[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I thought that I'd bring you up to date on our EOE team's conclusions about some of the mystery 142 SQ Fairey Battle photos listed at the beginning of this post:

1) "Battle L5443. Belly-landed details not recorded. Aircraft QT*B a write-off. (Photo)." This is the a second a/c with this code, the first one being a FL on 10.05.40, retrieved, and later abandoned. The second one Peter Cornwell has now accepted as being one of the two Battles FL on May 22, 1940, in the Paris area:

"22 May 1940:
Battle. Forced-landed outside Paris in bad weather following attack on enemy tank between Amiens and Abbeville 5.30 a.m. Flying Officer A. D. Gosman, Sergeant Pollock, and LAC Gaston all unhurt – returned by rail next day. Aircraft abandoned.

Battle. Lost bearings and forced-landed south of Paris during sortie to attack targets near Florenville 10.50 p.m. Pilot Officer Edwards, Sergeant Green, and LAC Welch all unhurt – returned by rail next day. Aircraft abandoned.

One of these aircraft is believed to have been L5443 QT*B recovered by No.6 Repair & Salvage Unit."

Regarding this one, can anybody help us assess which one of these two was QToB, L5443? Does anyone know of any photos that might be the "other" 142 SQ Battle down that day?

Also, I earlier asked about a photo of QTo? L5323, with the rear fuselage blown off and a crowd of German soldiers around it. Based upon assignment dates for this SN, this almost has to be one of the 4 unknown SN/Coded Battles lost on June 13, 1940 attacking German columns, or missing from a night attack. Can anyone associate this a/c with any of these four incidents, or provide a/c codes, SN or other photo sources for any of these four Battle losses?

"13 June 1940:
Battle. Failed to return from night attack on Gisors and crashed near Les-Corvées-les-Yys, south-west of Chartres, early a.m. Flight Lieutenant A. D. J. Martin, Sergeant E. F. W. Curtis, and Sergeant G. H. Kettlewell killed. Aircraft a write-off.

Battle. Shot down by fighters east of Evreux during attack on enemy columns between Pacy and Vernon; crash-landed with port fuel tank in flames. Possibly that claimed by Lt Sprick of 8./JG26 near Paris 11.39 a.m. Flight Lieutenant J. M. Hewson unhurt. LAC R. S. Utteridge wounded in head admitted to hospital in Chartres where later captured. Sergeant R. V. T. Kitto baled out unhurt, reached England via St Malo. Aircraft a write-off.

Battle. Shot down by fighters east of Evreux during attack on enemy columns between Pacy and Vernon and possibly that claimed by Lt Ebeling of 8./JG26 near Paris 11.40 a.m. Pilot Officer K. R. Sutton believed unhurt. Sergeant Rudd wounded in head and Sergeant B. J. Rowe wounded left leg, both admitted to hospital. Aircraft a write-off.

Battle. Failed to return from attack on armoured columns near Montmirail and believed that claimed by Lt Strobl of 5./JG27 over Romilly-sur-Seine 5.30 p.m. Sergeant D. J. Holliday, Sergeant D. A. Whiting, and AC T. Greenall captured. Aircraft a write-off."

We've now accepted that QToF ("F" code only on starboard side) as being L5436 abandoned at the No.21 Air Deport at Château Bougon, Nantes, France, on 15 June 1940. We have about 6 photos of this a/c there, but the SN is still pretty fuzzy and I'd certainly appreciate a clear copy of the SN on this one if someone has one.

There are still a number of tightly stacked Battle fuselages side-by-side at one place at that depot, and we'd still appreciate photos showing the planes abandoned there in hopes of clarifying some of the plane codes/SN abandoned there.

And finally for now, I'm seeking photos or a/c code info on these 142 SQ Battles lost on 11 and 15 June 1940 respectively.

"11 June 1940: Battle L5200. Shot down by AA south of Rouen during attack on pontoon bridges over the Seine at Le Manoir. Sergeant J. N. Fraser and Sergeant J. H. Ledson killed. Pilot Officer B. W. Peryman captured. Aircraft a write-off."

and:

"15 June 1940: Battle L5455. Belly-landed at Morannes, north of Angers, due to engine failure en-route to England 12.00 p.m. Pilot Officer M.J.A. Kirdy and two crew unhurt. Aircraft abandoned.
This machine was later destroyed by occupying German forces due to the presence of bombs but not before the Aircraft Maintenance Log confirming serial number L5455 had been liberated from the cockpit, along with other documents, by local youth Andre Constantin who passed them all to the British Embassy in Paris in 1944."

Can anybody be of further assistance?

Regards,