Unit was ready at 03.00h. After hearing many a/c flying over, the commander, capt. Schmidt-Crans, asked his superiors for permission to send out a patrole. He didn't get it.
While talking to the command post on the phone, he heard another voice in the background talking about bombing. This was enough for him to give the order on his own and at 03.59h, the whole JaVA was airborn, in time to avoid being wiped out on the ground.
The JaVA was divided into 4 patrols of 2 to 3 D.XXI's, patrolling the North part of Holland.
No 244 (Wmr Hatebroek) attacked J88 5J+?T from 9./KG4, forcing it to land on the beach. (this Ju 88 was recaptured and repaired by the Germans after the capitulation). 234 landed on Schiphol and flew back to De Kooij, landing there at 07.00h.
Between 4.30h and 4.45h, no. 214, 221, 223, 233, 234, 240 and 242 landed and refuelled. The remaining 3 (218, 219 and 241) were just landing, when they were attacked by 9 Bf109E's from 4./JG186. 241 (Lt. Bosch) was destroyed while landing. The pilot could get out safely. 219 (Lt. Overvest) could just pull up, while 218 (Lt. Focquin de Grave) could take off again. All flying D.XXI's were called back to base and there was a dogfight between 8 D.XXI's and 9 Bf109's, lasting about 10 minutes. 3 Bf109E's were shot down (by 234, Lt. Van der Stock; 221, Lt. Doppenberg; 219, Lt. Overvest) against none of the D.XXI's, although all D.XXI's were more-or-less damaged. One of the Bf109E's (Hptm Robitzsch), shot down by 219 crash-landed on De Kooij, the pilot was taken prisoner and later shipped to the UK. Uffz. Rudolf (shot down by 221) died of his wounds after crashing near Anna Powlona and the 3rd Bf109 crashed in the sea, fate of the pilot unknown.
223 (Wmr Zuijlen) did not take part in the dogfight, not being warned because lack of radio. He attacked 2 Heinkels near Katwijk, and was probably killed in that fight. His D.XXI didn't crash, but flew on for some time, right through some German formation, finally crashing near Wassenaar.
At 05.30h, 4 D.XXI were ready again.
06.15-07.10, Patrol 234 and 240
08.00, all D.XXI were damaged in an airraid 214 and 233 beyond repair
12.00h 4 D.XXI trying to start, 234 (Lt. van der Stock was shot on fire by raiding Bf109's (Van Der Stock survived and got his fame when he was 1 of 3 pilots escaping from Stalag luft III in the great escape)
Only 6 D.XXI's were still in tact and at 19315h, 218 and 244 l;eft for the secret airfield Buiksloot.
221, 240 and 242 would do the same the next day, while 219 would leave on May 12th.
Photo's:
1. Bf109E-4 'Schwarze 1' (Hptm Robitszch) after crash-landing on De Kooij
2. Wreck of 223 (Wmr. van Zuijlen) near Wassenaar
3. Grave of Wmr Van Zuijlen
4. Burning 234 (Lt. Van der Stock), picture taken by pilot imediately after the attack.
4. Wreck of 241 with Lt. Bosch in front of it