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Re: Ensigns captured by the Germans in France 1940
Two Ensigns were left in France:
- G-ADSZ "Elysean": straffed by 109s at Merville (23.05.40)
- G-ADSX "Ettrick": damaged by a bomb and abandonned at Le Bourget (01.06.40)
British sources state that it was scuttled but nothing is sure.
What is sure, however, is that the Germans should have had some problems in flying this Mk. I equipped with Tiger engines they had no spares for.
A third one was captured at Marseille-Marignane when the Germans overran the so-called "Free Zone" in Nov. 42. It was G-AFZV "Enterprise" that fell into Vichy French hands near Nouakchott (Mauritania), on Feb. 3rd 1942. Captain Houston ditched his a/c on the shore and it was eventually flown to France as F-BAHD on early October 1942.
Air France was most interested in this type because of its long range and high payload.
When it fell into German hands, DLH said they were only interested in its engines (Wright Cyclones) to maintain their fleet of DC-3s. F-BAHD was scrapped in Dec. 43, which is certified by an Air France document dated 31.03.44.
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