[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Our EoE research team of British losses is beginning to delve further into this one. I'm hoping that their efforts and those of anyone else on the TOCH board can help us resolve this.

The latest direct message I received:

"The PRU ORB F.540 in AIR 29/413, which I have, does indeed record the 16th. I presume the 15th comes from the F.78 for N3116 which is also the date given in the 'AEROMILITARIA' Spitfire series (Cat. E on the 15th and SOC later).

There is a problem with the PRU F.541 - and from memory with one or two other units. The PRU F.541 records in detail all SUCCESSFUL missions, in other words only those flights which returned to base. No mention of any lost aircraft or crews.

The PRU at this time was operating from at least three bases. We need to view the ORB for Heston airfield, from which base Corbett departed on his last flight. Also the Coastal Command ORB/Appendices and/or the 16 Group ORB/Appendices. A POW questionnaire would be useful although RossMcNeill notes he did not become a POW until the 19th. Definitely more work needed.

Any matching Luftwaffe claim ?"

Can anyone help our EoE team clear up any of these questions, or add anything to this discussion?

I've looked this one up in the Weiss Manuscript for 16 August, to see if there is any resolution on the German side of this story, but found nothing that we don't already know.

"At Heston a Spitfire of the PRU took off to carry out a photo reconnaissance of the Ruhr industrial area in Germany. The Spitfire did not return and it is most likely that it became embroiled in the air combats of that day and it may be one of those claims which were submitted without a specification of the location.
The pilot survived and became POW.

PRU Spitfire PR/IIIc “N 3116” P/O Corbett PoW
Aircraft missing."

Further research from British sources ought to be able to establish exactly the date and time that this a/c departed from Heston. Once we've accurately established that, we should be able to review German claims to see if there is any fighter interception or AA activity that relates along the expected flight route. Until we definitively establish the date for this action, there wouldn't be much use looking for German claims. Can anyone help who has a copy of the PoW questionnaire for Corbett? Getting his account of what happened could help a lot.

At the same time, those with collections that contain photos of PRU Spitfires crashed in Germany or France during the summer of 1940 might be able to turn up something.

Your further assistance is appreciated. We should be able to get the story on this one significantly further clarified.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator