JG 26 Kill 1941

[Chris Goss]

In Priller's history of JG 26, there is a photo showing Hptm Rolf Pingel (I/JG 26) talking with an RAF pilot who is wearing his No1 uniform. A fuller picture shows Oblt Priller of 1/JG 26 to the right and possibly another RAF aircrew member in a flying suit to the left. Mindful that Pingel was taken POW on 10 Jul 41, has anyone identified this RAF pilot?

[Brian]

Hi Chris

I have a note that Pringle and Priller shared a Blenheim of 59 Squadron on 16 June, and that P/O Kennedy (pilot) was captured.

A possibility?

PS: Did you receive the book OK?

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

Sorry Brian. Yes I did thank you but I have not looked at it. Bit puzzled why you said I helped as I am sure my input was minimal.

I have looked at the 16 Jun 41 combat as a possibility. Villa from 59 Sqn was shot down by Flak off Boulogne and taken POW whilst Kennedy, Plt Off Briggs and Sgt Edgar were shot down by a Bf 109. I have a mug shot of Kennedy and Briggs and the face doesn't match (in any case the chap shows a Fg Off pilot) so I am wondering could it have been Villa? Pingel (not Pringle) and Priller each claimed a Blenheim as opposed to shared so wonder if the other claim was Laughland's ac which got back damaged?

[Chris Goss]

Some more information. Plt Off Derrick Kennedy, Plt Off Paul Briggs and Sgt Charles Edgar were all taken POW in V6386 (I believe) but Kennedy was a Plt Off VR and the chap in the photo was a Fg Off Regular (no VR tabs on his uniform) and the mug shot I have does not match. Plt Off Peter Villa, the only survivor from V5395 (I believe) was definitely a Plt Off but I have no mug shot

[Chris Goss]

Pingel's K Report might give a clue. He talks about Wg Cdr Kayll being taken POW (25 Jun 41) then a Sgt being taken POW a week or so later and then "A Hurricane shot down during the recent fighting had as a crest two ceremonial fingers aristing sinister to a Swastika. The pilot of this ac was an old Etonian". This sounds like Hardy's Spitfire on 15 Aug 40 but Pingel did shoot down a Hurricane south of Boulogne on 2 Jul 41 so could this be Plt Off Bill Hall of 71 Sqn (who I thought was Canadian?)

[Chris Goss]

By a process of elimination, the only Fg Off Regular fighter pilot taken POW between 25 Jun and 9 Jul 41 was Fg Off Harry Prowse of 603 Sqn shot down on 4 Jul 41 and the face matches with that in 'Those Other Eagles'. Solved at last!