German occupation of Channel Islands – civil aircraft destruction

Gosh, it looks as if this is too obscure, even by my standards, to get any input here. Are there not any CI resident forum members who might, at least, suggest to me where I might pursue this enquiry further?

I’m curious as to why you are posting all these obscure civil aircraft destruction questions over the last few months?

Jersey Airways had a DH Express (G-ADVK) which was on overhaul at Jersey Airport at the time of the invasion and so wasn’t able to fly away, but presumably someone would have wrecked it before the Germans arrived. . .

I’m curious as to why you are posting all these obscure civil aircraft destruction questions over the last few months?

Simple – it’s because this obscure subject interests me!

Simple – it’s because this obscure subject interests me!

Interest me too…….AA, keep the questions coming !!!!!

Planemike

Was there a large Luftwaffe presence ?

The Occupation of The Channel Islands is a neat topic for students & historians of the Second World War. The subject has been well written about and several television series were produced about this period of WW II. I have often wondered about the size of the Luftwaffe on the Islands during the war .
Was there a sizable fighter or recon squardon force based there during the war?
Seems the Ailled forces left the German forces there alone and surrounded as the war moved on !

thanks !

I hadn’t realised what an impact the occupation had on the residents of the Channel Islands until I visited Jersey a few years ago and went to the underground hospital.
The main emphasis has always seemed to be that we fought a war against the Germans in mainland Europe and there was a funny little place called the Channel Islands that the germans invaded for a while but it had little effect on the population and everyone there lived happily ever after. My visit was a real eye opener and made me appreciate the sacrifices that made by many Channel Islanders.
As regards the obscure civil aircraft destruction posts – please keep them coming as they fascinate me as well. It amazes me how many aircraft have been left to rot or tucked away on farms and in buildings over the years and just occassionally a little gem surfaces from the most obscure of places.

Interest me too…….AA, keep the questions coming !!!!! Planemike

and me

Roger Smith.

Thank you for the support. Do you think that we should have a team anorak?

I hadn’t realised what an impact the occupation had on the residents of the Channel Islands until I visited Jersey a few years ago and went to the underground hospital.
The main emphasis has always seemed to be that we fought a war against the Germans in mainland Europe and there was a funny little place called the Channel Islands that the germans invaded for a while but it had little effect on the population and everyone there lived happily ever after. My visit was a real eye opener and made me appreciate the sacrifices that made by many Channel Islanders.
As regards the obscure civil aircraft destruction posts – please keep them coming as they fascinate me as well. It amazes me how many aircraft have been left to rot or tucked away on farms and in buildings over the years and just occassionally a little gem surfaces from the most obscure of places.

My wife and I went there for our honeymoon 2 years ago and I was amazed at how the Germans had turned Jersey into a fortress by fitting machine gun nests on many of the historic ruins. The underground hospital both amazed and horrified me but the Germans were making real progress in their efforts to make Jersey an impenetrable island with several other underground sites being constructed all of which are still preserved today.

Occupation of Channel Islands

The German occupation of the Channel Islands is a very interesting yet dark subject, there are still many people on the islands who can not forgive and forget what went on during those dark years. Several years ago when Black 6 and the J-52 visited the Islands for the air displays, eye brows were raised, as was the case when the axis aircraft used in the making of the Battle of Britain film popped in unexpectedly for a pit stop in the late 60s!:eek: Several RAF squadrons passed through on there way and way back from France notably 303 Sqd. With regard to the Luftwaffe in Jersey, i have been led to believe that six hangers were built during the occupation, of which only one survives, now cut off from the airfield by a road and that it was to be home to a Ju-88 squadron. Ju-52s were regular visitors bringing supplies, equipment and wounded troops to one of the many underground tunnels which housed the hospital. Me-110s used Jersey as did other fighters over the years. I dont believe there were many, if more than one or two civil aircraft left on Jersey at the time of invasion, i say this because it was known for some time that the germans would grab the islands. Any serviceable aircraft were flown to safety. The islands militia had been pulled back to the mainland and white flags were flying when the Luftwaffe bombed the harbours on Jersey and Guernsey killing fourty four civilians before landing and taking control in June 1940.

Simple – it’s because this obscure subject interests me!

I just wondered if you were doing anything with the questions (or answers).

Regards,

Thank you for the support. Do you think that we should have a team anorak?

I would be more than happy with another anorak but my other half says she has quite enough to do washing the aviation, classic car and classic motorcycle ones that I have already so I think I had better give another one a miiss.
She has noticed the way I gaze lovingly at almost anything with wings when I take her to Old Warden and has offered to try to grow a pair of wings of her own provided it would guarantee her a little more attention. I declined the offer as I knew I would never have the funds to get her certified as a new type by the CAA.

Ollie1 thanks for that info!

Thanks for the nice historical offering here..with regard to my Luftwaffe
question…………… thanks !

BlueNoser352

I declined the offer as I knew I would never have the funds to get her certified as a new type by the CAA.

My wife has said, repeatedly, that I should be certified but I don’t think that she had in mind this being done by the CAA. She mentioned something about the Mental Health Act!

Hi again Simon…

Thanks for the clarification, here is the loss data from the Gen.Qu.6.Abt Loss Lists:

http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/do17p-loss.jpg

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

That’s correct Peter. The burial was at St. Brelade’s church. There were four crew that day, one being along for the ride.

Best regards,

Simon

Thanks Peter, you are quite correct, that was the aircraft.

Being carried off on the stretcher is Lt. Gohringer, the commander but not the Pilot. He survived the initial impact but died later.

I have also been told that the cause of the crash was engine failure during a low flying excercise. I can’t help but wonder why an aeroplane without a bomb load, less than a mile from it’s base flying in good weather with a light fuel load, could not have been returned safely.

Possible of course that the failure came at a critical moment, or perhaps a young Pilot beating up the garrison on the tower and a sympathetic administration trying to save the families even more grief?

I have ammended the link, many thanks for that.

Regards,

Simon

It appears were were posting at the same time Simon, I assume that the writing on the reverse of the first photo lists the crew lost in the accident pictured in your previous post?

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

Hi Simion…

First off, as the link in your previous post doesn’t work, here’s one that does:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=110870

Also, the Do17 pictured in bits may be this example:

Do17P-1, WNr.4086 coded ? of 3.(F)/123 – near Jersey Island – 01-Nov-40 – 100%, Crashed due to engine failure [Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #2)-Vol.3]
Crew Killed
Werner Kramer (F)
Ltn.Wilhelm Göhringer (B)

The only other Do17P loss I can find associated with Jersey was a 30% loss on 19-Feb-41 due to pilot error when landing. Its clear to me that the photos above show a 100% loss with fatalities…

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator