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Re: 73 Sqn May-June 1940
Robert,
Some details of the losses you asked about extracted from The Battle of France Then & Now due to be published on February 15, 2008:
73 SQUADRON, ROUEN-BOOS May 24, 1940
Hurricane. Crashed on landing after transfer flight from Gaye 8.35 a.m. Sergeant A. E. Scott believed unhurt. Aircraft damage state not recorded.
Hurricane P2803. Shot down in combat with Bf110s of V.(Z)/LG1 south-west of Amiens 1.30 p.m. Possibly that claimed by Fw Jentzsch and Oberfw Kobert. Flying Officer H. B. Bell-Syer baled out wounded in leg and badly burned face and hand, evacuated to hospital in Le-Grand-Lucé. Aircraft TP*L a write-off.
Hurricane P3274. Shot down in combat with Bf110s of V.(Z)/LG1 south-west of Amiens 1.30 p.m. Possibly that claimed by Lt Zobel. Pilot Officer P. E. G. Carter baled out unhurt. Aircraft TP*K a write-off.
73 SQUADRON, GAYE May 26, 1940
Hurricane. Shot down by Hptmn Pingel (Staffelkapitän) of 2./JG53 and crashed and burned out at Chuffilly-Roche, north-west of Vouziers, 9.55 a.m. Pilot Officer F. Sydenham fell dead at ‘Jardin Prosper’. Aircraft TP*H a write-off.
Hurricane. Collided with stationary aircraft on landing 10.50 a.m. Sergeant W. Millner unhurt. Aircraft *A repairable.
Hurricane. Parked aircraft subject of collision with Sgt Millner 10.50 a.m. No pilot casualty. Aircraft a write-off.
73 SQUADRON, CHÂTEAU BOUGON June 15, 1940
Hurricane. Shot down by Bf109 following cover patrol for Battles over Les Andelys and belly-landed north of Le Mans 6.00 a.m. Sergeant A. L. McNay wounded in shoulder. Aircraft TP*D a write-off.
Alex McNay’s own account dates this event June 13 although surviving squadron records and Squadron Leader More’s report of operations in France both indicate otherwise.
I know of no F/Lt Thorn of No. 73 Squadron lost on May 25, 1940.
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