414 Squadron´s losses on 18th June 1944

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Good night to all.
On the afternoon of 18th June 1944, Lt Adolf Glunz from .6/JG 26 and another pilot from 7./JG 26 claimed TWO Mustangs Ia from 414 Squadron ( RCAF ).
I would like to obtain, if possible:
a) the RCAF crew names
b) Serial number and codes of Mustangs shot down, if possible.

Many thanks for all
Adriano

[Peter Clare]

Hi Adriano,

I have the following from '2nd Tactical Air Force Vol.1' - Shores / Thomas.


18 June 1944.

No.414 Squadron.

Mustang I AM220. F/L. J A. MacKelvie. +

Mustang I AM251. F/O. R A. Bromley. +

Both reported - Shot down by enemy aircraft (Bf 109) Le Beny Bocage.

Hope this is a help

Regards
Peter

[Bill Walker]

From my notes, AM251 carried the individual code letter "O", but no squadron code. This was common with 414 Squadron at the time. Sorry, no further info on AM220. The Bf109s are reported in Canadian documents to have been from JG26.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Peter Clare and Bill Walker,
Many thanks for your input about the losses sustained by 414 Squadron on the afternoon of 18th July 1944. Although I have seen on some short biographies about Oblt Adolf Glunz that it is surely probable that he and his wingman claimed the Mustangs, two pilots from JG 2 also claimed Mustangs Ia on this date, but later around 20:00hs. The airmen of JG 26 claimed their victims around 17:29/17:30hs near Flers, in France. I do thank you both of you for the most valuable information I needed. I am researching some claims of Adolf Glunz and am very grateful to both of you. I already checked the airmen service number, their ages and family backgrounds. Thank you!
Yours
Adriano Baumgartner

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that both Glunz and his wingman were flying Fw 190 NOT Bf 109! So, maybe those 414 Squadron machines were shot down by the JG 2 airmen?

[Col Ford]

The JG2 claims more closely match the time, location and aircraft type of two losses by No.268 Sqdn of 2 x Mustang Mk.1A and other encounters by another pair of 268 Sqdn Mustang Mk.1As with FW-190s of JG2 operating in the same area.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Thanks Colin Ford, you solved and matched the JG 2 claims. May I ask you the names of aircrew and a/c serial number of the 268 Squadron´s losses?
Thanks indeed.
Adriano

[Tom Semenza]

Adriano,

The 268 Sqn. losses were:

Mustang IA FD567 F/L F.J. Reahill (K)

Mustang IA FD531 F/O R.P. Howe (K)

Regards,
Tom