Battle L5446, P2251, and N2150
 

Hi,
looking for information (fate, crew) on following Fairey Battle:
L 5446, 103 Sq, PM-N
P 2251, probably 12 Sq
N 2150, 12 Sq, PH-Y
Many thanks
peter

Re: Battle L5446, P2251, and N2150
 

Hi,
P2251 - hit by ground fire and crashed near Bercheux.
pilot killed other two crew pow.Date 11th May 40.
N2150 - Burnt on evacuation of Chateau Bougon 16th June 40.
L5446 - no details.
this was all from The Battle File.

Alex

Re: Battle L5446, P2251, and N2150
 

Many thanks Alex,
I have a picture of N2150, it was not burned, just damaged.
Peter

Re: Battle L5446, P2251, and N2150
 

Concerning the Battle P2251, I have the following information : this aircraft (RH - D) was from the 88 Squadron and attacked German troops on the morning of May 11th 1940 on the road Martelange-Neufchâteau and shot down by ground fire. It crash-landed at Juseret at a place named "Besagibet". Sgt Whittle was dead when the German made POW F/Lt Madge and Cpl Collyer.

Re: Battle L5446, P2251, and N2150
 

Peter

Battle L5446 was initially delivered to 27MU on Nov 19th,1939. No further record is detailed on its record card. However Phil Butler believes there is a pretty good chance it went to France. The situation WAS a bit chaotic during the Spring of 1940.

May I inquire of your source for it ending up with 103Sq being coded PM-N?? Photograph perhaps?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Battle L5446, P2251, and N2150
 

Hi Stig,

yes source is a photograph.

many thanks

Re: Battle L5446, P2251, and N2150
 

Peter

Any date on the photo? - And what status is the aircraft in - wreckage etc, captured/force landed? - I wonder if it is one of the 4 unknown 103 Sqn ones lost on 14th June 1940? - 2 lost on ops and 2 on the ground in a bombing....

Re: Battle L5446, P2251, and N2150
 

Re: Battle L5446, P2251, and N2150
 

I currently have these three aircraft listed so:

11 May 1940: 88 SQUADRON, MOURMELON-LE-GRAND

Battle P2251. Badly damaged by ground fire during attack on enemy column near Bouillon and belly-landed at ‘Besagibet’, between Vaux-sur-Sure and Bercheux, north of Juseret, 10.30 a.m. Flight Lieutenant A. J. Madge and Corporal A. C. Collyer captured. Sergeant E. J. M. Whittle killed. Aircraft RH*D a write-off.

14 May 1940: 103 SQUADRON, BÉTHENIVILLE

Battle L5446. Shot down by Bf109s of 1./JG53 during attack on bridge at Mouzon and belly-landed near Singly, south-west of Sedan, 3.40 p.m. Possibly one of those claimed by Uffz Höhnisch. Sergeant G. Beardsley and LAC G. F. Lewis both returned unhurt. Aircraft PM*N a write-off.
This crew returned to their unit three days later having walked some 30 miles.

14 June 1940: 12 SQUADRON, SOUGÉ

Squadron records are incomplete, but three aircraft (L5328, N2150 PH*Y, and P5231) were reported ’lost in France’ for which no further details are known. Nine surviving aircraft left for England next day.

(Source: The Battle of France Then & Now)

Re: Battle L5446, P2251, and N2150
 

Are there Pictures in the Book ? I forgot there is one more from a greater Distance but another Fairey PM ? as i see now. Greetings Peglar