s , causing two explosions and three fires; the crews believed that a b o u t 12 J u n k e r s had been hit. T h r e e 55 S q u a d r o n Blenheims then attacked, all b o m b e r s r e t u r n i n g to report only light F l a k , a n d a p p a r e n t l y n o fighters. Just after m i d d a y three further Blenheims set out, again f r o m 14 S q u a d r o n , but these did e n c o u n t e r Bfl09s of I I / J G 77 on patrol a n d ready for t h e m over S u d a Bay, a n d within m i n u t e s Fit Lt R A G r e e n ' s T 2 0 6 5 had been shot d o w n into the sea, followed by V5510 (Lt S R E F o r r e s t e r , S A A F ) and Sgt H P J e u d w i n e ' s T2003, all nine men a b o a r d perishing. T w o of t h e Blenheims fell t o Uffz Rudolf Schmidt of 5 Staffel, the other being shot d o w n by Uffz H e r b e r t H o r s t m a n n of 6 Staffel. It would a p p e a r that fire f r o m t h e g u n n e r s struck t h e Messerschmitt flown by the G r u p p e ' s long-serving K o m m a n d e u r , H p t H e l m u t Henz, w h o was killed when his aircraft crashed into t h e sea off A n t i k y t h e r a Island d u r i n g this c o m b a t . T h r e e 55 S q u a d r o n Blenheims which arrived shortly afterw a r d s escaped interception and returned u n s c a t h e d . T h e y were followed d u r i n g the a f t e r n o o n by yet a n o t h e r four Blenheims f r o m 45 S q u a d r o n , but three turned back with m i n o r defects, Lt Jones, S A A F , attacking alone, r e p o r t i n g near-misses with his 44 20 lb b o m b s . D u r i n g lulls in between these raids on M a l e m e J u n k e r s t r a n s p o r t s c o n t i n u e d t o fly in f r o m the m a i n l a n d , while others were engaged in flying out the w o u n d e d . O n e arrival d u r i n g the d a y was the c o m m a n d e r of Fliegerkorps XI, G e n e r a l l e u t n a n t S t u d e n t , t o see for himself the e n c o u r a g i n g progress m a d e by his gallant troops. T h e final strike of the d a y against M a l e m e was t o be m a d e by three S o u t h African M a r y l a n d s and t w o H u r r i c a n e s f r o m 274 S q u a d r o n . Off at 1530, o n e M a r y l a n d soon developed a fault, turned back, a n d force-landed at Sidi Barrani. T h e t w o r e m a i n i n g b o m b e r s went in first, b o m b i n g and strafing the area. As they headed a w a y over the m o u n t a i n s , Lt E G F o r d ' s aircraft w a s seen trailing s m o k e f r o m o n e engine; clearing the peaks, he crash-landed the stricken b o m b e r near T y m b a k i on t h e s o u t h coast. T h e crew were u n h u r t , but p u r s u i n g G e r m a n fighters strafed the d a m a g e d aircraft a n d set it on fire. M e a n w h i l e the t w o Hurricanes, W 9 2 6 6 flown by Fit Lt D u d l e y H o n o r and P 3 4 6 9 flown by Fit Lt H u b e r t D o w n , h a d followed the M a r y l a n d s in, as H o n o r later recalled: 'As we crossed over the m o u n t a i n s there were so m a n y enemy aircraft in the sky that I was undecided whether to have a crack at the ones in the air or carry out my original o r d e r s and attack t h e a e r o d r o m e . I decided t h a t I had better carry out my original orders. D o w n and I dived a l o n g t h e river valley. As we a p p r o a c h e d , we saw t w o t r a n s p o r t aircraft circling to land. T h e r e were so m a n y aircraft on M a l e m e that it was just a congested mess. S o m e were on their noses, some obviously burnt out. It w a s difficult t o decide in that mass which of t h e aircraft on the g r o u n d to attack. I decided to have a crack at the t w o which were landing. I t h o u g h t they were p r o b a b l y full of t r o o p s a n d e q u i p m e n t . T h e y c a m e in t o o fast for us. W e were still a b o u t 2000 y a r d s away as the second o n e started t o t o u c h d o w n . I opened fire at this range a n d c o n t i n u e d firing as I a p p r o a c h e d 374
the a e r o d r o m e . I passed over at a b o u t 50 feet, spraying everything I could see. D o w n ' s aircraft was a b o u t 300 y a r d s astern of me.' i saw three 109Fs taking-off f r o m the a e r o d r o m e , g o i n g in an easterly direction. I t h o u g h t they were going after the M a r y l a n d s . I got t o the n o r t h b o u n d a r y , still at a b o u t 50 feet and noticed some troop-carriers, G e r m a n and Italian (however, there is n o evidence t o suggest t h a t Italian t r a n s p o r t aircraft were involved in these ferrying o p e r a t i o n s - Ed), c o m i n g into the a e r o d r o m e a l o n g the line of t h e C a p e S p a d a peninsula; they were at a b o u t 1000 feet. As I passed over the n o r t h e r n b o u n d a r y the AA g u n s opened up; the sky was black a r o u n d me with ack-ack bursts. I pulled u p t o the line of troop-carriers, head on. T h e y stretched right a l o n g the peninsula, with a b o u t half a mile between each. T h e r e w a s an endless line of them, away t o sea. I m a n a g e d t o get u p t o the same height as the leading aircraft — it was an Italian S.79 (sic) - a n d gave it a very short burst at dead range. It m a d e n o attempt at evasion a n d burst into flames and went straight d o w n into the sea. I carried straight on a n d had a crack at a second, a J u 5 2 loaded with troops. He half turned a w a y f r o m me a n d went d o w n . I saw him as he turned over on his back and hit the water.' T h e t w o t r a n s p o r t s attacked were p r o b a b l y J u 5 2 / 3 m s of K G r z b V 106. M e a n t i m e , Fit Lt D o w n was being pursued out to sea by B f l 0 9 s of I I / J G 77 possibly t h o s e seen taking off by H o n o r ; he did not return. T h e o t h e r G e r m a n pilots gave chase t o H o n o r , a p p a r e n t l y joined by at least o n e Bfl 10, as he recalled: 'Suddenly there was a series of explosions and my c o n t r o l w a s gone. A 110 had attacked me f r o m u n d e r n e a t h and behind. I did not observe it before the attack. I started t o t a k e what evasive action I could. M y c o n t r o l s were very badly d a m a g e d . I could only try t o d o d g e him. T h e chase lasted a b o u t 15 m i n u t e s a n d I got closer a n d closer t o t h e sea. I worked in as close t o t h e cliffs as possible, w a t c h i n g him in the mirror. E a c h time I was a white puff c o m i n g f r o m the f r o n t of him I did a skidding turn.' 'I saw t h e c a n n o n shells bursting in the sea alongside. He must have used u p all his a m m u n i t i o n without hitting me again because he sheered off. A 109F then t o o k u p the fight. H e employed t h e usual tactics on me, diving a n d then climbing. I was u n a b l e t o t u r n with him but managed to get him r o u n d the n o r t h of the peninsula, out of sight of t h e a e r o d r o m e . T h e r e was cloud at 2500 feet but I could not climb t o get u p there. After a b o u t five minutes a burst of fire hit my engine; there w a s a horrible bang a n d an awful smell of c o r d i t e in t h e cockpit. I was a b o u t 20 feet f r o m the sea when I was hit. I could not pull out so I steered straight a h e a d t o m a k e a landing on the water at high speed, at a b o u t 220 m p h . I reduced speed in o r d e r not to hit the water t o o hard and touched d o w n at a b o u t 120 mph. After a b o u t 15 seconds the aircraft began t o sink. I still had t h e cockpit h o o d closed and my safety harness was still fastened. I went d o w n 40 feet before I realised w h a t was h a p p e n i n g . I noticed the sea t u r n i n g f r o m blue t o d a r k green . . . I opened the h o o d , which luckily had not j a m m e d . . . a n d turned the k n o b of my M a e West. I was wearing a G e r m a n M a e West (taken f r o m a J u 8 7 g u n n e r w h o had been shot d o w n d u r i n g the Battle of Britain, d u r i n g which time H o n o r had served with 145 S q u a d r o n ) which inflates automatically, whereas the R A F 375
type had to be blown u p by m o u t h . I drifted to the surface slowly, noticing the w a t e r grow lighter a n d lighter. It seemed a long time. I b r o k e surface t o find the 109F still circling overhead at a b o u t 50 feet. F o r t u n a t e l y the pilot did not a p p e a r t o see me and after a c o u p l e of circuits m a d e off r o u n d the peninsula t o w a r d s Maleme.' In this e n g a g e m e n t the I I / J G 77 pilots claimed a total of three H u r r i c a n e s shot d o w n , o n e by Uffz Schmidt, w h o had earlier shot d o w n t w o of 14 S q u a d r o n ' s Blenheims, o n e by Fw O t t o K o h l e r of 4 Staffel, and o n e by F j G e f r G i i n t h e r M a r s c h h a u s e n of 5 Staffel. Dudley H o n o r meanwhile c o n t i n u e d to float in the water: ' T h e sea was very r o u g h ; I was a b o u t half a mile f r o m t h e cliff and after s w i m m i n g for a b o u t a c o u p l e of minutes, I realised I was floating stern u p w a r d s . I still had my p a r a c h u t e on . . . I jettisoned it a n d my trousers, which were h a m p e r i n g me. I carried on s w i m m i n g for a b o u t three h o u r s until I was just a b o u t 20 y a r d s f r o m t h e cliffs, which were a b o u t 100 feet high, not only sheer but overhanging. E a c h time I tried to get a h a n d h o l d I was dragged away again by t h e suction of t h e retreating wave. M y nails a n d flesh were torn by t h e rocks . . . I found it impossible t o get to the shore so I relaxed and allowed myself to drift r o u n d into a small cave. By this time it was nearly nightfall. I saw a G e r m a n seaplane fly a l o n g the cliffs very near me . . . I t h o u g h t he might be searching for me. Eventually I w a s washed into a n o t h e r cave a n d a l t h o u g h s m a s h e d u p against the end by the drive of the sea, m a n a g e d to h a n g on by g r a b b i n g a rock stalagmite a n d crawled u p o n t o a little ledge.'
Luftwaffe transport pilot F L a n k e m a n with his crew and J u 5 2 / 3 m on Crete. M a y 1941. (F via J-L
Roha)
376
Lankeman
F u r t h e r n o r t h d u r i n g the day, a patrolling reconnaissance M a r y l a n d from 39 S q u a d r o n e n c o u n t e r e d a n u m b e r of J u 5 2 / 3 m s between C r e t e a n d Greece, which are believed to have been aircraft of K G r z b V 60. Fit Lt R A ' B u t c h ' Lewis and his crew claimed t o have shot d o w n o n e and t o have d a m a g e d t w o others; their victim would seem t o have been Lt Ralf Billerbeck's aircraft, which crashed near C o r i n t h , killing him a n d injuring three of his crew. R e t u r n i n g f r o m their sortie, the M a r y l a n d crew reported seeing t r a n s p o r t s in f o r m a t i o n s of ten crossing the sea, each f o r m a t i o n escorted by a single B f l 0 9 or BfllO. In Egypt, ready for the m o r r o w , 274 S q u a d r o n received a f u r t h e r six longrange H u r r i c a n e s , flown u p t o G e r a w l a by newly-arrived pilots of 229 S q u a d r o n . At Sidi Haneish 73 S q u a d r o n received six reinforcement pilots f r o m 213 S q u a d r o n , which had also just arrived, t o g e t h e r with six non-tropicalised Hurricanes, attached 'for special duties over Crete.' Of greater impact, t h e First Battle S q u a d r o n d e p a r t e d Alexandria at m i d d a y for o p e r a t i o n s a r o u n d Crete. O n this occasion the battleships Queen Elizabeth and Barham were a c c o m p a n i e d by t h e carrier Formidable as well as eight destroyers. T h e carrier had a b o a r d 12 F u l m a r s , crewed equally by 803 and 806 S q u a d r o n s , s o m e of t h e aircraft being of d o u b t f u l serviceability but all t h a t could be m a d e available, plus 15 Albacores and Swordfish of a c o m p o s i t e 826/829 S q u a d r o n . T h e Air G r o u p ' s first task was t o be a d a w n raid on S c a r p a n t o , since it was o b v i o u s that the airfield there w a s being extensively used for o p e r a t i o n s against H e r a k l i o n and the south coast ports. As the fleet a p p r o a c h e d the area by night, t w o Wellingtons f r o m 38 S q u a d r o n raided S c a r p a n t o with unobserved results, while eight m o r e f r o m this and 37 S q u a d r o n attacked Maleme. At 0330 six Albacores took off, led by Lt C d r Saunt, and while t w o were forced t o return early, t h e o t h e r four gained c o m p l e t e surprise at d a w n , finding rows of closely-parked C R 4 2 s and Ju87s; t w o were claimed destroyed and several d a m a g e d . T h e b o m b e r s were followed in by four 803 S q u a d r o n F u l m a r s , led by Lt Bruen in N 1 9 5 1 '6A'. T h e i r strafing attack was considered t o be very successful, a n d it was believed that at least 12 aircraft h a d been put out of action, a n d o t h e r s d a m a g e d . C o m m e n t e d Jasper G o d d e n , Bruen's observer: ' W e shot u p a n u m b e r of Ju87s a n d C R 4 2 s . T h i s w a s a very economical way of destroying enemy aircraft.' In fact there is n o record of any Ju87s being d a m a g e d , a l t h o u g h o n e J u 8 8 was recorded as destroyed a n d t w o m o r e d a m a g e d , d a m a g e also being caused to o n e S.81 and six C R 4 2 s . O n e Luftwaffe a i r m a n was killed, the only casualty. All the N a v a l aircraft returned safely t o t h e carrier. N o w reprisal raids could be anticipated, a n d the f o u r F u l m a r s were refuelled a n d rearmed as quickly as possible, t a k i n g ofT at 0710 with t w o o t h e r sections as plots a p p e a r e d on the ships' radars. O d d reconnaissance aircraft were seen, but interceptions proved abortive, a n d the F u l m a r s returned t o refuel. F o u r sections were again launched at 0905, a n d once m o r e at 1148, as i n t r u d e r s became m o r e aggressive. O n e section c o m p r i s i n g 806 S q u a d r o n ' s new c o m m a n d e r , Lt C d r G a r n e t t , with Sub Lt Sewell as his No.2, encountered a pair of I I / K G 2 6 H e l l l s t h e experienced Sewell swiftly s h o o t i n g d o w n Obit O s k a r K l a p p r o t h ' s 1 H + C N into the sea. Within m i n u t e s t w o Ju88s of I I / L G 1 were spotted and G a r n e t t at once a t t a c k e d , observing hits. Sewell joined the attack and soon the b o m b e r was 377
in trouble, but at that m o m e n t G a r n e t t ' s F u l m a r was hit by r e t u r n fire. Recalls his observer, Lt D e s m o n d Vincent-Jones: ' W e were hit in the engine by the r e a r - g u n n e r (Gefr G i i n t h e r Peschke) and ditched. J a c k i e Sewell remained in c o m p a n y a n d orbitted over us until the destroyer Hereward saw us. T h e J u 8 8 ditched a b o u t 200 y a r d s away - their dinghy w o r k e d , ours didn't!'. Uffz Heinrich Geisenholf and his crew f r o m LI + C V were rescued with their victors. M e a n w h i l e a n o t h e r section of 806 S q u a d r o n F u l m a r s , flown by Lt M a c D o n a l d - H a l l (N1957) a n d S u b Lt H o g g , also reported intercepting a pair of Ju88s f r o m I I / L G 1 (possibly t h e same pair as attacked by G a r n e t t and Sewell). T h e y a t t a c k e d together, r e p o r t i n g that the first b o m b e r - in all probability O b i t Wolfgang Meissner's LI + Q V - burst into flames at a b o u t 7000 feet, a n d t h a t t h e second was followed d o w n until it hit the water with an almighty splash. N o survivors were seen f r o m either aircraft, but since L G 1 reported the loss of only t w o J u 8 8 s it seems likely that the second aircraft was that flown by Uffz GeisenhofT. G r e e n Section of 803 S q u a d r o n (Lt Bruen and S u b Lt Richards) skirmished with a n o t h e r Ju88, Richards' N1951 collecting o n e bullet in the header tank. W i t h t h e engine misfiring badly, he reached Formidable a n d crash-landed on the deck. His T A G , L/Air Stan Melling, recalled: 'This w a s not surprising as t h e carrier w a s still t u r n i n g into wind. F o r t u n a t e l y we caught a wire a l t h o u g h we did g o half over the side, b u t m a n a g e d t o scramble back o n t o t h e flight deck.' D u r i n g this f o r e n o o n period the fighters h a d flown 23 sorties, engaging in 20 c o m b a t s and skirmishes, d u r i n g which four aircraft had been claimed shot d o w n and one damaged. Early in the a f t e r n o o n the Battle S q u a d r o n suffered a most u n f o r t u n a t e s t r o k e of luck. At 1310, by which time the force was 150 miles f r o m t h e K a s o Strait, a f o r m a t i o n of Ju87s was detected a p p r o a c h i n g f r o m the N o r t h African coast. T h e s e were f r o m I I / S t G 2, sister G r u p p e of t h e units on S c a r p a n t o (where I G r u p p e f r o m G r e e c e had now joined III G r u p p e ) , but L i b y a n - b a s e d . Led by M a j Walter Enneccerus, w h o had led t h e attack on the carrier Illustrious off M a l t a four m o n t h s previously, the d i v e - b o m b e r s were not t a k i n g part in the C r e t a n o p e r a t i o n s , n o r were they h u n t i n g for t h e carrier; they were searching for supply shipping m a k i n g for T o b r u k . T h u s it was p u r e c h a n c e that O b i t B e r n h a r d H a m e s t e r ' s 5 Staffel crews spotted Formidable and took a d v a n t a g e of this c h a n c e e n c o u n t e r to attack at once, followed by 4 Staffel (Obit E b e r h a r d J a k o b ) and O b i t Fritz Eyer's 6 Staffel. T w o direct hits were scored on t h e flight deck, fore a n d aft, as well a s several near-misses, o n e of which created a g a p i n g hole in the carrier's s t a r b o a r d side u n d e r w a t e r . Fires b r o k e out, 12 men were killed a n d ten w o u n d e d - a relatively low n u m b e r of casualties, given the very severe d a m a g e inflicted. T w o F u l m a r s flown by ex-805 S q u a d r o n pilots Sub Lts Sykes and Sinclair, had 378
just landed when the attack c o m m e n c e d , a n d the t w o T A G s - L/Airmen F r e d d y d e F r i a s and R E Northfield - had just entered their Mess, where they were m o a n i n g t h a t n o lunch had been saved for them. Suddenly, recalled de Frias T h e b o m b penetrated t h e flight deck aft of our Mess and blew out part of t h e bows u n d e r n e a t h us. W e were both dazed by the explosion but u n h u r t ; even the Mess w a s u n d a m a g e d a p a r t f r o m a bulge in the deck a n d lockers and o t h e r furniture strewn all over the place. W e gathered ourselves u p a n d left. A d a m a g e c o n t r o l party was squirting hoses into the hole t h e b o m b had passed t h r o u g h . Really we had a m i r a c u l o u s escape because had the b o m b exploded a fraction of a second earlier it would have blown out the Mess. As it was, it exploded (as far as 1 recall) almost on the waterline, right in the stern, which w a s why o u r casualties were so light.' T w o relieving F u l m a r s had been launched as the S t u k a s a p p r o a c h e d , but these had not gained sufficient altitude t o intervene. N o w , as the d i v e - b o m b e r s retired, they a t t a c k e d . Believed flown by Lt P a t Massy (previously a Sea G l a d i a t o r pilot a b o a r d H M S Eagle, b u t now with 806 S q u a d r o n ) , a n d S u b Lt K L W o o d , each pilot claimed o n e J u 8 7 shot d o w n and a further t w o d a m a g e d . O n l y o n e Ju87, an aircraft of 5 Staffel, was actually lost, the g u n n e r , O f w Ewald Kriiger, being w o u n d e d . O n e F u l m a r , believed to have been Massy's aircraft, was hit by return fire, L/Air Colin H e a r n s h a w , the T A G , receiving f o u r bullet w o u n d s in o n e leg. Despite the d a m a g e t o the carrier, b o t h F u l m a r s were able t o land on, and H e a r n s h a w was soon receiving attention to his w o u n d s . Formidable was not t h e only ship hit, for t h e escorting destroyer Nubian also had her b o w s blown off and her aft g u n s put out of action, 15 of her crew being killed and six o t h e r s seriously w o u n d e d . As soon as t h e attack had developed, t h e carrier had sent out urgent signals requesting air cover, the initial response being t h e arrival of a solitary Blenheim I V F 'strafer' f r o m 45 S q u a d r o n at F u k a , which remained on station for ten minutes. T h r e e H u r r i c a n e s of 1 S A A F S q u a d r o n f r o m Sidi Barrani then arrived, but were treated as hostile a n d met initially by a b a r r a g e of AA fire. T h e s e were relieved by three m o r e H u r r i c a n e s f r o m 274 S q u a d r o n at G e r a w l a , and then by three m o r e f r o m 73 S q u a d r o n at Sidi Haneish. A n o t h e r three of this unit's aircraft a p p e a r e d an h o u r later, these engaging a J u 8 8 which Sqn Ldr P G W y k e h a m - B a r n e s managed t o hit before his reflector sight failed at the crucial m o m e n t , allowing the reconnaissance aircraft to escape. By 1800 C d r A t k i n s o n considered that launches of F u l m a r s could recommence, a l t h o u g h the c a t a p u l t was out of action. T w o aircraft were ordered off to patrol, b o u n c i n g over t h e battered, b u m p y deck before becoming a i r b o r n e , followed by t w o m o r e 25 m i n u t e s later. N o further a t t a c k s transpired, a n d when Lt Bruen and S u b Lt Richards landed after two hours Formidable had recorded the last o p e r a t i o n a l flights by her Air G r o u p in the Eastern M e d i t e r r a n e a n . She would arrive in Alexandria next day, d e p a r t i n g via the Suez C a n a l two m o n t h s later for m o r e p e r m a n e n t and extensive repairs. It would be m a n y long m o n t h s before a British carrier again ventured into the waters near Crete. While the Battle S q u a d r o n had been so beset, the assault ship Glenroy, which had sailed for S u d a Bay on 23 M a y carrying 900 men of 2 / Q u e e n ' s Royals, but 379
had been ordered back to Alexandria d u e t o the increased incidence of air attack, again sailed. T h i s time her destination was T y m b a k i on t h e s o u t h coast. At 1820 she t o o c a m e u n d e r heavy d i v e - b o m b i n g attack as she neared the island. Her escorts, t h e AA cruiser Coventry, a n d t w o destroyers, put u p a fierce barrage, claiming o n e a t t a c k e r shot d o w n and one d a m a g e d . While n o n e of the ships were hit, Glenroy w a s d a m a g e d by several near-misses, which p u n c t u r e d her hull a n d d a m a g e d three of her special 'B' lighters; 11 men were w o u n d e d . At 2100 a n u m b e r of t o r p e d o - b o m b e r s attacked, and while all t o r p e d o e s launched were avoided, it was now decided to a b a n d o n the o p e r a t i o n , since t o o m u c h time had been lost, and it w a s considered impossible, and t o o risky, to land t h e t r o o p s by day. Again Glenroy returned to Alexandria with her c o h o r t s .
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C m d t G e o r g e s G o u m i n , the 36 year-old Free French pilot killed on 26 May, 1941 w h e n his 2 4 S A A F Squadron Martin Maryland w a s shot d o w n while strafing M a l e m e airfield after d r o p p i n g urgent supplies t o the defenders. ( A
Marteau)
T h r o u g h o u t 26 M a y aircraft of 204 G r o u p had once m o r e been very active over Crete, the first strike of the d a y again being m a d e by six 24 S A A F S q u a d r o n M a r y l a n d s . F o u r of these were t o b o m b and strafe Maleme, while t w o d r o p p e d medical supplies a n d a m m u n i t i o n t o the garrison at Retimo. T h r e e of the b o m b e r s returned with Flak d a m a g e , but the t w o s u p p l y - d r o p p e r s met stiffer opposition. O n e w a s crewed by volunteer F r e e F r e n c h m e n u n d e r C m d t G e o r g e s G o u m i n . T h e plan called for the pair to skim the waves on a p p r o a c h , climb t o 380
2000 feet when a b o u t ten miles out, then dive t o sea level and break t h r o u g h any defending fighters at high speed. T h e objective was reached w i t h o u t either aircraft being hit, a n d C a p t K S P Jones, S A A F , flying the leading M a r y l a n d , reported: . . the G e r m a n fighter screen was like a s w a r m of bees overhead. A b o u t half way across the island we saw t h e m get t h e F r e n c h M a r y l a n d . T h e pity was n o effort could really help.' A p p a r e n t l y C m d t G o u m i n , having completed his supply d r o p p i n g task, h a d decided to strafe Maleme, as o n e of his crew - A d j Chef Albert M a r t e a u , the W O P / A G - recalls: ' W e noticed C a n e a on t h e way in and then arrived at Maleme; there w a s a c r o w d on the beach. T h e pilot sprayed the Ju52s with his m a c h i n e - g u n s and I joined in with my two m a c h i n e - g u n s in turn. T h e reaction soon c a m e - tracers arrived from all sides - above, below, right, left. Sgt Roger Lefevre, the o t h e r gunner, stated later that a G e r m a n fighter had been a t t a c k i n g us. (This was a B f l 0 9 of I I I / J G 77, flown by Lt Emil O m e r t , w h o claimed his third victory against the M a r y l a n d - Ed). Brutally the plane sideslipped. I fell and Lefevre fell f r o m his turret, landing on me with his knees in my back. In falling he pulled out his intercom wire; there w a s total silence a n d we became entangled in our p a r a c h u t e harnesses. T h e plane flew on but t h r o u g h the machine-gun holes I saw the g r o u n d rapidly a p p r o a c h i n g . I waited for t h e crash and I braced myself, then . . . a void. O n t o u c h i n g the g r o u n d the barrels of my m a c h i n e - g u n s had pivoted on their axis a n d t h e sight had hit me on the head. W h e n I regained my senses I saw that the plane was resting on its belly a l o n g a ditch, b r o k e n by the b a n k i n g - an incredible chance. T h e engines were on fire a n d the heat revived me. N o question of escaping f r o m below s o I d e t a c h e d my p a r a c h u t e and Lefevre struggled to free the hatch n e a r the turret. I helped pull him out but the m o m e n t we reached the g r o u n d , a p a t r o l of Austrian m o u n t a i n t r o o p s a p p e a r e d and c a p t u r e d us. I tried t o indicate by gestures that there had been four of us in the b u r n i n g plane.'
C a p t J a m e s Roosevelt, son of the U S President, discusses the Martin Maryland b o m b e r with Adj Chef Albert Marteau (left), o n e of several Free French aircrew attached to 2 4 S A A F S q u a d r o n for o p e r a t i o n s over Crete. (A
Marteau)
381
C m d t G o u m i n however, was d e a d , having been hit in the chest by a bullet whilst still at t h e c o n t r o l s of the M a r y l a n d (1607, ex AH307). T h e observer, Lt Pierre C o u r c o t , had not had time t o t a k e over before the crash; he w a s seriously injured, but would survive as a prisoner of war, as would t h e t w o gunners.
F o r their actions over C r e t e while attached t o 24 S A A F S q u a d r o n . President Tsaldaris of G r e e c e presents S o u s Lt Albert Marteau (left) and Adj Robert Lefevre with the Order of G e o r g e 1st of Greece in Egypt after the war. {A
Marteau)
At G e r a w l a 274 S q u a d r o n also had a n u m b e r of F r e n c h a i r m e n a t t a c h e d , all of w h o m had a b s c o n d e d f r o m Syria when F r a n c e c a p i t u l a t e d . Initially they h a d been formed into 2 F r e e F r e n c h Flight u n d e r Fit Lt Paul J a c q u i e r (1 F r e e F r e n c h Flight h a d formed a b o u t t h e s a m e time in E n g l a n d , with escapees f r o m F r a n c e and Algeria), a n d operated the various aircraft in which they had fled - M o r a n e Ms 406s a n d P o t e z 63.11s - until re-equipped with H u r r i c a n e s a n d attached t o 274 S q u a d r o n . H a v i n g not s o far seen any action, they were n o w a b o u t t o be well and truly ' b l o o d e d ' . Six long-range H u r r i c a n e s were t o g o after t h e t r a n s p o r t s flying into Maleme, three setting o u t at 15-minute intervals c o m m e n c i n g 1310, followed by the other three at 1415. N e w Z e a l a n d e r Fig Off O w e n Tracey, a f o r m e r Battle of Britain pilot with t h r e e victories t o his credit, w a s first t o arrive over Maleme. H e r e he p r o m p t l y claimed a J u 5 2 / 3 m s h o t d o w n , but a B f l 0 9 t h e n fastened o n t o his tail, and he dived t o w a r d s the steep cliffs, his H u r r i c a n e (Z4511) t a k i n g several hits in t h e fuselage, in t h e fuel t a n k s a n d in the propeller. Reaching sea-level, Tracey pulled clear at the last m o m e n t , believing that the p u r s u i n g B f l 0 9 h a d plunged straight into t h e sea behind him. H a v i n g nursed his d a m a g e d aircraft back across 382
Fit Lt Paul Jacquier (Free French) of 2 7 4 S q u a d r o n in the cockpit of a M o r a n e 406, with a P o t e z 63II in the background at Haifa, Palestine, in September 1940. (Gen P J
Jacquier)
the sea t o Sidi Barrani, he force-landed; he claimed both the J u 5 2 a n d the B f l 0 9 as destroyed. Whilst Tracey was fighting for his life, a second H u r r i c a n e (Z4312), flown by Sgt G e o r g e K e r r , had arrived off Maleme, a n d he t o o at once claimed a Ju52 shot d o w n in flames into t h e sea. Like Tracey, he w a s also p o u n c e d u p o n by a Messerschmitt, a n d soon followed his victim i n t o the sea. K e r r survived the crash a n d m a n a g e d t o get ashore; next d a y he would by c h a n c e meet his flight c o m m a n d e r , Fit Lt H o n o r , shot d o w n the previous day. In fact H o n o r had witnessed the fight in which K e r r had sent t h e J u n k e r s i n t o t h e sea. It seems p r o b a b l e t h a t the G e r m a n pilots involved in these e n g a g e m e n t s were H p t H e r b e r t Ihlefeld a n d his w i n g m a n , Lt Fritz G e i s s h a r d t of S t a b I(J)/LG 2, both of w h o m claimed H u r r i c a n e s on this d a y over Crete, Ihlefeld as his 36th victory of t h e war, a n d G e i s s h a r d t as his 19th. T h e next lone H u r r i c a n e , Z 4 2 5 0 flown by F r e n c h m a n F / S g t Marcel Lebois, evaded t h e now-alerted Messerschmitts but did e n c o u n t e r t h e J u n k e r s t r a n s p o r t s , o n e of which he claimed shot d o w n . H e arrived safely back at G e r a w l a at 1800, where he awaited n e w s of t w o of his fellow c o u n t r y m e n flying in the final section to M a l e m e . O n nearing the island the three H u r r i c a n e s separated and hunted for the t r a n s p o r t s individually, Fit Lt J a c q u i e r soon e n c o u n t e r i n g o n e m a k i n g for Maleme. H e recalls: 'I was flying at a p p r o x i m a t e l y 10 000 feet a b o u t 20 kilometres n o r t h of M a l e m e when 1 noticed a single J u 5 2 flying very low (100-200 metres) h e a d i n g for Crete. I 383
a t t a c k e d f r o m the rear, m a d e a single pass, disengaged a b o v e and b a n k e d u p w a r d s t o t h e right. I saw it d i s a p p e a r into t h e sea. S o m e m i n u t e s later I saw a second lone Ju52, at t h e s a m e altitude. Again I a t t a c k e d f r o m the rear and b r o k e away u p w a r d s and this also went into the sea. In both a t t a c k s the Ju52s only returned fire at the last m o m e n t . I regained altitude a n d c o n t i n u e d to M a l e m e t o strafe. While I was attacking, five Bfl09s and t w o Bfl 10s on aerial defence were circling at a b o u t 500-1000 metres, at slow speeds - with u n d e r c a r r i a g e s d o w n n o d o u b t for identification by G e r m a n airfield defence. I dived at great speed f r o m 3000 metres, g o i n g west t o east (sun behind me). I shot a Ju52, which blew up, a n d levelled out some metres above the g r o u n d . O n the eastern edge of the airfield I received a shock - t h e engine was hit - it cut and petrol flooded t h e cockpit. U s i n g my speed 1 glided along the beach between M a l e m e and La C a n e e (Canea) and landed (Z4632) wheels u p a m o n g s t the G e r m a n f o r w a r d positions. I was c a p t u r e d immediately. A p a r t f r o m r o u g h h a n d l i n g by Austrian m o u n t a i n t r o o p s on c a p t u r e , I was treated well in a c c o r d a n c e with the G e n e v a C o n v e n t i o n . I was wearing the badges of my rank in the R A F and at my first interrogation by the G e r m a n s at Maleme, I indicated t h a t I w a s F r e n c h - C a n a d i a n . S o m e time later I met, in the P o W c a m p , Lt C o u r c o t and t w o o t h e r s ( M a r t e a u and Lefevre) in F r e n c h u n i f o r m - surviving crew of the G l e n n M a r t i n - a n d I decided that I would s h a r e the same fate as my c o m p a t r i o t s . T h u s , at my second interrogation, in Athens, I stated t h a t I was French.'
Free French pilots serving with 2 7 4 S q u a d r o n and operating over Crete in M a y 1941, seen here s o m e m o n t h s earlier after a b s c o n d i n g to Egypt from Syria. In the background is one of the M o r a n e 406 fighters from G C II/7 that remained in Egypt with them. L to r: Fit Lt (Capt) Paul Jacquier, Fig Off (Lt) A n t o i n e Peronne, Wt Off (Adj C h e f ) Charles Coudray. (Gen P J
384
Jacquier)
F r o m this second trio of Hurricanes, only Fig Off A n t o i n e P e r o n n e (the o t h e r F r e n c h m a n ) was t o return, landing Z4538 back at G e r a w l a at 1915. D u r i n g his five-hour sortie he t o o had met a J u 5 2 / 3 m a n d claimed this shot d o w n . T h e third pilot, Sgt Colin G l o v e r , had been killed when his Z 4 6 0 6 was intercepted by O b i t Walter H o c k n e r of 6 / J G 77 and shot d o w n into the sea; w h e t h e r he e n c o u n t e r e d any t r a n s p o r t s before his demise is not k n o w n . At least six of the J u n k e r s had been claimed by the H u r r i c a n e pilots; records indicate t h a t three aircraft f r o m I / K G r z b V 172 were shot d o w n - those flown by F w G e r h a r d K r a u s (4V + D W ) and O f w H a n s M o c k e l - a n d one f r o m K G r z b V 105. O n e each of K G r z b V 60, 106 a n d S t a b XI F1K were d a m a g e d , and all obliged to crash-land at Maleme. Six Blenheims d r a w n equally f r o m 45 and 55 S q u a d r o n s were then briefed t o m a k e a dusk attack on Maleme, but just prior to their take-off at 1700, t w o m o r e 274 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e s flown by Sgt P B Nicolson and Wt OfT C h a r l e s C o u d r a y , a n o t h e r of the F r e n c h pilots, were sent off to strafe, b o t h c a r r y i n g out their missions a n d returning safely. T h e Blenheims arrived however, to find t h e defences alerted, and while the three 55 S q u a d r o n aircraft again escaped interception, t h o s e of 45 S q u a d r o n were c a u g h t by patrolling J G 7 7 Bfl09s of 6 Staffel, led by O b i t H o c k n e r . T h i s pilot first attacked Sgt N H T h o m a s ' T 2 3 3 9 a n d shot it d o w n in flames with the loss of all the crew. H e then a t t a c k e d t h e leader, T2350, a n d severely d a m a g e d it. Fig OfT T F C h u r c h e r and his crew all baled out, he a n d t h e observer, Pit Off R D M a y , being c a p t u r e d at once. T h e gunner, Sgt H G Langrish, was m o r e f o r t u n a t e in that he evaded c a p t u r e and w a n d e r e d for t w o d a y s a n d three nights until he reached t h e s o u t h coast, where he was picked u p by a destroyer. T h e third Blenheim (V5592) meanwhile escaped t h e slaughter a n d returned across the sea, but became lost over t h e desert. W h e n fuel ran out Pit Off J Robinson ordered a bale out. T h e three men gathered on the g r o u n d , but t h e observer, Sgt W B LongstafT, then w a n d e r e d off on his o w n and was never seen again. R o b i n s o n a n d his g u n n e r (Sgt A F C r o s b y ) walked for four d a y s and five nights without food or water before they were spotted a n d picked up. O n C r e t e by n o w Fit Lt W o o d w a r d ' s 33 S q u a d r o n party had arrived at S u d a Bay with m a n y tales of frightening experiences, as W o o d w a r d recalls: ' W e crawled, at o n e point, t h r o u g h part of a N e w Z e a l a n d anti-personnel minefield in a vineyard, m u c h t o the c o n s t e r n a t i o n of the N e w Z e a l a n d t r o o p s w h o were w a t c h i n g our progress t h r o u g h binoculars.' H e was now informed that he would be flown out in a S u n d e r l a n d that evening, a n d w a s told t o stand by. At the last m o m e n t however, he was directed t o t a k e charge of a party of walking w o u n d e d and to lead t h e m t o a rendezvous with the Australian destroyer Nizam in S u d a Bay. This warship, with Abdiel and Hero, took a b o a r d some 930 w o u n d e d and surplus personnel, including m e r c h a n t seamen f r o m the m a n y sunken vessels, a n d naval personnel including Lt R a m s a y ' s 805 S q u a d r o n contingent. A m o n g s t those missing were the t w o T A G s , L/Airmen J a r y and Jarvis, both of w h o m had been killed in the fighting. Abdiel had earlier landed t h e r e m a i n i n g C o m m a n d o s of 'Layforce' - those w h o had not been able to land t w o d a y s previously — while the two o t h e r destroyers h a d delivered 150 t o n s of stores and a m m u n i t i o n . 385
With the d e p a r t u r e of Fit Lt W o o d w a r d , c o m m a n d of the 33 S q u a d r o n party was assumed by Fit Lt Mitchell. His g r o u p n o w n u m b e r e d just 41 out of an original 102 airmen, a n d they were ordered t o m a k e for S p h a k i a , t w o trucks being provided for their t r a n s p o r t . Just before they d e p a r t e d , a D o . 1 7 flew over t h e area d r o p p i n g leaflets, printed in English a n d G r e e k , t h r e a t e n i n g reprisals against a n y o n e , m a n or w o m a n , found guilty of ill-treatment of G e r m a n prisoners. In the S p h a k i a area t o which this g r o u p was now heading, was the 50strong 30 S q u a d r o n party, w h o had also lost m o r e t h a n half their original number. T h e three warships with the w o u n d e d a b o a r d left S u d a Bay d u r i n g the night a n d were met by F o r c e 'A'. T h r e e h o u r s out, the escorts c a m e u n d e r attack by an estimated 15-20 J u 8 8 s of I I / L G 1 a n d H e l 1 Is of I I / K G 26. H M S Barham w a s hit on o n e gun turret, a n d her bilges were flooded by near-misses. It t o o k two h o u r s to extinguish the fires that had broken out, by which time the force had been ordered t o Alexandria t o avoid further losses. D u r i n g t h e attack t w o of t h e b o m b e r s were claimed shot d o w n by the ships' g u n n e r s and a third d a m a g e d . It was n o w decided that the h a n d f u l of remaining small coastal patrol craft should w i t h d r a w to Alexandria, t o prevent their certain destruction, so the S o u t h African whalers Syvern a n d Kos 22 had put into S u d a Bay t o shelter until dusk, before m a k i n g a d a s h for safety u n d e r cover of darkness. H o w e v e r , at 2000 on the evening of 27 M a y , just before setting out, t w o Ju87s suddenly dived on t h e m , b o m b s scoring hits on b o t h vessels and causing fires; the surviving crews scrambled ashore. A third vessel, Kos 21, w a s also a t t e m p t i n g t o get t o Alexandria when attacked s o u t h of the island on two occasions d u r i n g the early m o r n i n g by Ju88s. A l t h o u g h t h e b o m b s missed, strafing caused t w o casualties. At 0830 four H e l l i s c a m e in at low-level, causing t w o fatalities, but the crew fought back, believing t h a t they had shot d o w n one Heinkel into t h e sea. F o u r h o u r s later t w o m o r e H e l 1 Is attacked, c a u s i n g further d a m a g e with near-misses, but still Kos 21 survived, eventually reaching Alexandria t w o d a y s later. O n e of t h e few surviving 'A' lighters - A16had been u n d e r t a k i n g valuable work in S u d a Bay, and had e n d u r e d 37 direct attacks. She was n o w ordered t o be scuttled, her crew e m b a r k i n g on o n e of the d e p a r t i n g destroyers. By this d a y - 27 M a y - there were almost 27 000 Axis t r o o p s in Crete, including 4000 Italians. T h e G e r m a n s had even m a n a g e d to land t w o tanks, towed across in an open barge. T h e G e r m a n H i g h C o m m a n d was now as convinced of victory as was Wavell of defeat. Early on this d a y Wavell signalled the Prime Minister t h a t C r e t e was n o longer tenable a n d t h a t t r o o p s must be w i t h d r a w n . H e acknowledged the enemy's overwhelming air superiority, which m a d e reinforcement impossible. T h e Chiefs of Staff reluctantly signalled their agreement. T h e R A F would largely be blamed for the loss of Crete, but lack of secure air bases w a s the prime reason, c o m b i n e d with t h e numerical strength of the Luftwaffe and the costly but d a r i n g use of their a i r b o r n e forces. T h e H e r a k l i o n a r e a remained u n d e r c o n s t a n t a t t a c k , six Do.17s of I I I / K G 2 o p e n i n g the daily b o m b i n g d u r i n g the morning. T h e Bofors g u n n e r s s o m e h o w c o n t i n u e d t o survive a n d t o resist, on this occasion s h o o t i n g d o w n o n e of the b o m b e r s . U 5 + ET, flown by Lt Rudolf H a b e r l a n d , which crashed near C a n e a . 37 386
Ju88s then c a m e over in three waves to p o u n d t h e t o w n and airfield. A m o n g s t those w h o had been c a p t u r e d here d u r i n g the early fighting had been Pit Off Neville Bowker of 112 S q u a d r o n . O n this d a y he escaped by simply walking out of a G e r m a n field hospital and succeeded in j o i n i n g u p with a party of British troops. He would be a m o n g s t those evacuated f r o m H e r a k l i o n the following night. Despite the a p p r o a c h i n g e v a c u a t i o n , Air C o m m o d o r e Collishaw considered 204 G r o u p should c o n t i n u e to d o what it could to f r u s t r a t e the G e r m a n advance - but t h e next 24 h o u r s were t o prove m o r e costly t h a n effective. D u r i n g the night of 26/27 M a y Wellingtons had again raided Maleme, six 148 S q u a d r o n aircraft starting a spectacular fire with resultant explosions. At 0300 three Blenheims of 45 S q u a d r o n p r e p a r e d to take-off from F u k a t o repeat the a t t a c k , but the leading aircraft - Z 5 8 9 6 - crashed on take-off and burst into flames, Fig OfT N W P i n n i n g t o n a n d his observer being killed; the g u n n e r was t h r o w n clear, t h o u g h badly b u r n e d . H e would s u c c u m b to his injuries three weeks later. T h e o p e r a t i o n , during which spikes and small b o m b s were t o have been d r o p p e d on the airfield, was cancelled. Early on the m o r n i n g of the 27th while t w o 39 S q u a d r o n M a r y l a n d s were out m a k i n g reconnaissances a l o n g the coastline of Crete, a p h o t o - r e c o n n a i s s a n c e H u r r i c a n e (V7423) and 2 P R U m a d e a sortie over R h o d e s in the h a n d s of an ex30 S q u a d r o n pilot, Fig Off S N Pearce (this was claimed p r o b a b l y shot d o w n by Italian fighters; it r e t u r n e d u n d a m a g e d ) . In Egypt further Blenheims were readied for an a f t e r n o o n attack on Maleme. 14 S q u a d r o n m a d e available just three aircraft at Q u o t a i f i a landing g r o u n d (seven miles south-west of El Daba), while at M a ' a t e n Bagush six of 55 S q u a d r o n were prepared. Just after 1430 the first Blenheims began lifting off at the latter base. T h e first pair collided as they became a i r b o r n e , Fig Off H a r r i s m a n a g i n g to belly-land T2051 without casualties, but Sgt W L M a r t i n ' s aircraft spun in with the loss of all a b o a r d . T h e other four got off and raided M a l e m e successfully, believing that several of t h e estimated 100 J u 5 2 / 3 m s seen on the g r o u n d were p r o b a b l y destroyed by their b o m b i n g . In rapidly failing light the b o m b e r s became separated d u r i n g the return flight, and only two landed at their base. T h e o t h e r t w o had become lost over the desert, b o t h crashing. T h e wreck of Sgt J H C h e s m a n ' s T2175 a n d t h e bodies of t h e crew were f o u n d by a 6 S q u a d r o n Lysander. T h e skipper of the other missing Blenheim, Sgt Bale, had ordered his crew t o bale out when their fuel was exhausted; all three arrived back at their base t w o d a y s later. T h e 14 S q u a d r o n section fared no better. O n e aircraft returned early with engine trouble, while the o t h e r two, which were t o b o m b t r o o p c o n c e n t r a t i o n s between M a l e m e and S u d a Bay, could not find their target, so attacked the airfield instead. O n return, in darkness, they b e c a m e separated, both becoming lost and also c r a s h i n g in the desert. Z5593 c a m e d o w n 30 miles south-west of Mersa M a t r u h ; t h e F r e n c h - C a n a d i a n pilot, Fig Off J e a n Le Cavalier, was killed, while the other t w o m a n a g e d to bale out, a l t h o u g h only the g u n n e r was f o u n d alive. T h e o t h e r Blenheim (T2338) crashed 60 miles south of El D a b a , the all-New Zealand crew having baled out. T h r e e days of air searches were necessary before 387
the wreck was located, a n d three m o r e before t h e observer, Sgt M B F e a r n , a n d the g u n n e r , Sgt J N M c C o n n e l , were f o u n d ; of the pilot, Fig Off M Mackenzie, n o sign was ever discovered. T h e Blenheim strike had achieved little. Six of the nine participating b o m b e r s had been totally lost — n o n e d u e t o enemy action - while nine crew m e m b e r s had perished. 204 G r o u p ' s Blenheim Wing could ill-afford such a rate of attrition. T h e final o p e r a t i o n of the d a y was launched at 1530 when t w o H u r r i c a n e s of 274 S q u a d r o n rendezvoused with a Blenheim I V F of 45 S q u a d r o n , directed t o a t t e m p t further interception of the J u 5 2 / 3 m air convoy, still streaming into Maleme. As t h e trio headed t o w a r d s the south coast of C r e t e however, they encountered six Ju88s of I I / L G 1 a n d attacked at once. T h e Blenheim pilot, S o u t h African Lt D T h o r n e , m a d e a port b e a m attack on one low-flying b o m b e r , the crew claiming that considerable d a m a g e had been inflicted and that the J u n k e r s had p r o b a b l y been destroyed, a l t h o u g h they did not see it crash. Both H u r r i c a n e pilots, Fig Off Weller (Z4250) and Sgt Nicolson (Z4536) also engaged, each believing t h a t they had shot o n e d o w n , a n d indeed t h e Blenheim crew reported seeing o n e J u 8 8 falling in flames and t w o others hit the sea. In fact only o n e was lost, Lt G e o r g e Freysoldt and his crew perishing in LI + EW; p r e s u m a b l y all three fighters had attacked the same aircraft, each u n a w a r e of the others' involvement. F o l l o w i n g the fight the H u r r i c a n e s became separated f r o m the Blenheim, a n d after an uneventful patrol h u n t i n g for t r a n s p o r t aircraft, b o t h landed at H e r a k l i o n , f r o m where they returned next day, at d a y b r e a k . M e a n w h i l e t h e Blenheim had returned direct to its base. W i t h d a r k n e s s t w o Wellingtons of 37 S q u a d r o n were off t o b o m b M a l e m e once again, also b o m b i n g the beach where m a n y aircraft were seen, a n d six fires started. O n e J u 5 2 / 3 m of K G r z b V 106 and o n e B f l 0 9 of I I I / J G 77 were destroyed. T w o m o r e Wellingtons b o m b e d C a n e a , while seven f r o m 148 S q u a d r o n had S c a r p a n t o as their target; here one m o r e I I I / J G 77 B f l 0 9 w a s d a m a g e d . Luftwaffe records indicate that three S c a r p a n t o - b a s e d Messerschmitts had been lost on this d a t e , either t o AA o r in c o m b a t , but n o details a r e available, a n d n o pilot casualties a p p e a r to have been suffered. F o l l o w i n g the losses on 27 M a y , few sorties were m a d e by 204 G r o u p aircraft next day, only t w o Blenheims of 55 S q u a d r o n m a k i n g a strike on Maleme, and r e t u r n i n g without incident. With the onset of evening t w o S o u t h African M a r y l a n d s were scramblad f r o m F u k a t o cover returning warships, but saw nothing. P a t r o l s were carried out by two 45 S q u a d r o n Blenheims, each escorted by a 274 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e but saw no enemy activity. At G e r a w l a 274 S q u a d r o n was reinforced by five pilots on a t t a c h m e n t f r o m 73 S q u a d r o n , for o p e r a t i o n s over Crete, while at Abu Sueir three m o r e Beaufighters arrived from M a l t a . T w o of these were f r o m 272 S q u a d r o n , including t h a t flown by the c o m m a n d i n g officer, Sqn Ldr A W Fletcher, while the third was flown by Fit Lt Bill Riley of 252 S q u a d r o n , w h o had just been released f r o m brief hospitalization following an incident over M a l t a when his Beaufighter had been shot d o w n in e r r o r by a Hurricane. H e , w a s a most experienced pilot, having flown G l a d i a t o r s in N o r w a y a n d H u r r i c a n e s d u r i n g the Battle of Britain; he was credited with four a n d t w o shared air victories. 388
At Heraklion on the m o r n i n g of 28 M a y events were reaching their climax. At a b o u t 1000 the defences were again subjected to a heavy raid by D o . l 7 s of K G 2 and Bfl 10s of I I / Z G 26 a n d I I / Z G 76. O n e of the f o r m e r unit's Z e r s t o r e r was hit by Bofors fire and crash-landed, heavily d a m a g e d . Shortly after this attack, 50 J u 5 2 / 3 m s d r o n e d in at low level, disgorging 900 fresh t r o o p s t w o - t h r e e miles east of the airfield and near to the radio station at G o u i n e s , their task to aid the survivors of F J R 1 t o t a k e t h e town. O n e of the t r a n s p o r t s w a s seen t o land on high g r o u n d three miles n o r t h of the airfield, f r o m where it subsequently t o o k off again. However four J u 5 2 / 3 m f r o m 1/LLG 1 a n d three f r o m K G r z b V 172 were badly d a m a g e d in crash-landings at Maleme, while one f r o m K G r z b V 40 crashed here and was destroyed; a ninth Ju52/3m f r o m S t a b / K G r z b V 2 crashed on return to T o p o l i a and was also destroyed. At a b o u t 1630 a heavy d i v e - b o m b i n g a n d strafing attack was m a d e on the valley which housed the Brigade and R A F H Q , this lasting one and a half hours, while d u r i n g the d a y a small force of Italian t r o o p s were landed by sea o n the eastern extremity of the island, a d v a n c i n g t o w a r d s H e r a k l i o n but arriving t o o late t o influence t h e battle. Indeed not even the fresh p a r a t r o o p s were t o encounter the defenders in any strength, for that very night the garrison was to be evacuated.
T h e wreck of a 112 S q u a d r o n G l a d i a t o r lies on the edge of Heraklion airfield, amidst a clutter of empty fuel barrels. (F Lankemun
via J-L
Roba)
T h e plans for the evacuation were now in the process of i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , and would involve a n u m b e r of phases, some c o n c u r r e n t , o t h e r s t o follow military actions. O n the n o r t h coast, the t r o o p s in the Heraklion a r e a were t o be taken off f r o m the h a r b o u r there, whilst those of R e t i m o were t o be picked u p in P l a k a Bay. A small n u m b e r of the men in t h e former location were cut off t o the south of 389
the t o w n , a n d would be u n a b l e to m a k e their way t o the h a r b o u r at Heraklion. These were therefore t o m a k e their way t o T y m b a k i . O b v i o u s l y there was n o question of being able t o get out the main forces a r o u n d M a l e m e - S u d a Bay area other than f r o m the s o u t h coast, and these units were t o m a k e their way over the m o u n t a i n s t o S p h a k i a . At all locations e v a c u a t i o n s were t o be carried out at night, usually between the h o u r s of midnight and 0300, t h u s allowing ships t o be well a w a y t o the south before hostile air attack began with t h e daylight hours. T h e w i t h d r a w a l t o S p h a k i a and other s o u t h e r n h a r b o u r s was t o be covered by a r e a r g u a r d action fought by forces c o m m a n d e d by M a j G e n Weston, R M . These t r o o p s were to m a k e a slow fighting withdrawal f r o m S u d a Bay t o the south coast.
Wreckage
of
British
biplanes
foreground. (F Lankeman
via J-L
on
Heraklion
airfield,
a Gladiator
of
112
Squadron
in
the
Roba)
Early in t h e day (28 M a y ) Admiral Rawlings' F o r c e 'B' (Orion, Dido, Ajax a n d six destroyers) h a d sailed f r o m Alexandria t o begin the evacuation f r o m H e r a k l i o n , the force being subjected t o ten air a t t a c k s en route. At 1920, when 90 miles f r o m S c a r p a n t o , the destroyer Imperial w a s d a m a g e d by a near-miss, while 90 minutes later Ajax was d a m a g e d by a n o t h e r , her hull being p u n c t u r e d and 20 m e m b e r s of her crew seriously w o u n d e d : she w a s ordered back to Alexandria. S.84s f r o m 41° G r u p p o BT claimed hits on b o t h these vessels, but Ju87s f r o m S c a r p a n t o , where the various S t u k a G r u p p e n were now massing in anticipation of plentiful s h i p p i n g targets, a n d Do.17s were also involved. T h e r e m a i n d e r of F o r c e B' arrived safely off H e r a k l i o n at 2330, a n d an orderly evacuation began. M e n were ferried out t o the waiting cruisers on t h e decks of the destroyers until 0255, when the last stragglers of the r e a r g u a r d boarded 390
Kimberley. O v e r 4000 men had been taken off u n d e r the very noses of t h e s u r r o u n d i n g p a r a t r o o p s , a n d w i t h o u t interference f r o m the Luftwaffe. T h e only men left behind were t h e sick a n d w o u n d e d in hospital at K n o s s o s , this area having been cut off by infiltrators. However the R A F c o n t i n g e n t at the airfield was a m o n g s t t h o s e so caught, only 64 of t h e original 140 being evacuated; similarly only 23 of the 37 airmen of the r a d a r unit, 220 A M E S , m a n a g e d to get away; a few of those left behind would reach T y m b a k i . Amongst those taken prisoner were Sqn L d r T r u m b l e , officer c o m m a n d i n g H e r a k l i o n , a n d Fig Off Valachos of his staff. Fit Lt F r y , the injured c o m m a n d e r of 112 S q u a d r o n d e t a c h m e n t , w a s also c a p t u r e d , as were t w o pilots of the 1430 Flight a t t a c h m e n t , Fig Offs H u t t o n a n d Garside. W i t h t h e m ' i n t o the bag' went Pit Off H a m i l t o n , the 274 S q u a d r o n H u r r i c a n e pilot w h o had force-landed on the airfield on 25 M a y , a n d Sgt F a u l k n e r ' s Wellington crew of 37 S q u a d r o n . T w o m o r e 112 S q u a d r o n pilots, Fig Off Bennett a n d Pit Off Bartley, did reach t h e s o u t h coast, but m o r e of their a d v e n t u r e s later. As F o r c e 'B' d e p a r t e d the Heraklion area, the blast-damaged Imperial suddenly developed steering gear failure. Admiral Rawlings despatched Hotspur t o investigate, but the situation of the destroyer proved hopeless, a n d o r d e r s were given for t h e crew a n d t r o o p s a b o a r d t o be transferred to Hotspur, which w a s then t o sink the crippled ship. As a result, when the first Ju87s f r o m S c a r p a n t o a p p e a r e d overhead at 0600, Hotspur was still on her own, steaming after the main force at all speed. So skilfully did her c a p t a i n m a n o e u v r e the destroyer however, that all a t t a c k s were evaded a n d t h e d i v e - b o m b e r crews shifted their a t t e n t i o n t o the m a i n b o d y of F o r c e 'B'. Just after 0625 they o b t a i n e d a hit on the destroyer Hereward, striking her just f o r w a r d of her foremost funnel. Her decks c r a m m e d with 450 soldiers, she reduced speed and swung out of line, heading for t h e coast of Crete, which w a s still only five miles distant. Seeing her direction, a n d mindful of the large n u m b e r s of helpless t r o o p s a b o a r d his other ships, Rawlings had little option but to leave her t o her fate a n d press on t o w a r d s Alexandria. C o n c e n t r a t i n g m o m e n t a r i l y on this 'sitting duck', the Luftwaffe crews soon sank her, but the m a j o r i t y of her crew and evacuees a b o a r d survived, being rescued by Italian M A S boats, which took t h e m t o captivity on S c a r p a n t o . While these rescue o p e r a t i o n s were u n d e r w a y , an Italian Red C r o s s Z 5 0 6 B floatplane arrived overhead, a n d circled low to k e e p the S t u k a s f r o m strafing the men in t h e sea. M e a n w h i l e a further destroyer, Decoy, had also c o m e u n d e r a t t a c k , suffering a near-miss which d a m a g e d her engine r o o m , a n d caused nine casualties. Speed w a s reduced, but she managed t o k e e p going. Admiral Rawlings had a r r a n g e d with 204 G r o u p for fighter cover to be available f r o m 0630 o n w a r d s , at the point at which F o r c e 'B' entered t h e K a s o Strait. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , a l t h o u g h five H u r r i c a n e s f r o m 274 S q u a d r o n had been d e s p a t c h e d , these were u n a b l e t o locate t h e ships, a p p a r e n t l y d u e t o s o m e confusion as t o t h e times. In c o n s e q u e n c e t h e a t t a c k s on the d e p a r t i n g vessels c o n t i n u e d without respite, a n d at 0730 Orion also suffered d a m a g e f r o m a near-miss which caused a reduction in her speed. A J u 8 7 then swooped d o w n and raked the bridge with machine-gunfire, mortally w o u n d ing C a p t G R B Back a n d slightly w o u n d i n g Admiral Rawlings himself. 391
T h e S t u k a s were back at 0815, o n e b o m b hitting Dido a n d p u t t i n g her forward g u n s out of action; 46 men were killed and 38 seriously w o u n d e d in this attack. Orion w a s then hit again, fires breaking out and m a n y casualties being sustained. Witnesses reported t h a t o n e of the d i v e - b o m b e r s responsible was also a p p a r e n t l y hit, failed to pull out of its dive and crashed into the sea just off Dido's bows. A final attack c o m m e n c e d at 1045 a n d c a u g h t t h e ships just before they would pass out of range of the S t u k a s . 11 aircraft peeled off t o b o m b Orion in succession, o n e b o m b passing t h r o u g h her bridge a n d exploding in the stoker's Mess, which was c r o w d e d with troops. T h e c a r n a g e was indescribable, a n d d u r i n g these attacks 262 men were killed on Orion, including 155 soldiers - mainly men of t h e Black Watch; 300 m o r e were w o u n d e d . Despite these conditions, the fires were contained, t h e w o u n d e d tended, a n d the cruiser c o n t i n u e d her way at m u c h reduced speed t o w a r d s Alexandria. O n receipt of signals informing him of t h e air attacks, a n d c o n t i n u e d lack of fighter cover, A d m i r a l Sir A n d r e w C u n n i n g h a m ordered that the s t a n d b y F u l m a r flight at A b o u k i r be despatched immediately. T w o F u l m a r s of 806 S q u a d r o n scrambled, led by Lt M a c D o n a l d - H a l l w h o recalls: ' W e received a signal f r o m t h e C - i n - C t o the effect t h a t because of the evacuation and the heavy losses of ships, we were t o provide the m a x i m u m air cover until relieved, a n d if n o t relieved, t o ditch. As we were flying f r o m s h o r e the air g u n n e r was strictly not necessary for navigational purposes, a n d in view of the signal we t h o u g h t it p r u d e n t t o discard with all air gunners.' It seems that the F u l m a r s arrived at the tail-end of the S t u k a attack, as he continues: ' O n t w o occasions I engaged a Ju87. T h e first time it was considered a p r o b a b l e s m o k e issuing f r o m t h e engine a n d it pulled away f r o m its b o m b i n g dive. O n t h e second occasion it was very m u c h a d o u b t f u l - it b r o k e off its b o m b i n g run and beetled olf t o w a r d s Crete.' T h e series of a t t a c k s cost the S t u k a force just o n e aircraft, 2 / S t G 3's Uffz M a r t i n K r e t s c h m a r and his g u n n e r , Uffz Erwin Moritsch, being killed when their J u 8 7 crashed into t h e sea - p r o b a b l y t h e aircraft seen t o crash near Dido, a n d possibly the same m a c h i n e attacked by the F u l m a r pilot, Lt M a c D o n a l d - H a l l . T h e t w o F u l m a r s finally arrived over t h e ships at a b o u t n o o n , the first friendly aircraft actually seen by t h e sailors since their d e p a r t u r e f r o m Alexandria on the previous day. F o r c e 'B' was not a t t a c k e d again until 1300, when D o . l 7 s carried out a highlevel a t t a c k , which was repeated at 1330, a n d again at 1500. N o further d a m a g e was inflicted however, a n d at 2000 the ships entered Alexandria h a r b o u r . Here 3486 t r o o p s were d i s e m b a r k e d ; m o r e t h a n 600 had been lost, either killed d u r i n g t h e a t t a c k s on various ships, o r c a p t u r e d when Hereward went d o w n . While F o r c e 'B' had been s o involved, the four destroyers of F o r c e ' C ' (Napier, Nizam, Kelvin a n d Kandahar) h a d arrived at S p h a k i a t o begin taking out the survivors of the M a l e m e and Suda Bay fighting. As the long c o l u m n s headed across C r e t e t o this port, t h e r e a r g u a r d actions were being successfully fought by 392
5th (NZ) Brigade at Stilos, seven miles south of S u d a Bay, while 2/8th Australian Battalion a n d t h e C o m m a n d o s of 'Layforce' held off t w o assaults by G J R 85 at Babali K h a n i . Between 5000 a n d 6000 t r o o p s were n o w crossing the m o u n t a i n s of central Crete, m a n y on foot a n d m a n y w o u n d e d . S o m e of the latter had received only very r u d i m e n t a r y t r e a t m e n t , but still staggered on the 30 miles t o t h e e m b a r k a t i o n area, m a n y of them in considerable pain. T h e r e were men with a m p u t a t e d arms, severe leg w o u n d s , a n d even o n e with a bullet-punctured chest, w h o nonetheless completed the trek with the aid of his c o m r a d e s . All c a m e u n d e r frequent air a t t a c k , which c o n t i n u e d at night, a m b e r flares being d r o p p e d t o illuminate the packed single r o a d t o t h e south. O n this occasion the Luftwaffe behaved impeccably however, a n d parties of w o u n d e d w h o displayed large Red C r o s s flags were not a t t a c k e d . Indeed o n e instance was reported when a B f l 0 9 pilot, having a b o r t e d his attack when he obviously spotted the flag, flew r o u n d a b o v e t h e g r o u p until they reached the coast, a p p a r e n t l y protecting them f r o m assault by other aircraft. H e w a s even seen t o lean out of t h e side of his cockpit a n d wave before d e p a r t i n g . T h e first d e p a r t u r e f r o m S p h a k i a was m a d e at 0300, the destroyers having first offloaded urgently-needed stores and rations. T h e y took away with t h e m 744 persons, including the 33 S q u a d r o n party u n d e r Fit Lt Mitchell, and Lt Sutton, the F A A Liaison Officer; also a b o a r d were t w o children a n d their pet dog! With daylight on 29 M a y c a m e the threat of air a t t a c k , a n d just after 0900 four Ju88s a p p e a r e d , their b o m b s near-missing Nizam and causing slight d a m a g e . A p a r t f r o m this single a t t a c k , the passage t o Alexandria r e m a i n e d u n h i n d e r e d however, a l t h o u g h a solitary aircraft identified as a n o t h e r J u 8 8 was seen app r o a c h i n g at 6000 feet just after 1300. This w a s at once engaged by an escorting Blenheim I V F (T2252) of 45 S q u a d r o n , Sgt R H McLelland m a k i n g a quick frontal attack which he claimed had caused severe d a m a g e , possibly bringing the aircraft d o w n . While p r e p a r a t i o n s for the initial phases of the evacuation had been u n d e r w a y on C r e t e d u r i n g 28 May, t w o m o t o r launches which h a d d e p a r t e d S u d a Bay d u r i n g the previous night - the last craft to get away - h a d set c o u r s e for Alexandria. M L 1032 reached this destination w i t h o u t d a m a g e o r casualty, despite o n e attack f r o m the air, but M L 1030 was c a u g h t by a Ju88, suffering serious d a m a g e by strafing a n d then being sunk by a near-miss f r o m a b o m b . T h e nine m a n crew m a n a g e d to reach s h o r e after 21 h o u r s in c h o p p y seas, h a n g i n g on t o a small raft; they eventually reached S p h a k i a , f r o m where they were evacuated. With S u d a Bay at last in their hands, the G e r m a n s and Italians began ferrying in m o r e t r o o p s here in a variety of w a t e r b o r n e aircraft, including Do.24s o f S e e n o t s t 7, He60s of 2/126, C a n t Z501s and Z506Bs. Despite the fiasco over F o r c e 'B' on 29 M a y , t h e R A F c o n t i n u e d t o d o w h a t it could. D u r i n g the night of the 28th/29th t w o Wellingtons f r o m 70 S q u a d r o n attacked S c a r p a n t o again, where a n o t h e r of I I I / J G 77's recently arrived Bfl09s suffered severe splinter d a m a g e . T w o of the b o m b e r s returned again next night, while two m o r e went t o Rhodes, but all b o m b s missed their targets on both islands. D u r i n g this latter night, eight other Wellingtons, f r o m 37 and 148 393
S q u a d r o n s , were briefed t o attack S c a r p a n t o (five aircraft) a n d M a l e m e (three aircraft). As they taxied out at Shallufa, Sgt J W K e n n e r ' s W 5 6 8 5 turned across the flare p a t h just as Sgt H N G o o d a l l ' s W 5 6 2 2 began its take-off run. T h e y collided a n d burst into flames, K e n n e r a n d four of his crew being killed instantly, while G o o d a l l a n d his observer died of their injuries. T h e attack on M a l e m e gained n o observable results, but that on S c a r p a n t o met fierce and a c c u r a t e AA fire, which shot d o w n Sgt Strickland's aircraft, L7800 falling in a ball of flame t o crash on Efialti airfield with the loss of all t h e crew. S u m total gain for the loss of t h r e e of the precious b o m b e r s seems t o have been splinter d a m a g e t o a single C R 4 2 on the g r o u n d at S c a r p a n t o . R a t h e r m o r e success had been gained d u r i n g t h e daylight h o u r s of 29 M a y when despite the failure t o protect F o r c e 'B', 21 protective sorties were undertaken over various r e t u r n i n g w a r s h i p s d u r i n g the m o r n i n g a n d early a f t e r n o o n by H u r r i c a n e s of 274 S q u a d r o n . T h e s e patrols consisted of t w o or three aircraft at a time, usually a c c o m p a n i e d by a single S o u t h African M a r y l a n d or a Blenheim IV of 45 S q u a d r o n . At 1200 a M a r y l a n d flown by Lt Miles Barnby was circling over the ships of F o r c e B' when the crew spotted a lone aircraft at 13 000 feet. Barnby t u r n e d in behind to investigate and saw that it was a J u 8 8 - a reconnaissance aircraft of 2(F)/123, which at once dived away. Barnby followed, firing several times with his f r o n t guns, but b r e a k i n g off at 6000 feet when an explosive bullet struck the M a r y l a n d a n d filled t h e cockpit with smoke. As t h e J u n k e r s d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m the S o u t h African's view, p o u r i n g black s m o k e f r o m its d a m a g e d s t a r b o a r d engine, it was attacked by o n e of t h e escorting Hurricanes, Fig Off Tracey in V7830 s h o o t i n g 4 U + E K d o w n into the sea with the loss of F w Ernst C h l e b o w i t z a n d his crew. M e a n w h i l e a n o t h e r of t h e H u r r i c a n e pilots, Pit Off A r t h u r S u m n e r (V7855), reported engaging an aircraft he believed t o be a Do.17, which he claimed to have d a m a g e d before it evaded his attack a n d d i s a p p e a r e d . T h e Luftwaffe also lost a Bfl 10 f r o m I I / Z G 76, O f w Egger being reported shot d o w n s o u t h of S u d a Bay by AA. D u r i n g o n e of the earlier escort sorties, Sgt Peter Nicolson was detailed to break a w a y a n d m a k e a d a s h over central C r e t e t o t h e R e t i m o area, where he w a s t o d r o p a message bag t o the besieged garrison. This c o n t a i n e d o r d e r s for a w i t h d r a w a l t o P l a k a for e v a c u a t i o n , " p h r a s e d in slang so as t o m a k e it unintelligible if picked u p by the G e r m a n s . " As Nicolson a t t e m p t e d to carry out this duty, his H u r r i c a n e (Z4634) was intercepted at a b o u t 0900 by Obit Erich Friedrich of S t a b / J G 77, a n d was shot d o w n into the sea with the loss of the pilot. W h e t h e r o r not he ever got t o d r o p the message bag is n o t k n o w n , but it certainly never reached Lt C o l I R C a m p b e l l at Retimo. F u r t h e r t o t h e east d u r i n g the early m o r n i n g , t h e daily-visiting reconnaissance aircraft had been spotted on the r a d a r screens, a p p r o a c h i n g Alexandria. O n this occasion it w a s decided t o a t t e m p t an interception of t h e high-flying ' s n o o p e r ' with t w o of the new T o m a h a w k fighters of 250 S q u a d r o n . C l i m b i n g t o 25 000 feet, t h e T o m a h a w k s succeeded in m a k i n g a n interception a n d identified the intruder as a Z.1007bis, the leader o p e n i n g fire and observing hits before his g u n s j a m m e d . Pit Off A Wilson then closed in but suddenly lost consciousness d u e t o an oxygen supply failure. H e recovered just in time t o bale out of AK.425 before it 394
crashed into t h e sea, f r o m where he was subsequently rescued by a S u n d e r l a n d flyingboat sent out to look for him. A m e a s u r e of t h e attrition being suffered by the Luftwaffe also, was the arrival at M o l a o i landing g r o u n d in Greece of the Bfl09s of I I I / J G 52 f r o m R u m a n i a . These had been sent south t o reinforce J G 77 d u e t o the heavy losses recently suffered b o t h d u r i n g strafing a t t a c k s and in landing accidents. With evening on the 29th t h e evacuation c o n t i n u e d , F o r c e ' D ' (the cruisers Phoebe a n d Perth, the assault ship Glengyle, the AA cruisers Calcutta and Coventry and t h r e e destroyers) u n d e r t h e c o m m a n d of Admiral King, arriving off S p h a k i a at 2330. F e a r s for the safety of Glengyle, should she be attacked when loaded with e v a c u a t i n g troops, had raised consideration of her recall, but instead three f u r t h e r destroyers were despatched to assist in personnel recovery should such a disaster occur. D u r i n g t h e trip t o t h e island a single J u 8 8 b o m b e d Perth, but the stick of b o m b s fell wide. W h e n the ships d e p a r t e d S p h a k i a at 0320, they had e m b a r k e d n o less than 6029 troops, including a m o n g s t t h e m the intrepid Royal M a r i n e Bofors gunner, L/Cpl Neill, a n d the t w o survivors of his crew. Neill's little t e a m were believed t o have a c c o u n t e d for, o r certainly hit, some 20 G e r m a n aircraft d u r i n g the last two weeks on the island!
L/Cpl T o m Neill, the Royal Marine Bofors gunner, w h o s e gun team is reputed to have shot d o w n , or at least d a m a g e d , around 2 0 G e r m a n aircraft.
N o t until 0930 were the ships f o u n d , Ju88s of I I / L G 1 then a t t a c k i n g and again singling out Perth as their target. O n e b o m b hit n e a r the bridge and exploded in her foremost boiler r o o m : four m e m b e r s of the crew and nine t r o o p s were killed. Between m i d d a y a n d 1300 both Perth and the destroyer Jaguar were near-missed, but thereafter the h a n d f u l of Hurricanes, F u l m a r s , Beaufighters and Blenheim fighters m a n a g e d t o k e e p the a t t a c k e r s at bay, on o n e occasion driving off a force 395
of s o m e 2 0 J u 8 7 s a n d J u 8 8 s before they c o u l d a t t a c k . F o r c e D ' r e a c h e d A l e x a n d r i a just after m i d n i g h t . M e a n w h i l e t h e f o u r d e s t r o y e r s of F o r c e ' C ' h a d sailed a g a i n for S p h a k i a , leaving A l e x a n d r i a at 0 9 1 5 o n 30 M a y t o u n d e r t a k e t h e n i g h t ' s e v a c u a t i o n . T h r e e a n d a half h o u r s later Kandahar experienced m e c h a n i c a l t r o u b l e a n d w a s f o r c e d t o t u r n b a c k , while at 1530 t h r e e of 11/LG l ' s J u 8 8 s n e a r - m i s s e d Kelvin, a n d she w a s a l s o o r d e r e d back w h e n her speed d r o p p e d d u e t o d a m a g e suffered. T h e t w o r e m a i n i n g d e s t r o y e r s arrived off S p h a k i a just a f t e r m i d n i g h t . T h r o u g h o u t 30 M a y 2 7 4 S q u a d r o n ' s H u r r i c a n e s flew 30 sorties o v e r t h e t w o n a v a l forces, s o m e t i m e s a c c o m p a n i e d by a single Blenheim I V F or B e a u f i g h t e r . T h e i r first c o n t a c t with t h e o p p o s i t i o n w a s m a d e just after 0 8 0 0 w h e n S q n L d r G E H a w k i n ' s section of t h r e e H u r r i c a n e s e n c o u n t e r e d t h r e e b o m b e r s w h i c h w e r e identified as H e l l i s . D e s p i t e t h e identification - at this s t a g e of t h e w a r all G e r m a n a i r c r a f t were relatively new a n d u n c o m m o n t o R A F pilots in Africa t h e s e w o u l d seem t o h a v e been D o . l 7 s of I / K G 2. F i g OfT P e r o n n e , o n e of t h e F r e n c h pilots, g a v e the n e a r e s t b o m b e r a q u i c k b u r s t a n d saw it fall i n t o t h e sea; Uffz H e i n z H o e v e l ' s U 5 + G L w a s lost. L a t e in t h e a f t e r n o o n Pit Off G A T o v e y (in W 9 3 2 9 ) w a s a c c o m p a n y i n g a B e a u f i g h t e r flown by Fit Lt Riley of 252 S q u a d r o n w h e n they c a m e a c r o s s Lt W a l t e r F i s c h e r ' s H e l 11 (1H + K N ) of I I / K G 2 6 , w h i c h w a s on a ferry night t o C y r e n a i c a . Bill Riley a t t a c k e d first, b u t closed so r a p i d l y t h a t his Beaufighter collided with t h e b o m b e r , a l t h o u g h b o t h a i r c r a f t seemed t o e s c a p e serious d a m a g e . T h i s did h o w e v e r allow T o v e y t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o n i p in a n d s h o o t the H e i n k e l d o w n i n t o t h e sea.
O n e of the most successful Free French fighter pilots with the R A F , S o u s Lt Albert Littolff flew with 274 S q u a d r o n during the operations off Crete in late M a y 1941.
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As dusk a p p r o a c h e d the final sorties were being flown by three H u r r i c a n e s a n d a Beaufighter, the latter flown by S u b Lt F r a s e r , F A A . In the fading light a reconnaissance Ju88 (7A + H M ) of 4(F)/121 was seen, a n d was a p p a r e n t l y attacked by b o t h F r a s e r and Pit Off S u m n e r (Z7855) a l t h o u g h each was i g n o r a n t of t h e other's presence. F r a s e r claimed a probable, S u m n e r a definite victory; whoever fired the telling burst, the J u n k e r s crashed into the sea with the loss of O b i t F r a n z S c h w a r z - T r a m p e r a n d his crew. O n r e t u r n t o F u k a in darkness, t h e Beaufighter pilot had difficulty in finding his airfield, and after circling a couple of times crash-landed T 3 2 3 0 two miles south of his base, without seriously injuring himself or his observer. Ready for t h e m o r r o w , a n d whatever action it might bring, 274 S q u a d r o n at G e r a w l a now received a f u r t h e r influx of pilots t o aid in the long patrol sorties. T h r e e S o u t h Africans f r o m 1 S A A F S q u a d r o n included the highly experienced pair of C a p t K W Driver, D F C , with a score of 11 victories, a n d Lt R H T a l b o t , D F C , with eight. 73 S q u a d r o n also sent over three pilots, all F r e n c h m e n a n d these included a n o t h e r highly skilled pilot, S o u s Lt Albert Littolff. A veteran of the fighting in F r a n c e the previous year, he had been credited with t w o victories and a third shared while flying with the Armee d e l'Air, then escaped to join the R A F and had been posted t o join 73 S q u a d r o n in t h e Desert. In the past m o n t h , d u r i n g the s q u a d r o n ' s heroic defence of the T o b r u k garrison, Littolff had claimed a further five victories. While t h e t r o o p s at S p h a k i a waited for their third night of e v a c u a t i o n , t h e ridges a b o v e the h a r b o u r , t h e village itself, a n d the areas t o the east and west of t h e beaches were repeatedly b o m b e d and strafed. Yet strangely, the e m b a r k a t i o n beach itself was not to be attacked d u r i n g the h o u r s of d a r k n e s s on any night d u r i n g t h e e v a c u a t i o n , at a time when great c o l u m n s of t r o o p s were moving d o w n to the ferries. As m a n y as 60 aircraft at a time blitzed the village, but n o n e of the w a r s h i p s offshore c a m e u n d e r attack t h r o u g h o u t this period - a most strange oversight on the part of the Luftwaffe, a n d o n e which played n o small part in allowing t h e evacuation t o achieve t h e success it did. Similarly, a l t h o u g h Wellingtons f r o m Egypt were over Maleme, or S c a r p a n t o or R h o d e s almost every night, the Luftwaffe failed t o respond by posting into the area a night-fighter unit t o deal with what would have been relatively simple targets. N o r is there any record of B f l l O s f r o m either Z G 2 6 o r Z G 7 6 flying any n o c t u r n a l sorties in this respect. A m o n g s t t h o s e sheltering in the S p h a k i a area awaiting e m b a r k a t i o n were G e n e r a l F r e y b e r g and G r p C a p t Beamish, b o t h of w h o m were n o w ordered to d e p a r t with their staffs. A Sunderland w a s d u e t o t a k e t h e m a n d their key personnel t o safety, a n d just before 1800 t w o of these big flyingboats arrived. Fit Lt Brand in a 230 S q u a d r o n aircraft took on b o a r d Freyberg's party, totalling a b o u t 45 A r m y a n d R A F , while Fit Lt F r a m e in a 228 S q u a d r o n 'boat was d u e t o pick u p his passengers f r o m S p h a k i Bay. S o m e difficulty w a s experienced in finding the actual spot, so t w o m e m b e r s of the crew rowed a s h o r e in a dinghy, but found n o trace of anyone. O n returning t o t h e aircraft, they spotted a light flickering on G a v d h o s Island and realised that their position was six miles t o the south-west of their destination. F r a m e at once taxied t o the correct position where a boat with the passengers a b o a r d was located. 397
A l t h o u g h all had g o n e well with the evacuation f r o m H e r a k l i o n , and was proceeding satisfactorily at S p h a k i a , this was not the case at Retimo. Here Lt Col C a m p b e l l had not received his orders t o withdraw, he and his men c o n t i n u i n g the fight against t h e survivors of O b e r s t S t u r m ' s G r o u p C e n t r e . G e r m a n reinforcements were n o w arriving however, a n d with a m m u n i t i o n and supplies rapidly r u n n i n g out, C a m p b e l l realised he would be forced t o surrender t o save his t r o o p s f r o m being slaughtered. T h o s e w h o could, escaped to the s o u t h - a b o u t 140 men, but 700 were obliged to surrender, a m o n g s t t h e m Fig Off Reeves of the 1430 Flight a t t a c h m e n t w h o had been left in c h a r g e of the Airfield D e t a c h m e n t . D u r i n g their gallant defence, 160 Australian and British t r o o p s had been killed, here, but the garrison had a c c o u n t e d for some 700 p a r a t r o o p s killed and a further 500 c a p t u r e d , including O b e r s t Sturm, w h o was n o w released with his men. At S p h a k i a the t w o destroyers ( N a p i e r a n d Nizam) h a d taken a b o a r d 1510 m o r e t r o o p s by 0230 on 31 M a y , when they set off on their return journey. At first light O b i t M a h l k e led off his Ju87s of I I I / S t G 1 f r o m their new base at H e r a k l i o n , t o hunt d o w n the ships. At first n o t h i n g was sighted, but finally, at the extremity of their range, the S t u k a crews spotted a single large vessel, M a h l k e leading t h e m d o w n t o w a r d s this, only t o see a Red C r o s s flag being displayed; the attack was at once b r o k e n off. T h i s vessel would a p p e a r t o have been a hospital ship e v a c u a t i n g w o u n d e d f r o m Crete. In the event the t w o destroyers suffered only o n e a t t a c k , when 12 Ju88s f r o m I I / L G 1 dived on t h e m without warning at 0850, the action c o n t i n u i n g for some 25 m i n u t e s d u r i n g which Napier was nearmissed. A l t h o u g h suffering d a m a g e t o both engine and boiler rooms, she managed t o g o on at reduced speed. O n e b o m b e r w a s believed to have been shot d o w n by the ships' guns, a n d a second d a m a g e d . O v e r h e a d a M a r y l a n d of 24 S A A F S q u a d r o n a n d three 274 S q u a d r o n Hurricanes, flown by the attached South African pilots, arrived on the scene and p r o m p t l y gave chase t o t w o Ju88s. Lt T a l b o t (Z4510) fired t w o bursts at o n e b o m b e r , but it evaded him, then C a p t Driver (Z4614) a n d Lt A J B Bester (P2646) m a d e b e a m and stern a t t a c k s on the other, which then dived for t h e sea. T a l b o t a n d the M a r y l a n d pilot, Lt K e a r n e y , gave chase for s o m e 70 miles before T a l b o t succeeded in getting in a burst which hit an engine. K e a r n e y , with his engines at full boost, overhauled the Hurricane, closed in on the d a m a g e d J u n k e r s a n d p o u r e d all his remaining a m m u n i t i o n into it. T h e same engine a p p e a r e d t o have been hit again, for it now stopped and the b o m b e r was last seen flying just ten feet a b o v e t h e sea. It was assumed to have crashed, K e a r n e y a n d T a l b o t being credited with its destruction, but in fact the pilot m a n a g e d to nurse it back to H e r a k l i o n , where he c r a s h - l a n d e d t h e badly d a m a g e d b o m b e r . It w a s subsequently written-ofT, reportedly d u e t o severe AA d a m a g e . Meanwhile C a p t Driver reported meeting three o r four o t h e r J u 8 8 s a n d claimed to have shot o n e of these d o w n into the sea; n o other Ju88s were reported lost. It would seem t h a t the relieving which arrived t o t a k e over f r o m the by Driver. F l o w n by three of t h e b o m b e r s . S o u s Lt Littolff in W9329
section of H u r r i c a n e s f r o m 274 S q u a d r o n S o u t h Africans also met the Ju88s reported a t t a c h e d F r e n c h pilots, these engaged the claiming o n e shot d o w n . He then reported 398
meeting a lone C a n t Z.1007bis, a p p a r e n t l y a reconnaissance machine out f r o m Libya, claiming this d a m a g e d before it escaped. However, o n e of the Hurricanes, W9273 flown by Sgt Auguste Guillou, failed t o return; it may either have been hit by r e t u r n fire f r o m the Ju88s, or shot d o w n by an escorting Bfl 10, for d u r i n g the d a y t h e G e r m a n s were t o claim four H u r r i c a n e s shot d o w n south of Crete. Early in the a f t e r n o o n the three S o u t h Africans were u p again on patrol when an intruder was seen. While C a p t Driver and Lt Bester stayed with t h e ships, Lt Talbot set off in pursuit, identifying a n o t h e r Z.1007bis, p r e s u m a b l y also a Libyan-based reconnaissance aircraft. After chasing his q u a r r y for 100 miles westward he finally got into a position for an a t t a c k , r e p o r t i n g that he shot it d o w n into t h e sea 50 miles off T o b r u k . While these actions were u n d e r w a y F o r c e 'D', this time c o m p r i s i n g Phoebe a n d four destroyers, had left Alexandria t o m a k e the last run to S p h a k i a . N o o p p o s i t i o n was met until t h e ships were nearing t h e C r e t a n coast. Here between 1825 a n d 1905 t h r e e a t t a c k s were m a d e by Ju88s, but all b o m b s fell wide and it was believed that o n e b o m b e r was hit by AA fire. By n o w the vessels were out of effective range of protecting Hurricanes, but some cover was still being provided by a few M a r y l a n d s a n d Blenheim IVFs. O n arrival over t h e British force, Lt Jim Williams of 24 S A A F S q u a d r o n saw two aircraft circling nearby, o n e a n o t h e r M a r y l a n d , t h e o t h e r a B f l l O which w a s a p p a r e n t l y t o o involved in stalking this other M a r y l a n d to notice the a p p r o a c h of the new arrival. Closing to 150 y a r d s range, Williams fired two bursts into the Zerstorer with his front guns, reporting that it burst into flames and spiralled d o w n into the sea. T h i s m a y have been H p t K a r l H e i n d o r f ' s aircraft f r o m 2 / Z G 26, the loss of which was recorded next day again reportedly t o A A fire. D u r i n g the day H u r r i c a n e s of 274, 73 a n d 1 S A A F S q u a d r o n s h a d flown 44 sorties, F u l m a r s of 806 S q u a d r o n , Blenheims of 45 a n d 55 S q u a d r o n s , and M a r y l a n d s of 24 S A A F S q u a d r o n each c o n t r i b u t i n g a n o t h e r six, while Beaufighters, strengthened by the arrival of six m o r e of these powerful aircraft, added a n o t h e r eight. T h e M a r y l a n d s of 39 S q u a d r o n also c o n t i n u e d their daily maritime reconnaissance duties, joined on this d a y by a n o t h e r such aircraft f r o m 69 S q u a d r o n , out f r o m Malta, flown by t h e c o m m a n d i n g officer of t h a t unit, Sqn Ldr R D Welland. T h i s aircraft flew to Z a n t e Island a n d P a t r a s t o check on shipping in the h a r b o u r s ; only o n e cruiser a n d two m e r c h a n t vessels were seen. T w o S u n d e r l a n d s again flew to S p h a k i a at dusk t o pick u p m o r e key personnel, including M a j G e n Weston and his staff. Fit Lt F r a m e , back again in 228 S q u a d r o n ' s T9046, flew low and slowly a l o n g the coastline, flashing prea r r a n g e d signals at places likely t o conceal parties of evacuees. N o response was seen, so after ten m i n u t e s he alighted. An S O S was then seen flashing f r o m the shore. T h i s signal c a m e f r o m Fit Lt Dudley H o n o r , t h e 274 S q u a d r o n flight c o m m a n d e r shot d o w n six days previously. H e and fellow pilot Sgt K e r r had m a d e their way south, aided by C r e t a n s and Greeks, but so lacerated were Kerr's feet that he had temporarily been left behind as H o n o r scrambled over the rocks d o w n t o t h e shoreline. Using his flashlight, H o n o r signalled a M o r s e message and eventually a onem a n r u b b e r dinghy arrived, paddled by Pit Off J C Pare, the S u n d e r l a n d ' s second 399
pilot. Just m a n a g i n g t o squeeze in. H o n o r was rowed out to the ' b o a t , but while six G r e e k s were also taken a b o a r d it was decided with regret that there was n o time t o g o back for Kerr, w h o as a result subsequently b e c a m e a prisoner. F r a m e then taxied the S u n d e r l a n d d o w n the coast where 230 S q u a d r o n ' s N 9 0 2 9 was e m b a r k i n g M a j G e n W e s t o n ' s party, but on arrival here f o u n d that n o more evacuees were available. Both aircraft then took off and flew back to Alexandria. T h e y were followed at 0300 by the ships of F o r c e 'D', which carried 3710 more t r o o p s f r o m S p h a k i a ; all t h o s e remaining would now have t o be a b a n d o n e d to their fate. T h e R A F h a d c o n t i n u e d its a t t e m p t s t o d a m a g e the Luftwaffe at its bases at night, but still w i t h o u t u n d u e success. D u r i n g the night of 30/31 M a y Sqn Ldr Wells had led seven of 148 S q u a d r o n ' s Wellingtons off with H e r a k l i o n as their target. Six a t t a c k e d , r e p o r t i n g large fires and explosions, a n d claiming a n u m b e r of J u 5 2 / 3 m s d a m a g e d ; at least one aircraft of I / K G r z b V 1 w a s indeed hit. At M a l e m e four 38 S q u a d r o n b o m b e r s attacked, claiming a further three aircraft destroyed, t o g e t h e r with m o r e fires and explosions; here three of K G r z b V 172's J u n k e r s t r a n s p o r t s were badly d a m a g e d , o n e becoming a total loss. O t h e r Wellingtons raided t h e Greek mainland, Piraeus h a r b o u r in particular, where some retribution for the Luftwaffe's d e v a s t a t i n g raid on this same port at the start of t h e invasion (when eleven Allied m e r c h a n t m e n were sunk), was gained. T h e Bulgarian steamer Knyaguinya Maria Luisa (3821 tons), at the e n t r a n c e t o Piraeus, was hit; her deck c a r g o of benzine in d r u m s c a u g h t fire a n d d e t o n a t e d her c a r g o of a m m u n i t i o n . She blew u p and sank t w o other ships, the G e r m a n Alicante (2140 tons) a n d the R u m a n i a n 3127-ton Jiul, causing some 200 casualties. Next night five Wellingtons f r o m 37 S q u a d r o n again raided Maleme, while four of 70 S q u a d r o n went to Heraklion. Again it was believed aircraft were destroyed at M a l e m e , at least ten being claimed p r o b a b l y destroyed. Obviously m a n y of these claims referred t o already severely d a m a g e d wrecks. As F o r c e ' D ' headed back to Alexandria for the last time early on 1 J u n e , three of the newly-arrived Beaufighters were despatched at 0545, to meet and escort the ships d u r i n g the potentially d a n g e r o u s d a w n and early m o r n i n g period. At 0715 three Ju88s of I / L G 1 were seen and the Beaufighters engaged at once. Pit Off D Clark saw his target jettison its bombs, but he w a s then hit a n d slightly w o u n d e d by r e t u r n fire, t u r n i n g away. T h e leader, Fit Lt G L C a m p b e l l , a n d t h e third pilot, Sgt W M D e a k i n , simultaneously attacked a n o t h e r of the b o m b e r s , Deakin silencing the rear-gunner, but not before his own aircraft had been hit in the port engine, which ceased to function. Meanwhile C a m p b e l l c o n t i n u e d the attack, getting in t w o or t h r e e accurate bursts which caused t h e b o m b e r ' s s t a r b o a r d engine t o c a t c h fire, but at this crucial stage his g u n s j a m m e d . T h e J u n k e r s may have been hit, but crash-landed on R h o d e s a p p a r e n t l y d u e t o engine trouble, while Sgt D e a k i n m a n a g e d t o fly his badly d a m a g e d aircraft back t o M a ' a t a n Bagush on o n e engine. In o r d e r t o s u p p o r t F o r c e 'D', the AA cruisers Coventry and Calcutta were sent out f r o m Alexandria t o r e n d e z v o u s with the returning warships, a n d to provide their a d d i t i o n a l a w e s o m e fire power. At 0900, when 100 miles out, t h e r a d a r s on these vessels detected hostile aircraft a p p r o a c h i n g . T w e n t y minutes later two 400
Ju88s dived out of the sun, the stick of b o m b s f r o m o n e aircraft n a r r o w l y missing Coventry, while t w o b o m b s f r o m the other hit Calcutta with deadly effect; she sank within a few minutes with the loss of 117 of her crew; 255 survivors being picked up by her sister ship. T h i s was t o be the last N a v a l loss of the c a m p a i g n . At a b o u t this time a H e l 11 of I I / K G 4 had been briefed t o fly a reconnaissance sortie t o Alexandria. It failed to return, and two m e m b e r s of the crew who were subsequently picked u p were u n d e r the impression t h a t they had been shot d o w n by AA fire. T h e aircraft may possibly have fallen to 806 S q u a d r o n F u l m a r s however, for Lt M a c D o n a l d - H a l l and Sub Lt H o g g had been sent out f r o m A b o u k i r a b o u t this time, e n c o u n t e r i n g a lone b o m b e r which they took to be a reconnaissance Ju88. ' W e c a m e across an 88 which a p p e a r e d t o be a reconnaissance m a c h i n e and on that occasion we had considerable height advantage,' recalls R o b e r t M a c D o n a l d Hall, 'and a l t h o u g h it turned t o w a r d s C r e t e we both a t t a c k e d it and watched it spiral d o w n a n d hit the water.' As the evacuation ended some 12 500 t r o o p s had been left behind, of w h o m 226 were R A F personnel. M a n y of these had already been c a p t u r e d , but to those still free G e n e r a l Wavell gave discretion t o surrender, fight on, or escape if they might. T h e m a j o r i t y did surrender, but m a n y a t t e m p t e d to evade and escape. Indeed, by t h e end of 1941 over 1000 escapees f r o m Crete - as well as f r o m the G r e e k m a i n l a n d and the Aegean islands - had arrived back in Egypt by various m e a n s a n d routes. S o m e of the first got away quickly, before t h e G e r m a n o c c u p a t i o n was complete, a n d a m o n g these were a p a r t y of a b o u t 200 A u s t r a l i a n s of the 2/11th f r o m Retimo, Black W a t c h and Argyll a n d Sutherland H i g h l a n d e r s f r o m H e r a k l i o n , a n d a h a n d f u l of R A F , all of w h o m m a d e their way t o T y m b a k i on 1 June. In this g r o u p were Fig Off Bennett, Pit Off Bartley a n d their airmen f r o m 112 S q u a d r o n . D u r i n g the day a Blenheim swooped low over the latter party and d r o p p e d a q u a n t i t y of most welcome rations. O n arrival in the T y m b a k i area they met up with Lt F o r d and his 24 S A A F S q u a d r o n M a r y l a n d crew w h o had been shot d o w n on 25 M a y , and together hatched a plan for escape. An a b a n d o n e d landing craft, holed beneath the waterline and with a twisted propeller, was m a d e serviceable by m e m b e r s of t h e g r o u p , while o t h e r s scoured the area for fuel a n d food. Six officers, including Bennett, Bartley, F o r d , a n d his observer, 2/Lt G L W Gill, and 66 men opted t o try their luck a n d put t o sea on o n e engine. T h r e e d a y s out they were intercepted by an Italian s u b m a r i n e and ordered t o stop. T h e officers were then ordered t o swim t o t h e submarine, but whilst a t t e m p t i n g to d o so, Gill was tragically d r o w n e d . A w o u n d e d Australian officer w h o had been left a b o a r d was now ordered t o r e t u r n t h e craft t o Crete, but Sgt D D McWilliam, o n e of the M a r y l a n d crew, assumed c o m m a n d , decided t o ignore t h e order, a n d c o n t i n u e d t o w a r d s the N o r t h African coast. T h e Italians did not intervene a n d four d a y s later t h e craft reached M e r s a M a t r u h safely. H e a d i n g in t h e same direction was a n o t h e r repaired landing craft that had also been a b a n d o n e d earlier. This carried a mixed party of 142 Marines, Australians, N e w Z e a l a n d e r s a n d C o m m a n d o s , w h o had set out f r o m S p h a k i a , and a l t h o u g h t w o of their n u m b e r died of e x p o s u r e and exhaustion d u r i n g the 401
eight d a y s they were at sea, the rest survived t o c o m e a s h o r e 12 miles west of Sidi Barrani. O t h e r s later escaped via Greece o r T u r k e y , some a b s c o n d i n g f r o m prison c a m p s first. T h e s u b m a r i n e s Thrasher a n d Torhay alone were t o pick up nearly 200 of these men. O t h e r s were helped t o get a w a y by ' N ' Section of MI 9 (the d e p a r t m e n t of the British Secret Service t o assist escapers and evaders f r o m G r e e c e and the islands), operatives of which established a clandestine base near Cesmo, on the T u r k i s h west coast, o p p o s i t e the Aegean island of Khios. F r o m here caiques a n d o t h e r small craft would rescue g r o u p s or individuals over the next three years. O n e of those eventually t o escape and return to Egypt would be 33 S q u a d r o n ' s c o m m a n d i n g officer, Sqn Ldr Howell. While basically the c a m p a i g n s in Greece and C r e t e c a n n o t be seen as a n y t h i n g o t h e r t h a n unmitigated disasters for t h e British C o m m o n w e a l t h (and would prove tragically so for the G r e e k population), which weakened the British position in the M e d i t e r r a n e a n a n d M i d d l e East as a whole, a n d ensured the loss of all that had been gained against the Italians in Libya and Cyrenaica earlier in the year, the cost t o t h e Axis powers had also been high - some might say inestimably so. Italian prestige had taken a fearful battering; Adolf Hitler had been so t a k e n aback by the losses inflicted on his elite a i r b o r n e force t h a t never again would he allow their e m p l o y m e n t in their designed role in any m a j o r way. T h e Balkans had been turned into a t h e a t r e of w a r which would need c o n s t a n t and quite costly o c c u p a t i o n and pacification over the c o m i n g years, with little a d v a n t a g e t o s h o w for it, while w h o k n o w s what might have been gained h a d O p e r a t i o n ' B a r b a r o s s a ' been launched against the Soviet U n i o n that critical m o n t h earlier. In tactical t e r m s the British losses had been heavier, a n d at this stage of t h e war were h a r d e r to bear. Most d a m a g i n g of all were the losses inflicted - entirely by air p o w e r be it noted - on the Royal N a v y . T h r e e cruisers a n d six destroyers had been sunk d u r i n g the battle for Crete, a n d three battleships, an aircraft carrier, six cruisers and seven destroyers had been d a m a g e d , some of t h e m grievously so. In these ships 1828 men had been lost and 128 m o r e seriously w o u n d e d . T h e loss t o the Allied M e r c h a n t Marine, at a time when attrition t o U - B o a t s in the Atlantic w a s also severe, was very serious indeed. (Appendix 1 provides a detailed s u m m a r y of Allied shipping losses, N a v a l and merchant). O n land, a p a r t f r o m the relatively bearable losses already suffered in Greece, 1751 t r o o p s had been killed and 1737 w o u n d e d ; of these, 71 of t h e fatalities a n d nine of the serious w o u n d e d related to m e m b e r s of the R A F fighting alongside t h e a r m y . While a b o u t 16 500 men had been evacuated f r o m Crete, as already noted, 12 500 m o r e had been left behind. In addition the G r e e k s had suffered severe, but u n d o c u m e n t e d losses, t h e G e r m a n s only reporting 5255 Greek prisoners on the island. 22 000 G e r m a n t r o o p s had been involved in O p e r a t i o n ' M e r k u r ' , of which a shattering 6543 were recorded as d e a d , missing or seriously w o u n d e d , 3764 of t h e m f r o m a m o n g s t t h e a i r b o r n e forces of Fliegerkorps XI, w h o lost many experienced officers and N C O s . In addition 311 Luftwaffe aircrew had been killed or posted as missing. Detailed losses were: 402
Luft Division 7 Gebirgsjiiger Division Fliegerkorps XI Fliegerkorps VIII
Killed
Missing
Wounded
1520 395 56 19
1502 257 129 107
1500 + 504 90 37
1990
1995
2131 +
British Intelligence estimated t h a t in the 12-day battle for C r e t e the Luftwaffe had lost 60 aircraft in the air (plus 14 probables) a n d 34 destroyed on the g r o u n d , with a further six probables, of which 61 of the destroyed aircraft were k n o w n to be Ju52/3ms. A l t h o u g h claims were not always very accurate, the overall figures were a considerable underestimate. D u r i n g the period 13 M a y - 1 June, the Luftwaffe recorded the loss of 220 aircraft, a l t h o u g h only 147 of these were a t t r i b u t a b l e directly t o enemy action (80 Ju52/3ms, 55 Bfl09s a n d Bfl 10s, 23 Ju88s, H e l 1 Is and D o . l 7s, nine Ju87s). A further 64 were subsequently written off as a result of serious d a m a g e . Between 20 M a y a n d 1 J u n e the T r a n s p o r t g r u p p e n suffered the loss of 117 J u 5 2 / 3 m s as total wrecks, with 125 m o r e d a m a g e d but repairable (see Page 404 for b r e a k d o w n of losses by d a t e a n d cause). T h e t r u e i m p a c t of this loss would not be felt until 1942 when the need t o provide air supply t o forces cut off on t h e Russian f r o n t c a m e t o a head at Stalingrad. Even by then the hard-pressed G e r m a n aircraft industry had not been able t o m a k e g o o d this c a t a s t r o p h i c wastage. T h e cost of these o p e r a t i o n s t o 204 G r o u p of the R A F d u r i n g the same period had been seven Wellingtons, 16 m e d i u m b o m b e r s and 23 fighters. C o m p a r e d to the Luftwaffe's losses the total looks modest in the extreme, but at this stage of the war in the M i d d l e East it was a painful a n d d a n g e r o u s cost to have paid. Air M a r s h a l A r t h u r T e d d e r , w h o had recently taken over c o m m a n d of t h e R A F in the M i d d l e East, vice Air Chief M a r s h a l Sir A r t h u r L o n g m o r e , was well a w a r e where the finger of b l a m e would soon be pointed by the generals and admirals. O n 30 M a y he had telegraphed the Chief of the Air Staff in L o n d o n a long cable, t h e relevant p a r a g r a p h s f r o m which read: P a r a g r a p h 1 ' H a v e held s t o c k t a k i n g on Crete. Sorry t o say t h a t t h o u g h effort h a s had some valuable results the cost h a s been heavy in relation to strength. Especially in Blenheims - Blenheim d a w n a n d dusk raids in particular have been expensive both in C r e t e and on return to t h e Desert. N o d o u b t I a m t o b l a m e in not keeping tighter rein on Collishaw (A reflection on Air C o m m o d o r e Collishaw's aggressive use of his resources - Ed). T o t a l aircraft losses in Crete u p t o d a t e have been 47 of which 30 between 20th t o 27th. S t o p p e d all day action over C r e t e o t h e r t h a n recco on 28th. Except an a t t e m p t t o d r o p message R e t i m o yesterday which failed.' P a r a g r a p h 4 ' T h e r e is a n d u n d o u b t e d l y will be more loose talk a b o u t lack of air s u p p o r t G r e e c e and Crete. I a m t a k i n g line t h a t root of situation is secure air bases. W e failed t o clean u p D o d e c a n e s e a n d failed t o 403
secure o u r air bases in Larissa Plain. As result enemy air ops based on increasingly wide front, w h e r e a s ours increasingly c r a m p e d , till finally two remaining a/d (aerodromes) u n t e n a b l e a n d out of r a n g e of effective s u p p o r t f r o m Africa. T h i s c a m p a i g n is primarily a battle for a e r o d r o m e s . ' And that, really, said it all!
Losses of Junkers Ju52/3m Transport Aircraft Aerial Combat or
AA
fire
Bombing Destroyed
Attacks
Written
Accidents
Damaged
Destroyed
Written
off 20.5. 21.5. 22.5. 23.5. 24.5. 25.5. 26.5. 27.5. 28.5. 29.5. 30.5. 31.5. 1.6. Total
20 19 3 2 3 2 3 —
I 2 3 1 1 —
2 —
Damaged
Destroyed
off 14 5 8 5 10 3 4 —
—
— —
1 1
—
2 1
— —
1
—
1
2 6 3
—
2 — —
5 1 —
3 1 5 2 7 2 9 2 1
—
2 1 1 1 2 1
—
1 3
52
10
49
8
3
404
Damaged
off
—
2 1 2
Written
9
19
25
13 2 7 6 10 1 4 6 3 3
67
Appendix Known Losses of Principal (1000 + t o n ) Allied Merchant Shipping to Air Attack
Date
Identity
of vessel
22.3.41 22.3.41 26.3.41 2.4.41 2.4.41 3.4.41 5.4.41 5.4.41 6/7.4.41 6/7.4.41 6/7.4.41 6/7.4.41 6/7.4.41 6/7.4.41 6/7.4.41 6/7.4.41 6/7.4.41 6/7.4.41 6/7.4.41 11.4.41 12.4.41 13.4.41 13.4.41 14.4.41 15.4.41 15.4.41 16.4.41 17.4.41 18.4.41 18.4.41 19.4.41 20.4.41 20.4.41 20.4.41 20.4.41 21.4.41 21.4.41 21.4.41 22.4.41 22.4.41
Emriricos N i c o l a o s Solheim (tanker) Pericles (tanker) (1) Homefield Koulouros Xenos N o r t h e r n Prince Sifnos Sona Clan Fraser City of R o u b a i x C y p r i a n Prince Petalli Evoikos C. L o u l o u d i s Styliani Patris Agalliani Acropolis Hakyon Attiki (hospital ship) Marie M a e r s k (tanker) City of K a r a c h i (2) B r a t t d a l (tanker) (3) Clan Cumming G o a l p a r a (4) Quilloa Memas P e t r a k i s N o m i k o s (5) Chios Fokion British Science (oiler) Moscha L Goulandris Ellenis (hospital ship) Damaskini Assimina Baika H e s p e r o s (hospital ship) Archon Ioanna Frinton Pancration
Tonnage 3798 8070 8324 5324 4914 10917 2290 1105 7529 7108 1988 6564 4792 4697 3256 1706 1656 1393 1100 1134 8271 7140 4961 7264 5314 7765 4359 7020 1121 1158 7138 5199 1013 1013 1334 1070 1364 1192 1361 2171 405
Nationality Greek Norwegian Norwegian British Greek British Greek Panamanian British British British Greek Greek Greek Greek Maltese Greek Greek Greek Greek Danish British Norwegian British British British Greek Greek Greek Greek British Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek
Location off G a v d h o s Island off G a v d h o s Island S u d a Bay olf G a v d h o s Island off G a v d h o s Island Antikythera Channel A d a m a s Bay, Melos A d a m a s Bay, Melos Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Volos Volos Gulf of Athens Eleusis Eleusis Khalkis Piraeus Khalkis Nea Psara S u d a Bay Khalkis Piraeus n o r t h of E u b o e a n o r t h of K h a l k i s off Missolonghi Euboea Patras Megara Melos
22.4.41 22.4.41 22.4.41 22.4.41 23.4.41 23.4.41 23.4.41 23.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 24.4.41 25.4.41 25.4.41 25.4.41 25.4.41 25.4.41 26.4.41 26.4.41 27.4.41 27.4.41 27.4.41 27.4.41 27.4.41 27.4.41 27.4.41 27.4.41 29.4.41 4.5.41 7.5.41 11.5.41 16.5.41 16.5.41 16.5.41
S o k r a t i s (hospital ship) T h e o d o r a (tanker) Thraki Thassos Alberta K a t e r i n a (tanker) Kerkyra Macedonia Teti N o m i c o u Dimitrios Nomicos A n d r o s (hospital ship) Cavallo S a n t a C l a r a Valley Nicolaos Georgios Hellas (large m o t o r yacht) Kyriaki Prodromos Artemis Pitta Darmas Kehrea K y r a p a n a g i a 11 Popi S Ulster Prince George A Dracoulis Aghios M a r k o s Pennland Sofia Maria Stathatos Point Judith C o s t a Rica Slamat Scottish Prince Danapris Ypanis Maiotis Hollandia Astir Konistra Trabzon Katina P Rawnsley Eleonora Maersk (tanker) Kythera Araybank
1134 1300 1532 1565 1193 2398 1461 1839 1882 1172 2068 2268 4665 4108 2295
Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek British British Greek Greek
Gulf of C o r i n t h Gulf of C o r i n t h Gulf of C o r i n t h Megara Salamis Piraeus off Salamis Gulf of C o r i n t h Piraeus Piraeus Loutraki Nauplia Nauplia Nauplia Piraeus
5528 1070 1433 1593 1968 1012 2083 3791 1570 4514 16381 1722 6303 4810 8672 11 636 3791 2113 1459 1712 1759 1335 3537 2485 1216 4998 10 694
Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek British Greek Greek Dutch Greek Greek Greek Dutch Dutch British Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Greek Turkish Greek British Danish
S u d a Bay Piraeus Piraeus Gulf of P a t r a s Bay of F r a n g o l i m a n o Piraeus off Melos Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus off Bela P o u l i San G i o r g i o Mylos Kythos off S u d a Bay Gulf of N a u p l i a S u d a Bay Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Piraeus Kapsalion S u d a Bay Aegean off C r e t e Hierapetra S u d a Bay
1070 7258
Greek British
S u d a Bay S u d a Bay
406
16.5.41 16.5.41 18.5.41 20.5.41 25.5.41 26.5.41
N i c o l a o s O u r a n i a (6) Thermoni R F A O l n a (oiler) Dalesman Logician (7) Rokos
6397 5719 7073 6200 5993 6426
Greek Greek British British British Greek
Suda Suda Suda Suda Suda Suda
Bay Bay Bay Bay Bay Bay
N B 90 vessels, each exceeding 1 0 0 0 + tons, totalling 351 094 t o n s recorded herewith. However, it was r e p o r t e d that n o less t h a n 43 vessels, totalling 63 975 tons, were lost t o air attack in Greek waters d u r i n g t h e f o u r days, April 21-24. T o t a l Allied m e r c h a n t shipping losses t o air attack exceeded 360 000 tons. Notes: (1) A l t h o u g h Pericles w a s severely d a m a g e d by the M T M attack on night of 25/26.3.41, she subsequently sank d u e t o c o n t i n u o u s air attack. (2, 3 and 4) T h e s e three vessels - City of Karachi, Goalpara and Brattdal - were considered by the Royal N a v y t o have been a b a n d o n e d by their crews whilst still seaworthy, and t h a t their subsequent loss was avoidable. Royal N a v y b o a r d i n g parties a t t e m p t e d t o save the vessels. (5) A l t h o u g h Petrakis Nomikos w a s severely d a m a g e d and beached at Piraeus, she was later repaired by the G e r m a n s and renamed Wilhemsburg (she was sunk by a British s u b m a r i n e in july 1943). (6) T h e Nicolaos Ourania was also later repaired by the G e r m a n s , being r e n a m e d Nikolaus. (7) Logician was initially d a m a g e d by b o m b a t t a c k s on 16.5.41 whilst in S u d a Bay, a n d was hit again on 23 M a y , a n d finished off t w o d a y s later.
407
Principal Royal Navy Ships Lost as a Result of Air Attack Whilst Supporting the Greece and Crete Operations, 1940-41 Date lost
Killed/missing
Wounded
Cruisers Calcutta Fiji Gloucester
1.6.41 22.5.41 22.5.41
117 276 725
40 24 7
Destroyers Diamond Greyhound Hereward I m p e r i a l (1) Juno Kashmir Kelly Wryneck
27.4.41 22.5.41 29.5.41 29.5.41 21.5.41 23.5.41 23.5.41 27.4.41
155 84 170 0 128 82 130 108
1 23
1975
? 1 21 14 17 5 146 at least
N B A d d i t i b n a l l y t h e cruiser York, w h i c h h a d been severely d a m a g e d by Italian M T M a t t a c k on the night of 25/26.3.41, w a s s u b s e q u e n t l y s u n k by air attack. (1) Imperial w a s d a m a g e d by air a t t a c k o n 28.5.41, a b a n d o n e d , a n d s u n k by H M S Hotspur next d a y .
Royal Hellenic Navy Losses as a Result of Air Attack Destroyers Kilkis Leon
21.4.41 21.4.41
Proussa Psara Ydra
4.4.41 22.4.41 22.4.41
(severely d a m a g e d b o m b e d and sunk)
towed to Suda
Bay, r e p e a t e d l y
A d d i t i o n a l l y t h e d e s t r o y e r Vasilevs Georgios I, t r a p p e d in P i r a e u s h a r b o u r d u e t o air a t t a c k , w a s scuttled by her crew o n 20.4.41, b u t w a s later salvaged by the G e r m a n s , r e p a i r e d a n d b e c a m e Z G 3. 408
Principal Royal Navy Ships D a m a g e d as a Result of Air Attack, 1940-41
Date damaged Battleships Barham Valiant Warspite
Killed/missing
Wounded
26.5.41 22.5.41 22.5.41
7 0 43
6 0 69
26.5.41
12
10
28.4.41 28.5.41 22.5.41 17.5.41 29.5.41 3.12.40 22.5.41 26.4.41 29.5.41 24.5.41 29.5.41
5 6 14 2 27 0 7 6 115 4 4
19 19 25 7 10 0 31 1 76 3 0
Destroyers Decoy Griffin Havock Jaguar Jervis Kelvin Kingston Kipling Nubian
29.5.41 24.5.41 23.5.41 26.5.41 30.5.41 29.5.41 21.5.41 23.5.41 26.5.41
1 0 15 0 0 1 1 5 15
8 1 10 2 4 4 2 1 6
Assault ships Glenearn Glenroy
26.4.41 26.5.41
0 0
4 1
290
319
Carrier Formidable Cruisers Ajax Carlisle Coventry Dido Glasgow Naiad Orion Perth, RAN
409
Royal Yugoslav Navy A p p a r e n t l y n o p r i n c i p a l w a r s h i p s lost t o e n e m y action - t h e light cruiser Znaim, the s e a p l a n e t e n d e r Zmaj a n d d e s t r o y e r s Beograd, Dubrovnik a n d Ljubljana w e r e all c a p t u r e d , whilst t h e d e s t r o y e r Zagreb w a s b l o w n u p by her c r e w o n 17.4.41 t o avoid a similar fate.
Known Losses of Axis Shipping to Air Attack Date
12/13.3.41 12/13.3.41 14/15.9.41 14/15.4.41
Identity of Vessel P o ( h o s p i t a l ship) Santa Maria Luciano Stampalia
Tonnage
Location
Attacker
7289 3539 3329
Valona Valona Valona
1228
Valona
815 815 815 815
Sqn Sqn Sqn Sqn
German 30/31.5.41
Alicante
2140
Piraeus
Wellingtons
30/31.5.41
Rumanian Jiul
3127
Piraeus
Wellingtons
3821
Piraeus
Wellingtons
30/31.5.41
Bulgarian Knyaguinya M a r i a Luisa
410
Leading Fighter R i o t s of the Campaigns in Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete - Claims Air Combat Name Royal Air Force S q n L d r M T StJ P a t t l e , D F C + Flg Off W Vale, D F C +
Fit Lt Sgt E Sgt C Fit Lt Fit Lt F/Sgt Sgt D Sgt G
R N Cullen, D F C W F Hewett, D F M E Casbolt, D F M J F Fraser, D F C V C Woodward, D F C L Cottingham, D F M S Gregory, D F M E C Genders, D F M
Sqn Ldr E G Jones, D S O , D F C F i g Off H P C o c h r a n e , D F C Sgt G M D o n a l d s o n F i g Off R A A a c k w o r t h , D F C Fit Lt C H F r y , D F C
Squadrons
Greece
80, 33 80, H u r r i Fit Crete 80 80 80 112 33 33 80 33 H u r r i Fit Crete 80 112 112 112, 80 112
46* 21* + 2 sh
806 806
5 4 or 5
16 16
Claims
Crete
0 7
10* 9* 7* 7 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
6 6 5 5 4
0 0 0 0 1
ioi
Claims
Total
iHurri
Glads
46* 11* 28* io* + 2 sh + 1 sh 16 16
6 3
10* 9* 7* 7 7
4* io* 0 0 7 0
6 6 5 5 5
6 6 5 2 4
10*
on Types
Total for
War
36* 18 + 1 sh
50* 31* + 3 sh
10 13 6 0
16 16
9* 7* 0 7
12* io* 18f 13* 7 9
0 0 0 3 1
Fleet Air Arm Lt P D J S p a r k e , D S C + + * Lt R M a c D o n a l d H a l l *
(6 c o m b a t s , i n c l u d i n g 2 s h a r e d ) (8 c o m b a t s , i n c l u d i n g 6 s h a r e d )
Regia Aeronautica T e n Livio Bassi C a p Giorgio Graffer
395 a Sq 365 a Sq
7 5
Luftwaffe Obit Gustav Rodel Lt F r i t z G e i s s h a r d t
I I / J G 27 I(J)/LG 2
6 (3 G r e e k , 3 R A F ) 6 (4 Y u g o s l a v , 2 R A F )
* F u r t h e r m e n t i o n of t h e s e t w o pilots will be f o u n d in ' M a l t a : T h e H u r r i c a n e Years, 1 9 4 0 - 4 1 ' by t h e s a m e a u t h o r s , a l s o p u b l i s h e d by G r u b Street in 1987.
411
6 6 6 7* 5
Bibliography
T H W i s d o m , Wings over Olympus, (Allen & U n w i n ) E C R Baker, Pattle, (Kimber) E A Howell, Escape to Live, ( G r o s v e n o r ) M G C o m e a u , Operation Mercury, (Kimber) S W C P a c k , Battle of Matapan, (Batsford) M Apps, The Four Ark Royals, (Kimber) A Hendrie, Seek and Strike, (Kimber) R Sturtivant, Fleet Air Arm at War, (Ian Allan) C F Shores & H Ring, Fighters over the Desert, ( S p e a r m a n ) Viscount C u n n i n g h a m , A Sailor's Odyssey, ( H u t c h i n s o n ) P Singleton-Gates, General Lord Freyberg VC, (Michael Joseph) J A Brown, Eagles Strike, (Purnell) G B o w m a n , Jump for It, (Evans) J H e t h e r i n g t o n , Airborne Invasion, (Allen & U n w i n ) D A T h o m a s , Crete 1941, (Andre Deutsch) C L a m b , War in a Stringbag, (Cassell) C Becker, The Luftwaffe War Diaries, ( M a c d o n a l d ) Sir H K i p p e n b e r g e r , Infantry Brigadier, (Oxford U P) G Stitt, Under Cunningham's Command, (Allen & U n w i n ) A C l a r k e , The Fall of Crete, (Anthony Blond) C Buckley, Greece & Crete 1941, ( H M S O ) Baron von der Heydte, Daedalus Returns, ( H u t c h i n s o n ) C Mackenzie, Wind of Freedom, ( C h a t t o & W i n d u s ) R D a h l , Over to You, (Mayflower) R D a h l , Going Solo, ( J o n a t h a n C a p e ) R E d w a r d s , German Airborne Troops 1939-45, ( M a c d o n a l d & Janes) R P Bateson, Stuka, (Ducimus) D M G a v i n , Crete: official history of NZ in 2nd World War, (War History Branch, NZ) D Richards, Royal Air Force 1939-45: The Fight at Odds, ( H M S O ) G L o n g Australians in the War 1939-45: Vol 2, (Canberra) C H o c k i n g , Dictionary of Disasters at Sea, 1824-1962 (Lloyds)
412
INDEX Personnel
British
Commonwealth:
Beale, Cdr G H, O C R N A S M a l e m e
332, 344,
345, 362 Abrahams, Fit Lt R J, 112 Sqn
88, 94, 9 6
Beamish, G r p C a p t C, 136
Acworth, Fig Off R A, 112 Sqn
83, 89, 91, 92,
Beamish, G r p C a p t F V, 136
93, 98, 101, 106, 1 0 7 , 4 1 1
Beamish, G r p C a p t G R, O C 'Z' W i n g / A O C
Adams, Fig Off H W S, 38 Sqn Ainley, Fig Off F R, 69 Sqn
248
Crete
163
Akeroyd, Sgt W S, 3 0 Sqn
73, 9 9
Beamont, Fit Lt E V, H M A S Perth
Aldridge, Fig Off F J, Ferry pilot Alington, Sqn Ldr P H 2 3 0 Sqn
136, 278, 324, 325, 327, 329, 332, 333,
397 237
303
Bedding, M a j T G, O C 1 Greek Btn
185,295
Bednall, Fit Lt D K, 2 3 0 S q n
346
148
Alison, Pit Off T H C, 3 0 Sqn
255
Beharrell, Sgt J H, 211 Sqn
65
Andrew, Lt C o l L W, 22nd N Z
344
Bennett, Sgt M W, 8 0 S q n
260, 266, 295, 321,
Appleyard, Sgt R, 211 S q n
65
Ash, Lt A H M, 805 Sqn
333, 3 3 4
135, 148. 328
A s h b r o o k e , Sub Lt P C B, 8 0 3 S q n Atkinson,
Cdr
Formidable
C
J
N,
Cdr
Bennett. Fig Off R J, 112 S q n
165
Flying,
HMS
Bennett, Sgt S L, 211 Sqn
318, 3 7 9
62
Berggren, Fig Off J V, 11 Sqn
Attwell, Pit Off J A F, 30 Sqn
50
Best, Pit Off J W, 39 S q n
A t t w o o d , Pit Off B A B, 208 Sqn Ayre, Sgt H W, Ferry pilot
106, 113, 114,
391, 401
265
82
317
Bester, Lt A J B, 2 7 4 Sqn (attached)
237
Betts, L A C H F , 30 S q n
398, 399
344
Bevington-Smith, Pit Off E, 211 Sqn Back. Capt G R B, H M S O r i o n Bagnall, Fit Lt D R, 2 1 6 Sqn Bailey, Sgt G E, 84 S q n
332
Baird, Sgt W, 211 S q n
65
Black, Lt Cdr A F, 805 S q n
135, 137, 139, 141,
151,185, 301,307,314, 330,332 86, 133
Blackburn, Sgt, 84 S q n
387
123
Blackmore, Fig Off H P G, 30 Sqn 268, 344
Banks, Fig Off E T, 112 S q n
Blake, Lt A H, M L 1011
88, 94. 101, 105,
106, 112 Barker, Sgt G , 80 Sqn
Blakeway, Fig Off R E M , 30 Sqn
49, 83, 102, 259, 2 8 0
Imperial F o r c e
52
Barnby, Lt M, 2 4 S A A F S q n Barnes, Lt W L LeC, 806 Sqn Barnes, Pit Off, 211 S q n
394 128
287
43,
64 Bartley, Pit Off L L, 112 Sqn Basan, Pit Off L W, 30 Sqn
158
Blennerhassett, Fig Off J W. 252 Sqn
329
46
Boehm, Fit Lt D G , 84 S q n
124, 158
B o h m , Pit Off R S, 2 3 0 Sqn
153
Bowen, Sgt H, 11 S q n
413
161
110,///
82
B o w e r m a n . Sgt O R. Ferry pilot
110
350
Bocking, Fit Lt A L, 30 Sqn
Boosey, L/Air S L, 815 Sqn
290
334
Beagley, L/Air P N , 815 Sqn
Blenkhorn, Pty Off (A) G L, 829 Sqn
Bolt, Lt Cdr A S, H M S Warspite
316, 391, 401
Australian
289
Blunt, C o l J S, Military Attache
43
Barrett, Fit Lt D C, 211 Sqn (Equip Officer)
Bates, Sgt P O, 112 S q n
50
368
Blarney, Lt G e n Sir T h o m a s , G O C
Barnard, Fit Lt J, 70 Sqn
149,
319
Baird-Smith, Fit Lt M J, 37 Sqn Banks, A C C, 3 3 Sqn
43, 58, 71
45
Bisset, Capt A W laT, H M S F o r m i d a b l e
134
123
Bain, Sgt W, 112 Sqn
Bale, Sgt 55 S q n
Bird, Pit Off D R, 84 Sqn
391
237
Bowker, Sub Lt J, 815 Sqn
113,248
Child, Sgt E B, 30 Sqn
Bowker, Pit Off N , 112 Sqn
106, 112, 113, 118,
Churcher, Fig Off T F, 45 Sqn Churchill,
320, 387 B o w m a n , W g Cdr A M c D , 39 S q n Bowyer-Smith. Perth
Capt
Sir
355
Philip,
Rt
Minister HMAS
306
37
Hon
Churton, Capt M E H. A L O Greece
Brabner, Lt R A, 8 0 5 S q n
139, 139, 141,
142,
Clifford, Lt M G W, 815 Sqn
156,273,288 139, 143, 326
Cochrane, Fig Off H P, 112 Sqn
94, 106, 112
113,411
142, 145, 314, 315 Brand, Fig Off E, 2 3 0 S q n
258, 397
Brian, Fit Lt A E, 70 Sqn
32
Brooks, Sgt G N , 70 Sqn
C o k e , Fit Lt T h e H o n D A, 80 Sqn Collard, W g Cdr R C M , 37 S q n
43
Collishaw, Air C o m d r R. A O C 2 0 4 G r o u p
142, 143, 314
Brown, Fig Off E H, 112 Sqn
C o m e a u , A C M G , 33 Sqn
163
Brown, Sqn Ldr H L I, 112 Sqn
C o n n o r s , Sgt C, 3 0 Sqn
101, 105, 105, 106, 112, 113, 123 150, 157, 278, 279,
258, 265, 275, 280,
332, 342, 346
72, 86, 92, 94,
255, 2 5 6
C o o k e , Lt R H, 829 Sqn
158
C o o p e r , Fig Off S G , 80 S q n
317, 377, 378, 379 Brunton, Pit Olf P L C, 112 Sqn
363,
364, 387, 4 0 3
106, 112
Bruen, Lt J M 'Bill', 803 Sqn
81, 83, 116,
186
32
Brown, Fit Lt A M, 2 P R U
255, 272,
285, 286
Bright, Pit Olf, 211 Sqn Adjutant
Brown, Sgt G , 69 S q n
108
400
Coates, Sub Lt D H, 8 0 5 S q n
332
Prime
371, 372, 386
Clark, Pit Off D, 272 Sqn
Boyd, R e a r - A d m D W, RA Med Aircraft Carriers
385
Winston,
107, 112, 113,
39, 46, 52
C o o t e , W g Cdr P B, O C 'W' W i n g
84, 92, 94,
126, 242, 2 4 3
242, 2 4 8 Bryant, Sub Lt R F, 8 0 5 Sqn
Cordery, Sgt V C, 2 3 0 Sqn
139, 146, 301
Buchanan, Fit Lt L B, 211 Sqn
43, 66, 70, 82,
286
Costello. Fig Off A R, 112 Sqn
332
Costello, Pit Off W D , 37 Sqn
235, 2 4 3 Buckler, Cdr J, N a v a l Aide, Athens Burnard, Fit Lt L G , 208 Sqn
C o t t i n g h a m , F/Sgt L 33 Sqn
133, 146
Butcher, Fig Off A R, 33 Sqn
C o x , Pit Off J C , 211 S q n
281
Craig, Sgt J, 33 Sqn
125, 320, 362
Crooks, Sgt J, 30 Sqn
Campbell, Lt A U M, 39 Sqn
400
Campbell, Lt C o l I R, O C Retimo, Crete
394.
398 Campbell, Fig Off R D , 211 S q n
43, 65
Campbell, Fit Lt W W, 2 3 0 Sqn
128
Card, Fit Lt H D , 30 S q n
60
240 385
Crowther, Pit Off R K, 30 Sqn
349
Cryer, Sqn Ldr L E, 'W' W i n g
242, 2 4 3
Cullen, Fig Off R N , 80 Sqn
61, 74, 74, 76, 79,
87, 88, 9 0 - 9 3 , 9 8 - 1 0 2 , 4 1 1 Cullen, Fit Lt T H, 30 Sqn M O
60
Carroll, S u b Lt A. 815 Sqn
66, 71, 87
Crosby, Sgt A F, 4 5 Sqn
110
317
Campbell, Fit Lt G L, 272 Sqn
231,
85
Crockett, Pit Off A G, 30 Sqn
260, 320, 362, 362
Caldecott-Smith, Lt J A, 815 Sqn
313,316 85, 92, 113,
231,232,258, 271,273,41 1
237, 256, 265
Burwell, Fig Off R H C, 208 Sqn Butterick, Sgt A F, 33 Sqn
C o s t o n , Pty Off (A) F, 803 Sqn
233
Burnaby D r a y s o n , Lt A W, 815 Sqn
243
346, 362
Cumberledge, Lt C M B. R N H Q , A t h e n s
297
Cunningham,
Med
Fleet
146
Adm
Sir
Andrew,
CinC,
152-154, 156, 160, 162, 297, 340, 392
Casbolt, Sgt C E, 80 Sqn 39, 55, 73, 74, 76, 79, Dahl, Pit Off R, 80 Sqn
86, 97, 102, 262, 263, 270, 2 7 2 , 4 1 1 Casey, Wt Off. 8 0 S q n
77
C a s s o n , C o l S, A r m y I O 245 Cattell, Fit Lt L P, 84 S q n Cazalet, Sgt M P, 84 Sqn
D'Albiac, A V M J H, A O C Greece 50
Crete
Brig
B
H,
OC
50
D'Albiac, Mrs,
Heraklion
43
C h e s m a n , Sgt J H, 55 Sqn
148
Dalyell-Stead, Lt Cdr J, 829 Sqn Darch, L A C N J, 30 S q n
313, 317
387
C h e t h a m , Pit Off C A C , 33 Sqn
85, 86,
149, 157, 158,
161
Sector,
340
Chat fie Id. Pty Off (A) W T, 803 Sqn
29, 30, 31,
83, 105, 256, 261, 278, 289, 309
C h a p m a n , Pit Off, 211 Sqn Cypher Officer Chappel,
255, 257, 268, 271, 272,
285, 286, 288
344
D a v i d s o n , Fig Off J C, 252 Sqn
329
D a v i d s o n , Fit Lt R T P, 30 S q n
52, 89, 89, 90,
125,
236, 250, 251
144, 2 6 8 Davie, Lt G B, 805, 803 Sqn
414
317
Davis, Pit Off C S, 38 Sqn
234
Davis, Pit Off G , 211 Sqn
Forrester, Lt S R E. 14 Sqn
43, 47, 82
Foster, Sgt C R, 84 Sqn
374
50
Davys, Capt J L M, B O A C
288
F o y , C a p t F V W, B O A C
288
D a w s o n , M a j E, 4 N Z Bde
260
Frame, Fit Lt A, 228 Sqn
397, 399, 4 0 0
D a y , Pit Off R G C, 84 Sqn Dean, Fit Lt E H, 3 3 Sqn
Francis. W g Cdr G , 2 3 0 Sqn
76
Deakin, Sgt W M , 272 Sqn
400 85. 120, 125, 236, 2 4 4
de Frias, L/Air F J L, 803 Sqn
156, 165, 166,
329, 364, 397
Fraser, Fit Lt J F. 112 S q n
94. 101, 105, 106,
107, 112, 113, 1 1 8 , 4 1 1
308, 318, 379
Freyberg. Maj G e n B C, G O C Crete
Delaney, Fig Off L S, 211 Sqn
43, 65, 66
Dennant, Fit Lt J E, 1430 Fit, 112 Sqn Dennis, Fit Lt J M , 45 S q n D e n t o n , L A C, 815 Sqn
304, 332
Fry, Fit Lt C H. 112 Sqn
49, 72, 94, 101, 105,
106, 112, 1 1 3 , 3 0 4 , 328, 3 9 1 , 4 1 1
345
Furney, Sgt G , 84 Sqn
D i x o n , Sub Lt E J H. 805, 806 Sqn
57
91
135, 139,
Garnett, Lt Cdr J N, 806 Sqn
166
319, 377, 378
Garside, Fig Off R. 1430 Fit. 112 S q n
D i x o n , A C J W, 33 Sqn
344
M, 112 Sqn
94, 101,
105,
106, 1 1 3 , 4 1 1 367
43, 44, 82, 87, 92
Genders, Sgt G E C, 33 Sqn
85, 250, 251, 251.
Gethin, Sqn Ldr J P D , 2 0 3 Sqn
D o o l e y , L/Air F P T i m ' . 803 Sqn D o u d n e y , Fit Lt G B, 211 S q n
163, 316
G i b s o n , Lt D C E F, 8 0 3 S q n
77, 87, 94, 97,
156. 165
Gill, 2/Lt G L W, 2 4 S A A F Sqn
232, 262
Gillanders, Sgt A T H, 37 Sqn
D o w n , Fit Lt H C, 2 7 4 S q n
374, 375
Driver, Capt K. W, 274 Sqn (attached)
397, 398,
399 Duff, L A C Paddy, 11 Sqn
128
Gilmour, C a p t D , H M S C o v e n t r y
153 356, 357
385
G o d d e n , Lt D J, 803 Sqn
265
150, 279, 317, 377
Godfrey, Fig Off A C, 211 Sqn
D u n d a s , Fig Off K V D , 211 Sqn
43, 2 3 5
D u n s c o m b e , Pit Off R D , 33 Sqn
47, 70, 82, 242,
243, 252
85, 86, 125,
Godfrey, Sub Lt I P, 806 Sqn
320, <321, 362
G o l d i n g , Sqn Ldr A. 37 Sqn
D y s o n , Fig Olf C H, 33 Sqn
85, 85, 120, 257
G o o d a l l , Sgt H N , 37 Sqn
129 133
394
G o o d c h i l d , Wt Off H, 33 Sqn Eaton, A C K A, 33 Sqn
332, 3 4 4
100
G o o d m a n , Fig Off G E, 73 Sqn
Eden, Rt H o n A n t h o n y . Foreign Secretary
91,
104
G o o r d , Pit Off R L, 73 S q n G o r d o n , F/Sgt A, 84 Sqn
Ellis, Lt H M , 826 Sqn
401 81, 8 3
Glennie, Rear A d m I G , Force D ' Glover, Sgt C, 2 7 4 Sqn
D r u m m o n d , Lt D R H, 813 Sqn
290, 295, 296,
308
42, 43, 47, 66
D o w d i n g , Fig Off P T, 80 Sqn
156
365, 366
367 57, 158, 159
G o r d o n - F i n l a y s o n , W g Cdr J R, 211 Sqn, O C E'
Evans, Lt Cdr C L G , 806 Sqn
165, 166, 279,
Wing
319
41,42,43,44,46,47,64,70,82,87,99,100,
114
Evans, Sub Lt I J, 815 S q n
309
G o r d o n - H a l l , Pit Off P J, 203 Sqn
Evans, Fig Off J F, 84 Sqn
42, 57, 58
G o u d g e , Fig O f f l P C, 84 Sqn G o u l d i n g , Sgt F, 30 Sqn
Fabian, Fig Off A J M , A H Q O p s Staff Farringdon, Fig Off, 211 Sqn Faulkner, Sgt W R, 37 S q n Faulks, L/Air F, 815 Sqn Fearn, Sgt M B, 14 Sqn Feldon, Sgt, 208 Sqn
391
Geary. Pit Off A C, 211 Sqn 280,281,286,314,411
D o n a t i , Fig Off R F, 73 Sqn
Gregory, Sgt D S, 80 Sqn
388
43, 44, 49, 55, 68, 76,
Griffin, Sub Lt R, 805 Sqn
281 388
Forbes, W g Cdr Lord, A H Q A t h e n s Ford, Sgt G E, 216 Sqn
39, 64, 257, 2 7 2
374
102, 1 2 1 , 4 1 1
146
Ford, Lt E G , 2 4 S A A F Sqn
60
Green, Fit Lt R A, 14 Sqn
367, 367, 391
303
123
G r a h a m , Fig Off G F, 80 Sqn
47
43
Fletcher, Sqn Ldr A W, 272 Sqn
249
Grigson,
Dep
288, 289
Greece
374, 401
139, 142, 143, 148
Griffin, Fit Lt W P, 211 Sqn M O Air
Comdr
J
W
B.
88, 94, 105, 106,
112, 113 110, 112, 115,
Grumbley, Pit Off L A S, 113 Sqn Grunert, Fit Lt J C O, 2 2 8 Sqn
415
AOC
277, 285, 2 8 8
Groves, Pit Off J L, 112 Sqn
310
Forde, Sub Lt A J B, 815 S q n 117
306, 309,
340, 371, 372, 397
355
Dill, G e n Sir John, Chief of Imp G e n Staff
D o n a l d s o n , Sgt G
309, 320, 321
Fraser, S u b Lt I F, 252 Sqn
254 330
H a m i l t o n , Pit Off A J C, 2 7 4 S q n
373, 391
Hardiman, Fig Off R J, 208 Sqn Hargest, Brig J, 5 N Z Bde
237
359
Harries, Fig Off, 55 Sqn
387
Harris, Capt L A, 805 S q n
135, 135, 136, 139,
243, 252
Jarvis, Pit Off J A, 3 0 S q n
144
Jarvis, L/Air T E, 805 Sqn
332, 3 8 5
Jary, L/Air W G , 805 Sqn
332, 385
Jay, Fit Lt R E, 252 Sqn
Harris, Sgt G E, 37 S q n
Jeudwine, Sgt H P. 14 Sqn
367
Jones, M n e B V, R M
349
H a w k s w o r t h , Sgt T H, R M
Jones, Lt E, 45 Sqn
330
H a w k i n s . Sqn Ldr G E, 33, 2 7 4 Sqn Haworth, Lt M G , 826 S q n
Hen ley, Lt R S, 806 Sqn
347 361, 3 7 4 41, 42, 43, 44,
73, 76, 92, 94, 99, 123, 184, 263, 269, 307, 411 Jones, Fit Lt G D , 211 Sqn
379
Henderson, Cpl T D , 211 S q n
43, 50 374
Jones, Sqn Ldr E G T a p ' , 80 Sqn
85, 396
156
Hearnshaw, L/Air C J, 806 Sqn
43, 50, 64, 75, 121,
158, 159
247
166, 2 78, 2 79, 317, 318,
Jones, Sqn Ldr H D , 84 S q n
319
99, 100, 100, 158,
184,260
Herbert, Fig Off R V, 211 Sqn Hess, AC, 3 3 Sqn
243
Jones, Capt K S P, 2 4 S A A F Sqn
381
346, 362
Hewett, Sgt E W F, 8 0 S q n 97, 98,101,
329
Jerdein, Pit Off G J, 211 Sqn
150, 151, 314, 316 Harrison, Cpl, 3 3 Sqn
James, F/Sgt A G , 211 Sqn
49, 52, 87, 91, 97,
108, 255, 2 5 8 , 2 7 0 , 2 7 2 , 2 8 5 , 411
Hewison, Pit Off A D P, 11 Sqn Hickey, Sqn Ldr W J, 80 Sqn
82, 9 0
39, 43, 49, 52, 54,
55, 75 317
Hill, Sgt V E, 3 3 Sqn
331, 331
Keen, Sgt H, 84 Sqn
364, 398
260
Keighley Peach, Cdr C L, H M S Eagle
128
139, 140,
332,
346, 353, 368 Hinton, Sgt J D , N Z Reinforcement Btn Hirst, Fig Off P S, 252 Sqn
394
Kiggell, Lt L J, 815 Sqn
329
Kimber, M n e R G, R M Kimber, Cpl, 33 Sqn
76 85, 113, 120,
125,
236,240, 265 H o l m e , Sub Lt K, 252 S q n
329
H o n o r , Fit Lt D S G , 2 7 4 Sqn
75,
134, 160, 278
Kilroy, Cdr R A, 806 Sqn (attached)
349
H o l m a n , Fig Off F, 33 Sqn
383, 399, 4 0 0
76, 77, 81, 84, 88, 94, 271, 272
33
Holgate, Fig Off J B, 252 S q n
43
Kenner, Sgt J W, 37 Sqn
Kettlewell, Fit Lt G W V •Jimmie', 80 Sqn
167, 378, 401
H o g g , Pit Off R J K, 70 Sqn
Kelly, Fit Lt, 211 Sqn E O Kerr, Sgt G M , 2 7 4 S q n
305
329
H o g g , Sub Lt G A, 806 S q n
145, 147,
332, 346, 368
Hinton, Sub Lt R V, 805 Sqn
Hollist, Sgt A J. 84 S q n
139, 142
Keith, Lt L K, 805 Sqn (attached)
Hill, Lt L S, 803 S q n
Holland, L A C , 30 Sqn
Kay, S u b Lt R C, 805 Sqn
Kearney, Lt C S, 2 4 S A A F S q n
285
King, Rear A d m E L S , Force 'D'
352, 357, 395
Kirkman, Pit Off D , 30 Sqn
80
Kirkpatrick,
James,
Sqn
3 7 4 - 3 7 6 , 383,
Fig
Off
129
330, 349
Sir
Bart,
33
124, 301, 3 0 4
399, 4 0 0 Laing, Sgt R I, 73 Sqn
365-367
Hopkins, Lt F H E, 826 S q n
Hooper, Pit Off J, 211 S q n
242 156
Lamb, Lt C B, 815 Sqn
"110-115, 120, 146, 2 7 8
Horgan, Fit Lt T M , 30 S q n
81, 123
L a m o n d , Fit Lt H W, 228 Sqn
H o s k e n , Fig Off F W, 80 Sqn
44, 55, 76, 87
Howell, Sqn Ldr E A, 33 S q n
320, 322,
Lancaster, Pit Off J, 80 S q n
322,
323, 324, 327, 332, 334, 344, 345, 345, 361, 4 0 2
295
87
Lane, Lt H J F, H M S Gloucester Lane, Pit Off H W E, 38 Sqn
155, 157
248
Hubbard, Fig Off, 7 0 S q n
33
L a n e - S a n s o m , Fig Off E W, 203 Sqn
H u d s o n , Sgt V G , 11 Sqn
256, 265, 276
Langrish, Sgt H G , 4 5 Sqn
H u t c h e s o n , Sgt A, 84 Sqn
123
Latimer, Sgt J T, 113 Sqn
Hutchison, Pit Off J, 11 Sqn
82
254
Laycock, C o l R E, O C 'Layforce'
Hutton, Lt Cdr P L, O C Lighter S q n
288, 301
H u t t o n , Fig Off T, 1430 Fit, 112 Sqn
391
Lea, Lt C S, 8 1 5 Sqn
Le Cavalier, Fig Off J, 14 Sqn
Irvine, Sqn Ldr A T , 211 Sqn
70, 237, 3 0 0
185,242,243
Lee, Sgt S W, 113 S q n
254
Lemar,
G
Fig
Off
368
126, 248 387
Lee, G r p Capt A G , A H Q , Athens Innes-Smith, F/Sgt D J, 3 0 Sqn
296
385
J,
309 252
329 Jago, Lt Cdr J d e F , 815 S q n
109-112, 132, 133
Lemon, Fit Lt P C, 37 Sqn
416
115, 133
Sqn
Leveridge, Sgt F H, 33 Sqn
260, 320, 362
Lewis, W g Cdr D G , 84 Sqn, A H Q Athens
M o s s , Pit Off F M, 73 Sqn 33,
81, 99, 246, 249
Fit
Lewis, Fit Lt R A, 39 Sqn
377
156,358
Mountbatten,
Likeman, Pit Off R H, 73 Sqn
367
M o u n t b a t t e n , Capt Lord Louis. 5th Destroyer
367
Orion
Mdspmn
Philip,
HMS
156
Linnard, Fig Off S, 8 0 Sqn
39, 54, 55
Mudie. Fit Lt A F. 84 Sqn
Linton, Fig OfT K, 84 Sqn
50
Murrell, Sgt D C, 37 Sqn
Littler, Fit Lt J M, 33 Sqn
85, 124, 125, 2 6 4
Myhill, Pit Off W E, 33 Sqn (Admin)
36 115 362
L o n g m o r e , Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur, C i n C RAF ME
29, 91, 278, 312, 4 0 3
Longstaff, Sgt W B, 45 Sqn Lord, Sgt H, 30 Sqn
Nedwill, Sqn Ldr R J C, 211 Sqn
385
Neill, L/Cpl T S W, R M
89
N e w m a n , L/Air W J, 805 Sqn
Lough, Lt D G , 815 Sqn
326
N e w s t e a d , Sgt J, 113 S q n
Loveridge, Pit Off A B, 38 Sqn
134
L y w o o d , Fit Lt A M G , 2 3 0 Sqn
94, 97, 120, 269,
273, 280, 314, 315
332
N i c h o l s o n , Fig Off A N N , 84 Sqn
Macaulay, Sub Lt A S D , 815 Sqn
114, 115,
Macdonald, Yugoslavia
Col,
British
129
N i c o l s o n , Sgt P B, 274 Sqn
385, 388, 394
178
N o r m a n , L/Air C F, 803 S q n 112
M a c D o n a l d - H a l l , Lt R, 806 Sqn
137, 137, 317,
Nuthall, F/Sgt L, 84 Sqn
Mackie, Fit Lt J F, 33 Sqn Gen
Ovens, Sgt L A. 30 Sqn
Sir
Pacey, Cpl F E, R M Palairet, Athens
65
May, Pit Off R D , 4 5 S q n
Merifield, Sgt J, 30 Sqn
242, 247, 258, 2 6 1 - 2 6 4 . 267, 267, 268, 2 7 0 - 2 7 3 .
378
Paul, Sgt D J, 37 Sqn 363
367 57 73, 78, 89. 90.
313
Peever, Lt C W R, 803 Sqn
314 260
43, 64, 115, 116, 163, 313, 316
Peters, S u b Lt D , Lighter A1 Phillips,
Sub
Flight
131
114, 125, 236, 263,
M o n t a g u e - B a t e s , Pit Off P. 11 Sqn M o o l m a n , Lt A H M, 9 4 Sqn
387
Pearson, Fit Lt A C, 2 P R U 235
114, 263, 320, 386,
393 Moir, Fig Off D T, 33 S q n
329
Pearce. Fig Off S N , 2 P R U Pearson, Pit Off R W, 211 Sqn
104, 143, 1 8 4 . 2 3 8 , 240 Mitchell, Fit Lt A B, 33 Sqn
115
Payton, Sgt E R. 252 Sqn
Milward, Sqn Ldr R A, 30 S q n
102.
411
401
32
Miles, Fig Off P F, 84 Sqn
39, 45, 46,
108, 120, 125, 184, 230, 231, 235, 236, 2 3 8 - 2 4 0 ,
94, 106
393
Merton, W g Cdr W H, 257 W g M e w , Sgt H J, 37 Sqn
82
49, 53, 54, 55, 7 3 - 7 9 , 86, 87, 9 1 - 9 7 . 100.
388
McWilliam, Sgt D D , 24 S A A F Sqn Melting, L/Air T S, 806 Sqn
38, 177
399
Pattle, Sqn Ldr M T St J, 80, 33 Sqn
65
Mission,
349
Pattison, Sgt G , . 2 1 1 Sqn
163, 286
M c D o n a l d . Pit Off R H, 112 Sqn McLelland, Sgt R H, 4 5 Sqn
British
288
Parry-Lewis, Lt R, R M
385
M c C o n n e l , Sgt J N , 14 Sqn
52
Michael,
Pare, Pit Off J C, 228 Sqn
379
M c C o r d , Sgt T A, 211 Sqn
Sir
Palmer-Sambourne, Sgt J, 70 Sqn
387
McCall, Fit Lt I F, 2 3 0 Sqn
333
Paget, Fig Off S, 30 Sqn
249
Massy, Lt P W V, 806 Sqn
110,114,273
GOC
257, 299, 3 0 9
Marshall, Sgt J R, 211 Sqn
129, 167, 2 7 9 60. 123
Oxley, L t O A G , 815 S q n
49 Henry,
Mappleback, Sqn Ldr T G, R A F Liaison Officer,
Martin, Sgt W L, 55 Sqn
236, 237, 237
36, 239
Orr, Sub Lt S G, 806 Sqn
388
85, 85, 250, 251
M a c P h a i l , Sqn Ldr H C, 2 P R U Lt
379
Norwell, Sgt J K, Ferry pilot
352
Mackenzie, Fig Off M , 14 S q n
Maitland-Wilson,
317
Northfield. L/Air R E, 803 Sqn
318,378, 392,401,411 M a c k , Capt P J, F o r c e 'E'
260, 315
315
Mission,
M a c D o n a l d , Pit Off D G , 112 S q n
Yugoslavia
76
Nicolls, Lt O J R. 806 S q n
N o e l - J o h n s o n , Fig Off G D , 33 Sqn
117, 241, 248
Greece
135
37
N e w t o n , Fig Off P A, 3 3 Sqn
116, 148, 157,
114,121
347, 354, 395, 395
Lt
A
J,
288
Suda
Bay
Phillips, Lt D W, 826 Sqn
161
Phillips, L/Air H, 806 Sqn
129, 317
Pickering, Sgt J, Ferry pilot
330
417
237
Walrus
Pickersgill, F l g O f f P B, 211 S q n
Shears, Lt J H, 806 Sqn
290, 300. 301
Pinnington, Fig Off N W, 4 5 Sqn Ponting, Sub Lt F W, 803 Sqn Poole, Sgt, 203 Sqn
S h a n n o n , Sqn Ldr U Y. 30 Sqn
50
Pike. Sqn Ldr J M N , 2 0 3 Sqn
Shuttleworth. Lt J A, 805 Sqn
387
Sidaway, Sgt W F, 84 Sqn
167
Sims, L/Air K, 815 Sqn
371
150, 167
109-112, 115, 117, 132,
134-135, 241
Price-Owen, Fig Olf W B, 80 Sqn Pridham-Wippell, Vice A d m M e d Fleet
139, 141
36
Simpson, S u b Lt W C, 803 Sqn
303
Portal, Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles. Chief of Air Staff
31, 32. 6 0
166
44, 55, 76
Sinclair, Sub Lt B, 805, 806 Sqn
H D, D e p CinC
152, 154
Smith, Fig OfT A J, 30 Sqn
Puttick, Brig G e n E, 4 N Z Bde
143, 318, 319,
378
299, 3 4 0
89, 144, 147, 148,
293 Smith, Fig Off D H V, 112 Sqn
Q u i t z o w , Sgt J A, 39 S q n
Smith, L/Air L W, 815 Sqn
317
334
1 1 0 , / / / , 117
Smith, Fig Off R H, 112 Sqn
106,113
Spackman, G r p Capt C B S , 258 W g Ramsay, Lt A R, 805 Sqn
137, 139, 140, 142,
Sparke, Sub Lt P D J, 806 Sqn
145, 147, 150, 327, 328, 332, 345, 353, 3 8 5 Ratlidge, Sgt G W, 3 0 Sqn Rawlings, Sqn
Rear
Adm
317,318,319,411
32, 46, 87
H
B,
RA
7th
Cruiser
307, 356, 390, 391
Reed, LAC, 112 S q n
114
Reynish, Sgt G O, 3 3 Sqn D
138
321, 322, 362
Rice, Pty Olf (A) F C, H M S Warspite Lt
H, 803
Sqn
Richardson. Fig Off C W, 30 Sqn
150,
278,
40. 60, 61,
80, 89, 144, 287
86, 88
Squires, Fit Lt, 211 Sqn M O
Richardson, Lt H J C, 805 S q n
139. 142, 143,
328, 3 3 0
73
55, 94, 9 7
286
Starrett, Fig Off H, 33 Sqn
85, 85, 92, 113, 125,
237, 240, 269, 270, 273 Stephenson, Fig Off R R. 208 Sqn
Ripsher, Sgt C D. 33 Sqn
Stewart, Pit Off J W, 208 Sqn
Strachan, Sgt D G , 11 Sqn
43
Rixson, Fit Lt D F, 113 S q n
142
333
St Q u i n t o n , Fig Off P R, 3 3 Sqn
321, 322, 323
Ritchie, Pit Olf, 211 S q n
252
97, 239, 255, 258, 266
Stone, L A C R G , 33 S q n
55
158, 243, 255, 291,
320
243, 394
Strong, Pit OfT J H, 30 Sqn
148
Stuckey, Pit Off V A J, 80 Sqn 385
Sumner, Pit Off A, 2 7 4 Sqn
Rolfe, Sqn Ldr T U , 70 Sqn
32, 34, 38, 51
Sutton,
241. 278
Rumsey, Fit Lt G , 33 Sqn Adjutant Rush, L/Air A S, 806 Sqn Russell, Fit Lt W T, 84 S q n Ryley, W g Cdr C, 33 S q n
125, 2 5 8
123 85, 85, 108
Sarra, S u b Lt W C, 815 Sqn
W
F,
FAA
Liaison 288
Swayne, Lt H A I, 815 Sqn
248
Sykes, Fig Off H U , 80 Sqn
44, 45 139, 378
Talbot, Lt R H, 2 7 4 Sqn (attached) Tedder, ME
Air
Marshal
Arthur,
CinC
Sephton, Pty Off A E, H M S C o v e n t r y
156, 165,
308 T h o m a s , Pit Off A de L, 37 Sqn
330
128. 166, 279, 377,
T h o m a s , Sgt N H. 4 5 Sqn
133
385
T h o m p s o n . Fig Off C E V, 211 Sqn
418
RAF
403
T h e o b a l d , Pty Olf (A) A W, 803 Sqn 135, 138, 150, 301, 325
Sewell, Sub Lt A J, 806 Sqn
397, 398,
399
72, 88, 103, 121,
123, 1 8 4 , 2 4 2
Officer,
112, 278, 345, 353, 369, 393
Sutton, S u b Lt J D , Lighter A 6
149, 156, 160,
162, 377 Schwab, Sqn Ldr L G , 112 Sqn
A
39, 70
394, 397
Sykes, S u b Lt J H C, 805, 806 S q n
248
Saunt, Lt Cdr W H G , 826 Sqn
Lt
Greece/815 Sqn
319
85
75
Strickland, Sgt D D , 37 Sqn
R o b i n s o n , Pit Off J, 4 5 S q n Rudolf, Sub Lt M W, 815 Sqn
237
72, 82, 99, 185
Stockman, L/Air D R, 805 Sqn
388, 396
Ripley. Fig OfT A D . 80 S q n
372
Starkey, Sgt G C, 2 3 0 Sqn
Still, Pit OfT J, 8 0 S q n
Richens, Wt Olf S A, 80 Sqn
378
43
Stammers, Sgt L W, 3 0 Sqn
Stevens, Sqn Ldr P, 11 Sqn
Riley, Fit Lt W, 252 Sqn
120, 122, 158,
Stapleton, Sqn Ldr D C, 14 Sqn
161
317, 378, 379
Scott, Lt P F, 805 S q n
147
Spencer, Sqn Ldr R H, 113 Sqn Spiller, Sgt R T, 37 Sqn
323, 398
Renouf, Rear A d m E d e F , 3rd Cruiser Sqn
Sub
Spence, Pit Off D J, 2 7 4 Sqn 184
Reeves, Fig Off S, 1430 Fit. 112 Sqn
Richards,
363
166, 278, 279,
243
T h o m p s o n , L/Air C H. 806 Sqn Thorne, Lt D . 4 5 Sqn
Wickham. Fig Off P R W. 33 Sqn
318
T h o m s o n , W g Cdr W P J, 38 Sqn
248
388
Williams. Sub Lt G P C, 826 Sqn
Torrens-Spence, Lt F M A, 815 Sqn
110-112,
160, 1 8 5 , 2 4 0 . 2 4 8 , 2 8 8
Williams. Lt J A. 2 4 S A A F Sqn Williams, Sgt L, 11 Sqn
T o u c h b o u r n e , Lt P S. 806 Sqn
137, 317, 318
T o v e y . Pit Off G A, 2 7 4 Sqn
396
82 361
42, 75
Wilson. Pit Off A. 2 5 0 Sqn
Tracey, Fig Off O V, 2 7 4 Sqn
382, 383, 394
Wilson. Pit Off J K. 2 0 3 S q n
87
Trollip, Fig Off E W C, 80 Sqn
64. 65, 73, 74,
Wilson, Sgt S, R M
RAF
Heraklion,
Wingate-Grey, Officer
Tulloch, Pit Off C H, 8 0 Sqn
76
Turle,
Naval
Athens
301, 308 124, 186
369
Winbolt, Pit Off L J. 37 Sqn Ldr A J, O C
136, 278, 391 Rear
394
Wilson. Sqn Ldr J R. 208 Sqn
88. 94, 2 6 2 Crete
43
Willis, Sqn Ldr J O . 45 S q n
Trevor-Roper, Fig OfT R, 84 Sqn
Adm
C
E,
Pit
Off.
136 211
Sqn
Cypher
43
Winsland, Pit Off D S F Attache,
160, 161 399
Williams, Pit Off, 211 S q n IO
T o w g o o d , Fit Lt R A, 8 4 Sqn
Trumble, Sqn
85. 125, 232,
236, 242. 269, 273
Bill", 33 Sqn
85. 86.
91. 92. 125, 230, 2 3 0 - 2 3 2 , 245, 249. 2 5 3 - 2 5 4 ,
233
266, 268, 269, 281 Winstanley, Lt T B, 805 S q n
Valachos, Fig Off P J, A H Q Crete Vale, Fig OfT W. 80 Sqn
Winter, S u b Lt P. 815 Sqn
136.391
39, 45, 49, 54. 55, 76,
Wisdom, Sqn Ldr T H, R A F Press Officer
79, 87, 94, 95, 98, 99, 101, 102, 121, 244, 255, 258. 262. 269, 272, 280. 295, 307. 308, 316, 321,
W o o d , Sub Lt K L, 806 Sqn W o o d f i n e , L/Air R. 805 Sqn
Vincent, Pit Off P J. 45 Sqn
340
Vincent-Jones, Lt D. 806 Sqn
379 135
W o o d s . Fig OfT E J, 33 Sqn
364 378
82,
100, 288, 304
327, 328, 330, 3 3 2 , 4 1 1 Vasey, Brig G A, 19 Australian Bde
139, 143, 2 8 9 110
125, 314, 315
W o o d s , Lt P R E, 805 Sqn
141, 143
W o o d s , Fit Lt W J. 80 Sqn
64, 64. 70, 79, 83,
86, 239. 261, 2 7 0 - 2 7 2 Wainhouse, Sgt J, 211 Sqn
82
Walker. Fit Lt D R. 30 Sqn
W o o d w a r d , Sqn Ldr P R. 2 3 0 Sqn
32. 89, 89. 3 0 4
Walker, Fit Lt R G M . 2 P R U
49.142
Wallace, Sub Lt A C, 803 Sqn
Woodward.
151, 163, 316
Walsh. S u b Lt R W M. 805 Sqn (attached)
Fit
Lt
V
C,
145.
Sqn
270, 271, 273, 320, 326, 346. 385, 386, 411 Wright, Fig OfT A G , 37 Sqn
114
Wright, Lt A J. 803 Sqn
Wanklyn Flower, Fig Off H D , 80 Sqn
33
85, 85. 120. 124. 125, 125. 236. 243, 244. 264.
147 Walter, LAC, 112 Sqn
162, 163.
258, 277
44. 76.
134
150, 167
Wykeham-Barnes, Sqn Ldr P G. 73 Sqn
379
87, 91, 92, 93, 95, 97, 295, 307 Ward. Pit Off J H, 73 Sqn Ware, Sgt R T, 112 Sqn
366, 367
Yates, Sgt H, R M
260,316,334
Wavell, G e n Sir Archibald, C i n C M E
333
Yaxley, Sqn Ldr R G , 252 Sqn 29, 31,
Y o u n g , Fit Lt A M, 33 Sqn
329, 364
85, 92, 120, 125
85, 91, 260, 309, 319, 371, 372, 386, 401 Waymark. Fig Off D E. 208 Sqn Webb, F / S g t J, 84 Sqn
252
Free French
260
Webb. W g Cdr W J, 70 Sqn
64
Welland, Sqn Ldr R D , 69 Sqn
C o u d r a y . Wt Off Charles, 2 7 4 S q n
399
Weller, Fig OfT A A P, 274 Sqn
Courcot,
147, 388 34, 4 0 0
Westenra, Pit Off D F, 112 Sqn
106. 316. 321,
Goumin,
323, 332 Weston. Maj G e n E C. M N B D O
Lt
(attached)
Wells, Sqn Ldr R J, 70, 148 Sqn
340, 371, 390.
Pierre,
24
384. 385 SAAF
Sqn
382, 3 8 4
Cdt
(attached)
Georges.
24
SAAF
Sqn
380, 380, 381, 382
Guillou, Sgt Auguste. 2 7 4 Sqn (attached)
399
Jacquier. Fit Lt Paul, 2 7 4 Sqn
383-
382, 383,
384, 384
399, 4 0 0 Whatley, Lt E D J, 815 Sqn W h e a t o n , Pty Off. 805 Sqn White. Sgt A E, 69 Sqn
(attached to the R A F and S A A F )
144. 145, 147 349
Lebois. F/Sgt Marcel, 2 7 4 Sqn (attached) Lefevre,
Sqn
Littolff. S o u s Lt Albert, 274 Sqn (attached)
396,
(attached)
Whittall. Fit Lt J C, 203 Sqn
301
Whitworth, Lt A S. 826 Sqn
154
397, 398
419
Chef
Roger.
24
383
SAAF
163
Adj
381. 382, 384
Marteau,
Adj
(attached)
Chef
Albert,
24
SAAF
Sqn
Korizis, Alexander, Premier
259
Kotrones, 1/Lt Corneleus, 22 Mira
381, 381, 382, 384
Peronne, Fig Off Antoine, 2 7 4 Sqn
384,
385,
38
Kousigiannes, Capt Lambros, 32 Mira K o u t r o u m b a s , Sgt Pericles, 2 3 Mira
396 Rivalant, F/Sgt Jacques, 80 Sqn
K o u y i o u m z o g l o u , Sgt J 2 3 Mira
123, 255, 262,
39
Kovatzis, 2/Lt Spyridon, 4 Mira
295
Kyriazes, Capt John, 22 Mira Wintersdorff, F/Sgt Pierre, 80 Sqn
33
30, 39, 252
37 17
123, 270, 272 L a m b r o p o u l o s , Sgt Constantine, 22 Mira Laskaris, 1/Lt G , 23 Mira
Greeks: Alexandros, Lt Col, 11 Mira
27
A n a g n o s t o p o u l o s , Capt A, 2 4 Mira Anastasakis, Maj M , 32 Mira
Malakes, 1/Lt Alexandros. 32 Mira
27
Maravelias, Lt K, 32 Mira
27
A n d o n i o u , C a p t Andrew, 22 Mira
42
14
Maravelias, Capt Photius, 32 Mira
27, 67, 72,
34
M a r o u l a k o s , 1/Lt Panayiotis, 2 Mira
232 Andrew, Prince, Royal Family Apladas, 1/Lt A, 2 3 Mira
156
Metaxas, G e n Joannis, Premier
39 19, 37,
77
1 , 5 , 130
M i c h o p o u l o s , Sgt John, 22 Mira
77
Mitralexes, 1/Lt Marinos, 22 Mira
244
M o k k a s , Cpl G e o r g e , 2 4 Mira Arnidis, Sgt Frangoulis, 33 Mira
44
Melas, Lt C o l Alex, Liaison Officer
A r g y r o p o u l o s , Sgt P a n a y o t e s , 22 Mira
17, 17, 11
30. 252
37 N a n o p o u l o s , Capt Spyridon, 3 Mira
Bacopoulos, Gen
237
N o m i k o s , Sgt G, 23 Mira
Bardivilias, 2/Lt Anastassios, 21 Mira
66
39
30, 77,
79
Orphanidis, Lt C o l Panayhiotis, 32 Mira
Bousios, 1/Lt P, 23 Mira
C h r i s t o p o u l o s , C a p t , 12 Mira
27
Paliatseas, Maj D , 3 Mira 30,
27
Papadakis, Lt C o l John, 31 Mira
91
27, 56
P a p a d o p o u l o s , Cpl Christos, 21 Mira
Constantine, King, King of the Hellenes D a g o u l a s , Sgt Epaminindas, 22 Mira
3
16, 30
P a p a g e o r g i o u , Capt Demetrios, 32 Mira
17, 19, 77,
86
Papagos, G e n Alexander, C i n C
66
D e p o u n t i s , Sgt S. 2 3 Mira
39
Papas, 2/Lt Aristofanes, 33 Mira
D o u k a s , Capt G , 22 Mira
72
Paul, C r o w n Prince, Royal Family
G e o r g e II, King, K i n g of the Hellenes
288, 3 0 9
299, 349 66
Philes, Sgt Demetrios, 22 Mira
19
Pitsikas, M a j Demetrius, 3 3 Mira
11
H a t z i i o a n n o u , Capt Cleanthes, 32 Mira
11 37
Phanourgakis, Capt G , 22 Mira
2, 259,
260, 288, 316, 349 Gemenetris, Cpl C o n s t a n t i n o s , 3 Mira
Sakellariou, 1/Lt John, 21 Mira
61
107 16, 27, 30
Sarvanis, 2/Lt Alexandros, 1 Mira I k o n o m o p o u l o s , 1/Lt P, 2 4 Mira
20
Scroubelos, Capt N i c h o l a o s , 23 Mira
232, 2 3 9
Sevastopulo, Maj, Liaison Officer K a b o u n i s , Sgt M a j C, 2 3 Mira Katsarelles, Sgt A, 22 Mira Lt
Col
OC
27, 30, 40, 68, 77
252 K o n t o g i o r g o s , 1/Lt B, 22 Mira
78 156
S t a m a t o p o u l o s , Andrew, Civilian Stasinopoulos, Sgt N , 2 3 Mira
Kodzias, K, G o v e r n o r of A t h e n s
40
39
Sophie, Princess, Royal Family Fighter
30, 39, 91
84
S m y r n i o t o p o u l o s , Sgt E, 24 Mira
20, 38
Emanuel,
Kellas, C a p t John, 21 Mira
Sioris, Sgt K, 2 3 Mira
20,27
252
Katsaros, 2/Lt John. 21 Mira 28. 6 0
Sideris, 1/Lt Demetrius, 3 Mira
39
Katassos, Maj Fridericos, 1 Mira
77
Papamichael, 2/Lt Lazaros, 3 Mira
Peter, Prince, Royal F a m i l y
35
10, 83, 257
P a p a i o a n n o u , 1/Lt Antonis, 21 Mira
Daliatseas, Maj Demetrius, 3 Mira
Cmd
61
39
C h r i z o p o u l o s , Sgt C o n s t a n t i n o s , 21 Mira
Kelaides,
19
36, 38, 39
116-117, 302 39
Stathakis, Lt C o l Demetrius, 33 Mira
27, 107
Stavraetos, 1/Lt G e o r g e , 31 Mira
79
T h e o d o r o p o u l o s , Maj G , 23 Mira
27, 35, 39
259 252
420
Toubakaris, 1/Lt N i c k o l a o u s . 13 Mira 78 Tsaldaris, President
Puk
Tsitsas, 2/Lt Constantine, 2 3 Mira Tsolakaglou, Epirus
Lt
Gen
Djordjevic.
382 George,
30. 39. 48
Army
of
Djordjevic,
the
Puk
259 259, 349
Branislav.
63
Gr.
3rd
Bmr
Maj
Danilo.
32
Gr,
6th
Ftr
Jakov,
2nd
187, 199
Djordjevic,
T s o u d e r o s , Emmanuel, Premier
Maj
189
Brigade
Col
Djordjevic, Milan, Me 109 pilot Vale anas, Sgt Gregory, 2 3 Mira
38, 39
Air
177
Djordjevic. Lt C o l Radislav, 4th Ftr Puk Djuric, Lt D r a g a n , attached EVA
Yiakas, 1/Lt Demetrius, 4 Mira
Mixed
188
35
188
21
D o b a n o v a c k i , Capt Aleksandar. 2 1 2 Esk, 6 6 Gr,
Yianikostas, 1/Lt C o n s t a n t i n o s , 22 Mira
19. 30.
7th Bmr Puk
38
190
D o n o v i c . Maj Lazar. 68 Gr, 8th Bmr Puk
188.
212 Yiannaris. 1/Lt Evangelos, 3 Mira
Dragic-Hauer. Lt C o l H i n k o , 7th Bmr Puk, 190
11
Fanedl, M a j Branko. 6 4 Gr, 3rd Bmr Puk
Yugoslavs:
Puk
211
Bajagic, Capt Milos, 163 Esk, 52 Gr, 2nd Ftr Puk
187,223
Bajdak. L t C o l Leonid, 5th Ftr Puk
Banfic, 2/Lt Eduard, 162, Esk. 51 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk
Gr
191
Blagojevic,
Ftr
Maj
Miodrag,
52
Gr,
2nd
Gardasevic, Sgt, 11 Ind ( L R R ) Gr G o d e c , Franjo, Ind Ftr Esk
187
Puk
Ftr
Puk
189
210,211
Puk
Bostanic, Maj Milutin, 81 Ind B m r G r Butkovic, Capt Marjan. 2 H K
Grbic. Voja, 2nd Ftr Puk
187
163
Esk.
190
G r o z d a n o v i c , C a p t Milutin. 142 Esk, 32 Gr, 6th
190 52
187, 213
224
Groselj, Lt C o l Avgust, 3 H G , 2 H K
189
Ftr Puk Boris,
189, 214
214
Grbic, Capt Mihajlo, Ind Ftr Esk
190,220
Lt
189, 220
Grandic, Lt Pantelije, 164 Esk, 52 Gr, 2nd Ftr
210
Brezovsek, M a j D r a g o , 36 Gr, 5th Ftr Puk
Puk
Ftr
188, 199
Gradisnik, C o l Ferdo, 1st Bmr Puk
Bosnjak, C a p t Jefta, 214 Esk, 67 Gr, 7th Bmr
Cijan,
214
G o r u p , Sgt Vladimir, 103 Esk, 32 Gr, 6th Ftr
197
Boskovic, Sgt Milivoje, 104 Esk, 32 Gr, 6th Ftr
Puk
214
223
Gorjup, C o l Z d e n k o , 3rd Bmr Puk
190
Borcic, 2 / L t D u s a n , 161 Esk, 51 Gr. 6th
Bmr
G o l d n e r , C a p t Pavle, 109 Esk, 35 Gr, 5th Ftr
188
Boras, C a p t Kresimir, 211 Esk, 6 6 Gr, 7th Bmr
Puk
Ind
G o g i c . Capt T o d or, 162 Esk, 51 Gr, 6th Puk
Boljevic, Maj Arsenije, 34 Gr, 4th Ftr Puk
Puk
Esk, 81
187
G l u m a c . Lt Branko, 62 Gr, 1st Bmr Puk
187
Bizjak, Lt Cdr Oskar, 21 HE, 2 H G , 3 H K
Puk
190
Frantov, C a p t Sergije, 261
190
Berginc. Capt Franc, 141 Esk, 31 Gr, 2nd Ftr
Puk
Filipovic, C a p t Stevan, 202 Esk, 61 Gr, 1st Bmr
197
Beran, Lt Cdr Igor, 25 HE, 3 H G , 2 H K Puk
Ferencina, Capt Vladimir. 218 Esk. 6 9 Gr. 8th Bmr Puk 188 Puk
181, 189
189
194, 223
Aleksic. 2/Lt Miodrag, 142 Esk, 32 Gr. 6th Ftr
Gr,
2nd
Ftr
Puk
214. 223
Crnjanski, 2/Lt Pavle, 31 Gr, 2nd Ftr Puk
211
188,211
Grujic, Capt Vojislav, 2 1 0 Esk. 6 4 Gr, 3rd Bmr 189
Grujic, Sgt, Ind Ftr Esk
206
Culinovic, 1/Lt M a t o , 205 Esk. 6 3 Gr, 3rd Bmr Puk
Ikanjikov, Capt Arsenije, 212 Esk. 6 6 Gr, 7th
189
Cvetkovic, Sgt Djordje, Ind Ftr Esk
Bmr Puk
205
190
Ivancevic, C a p t N i k o l a , 204 Esk, 62 Gr, 1st Bmr Delic, Sgt Ind Ftr Esk
Puk
212, 2 1 3
Diklic, C o l Stanko, 8th Bmr Puk Djeric, 1/Lt Uros, S 79 pilot
188
199
Jancic,
Ind
220
Djonlic, Capt Mihajlo, 206 Esk, 6 3 Gr, 3rd Bmr Puk
190,209
Ivanovic, Capt, 602 Esk. 201 Tr G r
189
Gr
421
Capt 187
Ljuba,
22
Esk,
11
(LRR)
Jankovic, Vlado. 7 V I G r
219
Milojevic, Sgt Petko, 210 Esk, 64 Gr, 3rd Bmr
Jankovski, N i k o l a i . P r o d u c t i o n test pilot Jelic, 1/Lt Milos, S 79 pilot Jelic. Sgt Puk
Vukadin,
215
Puk
220
102 Esk, 31 Gr. 6th
Ftr
198
Ftr Puk
Ftr Puk
198
Milovanovic, M a j Ilija, 31 Gr, 2nd Ftr Puk
181,189
187
Milovanovic, Capt Ranko, 21 Esk. 11 ind (LRR)
Jovanovic, Sgt Branko, 107 Esk, 34 Gr, 4th Ftr
Gr
217
187
Milovcic, Capt Mladen. 108 Esk. 34 Gr, 4th Ftr
J o v a n o v i c . Capt Ratko. S H E s k
216
Puk
Jovanovic, Sgt Zivan, 62 Gr, 1st Bmr Puk
214
187
Mirkovic,
Jovicic, Capt Vladimir. 215 Esk. 68 Gr. 8th Bmr Puk
220
Milosevic, Sgt Dragoljub, 104 Esk. 32 Gr, 6th
Jermakov, Capt Konstantin. 112 Esk, 36 Gr. 5th
Puk
219, 2 2 0
Milojkovic, 1/Lt Zivko, S 79 pilot
Brig
Gen
Borivoje,
Commander-in-Chief
188,212
JKRV
178, 187, 203, 226, 228
Mitic, Sgt, 4th Ftr Puk
217
Mitrovic, Capt Zivica. 101 Esk, 31 Gr, 2nd Ftr Kalafatovic, G e n D a n i l o
Puk
224
Puk
Puk
200, 2 1 0
Keseljevic, Lt, 142 Esk, 32 Gr. 6th Ftr Puk
Puk
202, 203
Nardeli,
Capt
211
Kolarov, 1/Lt Vasa, 32 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk K o n t e , Lt Cdr Ivan, S H E s k
198
Aviation
191 218
Kostic, Lt C o l Bozidar, 6th Ftr Puk
Gr
187, 2 0 0
Krasojecic, Lt Kaica. 3 Esk, 3 V I G r
216
Kren, Maj Vladimir, J K R V defector
177
Maj
Puk
197
Dragomir,
II
189
Nikolic, Maj N i k o l a . 33 Gr, 4th Ftr Puk
199, 2 0 0 Ind
Ftr Puk Lt
Radomir,
68
Qr,
8th
Obuljen, 101
Esk, 31 Gr, 2nd
Ftr
Col
Brigade
187 Col
Miodrag.
JKRV
190
Puk
Chief
Nikola,
3rd
Mixed
Air
189
Ostric, C a p t
Lozic, Maj Krsta, 62 Gr, 1st Bmr Puk Lt
199
Bmr
212 Kosta,
188
N o v a k o v i c , 1/Lt Dobrica, 103 Esk, 32 Gr, 6th
(LRR)
187
Lekic, C a p t
StafT
201 Esk. 61 Gr, 1st
190
Nikolic, Capt Miodrag, 207 Esk, 6 3 Gr, 3rd Bmr
Lazarevic.
Lozic,
Bmr
Nikolic, Capt Mihailo, 102 Esk, 51 Gr. 6th Ftr
Puk
Puk
Naval
187
Bmr Puk
198
Lahj, 2/Lt, 32 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk
Puk
Commander,
Nikodijevic, C a p t Dragi-a-
Krstic, Lt D r a g o s l a v , 102 Esk, 51 Gr, 6th Ftr
Lazarevic,
Nikola.
190
Nedelikovic, 1/Lt Raja. 262 Esk, 81 Ind
Korosa, Ivan, 2 0 HE, 2 H G , 3 H K
Gr
Bmr
210
Kodra, Stanislav, 31 Gr, 2nd Ftr Puk
Puk
219
Murko, Sgt Karel, 216 Esk, 68 Gr, 8th
199
Klavova, Capt Miha, 104 Esk, 32 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk
199
M o m c i n o v i c , Lt M a t o , 164 Esk, 52 Gr, 2nd Ftr
Kapesic, 2/Lt Jovan, 103 Esk, 32 Gr, 6th Ftr
Ivo,
164
Esk, 42
Gr,
2nd
Ftr
188,214,219
of
187
Pajic, Nedeljko, 31 Gr, 2nd Ftr Puk
200. 201.
211 Malnaric. Lt Milan, 20 HE, 2 H G , 3 H K
191
Malojcic, M a j Branko, 61 Gr, 1st Bmr Puk
Paul. Prince, Regent
190
Markovic, Capt Bora. 104 Esk, 32 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk
Mihic, 1/Lt S l o b o d a n . 7 V I G r
HK 191
Puk
189
189,224,228
26
HE,
191 4
HG,
2
191 190
Pesic, Lt Rastislav, 11 Ind (LRR) G r
Puk 205
214
148, 171, 247 199
Petrovic, Capt Matija, 217 Esk, 69 Gr, 8th Bmr
188,217
189
Petrovic, Lt Cdr Vladeta, 2 H G , 3 H K
Milojevic. M a j D u s a n , 2 0 9 Esk. 64 Gr. 3rd Bmr Puk
Albin,
Petrov, Sgt Milutin, 32 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk
190
Milijevic, Capt Dragisa, 106 Esk. 33 Gr, 4th Ftr Puk
Cdr
Peter. King, K i n g of Yugoslavia
Mikolic. Lt Cdr Jovan, 5 HE, 3 H G , 2 H K
Milivojevic, l/'Lt Milenko. Ind Ftr Esk
Lt
Pavlovic, C a p t T o d o r , 203 Esk, 62 Gr, 1st Bmr
219
Mijuskovic, C a p t Sima, 2 0 8 Esk, 6 4 Gr, 3rd Bmr Puk
Pavlinic,
188
Mihelic, Lt C d r T o m i s l a v , 4 H G , 2 H K
171
Pavic, Lt Franjo, 15 HE, 4 H G , 2 H K
191
Petrovic, Capt Zivomir, 11 Ind (LRR) G r Pikl, Cdr Eduard, 3 H K
422
191
214
Pirc, Lt C o l Franjo, 2nd Ftr Puk Pisarev, Lt 32 Gr. 5th Ftr Puk
187
Vlajic, Capt
216
Puk
Poljanec, Capt S a v o . 161 Esk. 51 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk
Puk
1/Lt
Bogdan,
32
Gr,
212
Gr,
6th
Ftr
189, 212
6th
Puk
Ftr
177 Ftr
199. 219
Vukajlovic, Capt Z a r k o , 107 Esk, 34 Gr, 4th Ftr
199
Puk
Prodanovic, 1/Lt Branko, 211 Esk, 66 Gr, 7th Bmr Puk
32
Vujicic, 1/Lt Veljko, 162 Esk, 51 Gr, 2nd
Pozder, Lt Andrija, 68 Gr, 8th Bmr Puk Puk
Esk,
Vucevic, Sgt, 4th Ftr Puk
181, 189
Presecnik.
103
Vojinov, C a p t Sergije, 216 Esk. 68 Gr, 8th Bmr
188. 197
P o p o v i c , C a p t Vojislav, 111 Esk, 36 Gr, 5th Ftr Puk
Ilija.
188
188
Vukcevic,
219
Col
Brigade
Petar,
4th
Bomber
Air
190, 206, 226
Puzic, Sgt Vladimir, 102 Esk. 51 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk
198
Zecevic, Sgt, 62 Gr, 1st Bmr Puk
214
Zikic, M a j Dragomir, 3rd Bmr Puk
Ftr Puk
Zunic, Capt
215
Rajter, Lt Cdr Stevan, 11 HE, 1 H G , 3 H K Rakic. Vojislav. Hurricane pilot
Puk
191 190
R o m e o , M a j A d u m , 51 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk
188,
Puk
Col
Brigade
Dragutin,
1st
Fighter
Ftr
Milos,
102 Esk, 51 Gr, 6th
Ftr
188, 197
Other
Rupcic,
102 Esk, 51 Gr, 6th
Zupan, Lt Cdr Pavle, 1 H G , 3 H K
199 Air
191
Nationalities
Barnes,
187
Ralph
Tribune
(US),
New
York
Puk Sep,
102 Esk, 51 Gr, 6th
Ftr
198. 2 1 0
Capt
Puk
Milisav, Oto.
Esk,
35
Gr.
5th
64
Cooper, Lt Cdr Henry (US), U S N Craw. M a j A T (US), U S A A F
110
Ftr
313
64
Dalken. Capt van (Dutch), S S 'Pennland'
189,216
Lundinga, Capt (Dutch), SS 'Slamat"
Simonovitch, G e n
D u s a n . Chief of Air Staff;
Prime Minister after March 1941 c o u p .
Herald
38, 177
Brower, C o l G C (US), U S A A F Semiz, Sgt
189
Milan,
198
Zunjic, Capt
228
Raskovic. M a j Ranko, 67 Gr, 7th Bmr Puk
220
Zivanovic, Maj Vasa, 35 Gr, 5th Ftr Puk
Radicevic, Capt Aleksandar, 105 Esk, 33 Gr, 4th
Roosevelt. Capt James (US), U S A A F
148.
Z o g , King, K i n g of Albania
190,
Italians:
294
300 320. 381
4
171 Sofilj, M a j D u s a n , 66 Gr, 7th Bmr Puk 227 Soic, 1/Lt Hinko, S 79 pilot
Aini, M a g g Giuseppe, 11° Gr, 13" St BT
220
Stelcer, Sgt, 32 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk
A It an. C o l P a o l o . 18° St BT
211
Stikic, Sgt, 107 Esk, 34 Gr, 4th Ftr Puk Stipcic, Capt, Ind Ftr Esk
Andraghetti, Serg Anselmo. 369" Sq, 22" G r Aut
217
CT
207
Stojanovic, Sgt Djordje. 102 Esk, 51 Gr, 6th Ftr Puk
CT/393" Sq. 160° Gr Aut C T
Strbenk, Sgt Karel, Puk
106
Arcangeletti, C a p P a o l o , 354" Sq, 24° Gr Aut
197,211
Stokic, Capt Milutan, 3 Esk, 3 V I G r
Ardesio,
216
102 Esk, 51 Gr, 6th
182
184
CT
Ftr
Serg
Pippo,
393" Sq,
23, 39 160" Gr
Atti, Ten Enea, 393" Sq, 160° Gr Aut C T
199
Bacchi, Ten Gualtiero, 22° G r Aut C T Telar, Sgt Josip, Puk 214
210
Esk. 6 4
Gr,
3rd
Bmr 189,
BT
45
23
Banchieri, C o l Angelo, 37° St BT 214
Barbani, T e n
T o d o r o v i c , Wt Off Branislav, 103 Esk, 32 Gr, 6th
BT/AS
210
T o m i c , Sgt Branko, 81 Ind Bmr Gr Tomic, Sgt Zivorad, 4th Ftr Puk
112
Bacci, Mar G u g l i e l m o , 150" Gr Aut C T
212
Ftr Puk
35
Balletta, C a p Salvatore. 262" Sq, 107° Gr, 47° St
Tesic, M a j D o b r o s a v , 69 Gr, 8th Bmr Puk Terzic, Sgt, 62 Gr, 1st Bmr Puk
Aut
18
Barolo, Serg, 150° G r Aut C T
217
Aut
147
Barberi, Serg Emilio, X Flottiglia M A S
220
153
76
Bartolaccini, Serg O s v a l d o , 364" Sq, 150° Gr Aut CT
Unger, Lt Cdr Albin, 1 HE, 1 H G , 3 H K
23
U m b e r t o , 281" Sq, 34° Gr
191
65,92
Bartaletti, T e n D i v o , 24° Gr Aut C T
423
41, 4 5
Bassi, Ten Livio, 395" Sq, 154" Gr Aut C T
34,
C a t a m a r o , 1" Av R T G i n o , 236" Sq, 96° G r Aut
56, 65, 88, 88, 126
B a'T
Baylon, M a g g Giuseppe, 2° Gr Aut C T
24
Bazzi, Ten D o m e n i c o , 190 s Sq, 86° Gr, 35° St BM/BT
60 Francesco,
16° Gr, 54" St
183
Beccati,
Vase
Lino,
X
BT
BM/BT
Giulio,
69" Sq,
39" Gr,
38" St Aut
94,96
Aut
Chiappa, Serg D o m e n i c o , 162" Sq Aut C T
145
Ciano, Ten C o l C o u n t G a l e a z z o , 105° Gr, 46° St Ciano, Countess
AS CT
57
80
Biolcati, Serg Teofila, 160" Gr Aut C T
38
B o n a t o , Serg M a g g Arturo, 393" Sq, 160° G r Aut 38, 39 222
Cap
Gr
CT
59, 116
Luigi,
364"
Sq.
150°
Col
Giuseppe,
31°
Gr,
38°
St
184 106" Gr, 47°
22
Crotti, C a p Mario, 39" Sq, 72° Gr O A
St
124, 125
Braga, C a p Pier Luigi, 106° Gr, 47" St BT
77 56, 77
Criscioni, C a p Francesco, 120" Sq, 72° G r Aut
Cuomo, Mario, 261" Sq,
Aut
22
Crabbia, Serg Antonio, 160° G r Aut C T
OA
Ten
BT
147
Corsini,
23
Bozzi, Ten
101, 1 0 2 , 1 2 6
Crainz, Ten Edoardo, 160° Gr Aut C T
Bonola, G e n S A Augusto, 4 a Z A T (4" Squadra
BT
Aut C T
Corsini, Ten Luciano, 162" Sq Aut C T
Cozzi, T e n C o l Renzo, 72° Gr Aut O A
Bongiovanni, T e n Carlo, 239* Sq, 97° Gr Aut
Aerea)
20
Cobolli. Gigli, Sottot N i c o l o , 355" Sq, 24° Gr
Bincelli, 1° Av Arm Stefano, 238" Sq, 97" G r Aut
Bordin,
147, 148
Clerici, Sottot Lorenzo, 365" Sq, 150° Gr Aut
53
Bianchi, Serg Manfredo, 154" Gr Aut C T
B aT
12, 22, 169
111
Cimicchi, C a p G i u s e p p e , 281" Sq, 132° G r Aut 182
Berlingieri, Ten Andrea, 253" Sq, 104" Gr, 46° St
CT
Giuseppe,
Ciarlo, T e n D i n o , 394" Sq, 160° Gr Aut Ct 12 40
Beneforti, M a g g Alberto, 153° G r Aut C T
Ba't
Cruiser
119, 125
BT and Foreign Minister Mario, 355" Sq, 24" Gr
Bellucci, Serg D o r v a , 154° Gr Aut C T
BT
1st
23
BaT
22, 54
Bellagambi, Ten CT
Carlo,
239" Sq, 97° Gr
Flottiglia
153
Beccia, C a p
Adm
153
Cenni, C a p
Sottot
MAS
Vice
Division
Ceccacci, C a p D a r i o , 191" Sq, 86° Gr, 35° St
Beccaria, T e n C o l CT
56
Cattaneo,
BT
Cap
Ubaldo,
210" Sq,
19
50° G r
Aut
23
Curti, S o t t o t Federico, 92° Gr, 39° St B T
164 128
125
Brambilla, M a g g N e l l o , 99" Gr, 43° St BT
184
D'Ajello, C a p G i o v a n n i , 163" Sq Aut C T
Brezzi,
Ten
Aut
Delia Costa, S o t t o t G i o v a n n i , 260" Sq, 106° Gr,
BaT
56
Buscaglia, C a p C a r l o Emanuele, 2787281" Sq.
Delia C o s t a n z a , S o t t o t R o m e o , 393" Sq, 160° Gr
Andrea,
236"
Sq,
96°
Gr
47° St BT
132° G r Aut A S
130,165
Aut C T
206 35
Dell'Olio, T e n N i c o l a , 201* Sq, 92° Gr, 39° St Cabrini,
Sottot
MAS
Vase
Angelo,
X
Flottiglia
153
BT Del
C a l o s s o , C o l Carlo, 54° St C T
183
OA
Campinoti, Ten Ettore, 160° G r Aut C T
114
De
Carancini, Ten M a r i o G a e t a n o , 393" Sq, 160° Gr Aut C T - 2 , 35, 38, 5 6
23 38
23
Castellani, BT
150" Sq, 2° Gr
Aut
Luigi, 238' Sq, 96° Gr
Aut
78
CT
101, 102, 126
Vito,
MAS
Sottot
Vase
Alessio,
X
Flottiglia
153
Di Angelis, T e n Mario, 262* Sq, 107" Gr, 47° St
Casini, C a p Gabriele, 252" Sq, 104" Gr, 46" St BT
BaT
De
Caselli, Sottot Alessandro, 255" Sq, 105° Gr, 46° St BT
Tullio,
D e Salvia, Serg Marcello, 354' Sq, 24° Gr Aut
Carnicelli, C a p G i a c o m o , 221' Sq, 55° Gr, 37° St BT
Cap
24
D e Regis, Sottot
23
Aut
46
Prato,
CT
Carboni, C a p Ernesto, 253" Sq, 104° Gr, 46° St BT
128 M a n n o , Serg Luigi, 42' Sq, 72° Gr
BT
247
Di Carlo. Serg M a g g N i c o l a , 238* Sq, 97° Gr Aut Ten
Col
Gori,
106"
Gr.
47"
St
23,183
C a t a l a n o , T e n Mario, 34" Gr Aut BT
BaT
80
Di Robilant, Sottot Maurizio Nicolis, 393" Sq, 142
160° G r Aut C T
424
37, 61
Donadio, BaT
Magg
Giuseppe.
101°
Gr
Aut
Guza,
225
Drago,
AS
Sottot
CT
Ugo,
393"
Sq,
160"
Gr
Ten
Rodolfo,
281"
Sq,
132°
Gr
Aut
165
Aut
35, 83
Iachino, A d m Angelo, C i n C Italian Fleet 155
154,
Erasi, C a p Massimiliano, 278" Sq, 132° Gr Aut AS
130
Ercolani, C a p Ercolano, 96° Gr Aut B a'T
Jannello, Sottot Pietro, 363" Sq, 160° Gr Aut CT 34
24
Ermo, Ten C o l Erminio, 55° Gr, 37° St BT
23 La
CT
20
Faggioni, MAS
Ten
Vase
Luigi,
X
153 22
BaT
Faltoni, Sottot Egidio, 150" Gr Aut C T
92
Faitoni, Sottot Pasquale. 150" G r Aut C T
65
Farina, M a g g A r m a n d o , 372" Sq Aut C T Fava, Serg Bruno, 24" G r Aut C T
24
106
Foschini,
Aut
Cap
Ettore,
355" Sq,
24°
Gr
184
Adm
Antonio,
8th
L o d d o , Sottot 77,
CT
95, 96
46
BT
11,12,56 72° Gr Aut O A
Fusco,
Alfredo
361"
46 Sq,
154°
Gr
Aut
150° G r
Aut
Mario,
50°
Aut
Sottot Gen
dell'Egeo Lucchetta,
88,126
Ernani, 365" Sa, 211" Sq,
CT
D
A
Ulisse,
Magg
Ermes,
Aeronautica
24 Serg
24°
147
G a m b e t t a , Serg, 154° G r Aut C T Gardella, Cap, 72° Gr Aut O A CT
88 150° Gr
Aut
CT 116° Gr, 37° St
G i o r d a n i n o , Ten Enrico, 24° Gr Aut C T
120
CT
154°
Aut
56
150° G r
Aut
18, 22, 44, 45, 126 Col
Carlo
23, 183
106° Gr, 47°
Magno,
4°
24 160" Gr
Aut
Manetti, Serg Augusto,393" Sq,
160" Gr
Aut
114 35
CT
Cap
Luigi,
363" Sq,
150°
23 Aut
40
Mastragostino, M a g g Angelo, 393° Sq, 160° G r Aut CT/154" Gr Aut C T
4, 7 0
Gr
18,22,79
Martinelli, Sottot Francesco, 606" Sq
36
Graziani, G e n , G O C Libya
76
Maurizio,
CT
St
183
St
23
Mariotti,
Grassini, Mar Attilio, 254" Sq, 105° Gr, 46° St BT
Aut
Marini, M a g g Luigi, 86° Gr, 35° St B M / B T
Grande, C o l Enrico, 35° St B M / B T Ten
150° Gr
22, 32, 43, 126
Mandolesi, Ser M a g g CT
Graffer, C a p G i o r g i o , 365" Sq.
CT
Gr
32
Grandinetti,
Aut
12
B a'T Adrio,
Giudici, Ten Eber, 160° Gr Aut C T CT
11, 22, 54
160" G r
Malvezzi, Ten Ferdinando, 236" Sq, 96° G r Aut
22 Magg
Sq,
Maionica, Serg R o m a n o , 150° Gr Aut C T
G i o r d a n o , C a p Francesco, 203" Sq, 40" Gr, 38° Serg
394"
Maggi, C a p Aldo, 261" Sq, BT
Gismondi,
Marcello,
Magaldi, C a p N i c o l a , 364" Sq,
23
St BT
Mar
CT
67 Pietro, 277" Sq,
Aut
46
Francesco, 365" Sq,
Gioia, C a p BT
Lui,
Gr
106
Ludovico, C o l D o m e n i c o , 38" St BT Gabella, T e n Giulio, 172" Sq R S T
Gr
38
Longo,
Fuchs, C a p
218 113
70
Longo,
Frascadore, Ten Mario, 394" Sq, 160" Gr Aut
Gatti, Ten
Cruiser
154
Locatelli, T e n Luigi, 22° Gr Aut C T
32
Francinetti, Sottot Raoul, 160° Gr Aut C T
Ten
Vice
77, 79
183
Franchino, Ten Walter, 154° G r Aut C T
CT
147
Lojacono, M a r Francesco, 114" Sq O A
Fossetta, M a g g Marcello, 7° Gr, 54° St C T
Aut
Leotta, T e n C o l Eugenio, 24° G r Aut C T 22,
22, 3 7 , 9 6
CT
Gr
Lauri Filzi, M a g g Pietro, 37° Gr, 18° St BT
Leoni, Serg, 72° Gr Aut O A
62
8°
119, 119, 125
Division 24
Fissore, Sottot Giuliano, 154° G r Aut C T CT
Vincenzo,
Laurenzi, Sottot Alessandro, 172" Sq R S T Legnani,
Fiacchino, C a p Elio, 151" Sq. 2° Gr Aut C T
Magg
182
La Cava, C a p G i u s e p p e , 211" Sq, 50° G r Aut BT 2 3 La Ferla, Mar G u i d o , 22° Gr Aut C T 106 Larker, C a p Mario, 239" Sq, 97° G r Aut
Flottiglia
Falcone, C a p G u g l i e l m o , 51" Sq, 39° Gr, 38° St BT
Carrubba,
CT
Facchini, Serg D o m e n i c o , 365" Sq, 150° Gr Aut
12, 18, 23, 53, 86
Matteuzzi, Ten O m e r o . 50° G r Aut BT
425
17, 17
Mazza, T e n C a l o g e r o , 254" Sq, 105° Gr, 46° St BT
36
Mencarelli, Serg M a g g G i o v a n n i , 72° Gr OA
98
BT
22 355" Sq, 24" Gr
Micheli, Serg
Aut
Penna,
Enrico,
363" Sq,
Michele,
42"
Sq,
72°
Gr
Marco
56
160° G r
Aut
49 Aut
35
Pratesi, C a p
9° Gr, 4° St
182 56
23,183
43, 4 8
G
Piero,
25" Sq,
21
72° G r
Aut
Pratelli, T e n C o l R o l a n d o , 150° Gr Aut C T
14,
OA
55, 56, 121
22
22,49
Morandini, Sottot Maurizio, 260" Sq, 106° Gr, 47° St B T
Pritoni, C a p Severo, 231" Sq, 95° Gr, 35° St
124
BM/BT
Magg
St B M / B T
Giovanni,
95°
Gr
35°
160°
Gr
Aut
23,183
Cap
Luigi,
24
Quattrociocchi, C a p Bernardo, 263" Sq, 107° Gr, 394"
Sq,
47° St BT
23
22
Moretti, S o t t o t G i o r g i o , 24° Gr Aut C T
48, 120
Morri, Serg A r i s t o d e m o , 163" Sq Aut C T M o s c a , M a g g , 38° St BT Moscatelli, BaT
Ten
Col
Ranza,
128
20
Antonio,
Serg
Gen
S
A
Ferruccio,
Aeronautica dell' Albania
Comando
22
Ratticchieri, Serg Walter, 393" Sq, 160° Gr Aut 97"
Gr
Aut
CT
183
Munich,
11, 3 5 , 3 7 , 3 9
Rignani, C a p Ezio, 230" Sq, 95° St B M / B T Magg
Aurelio,
160°
Gr
Aut
Ritegni, Serg Italo, 150° G r Aut C T
77
23
34
Rivalta, M a g g Gabriele, 25° Gr Aut B T
Mussolini, C a v Benito, Dictator
Rocca, T e n
2, 3, 4, 5, 12,
CT
51, 81, 103, 111, 118, 177 Mussolini, C a p Bruno, 260" Sq, 106° Gr, 47° St BT
Francesco,
Prasca. G e n Visconti, G O C Albania
183
Morbidelli.
Aut
Porta, T e n C o l Giorgio, 39° Gr, 38° St BT/104"
Aut
38
Molinari, M a g g Oscar, 160° Gr Aut C T
Gr
56
Gr, 4 6 ° S t B T
M i n i o Paullo, T e n C o l
CT
Magg
Pirino, C o l A n t o n i o , 13° St B T
46
Minella, Serg Luca, 160° Gr Aut C T
CT
50°
Piva, Serg Emilio, 154° G r Aut C T
Ten
Morelli,
Serg
CT
44
CT
Beniamino,
Pirchio, Serg Vittorio, 393" Sq, 160° G r
Aut
Mignani, Serg Corrado, 365" Sq. 150° Gr Aut
OA
Sottot
Penna. Sottot P a o l o , 150° Gr Aut C T
113
150° G r
61
Milano,
107° Gr, 47°
17
CT
Miazzo, Serg Ferruccio, 22° Gr Aut C T
CT
Amedeo,
Pecile, Serg G u i d o , 154° Gr Aut C T Attilio,
39
CT
St
Col
23, 183
Pasqualotto,
Meneghel, Ten CT
22
Paradisi, Ten BT
Aut
Mencaraglia, C a p Renzo, 42" Sq, 72° Gr Aut OA
Panunzi, T e n C o l A m a t o , 40° Gr, 38° St BT
Carlo,
10'
Rovetta, Ten, 150° Gr Aut C T
76
CT 13
Muti, T e n C o l Ettore, 41° Gr Aut B T
24
Aut
Ten
Col
Gr,
4°
St
183
Ruggero, Sottot Francesco, 202" Sq, 39° Gr, 38° St B T
Negri, Serg, 364" Sq, 150° Gr Aut C T
184
354" Sq, 24° G r
101
Romagnoli,
13,23,125
Mussolini, T e n Vittorio, 47° St BT
Francesco,
16
43 Sacchetti, T e n Giorgio, 281" Sq, 132° Gr Aut
Ortolan, T e n C o l RafTaele, 50° G r Aut BT
23
AS
151
Salvadori, Mar Giuseppe, 363" Sq, 150° Gr Aut Pacini, CT
Serg
Achille,
364"
150^ Gr
Aut
CT
355" Sq, 24° Gr
Aut
74
BT
183
Division
19
CT
Sottot 118
Adm
Luigi,
3rd
Cruiser
153
CT
182
Santinoni, T e n G i o v a n n i , 237" Sq, 96° Gr Aut
Pancera, T e n D o m e n i c o , 24° Gr Aut C T Pani,
Vice
Sant'Andrea. C a p Vincenzo, 356" Sq, 21° Gr Aut
Pallara, Sottot Vincenzo, 262" Sq, 107° Gr, 47° St BT
23
Sansonetti,
Pagliocchini, T e n C o l Roberto, 43° Gr, 13° St BT
39
S a n d o n , C a p Carlo, 276" Sq, 116° Gr, 37° St
Pacini, Serg T o m m a s o , CT
Sq,
44
Enrico,
371"
Sq,
150° G r
41
BaT
Aut
24
Sartirana, C a p L e o p o l d o , 162" Sq Aut C T Savino, Serg Pasquale, 24° Gr Aut C T
426
45
143
Scagliari, Serg Mario, 160° Gr Aut C T Scar lata, Ten C o l G i u s e p p e , BT
34
23,183 24
11,
52, 57, 6 0
Zotti, Serg Arrigo. 150" G r Aut C T
45
22, 34, 82
Scarpini,
Mar
B a'T
Elio,
236*
Sq,
96°
Gr
Aut
Germans:
20, 56
Senatore, C a p D o m e n i c o , 190* Sq, 86° Gr, 35° St BM/BT
Alt, Ulfz, I / L G 1
Soddu, G e n , G O C Albania Spallacci, CT
Albrecht, Uffz G e o r g , I / L G 1
23
Simini, M a g g G u i d o , 39° Gr, 38° St B T Serg
Luigi,
22
Altmann.
Hpt
Flgkps
347
21
355*
Sq,
24" Gr
Aut
156
280 Gustav,
1/Assault
Arnoidy, Lt Jacob, 4 / J G 77
Regt,
BaT
250, 251
Baagoe, Obit Sophus, 5 / Z G 26
56
209, 271, 323
Banke, Obit Christian, 9 / S t G 2 Bauer. Uffz Erwin. 2 / Z G 26
Susinno, C a p Carlo, 255" Sq, 105° Gr, 46" St
244
329
Baumann. Gefr Hans, I / L G 1
22
269
Baumgartner, Gefr Heinrich, I / L G 1 Tade, C o l Scipione, 47° St BT Tarantini, CT
Serg
Magg
23
Becker, Obit Arno, 8/JG 27
Luciano,
160° G r
Aut
MAS
Beeger. Obit Horst, I / L G 1
Sottot
Vase
Tullio,
X
Flottiglia
Benke, Uffz Helmut, I / L G 1
Tedesco, S o t t o t Filippo, 223' Sq, 56" Gr, 39" St BT
Billerbeck, Lt Ralf, K G r z b V 6 0
Gen,
President
Commission
of
International
Blanke, Lt Gert. I / L G 1
3, 4
Tessari, Col Arrigo, Cdr Fighters in Greece
14
22, 35, 38, 56
Toccolini, G e n
D
A Tullio, Cdr 2'
Traini, Sottot Italo, 160° G r aut C T Travaglini,
Cap
Edmondo,
CT/150°Gr AutCT Trevisi, Sottot CT
152*
2°
Caplan. Uffz, S t a b / J G 27
Serg
Magg
Marino,
22"
Gr
Aut
106 46
Victor Emmanuel. King. K i n g of Italy
181
Deuschle, Obit Heinz, II/JG 77
202
Dilley. Obit Bruno, 3 / S t G 1 4
Dinort, Oberst Oskar, StG 2
Viola, Serg M a g g Natale, 363' Sq. 160" Gr Aut 39
Vitali. C a p BT
Clausen, Obit Erwin, I(J)/LG 2
Deutsch, Maj, K G r z b V 4 0
Vescia, Serg, 72° Gr Aut O A
CT
394
156
22
Vannini, CT
337
278
C'hristoph, Prinz of Hesse
106
337, 351, 356
195
Buchholz, Oberst, K G z b V 3
C'hlebowitz, Fw Ernst, 2 ( F ) / 1 2 3
Valenti, C a p Ettore, 2 0 2 ' Sq, 40" Gr, 38° St BT
323 270
Bruns, F w Ewald. I(H)/23
113
149
344
Brudern. Lt J o a c h i m , K G 2
49
37, 56
Valente, M a g g Cesare, 24" G r Aut C T
267 252
Brucker, Hpt Heinrich, III/StG 2
34, 35, 126
Vaghi, Sottot Edgardo, 22° Gr Aut C T
330
Bromba, Gefr Hans, 4 / Z G 2 6
24,76
Tufano, Serg D o m e n i c o , 393" Sq, 160" G r Aut CT
337
Braun, Maj, III/FJR 1
Gr
Ernesto, 393" Sq, 160" Gr Aut
Triolo, T e n Alberto, 150° Gr Aut C T
Bodekuhl, Maj, I I / K G z b V 172
Bornschein. Uffz Berthold, 4 / L G I
95 Sq,
357
Borngen, Lt Ernst, II/JG 27
112
199.209,217
Bocker, O f w Heinrich, II/LG 1
Borchert, Uffz Fritz, III/JG 77
183
Torroni, Sottot Enzo, 22° Gr Aut C T
242
Borcher, F w Hans, I I / K G 4
Squadra
351
377
Bob, Obit Hans-Ekkehard, 9 / J G 54
Testerini, C a p T o r q u a t o , 393' Sq, 160" G r Aut
Aerea
213 269
Biewendt, Uffz Helmut. K G r z b V 101
129
Tellini,
323 257
Beisswenger, Lt Hans, 6/JG 54
153
269
231, 232
Becker, O f w Daniel, 5 / Z G 26
39, 48, 77
Tedeschi,
CT
XI
106, 126
Stevanato, 1° Av M o t Luigi, 2 3 6 ' Sq, 96" Gr Aut
BT
Zanni, Ten C o l Fernando, 160" G r Aut C T Zoli, Serg Arrigo, 154° Gr Aut C T
Scarpetta, C a p Giuseppe, 395* Sq. 154° Gr Aut CT
53
22
Scaroni, C a p Ferruccio, 220* Sq, 55° Gr, 37° St BT
Vivarelli, Ten G i o v a n n i , 104° Gr, 46° St BT
116° Gr, 37° St
22
Aldo,
254'
Sq.
105° Gr, 46" St
Dreyer. Uffz Fritz, 2 ( F ) / 1 2 3 Dreyer, Maj, 2 / K G 2
211
During, Uffz, I/StG 2
331
337, 3 5 4 235 337 232
Durkheim. Lt M a x Graf von, I / K G 2
427
350
Ebner, Obit Wilhelm, I / S t G 3
359
Hiiffner. Lt, FJR 2
298
Ebsen, Hpt Konrad. S t a b / K G 2
258
Hagel, Uffz Willi, 4 / J G 77
Eckhardt, O f w Heinz, I(J)/LG 2
181
Hagen. Oberst Walter, S t G 1
Egger, O f w , II/ZG 76 Eichel-Streiber, III/JG 77
394 Diethelm
von,
293, 323, 324
Eickhorn, Hpt Siegfried von, I / L G 1 Eisgruber, Hpt Heinrich, I / Z G 2 6
378
Hammer, Maj Walter, K G r z b V 6 0
337
194
Heidel,.Uffz Alfred, II/JG 27
355
262
Heidrich, Oberst Richard, FJR 3 Heindorf, Hpt Karl, 2 / Z G 26
378
Prinz,
Ambassador,
Erdmann, Maj Walter, K G r z b V 102
H e l d m a n n , Gefr Karl-Heinz, 2 / Z G 26
Eymers, Lt Reinhold. I / Z G 2 6
Hermann, F w Horst, 2 / S t G 2
200
Hermann, Gefr, I / S t G 2 Faber, Lt Klaus, 8 / J G 27
Fanderl, F w Georg, 1 / K G 51
232, 233, 2 3 4
396
I/FJR 3
194
347
Heyer, Fw Walter, I / K G z b V 9
337
166
Heyking, Oberst Biidinger von, K G z b V 2
Freysoldt, Lt G e o r g , I I / L G 1
388
Freytag, Lt Siegfried, I/JG 77
289
Friedrich, Obit Erich, S t a b / J G 77 Friedrich, Gefr Kurt, 2 / S t G 1
Hitler, Adolf, Fiihrer
Friedrich, F w Wilhelm, I / K G z b V 172 F r o m m i n g , O f w Gerhard, 8 / J G 27
Hitschhold. Hpt Hubertus, I/StG 2 Hockner. Obit Walter, 6 / J G 77 360
Hoevel, Uffz Heinz, I / K G 2
232
396
Hoffman, Hpt Hans, I ( H ) / 2 3
298
195
Hoffman, Lt Werner, I I / Z G 2 6
Garz, F w Hans. 5 / L G 2
322
359
Geisenhoff, Uffz Heinz. I I / L G 1
378
Geisshardt,
181, 209,
328,
383,411 G e n z , Lt Alfred, I/Assault Regt, XI F l g k p s
347
270
H o m u t h , Hpt Gerhard, 3/JG 27
317
Horstmann, Uffz Herbert, 6/JG 77
Gerlach. Hpt H a n s - J o a c h i m , 6 / J G 27
242, 243,
374
244
Hunger, Lt Heinrich, S t a b / K G 2 Huy, Obit
336
321
H o l t k a m p e , Obit Ludger, K G 2
Hoser, F w G e o r g , 9 / S t G 2
Gerhard, G e n Maj, XI F l g k p s
239
Holthofer, Obit, Aufklstf XI F l g k p s
242
Lt Fritz, l ( J ) / L G 2
358
385
Holtgreve, F w Willi, III/StG 77 Gabler, Gefr Hans, 6 / J G 77
337
4, 51, 63, 169, 171, 195
224, 335, 402 394
244, 245
Fulda, Lt Wilhelm, I / L L G 1
351
Heydte, Hpt Friedrich-August Freiherr von der,
314
Fischer, Lt Walter, 1I/KG 2 6 Forster, Maj, I / K G z b V 1
289
HeuBel, Obit Reinhold, 4 / Z G 26
218
Flor, O f w Herbert, 3 / S t G 2
351
277
Herrmann, Hpt Hajo, 7 / K G 30
231, 232
Fabian, Gefr, III/JG 5 4
374
Hermann, Gefr Dietrich, 4 / Z G 26
378
329
207, 209
Henz, Hpt Helmut, II/JG 77
337
347
399
Heller, F w Richard, 1II/ZG 2 6
230
Eyer, Obit Fritz, 6 / S t G 2
347
Heilmann. Maj Ludwig, III/FJR 3
274
Enneccerus, M a j Walter, II/StG 2 Athens
263
Hamester, Obit Bernhard, 5 / S t G 2 Hanrleberg, Uffz, 10/LG 2
263
319
Engler, O f w Josef, S t a b / S t G 2 Erbach-Schonberg,
337
Hahn, Hpt Heinrich, 1 / K G 51
Lt
Engel, O f w O t t o , 7 / L G 1
323
258
Wolf-Dietrich, III/JG 77
209,
293,
294. 357
247 Gerritzen, O f w Jahann, I / K G 2
211
Goblet, Lt Elmar. S t a b / S t G 2
Ihlefeld, Hpt Herbert,I(J)/LG 2
G o e b b e l s , D r Josef, P r o p a g a n d a Minister Goldner, Ogfr Horst, 5 / L G 1 G o l l a , O f w Paul, 2 / S t G 2 Goring, CinC
179
Jakob, Obit Eberhard. 4 / S t G 2
319
378
J o h a n n e s m a n n , Uffz August, 6 / L G 1
358
Reichmarschal
194,209,338,383
356
Joswig, F w Wilhelm, S t a b / S t G 1
Hermann,
Luftwaffe
Jung, Obit Berthold, 5/JG 77
145
371
342
195, 335
GravingholT, Obit, 7 / L G 2
238
G r o b b e , Obit O t t o , 4 / J G 77 G r o m o t k a , Uffz Fritz, 6 / J G 27 Grunert. Uffz, K G r z b V
274
Kaiser, Obit Wilhelm, 2 / S t G 2
243, 2 4 4
Kastl, O f w Josef, I / K G z b V 9
353
Grychtol, Uffz Heinz, 2 / Z G 2 6 Giigel, Fw, I I / K G 51
Kaisch, F w Hans, 2 ( H ) / 1 0
349
Katers, Lt, I / K G 2 371
Keitel,
223
Staff
321
Feldmarschal
Wilhelm,
335
Ketterer, Gefr Adolf, 4 / Z G 2 6 Haberland, Lt Rudolf, I I I / K G 2
386
Kiel, Lt Johannes. I / Z G 26
428
358 166
323 364
Chief
of
Kissel, Obit Erich, 7 ( F ) / L G 2
360
Meindl. G e n Maj Eugen, XI F l g k p s
Klapproth, Obit Oskar, I I / K G 26 Kleiner, Hpt Paul, 4 / Z G 2 6
377
349
Meissner. Obit Wolfgang, II/LG 1
Kleinknecht, O f w Willi, 6 / K G 26 Kloster, Fw, II/StG 1 Koall,
Obit
Gerhard,
Koch,
Maj
Walter,
Flgkps
317
Messemer, O b f w Willi, I / Z G 26
371 330
Michaelis, Lt Hans, 4(F)/121
III/JG
54
I/Assault
199,
217
Regt.
XI
342, 346 356
Kohler, F w Otto, 4 / J G 77
Mietusch, Lt Klaus,7/JG 2 6
205
Mockel, O f w Hans, I / K G z b V 172 Muller, Ulfz Fritz, 5 / Z G 26
251, 376
K o h n l e , Uffz Karl, I / K G z b V 1
Krause, Maj, I / K G z b V 172
271
Mundlein, O f w Ernst, I / K G 51
Kraus, F w Gerhard, I / K G z b V 172
385
Mutherich, Obit Hubert, 5/JG 54
200
Nagel, Gefr Heinz, 5 / Z G 2 6
243
Neubert, Obit Frank, 1/StG 2
Kretschmar, Uffz Martin, 2 / S t G 3
392
Krieger, Obit Gerhard, S t a b / S t G 2
240
Niemeyer, F w O t t o . 4 / J G 77
211
Omert, Lt Emil, 8/JG 77
314
Ostermann, Lt M a x - H e l l m u t h , III/JG 54
163, 164
Otto, O f w Heinz, K G r z b V 101
Lachmann, O f w Paul, 9 / S t G 2
301
244
281
Patz. Obit Werner, III/JG 77
263
Perrey, O f w Herbert, 8/JG 77
328
Peschke, Gefr Gunther, I I / K G 26
378
Petermann, O f w Werner, 5/JG 77
342
Peters, Obit Karl, 7 / L G 2
242
Pfeifer, Uffz, II/JG 77
289 Gottfried,
II/StG 77
200
238
273
Pfeil, Obit Hermann, 6 / K G 2 6
317
Lankeman, F, K G z b V pilot
376
Pfeil, Uffz Gerhard, 8 / L G 1
Lasse, Obit Kurt, III/JG 77
265
Philipp, Obit Hans, 4 / J G 54
Lauriant, Lt Gert, I I I / K G 2
265
Pich, Lt Alfred, 7 / K G 30
149
279
201
210
Leinfelder, F w G e o r g , 5 / Z G 26
271
Pichler, Lt Hans, 2(H)/31
Leitermann, Gefr Josef, 6 / L G 1
163
Pichler, Uffz Johann, III/JG 77
Leykauf, Lt Erwin, III/JG 54
262
Pielchen, F w Richard, Aufclstf XI F l g k p s
217
Lignitz, Obit Arnold, III/JG 54
Pietschmann, O f w Theodor, 5 / Z G 26
204, 209
List, Feldmarschal Wilhelm, 12th Armee
171,
Pietzonka, Hpt, II/FJR 2
Lohr, G e n Oberst Alexander, Luftflotte 4
172,
Pohs, Lt Josef, 5/JG 54
298
138
Rahm, Obit Gerhard, 5/JG 77 Mahlke, Obit Helmut, III/StG 1
359, 398
Makrocki, Hpt Wilhelm, 1/ZG 26
Ramcke,
285, 355
FJR 3
328
Mardaas, Obit Herbert, S t a b / J G 27 Marquardt, Uffz Herbert, I / S t G 3
Oberst
Marseille, Obfhr Hans-Joachim, 3/JG 27
Bernhard,
353 356
Recker, F w Helmut, 5 / Z G 26
359
Marschhausen, FjGefr Gunther,5/JG 77
342
Hermann
Rauser, Ulfz Heinz, 7 / S t G 2 238
181, 274
Rehrmann, Obit Hans, K G r z b V 101 376
Reichardt, Lt E d m u n d , I / S t G 3
201
Reiner. Lt Franz. I I / Z G 76
346
Reinhardt. F w Karl, 4 / Z G 26
429
343
212
Pretsch, O f w Josef, 4 / K G 26
195
355
271
Plessen. Lt von, 3/Assault Regt, XI F l g k p s
274
Maurbe, Lt, FJR 1
199
351
358
Lechmann, Obit Harry, III/StG 77 Lange, Hpt Franz, II/JG 77
355
198, 209, 323, 381
Ortner, Lt Rudolf, 1 / K G 51 262
Kupfer, Obit Dr Ernst, I / S t G 2
M a n n , Lt Harald, 8/JG 77
150
331, 331, 349
Oldenberg, Lt Dietrich. 5 / Z G 26 341
232
Kuklau, O f w Emil, S t a b / S t G 2 Kunz, Uffz G e o g r , 6 / L G 1
200
Nieden, Lt Friedrich-Wilhelm zur, 5 / L G 1
Kruppe, Obit, I/Assault Regt, XI Flgkps
Uffz
341
379
Kriiger, Lt Hans-Jurgen, I / K G 51
Lannewers,
274, 373
Neuwirth, Uffz Heinz-Werner. 8 / K G 3
298, 350, 351
Kriiger, O f w Ewald, 5 / S t G 2
Lange, Lt Georg, 7 / L G 2
337
209, 212
337
Krenz, F w Herbert, 6/JG 27
Lange, Gefr. I / S t G 2
173, 205. 209
288
Mundt, Oberst lt Ernst, K G r z b V 101
351
Krebitz, Obit Kurt, I / Z G 26
Kroh, Maj Hans, I/FJR 2
385
392
Miincheberg, Obit Joachim, 7/JG 26
351
Krause, F w Rudolf, I / K G z b V 172
Kiihl, Hpt, 2 / K G 4
347 301
Moritsch, Uffz Erwin, 2 / S t G 3
K o h l , F w Franz, 8 / S t G 2
378
200
Meyer, Fw joachim, TrStf VIII
Knecht, Lt Heinz, 6 / Z G 2 6
336, 346,
353
289
368 328
351
Rettberg, O b l l Ralph von, II/ZG 2 6 Richter, F w Hans, 5 / L G 1 Richter, Fw, l ( H ) / 1 4
265
S o n d e r m a n n , UITz Adolf. I I / Z G 26
358
236
258
Spate. Lt Wolfgang, 5/JG 54
212
Richthofen, G e n Maj Wolfram Freiherr von, VIII
Specka, Obit Kurt, 5 / Z G 26
271
Flgkps
1 7 1 , 1 7 9 , 1 9 5 , 3 0 2 , 337
Ricklin, F w Josef. 3 ( H ) / 1 3
Stamp. Lt Gerd, I / L G 1
211
Riegel, Uffz, I/StG 3
Stein, UITz O t t o , 4 / Z G 2 6 Stein, Maj, I / L L G 1
198, 263
Rodel, Obit G u s t a v , II/JG 2 7
270, 411
Sturm, Oberst Alfred, FJR 2 258
Rommel, Gen
Deutches
Stiitz, UITz Karl, I / L G 1 Afrika
Siissmann,
Rossiwall, Hpt T h e o d o r , 5 / Z G 2 6
271
Rutkowski, Obit Heinz, III/StG 2
356
Sattler, Lt G e o r g , I / L G 1
288
FlgDiv 7
Tauscher, Uffz Ernst, I / S t G 2
331
Thaisen, UfTz Waldo, 1(H)/14
214
Toschka,
280
Schaible, Obit Hans. 7 / K G 3 0
317
Wilhelm,
T i m m e , F w Alfred, K G r z b V 4 0
242, 256, 356
Sawallisch, O f w , S t a b / J G 77
GenMaj
Flgkps
Lt
Rudolf,
355
Assault
337
Ubben, Obit Kurt, 8/JG 77 321
Uhlick. UITz Johannes, I / K G 51
Schellmann, M a j Wolfgang, S t a b / J G 27
266
Ulitz, Obit Sebastian, S t a b / S t G 2
Schelm, Fw Herbert, I I / L G 1
369
Unertl, F w O t t o , 9 / J G 77
356
Schilling, Lt H u g o , I I I / K G 2
Voigt, Obit M a x , 5 / K G 26
198, 260, 263
Schmidt. Obit Heinz, 1 / K G 2
Weidmann, Hpt, III/FJR 2
364, 374, 376
289
350
Weihrauch, Uffz Werner, 2 / S t G 77
211
Weller, Obit Walter, 7 / K G 30
Schnurawa, O f w Rudolf, I / S t G 3
244
Wendler, Lt Hans, I ( H ) / 1 4
S c h o n b o r n - W i e s e n t h e i d , M a j C l e m e n s Graf von,
245
Werner, F w , I I / K G z b V 172
Schonthier, O f w Hermann, 5 / Z G 2 6 Schulte, F w Franz, 6 / J G 77 Schultz, F w G e o r g , 6 / Z G 2 6
Schulz, O f w Kurt, K G r z b V 102 Schulz, O f w O t t o , II/JG 2 7
223 245
Wiesmuller, UfTz, I I I / K G 3
368
Wilcke. Oberst, K G z b V 1
252, 2 7 0
Schulz, M a j Karl-Lothar, III/FJR 1 Schupp, Fw O t t o , III/StG 2
Westen. Obit Helmut, I I / K G 51 Wiesinger, Obit Wilhelm, II/JG 27
330
Wilde, Obit, III/StG 77
355
Schwarz-Tramper. Obit Franz, 4(F)/121 Schweickhardt, Lt Wolfgang, II/LG 1
Wimmer, Lt, 8 / K G 30
397
262
262
Winterfeldt, M a j Alexander von, III/JG 77 Witzke, UITz Erhard, 4 / Z G 2 6
328
W o l d e n g a , M a j Bernhard, J G 77
244, 245
Maj, Airfield Servicing Unit
337
239
Wingelmeyer, Lt Herbert, I / S t G 3
357
369
298
Seelinger, Fhr Walter, 2 / S t G 1
337 278
Willerding, Hpt Arnold, I I / K G z b V 1
286
Schweigl, Lt J o h a n n , S t a b / S t G 2
252, 262
280
Wilhus, F w Herman, I(H)/23
356
Schwan, UfTz Kurt, I I / Z G 26
337
274
Wiedemann, Obit Hans, 2 ( H ) / 1 0
271
364
364
153
Wenning, M a j Reinhold, K G r z b V 105
337
Schweitzer, Obit, I / L L G 1
317
Wartman. UfTz Heinz, I / S t G 2
350
Schmidt, UITz Rudolf, 5 / J G 77
354
262
293
355
Schmidt. Obit Arnim, 9 / J G 77
Snowatzki.
257
344
Schilling, Lt Dieter, 8 / S t G 2
StG 77
XI
209, 263, 357
Scharlow, Uffz Kurt, Aufldstf XI F l g k p s
Schmitt, UITz, I / K G 51
Regt,
347
239
Schalck, M a j J o h a n n , Z G 26
Scherber, Maj, III/FJR 1
336,
341, 347
349
Sachweh, Lt Dietrich, I / K G 51
297, 350, 398
256
Stuwe, Obit Eberhard, 4 / K G 2 6
124
Saake, F w Dietrich, 7/JG 77
335, 348, 353,
374
278 Kmdr
263
210
Student, G e n L t Kurt, XI F l g k p s
297
Rohr, Lt Ludwig, S t a b / K G 2 Erwin,
199
Stotz, O b f w Max, 4 / J G 54
209,252,
327 351
Stormer, Stabssartz Dr, III/JG 77
268
Rodel, Uffz Wilhelm, 3 / Z G 2 6
Korps
Stiegleder, UfTz, I / Z G 2 6
200
Rockel, O f w Fritz, II/JG 27
337
Stetten. Obit Kurt von, I I / K G 2 6
335, 336, 3 6 0
Ritter, O f w Heinz, I I/StG 77
51
351
Steinbach, Fw Walter, I V / K G z b V 1
270
Ringel, G e n L t Julius, G J R 5
Rohlfs, Uffz, II/JG 27
337
289
Riem, UITz Helmut, K G 2
293
Starke. Oberst Rudolf, I I I / K G z b V 1
Rieckhoff, Oberst Herbert, K G 2 Riehl, O f w Erwin, III/JG 77
181
S o n n e m a n n , Uffz Ulrich, 9 / K G 2
348,
Wottge. F w Karl, 2 / 1 2 6
338
330
Wuthenau. Obit Fritz von. I / Z G 26
430
357
293
Zapletal, Gefr, 1/StG 2
289
Aviano, Italy
Ziegler, Obfhr Werner, I / L G 1 Zucker, Fw Walter, I / L G 1
Place
269
184
Ayia Roumeli, Crete
350, 359
Babali Khani, Crete
393
290
Names
Bahrein Island, Persian Gulf
Aboukir, Egypt
Banka Luka, Y u g o s l a v i a
142, 143, 260, 261, 304, 363,
223, 224
392, 401 Abu Sueir, Egypt Adhele, Crete
Bardia, Libya
75, 388
A d a m a s Bay, M e l o s
Bari, Italy
405
Agrinion, Greece
162, 317
9, 10, 24, 32, 34, 38, 51, 126. 182, 183,
220
329
Aegina Island, G r e e c e
Bela Palanka. Yugoslavia
341
Bela Pouli, G r e e c e
50, 60, 68, 246, 249, 259, 272,
Akrotiri, Crete
224, 228, 235, 258
317
340, 347, 357
Alexandria, Egypt
175, 177, 178, 188, 189,
195, 196, 196, 199-203, 208, 210, 211, 215, 222,
90
Aleksandrovac, Yugoslavia
188, 189
Belica, Bulgaria
180, 181
Benghazi. Libya
316
Benkovac, Yugoslavia
130, 133, 136, 138, 142, 1 4 7 -
Berat, Albania
152, 154, 163-165, 167, 278, 279, 288, 291, 302,
206
7. 22, 23, 41, 54, 68, 70, 72, 77,
79, 82, 86, 88, 97, 120, 125, 182
306, 307, 309, 312, 314, 315, 316, 318, 319, 330,
Bihac. Yugoslavia
358, 359, 363, 368, 377, 379, 380, 386, 3 9 0 - 3 9 6 ,
221
Bijeljina, Y u g o s l a v i a
399-401 347
Almyros, G r e e c e
60, 114, 124, 185, 256, 273,
Bilishte, Albania
Antikyra, G r e e c e
Bjelovar, Yugoslavia
259, 263
60
Bogomil, Bulgaria 133, 374
Antikythera
Greece
Channel/Strait,
178
238
Bojnik, Y u g o s l a v i a
179, 181, 210, 216
Boka Kotorska, Yugoslavia
145, 340,
205, 213, 216, 218,
220, 221, 227, 229
356, 357, 4 0 5 Antipaxoi Island, Greece
90
Arachthos, River, Greece
20
Arad, R u m a n i a
Bosanski Aleksandrovac, Yugoslavia Bosnia Province, Yugoslavia Botevrad, Bulgaria
71 264, 273, 276, 277, 2 8 0 - 2 8 8 , 293,
Bousi, Albania
371 7, 14, 22, 32, 34, 35,
190,201 190, 201
4, 5, 6, 9, 17, 24, 25, 32, 38, 52, 83,
339
239
Bucharest. Rumania
180
Budva. Yugoslavia
2, 28, 30, 31, 39, 45, 58, 61, 64,
173 207
Buene River, Albania
70, 71, 72, 73, 81, 83, 89, 107, 108, 109, 116,
206
Bujanovac, Y u g o s l a v i a
124, 143, 147, 148, 201, 230, 232, 233, 235, 237,
Butmir, Yugoslavia
240, 244, 245, 247, 252, 255, 259, 261, 265, 269,
Buq Buq, Egypt
271, 272, 273, 275, 276, 280, 281, 288, 289, 291,
Buzat, Albania
302, 311, 336, 348, 352, 353, 362, 384
213
223, 2 2 4
85 91
256, 341
Athens, Gulf of, G r e e c e Athos, Mt, Greece
38
Brege, Y u g o s l a v i a
98, 104, 116, 118, 121, 123, 150, 164, 183, 240,
68
Arkadeika, River, Greece
Athens Bay, Greece
82, 89. 97, 106, 112
Bozigrad, Albania
Brindisi, Italy
38
Aspern, Austria
72
Brezice. Y u g o s l a v i a
40, 41, 46, 52, 55, 58, 67, 76, 81 Ariza, Albania
238
Boultsov, Albania
305, 306, 320, 328, 329, 330, 337, 338, 352, 359, Argyrokastron, A l b a n i a
201, 202, 212, 221,
223, 224, 227
216, 222, 223, 225 Argos, Greece
189, 202.
217
173, 180, 1 9 6 , 2 0 3 , 2 0 4 , 2 1 0 , 2 1 1 ,
Araxos, G r e e c e
Athens, Greece
215
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
277
Antikythera Island, Greece
Arta, G r e e c e
177, 178, 216, 219, 235, 238,
239, 240. 243, 2 5 5
183
A m y n d e o n , Greece
36, 37, 53
Bitolj, Yugoslavia
280, 286 Amphiklia/Lodi, Greece
190, 191, 202, 219, 2 2 2 -
225
Alikianou, Crete
Alture/Pola, Italy
215
408
Belgrade, Y u g o s l a v i a
273 Akra N o v a r e Island, Greece Akritas, Cape, G r e e c e
130
202, 215, 221, 222,
269
128, 406
Cacak, Y u g o s l a v i a Cairo, Egypt
431
190, 191, 200, 2 1 9
123, 131, 136, 139, 363
Calato, R h o d e s
122, 127, 128, 133, 134, 143, 147
Camilloni Island, D o d e c a n e s e Canea, Crete
147
Dolojani, Yugoslavia D o m o k o s , Greece
149, 323, 330, 336, 340, 341, 344.
227
265
D o k o s Island, Greece
371
347, 348, 349, 352, 353, 354, 356, 357, 360, 361,
Drapetzona, Greece
365, 366, 371, 381, 384, 388
Drava, River, Y u g o s l a v i a
C a n e a Bay, Crete Catania, Sicily
343, 358, 386
Castelorizzo Island
129
CephaIonia Island. G r e e c e
Dukati, Albania
4, 5, 118, 164
213, 218, 240, 241, 242 108. 2 4 9 Edda, Port, G r e e c e
224
C o l o n n e , C a p , Italy
164
Condronisi island, D o d e c a n e s e Corfu Island, G r e e c e
131
172
Edirne, Turkey
274
Efialti, Scarpanto El A d e m , Libya
71, 75, 79, 92, 98, 99, 110, 113, 116-119, 125,
Elasson, Greece
228, 229, 2 4 8
Elbasan, Albania 233, 276, 280, 294, 337, 377
Corinth Canal, G r e e c e
262, 2 7 3 61, 64, 123 387
Eleusis, G r e e c e
5, 59, 76, 124, 125, 232,
277,406
27, 31, 32, 33, 33, 39, 48, 49, 60,
64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 73, 75, 78, 89, 102, 103, 104, 108, 109, 112, 113, 114, 123, 158, 160, 185, 186,
C o r o v o d e , Albania
112
Province,
2 3 5 , 2 3 7 , 240, 248, 255, 256, 258, 259, 260, 2 6 2 -
Yugoslavia
207, 212,
215,
224
273, 277, 278, 287, 288, 315, 320, 337, 352, 358, 405
C r o t o n e , Italy
51, 164
Cuprija, Y u g o s l a v i a D a d i o n , Greece
Eleusis Bay, G r e e c e
219, 2 2 3
Euboea, G r e e c e
337
Dafnila Bay, Corfu River,
Fier, Albania 38
Bulgaria/Yugoslavia
169,
Foggia, Italy 191, 202, 216, 219
D e k h e i l a ( R N A S ) , Egypt
Forli, Italy
129, 132, 134, 139, 145,
154 178
Delvinakion, G r e e c e Delvine, Albania
51, 108, 183 184
Fourka, Greece Fuka, Egypt
44, 49
18 408
186, 288, 315, 317, 352, 361, 367.
379, 387, 388, 397
7
Fiirstenfeld, Austria
195, 2 0 2
317
Deta, R u m a n i a
180
D e v o l i , Albania
7, 41, 56, 59, 68, 91, 97, 114,
Gadurra. R h o d e s
118, 121, 123, 182 Dhaskaliana, Crete Distraton, Greece
130
Garneo, Albania
18, 2 0
Garitza, Corfu
207,218,224
Djakovo, Yugoslavia
190, 2 1 0
Dobrota, Yugoslavia
193, 207
D o j r a n s k o Jez, Y u g o s l a v i a
336, 347
G a l a t a s Heights, Crete
352
Divulje, Y u g o s l a v i a
127, 128, 133, 141, 157, 164,
165, 313, 315, 330, 338, 339 Galatas, Crete
D h a h r a n , Saudi Arabia
Doliana, Greece
180 8, 12, 36, 124, 215, 216, 228,
F r a n g o l i m a n o , Bay of, G r e e c e
Delcevo, Bulgaria
Derna, Libya
Fiorina, G r e e c e 242, 2 4 4
2
Davidovac, Yugoslavia
211
120
Filiporci. Bulgaria 63,
171, 197, 222, 223, 2 2 4 Darda, Albania
256, 271
405
Feldbach, Austria 125
Danilovgrad, Y u g o s l a v i a Danube,
394 130
El D a b a , Egypt
291, 297, 320, 336, 350
Corinth, Gulf of, G r e e c e
52
Edessa, Greece
4, 9, 14, 16. 42, 50, 58. 70,
Croatia
4, 7, 9, 21, 31, 34, 38, 42, 45,
51, 52, 82, 104, 115, 116, 117, 126, 130, 182,
104
Corinth, Greece
227
59
D u r a z z o , Albania
190, 201, 216
402
C i a m p i n o , Italy
206
Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia
'Churton's Bottom', Greece Ciba. Y u g o s l a v i a
202
2, 7, 13, 22
Drin Valley, Albania
127, 131, 136, 138
Cerklje, Yugoslavia C e s m o , Turkey
D r e n o w a . Albania
295
Castello Point, R h o d e s
202, 213, 215
Dravograd, Y u g o s l a v i a
145, 153, 317, 318
C a t t a r o Bay, Yugoslavia
336
360, 371
105 248
G a v d h o s Island, Crete
143, 1 4 7 - 1 5 2 , 154, 164.
397, 4 0 5 Gazala, Libya
259
Gerawla, Egypt
11, 16, 56
388, 397
432
317 372, 377, 379, 382, 383, 385,
Gibraltar
316.
K a p i n o Polje, Y u g o s l a v i a
G i o i a del Colle, Italy Githeon, Greece
183
Kapsali Bay, Greece
295, 3 0 4
Glara, Albania
Kapsalion, G r e e c e
89
Gorizia, Italy
104, 184. 185
Gorobilje, Yugoslavia G o u i n e s , Crete
Karia, Greece
191, 215, 223
G r a d s k o , Yugoslavia
340, 347
Karavi Island, G r e e c e 232
389
Graz, Austria
406
Karatsos, Crete
G o r n a D j u n m a y a , Bulgaria
209
226
306
304
243
Karies, G r e e c e
269
Karopi, Greece
281
Kassandra Peninsula, G r e e c e
172, 177, 180, 201, 202, 202, 203,
Kaso
216
61
Strait, C r e t e / S c a r p a n t o
Greneva. Greece
246
Kastel Luksic Y u g o s l a v i a
Grottaglie, Italy
24, 25, 45, 51, 55, 124, 163,
Kastoria. G r e e c e
149,
153,
Katerine, G r e e c e
194
Gyekenyes, Yugoslavia
259, 2 6 4
Kattavia, R h o d e s
127, 134, 141, 315
Kavkazia Hill (Hill 107), Crete
Habbaniya, Iraq
114
Hassani, Greece
70, 256, 273, 276, 286,
314,
49, 141, 288
Heraklion, Crete
130, 131, 132, 134, 136, 1 4 1 -
Kazaklar, Greece
62, 235, 240, 2 5 6
Kelcyre, Albania
33, 53, 54, 67, 70, 72, 73, 85.
86, 91, 105, 112, 113
145, 147, 152, 276, 278, 290, 291, 293, 301, 304,
Kerassovon, Greece
308, 309, 313, 315, 316, 3 2 0 - 3 2 4 , 326, 328, 329,
Keramidi, Greece
330, 332, 334, 336, 337, 339, 340, 348, 350, 351,
Khalkidon. G r e e c e
353, 355, 357, 360, 361, 364, 365, 366, 367, 367,
Khalkis, G r e e c e
369, 371, 373, 377, 386. 3 8 7 - 3 9 1 , 398, 400, 401 Hierapetra Bay, Crete
18 260 235
257, 263, 266, 289, 405
K h i o s Island, G r e e c e
320, 360, 4 0 6
Kilkis, Greece
95, 99. 100, 101
402
232
Kiphissia, G r e e c e
124
K i s s a m o s Bay, Crete
346, 356
Ibar, River, Y u g o s l a v i a
214
Kisinev, Soviet U n i o n
Igman, Mt, Yugoslavia
220
Kjustendil, Bulgaria
178. 194
Klemak, Yugoslavia
222
Ilidza, Y u g o s l a v i a
224, 247
Indijija, Yugoslavia Ismailia, Egypt
Knic, Yugoslavia
210
K n o s s o s , Crete
114
Istanbul. Turkey
220
188, 189, 198, 216, 219, 223 391
Kocani, Yugoslavia
315
178
Kolokythia, Gulf of, G r e e c e Jagtovac, Y u g o s l a v i a
K o n d o k o l i , Corfu
216
Jasenica-Mostar, Y u g o s l a v i a
Kakavia, Greece
213, 215
269
Kalamas, River, Greece Kalamaka, G r e e c e
10, 4 0
Koritza, Albania
2, 3, 7, 7, 8, 11, 13, 18, 22, 3 5 -
K o r o u o d e , Greece
86
K o r o u s a d e s , Corfu
50
K o s o v o Polje, Yugoslavia
Kalami Point, Crete
328
Kouklaina, Greece
16,27,35
127
K o u k o u v a o u n e s , Greece
Kalibaki, Albania
11,32
Kovillas, Mt. Greece
Kalpaki, G r e e c e Kapetista, Greece
Koyceges, Turkey
214 33
Kozani, Greece
20, 4 0
273
433
214
207, 2 5 8
Kalathos, R h o d e s Kalindra, Greece
189, 205, 207 213
K o s o v s k a Mitrovica, Yugoslavia
36, 68, 186, 232,
K o t o r , Yugoslavia
252, 255, 2 5 9
179, 181, 190, 191, 216
K o s o r - M o s t a r , Yugoslavia
247, 291, 300, 3 0 3 - 3 0 7 , 332
Kalambaka/Vissiliki, Greece
345
Kosancic. Yugoslavia
28
Kalamata. Greece
177
Kokinia, Greece
41, 45, 57, 61, 63, 67, 74. 123, 242
77
Kalamaki, G r e e c e
304
116
Konjar, Yugoslavia
190
32, 33, 38, 51, 136
Kacanik G o r g e , Y u g o s l a v i a
341, 342, 344,
346, 349, 352
320, 325, 329 Heliopolis, Egypt
Himara. Albania
260
245, 259, 260, 265, 273
Katsika, Greece
202, 2 1 3
192
11,12
Kastoria, Lake, G r e e c e
164, 173, 183 G u e s e v o , Bulgaria
Kabrit, Egypt
128,
295, 308. 320. 326. 330, 352. 378. 391
107
78 134
18. 43, 240, 246, 256, 260, 262,
Kragujevac, Yugoslavia
189, 199, 200, 211, 215,
M a c e d o n i a Province, Y u g o s l a v i a
216, 218
177, 178, 208,
215, 216, 219, 2 2 4
Krainici, Bulgaria
180, 2 3 8
Kraljevo, Y u g o s l a v i a
Majur, Y u g o s l a v i a
177, 200, 211, 215, 219,
Maleme, Crete
220
211,220,222,223
130, 132, 134, 136, 138,
139,
142-148, 150-152, 154, 156, 157, 160-162, 164,
Krapanj-Jadrtovac, Y u g o s l a v i a Kratovo, Y u g o s l a v i a Krionero, Albania
193
185, 186, 259, 278, 280, 287, 288, 293, 296, 301,
179
304. 307, 308, 309, 313, 314, 315, 3 2 0 - 3 3 4 , 336,
52
337, 3 3 9 - 3 4 3 , 348, 3 5 2 - 3 6 4 , 367, 368, 369, 369,
Kriva Palanka, Yugoslavia K r u m o v o , Bulgaria
3 7 1 - 3 7 4 , 376, 377, 3 8 0 - 3 8 5 , 3 8 7 - 3 9 0 , 392, 394,
178, 194, 195, 2 1 0
397, 4 0 0
156, 180, 256, 257, 269, 274.
280, 314, 315
Malta
Krusedol, Y u g o s l a v i a Kuc, Albania
210
95, 96
Kucera, Albania
4, 20, 31, 51, 64, 130, 133, 136, 142, 150,
156, 163, 166, 169, 236, 237, 312, 313, 3 1 6 - 3 1 9 , 329, 332, 333, 335, 358, 363, 364, 378, 388
57
Kumanovo, Yugoslavia
178, 179, 191, 194, 213,
Mamaia, Y u g o s l a v i a
220
Margarition, Greece
19
Markopoulon, Greece
214 K u p h o Island, Crete Kurilovac, Y u g o s l a v i a Kyparissia, Greece
301
Maribor, Y u g o s l a v i a
151
Maritza, R h o d e s
190
239
177, 215
127, 128, 133, 135, 141, 234,
329, 339
Kythera Island, G r e e c e
Massawa, Eritrea
145, 147, 151, 306, 309,
150
M a t a p a n , Cape, G r e e c e
340 Kythera Channel, Greece K y t h o s Island, G r e e c e
146, 159, 304
M a v r o v o u n i , Mt, Greece
150, 151, 157, 164
Megara, Greece
356, 4 0 6
260
265, 277, 286, 288, 291, 294,
295, 3 3 7 , 4 0 6 Lamia, Greece
50, 239, 258, 262, 263, 273
Langada, G r e e c e
M e l o s Island, G r e e c e
17
Larissa, Greece
147, 297, 304, 307, 308,
322, 327, 330, 352, 355, 357, 3 7 3 , 4 0 5 - 4 0 6
13, 14, 16, 28, 33, 35, 48, 49, 52,
Menidi (Tatoi), Greece
56, 60, 61, 64, 67, 68, 82, 90. 92, 96, 98, 108.
31, 33, 34, 41, 43, 51, 51,
52, 53, 64, 66, 75, 81, 88, 89, 99, 99, 104, 114,
116, 120, 124, 125, 185, 186, 230, 235, 240. 243,
115, 120, 122, 124, 185, 186, 243, 247, 256, 258,
245. 246, 249, 250, 250, 2 5 2 - 2 5 6 , 258. 260. 263,
260, 264, 264, 265, 266, 273, 275, 276, 286, 320,
265, 267, 267, 273, 274, 278, 297, 4 0 4 Lavrion Bay, G r e e c e Lazarevac, Y u g o s l a v i a Lecce, Italy
321, 325, 329, 337, 341, 352
288
Mersa Matruh, Egypt
199, 2 1 0
24, 36, 51, 72, 76, 80, 104, 118, 123,
Messara, Plain of, Crete
125, 164, 183 Lefkimi, C o r f u
248
Leibnitz, Austria
Leskovac, Y u g o s l a v i a
M o d h i o n , Crete Molaoi, Greece
228
M o l o s , Greece
165 252
16
224 324, 329, 337, 338, 395
278
M o n e m v a s i a , Greece
70
291, 301, 303, 304, 306,
357
Ljesnica, Y u g o s l a v i a
188, 189
M o n t e n e g r o Province, Y u g o s l a v i a
190, 191
Ljubljana. Y u g o s l a v i a Lushnje, Albania
243
37,124,405
343, 344
Mohacz, Hungary
4, 60. 89
Linguetta, C a p , Albania
Loutraki, G r e e c e
10, 19 134, 136
Mitsikeli, Mt, G r e e c e
40
Levkas Island. G r e e c e
Ljubic. Y u g o s l a v i a
317
Missolonghi, Greece
129, 130, 339
179, 190, 191, 2 1 5
Leskoviku, Albania
Littoria, Italy
M e t h o n e , Greece
78
Mikrolimni, Y u g o s l a v i a
5
Litochoro, Greece
289
Midi Bay, Scarpanto
293, 297
Leros Island, D o d e c a n e s e
Lissmore, Crete
Methana, G r e e c e
M e t s o v o n Pass, G r e e c e
203
L e m n o s Island, G r e e c e Lepanto, Greece
143, 278, 325, 326, 387,
401
M o r a v a Valley, Y u g o s l a v i a
201
220, 2 4 9
202, 211, 213, 215,
216, 219, 223
289, 4 0 6
M o s c h o p o l e s , Albania
106
Mostar,
Yugoslavia
48 177,
178,
178,
189,
190,
2 0 5 - 2 0 7 , 212, 213, 219, 220, 222, 223, 225, 226, Ma'atan Bagush, Egypt Macedonia, Greece 239
226, 227
363, 367, 387, 4 0 0
3, 9, 63, 68, 171, 235, 237,
Miinchendorf, Austria
180
Murter Island, Y u g o s l a v i a
434
218
Mycene, Greece Myli, G r e e c e
337
Paxoi Island, G r e e c e
299
Mylos, G r e e c e
Pecs, Hungary
406
164
212. 247
Pediada Kastelli. Crete
Mytilene Island, G r e e c e
141
304, 346
P e l o p o n n e s e , Greece
186, 264, 273, 276, 297,
299, 306, 309, 317, 324, 329, 348 Naples, Italy
51, 150, 154
Nauplia, G r e e c e
276, 277, 291, 293, 300, 301,
406
Peloukia, G r e e c e
27
Peqini, Albania
182
Perat. G r e e c e
N a u p l i a Bay, G r e e c e
289, 2 9 3
Nauplia, G u l f of, G r e e c e Nauussa, Greece
296,299,406
17 405
N e o p o l i s , Albania
123
232, 235
Petrovac, Yugoslavia
27, 60, 124, 185, 234, 254, 255,
Pharsala, Greece
220, 223, 224, 226, 227, 228,
258
Phleves, G r e e c e
240
Piraeus, Greece
70, 72, 145, 149, 152, 164, 232,
233, 234, 242, 244, 256, 259, 269, 273, 277, 280,
247 Nis, Y u g o s l a v i a
281, 289, 294, 297, 301, 302, 314, 315, 336, 352,
190, 194, 215, 216
Nisara, River, Y u g o s l a v i a Nivitsa, Albania
357, 400, 4 0 5 - 4 0 6
215
Pirgos, Crete
107
N o v a Gradiska, Y u g o s l a v i a N o v a Topola, Yugoslavia N o v i Sad, Y u g o s l a v i a
343, 3 5 4
Pirot, Y u g o s l a v i a
221
Pisa, Italy
188, 189
181, 215
15
Plaka Bay, Crete
190, 200, 212, 222, 224
Novska, Yugoslavia
389, 394
Platanias, Crete
211
309, 3 5 4
Plovdiv, Bulgaria Obilic, Y u g o s l a v i a
Pogradec, Albania
7, 40, 6 6
Poligrade, Albania
34
193, 229
Poltika, Greece
257
Popliwitsa, Y u g o s l a v i a
182
Ortijes-Mostar, Y u g o s l a v i a Osem, River, Albania Ostravo, Greece
189, 206, 206, 225
86
246
Preljina, Y u g o s l a v i a
190, 191, 213, 2 1 9
Prespa,
274
Otranto/Strait of, Italy
Lake,
46, 73 Albania/Greece/Yugoslavia
Preveza, Greece Pagassetikos, Gulf of, G r e e c e
28
Prijedor, Yugoslavia
288, 2 8 9
177, 178, 216, 238, 239, 242.
244 178
227
Palermo, Port, Albania
99
Prison Valley, Crete
347, 3 6 0
Pristina, Yugoslavia
179, 190, 191, 194
Prnjavor, Yugoslavia
188, 189, 196, 200, 210.
211
152
Paraboa, Albania
221
Prilep, Yugoslavia
229
Palanka, Y u g o s l a v i a
Palermo, Sicily
9, 60, 81, 83, 89, 90, 98, 99, 164,
228, 247
Paki Island, Greece
Pale, Y u g o s l a v i a
97
P r v o m a y s k a y a , Soviet U n i o n
Paracin, Y u g o s l a v i a
200, 2 1 9
Paramythia, Greece
19, 55, 76, 78, 8 1 - 8 4 , 8 6 -
95, 97, 99, 102, 103, 107, 108-119,
Ptolemais, G r e e c e Puglie, Italy
220
60, 68, 123, 124, 2 4 4
25, 51
121-123,
126, 141, 146, 185, 186, 227, 228, 239, 240, 241, Quotaifia, Egypt
2 4 6 - 2 4 9 , 252, 2 5 5 - 2 5 9 Parga, G r e e c e
387
90
Parnassus, Mt, G r e e c e Passero, C a p , Sicily Patras, G r e e c e
36,
242, 2 4 3
11, 16, 32, 52, 93, 126
184
Pakios, G r e e c e
194
Portas Pass, G r e e c e Premet, Albania
66
Otopeni, Bulgaria
Padua, Italy
189, 205, 206, 227
235, 242, 244, 248, 252,
256 O r a h o v a c , Yugoslavia
261
Podgorica, Y u g o s l a v i a
218
O l y m p u s , Mt, G r e e c e
181
P m o k o s , Greece
179, 191, 194, 209, 214, 2 1 5
Okhrid, Y u g o s l a v i a
Oria, Italy
179, 181, 190, 191, 194,
196
256, 291 Niksic, Y u g o s l a v i a
121 350
Petrich, Bulgaria
N e a Psara, G r e e c e Niamata, Greece
Perdika, G r e e c e Perivolia, Crete
259
Rajlovac, Yugoslavia
153, 317
Raphina, Greece
14, 16, 71, 124, 164, 229, 232,
Raphtis, Greece
399, 405
288, 291, 293, 299, 301, 303
Ras el Kanazis, Egypt
435
205, 2 2 4
291, 299, 301, 303 367
Ravenna, Italy
184
Shallufa, Egypt
Razetinovac, Y u g o s l a v i a Recita, R u m a n i a Retimo, Crete
193
89, 104, 136, 234, 244, 256, 264,
394
211
Shjac, Albania
303, 309, 323, 328, 329, 332, 336,
7
Sibernik, Y u g o s l a v i a
339. 340, 348, 350, 351, 352, 360, 361, 371, 380,
Sidi Barrani, Egypt
389, 394, 398, 4 0 3
Sidi Haneish, Egypt
Rezanovacka Kosa, Yugoslavia Rhodes Town, Rhodes R o m e , Italy
179, 191, 196
Simitly, Bulgaria
127, 130
Romios, G r e e c e
48, 364, 365, 366, 377, 379
232
Skoplje, Y u g o s l a v i a
88, 152
172,
Slaviste, Yugoslavia 184
Rovine, Y u g o s l a v i a
190,
209
Slinarisa, Albania
188, 189, 202, 203, 211, 212,
Slovenia
217, 220, 2 2 3
38
Province, Y u g o s l a v i a
177, 207,
210,
215, 2 2 4
Ruma, Y u g o s l a v i a
189, 190
Smederevska Palanka, Yugoslavia
Rupel, Fort, Bulgaria
3, 235
Sofia, Bulgaria
Rupel Pass, Bulgaria
172, 230, 231
Sokolac, Y u g o s l a v i a
St Basilios, Mt, G r e e c e
111
St George's Island, Greece Sabac, Y u g o s l a v i a
Sparta, Greece
153, 164, 326
Salamis, G r e e c e Salonika, Greece
128, 375
301, 302
Spetsai Island, G r e e c e
229,234,261,406
Salamis Strait, G r e e c e
181, 190
Spada, Cape, Crete
211,221
Said, Port, Egypt
222
132
Sorlince, Y u g o s l a v i a 116
Sphakia, Crete
152
Sphaki Bay, Crete
397
19, 36, 60, 63, 68, 72, 75, 78, 172, 230, 232, 237,
Split, Y u g o s l a v i a
240, 256, 257, 263, 317
Srbobran, Y u g o s l a v i a
Samarina, G r e e c e
13, 19. 28, 77, 78, 186
222
222
Stampalia, D o d e c a n e s e 406
San G i o v a n n i . Albania S Krtole, Yugoslavia
Staraya Farmosika, Soviet U n i o n
229
Staro T o p o l j e , Y u g o s l a v i a
193
Steyr, Austria
193
Stilos, Crete
32, 50, 52, 9 4
Sarajevo, Y u g o s l a v i a
123, 127, 129, 131, 134,
143, 144, 153
126
Santa Quaranta. Albania
Sarande, Albania
177, 192, 205, 227
Srem, Y u g o s l a v i a
18
San G i o r g i o , G r e e c e
S Rosa, Y u g o s l a v i a
330
364, 369, 371, 386, 390, 392, 393,
395-401
12, 13, 13, 14, 15, 17, 17, 18,
Salonika/Sedes, G r e e c e
203,211 178, 194, 209
Stracin, Y u g o s l a v i a
194,209,210
Struga, Y u g o s l a v i a
222, 223, 224, 227, 237
218
Struma River, Bulgaria
318
Saseno, Albania
Strumica, Y u g o s l a v i a
228
S a u n d y Bay. G r e e c e
178, 2 4 0
195, 235
Strumica River, Y u g o s l a v i a
300
Sava River, Y u g o s l a v i a
172
Struma Valley, Bulgaria
78
Strymon, River, G r e e c e
221, 2 2 4
Stubol. Y u g o s l a v i a
Savat, Soviet U n i o n
220
Scaramanga, G r e e c e
45, 75, 91, 99, 116, 148,
153, 162, 186, 237, 240, 277, 286, 288, 289, 290,
220
190,210
393
Stip, Yugoslavia
205, 207, 213, 219, 220,
Saronic Gulf, Greece
190, 219
172, 180, 211, 232, 240, 243
Solium, Egypt
Sardinia
177, 178, 179,
191, 194, 195, 208, 213, 214, 257
18
Ronchi Leg, Italy
216, 218, 222 373, 374, 379, 383, 402
179
232
179, 181, 190, 191, 194, 209,
214, 2 1 5 Suda Bay, Crete
295, 330, 338
130-134, 141, 142, 147, 148,
151-153, 157, 161, 163, 165, 229, 240. 260, 261,
Scarpanto, D o d e c a n e s e
127, 128, 131, 134, 136,
262, 277, 2 8 6 - 2 8 9 , 2 9 3 - 2 9 7 , 3 0 1 - 3 0 4 , 3 0 6 - 3 0 9 .
143, 144, 145, 330, 337, 339, 351, 352, 356, 361,
3 1 3 - 3 1 5 , 320, 322, 323, 3 2 6 - 3 2 8 , 331, 332, 336,
377, 378, 388, 390, 391, 393, 394, 397
339, 340, 347, 348, 350, 355, 359, 360, 364, 368,
Schwechat, Austria Scutari, Albania
180
Selinos Kastelli, Crete Semmering, Austria
Seyring. Austria
368, 369
Suez Canal, Egypt
114, 133, 149, 150, 313, 315,
317, 330, 335, 363, 379 175, 215, 216, 221
239, 240, 244. 246. 256 180
405-407
195
Serbia Province, Y u g o s l a v i a Servia, G r e e c e
371, 373, 374, 379, 385, 386, 387, 390, 3 9 2 - 3 9 4 ,
7, 41, 206, 216, 222
Susicko Polje, Y u g o s l a v i a Syallia, Egypt
136
Synarades, Corfu
436
117
189
Syracuse, Sicily
63, 65, 70, 75, 78, 79, 91, 92, 95, 97, 100, 101,
167
Szeged, Hungary
104, 110, 114, 115, 117, 118, 126, 182, 228, 239,
180, 211, 212
242, 248 Valtoudi, G r e e c e
Talerhof, Austria
203
Tanagra, Greece
266, 267, 271, 293, 294, 337,
Taranto, Italy
Varna, Bulgaria
206
Tavronitis Valley, Crete
342, 3 4 4
Temisoara, R u m a n i a
203, 2 0 4
T e n o s Island, G r e e c e
5
Velika M o r a v a Valley, Yugoslavia Veliki Garac, Y u g o s l a v i a
Thessalonika, G r e e c e
Vicenza, Italy
Vire, Y u g o s l a v i a
293
Vlasic, Mt, Y u g o s l a v i a Vodice, Y u g o s l a v i a
81, 92, 96, 104, 114, 115, 123, 182, 213 258 222
Tivat, Yugoslavia
Volos, Greece
157, 317, 364, 378, 397, 399
Tolon, Greece
300 222
Trapani Milo, Sicily
51
180, 181, 194, 222
Wessendorf, G e r m a n y
83
Xanthe, G r e e c e
83
51 180, 195, 202, 211
240
Xyrolimni, Greece
226
79
180
Wiener Neustadt, Austria
Trebeshinj mountains, Albania
20
51, 184
Trigonon, Y u g o s l a v i a Trikkala, Greece Tripoli, Libya
243
Yanina, Greece
18, 31, 32, 39, 41, 43, 244, 252
68, 73, 76, 78, 79, 8 0 - 8 4 , 86, 88. 89, 91, 102,
302
Trogir, Y u g o s l a v i a
103, 107, 114. 116, 123, 185, 228, 244, 246, 248,
193, 224, 225
249, 256. 264, 2 7 4
14
Tymbaki, Crete
3, 8, 10, 13, 16, 18, 20, 28, 31,
33, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 63, 67,
165, 166, 167, 278, 2 7 9
Tripolis, Greece Turin, Italy
Vrba, Bulgaria
337, 344, 352, 359, 389
Topolje, Y u g o s l a v i a
Treviso, Italy
Vrazdebna, Bulgaria
81
T o b r u k , Libya
Trebinje, Yugoslavia
193
20, 27, 60, 124, 234, 239, 242,
259, 405
205, 207
Trebeshinj, Albania
193
214
V o s k o p o u l i a Therapeli, Albania
T o b a r i - M a l i Kaloja mountains, Albania
T o p o l i a , Greece
352
243
Visovac, Lake, Y u g o s l a v i a
193, 218
Tirnavas, Greece
243
Vineyard Ridge, Crete
4, 6, 7, 14, 22, 23, 36, 41, 53, 76,
Tisa, Y u g o s l a v i a
199
Viglia, Yugoslavia
20, 114, 257, 261
256, 274, 297
Tijesno, Yugoslavia
222
24, 184
Vienna, Austria
9,213,235
Thermopylae, G r e e c e
17, 1 7 2 , 2 3 5
Veszprem, Hungary
342
T h e r m o p y l a e Pass, Greece Tirana, Albania
Verria, Greece
235
Thessaly, Plain of, Greece
189, 203, 211, 215,
219, 222
190, 214, 216
T h e o d h o r o i Island, Crete
190, 201
200
177
Veliki Radinci, Y u g o s l a v i a
82, 83, 86, 91, 92, 95, 105, 113 Theodaristi, Y u g o s l a v i a
178, 194, 208, 209, 240, 248
Velika G o r i c a (Kurilovac), Y u g o s l a v i a
32, 45, 49, 52, 56, 75, 76, 77,
T e t o v o , Yugoslavia
11
Veles, Y u g o s l a v i a
336
Tepelene, Albania
180
Vassiliada, Albania
9, 34, 150, 159, 162, 173
Tavronitis, River, Crete
172, 194, 208, 215,
248
359 Taraboshit, Albania
27
Vardar River, Yugoslavia
Yanina, Lake, Greece
112
339, 340, 374, 380, 390, 391,
401 Zagreb, Y u g o s l a v i a
177, 190, 201, 211, 219
Zante Island, G r e e c e Udine, Italy
184, 185
Urosevac, Yugoslavia Ussita, Fort, Greece
Zara, Y u g o s l a v i a 179, 191
Zea Island, Greece
235
U z i c k a Pozega, Y u g o s l a v i a
Zelenika, Yugoslavia 191, 215, 219
4, 89, 232, 399
206, 215, 218
Zemun, Y u g o s l a v i a
293 205 175, 177, 178. 188. 189, 196,
196, 198, 199, 223 Valjevo, Yugoslavia Valona, Albania
223, 2 3 5
3, 7, 7, 10, 11,
Zitsa, G r e e c e 14, 21, 22,
31, 32, 33, 34, 38, 41, 42, 46, 50, 51, 52, 56, 5 8 -
55
Zlarin, Y u g o s l a v i a Zwolfaxing, Austria
437
193, 221, 229 180
Air
British
Forces
269, 270. 272. 280. 281, 282, 284, 287, 294, 328,
Commonwealth:
334,411 202 G r o u p
363
204 Group
363, 372, 380, 387, 388, 391, 4 0 3
84 S q u a d r o n
33, 34. 34, 36. 41, 42, 50, 52, 57,
57, 58, 81. 82. 84. 86, 87. 97. 99. 100, 100, 114,
E (Eastern) W i n g
114
120, 123, 124, 157, 158, 184, 232, 237, 238, 239,
W(Western) W i n g
84, 92, 114, 126, 242, 246
244. 256. 257, 260, 265, 266, 276, 288, 311
Z Wing
136
94 Squadron
252 (Fighter) W i n g 257 (Bomber) W i n g 258 (Fighter) W i n g
363 141, 321, 325, 352, 363 363
I Squadron
86
6 Squadron
136, 363, 387
II S q u a d r o n
330, 363
111 S q u a d r o n
145
112 S q u a d r o n
48, 49, 72, 73, 78, 79, 83, 84, 8 6 -
89, 92, 94, 98, 100, 102, 103, 103, 105, 105, 106, 107, 112, 114, 117, 118, 120, 121, 123, 124, 125, 184, 242, 246, 247, 248, 256, 257, 276, 278, 295,
72, 75, 82, 84. 90, 91, 92, 99. 114.
304, 313, 316, 319, 320, 326, 328, 387, 389, 390,
124, 184, 235, 238, 239, 248, 256, 257, 260, 265,
391,401,411
266, 276, 288
113 S q u a d r o n
14 S q u a d r o n
363, 364, 372, 374, 376, 387
30 S q u a d r o n
29, 31, 32, 37, 40, 46, 50, 51, 52,
37,
99, 99, 114, 118, 120,
122
122, 123, 124, 158, 184, 232, 234, 239, 243, 244, 254, 255, 257, 291, 320
60, 70, 72, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 86, 87, 89, 90, 90.
145 Squadron
375
97, 99, 104, 108, 114, 123, 143, 145, 147, 148,
148 S q u a d r o n
51, 136, 185, 315, 321, 329, 363,
184, 237, 238, 239, 240, 244, 255, 256, 257, 259,
387, 388, 3 9 3 , 4 0 0
268, 287, 290, 293, 296, 300, 304, 307, 314, 321,
203 Squadron
290, 2 9 3 , 2 9 5 , 300, 303, 308
322, 326, 330, 341, 346, 349, 352, 360, 361, 362,
208 S q u a d r o n
114, 123, 146, 185, 235, 237, 240,
386, 387 33 S q u a d r o n
252, 256, 257, 258, 265, 273, 276, 280, 285, 290, 84, 85, 85, 91, 92, 94, 97, 100, 103,
291
108, 112, 113. 114, 120, 123, 124, 125, 125, 184,
211 S q u a d r o n
41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 50, 50 53,
230, 230, 231, 2 3 5 - 2 3 8 , 240, 2 4 2 - 2 4 5 , 247, 249,
58, 62, 63, 65, 66, 70, 75, 78, 82, 84, 84, 86, 87,
250, 251, 252, 2 5 6 - 2 5 9 , 262, 263, 2 6 6 - 2 6 9 , 273,
9 0 , 9 1 , 9 7 , 99, 100, 106, 107, 110, 113, 114. 115.
278, 285, 287, 289, 295, 301, 304, 314, 315, 3 1 9 -
118, 121, 158, 159, 185, 235, 242, 246, 247, 249,
322, 326, 328, 330, 332, 333, 341, 342, 344, 346,
252, 256, 257, 260, 266, 276, 2 8 8
349, 352, 361, 362, 362, 385, 386, 37 S q u a d r o n
393,402,411
81, 83, 84, 86, 88, 8P, 104, 114,
213 S q u a d r o n
86, 377
216 S q u a d r o n
31, 72, 72, 134, 135, 237,
115, 116, 119, 120, 124, 133, 134, 135, 141. 147,
266, 3 1 0
185, 232, 243, 256, 264, 321, 329, 363, 367, 367,
228 S q u a d r o n
3 7 2 , 3 7 7 , 388, 3 9 1 , 3 9 3 , 4 0 0 38 S q u a d r o n
265,
288, 289, 290, 294, 295, 310, 325,
330, 397, 3 9 9
133, 134, 136, 185, 234, 239, 243,
229 S q u a d r o n
377
244. 247, 256, 321, 329, 333, 363, 367, 377, 4 0 0
230 Squadron
85, 91, 99, 116, 128, 153, 157.
39 S q u a d r o n
162, 163, 185, 240, 258, 277, 286, 288, 295, 309,
73, 107, 317, 355, 363, 377, 387,
310, 316, 320, 397, 4 0 0
399 45 Squadron
355, 361, 363, 364, 373, 374, 379,
385, 387, 388, 393, 394, 3 9 9
250 Squadron
363, 394
252 S q u a d r o n
329, 364, 371, 388, 396
55 S q u a d r o n
363, 374, 385, 387, 388, 389
261 Squadron
136, 237
64 S q u a d r o n
139
267 S q u a d r o n
49, 120, 288, 295, 310
69 S q u a d r o n
163, 399
272 Squadron
371, 388
70 S q u a d r o n
32, 38, 46, 51, 64. 70, 129, 136,
274 Squadron
136, 147, 363, 364, 372, 374, 377,
141, 177, 185, 321, 329, 333, 352, 361. 363. 393, 400 73 S q u a d r o n
601 S q u a d r o n 114, 124, 3 6 3 - 3 6 6 , 369, 377, 379,
388, 397, 399 80 Squadron
379, 3 8 2 - 3 8 5 , 388, 391, 394. 3 9 6 - 3 9 9 86
1 (SAAF) Squadron
363, 379, 397, 3 9 9
2 (Yugoslav) S q u a d r o n 3 9 - 4 6 , 48, 49, 52, 54, 55, 56, 61.
64, 64. 65. 67, 7 3 - 7 9 , 81, 83, 84, 86, 87, 87, 88,
3 (RAAF) Squadron 24 ( S A A F ) Squadron
9 0 - 9 5 , 9 7 - 1 0 3 , 108, 119, 120, 123, 184. 232, 235, 237, 238, 239, 244, 2 5 5 - 2 5 9 , 261, 265, 266.
438
261 363, 364 326, 363, 365, 372, 374.
3 8 0 - 3 8 2 , 394. 398, 399. 401 1 GRU
316
2 PRU
49, 141, 143, 144, 313, 314, 320, 387
316-319, 363, 377, 378, 379, 392, 399, 401. 411
1 (Free French) Flight
382
813 S q u a d r o n
128, 129
2 (Free French) Flight
382
815 S q u a d r o n
1 0 9 - 1 1 5 , 118, 120, 126, 128, 130,
1430 Flight
(Formerly 4 3 0 Flight)
114,
132-135, 141, 144, 145, 146, 154, 157, 160. 161.
304,
162, 185, 240, 248, 259, 273, 278, 288, 295, 309,
320, 321, 323, 391, 398 102 M a i n t e n a n c e U n i t 70 O T U
326, 345
363
114
220 A M E S , Heraklion 252 A M E S , M a l e m e
313, 360, 391 134, 135, 313, 353
B O A C ( N a t i o n a l Airline) Fleet Air
128
826 S q u a d r o n
139, 149, 154, 156, 160, 161, 166,
377 829 S q u a d r o n
145, 149, 154, 157, 159, 160, 161,
166, 377
800 X S q u a d r o n
332
830 S q u a d r o n
136, 150, 151, 154, 156, 165, 167,
278, 307, 314, 316, 317, 377, 378 805 S q u a d r o n
128,131
8 2 4 Squadron
288, 3 1 0
Arm
803 S q u a d r o n
819 S q u a d r o n
135, 136, 137, 1 3 9 - 1 4 3 , 145-148,
166, 319
H M S Eagle Fighter Flight
136, 319, 379
Suda Bay F u l m a r Flight
135, 135, 139
Suda Bay Walrus Flight
131, 141
150, 151, 154, 166, 185, 301, 304, 307, 316, 317, 318, 320, 321, 3 2 5 - 3 2 8 , 330, 332, 341, 345, 346.
Royal
349, 363, 368, 369, 378
2 Squadron
363
5 Squadron
363
806 S q u a d r o n
128, 129, 131, 136, 137, 137, 142,
Egyptian
Air
Force:
99, 363
143, 150, 154, 165, 166, 167, 278, 279, 307, 308, Elleniki Mire Dioxes
Vassiliki
(Fighter Squadrons)
21 Mira
Aeroporia
(EVA) - Royal Hellenic Air F o r c e 33 Mira
27
Mire
13, 16, 18, 20, 27, 29, 36, 38, 40, 48,
76,27,37,57,107,185
Stratiotkis
Squadrons)
56, 60, 67, 68, 68, 72, 77, 79, 84, 91, 107, 123,
Synergassias
(Ground
124, 1 8 5 , 2 3 2 , 2 4 4 , 2 5 2
1 Mira
22 Mira
13, 13, 17, 17, 19, 27, 29, 36, 38, 48,
2 Mira
12,18.20,27,43,286
60, 63, 66, 67, 68, 72, 76, 77, 86, 185, 232, 244,
3 Mira
2,5,11,27,40,66,177
252
4 Mira
23 Mira
Mire
20, 27, 29, 35, 38, 48, 60, 63, 68, 72,
2 4 Mira
27, 29, 68, 69, 78, 186, 2 3 2 , 2 3 9
Mire Vomvartlismon
(Bomber Squadrons)
27
31 Mira
15,27,
32 Mira
1 3 , 1 4 , 18, 27, 35, 41, 61, 78, 107, 185
5 6 , 6 0 , 79, 107, 186
Jugoslovensko 11
Kraljevsko
Independent
(LR
187,
203,211,213,214,219,220,223 701 Eskadrila VZ 21 Eskadrila
187
22 Eskadrila
187
187
262 Eskadrila
187
27,186,247 3, 20, 27, 45, 186, 303
13 Mira
5,27,78,99,116,185,288
215,223
187, 206, 6th
702 Eskadrila VZ Puk
187, 199
141 Eskadrila
187
187,198,213,216,219
163 Eskadrila
187, 198, 214, 219, 223
164 Eskadrila
187,214,219
Fighter
Puk
175, 178, 188, 196, 200,
210,215,216,219,221,222,223 187, 205,
32 Grupa: 188, 196-200, 2 1 0 . 2 1 1 103 Eskadrila
Brigada:
187
(1st Fighter Air Brigade) 2nd Fighter
187, 199, 200, 211, 215, 216, 218
101 Eskadrila 52 Grupa:
Independent Fighter Eskadrila Vazduhoplovna
310
(JKRV) - Royal Y u g o s l a v Air Force:
31 Grupa:
207, 212, 213, 223, 225 1st Lovacka
(Naval Co-operation
27
12 Mira
2 1 5 , 2 1 8 , 219, 2 2 0 , 2 6 0
261 Eskadrila
Synergassias
11 Mira
187
81 Independent (Bomber) Grupa: 206,213,
27, 35, 61
Naftikis
EEES (National Airline)
Ratno Vazduhoplovsto
Recce) Grupa:
27
Squadrons)
76, 77, 79, 8 4 . 9 1 , 185, 2 4 5 , 2 5 2 , 264, 287
Support
2,27
187
188,197
142 Eskadrila
188, 197, 199
51 Grupa:
175, 187, 198. 200, 211, 213,
439
188, 197
104 Eskadrila
177, 178, 178, 188, 196-199, 210,
102 Eskadrila
177,
178, 178,
188,
7th Bomber
197,
161 Eskadrila
188, 197
162 Eskadrila
187, 197
2nd Mesovita
Vazduhoplovna
66 Grupa:
Brigada:
188, 2 2 4
703 Eskadrila VZ Fighter
203,
Puk
188
175,
177,
178,
188,
202,
190,206,213,215,220,227 190,219
212 Eskadrila
190
190,213
213 Eskadrila
190
214 Eskadrila
190,220
201 (Training) Grupa:
212,215,2/7,220,223,224
34 Grupa:
601 Eskadrila
188
199, 210
210
106 Eskadrila
188,217
602 Eskadrila
199,210
107 Eskadrila
188,2/7,217
603 Eskadrila
228,248
108 Eskadrila 8th Bomber
Puk
188,217 188, 202, 202, 211, 215, 217,
220, 223, 2 2 4 68 Grupa:
188,202,202,211,212
1 VIGrupa
190,222,223
2 VIGrupa
181, 190
3 VIGrupa
190,201,222,223
4 VIGrupa
190,201,213
215 Eskadrila
189, 2 1 2
5 VIGrupa
190,215,216,228
216 Eskadrila
189, 202, 202, 212
6 VIGrupa
190, 201, 216
7 VIGrupa
190, 210, 219
69 Grupa:
3rd
190, 205, 206, 213, 216, 220,
211 Eskadrila 67 Grupa:
(2nd Mixed Air Brigade) 4th
Puk
222, 227, 247
198, 199
189,211,212
217 Eskadrila
189
S a m o s t a l n a Izvidjacka Eskadrila
218 Eskadrila
189
(Coastal Army C o m m a n d o )
Mesovita
Vazduhoplovna
Brigada:
1 Hidroplanska
179, 189
2
(3rd Mixed Air Brigade) Puk
3 Hidrogrupa (3 H G )
179, 186, 189, 194, 209, 213,
205 Eskadrila 206 Eskadrila
181,189 189
26
208 Eskadrila
179, 189, 194, 210
209 Eskadrila
179, 189, 224, 228
210 Eskadrila
179, 189, 214, 219
(26
Komanda
1 Hidrogrupa (1 H G )
179,181,189,210,215,219,224,
191,2/6
191, 229, 229
181,189
20
181,189
220,221,229
Vazduhoplovna
Brigada:
705 Eskadrila VZ 189 Puk
61 Grupa:
Comando
202 Eskadrila
190 190
204 Eskadrila
190,209
Aeronautica
38" S t o r m o B T
218,
191, 207, 221 191, 2 2 4
260
Albania:
7, 9, 22,
103,
11, 11, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 32,
41, 54, 61, 104, 112, 113, 183 39° G r u p p o BT
190,202,209,214,219
203 Eskadrila
191,
104, 182, 185, 2 1 3
190, 202, 209, 214, 216, 219 190, 209
HE)
205
Aeroput ( N a t i o n a l Airline)
190, 202, 209, 213, 223
201 Eskadrila
(20
189, Skolaska Eskadrila
(4th Bomber Air Brigade)
62 Grupa:
Hidroeskadrila
S H E s k a d r i l a (training unit)
213, 226
1st Bomber
191
21 Hidroeskadrila (21 HE)
179,181,189
4th Bombarderska
176, 207,
11 Hidroeskadrila (11 HE)
110 Eskadrila
179,181,189
191
(3 H K )
191, 216, 220,
109 Eskadrila
112 Eskadrila
191,
1 Hidroeskadrila (1 H E )
2 Hidrogrupa (2 H G )
179,181,189
176,
229
179, 179, 189
111 Eskadrila
HE)
218, 2 2 0 , 2 2 9
225
36 Grupa:
191, 221, 229
191
Hidroeskadrila
3 Hidroplanska
35 Grupa:
191,218,220
15 Hidroeskadrila (15 HE)
179, 189, 194, 209, 210, 214, 219,
Puk
191,
216, 221
220, 223
5th Fighter
176,
176, 191
4 Hidrogrupa (4 H G )
189
207 Eskadrila
176
HK)
25 Hidroeskadrila (25 HE)
179,189,194,210,220
64 Grupa:
(2
5 Hidroeskadrila (5 HE)
215,216, 220,260 63 Grupa:
(1 H K )
Komanda
205,207,216, 220,221,229
704 Eskadrila VZ 189 3rd Bomber
Komanda
Hidroplanska
190
22, 183
69 a Squadriglia
22, 183
40° G r u p p o BT
440
16,22,183
51 a Squadriglia
16,22,183
Regia 202" Squadriglia
16, 22, 183
203* Squadriglia
22, 183
46° S t o r m o BT
Aeronautica: 95, 96, 98, 112, 113, 115, 116, 121, 182, 225 393" Squadriglia
105° G r u p p o Aut BT
394" squadriglia
11, 12, 13, 15, 22, 23,
7, 7, 11, 12, 22, 32, 41,
68, 96
37, 38, 41, 68, 92, 106, 183 254" Squadriglia
22, 36, 41, 183
255* Squadriglia
22, 38, 183
104° G r u p p o Aut BT
2, 7, 11, 18, 22, 35, 37,
39, 41
23, 38, 52
395" Squadriglia
7, 22, 23, 86, 88,
88,
114,411
7 0 , 2 3 , 41, 53, 77, 78,
79, 95, 112, 183, 242 252* Squadriglia
23, 53, 183
253* Squadriglia
10, 23, 53, 53, 183
5° G r u p p o O A
68
35* Squadriglia
182
87" Squadriglia
182
114* Squadriglia
104,182,218
606" Squadriglia
40
Comando
4'
Zona
Aerea
31* Squadriglia
68, 182
ZAT)
39* Squadriglia
19, 47, 68, 182
35° S t o r m o B M / B T
22° G r u p p o Aut C T
104. 106, 112, 113,
16, 23, 32, 38, 60, 70, 73,
86° G r u p p o B M / B T 104
24, 38, 60, 70, 73, 89,
115, 183, 239
362* Squadriglia
104
190" Squadriglia
23,60,183
369" Squadriglia
104, 106
191" Squadriglia
23, 73, 90, 183
24° Gruppo C T
15, 19, 22, 36, 36, 38, 39,
95° G r u p p o B M / B T
41, 43, 45, 48, 54, 77, 81, 94, 95, 100, 101, 102,
106, 118. 120 354* Squadriglia
22, 1 0 1 , 1 0 2
355* Squadriglia
22, 36, 39, 74, 101
361* Squadriglia
22, 86, 88
72" G r u p p o Aut O A
22,41,182
42" Squadriglia
22, 46, 182
231" Squadriglia
23, 81,183,
339
11, 16, 23, 61, 61, 72, 73, 76,
55° G r u p p o BT
104, 108, 182, 222,
23,183
221* Squadriglia
23,183 23, 6 / , 183
276* Squadriglia
23,61,
277" Squadriglia
23,183
47° S t o r m o BT
225, 227
23,183
220* Squadriglia 116° G r u p p o BT
22, 41, 182
101° G r u p p o Aut B a T
23, 183
79, 82, 9 2 , 1 0 6 , 116, 119, 183
22, 37, 39, 46. 67, 97,
25" Squadriglia
23, 70, 81, 183, 339
230" Squadriglia 37° S t o r m o BT
114, 115
120" Squadriglia
(4"
73, 81, 81, 124, 164, 183, 207, 2 4 4
182, 248 359* Squadriglia
Territoriale
9, 10, 11, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 51, 68
183
11, 12, 16, 19, 23, 38, 45, 55,
56, 60, 70, 78, 79, 81, 83, 89, 98, 99, 113, 114
208* Squadriglia
108, 164, 182, 225
238* Squadriglia
77, 80, 104, 182, 222,
116, 118, 124, 125, 164, 1 8 3 , 2 7 4 106° G r u p p o BT
227 150° G r u p p o Aut C T
6, 14, 22, 34, 38, 41,
4 3 - 4 6 , 49, 50, 52, 55, 56, 59, 64, 67, 70, 76, 79, 6, 14, 18, 22, 34, 39, 41,
364* Squadriglia
14, 22, 41, 43, 50, 92,
13,23,124,183,206
261* Squadriglia
23, 124, 183, 206, 274
107° G r u p p o BT
80. 83, 91, 104, 120, 182, 225, 228, 2 6 4 363" Squadriglia
23, 124, 193, 274
260* Squadriglia
24, 183, 274
262* Squadriglia
19, 23, 183, 247
263" Squadriglia
13, 23, 183, 206, 274
61 2° G r u p p o Aut C T
114 365" 44,
Squadriglia
14,
18,
20,
22,
41,
411 371" Squadriglia
104,118
154° G r u p p o Aut C T
24
151" Squadriglia
24
152" Squadriglia
24
41° G r u p p o BT
23, 32, 38, 40, 4 1 , 4 2 ,
24,51
150" Squadriglia
4, 24, 68, 125, 339, 3 9 0
49, 52, 56, 57, 60, 62, 64, 67, 68, 70, 71, 79, 82,
204" Squadriglia
24, 339
86, 88, 91, 120, 123, 182
205" Squadriglia
24, 339
160° G r u p p o Aut C T
42° G r u p p o BT
2, 7, 7, 11, 12, 18, 22,
51
50° G r u p p o Aut BT
23, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 48, 55, 56, 67, 77, 94,
441
17, 17, 20, 24, 72, 78,
153° G r u p p o Aut C T
98, 99, 106, 124, 164, 183, 204. 339, 3 5 6 210" Squadriglia 211" Squadriglia
372* Squadriglia Aut C T
1 7 , 2 3 , 3 8 , 1 8 3 , 339
96° G r u p p o B a'T
118, 118, 121,
16, 20, 24, 36, 51, 52, 56,
56, 7 0
51, 118, 118. 183
374* Squadriglia
51, 183
24
370" Squadriglia Aut C T
237" Squadriglia
24
356* Squadriglia
Aerea (formerly 4" Z A T )
104°
68, 72, 103,
183
4" Squadriglia
183
(see
Comando
105°
Gruppo
Aut
BT
254" Squadriglia 255" Squadriglia
58, 183
3" Squadriglia
58, 183
5" Squadriglia
183
35° S t o r m o B M / B T
BT
253° Squadriglia
183
1" Squadriglia 43° G r u p p o BT
Aut
252' Squadriglia
55.183
11° G r u p p o BT
Gruppo
51, 183
183
Aeronautica Albania)
104, 182, 185, 205, 206 13° S t o r m o BT
24, 121, 183
373" Squadriglia
236" Squadriglia 4' Squadra
121,
183, 242, 2 4 4
17, 23, 183, 204, 339
(see 4" Z A T )
Aeronautica
86° G r u p p o B M / B T
DeltEgeo:
30° S t o r m o B T
9, 25, 339
24,128,165,339
190" Squadriglia
56° G r u p p o BT
138
191* Squadriglia
222" Squadriglia
24
223" Squadriglia
24.129
95° G r u p p o BM 230" Squadriglia
92° G r u p p o B T
231" Squadriglia 37° S t o r m o B T 55° G r u p p o BT
25, 129, 135, 142, 164, 339
200* Squadriglia
25, 339
201* Squadriglia
25, 339
34° G r u p p o Aut BT
220" Squadriglia
25, 130, 134, 141, 142,
148, 151, 160, 164
221" Squadriglia 38° S t o r m o BT
67" Squadriglia
25
68" Squadriglia
25
39° G r u p p o BT 51* Squadriglia 69* Squadriglia 40° G r u p p o BT
172' Squadriglia RT
146, 147, 154, 339
279* Squadriglia AS
148
202* Squadriglia
147'Squadriglia RM
25
203" Squadriglia
185* Squadriglia R M
25
47° S t o r m o BT
Sezione S o c c o r s o
106° G r u p p o BT 260* Squadriglia 261" Squadriglia
25, 339
162* Squadriglia Aut C T
25, 130, 131,
132, 142, 143, 144, 147, 339
107* G r u p p o BT
163' Squadriglia Aut C T
262* Squadriglia
2* Squadra
Aerea:
4" S t o r m o C T
184, 185, 207, 215, 218 184
9° G r u p p o C T 92" Squadriglia
182 182
93" Squadriglia
182
94* Squadriglia
182
184
73'Squadriglia
104,184
9 6 ' Squadriglia
184
97' Squadriglia 10° G r u p p o C T
50° G r u p p o Aut B T (see 4* Z A T ) 210* Squadriglia 211* Squadriglia 97° G r u p p o B a T
25, 128,
138, 338, 339
263" Squadriglia
8° G r u p p o Aut C T
25, 339
161' Squadriglia Aut C M
51, 80. 80, 81, 119. 183,
207
184 184
84' Squadriglia
184
90* Squadriglia
184
9 1 ' Squadriglia
184
54° S t o r m o C T
184
7° G r u p p o C T
184
209* Squadriglia
80, 125
76' Squadriglia
184
239* Squadriglia
80, 119, 119, 125, 164.
86* Squadriglia
184
98" Squadriglia
184
442
129,
16° G r u p p o C T 184
243" Squadriglia
184
167" Squadriglia
184
61° G r u p p o Aut O A
169" Squadriglia
184
34" Squadriglia
184
184, 203
36" Squadriglia
184
184
63° G r u p p o Aut O A
18° S t o r m o B T 31° G r u p p o BT
65" Squadriglia
184
66' Squadriglia
41" Squadriglia
184
184
184
113" Squadriglia
203, 207
71° G r u p p o Aut o A
47 a Squadriglia
184
38" Squadriglia
48" Squadriglia
184,203
116" Squadriglia
37° G r u p p o B T
184
184 185 185 185
128" Squadriglia 5" Squadra 25° G r u p p o Aut BT 184
9" Squadriglia
184
99° G r u p p o Aut BT 242" Squadriglia
9, 130
281" Squadriglia Aut A S
184
8" Squadriglia
185
Aerea:
147, 151, 157,
164, 165, 339 184
16° S t o r m o BT
24, 38
53° S t o r m o C T
15
184
146" Squadriglia R M
33
Luftwaffe: Luftflotte 4
172, 180, 195, 201, 210, 215, 216,
Jagdgeschwader
219 Fliegerkorps VIII
171, 172, 179, 180, 194, 195,
Stab/JG 77
208, 2 1 3 - 2 1 6 , 221, 222, 232, 240, 246, 253, 255, 259, 280, 287, 293, 335, 337, 4 0 3 Fliegerkorps X
II/JG 77
321, 335, 336, 337, 348, 374,
Fliegerfuhrer Arad
180, 196, 203, 210, 216, 222,
224, 2 2 5 Fliegerfuhrer Graz Jagdgeschwader
322, 323, 338, 374, 375, 376 251, 323, 331, 331, 349, 376
5/JG 77
342, 364, 374, 376
6/JG 77
322, 364, 374, 385
III/JG 77
180, 201, 216
180, 195, 198, 199, 202, 252, 259, 262,
265, 267, 267, 270, 273, 275, 280, 281, 286, 293, 322, 323, 324, 328, 338, 362, 381, 388, 393
173,205,213 27:
Stab/JG 2 7
180, 195, 198, 199, 201, 250. 250. 250,
4 / J G 77
26:
Jagdgeschwader
180, 195, 198, 252, 259, 265, 280,
252, 253, 259, 265, 267, 273, 275, 280, 281, 289,
402, 403
180,238,266,278
7/JG 77
349
8/JG 77
323, 327, 328, 357 260, 263, 293
I/JG 27
180
9 / J G 77
3 / J G 27
201,317
Zerstdrergeschwader
II/JG 27
180, 244, 252, 253, 255, 262, 268, 272,
S t a b / Z G 26
278,411
I/ZG 26
4 / J G 27
270
6/JG 27
242, 247
III/JG 2 7 8/JG 27
180 231
329, 371, 3 9 9
3 / Z G 26
297
52: 54: 200
180, 181, 194, 211, 264, 265, 269, 271,
286, 302, 320, 323, 327, 328, 329, 337, 351, 355,
III/JG52, 173, 3 9 5
360, 373, 389 4 / Z G 26
272, 323, 328, 332, 349, 351
5 / Z G 26
271, 272, 274, 323, 355 272, 286, 330
II/JG 54
180
6/ZG 26
4 / J G 54
180,210
11 I / Z G 26
5/JG 54
212
Zerstdrergeschwader
6/JG 54
213
II/ZG 76
III/JG 54
180, 199, 204, 217 217
324, 397
180, 199, 200, 285, 297, 301, 328, 329,
2 / Z G 26 II/ZG 2 6
Jagdgeschwader Stab/JG 54
26:
355, 357
337, 357, 360, 364
Jagdgeschwader
9/JG 54
197, 198, 199, 201, 253, 273,
394
169, 172, 205, 206, 213, 239
Fliegerkorps XI
7/JG 2 6
77:
349, 385, 395
173, 206, 206, 207, 2 1 3 76:
Lehrgeschwader
2:
Stab(J)/LG 2
383
443
397
329, 338, 359, 368, 389, 394 179
I(J)/LG 2
180, 181, 194, 253, 255, 256, 273, 281,
II/StG 1
328, 338, 3 5 8 , 4 1 1 Il(Sch)/LG 2 7(F)/LG 2
180, 181, 264, 2 9 8 180, 238, 242, 338, 3 6 0
10/LG 2
180 2:
259, 325. 341, 357, 389
180, 259, 264, 270, 321, 337, 350, 396
2/KG2
211
3/KG 2
211
Kampfgeschwader
3:
3/StG 2
194 378
5/StG 2
378, 379
6/StG 2
378
III/StG 2
Kampfgeschwader
4:
232 180, 508, 313, 315, 330, 338, 401
Kampfgeschwader II/KG 26
341 277, 356, 358
378
200
II/KG 4
1/StG 2 2/StG 2
4/StG 2 325
180, 280, 337
2/KG 4
341,352
180, 277, 289, 327, 330, 331, 337, 356,
II/StG 2
247
8/KG 3
2:
180, 235, 240, 262, 274, 337, 352,
357, 358, 378
236
III/KG 3
359
356, 369
355, 386 10/KG 2
8/StG 1
I/StG 2
180, 264, 265, 270, 302, 326, 337, 350,
9/KG 2
359
Stab/StG 2
180, 258, 337
1/KG 2
Ill/KG 2
359, 398
7/StG 1
Stukageschwader
Kampfgeschwader Stab/KG 2
337, 371
III/StG 1
26:
137, 3 2 0
180, 337, 351, 356, 357, 378
7/StG 2
356
8/StG 2
356
9/StG 2
244
Stukageschwader
131, 133, 145, 150, 151, 337, 341, 351,
377, 386, 396
Stab/StG 3
3:
245
180
I/StG 3
180, 244, 262, 289, 297, 337, 3 5 9
4 / K G 26
137,317
2/StG 3
245, 392
5 / K G 26
317
Stukageschwader
6 / K G 26
317
S t a b / S t G 77
Kampfgeschwader III/KG 30
30:
I/StG 77
180,211,337,364
2 / S t G 77
364 180, 200, 201, 221, 337
149, 153, 232, 233, 2 3 9
II/StG 77
8 / K G 30
239
III/StG 77
Kampfgeschwader S t a b / K G 51
51:
200, 224, 257, 271
180, 239, 278, 301, 337
Fernaufklarungsgruppe
180
2(F)/11
149, 180, 200, 211, 247, 255, 256, 257, 314
131,133,318
4(F)/121
180, 301, 397
180,211,223
Fernaufklarungsgruppe
I I I / K G 51
211
2(F)/123
I/LG 1
1:
242, 256, 257, 378
Heeresaufkliirungsgruppen:
149, 156, 180, 240, 242, 255, 256, 257,
2(H)/10
181, 245, 2 7 4
3(H)/12 Pz
337, 356, 357, 4 0 0
3(H)/13
151, 163, 242, 319, 337, 356, 357, 358,
369, 377, 378, 386, 388, 395, 396, 398
123:
232, 317, 3 9 4
260, 263, 269, 280, 290, 293, 294, 296, 314, 315, II/LG 1
121:
1(F)/121
I I / K G 51
Lehrgeschwader
11:
180,232,338,350
Fernaufklarungsgruppe
263, 274, 288, 289, 297, 314, 315 1 / K G 51
195
153,232,239
7 / K G 30
I / K G 51
77: 180, 359
180
180
4(H)/13
180
5(H)/13
181
4/LG 1
149
1(H)/14 Pz
181,214,245,258
5/LG 1
150, 242, 319, 358
3(H)/21 Pz
180, 195
6/LG 1
145, 163
4(H)/22
III/LG 1
153, 319
181, 329
l ( H ) / 2 3 Pz
7/LG 1
319
8/LG 1
153, 2 7 8
2(H)/32 Pz
9/LG 1
240
4(H)/32
2(H)/31
Stukageschwader Stab/StG 1
1:
245, 371
181, 195, 262
180, 200, 352 180, 201
181
3(H)/41 Pz
180
337
I/StG 1
371
Seenotdienststaflel 6
167, 393
2/StG 1
244, 245
SeenotdienststafTel 7
180, 338
3/StG 1
235
2/Seeaufldarungsstaffel 126
444
330. 338, 393
AufldarungsstalTel
XI
Fliegerkorps
321,
338,
355 Wettererkundungsstalfel 76
Luft D i v i s i o n 7
352
III/FJR 1
zbV:
337, 351, 359, 4 0 0
I/FJR 2
337, 359
III/KGzbV 1
51, 108
IV/KGzbV 1
177,180,327
I / K G z b V 172
329, 337, 350, 360, 385, 389, 4 0 0 274, 337
Stab/KGzbV 2
389 337, 351 337, 343, 347, 368, 369
337, 354, 355, 389
K G z r b V 105
337, 347, 359, 385
K G z r b V 106
337, 364, 375, 388
297,
298,
351
III/FJR 2
3
(FJR 3)
336,
347,
Trainingstaffel Fliegerkorps VIII
343, 346, 347, 357 343, 347, 360 343, 344, 347
IV/FJR 3
343
10/FJR 3
344
Hungarian
166 329 347
385
Santitats-Flug-Bereitschaft7
350
Lufthansa ( N a t i o n a l Airline)
Transportstaflel Fliegerkorps VIII
I/Luftlandegeschwader
II/FJR 2
III/FJR 3
246, 337
Stab/Fliegerkorps XI
298
II/FJR 3
K G z r b V 101
I/KGzbV 9
298
2/FJR 2
I/FJR 3
K G z r b V 102 KGzbV 3
(FJR 2)
348
337,361,377,385
KGzrbV 40
2
350
1/FJR 2
FallschirmjagerRegiment
246, 297, 337
KGzrbV 60
355,
299, 336, 350
II/KGzbV 1
KGzbV 2
336,
355
FallschirmjagerRegiment
246, 330, 337, 369
I I / K G z b V 172
1 (FJR 1)
389
Kampfgeschwader I/KGzbV 1
341, 347, 4 0 3
FallschirmjagerRegiment
Transportgruppen:
KGzbV 1
341, 342, 351, 364, 369, 389
Air
Force:
3rd (Bomber) Regiment
222
4th (Bomber) Regiment
222
5th (Reconnaissance) Regiment 329
1 ( I / L L G 1)
1/1 Osztaly (Fighter regiment) 297,
337,
445
120, 158, 329
2/1 Osztaly (Fighter Regiment)
222 222 222
Christopher Shores has written on many aspects of military aviation and his particular strengths are the aircraft, their pilots and units. With past publications including Fighters over the Desert, Fighters over Tunisia, The Guinness History of Aerial Warfare and Duel for the Sky, he is renowned for the excellence of his research, a role in which he has been greatly aided for many years now by Brian Cull. Nicola Malizia, recently retired after a lifetime's service with Italy's air force, is an established and respected military aviation historian in his own country, with numerous published works to his name. Local Campaign Histories This is the second in our series of books which make an undoubted contribution to knowledge, contain rare photographs and have an unquestioned depth and commitment of research. Titles already published: Malta: The Hurricane Years, 1940-41 (C. Shores, B. Cull, N. Malizia) Forthcoming titles: Malta: The Spitfire Year, 1942 (C. Shores, B. Cull, N. Malizia) Air War 1941: The Turning Point (J. Foreman) Above the Trenches, 1914-1919 (C. Shores, N. Franks) For further details please write to: Grub Street, Golden House, 28-31 Great Pulteney Street, London W1R3DD
Jacket design: Grub Street Design, London Jacket painting: Terry Hadler
AIR WAR FOR YUGOSLAVlA,GREECE AND CRETE Christopher Shores and Brian Cull with Nicda Malizia
