80 Sqn 20 Apr 41
 

Around midday, 2 Hurricanes from this Sqn shot down a Do 17 off Crete. Can anyone tell me the details of the RAF pilots involved?

Re: 80 Sqn 20 Apr 41
 

According to the CieldeGloire website info for 80Sq, only one Do17 was claimed by the Squadron on that day. It was shared by 2 pilots - one was William Vale, the other is listed as unknown.
Peter

Re: 80 Sqn 20 Apr 41
 

Thanks Peter. It would appear that yes, more than one Hurricane was involved but that Vale's kill was later in the day (and only one Do 17 was lost)

Re: 80 Sqn 20 Apr 41
 

Hello,

Brian Cull in his biography of Bill 'Cherry' Vale, Gladiator Ace, states that Vale claimed 2 Ju 88s on 20 April, 1941.

See:
Gladiator Ace: Bill 'Cherry' Vale, the RAF's forgotten fighter ace.
Cull,Brian
Yeovil:Haynes Publishing,2010.
pp.112-20 & 174-5 (Appendix I Bill's Combat Claims)

Col.

Re: 80 Sqn 20 Apr 41
 

Sorry Chris, I'm confused. If there was only one Do17 shot down, and the 2 Hurricanes of Vale and an unknown shot down a Do17, then if as you say Vale's was later in the day, were there 2 shot down? Or are you saying Vale's was not a Do17?

Col - Aces High has Vale with 2x Ju88 and 1 sh Do17 that day.
Peter

Re: 80 Sqn 20 Apr 41
 

All I know is only one Do 17 was lost that day and to a gaggle of Hurricanes from 80 Sqn

Re: 80 Sqn 20 Apr 41
 

Many years ago Air Britain published a short history of 80Sqn by Chri9s Shores. It lists the first claim of the day as a Do17Z and, sadly, adds shared by several squadron pilots. In the big Shores/Cull history "Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete" it records a formation made up of 6 a/c each from 80 and 33Sqns it identifies the a/c as a D017Z of III./KG2 prob U5+ES which was engaged by several Hurricanes...

Steve

Re: 80 Sqn 20 Apr 41
 

Thanks. U5+ES and U5+AR were lost at dawn to ground fire whilst U5+HL was apparently shot down by fighters around midday