WINGS OF THE BLACK CROSS Fw 200 raids
The hydro-electric plant at Lochaber in the Scottish Highlands was an obvious target for the Luftwaffe’s destruction, but how to perform this long-range mission? The ability to operate Fw 200 Condors from western France provided one method
The highlands of Scotland were generally out of range for most German bombers of the Second World War. However, with the French surrender and the resulting availability of more airfields, this area was brought within the combat radius of such aircraft as the four-engined Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor.
Just one unit flew the type in 1940, namely I Gruppe/Kampfgeschwader 40 (I./KG 40). Based at Bordeaux- Mérignac in south-western France and commanded by Maj Edgar Petersen, contrary to popular belief this unit did not attack mainland Britain in daylight as part of massed bomber formations. There were never enough Condors available, and in any case they would have been vulnerable to Spitfires and Hurricanes. However, I./KG 40 did fly a few nocturnal attacks against Liverpool with lone Condors at the end of August 1940, and there is evidence of a limited number of early-morning or night-time raids by small complements of Fw 200s against Scottish targets towards the end of that year.
