Nestled unobtrusively in a sheltered combe between Torquay and Teignmouth, the then undeveloped and mainly farming community of Maidencombe would have been expected to avoid the heavy punishment meted out by the Luftwaffe in World War two. And, to a large extent, it did but the tiny hamlet did have a few isolated occasions to remind the residents that the war was never that far away.
It may come as a surprise to residents today that the only time that Maidencombe was intentionally attacked was by two marauding Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter bombers on Tuesday November 3rd 1942. Documentation is sparse, but by cross referencing various snippets of military sources, the event can, for the first time, be more precisely recorded.
Terrorangriff raid
It may come as a surprise to residents today that the only time that Maidencombe was intentionally attacked was by two marauding Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter bombers on Tuesday November 3rd 1942. Documentation is sparse, but by cross referencing various snippets of military sources, the event can, for the first time, be more precisely recorded.
Terrorangriff raid
Four Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger fighter bombers from unit 8/ZG 2 set off on November 3rd 1942 to bomb Newton Abbot. Each aircraft carried a 500 kg bomb slung beneath the fuselage. The flight plan was recorded as a Terrorangriff (terrorist attack) against Newton Abbot.
However, for various reasons (visibility, fuel, navigational error, wind direction etc) but most probably poor visibility as weather reports for the day indicate that it was raining,* Teignmouth was targeted by the four 'Butcher Birds' with all 500 kg bombs being dropped on the Salcombe and Park Street area at 1249 hrs. Six people were killed and four injured.
The flight then separated with two aircraft heading out to sea and the other two peeling off in the direction of Torquay. This Rotte (two aircraft - tactical formation), flying at low level, proceeded to strafe the built up area of Maidencombe at approximately five minutes to one in the afternoon. It would have all been over in a few seconds before the pilots veered off seawards to join up with the other Fw 190s. There are no recorded casualties or damage sustained in the 'fly past' attack, but this was to be Maidencombe's war and only recorded deliberate attack upon the sleepy hamlet in WW2.**
However, for various reasons (visibility, fuel, navigational error, wind direction etc) but most probably poor visibility as weather reports for the day indicate that it was raining,* Teignmouth was targeted by the four 'Butcher Birds' with all 500 kg bombs being dropped on the Salcombe and Park Street area at 1249 hrs. Six people were killed and four injured.
The flight then separated with two aircraft heading out to sea and the other two peeling off in the direction of Torquay. This Rotte (two aircraft - tactical formation), flying at low level, proceeded to strafe the built up area of Maidencombe at approximately five minutes to one in the afternoon. It would have all been over in a few seconds before the pilots veered off seawards to join up with the other Fw 190s. There are no recorded casualties or damage sustained in the 'fly past' attack, but this was to be Maidencombe's war and only recorded deliberate attack upon the sleepy hamlet in WW2.**
Fw 190 approaching head on. |
Retribution
Unfortunately for the adventure seeking pilots - who were often given free rein to roam and strafe after dropping their lethal cargoes - fuel permitting, retribution was about to catch up with them in the form of two Hawker Typhoon interceptor fighters stationed at RAF Bolt Head (one mile southwest of Salcombe) and about twenty five miles from Maidencombe.
Unfortunately for the adventure seeking pilots - who were often given free rein to roam and strafe after dropping their lethal cargoes - fuel permitting, retribution was about to catch up with them in the form of two Hawker Typhoon interceptor fighters stationed at RAF Bolt Head (one mile southwest of Salcombe) and about twenty five miles from Maidencombe.
The two Typhoons of 257 Squadron, piloted by Flying officer Geoffrey Ball and Pilot officer Pete Scotchmer had been on a status of "readiness" (ready to take off within two minutes) and had been scrambled to intercept the Tip and Run raiders.
Hawker Typhoon |
The Typhoons were given an intercept vector heading of 120 degrees but even with their superior maximum speed (Fw 190 408 mph and Typhoon 417 mph) it would have been touch and go whether they would have been able to overhaul the fleeing 190s before they reached the safety of the French coast.
Eight minutes after take-off, the four Fw 190s (now together) were spotted by the Typhoons which were at 1000 feet altitude, flying in wide line abreast at sea level about three to four miles distant. A six minute chase ensued until the Typhoons were in range to engage. Each Typhoon pilot destroyed a Fw 190 with one flying out of range and the other hidden in cloud. Lt Hermann Kenneweg and Uffz Johann Hannig were both killed in the engagement.
On this occasion, the act of bravado by the two predatory Luftwaffe pilots may have been the reason for the fatal conclusion to the flight, with half the unit destroyed. Even the few seconds of delayed flying time as the other two planes reduced their air speed to allow them to rejoin the formation could well have been crucial.
*Official meteorological records for November 1942: 'On the 2nd and 3rd (November) a depression over the Bay of Biscay moved quickly north-east and caused further rain, particularly in England.'
The RAF intercept route of Luftwaffe flight 8/ZG2 (map fragment by Google maps) |
*Official meteorological records for November 1942: 'On the 2nd and 3rd (November) a depression over the Bay of Biscay moved quickly north-east and caused further rain, particularly in England.'
**On May 4th 1941 a bomb/bombs was dropped in Horton's field, Maidencombe (about 200 yards up from Maidencombe cross towards Shaldon) but was probably jettisoned as the plane(s) turned for home. The Teignmouth road, immediately adjacent to the field was badly damaged and was closed off for some time to traffic.
**On May 30th 1943, a Fw 190 hit by flak on Babbacombe Downs after participating in the Tip and Run raid on St Marychurch, crashed into the sea off Maidencombe beach. It was witnessed by resident Alan Hunt and has been documented in another posting.
**The 40mm bofors gun, positioned in Tiddly Pinch field to the south of the village, engaged Tip and Run aircraft as they flew across Babbacombe Bay.
**On May 30th 1943, a Fw 190 hit by flak on Babbacombe Downs after participating in the Tip and Run raid on St Marychurch, crashed into the sea off Maidencombe beach. It was witnessed by resident Alan Hunt and has been documented in another posting.
**The 40mm bofors gun, positioned in Tiddly Pinch field to the south of the village, engaged Tip and Run aircraft as they flew across Babbacombe Bay.
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Interesting read
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