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Re: Trying to locate photos/info for He111H of Stab KG53 that FL at Ste-Cécile near Laiche Belgium on May 12, 1940
Aircraft most likely attacked twice. First over Mourmelon by fighters of No. 501 Sqn (Betheniville). This machine was hit, and straggeling the other of the group with a stopped and smoking engine when attacked by Hawk H75 of GC I/5 (Suippes); S-Lt Boitelet, sgt Delparte, sgt Tallent. The a/c force landed on the north bank of the Semois, opposite the position of the 1st Hussars français at Laiche.
The rest of the story is also detailed in Batailles Aériennes et Rupture sur la Meuse by Sacré and Gillet (p.45) (I translate):
"The 5 aviators exit their plane and put it on fire close to Sainte-Cécile (which is near Lache) while being fired at by the French. They install a machine gun and fire at the patrols that try to approach them. Finally two airmen cross the river (Semois) to surrender themselves."
Regarding the a/c I have no confirmed pictures. The only unexplained wreck I have is the A1+HN claimed to be "in Belgium" and indeed burnt out, but that was likely another incident.
Regards, Pieter
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