Re: Blenheim L9325
 

Thank you Peter. Are there any online resources to search for 229 sqn claims on that date? or is this a case of searching the P.R.O. files in person? (a little difficult in my case, as I'm on the West coast of Canada!).

Regards,

Lockehaven

Re: Blenheim L9325
 

OK, so I've found 'Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-45' on Google books. For the 21st May 1940 we have P/O Simpson of 229 Sqn claiming 2 x He111s at 14:15 hrs in the Amiens area. From TBoFTaN we have a single He111 of 9./KG1 attributed to P/O Simpson but at 20:00 hrs.

Can anyone explain this discrepency? Perhaps if the 229 Sqn ORB were available somewhere it would give some insight into this anomoly. Were 229 Sqn patrolling the Amiens area at 2pm and 8pm? Hard to imagine a Blenheim being mistaken for a He111, even in the heat of battle, the Heinkel has such a distinctive profile.

If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear from them.

Regards,

Lockehaven

Re: Blenheim L9325
 

Hello All,

The combat Report for P/O Simpson's engagement with the He111s on the 21st May differs from the entries attributed to him in 'Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945' by John Foreman. In the Foreman book the He111s are noted as having been destroyed at 14:15 hrs in the Boulogne-Amiens area, whereas the combat report is timed at 18:50 hrs, with the engagement taking place over Calais. 2 He111s are recorded as being attacked and sustaining serious damage, with the outcome classified as 'inconclusive'. This information would seem to rule out any possible connection with a 'friendly fire' attack on L9325.

Any ideas on the discrepancy between the published claim and the contemporary Combat Report?

Regards,

Lockehaven

Re: Blenheim L9325
 

As an addendum to the above, the engagement specified in Foreman's book for F/L Leathart on the 22nd May listing an unconfirmed He111 at 08:45 hrs is dated as 21st May in the corresponding combat report submitted by the pilot himself.

Regards,

Lockehaven