French loss on 13. October 1939
 

Gentlemen,

the war diary of Heeresgruppe B mentions the loss of a french aircraft during the afternoon of 13. October 1939 in the Eifel area near Mayen. This loss is also mentioned in the OKW "Luftlage Reich" report on the following day, this time as "...a/c of unknown nationality...".

Is there any matching loss of a LeO or Potez from a GAO or GB of the Armée de l'air? At least The Battle of France Then and Now by Peter D. Cornwell has no french losses for this day...

Regards,

Heuser

Re: French loss on 13. October 1939
 

Hello/Bonjour Heuser,

Not a French plane but most probably the Blenheim IV N6160 - No. 114 Sqn - flown by P/O Thompson which was attacked that day near Idar-Oberstein and shot-down by combination of I./JG 52 fighters (Lt. Kirschner) and Festungsflakabteilung 32 gunners. The latter claimed a Potez 63 in this area but it seems that it was the Blenheim of No.114 Squadron. (Source: Book "Les Aiglons" by CJ Ehrengardt - CF Shores - H Weisse - J Foreman)

Regards,
Frederic

Re: French loss on 13. October 1939
 

Bonjour Frederic,

thank you very much for your reply! At least the OK-report mentions both: the crash near Mayen and a Blenheim near Idar-Oberstein. The latter a/c was L1138 of 57.Sqdn. most propably shot down by Ofw. Vollmer of 4./JG 53 and crashing near Langweiler near Idar-Oberstein, while N6160 fell in the Duisburg area, about 200 km north of LL1138.

Cordialement,

Heuser