[keith A]

On Le Roux in 85 Squadron he must have had a very difficult introduction to air combat. Reading of the period 17 May until 21 May 1940 the squadron was very much in action and I am surprised he got to fly at all. Both SLdr "Doggie" Oliver and his replacement Mike Peacock were lost in the same week, that he arrived and apparently the squadron had only three Hurricanes left when they flew to England on 22 May 1940!

The squadron, as you know had a massive engagement on the 19th May which reduced it to a very small fighting group, and in the following days, apart from the remarkable performance of Sgt Howes on 20 May 1940 (four kills and a damaged on a single sortie in combat with KG3!) only the Austrian Count, Manfred Czernin made a claim.

On this basis Le Roux may have joined 85 Squadron on 17 May, may have flown a sortie from 18 May, may have been wounded (19/20 May?), but it seems a difficult equation.

Combined with the problem of his hospitalisation and then, a tyro pilot with next to no combat experience, recently qualified on the Hurricane, being sent to instruct at 7 (Spitfire) OTU?

Peter Townsend took command on 85 Squadron on 23 May 1940. I wonder if he sent Le Roux to 7 OTU to gain more flying hours? From there, after becoming an instructor in the interim, and converting to Spitfires, being sent to 41 Squadron in December 1940?

regards as always, chaps

Keith