2 May 1943

2 May 1943 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary

Weather: wind 45°, 11 m/sec. From 04:28, the Ozet Normandie station detected a larger target moving west in grid square B.F. 3519 upper left. The Alderney radar station was assigned to observe it and, from 06:35, detected an unknown target in B.F. 3519 left centre with very little movement.

Luftwaffe equipment on Alderney had previously detected the same target at 800 metres altitude, with a displacement of approximately 20 nautical miles [no time unit given]. This became known only at 0700. The Commanding Admiral, Channel Coast, and St Malo Convoy Control were informed that it was probably a balloon which had come down at sea. The duty Admiralty Staff Officer was also told that, in the local assessment, air reconnaissance or the dispatch of patrol boats was necessary. He considered this unnecessary, and no further action was taken locally. The diary repeats the earlier 800-metre detection and the assumption that a downed balloon was drifting with the current. Confirmation on 4 May is placed under that date.

T-1022 Roll 2422, PG 37997, scans 0631.