Report from 254 Squadron Operations Records Book 27.5.40

Three Blenheims left Sumburgh at 0515 for recco over Norway from 60 N to Voss to search for an enemy aerodrome under construction, and to carry on recco to Statlandet. They crossed coast north of Bergen and arrived over Voss at 0645 and searched the nieghbouring countryside for 30 minutes. Photographs were taken of the town and lakes and what was assumed to be 2 runways crossing at right angles were observed 1 mile S.E. of town. No activity was seen on these runways. The recco was continued and two very large motor vessels of about 10,000 - 20,000 tons were seen in a fjord. Photographs were taken. Landed at base 11.30. Weather - wind 140 degrees at 10 mph Cloud 2/10 Cu Hazy sea calm.

Aircraft and crews of the northern group.

Three Blenheims left Sumburgh at 0530 for recco of Stavanger port and district in search of Konigsberg

Aircraft and crews of the southern group.

Sgt Henrick photo supplied by his nephew Peter Kimberley.


Information provided by Nicola Mitchell professional researcher at PRO.

27 May 1940- six Bristol Blenheim IVF from 254 Squadron 18 Group flying out of Sumburgh RAF station were sent in two sections of three to sweep the Norwegian SW coast from 62N to Lister, mainly in search of enemy airfields, but also to locate the auxiliary naval vessel Konigsberg.

The Konigsberg had been attacked and sunk in Bergen Harbour by Skuas of the 803 and 800 Squadrons of the FAA on April 10th. (Notably the first sinking of a major warship by aerial bombing) It would seem that if 254 Squadron were still looking for her at the end of May, that her fate was at this time unclear.

Sinking of the Konigsberg

0735 (London Time) three Blenheim IVF Sola airfield-two Bf109E-3 from 6.Staffel/J.G/77 were scrambled to defend. Blenheim R/254 sighted a Messersschmitt BF109-3 (Hauptmann F.-H.Lange- Staffelkapiton) climbing as if to attack. R/254 then engaged the aircraft, but immediately had to attempt to break off the action when one of the  front panels of the navigators compartment caved in. Possibly being hit or air pressure from the dive caused it.

Lange then prepared to attack R/254 when at 0744 (london Time) Blenheim L9406 (Pilot Officer Gaylord) sighted the action and approached behind Lange's aircraft firing several bursts of machine gun fire before Lange dived to disengage. Lange's aircraft received minor damage (10%) and he was slightly  wounded.

0800 (London Time) Gaylard then attacked the airfield (20 reported Bf109s) with machine guns which set one barracks on fire-one dead. Then attacked with bombs from 600 feet the marine storage tanks of the BP Norge terminal on Steins-y island-five light bombs hit the water and failed to detonate.

The remaining Blenheim R3624 (Pilot Officer E.H Alexander) was shot down by Lt Deuschle from Staffel/J.G.77.

It is of interest to note that the German naval authorities felt the action was an attack on the marine fuel tanks, although that was an after thought of what was basically a reccon mission. The section of Blenheims led by Gaylord was the southern group that searched from Haugesund south. The northern three Blenheims swept north and detailed the work being done by the Germans at the Norwegian airield Bomoen/Voss and sighted two large M/V north of Bergen that were attacked by Hudsons the next day.

Information provided by Eric Schwarz

Blenheim IVF R3624 QY-M
Coastguards reported that an aircraft had crashed into the sea and the Thurso lifeboat was launched.
Hmpt Lang of II/JG77 reported shooting down a Blenheim over Stavanger.

Coastal Command Losses of the Second World War -Ross McNeill

Hammond who's rank was AC2 was promoted posthumously to Sergeant.
source Hammond's service record view here

There is strong evidence to suggest that the Hptm Lang (sic) mentioned above is Hptm Franz Heinz Lange who may have been wounded and shot down with 100% loss of his aircraft during this encounter. (contrary to the RAF report above). Uffz Vogel of 4/JG 77 also claims a Blenheim over Stavanger on the same day. Coastal Command records show only one casualty for 27 May 1940. It would seem several pilots of JG 77 placed claims for the same
attack.


19 days later Gaylard and the same crew were lost. Two Blenheims left Banff Shetland at 09.45. Their desination was Trondheim harbour. They were attacked by 2 Bf 109G from J.G. 77.  The Blenheim L9408 QY-F  piloted by Pilot Officer Gaylard was shot down with no survivors. Gaylard, Burran and Wicks were buried in a marsh at the crash site near Hemnekjolen but were reinterred later at Stavne Cemetery. The wreck is still extant and can be viewed here.


New Information received 11-21-04 from Aviation Museum Sola, which notes that a german rescue mission was attempted and identifies the area where Hammonds Blenhiem ditched.

Three aircraft attacked first Sola airbase, then fuel tanks on the island Steinsoey near Stavanger. Unfortunately the bombs missed and fell into the water.
A Blenheim from Squadron 254 was shot down by Staffelkapitaen, Hauptmann Lang from II/JG77.
The aircraft ditched west of the island Kvitsoey (northwest of Stavanger).The crew was Alexander, Hammond and Henrick.
The Germans sent a sea rescue plane to look for survivors, but did not find any.
The plane was a He 59, registration AB+UI.

We have found two German reports describing the incident.

Commander Sola seaplane base
27. May 1940, 07:45 Hour.
English bomb attack by three Bristol Blenheim on Sola airbase and Sola seaplane base, followed by machine gun fire from low level (600-900 feet). Marginal damage, but one killed at Sola airbase.

Harbour commander in Stavanger

27. May 1940, 08:00 Hour.
Attack by three British aircraft on navy fuel storage tanks on the island Steinsoey. Five light bombs were dropped from approximately 600 feet. All bombs fell near the target into the water and did not detonate.
About the same time there was an attack on Sola airbase. One barrack took on fire and was also attacked by machine gun fire. One dead, one British plane shot down.

I hope you have got the answer you were looking for.


Best Regards

Rasmus Svihus
Chairman
Aviation Museum Sola