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Re: Douglas Pitcairn
On 25 Sep 1939 a Potez 637 of GR II/52 was closely escorted by three Curtiss H-75As of GC II/4 and also by six H-75As of GC I/4 flying top cover over Weissenburg. A group of Bf 109s from I./JG 51, II./JG 52 and II./JG 53 intercepted the French aircraft. Douglas Pitcairn and Heinz Bär claimed one H-75A apiece from the top cover for their first kills. Two of these H-75As crash-landed. One H-75A was also shot down with the pilot being killed by II./JG 53, and the Potez was shot down by 4./JG 52.
One Bf 109E was lost, the pilot being killed, of II./JG 53, which also had two damaged Bf 109Es, 53% and 45%. Two Bf 109Es of I./JG 51 were damaged 10-15%.
This information is in Fledgling Eagles by Christopher Shores.
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