73 Squadron - Take on KG30
Ground crew from 73 Squadron had been packed into Number 2 hold. Among the first to board they had been sent into the spacious but dark forward hold.
As Lancastria was hit one of the 500kg bombs smashed through the main hatch and exploded among the 800+ RAF personnel who had billeted themselves there. Most would not have had any conscious thought of what had happened.
Aircraft from 73 Squadron did appear on the scene later, but too late to affect any damage on the enemy bombers although one lone French Hurricane was seen. 73 Squadron's Operations Record Book reported:
"Patrol off St. Nazaire of other section - time 1.40pm no enemy aircraft. 16.30 patrol over St. Nazaire, a ship was seen to be sinking, Lancastria. Enemy aircraft had disappeared before our aircraft went on patrol. Duration of patrol 1 hour 40 minutes."
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Sgt. Alexander McNay, Flt Lt. Reg Lovett and Sgt John Brimble of 73 Squadron show off their trophies - the distinctive umbrella crest plate from the Ju 88 of 1/KG30 shot down near Bridlington. All three pilots would be dead within a month of this picture being taken.
Two months later however as Kamf Geschweder 30 attacked airfields during the Battle of Britain, fighters from 73 Squadron finally met up with them. On the 15th of August 1940 a Junkers 88 from Kampf Geschweder I/30 which was known as the Umbrella Geschweder because of its distinctive crest, was shot down near Bridlington. The RAF pilots did not know at that point that the bomber had been from the same unit responsible for bombing the Lancastria and killing hundreds of ground crew from their Squadron |
