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Re: Sgt Puda claim 20 May 1940
Hi,
To be more precise, the 20th may 1940, five Curtisses from GC II/4 started a mission over Reims, berry-au-Bac, Rethel. Two of them had propeller failure and leaved, so they were at least three (S/Lt Blanc, S/Lt Baptizet, C/C Puda) to intercept a lonely Heinkel 111. But because of heavy clouds, they lost it after the first attacks (Heinkel's, and other German bombers, resisted well against the 7,5mm guns of the Curtiss H-75). So, no claim, no victory.
In his Work, Arnaud Gilled just explained he found in German archives that a gunman was killed, and it could be one of this Heinkel. It's not sure, but really possible.
Alain Coste and Christophe Cony, friends of mine, made an excellent work, and if they not listed this claim, it's just because it was not.
More details, more informations, if you can wait two or three weeks for my own book about the french Curtiss H-75's...
Yours,
Lionel Persyn
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