[Tom Semenza]

Although F/O Ralph Hope was Red 3 on this interception, the ORB indicates that only Red 1 (F/O Edge) and Red 2 (F/O G.W.B. Austin) fired on the Do 17 and shooting it down. This is related in Fledgling Eagles (page 312).

A note on Edge's claim totals: As stated in Aces High a number of the claims listed were found only in Edge's log book and are not in the squadron ORBs nor do Combat Reports exist for them. This does not mean that they did not occur, but we should be cautious about accepting these at face value.

I refer specifically to these claims:

23 May 1940 for 2 Bf 109s and 1 He 111 damaged
25 May 1940 for 1 Bf 110 (or 109) destroyed
26 May 1940 for 1 Ju 88 dest. plus another "possible" and a Bf 110 damaged
15 Sep. 1940 for 1 Do 17 and 1 Ju 88, both destroyed

In addition, the Combat Report (CR) for 25 May indicates 1 Ju 87 dest. plus one damaged (or unconfirmed) rather than 3 dest. and one "disabled". The CR for 27 May, indicates 1 Do 17 shared with 17 Sqn. rather that 2 individual claims.

With 253 Sqn. on 7 Sept. the CR and ORB indicate 1 He 111 destroyed or probably so (the CR and ORB are unclear as to which was Edge's) rather than 2 dest. For 9 Sept. rather than 4 individual claims the indication is that 5 Ju 88s were shared by 7 pilots, including Edge, as no individual claims were made. For 11 Sept. the claims for 2 He 111s dest. should be 2 Do "215"s destroyed, one half share and another shared with 8 other pilots, in addition to 1 He 111 probable and 1 Bf 109 destroyed (per Foreman in RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims).

Regards,
Tom