French Air Force victories 10/05/1940
 

Hi,

According to " Ils étaient là ..." written by J and P Martin the French Air Force shot down 18 He111's on 10/05/1940.

Have any of these He111's been shot down over Belgium ?

Many thanks and best regards from freezing Belgium !

Luc

Re: French Air Force victories 10/05/1940
 

Hi Luc,

I have an estimated 18 He-111's shot down/crashed in Belgium and Luxemburg on May 10. In many cases it is difficult to ascertain the cause and/or identity. On May 10 the activities of the Armee de l'Air over Belgium were still minimal, so most of the planes that crashed in the south of Belgium were shot/hit over the north of France. The following crashes seem to be caused by french fighters:
1. He-111 of 3./KG1 at Leugnies-Grandieu (close to the french border) by Moranes of GC III/2
2. He-111 of 3./KG27 at Ingelmunster due to Moranes of GC III/3
3. He-111 of 3./KG27 at Venniaux idem
4. He-111 of St.II/KG27 south of Gent due to GC III/1
5. He-111 of 7./KG53 at Ell (Luxemburg) due to Hawks GC I/4
6. He-111 of 8./KG54 at Merendree due to Moranes GC III/1
7. possibly a 2nd machine of the same unit.

Any additions would be nice.
Regards,

Pieter

Re: French Air Force victories 10/05/1940
 

Gentlemen

May I just point out that RAF claimed a total of 37* or 46** He 111 as destroyed on this day, many over and near Belgium. Many more were claimed as damaged and some further are listed as "destroyed unconfirmed", which later would be listed under the nomenclature
probables!

I ALSO suppose it is more relevant to say the French CLAIMED 18 He 111 shot down that day!

I doubt if it will be at all possible to determine (when counting the true number of lost He 111) how many were shot down by which Air Force.
However RAF was based more to the north in France and many of their combats took place over or near the Low Countries, which at least to me indicate that many if not most of those were destroyed by the RAF!

We do have an author who appears rather regularly on TOCH who HAS done research on this day (and another 11 one's:) ), so I suppose he has a lot more to say about this than I do

Cheers
Stig
* Twelve days in May
** RAF Fighter Command Victory claims vol 1

Re: French Air Force victories 10/05/1940
 

According to Luftwaffe Lagebericht No 248 from 10./11.5.40 (closed at 11.5 at 10.00)

Luftwaffe had following losses:

9 x Ju 88
24 x He 111
14 x Do 17
2 x Do 215
5 x He 115
2 x Ju 87
25 x Bf 109
2 x Fi 156
Ju 52 Anzahl noch nicht ermittelt
Ausserdem Bruchlandung von 21 Fi 156

Claims:
In Luftkampf und durch Flak abgeschossen
3 Brit. Flugzeuge
25 Franz. Flugzeuge
11-15 Niederland. Flugzeuge
6-10 Belgische Flugzeuge

Am Boden ausserhalb der Hallen
35-40 Franz. und Brit. Flugzeuge
50 Niederlan. Flugzeuge
60 Belgische Flugzeuge

In Hallen
Mindestens 200 bis vielleicht 450 Flugzeuge

Best
Olve Dybvig
www.luftwaffe.no