Church Blankeying-Bombing Nazi Germany - 1940

UK: Honeywood Museum – [1940] How Churchill Initiated “Saturation” [Blanket] Bombing of Civilian Areas of Nazi Germany! (24.2.2026)

It could well be the case that “Croydon” was mistakenly presented as “Kenley” on the Luftwaffe maps – not that it mattered as both were legitimate “military” targets – and that the map included the old boundary markers that had subsequently shifted – with the land now defining the active aerodrome being redefined into other areas. What was once aerodrome land running across the old periphery – was now Council-owned land comprising of civilian houses and civic roads run through – and around it. Total Luftwaffe strength in August 1940 was between 2000-2,200 fighter, fighter-bomber, and bomber aeroplanes – often flying around 1000 sorties per day against the UK Mainland. Luftwaffe losses (for August 15th 1940) amounted to 76 aircraft across all engagements – while the RAF lost just 34. With the specific attack upon Croydon – 14 Bf 110s and 8 Bf 109s Luftwaffe aeroplanes were involved (some sources suggest the number was between 20-30 – the record is unclear) – these are the Luftwaffe crews that supposedly bombed the civilian population. It is said that the Nazi German losses amounted to 25% across the board – so over Croydon this would have amounted to around 6 aircraft – a small number compared to Luftwaffe losses across the region.

Croydon Aerodrome: The 1928 Disappearance of Alfred Loewenstein! (20.4.2023)

His wife and his four employees all agreed that when returning from a visit to the toilet (situated at the rear of the aeroplane) during the flight – Alfred Loewenstein mistakenly opened the only door in the aeroplane – adjacent to the toilet – (whilst flying over the English Channel) – a misjudgement that caused him to fall 4000 feet to his death! The Pilot and Engineer were sat in the cockpit at the front the aeroplane and had no idea what was happening toward the back – certainly no alarm had gone off and there had been no sudden depressurisation of the interior! Incredibly, the British Pilot –  Donald Drew – (once alerted to the situation) managed to immediately land the aeroplane on a nearby beach (under the direct control of the French military). After being released by the French military he then successfully navigated the aeroplane (and its occupants) to the airfield at Saint-Inglevert, Pas-de-Calais – also in France.