Luftwaffe Over Britain 1939-45
Sortie to Bath
For Oberleutnant Rüeck, a reconnaissance pilot who led 4 (Fernauflarungsgrüppe)/123, sorties over Britain were relatively commonplace, and with German rage at attacks on civilian targets, so the propaganda machine was anxious for news of successful air operations against Britain. Thus, a sortie flown by Rüeck and fellow Messerschmitt Bf 109 pilot, Unteroffizier Quante, on 29 April 1942 to assess damage to Bath after the city had been bombed between 25 and 27
April made for a good story. Albeit a pure propaganda piece, it is worthy of inclusion for the insights it brings:
“Across previous nights, German bomber units have been over the British Isles and repaid many times the cowardly attacks by the RAF against German cities. The last act of reprisal was aimed, among others, at the fashionable town of Bath.
“The order for aerial shots of the effects of German reprisals was given yesterday, and Oberleutnant Rüeck and Unteroffizier Quante immediately discussed the implementation of the task. Oberleutnant ‘B’ and Leutnant ‘S’ arrived with Messerschmitt 110s so that, if successful, photos could immediately be flown back in the quickest way.
“The pilots climb into their machines and start. Quickly gaining height, they head towards the enemy. The sky is cloudless, but the English are on the ball. Here and there, even at higher altitude, English fighters appear. But this won’t cause the two aircraft to change their plans. The pictures must be taken.
“Flying over the coast, the situation becomes serious as 14 Spitfires want to do away with them, but they continued unhindered. The Tommies hadn’t expected such boldness. They appear visibly surprised and hang off left and right of the two Messerschmitts like a swarm of bees while 1,000 metres separates them. Meanwhile, the whole of England’s south coast is under alarm. Now, both pilots know their pursuers won’t be the only ones waiting for them! Still, they are absolutely determined to carry out the order and fly on unwaveringly.”
The Luftwaffe’s reconnaissance pilots had a high-risk task and had to get in quickly and get out quickly. Often operating alone, they also suffered significant losses.
‘SWARMS OF SPITFIRES’
Continuing its jingoistic enthusiasm, the propaganda report goes on to celebrate the indomitable spirit of the two pilots and to extol the dramatic success of the bombing attack:
“Approaching the gleaming rooftops of Bath, it can be seen by the naked eye that the bombers aimed well. Individual spots are still smoking and the whole expanse of rubble is captured on film. Then it is on to a harbour city nearby.
“They fly over this target, too, and the swarm of Spitfires still hangs behind them. Now, more have appeared. How would the two pilots avoid encirclement? The situation has become serious, and they take the decision to evade attack with a bold downward turn.
“Back the same way?” asks Unteroffizier Quante. He is given a short “Ja!”, and both men laugh despite their serious situation. They have done the job and need to get home at all costs, despite the pack of pursuers. Now, the Isle of Wight is passed. Once more, it is a tough flight. In the distance, several swarms of Spitfires appear again.
“However, the two Messerschmitts manage to escape and land at their airfield without incident. The eyes of the pilots shine with joy as they are greeted with enthusiasm.
“When the bold operation was later mentioned in Wehrmacht reports, the Tommies gave vent to their powerless rage by lashing out with a vile barrage of abuse; they use the term ‘Nazi bandits’ to describe the two bold pilots who, with determination and despite all the fighters on the south coast being alerted, successfully completed their order.
“Analysis of the films faultlessly reveals that our act of reprisal had hit home. Over 400,000 square metres of built-up land had been flattened and a further 80 houses had been destroyed.”
For Rüeck and Quante, it had been a successful operation - notwithstanding incorrect estimates of the flattened area and under-estimation of the number of houses destroyed which was well over 1,000.