Did Stukas ever bomb or strafe London?

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Von Schadewald
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Did Stukas ever bomb or strafe London?

#1

Post by Von Schadewald » 22 Jul 2015, 14:26

Did German fighters or Stukas ever bomb, dive-bomb (with Jericho Trumpets) or strafe Greater London itself?

GregSingh
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Re: Did Stukas ever bomb or strafe London?

#2

Post by GregSingh » 22 Jul 2015, 15:07

Stukas - unlikely. Even R version did not have enough range.
Anyway what was the point to fly all the way over there just to drop one bomb?


durb
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Re: Did Stukas ever bomb or strafe London?

#3

Post by durb » 22 Jul 2015, 15:37

GregSingh wrote:Anyway what was the point to fly all the way over there just to drop one bomb?
Well, the German Jabo units (fighter-bombers) made exactly that! However, the Jabo (Bf 109/FW 190) was not nearly as vulnerable as the Stuka and suited much better for "hit- and run" tactics. The Jabo attacks have been criticized as useless but actually they were quite a problem for British Fighter Command - it was not at all easy to prevent these attacks and hunt Jabo´s down.

Von Schadewald
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Re: Did Stukas ever bomb or strafe London?

#4

Post by Von Schadewald » 23 Jul 2015, 03:34

The Germans with only a few fighters seem to have underestimated the agitation their 'tip & run' attacks were causing the British well in to 1943, and had they continued could have achieved much more
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/R ... in-Day.pdf

Knouterer
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Re: Did Stukas ever bomb or strafe London?

#5

Post by Knouterer » 23 Jul 2015, 13:05

Both bomb-carrying Me 109s (by day) and Stukas (by night) attacked London in 1940, but not often I believe. The Stukas (probably R version) on some occasions took a 1,000 kg bomb IIRC, but had to leave the gunner behind in order to lift it.
"The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man's observation, not overturning it." Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

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Ironmachine
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Re: Did Stukas ever bomb or strafe London?

#6

Post by Ironmachine » 23 Jul 2015, 13:29

An example from Osprey's Combat Aircraft 001:
For when, in January 1941, the Stuka reappeared over England[...]
The first reported incursions occurred on the night of 15-16 January when two Stukas each dropped an SC 1000 high-explosive bomb apiece on south-east London, and a third targeted Dover. Forty-eight hours later another trio raided the capital and two more returned the next night.

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