Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, 15 May 1940.
 

Hello,

Could anyone please tell me if there was a Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, about 4 km north-east of Maubeuge (Nord), on 15 May 1940 ?
It may have resulted in the death of at least 15 French airmen or personnel.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

Re: Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, 15 May 1940.
 

The Western Front sitrep for 15 May is online here: http://wwii.germandocsinrussia.org/d...inspect/zoom/4

(Starting halfway down the page, its sets out details of ops against France)

Re: Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, 15 May 1940.
 

Hi Martin,

I do not know the precise number of deaths but amongst them we have four personnel of Compagnie de l'Air n°90/107 :

Michel DEBRUYN
Gabriel LAMBERT (sgt)
Jean ROUSSELET (sgt)
Jean DESMEDT

killed during the bombing. Time is about 1200/1300

Bertrand

Re: Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, 15 May 1940.
 

Hello,

According to the book "Des Aviateurs Méconnus" La Salmagne 1939-1940 by the late Jack Guillemin (1998, out of print): between 23-29 killed, including a RAF pilot (F/Lt Carter of 3 Sqn). No listing of casualties. But perhaps have a look at the Maubeuge-centre cemetery where some of them rest.

Best regards.

ClinA-78

Re: Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, 15 May 1940.
 

Hi,
A few years ago I made a list based on the French website Mémoire des Hommes (period 2/09/1939 – 31/12/1940) (https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.def...erre_mondiale/ )
and it mentions that 1 487 French soldiers died on 15/05/1940.

A few days are required by me to check who was killed at Elesmes or Maubeuge. Results to follow asap.

Best regards

Luc

Re: Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, 15 May 1940.
 

Gentlemen, thank you all for your assistance.

Nick,
I would never have thought to look in Russian Archives ! It seems it could be a potential goldmine for 1940 from the German side. Although I will never use it (Eastern Front), I have been following the revelations of captured German documents on the TSAMO website with joy as a researcher.

Bertrand,
Is 'Compagnie de l'Air no. 90/107' an airfield servicing unit ? Please excuse my lack of knowledge on Armee de l'Air units.
The time you give fits perfectly.

ClinA-78,
That book source is a great find. Is 'La Salmagne' another name for Elesmes airfield ? I know the fortified position of 'Ouvrage La Salmagne' is approximately 1 1/2 km. north-west of Elesmes.
Indeed the reason for my question at the start of this thread is that I have come across some references to F/Lt. Mark Carter being killed in a bombing raid on 'Sallemange' (sic) airfield on May 15th, this information from his AIR 81/396 RAF casualty file. This came as a surprise as any previously published works featuring him state he was shot down and killed in the crash of Hurricane N2534 somewhere near Maubeuge. He and the dead French personnel (at least 15) were later taken to the hospital in Maubeuge.
Does the book record if he baled out or force-landed on the airfield ? He must have died almost immediately on reaching the airfield given the times quoted.

Luc,
I hope that will not be too time-consuming a task.

Sincere thanks once more.

Regards,

Martin.

Re: Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, 15 May 1940.
 

MOINEAU Marcel Gilbert
soldat
25e régiment de tirailleurs algériens (25e RTA)
Chauny - hôpital mixte
02 - Aisne
Bombardement


SANDRAS Fernand Jules
34e Genie
Housset
02 - Aisne
bombardement


LE DU Eugène Joseph Pierre
51e régiment d'artillerie (51e RA)
Leschelle
02 - Aisne
bombardement


DENOLE René Aimé Albert
32e régiment de travailleurs (32e RT)
Saint Quentin - hôpital complémentaire
02 - Aisne
bombardement aérien


GOUGET Raymond Emilien
331e régiment d'infanterie (331e RI)
Ballay
08 - Ardennes
bombardement


LELOIR Eugène Henri
331e régiment d'infanterie (331e RI)
Ballay
08 - Ardennes
bombardement


MICHELET Eugène René Philippe
331e régiment d'infanterie (331e RI)
Ballay
08 - Ardennes
bombardement


LEBOUCHER Bernard Gaston
soldat
Compagnie Air 82/107
Challeranges
08 - Ardennes
bombardement


NIBAS Fernad Adrien
460r RP
Damouzy
08 - Ardennes
bombardement


MOREL Albert André
329e régiment d'infanterie (329e RI)
Poix-Terron
08 - Ardennes
bombardement


MARCHAND Laurent Stéphane Marie
9e parc de munitions d'armée
Romague
08 - Ardennes
bombardement


MARECHALLE Louis Raymond Emile
91e régiment d'infanterie (91e RI)
Tannay
08 - Ardennes
bombardement


PAGE Gaston Pierre
91e régiment d'infantérie (91e RI)
Tannay
08 - Ardennes
bombardement


MAISON Lucien
5e RCU
08 - Ardennes
bombardement


COUTON Eugène Auguste
331e régiment d'infanterie (331e RI)
Ballaif
08 - Ardennes
bombardement aérien


MOUREAU Raymond Georges
2e bataillon de chasseurs à pied (2e BCP)
Bazancourt
51 - Marne
bombardement


PILLOT Albert Louis
2e bataillon de chasseurs à pied (2e BCP)
Bazancourt
51 - Marne
bombardement


LARDINOIS Clément
219e Rgt de travailleurs
Sainte-Menehould
51 - Marne
bombardement


MONDAN Germain Claude
219e Rgt de Travailleurs
Sainte-Menehould
51 - Marne
bombardement


RAFFAULT Eugène Prosper
295e régiment d'infanterie (295e RI)
Sainte-Menehould
51 - Marne
bombardement


FOIRET Alain Louis
309 e RA tractée
Villers Dancourt
51 - Marne
bombardement


JACOT Simon Laurent
309e régiment d'artillerie (309e RA)
Villers Dancourt
51 - Marne
bombardement


SETIAU Pierre Daniel Antonin
309 e RAT
Villers Daucourt
51 - Marne
bombardement


VINEL Robert Georges
309e RAT
Villers Daucourt
51 - Marne
bombardement


LEIB Maurice
309e RA tractée
Villers en Argonne
51 - Marne
bombardement


MICHEL Robert
309e régiment d'artillerie (309e RA)
Villers en Argonne
51 - Marne
bombardement


VERNHES Lucien Julien Augustin
309e RAT
Villers Waucourt
51 - Marne
bombardement


MATRAT Paul
309e régiment d'artillerie (309e RA)
Villers-Dancourt
51 - Marne
bombardement


PINCHARD Lucien René
309e RA tractée
Villers-Dancourt
51 - Marne
bombardement


SOLOMON Jançu
309e RAT
Villers-Dancourt
51 - Marne
bombardement


TILLIER Pierre François
309e régiment d'artillerie (309e RA)
51 - Marne
bombardement


BREGANZE Noël Victor Hugo
309e regt artillerie tractée 1e colon ravit
gare de Villers Daucourt, Cne de Chatrice
51 - Marne
bombardement aérien


DOUHAIRET Jean Jules Max
309e RA tractée
gare de la ville de Villers Beaucourt
51 - Marne
bombardement aérien


DUPLAT André Albert
309e RA tractée
gare de Villers
51 - Marne
bombardement aérien


EGAL Jean André
309 e RA tractée
Villers Dancourt
51 - Marne
bombardement aérien


FERRON Aimable Gabriel
115e régiment d'infanterie (115e RI)
Audun-le-Roman
54 - Meurthe-et-Moselle
bombardement


MARIGNY Victor
6e section de commis et ouvriers militaires d'administration (6e COA)
Landres
54 - Meurthe-et-Moselle
bombardement


THIOLIER Jean Georges Louis
8e section de commis et ouvriers militaires d'administration (8e COA)
Landres
54 - Meurthe-et-Moselle
bombardement


LE RUN Albert Louis Auguste
435e RP
Pont-à-Mousson
54 - Meurthe-et-Moselle
bombardement


ROLAND Michel Emile Marie
5e RCU
Raucourt
54 - Meurthe-et-Moselle
bombardement


SCAILLIEREZ Marius
2e Btn de Mitrailleurs
Revigny
55 - Meuse
bombardement


MENESGUEN Alin Marie
23e régiment d'infanterie coloniale (23e RIC)
St Walfroy
55 - Meuse
Bombardement


KNOCKAERT Emile
151e RAF
Richemont
57 - Moselle
bombardement


DEBRUYN Michel Fernand Charles André Marie
soldat
Compagnie Air 90/107
Elesmes
59 - Nord
bombardement


LAMBERT Gabriel Jean Germain
sergent
Compagnie de l'Air 90/107
Elesmes
59 - Nord
bombardement


ROUSSELET Jean
sergent
Compagnie de l'Air 90/107
Elesmes
59 - Nord
bombardement


HONORE Edouard
caporal
Compagnie de l'Air 90/107
Elesmes
59 - Nord
bombardement


DESMEDT Jean
soldat
Compagnie Air 90/107
Maubeuge
59 - Nord
bombardement


GARY André Léon Maximin
13e régiment de tirailleurs tunisiens (13e RTT)
Maubeuge
59 - Nord
bombardement


GARNIER Félix Urbain
28e régiment de tirailleurs tunisiens (28e RTT)
Trélon
59 - Nord
bombardement


GUCHER Georges François
8e régiment du génie (8e RG)
Trélon
59 - Nord
bombardement


JOLY Camille Paul
11e régiment d'artillerie (11e RA)
Trélon
59 - Nord
bombardement


DEMAS André Jean Marie
soldat
Groupe 140/5
Vendegues aux Bois
59 - Nord
bombardement aérien


DELAPORTE Oscar
1 er Train
Le Quenay
59 - Nord
bombardement aérien


HAMELIN Jacques Philippe
5e régiment du génie (5e RG)
Chaulnes
80 - Somme
bombardement


ROUSSELLE Louis Albert Henri
534e Sapeurs chemins de fer
Chaulnes
80 - Somme
bombardement


BELLANGER André René
Comple 534 de Sapeurs de Chemins de Fer 5e Génie
Chaulnes (Sommes)
80 - Somme
Bombardement


RICHE Roger Louis
1er Parc Artillerie Divisionnaire
Baulers
Belgique
bombardement


HENRIETTE Maurice
134e régiment d'infanterie (134e RI)
Gembloux
Belgique
bombardement


PIQUE Raymond Maurice
6/4 e Régulatrice routière
Genappe
Belgique
bombardement


LAURENTI Jean Noël
29e régiment de dragons (29e RD)
Meeffe
Belgique
bombardement


RESNAIS Jean Marie Louis
318e RAP
Saint Géry
Belgique
bombardement


RIGOLLET Fernand
2e bataillon de chasseurs à pied (2e BCP)
Bazancourt
Bombardement


RUETSCH Joseph Charles
8e bataillon de chasseurs à pied (8e BCP)
Bazancourt
bombardement


PETIT Albert
3e régiment du génie (3e RG)
La Viotte
bombardement


SIMON Désiré Eugène
219e Rég.de Travailleurs
bombardement

Hi,
This is the list of all French of which the death was caused on 15/05/1940 by bombing. Information extracted from the ‘Mémoire des Hommes’ website. It is possible that there are others for which the cause of death was not mentioned or simply mentioned as killed during the battle.
Best regards
Luc

Re: Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, 15 May 1940.
 

Luc,

thank you for that very comprehensive list of French casualties.

Regards,

Martin.

Re: Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, 15 May 1940.
 

Martin,

I have the following on the German action:

May 15, noon: Bomb raid Charleville-Valenciennes-Le Cateau-Rocroi area. Also Maubeuge airfield. 27 dead. Seen by GC III/7: 6 platoons of 24 a/c escorted by Bf110 = 2 full Geschwader

The German units were almost certainly KG76 and KG77, escorted by II/ZG76

Cheers, Pieter

Re: Luftwaffe air raid on Elesmes airfield, 15 May 1940.
 

Pieter,

Thanks for that specific information on the units involved. It looks like the airfield took a very severe pounding that day and which helps to explain the high casualty figure.

Regards,

Martin.