Spitfire collision 4/4/42
 

Hi guys

On 4/4/42 a Spitfire IX flown by Sqn Ldr Szczesny DFC of the Northolt Wing collided with a Spitfire flown by Plt Off Leon Divoy (Belgian) of 64 Squadron off Boulogne. Both pilots baled out and were captured. Does anyone have the serial numbers etc of these two Spits?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Spitfire collision 4/4/42
 

Dear Brian ,

According to the Fighter Command lost list Léon Divoy bailed out his Spitfire BM 191 during Circus 119 and became POW on 04/04/1942 , following this same list S/L Szczesny became POW when he bailed out from Spitfire BS 514 after a mid-air collision with a FW-190 , but this time the date seems to be 04/04/1943.

Greetings

Alain Rosseels
Belgium

Re: Spitfire collision 4/4/42
 

I have BM191 (Divoy) collision with Unknown Spitfire on 04/04/1942 on Circus 119

I have BS514 (Szczesny ) collision with FW190 on 04/04/1943 on Ramrod to Rouen (escorting B-17s)

as well

Re: Spitfire collision 4/4/42
 

S/Ldr Henryk "Hesio" Szczęsny DFC, VM (9 1/3-1-2 vic.), Northolt Wing's S/Ldr Tactics, was brougt down in 315 Squadron's Spitfire IX BS514 PK-U. He collided with Fw 190 (according to Szczęsny - during head-on attack on Fw 190, both machines ram each other in the wings), or he was shot down by Germans.

During that mission (Ramrod 51) F/Lt Stanisław Łukaszewicz (EN124/PK-F) and F/O Przemysław Panek (EN185/PK-J), both from 315 Squadron, were killed near Rouen, when they collided with in the air.

Those events took place on 04.04.1943.

Regards,
Artur

Re: Spitfire collision 4/4/42
 

Thanks guys

I've obviously got my wires crossed! It was the Divoy incident of 4/4/42 in which I am interested. Is there no indication as to whom he collided with?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Spitfire collision 4/4/42
 

His first name was Stanislaw, Marian KIA in 1941

Greg

Re: Spitfire collision 4/4/42
 

Hi guys

In endeavouring to squirm out of my egg-on-face predicament, I put the blame on an entry in one of John Foreman's books! He states that Szczesny and Divoy collided on 4/4/42! I must stick to doing my own research in future!! Thanks for putting the record straight.

Cheers
Brian

Re: Spitfire collision 4/4/42
 

Greg

My foult! His name is now correct.

Cheers,
Artur

Re: Spitfire collision 4/4/42
 

Hello Brian,

May I ask if you still are sure that both pilots became POW's or has that opinion changed since you placed the original question ?

FCL vol 2 has several listed that became POW's
72's Gillespie and Hake(Great Escape).
303's Kustrynski
and
457's Russell

Alex

Re: Spitfire collision 4/4/42
 

Alex:

His name is Kustrzyński.

Cheers,
Artur