Fishponds Local History Society
The Luftwaffe over the Bristol area - Reconnaissance over the Bristol area 1940-44
NOTE: t/o = took off; c = circa; a/c = aircraft; ? following aircraft type indicates details from AA Command observations.
(Only flights confirmed in German records are listed)
29/08/39 A clandestine German reconnaissance aircraft, almost certainly from the Gruppe Rowehl (Aufkl�rungsgruppe Ob.d.L.), flew sortie 580 taking photgraphs 580 S 25 over Yate, 62 at 13.14 hrs, together with 64, 65, and 67, all over the Cardiff area, 73 over Barry, and 88 and 92 over Weymouth and Portland as it crossed the English coast on the return flight.
29/06/40 1/Aufkl.Gr.Ob.d.L., He 111, Sortie 1017, 09.30 - 09.45 hrs over Bristol area. Observations over Bristol, Avonmouth & Portishead. Photos Avonmouth 1017 SG 21 & 22.
30/06/40 1/Aufkl.Gr.Ob.d.L., Do 17?, Sortie 1018, 07.33 hrs circled Bristol. Observations over Bristol & Avonmouth also Filton & Whitchurch airfields. Photos Bristol 1018 L 73 & 1018 R 089. Also Barrow Tanks 1018 R 115.
07/07/40 4(F)/121, Villacoublay, Do 17, 09.48 hrs over Bristol, photographed Whitchurch airfield.
08/07/40 4(F)/121, Villacoublay, Do 17, 09.20 hrs over Bristol area. Observations over Avonmouth, Bristol & Filton. Filton & Whitchurch photographed. Intercepted & claimed damaged by 92 Squadron.
16/07/40 1(F)/123, 1 Ju 88 t/o 10.00 hrs on reconnaissance over St.George's Channel & airfields in Bristol, Cardiff & Birmingham areas
20/07/40 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88 t/o 08.17 hrs on reconnaissance to eastern part of Bristol Channel and to airfields in Bristol, Bridgwater & Swansea area.
21/07/40 3(F)/123, Ju 88, t/o 07.00 hrs airfield reconnaissance. 09.02 - 09.05 hrs over Filton & Avonmouth.
21/07/40 4(F)/14, 1 Do 17, t/o 13.40 hrs on mission to the English Channel and airfields in Bournemouth, Bristol, Oxford & Portsmouth area. Shot down 15.00 hrs nr. Blandford, Dorset.
23.07.40 3(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 10.30 hrs on mission to airfields and harbours in Bristol Channel area.
24/07/40 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, t/o 09.25 hrs on a mission to airfields along Bristol Channel & shipping movements. No results due to poor weather.
27/07/40 3(F)/121, Ju 88, t/o 08.23 hrs. 13.36 hrs aborted just S.of Bristol. Observations over Avonmouth & Whitchurch airfield.
03/08/40 4(F)/14, 1 Bf 110, t/o 13.50 hrs on a mission over airfields in the Bristol, Gloucester & Newbury area.
04/08/40 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, t/o 05.05 hrs on a reconnaissance from the English Channel to Bristol.
08/08/40 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, t/o 05.46 hrs on a mission over the Bristol Channel and South Coast.
08/08/40 4(F)/14, Bf 110, t/o 10.50 hrs mission over Bristol, Oxford, Weymouth & Portsmouth area. 16.42 hrs circled Bristol.
09/08/40 3(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, weather reporting over northern part of the Bristol Channel 05.00 - 07.00 hrs, and reconnaissance over Filton & Yeovil. Damaged by fighter attack 06.55 hrs.
09/08/40 4(F)/121, 1 aircraft t/o 06.45 hrs on a mission to airfields in the Bristol, Gloucester & Reading area.
09/08/40 4(F)/14, Bf 110, t/o 13.45 hrs for Bristol. Reached Chew Magna.
12/08/40 3(F)/123, Ju 88, t/o 07.10 hrs S.Coast & Bristol Channel. Circled Filton 12.07 - 12.15 hrs.
15/08/40 3(F)/31, Do 17, t/o 07.25 hrs to Bristol Channel. Observation of shipping 20km W.of Bristol. Over Avonmouth 09.06 hrs. Claimed damaged by AA guns.
17/08/40 1(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 09.28 hrs on a mission to airfields between Bristol and London. Heavy cloud over all objectives.
18/08/40 3(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 07.43 hrs to RAF installations in the Filton, Salisbury & Evesham areas.
18/08/40 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88 t/o 11.10 hrs on photo mission to airfields including Filton.
19/08/40 3(F)/121, Ju 88, t/o 11.22 hrs to airfields including Filton, Penhros & Middle Wallop, also weather reporting in Bristol Channel. Over Bristol area 13.20 hrs.
20/08/40 3(F)/123,2 Ju 88's, t/o 07.06 & 07.12 hrs. Missions to Bristol, Gloucester, Derby and Liverpool areas. 1 aircraft reported N.of Bristol 12.13 hrs.
21/08/40 3(F)/121, Ju 88, t/o 08.21 hrs. Observations at 11.40 hrs over Weston super Mare.
22/08/40 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88. Circled Filton 15.34 hrs then shot down by 152 Sq. cr. Okehampton 16.00 hrs. 23/08/40 3(F)/121, Ju 88, t/o 08.40 hrs post raid mission to Filton, Pembrey & St.Athan. Circled Filton twice making observations at 11.00 - 11.10 hrs and again between 11.42 - 12.00 hrs. Poor conditions over target.
24/08/40 A Ju 88 returned with photograph 394 Z 20 of GB 20 47, Weston super Mare Aircraft Park and GB 51 101, Weston's Outdoor Electrical Transformer Station in Locking Road.
28/08/40 3(F)/121, 1 a/c, t/o 08.07 hrs. Filton airfield not identified but observations made over Avonmouth.
30/08/40 3(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 09.06 hrs. Observations made over Bath, Portishead & Avonmouth. Over Bristol area 14.01 - 14.16 hrs. Probably took photo G85 Z 14 of Bath.
02/09/40 2(F)/123, 1 Do 17? & Bf 110? made observations over Bristol also Whitchurch, Filton & Weston super Mare airfields. Weston & Whitchurch photographed. Both a/c made very wide circles of Filton 13.25 hrs. Probably took photos of Kingswood, Northern Bath and Charmy Down airfield (812b/40 & 085).
02/09/40 1(F)/123, 1 Ju 88?, t/o 14.00 hrs made observations over Bristol also Filton, Whitchurch & Weston super Mare airfields. Passed to N. of Bristol 15.56 hrs. Photographed Weston super Mare.
03/09/40 3(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 06.08 hrs. Over Bristol area 09.57 - 10.02 hrs. Observations made at Filton, Bristol and Avonmouth. Bristol photo 654 Z 50.
03/09/40 ?(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 08.07 hrs took photos over Filton.
04/09/40 3(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 08.45 hrs to obtain post raid photos of Bristol, Avonmouth, Hucclecote, Cardiff and Swansea. Aborted because of repeated fighter attacks.
04/09/40 4(F)/14, 1 Bf 110 t/o 09.20 hrs on post raid photography mission to Avonmouth.
04/09/40 3(F)/123, 1 Ju 88 t/o 11.43 hrs on post raid photography mission to Bristol, Avonmouth and Cardiff. Over Bristol 16.12 hrs observations over Avonmouth and Bristol, also Filton, Whitchurch and Weston super Mare airfields. Filton, Whitchurch and Weston photographed.
05/09/40 2(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 08.45 hrs on a mission to Bristol, Barry, Cardiff & Liverpool areas. Observations made at Portishead, Avonmouth, Whitchurch airfield & Bristol which was partly covered by clouds.
05/09/40 4(F)/14, 1 Bf 110, t/o 10.40 hrs took photos over Filton.
05/09/40 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, t/o 11.14 hrs on post raid reconnaissance over Bristol and its local airfields. Aborted because of 10/10 cloud cover.
06/09/40 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88 t/o 08.44 hrs. This aircraft entered Bristol area 09.40 hrs and circled. Fires seen in Bristol and Weston super Mare.
06/09/40 2(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 10.25 hrs. Made two passes over Bristol 12.18 hrs. Observations made over Bristol, Avonmouth, Almondsbury, and at Whitchurch airfield. Landed 14.50 hrs.
07/09/40 3(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, Armed Reconn. Bristol Area t/o 06.27 hrs. Over area 10.10 hrs, again at 10.30 hrs when it circled. 5 H.E.'s (including 1 UXB) dropped on Bristol City Centre. Observations over Bristol and Filton. Photo during attack 745 Z 45.
07/09/40 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, t/o 09.26 hrs. Observations made over Filton 11.25 hrs, Bristol 11.26 hrs, Almondsbury 11.40 hrs, Filton 11.41 hrs, and an airfield N.of Bath 11.44 hrs.
21/09/40 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, t/o 08.05 hrs. Approached Bristol 10.40 hrs and engaged by fighters which claimed it damaged. Airfields at Weston super Mare, Whitchurch, Filton (11.00 hrs), Bath, and Colerne photographed.
23/09/40 2(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, 17.15 hrs over Bristol. Observations made over Filton and Whitchurch airfields. Filton photographed - 1075 S.
25/09/40 4(F)/14, 1 Bf 110, t/o 11.56 hrs on post raid mission to Filton. Observations over Filton at 13.13 hrs.
27/09/40 3(F)/123, 1 Ju 88. Over Bristol area 09.30 hrs. Observations made over Filton, Weston super Mare and Avonmouth. Landed Chartres c.14.55 hrs. Photos Avonmouth and Filton 908b 011 & 016.
14/10/40 4(F)/14, 1 Do 17, t/o 03.45 hrs on armed reconnaisance and weather reporting mission jettisoned 4 SC 50 in the Bristol Area.
26/11/40 Ju 88 of Luftflotte 3 over Bristol area 13.50 hrs at 2/4000 feet. Photo Bristol - 1144 Z 45.
26/11/40 Ob.d.L.?, He 111, Over Bristol area 15.07 - 15.16 hrs. Photos Bristol 1044a & Portishead 1044b. (Lfl 5).
30/11/40 1 a/c of Luftflotte 3 over Bristol area 12.37 - 13.08 hrs. Photos Colerne & Keynsham - 1062b/334 & 609.
04/12/40 3(F)/123, 2 Ju 88, 1 Bf 110 post raid missin to Avonmouth. Aborted due to excessive cloud.
04/12/40 3(F)/31, 1 Ju 88, t/o 09.46 hrs on mission to Bristol. Aborted due to excessive cloud.
05/12/40 2(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, mission to Bristol. Over Bath & Bristol 11.44 - 11.54 hrs. Photography not undertaken due to icing.
06/12/40 1 a/c of Luftflotte 3 over Bristol 15.25 hrs. on mission 1078b. Photo Bristol 1216 Z 52.
08/12/40 2(F)/123, 1 Bf 110, mission to Bristol. Circled Bristol 16.12 hrs, Avonmouth observed from 40/50km.
11/12/40 2(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, mission to Bristol. Over Bristol 13.33 hrs photo of City Centre.
12/12/40 3 reconnaissance aircraft over Bristol 13.05 - 13.46 hrs. Observations over Avonmouth & Bristol. Photo of Bristol City Centre.
04/01/41 2(F)/123, mission to Bristol & Avonmouth. Over Bristol 13.01 hrs and 14.25 hrs No valid photos because of low cloud base.
08/01/41 1(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 11.10 hrs mission to Bristol & Avonmouth. Flew past Bristol area 14.38 - 15.03 hrs. Aborted due to cloud cover.
10/01/41 2(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 10.40 hrs on a mission to Bristol. Aborted due to cloud cover.
10/01/41 3(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, t/o 13.16 hrs on post raid photo mission to Bristol, Avonmouth, & Weston super Mare. Over Bristol 16.15 - 16.50 hrs.
17/01/41 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, on a mission to Avonmouth & Bristol. Aborted because of cloud cover.
19/01/41 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, t/o 10.17 hrs on a mission to Avonmouth. Aborted due to poor weather.
20/01/41 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, mission to Avonmouth. Aborted due to poor weather.
27/01/41 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, t/o 09.32 hrs on photo mission to Avonmouth & Bristol. Aborted due to poor weather.
28/01/41 2(F)/123, 1 sortie to Avonmouth. Aborted due to fighter attack before target was reached.
31/01/41 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, t/o 12.45 hrs on a mission to Avonmouth. Photos not possible due to poor weather.
11/02/41 2(F)/123, on a mission to Avonmouth & Swansea.
13/02/41 2(F)/123, on a mission to Avonmouth & Swansea.
18/03/41 3(F)/121, 1 Ju 88, t/o 14.26 hrs on a mission to Bristol. Aborted due to thick cloud.
26/08/41 1(F)/123, 1 Ju 88 on a mission to Bristol & Birmingham. Shot down by 615 Sq. and crashed Belgooly, Co. Cork, Eire.
02/10/41 Photographs F185/41/274 to 276 taken by Luftflotte 3 over Weston super Mare (airfield GB 10 240 identified).
27/04/42 1(F)/123, 1 Ju 88, mission to Bath, also anti-shipping reconnaissance in the Bristol Channel.
29/04/42 3(F)/123, Lannion, 1 Bf 109F-5 circled Bristol and Bath area from 11.31 hrs. Drop tanks fell at Pill c.12.00 hrs. Photos Nailsea 2450 Z 22, Avonmouth 2429 Z 14, and Bath.
23/01/43 1 a/c of Luftflotte 3 on night photo mission over Exeter, Newport & Bristol. Over Bristol 23.00 hrs. 2 base plates of photo flash bombs fell at Long Ashton.
13/03/43 3(F)/123, 2 Bf 109F-5's, on a mission over Bristol Channel area. 2 drop tanks fell at Yatton at 13.00 hrs.
31/07/43 1 a/c of Luftflotte 3, over Bristol 01.44 - 01.49 hrs. 8 photo flash bombs fell S.of Bristol. 1 UXB recovered at Winford.
14/05/44 Sonderaufkl�rungsstaffel/Ob.d.L., Orly, on night photo sortie to record the accuracy of target marking at Bristol (14/15th).
Website produced by Paul Johnson . Last updated 3 March 2014.