[Peter Cornwell]

Jon,
I have ACHLEITNER down on 24th August 1940 all other details as per your posting. As you say, it is highly likely that he had been in action with No.32 Squadron Hurricanes. Just another case of ‘Spitfire snobbery’ it would seem.


Three Hurricanes were lost in this engagement: P/O R. E. SMYTHE (V6568) who forced-landed at Shuttlesfield wounded, P/O K. PNIAK baled out over Ottinge, and P/O E. G. A. SEGHERS who baled out over the sea. This relates closely to III./JG3 claims submitted by Lt Leonhard GÖTTMANN & Uffz Josef KEIL which were both for Spitfires but at the correct times of 4.00 pm and 4.15 pm (BST) though ( worryingly) situated much further north over ‘London’ & ‘South London’. So on this evidence, it would appear that ACHLEITNER may well have also scored on this, his last sortie. But exactly who got what I cannot say.


No.32 Squadron filed claims for three 109s down in the sea by GILLMAN, HIGGINS (10 miles off Folkestone) & BROTHERS (10 miles SE of Dover). They also claimed a 109 probable, plus 2 more damaged. In addition to ACHLEITNER, III./JG3 lost Uffz Wilhelm KAISER of 9 Staffel, who forced-landed at Camber at 4.00 pm. Three more 109s returned to France damaged, one of them later being declared a write-off. So not a bad ratio of claims to losses given the standards prevalent at the time.

See Battle of Britain Then & Now & Blitz Then & Now Volume 1 & Prien 4/1.