[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

As stated in a previous post, our working group is revising our info on 103 SQ Battle losses during 1939-40 for the EOE Project. We've now matched photos to losses for ten of the unit Battle losses during the mid-May, 1940 period, and are solid on specific plane crash locations as well. However, we are seeking photos and any further information for the following 103 SQ incidents during that period.

May 10, 1940: "2 Battles. Reported slightly damaged in bombing by Do17s of II./KG2 4.45 a.m. No crew casualties. Aircraft repairable." Do any photos exist from this incident, or SN and/or a/c letter information for these two planes?

May 10, 1940: Battle K9372 badly crashed in Luxembourg. We need confirmation, with source cited, of a/c letter for this badly wrecked plane. This cannot be confirmed from wreckage photos, so will probably have to come from some contemporary unit record or logbook. Need first names of crewmen.

May 10, 1940: Battle K9270, crashed in Luxembourg with crew killed. We think we have a photo of this crash, but need other views of it to confirm our info. Also need to confirm a source that has reported this as PMoO. Need first names of crewmen.

May 10, 1940: Battle K9264, badly crashed in Luxembourg. We need confirmation, with source cited, for reported a/c code of PMoL, and the same info on first names.

May 10, 1940: "Battle K9408: Returned to base (Bétheniville, France) badly damaged with wings, fuselage, and port fuel tank riddled by ground fire during low-level bombing attack on enemy column east of Dippach 3.00 p.m. Flight Lieutenant J. A. Ingram and crew unhurt. Aircraft damaged but repairable." Do not have photos of this a/c after damage; need a/c code and crew info as above.

May 12, 1940: "Battle L5512. Badly damaged by flak during attack on enemy columns between Bouillon and Sedan 5.15 p.m. Crashed attempting forced-landing at ‘Fond-Wazelle’, near Haraucourt, France, during return flight. Flying Officer G. B. (Barry?) Morgan-Dean and AC1 H. B. Sewell killed. Aircraft a write-off." Need a/c code and crew info as above.

May 12, 1940: "Battle P2193. Shot down by flak during attack on enemy columns between Bouillon and Sedan 5.15 p.m. Crashed and burned out at Curfoz, north of Bouillon. Pilot Officer E. E. Morton and AC1 A. S. Ross killed. Aircraft PM*C or G a write-off." One of the most photographed wrecks of a Battle down in France, but can't clearly determine a/c letter from photos. Are there any contemporary records that can confirm this either way? Need info on crew first names.

May 14, 1940: "Battle L5516. Suffered a direct hit from intense flak during attack on bridge north-west of Remilly-Aillicourt and exploded over ‘Le Chemin du Liry’ 3.40 p.m. Pilot Officer V. A. Cunningham and AC1 L. J. Johnson killed. Aircraft PM*E or F a write-off." One photo we have shows the a/c letter and SN, but we can't determine whether this is an "E" or "F." Are there any other photos or contemporary records that would answer this question? Need crew names as above.

May 16, 1940: "Battle L5234. Crashed on take-off on evacuation of airfield (Bétheniville) 7.00 a.m. No crew casualties. Aircraft PM*B abandoned.
Another unserviceable aircraft K9404 was also abandoned on withdrawal of the squadron to Rhèges."

We have good photos of the first a/c, but no photos or a/c letter for K9404. Also, can any source provide the crew that was flying L5234 when it crashed on T.O.?

Will deal with other losses to 103 SQ during the WC in a subsequent posting.

Thanx in advance for any help here.