John Vasco
Senior Airman
Cluett has got things wrong in the narrative. The bald facts of the target being the Parnall factory at Yate, the attacking unit, Erprobungsgruppe 210, and the ID of Ebner & Zwick's Bf 110 are correct, but then that information has been widely available for decades.
Now, what has he got wrong?
1. Erprobungsgruppe 210 were not escorted by Bf 110s of ZG 76, they were escorted by Bf 110s of ZG 26.
2. Erprobungsgruppe 210 did not attack the Parnall factory - the 9 Bf 110s of the unit were intercepted before they reached the target, and they dropped their bombs randomly in order to effect their escape.
3. 504 Squadron intercepted as Erprobungsgruppe 210 were heading to the target, not afterwards.
4. 56 Squadron did not intercept Erprobungsgruppe 210. Constable-Maxwell had initially returned to base due to oxygen failure, and took off alone and latched on to the Bf 110 of Ebner & Zwick that was already being attacked by F/Lt Anthony Rook of 504 Squadron.
5 The Luftwaffe did not lose 39 aircraft on that day. The total losses were 54.
That letter (whatever date it was written) is incorrect on the points above. The correct information was published by me 33 years ago in my book on Erprobungsgruppe 210, 'Bombsights over England' after extensive research. I can say no more...