French pilot Botguin killed in Belgium
 

Hello ,

On may 14 1940 a French pilot flying a MS-406 was killed near Douvrain ( Belgium ), his name was Botquin G ( KIA ).Is there someone who some additional information on this crash .

Regards
Alain57

Re: French pilot Botguin killed in Belgium
 

Confusion with the belgian author Gaston Botquin?
https://www.scalemates.com/books/book.php?id=101303

Re: French pilot Botguin killed in Belgium
 

The late Gaston Botquin, one of the finest Belgian writer about May '40 campaign and its beloved Morane.
Nice to hear again his name.

Alain, it seems you mixed author with Adjt Leniaud of GC II/6 who was killed on the 14 May '40 near Saint-Ghislain.
What is your source about Douvrain?
Do you have an even more precise location in Douvrain ?

ClinA-78

Re: French pilot Botguin killed in Belgium
 

Hi ClinA78 ,

According to me the info comes out of a file i got years ago from " Flupke ".
Regards
Alain57

Re: French pilot Botguin killed in Belgium
 

It seems more correct to read "a French pilot (Adj Leniaud donc) was killed near Douvrain, source from G. Botquin" unless I am wrong. It seems unlikely Gaston had a relative in the French AF.
I will ask to Phil (record may come from the lates Destrebecq/Decobeck, again, forgotten researchers and buddies)

ClinA-78

Re: French pilot Botguin killed in Belgium
 

Alain, Clin,

For a short narrative of the loss of Adj. Léniaud on 14 May 1940 see http://forum.aviation-ancienne.fr/t7222-14-mai-1940 and scroll down to GC II/6 (Maubeuge -MS 406).

Isn't Douvrain practically adjacent St Ghislain?

Groet,

Leendert

Re: French pilot Botguin killed in Belgium
 

Hello Leendert,

I am quite familiar with the 14th May 1940 events, involving GC II/6 : http://www.belgian-wings.be/Webpages...0Monument.html

The brutal death of Adj Leniaud is told in the great, great book of Mme Germaine L'Herbier-Montagnon, dedicated to the French missing airmen.

However Douvrain is not quoted, only the nearby Saint-Ghislain where Leniaud body was buried, near the "home des enfants des bateliers" (situated along the E42 highway).

I have checked Gaston Botquin correspondance and, again, Douvrain did not appear. Gaston would have been the man to answer.

I may contact also the son of a GC II/6 mechanic who gets the Escadrille's archives, perhaps he could help as he had corresponded with Leniaud's widow years ago.

Best regards

ClinA-78