British
planes attack Helgoland. No damages reported. German fighters without success.
Between
17.00 and 23.00 o´clock 6 british planes over airfield Borkum with use of
light-bombs. Five planes rejected by AA fire. No machinegun fire or bomb
attacks.
The last
plane dropped 3 bombs into the Watt. (not confirmed!!) 100m west of the
airfield. One enemy plane maybe crash landed at the dutch island Rottum. A boat
was sent there to confirm.
At midday
british planes committed a surprise attack on the airfield of Borkum coming
from dutch territory. The attack lasted 1 minute.
Attack was rejected by fire of 6 machineguns, four 2cm and three 3,7cm
AA guns.
No early warning was possible.
Around 15.35 another enemy inflight was reported. II./77 from Jever and
Wangerooge and a flight of II./110 from Jever scrambled.
Except the 6.squadron of J.G.77 all planes intercept about 20
Wellington bomber in the area Spiekerogg – Wangeroog – Helgoland.
Five destroyed Wellingtons confirmed.
The flight of Zerstörergruppe 110 intercepted the british bombers near
Baltrum and shoots down one (other sources say two) enemy planes.
The reports are by guard-boats near Borkum. The weather was very bad
for interception with cloud cover at 150m.
Also the 2./186 scrambled but did not have enemy contact.
During this air battle Jagdgruppe 101 and parts of II./126 flew cover
above the cruiser „Leipzig“
German losses:
1 Me-109 not yet found.
1 Me-110 100% damage after crash landing. Hptm.Restemyer wounded by
bullet in Wangrooge hospital.
VP-boat 608 reports 15.45 two burning planes going down in Qu.8382.
Destroyer „Bruno Heinemann“ reports 15.42 plane going down in AA fire
A VP boat recovers the wreck around 16.00.
Between 17.20 and 21.30 13 incoming flights (british) over Westerland.
Several bombs were dropped into the Watt and the bay of Rantum.
Attacks rejected by AA fire.
Enemy plane attacked 2cm AA position getting hit.
Final report about recon missions to East- and South coast
of England:
19
steamers that guarded by coast guard ships attacked with bombs and machineguns,
2 ships were hit, 5 severly damaged. Enemy AA and fighter defenses no success.
„SS
Serenity“ (487BRT) a cargo ship on a journey from Methil to London, was bombed
and sunk by German aircraft, E of Whitby.
Between
14.00 and 15.00 o´clock about 45 Wellingtons ( 9., 37., 149 Bomb squadrons) in
two groups into the inner german bay.
All units of J.G.1 scrambled on time because of D.T. warning of
Freya-Wangerooge and Helgoland. Enemy planes were intercepted northwest of
Helgoland and attacked over the area between Helgoland , Jadebusen and Dollar.
34 enemy planes shot down. 1 by commander of J.G.1, 13 planes by
II./J.G.77, 15 planes by I./Z.G.76, 5 planes by 10./J.G.26.
2 Me-109 lost, (1 bailed out)
2 Me-110 lost (not confirmed)
No bombs were dropped by enemy bombers.
In the area of Borkum one enemy plane was shot down by light AA guns.
At Borkum 3 pilots captured, 2 dead. VP-boat 603 recovered one british
airman.
B-Dienst reports enemy plane crash landed 50 seamiles east of Cromer,
crew was recovered.
Between 17.40 and 18.06 several single planes over Borkum and
Norderney. At Borkum- harbor 5 bombs were dropped into the water.
Between 18.47 and 19.21 one plane over Sylt. At Hornüm 5 bombs between
battery Wittdün and guard III. No casualties or damages reported until now.
21.Dezember 1939
A British Hampden bomber, shot down in error by Spitfires of 602
Squadron, crashed on to the Church of Christ, Togston Terrace, Amble. The
church was demolished. One person was killed and one was injured. Of the
bomber's crew, one was seriously injured and the rest were killed.
Between
13.00 and 14.00 o´clock 6 british aircraft in the Deutsche Bucht area. 2 planes
stayed in 7000m over Wilhelmshaven despite good AA defense fire.
One enemy plane was shot down by Geschwaderkommodore Oberstlt.
Schumacher. (the wreck lies near Langeoog)
The rest of the planes seem to have returned home before they reached
the coast.