The airforce and navy air fleet bases

Introduction

The airforce and navy-airfleet bases continued to be victims of frequent Luftwaffe visits. The Luftwaffe sent many formations into the air with 'free hunt' missions in certain regions. Especially the coastal sectors of Holland continued to be in focus of those formations.

Flushing AFB 

Flushing AFB was attacked again on this third day. The French battery of six 2,5 cm AA guns had taken positions in Flushing and could assist the AFB defences too. Both the French and Dutch AA battery were quite occupied with the Luftwaffe, which was very active around Flushing, especially in the morning.

The local airforce commander had filed a request to evacuate the AFB. He stated in his request to his superior that the training planes and the flying personnel were of no use to the war effort at this stage and that they would be better off evacuating to France. His request was denied.

Late in the evening Flushing AFB was attacked by two or three He-111's which dropped a few dozen 50 kg bombs on the field. Panic struck and many infantry men of the guarding units fled the scene, to return only hours later. The panic continued to dominate the ranks and the following days some very alarming events would follow.

Veere navy airfleet base

The navy seaplane base at Veere was attacked by He-111 bombers at 1500 hours. The bombers focussed on the six moored C-XIV-W navy reconnaissance seaplanes, of which two were not battle-ready [depot planes]. The AA platoon and the three 2 cm AA guns of the navy section defended the base, but could not prevent the loss of one and damage of another seaplane.

A tragic incident costed the lives of two navy airfleet men in the late evening. A NCO and a sailor were shot by guarding base personnel that had been under the impression that German airbornes were sneaking up to the base. It was one of those incidents that ocurred all around in the country, sentries with the nerveous finger on the trigger but perfect aim that killed own troops. Dozens of casualties came from these events.

Haamstede AFB

At Haamstede AFB, on the island Schouwen-Duivenland, panic was still the key-word too.

The previous day the base had been attacked by German bombers, and the resulting panic amongst the troops had hardly been brought under control. Rumours about landed German forces and airbornes on the island continued to stress the troops and numerous patrols were sent out to verify the rumours. Time and again these units returned to HQ with no facts to report. The Germans didn't show up this third day of the war.

Roosendaal raided

Three He-111's were intercepted and shot down around Roosendaal around 2000 hrs. The bombers had raided French troops near this town. One bomber [of 2/KGr126] was probably downed by a Morane-406 fighter.