218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

I am trying to identify the eleven crews from 218 Squadron who flew during the afternoon of 14 May, 1940. Seven Battles attacked a column on the Bouillon-Givonne road, the other four machines attacked a bridge at Douzy. Ten were shot down and one returned.

I have The Battle File / Chorley / Valient Wings. The NA has provided citations for awards of the DFC to Acting Flight Lieutenant J M M HUGHES and the DFM to Corporal J A DRUMMOND both covering the 14th May. As the content in both is very similar I 'presume' that they could be Pilot and Gunner respectively. I am also assuming that their's was the surviving 11th aircraft? Can anyone identify the third memeber of this crew?

All offers of help or suggestions regarding further sources will be gratefully received.

Regards – Malcolm.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Since my original posting I have managed to identify the third crew member in Acting Flight Lieutenant J M M HUGHES Fairey Battle. Unfortunately I have not be successful in attributing a serial number to this aircraft.

Once more I would like to ask if any Forum member can help me with information relating to the losses suffered by 218 Squadron on 14.05.40 or have knowledge of photographs taken of 218 squadron machines. I have seen several examples depicting crashed aircraft belonging to other AASF units taken by German troops and hope that examples may exist recording 218 losses.

Can anyone offer any help?

With kind regards, Malcolm.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Hi Malcolm
From Battle of France-then and Now,P Cornwell there are accounts of 5 218 Sqn Losses and a note that positive evidence of 5 more has not so far been found.
Attacking bridge at Wadelincourt
P2360 P/O R T Butting and AC1 W C Waterston both MIA no 3rd crew member reported
L5422 F/O J F R Crane KIA, AC1 T W Holloway POW
L5232 P/O W A R Harris baled out burned, Sgt N B Herriot and AC1 W Robinson KIA
Bouilon-Gavonne road
L5235 Bf 109 attack, belly landed P/O A M Irvine POW LAC A J Taylor POW, died of wounds
P2324 F/O D A J Foster and AC1 T J Bryan both POW
It seems from the book that Battles did not always fly with a 3rd crew member
Regards
Dick

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Hello Dick,

Thank you for the reply and interesting information.

With this project I am trying to identify the other 218 Squadron machines that were possibly lost on that day. It is recorded that in total 10 aircraft were lost and one returned. I now know the identity of the crew of the surviving aircraft, but not the serial number. I would like to discover the identity of the other 5 aircraft involved. A tentative attribution has been suggested in several publications for these machines but due to a lack of official records these are not proven.

One question I am trying to answer is this. If records were lost, where has the information that ten Battles in total were destroyed originated?

Five are recorded as such and I have no issue with these. But what of the others? Are the identities attributed correct? Or could other machines have returned that day?

Any help or thoughts will be most appreciated.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Part 1 of 3 - due to connection problems.

Hallo Malcolm,

This is a fascinating puzzle, but one where the answer may be in front of us. I put forward the following for discussion.

Please bear with me while I first outline the well-known background which is vital to my argument. On re-reading the relevant entries for 218 Squadron in The Battle File, Valiant Wings, Peter Cornwell's The Battle of France T&N and other sources one can determine the following.

May 10th: 218 flew 4 sorties this day.
All 4 Battles were damaged, but returned to base.
One was later abandoned as D.B.R. (L5402).
One crew member was KIA, the other 11 returned safely.

May 11th: 218 flew 4 sorties this day.
All 4 aircraft were lost ( K9325, P2203, P2249 HA-U and P2326 ).
Of the crewmen 4 were KIA and 8 became POWs.

May 12th: 218 flew 3 sorties this day.
2 aircraft lost (K9353 and P2183), one returnrd to base.
Of the crewmen 4 were KIA, 2 evaded and 3 returned safely.

May 13th: 218 flew no sorties this day.

May 14th: 218 flew 11 sorties this day.
5 aircraft were lost (L5232, L5235 HA-W, L5422, P2324 and P2360).
In the above 5 Battles there were 11 crewmen on board; of whom 6 were KIA, 4 became POWs and one was wounded but returned.

This leaves 6 Battles to account for. It is my contention that the second 5 aircraft reputed to have been lost this day were in fact all badly damaged but returned to their airfield. The following day (May 15th), as per Peter Cornwell's book, these 5 Battles were abandoned at Auberieve when the squadron moved to a new base.

To be continued....

Martin Gleeson.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Hi,

I have one remark:

12.05.40 K9353 HA-J.

Regards

Robert

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Part 2 of 3.

These 5 had to be from the 6 serial numbers quoted on page 283; K9251 HA-K, K9256, K9273 HA-R, L5192 HA-P, P2189 and P2192 HA-E. However I do have a concern for the inclusion of K9256. Referring to Sidney Shail's excellent The Battle File he records that K9256 went to 218 Squadron on 11.10.1938, next to 2 Salvage Section on 7.3.1940, then to 21 Aircraft Depot on 25.3.40 and finally that it was "presumed abandoned in France 6.40". If it went to 21 A.D. at Chateau-Bougon near Nantes then it was most unlikely to have been returned to 218 Squadron by May. In fact reading through the individual Battle histories in Shail's book shows a journey to 21 A.D. was one-way ! Via 21 A.D. to the scrapyard at Chateau-Bougon or back to the UK, but almost never, if ever, back to the front-line squadrons.
I believe the 6th Battle abandoned at Auberieve should be L5402, as suggested by Peter Cornwell himself on page 183 of his book.

It is worth noting that Sidney Shail on page 58 of his book believed that the second 5 Battles reputedly lost on May 14th were probably the 5 mentioned in the paragraph above, but not including K9256. So I am not breaking entirely new ground with this post. However he nowhere records that the squadron abandoned aircraft at Auberieve on the following day.

As an aside both The Battle File and Valiant Wings claim that a 218 Squadron Battle was destroyed on the ground at Auberieve by enemy bombing on May 15th. As Peter Cornwell does not record it I assume he found insufficient evidence to support this. Having gone through all the 218 Squadron Battle individual histories in Sidney Shail's book I could not find any possible match, unless it was one of the already damaged aircraft from May 14th.

I am baffled also by the two different HA-R marked Battles shown on page 272 of The Battle of France T&N. I cannot explain this little anomaly. It needs more research - and photos of 218 Squadron Battles ! Ed West, bless him, only a few nights ago posted another photo of K9273 HA-R.

To be concluded....

Martin.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Part 3 of 3.

To support my argument about the second 5 'lost' Battles which I believe returned damaged to Auberieve I draw your attention to the fate of the crews of aircraft lost on May 11th (4), 12th (2) and 14th (the first known 5). Only 2 men from one crew returned unhurt, the other 27 became casualties. If another 5 Battles had been lost on May 14th - all or most with a 2-man crew - then we would have up to 10 or 12 more KIA/WIA/POWs. Nowhere has any evidence surfaced to support any extra casualties for 218 Squadron on May 14th.

In five days from May 10th to 14th 218 Squadron carried out 22 sorties. They lost 11 Battles and abandoned or wrote-off another 6. Worse, they lost the equivalent of 11 crews. With only 22 sorties to contend with one can relatively easily account for all of the squadron aircraft. Again from checking The Battle File - and trusting the details are all present and correct - one finds the following.

218 Squadron had 18 Battles on hand on May 10th;
K9251, K9273, K9323, K9325, K9353, L5192, L5232, L5235, L5237, L5402, L5422, P2183, P2189, P2192, P2203, P2249, P2324 and P2326.
They received another 4 as replacements between May 10th and 18th inclusive; L5514, L5579, P2315 and P2360.
On May 21st they transferred their remaining 5 operational Battles to 103 Squadron (L5514 and P2315) and to 150 Squadron (K9323, L5237 and L5579). These transfers are confirmed by various entries on pages 65-74 of The Battle File.

This I believe accounts for all of their aircraft proving, I hope, that only 5 Battles were lost in action away from their airfield on May 14th, though 10 in total were effectively lost as a result of the mission that day.

It would be very interesting if someone could tell us the source for the story of the '10 lost Battles'.

Unfortunately Malcolm, if I am correct, the 3 crew members you referred to at the beginning of this thread could therefore be from any of the 6 returning Battles. Sorry if that throws a spanner in your work !

Regards,

Martin.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Hello Martin,

Thank you for the fascinating reply. Since my updated post I have also been collecting data from the publications you mention. I can now cross reference both to see what I have missed!

I think that your research is getting to the truth regarding 'losses' on the 14.05.40. I did suspect as much, hence my request for knowledge of the original source for these figures. It would be fantastic 'if' photo evidence could be located. A lot machines that became casualities during this campaign were photographed by German troops, who thankfully all seemed to carry cameras. These images often turn up on ebay.

I will be pouring over your research over the next few days and will come back with more questions!

I agree it is a fascinating puzzle, one from a fascinating campaign!

Kind regards, Malcolm.

PS: Do any Forum members have photographs relating to 218 Squadron during this period? If so, I would be very interested to hear from you!

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Hello,

I have noted from my old notes for my article "lost Battles" for Air Enthusiast that the following aircraft were abandoned at Auberive.

K9251 HA-K
K9273 HA-R
P2192 HA-E

I have photos of all three aircraft - in the case of K9273 and P2192 both Battles have had tailplanes/ailerons/props removed suggesting that they were being stripped down before being shipped off for repair. K9251 seems to have suffered port u/c failure and has had merlin removed.

It seems likely that HA-P L5192 was also abandoned at Auberive. Photos also exist of Battle L5402 which was burnt-out at Auberive.

Hope this helps,
Simon

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

I’ve spent considerable time researching Battle Squadrons in the Blitz period.

Firstly I’ve not found the source of the 11 planes and 10 lost?

However I believe these (with fates) were the 218 Squ a/c at Auberive on 10 May


K9251
HA-K
Abandoned – Auberive?
K9273
HA-R
Abandoned, Auberive - (Damaged in ops and/or possibly bombed on ground ) (
K9325
HA-D
St.-Vith - Shot down over the target - Pilot; F/O A.J.Hudson PoW – 11 May (Photo)
K9353
HA-J
Sensenruth (Luxembourg), 3 km N of Bouillon, Belgium - F/S J.B.Horner KIA - 12 May
L5192
HA-P
Abandoned Auberive? (Photo)
L5232

shot down Sauville (Ardennes), 19 km SSW of Sedan - Pilot P/O W.A.R.Harris Inj (Photo)
L5235
HA-W
Thelonne (Ardennes), 8 km S of Sedan - Pilot; P/O A.M.Imrie PoW (Photo)
P2183

Nouvion-sur-Meuse 7 km WSW of Sedan - Pilot; F/S F.S.Bazalgette KIA -12 May
P2189

Abandoned - Auberive?
P2192
HA-E
Abandoned - Auberive? (Photo)
P2203

On hillside to West of Basbellian, Luxembourg - Pilot; Sgt C.J.E.Dockrill KIA – 11 May
P2249
(HA-U)
St.-Vith - Pilot; P/O H.M.Murray PoW – 11 May
P2324

nr Sedan by ground fire; Pilot; F/O D.A.J.Foster PoW – 14 May
P2326

nr St.-Vith by ground fire - Pilot; F/O C.A.R.Crews PoW – 11 May
L5402

Damaged by ground fire Luxembourg - on 10 May, returned, later abandoned (Auberive)
K9323

RETURNED TO UK


Two planes further planes were received before 14 May - L5422 o 12 May and P2360 on 13 May


The following were the losses on 14 May
L5232 – PO Harris wounded, returned, Sgt Basil Herriot, Observer and AC1 William Robinson KIA
L5422 - FO Johnny Crane, KIA, AC1 Holloway POW

P2324 - FO Foster and AC1 Bryan POW
.
L5235 (HA-W) - PO Athur ‘Bale-out’ Imrie POW and LAC Alfred Taylor KIA

P2360 - PO Robert Buttery KIA and AC2 William Waterson KIA

I believe the six other planes would therefore be K9251, K9273, L5192, P2192 L5402, P2189 and K9323- the last plane eventually returned to the UK.

I’ve seen a lot of photos of K9251, K9273, L5192, P2192 as abandoned planes – but I’ve not seen photos of L5402 or P2189

In respect of aircrew from DFC/DFM recs and Malcolm’s excellent research we have.two proven crews with F/Lt. Hughes & Sgt. Marchandas the pilots

Additionally I recently found a DFM recommendation (not awarded) for a Sgt pilot Charles Dancaster OWEN, (590620) for this action.

So there is proof of three planes returning.

Conclusion if 11 planes is correct, five did not return, perhaps five DBR, one OK – hence 10 not returned or DBR…the myth of 10 ‘lost’

Lastly the Battle File and T&N need to be read with caution. The Battle File is accurate in the details of the plane records, but there are errors and omissions in those records. T&N also has errors on a/c attribution and photos.

Hope that helps

Iain

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Simon,
Thank you for the helpful information. It is interesting to learn that other 218 Battle photos exist.

Ian,
Great first post!

Within these few replies my knowledge of events this day has been greatly expanded and I am grateful to all those who have contributed. I am hopeful that further photo evidence will eventually be found to support the research being done.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Gentlemen,

Interesting thread. The origins of the '10 (of 11) aircraft lost' by No.218 Squadron can be found in the ORB of No.75 Wing [NA(PRO) Documents: AIR 26/112 & 115] which also reports 7 (of 8) aircraft lost by No.103 and one (of 10) by No.88 Squadron during the attack on Meuse bridges & enemy columns near Sedan on May 14, 1940.

This account had long troubled me and Martin Gleeson & Iain Torrance provide a most persuasive explanation as to how the discrepancy between these totals and actual losses arose. Clearly, only five aircraft, as documented in BoFrT&N, were lost by No.218 Squadron on that sortie but with five more returning damaged and later being abandoned. The No.75 Wing scribe certainly cannot be accused of putting any positive spin on events.

I would be most grateful to Iain if he would share with us the 'errors on aircraft attribution and photos' he has noted in BoFrT&N. Like most other members of this forum I am committed to trying to get things right.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Martin
from your post on 8/9.08
(I am baffled also by the two different HA-R marked Battles shown on page 272 of The Battle of France T&N. I cannot explain this little anomaly. It needs more research - and photos of 218 Squadron Battles ! Ed West, bless him, only a few nights ago posted another photo of K9273 HA-R.)

Could I suggest a possibility arising out of the relatively poor photos? K9273 is a clear profile view and unambiguous. The other photo is not so clear and shows the a/c tangled in trees. The lower part of the HA is lost by the curve of the fuselage and shadow. Could the other be a B, with the lower part similarly lost. The style of the lettering ,which seems to "square off" the curved parts of both letters could make the upper section of R and B appear very alike and with the truncation make part of the lower B look similar to the R . The lower R is far less angled on the a/c than we are typing it here and would write it by hand
Regards
Dick

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Hello Simon,

I would be interested to read your article published in Air Enthusiast. Could you tell me the issue it appeared in and I will try to locate one.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Pics of HA-x a/c.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

More HA-x

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

HA-x

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Revi16,

Great photos! Many thanks for posting. I am sure they will add much to this thread. I will look in detail later this evening.

Kind regards, Malcolm.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Have enjoyed all the posts on No.218 (B) Squadron and we at the association are always pleased to learn something new.

In all the posts I have seen no mention of Battle K9254. (see attachment)

The aircraft is mentioned a number of times in the ORB, the last of which is January 12th 1940 when on return from a exercise the engine developed a problem resulting in the pilot, P/O Forth making a forced landing 20 kms of Campiagne. (sic).

The Battle File mentions that the aircraft was abandoned in France, interested in any views on this and P/O Forth.

Regards

Steve

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Steve,
Do your records show the 218 Sqn a/c that was coded HA-B in May '40, if any?The B is a possibility for a Battle shown in Peter Cornwell's book "The Battle of France-then and now" The photo shows the rear fuselage up to and including the Sqn code, but the a/c is nearly vertical among a dense stand of trees and the curve of the fuselage takes away much of the lower part of the lettering. In the book it is very provisionaly identified as HA-R but it is shown,on p272 alongside another Battle that is unambiguously HA-R and the possible double use of the letter has caused much discussion in an area where the records are so incomplete and there is justified concern about being as accurate as possible.
Regards
Dick

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Good evening Dick,

Sadly the squadron ORB does not record the individual a/c letter at all until the squadron was re-equipped with the Vickers Wellington. As already mention the pages for May 1940 are missing. !! Most frustrating!!!

Slightly off topic, yes we all would like to positively identify the aircraft in the photograph, however I think we all should congratulate Peter on a magnificent publication on a topic fraught with potential minefields.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Steve
I would certainly endorse your "off topic" sentence
Regards
Dick

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Has anybody got more info on L5402 or P2189

Simong mentions photos exist of L5402 as 'burnt out' -
anybody got a scan?
and any chance it is the Battle destoyed in air raid at Auberive when bomb load (4x250lb) went off?

Anything at all on fate of P2189?

thanks

Iain

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Having gone back over the records a few more thoughts on the two HA-Rs (or the HA-R & HA-B)

My hunch is that the photo ‘in the wood’ is likely to be HA-B.

So if that’s right then it would be a newly coded HA-B replacing K9324, well documented as having the B plane code, which left 218 Squ on 7 March. Incidently K9256 also seems to have left the squadron at that date (incidentally this plane is stated by Cornwell as abandoned at Auberive this is unlikely as Battle File has it as gone to 21AD, Nantes). There was also the Hulbert crash, on 1 March, of K9252.

Consistent with this are the three planes recorded as arriving 218 Squadron in early March, presumed as replacements, and one of two these could have been coded HA-B....

L5232 – was the Harris loss on 14 May – crew killed
P2189 – I have nothing on the fate of this a/c
P2192 - arrived 12 March is the much photographed HA-E abandoned Auberive

Can anybody please help with further info on L5232 or P2189? Photos?

Also L5402 is recorded in Battle File as Damaged by ground fire Luxembourg - on 10 May, returned, and abandoned on evacuation

Again I’ve never seen a confirming photo, or other evidence, can any body please help on that one?

Thanks

Iain

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Hi, Better late than never.
I have been researching the Fairey Battle as a subject for a rc scale model (Around 80" span). The RAFM provided some history on K9324 HA B which is the one I will model. According to the aircraft records it was one of the original 11 sent out by 218sqn and returned from the mission in question and finished its days in Australia. Appears it was recalled back to the UK very soon after those huge losses as squadron strengths were decimated.

Adrian

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Malcolm,

Is it possible to have the two texts mentioning attacks on May 14th 1940 of
- F/Lt J. M. M. Hughes (DFC) and
- Cpl J. A. Drummond (DFM)

Battle L5402 and P2189 were also shot down on that deadly mission on Sedan on May 14th 1940, crews baled out : one of this Battle hurt in mid-air a Bf 109 of JG 53 : I have found the two wreckages (German and British) side by side on the ground... The German pilot was taken prisonner. The two Battle crews were not killed.

I am looking for a photo of those three wreckages:
- a Battle of No. 218 Squadron (L5402 or P2189) and a Bf 109 of JG 53 all together
- a Battle of No. 218 Squadron (L5402 or P2189).

Merci

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Hello arnaud,

If you send me an email address via PM I will forward you copies – safer than me typing them out!

Kind regards, Malcolm.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Bonjour,

I haven't checked if this crew was mentioned in this thread. Here they are...

Sergent Owen :
“On the 14th May, 1940, whilst carrying out a raid on Bouillon, he was attacked by a very heavy formation of enemy fighters. Although his aircraft was badly damaged Sergt Owen pressed home his attack and by his skilful manoeuvring materially assisted his air gunner in shooting down one of the enemy fighters and having completed his mission brought his aircraft safely back to its base” (Recommendation Sgt C D Owen).

AC Evans :
“On the 14th May, 1940, this airmen was wireless operator air gunner of the aircraft which on a bombing raid, was attacked by a force of Me 109’s. Although heavily outnumbered Aircraftman Evans remained cool and withhold his fire until his gun could be used effectively. He shot down one enemy fighter and damaged others, causing them to break off the engagement. His courage and coolness in the face of heavy enemy opposition were largely responsible for the success of the raid and the safe return of the aircraft”(Recommendation AC E.J. Evans).

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

629150 A.C.2. E. J. Evans, R.A.F.

Sergeant Edward Joseph Evans, D.F.M.
From Ironbridge, Shropshire.
Son of Edward and Frances Selina Evans.

Joined the R.A.F. in 1938.
Served France with 218 Squadron, Advanced Air Striking Force.
Awarded D.F.M. Announced in the London Gazette dated 21.6.1940

Promoted Sergeant (WOP/AG).

Killed by the propeller of his own aircraft on 28.11.1940.
Age 21.
Husband of Vera Evans, of Southey Green, Sheffield.
Buried in Sheffield (Shiregreen) Cemetery.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

K9273 picture eBay https://www.ebay.de/itm/374543486848...wAAOSwg4hkAd-s

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

https://youtu.be/B_Kg4xjUGn4
L5235 HA-W of No 218 Sqn, Auberive-sur-Suippes. Shot down at 1540hrs on Tuesday 14 May 1940 by Hauptmann von Janson of Stab I./JG53 whilst tasked to attack the bridge at Wadelincourt. She belly-landed near Thelonne, south of Sedan.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

AIR Enthusiast Issue 109, January/February 2004

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

From the AE pages 20/21 Table -

218 Sqdn -

May 10
L5402 Damaged by AA. Aircraft scrapped by 4 RSU at Auberive.

May 11
K9325 'HA-D' Shot down St.Vith, Fg Off Hudson, Sgt Thompson and AC1 Ellis (all POW).
P2203 Hit by AA and crashedTroisvierges.Sgt Dockrill, Sgt Dormer and AC1 Gregory (all KIA).
P2249 Shot downstairs.Vith. please Off Murray,Sgt Stubbs and AC1 Adams (all POW).
P2326 Shot down by AA, St.Vith. Fg Off Crews and Sgt Evans( both POW), Sgt Jennings (KIA).

May 12
K9353 'HA-F' Hit by AA Bouillon and crashed Sesenruth. F/Sgt Horner, Sgt Flisher and LAC Davies (all KIA).
P2183 Hit by AA and crashed Nouivon- sur-Meuse. Plt Off Bazalgette(KIA), Sgt Harris and LAC Jones(both OK).

May 13
Nil.

May 14
K9251 'HA-K' Damaged by AA during sortie. Abandoned at Auberive.
K9273 'HA-R' Damaged by AA during sortie. Abandoned at Auberive.
L5192 'HA-P' Damaged during mission 14.5.40. Abandoned at Auberive.
L5232 Shot down Sauville. Please Off Harris escaped, Sgt Herriot and AC1 Robinson ( both KIA).
L5235 'HA-W' Shot down Thelonne, near Sedan. Plt Off Imrie(POW) LAC Taylor (KIA).
L5422 Shot down, Noyers-Pont-Maugis near Sedan. Fg Off Crane(KIA),AC1 Holloway (POW).
P2192 'HA-E' Damaged during sortie. Abandoned at Auberive.
P2324 - Shot down attacking bridge, Sedan. Fg Off Foster and AC1 Bryan( both POW).
P2360 Shot down attacking bridge, Sedan. Plt Off Buttery and AC2 Waterston (both KIA).

May 15
Nil

May 16
Nil.

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

K9353 was HA-J at one point:
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gall...es-k9353-ha-j/
Is it confirmed that it was HA-F when lost?

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

Hi Andy, perhaps Simon can tell us where he got the HA-F info from ?

As for the photo of K9353 HA -J. Is there anyway that the date the photograph was taken can be found ?

Alex

Re: 218 SQUADRON CREW LIST 14-05-40
 

There is a series of photos with HA-J in front. According to Air Pictorial 1999-10: "Three No 218 Sqn Fairey Battles, coded HA, formate for the official photographer just after transferring to France. Only the leading aircraft would survive, being returned to the UK in March; the other two were shot down during operations in May 1940."