Need ID of this downed Hampden in France 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Hello.

Can anybody help?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...OIBUAA:US:1123

Thanx,

[Bandlaw Charlie]

Good luck to you, Larry...don't know how you can solve this one....burnt out tail plane...and alas no discernable codes either....

I don't know who anyone could help with this one....

cheers.

[brommer66]

Hi Larry

Agree, this one will not be easy.

Are you sure this is in France? Landscape-wise (and the number of bicycles) this could also be in Holland.

Just a thought

Good luck
Jos

[Larry Hickey]

Hello guys,

Some of these I know are real long shots, but this board has surprised me over and over again. Someone who specializes in Hampden or Bomber Command losses for the period may recognize it from other photos that they know about, that I don't. Always worth a shot. We'll see what happens.

Regards,

[Larry]

Hi Larry from er,,another Larry!

Sadly the eBay photo is no longer available.

Can you post a copy again and I will see what I can find as I have a particular interest in the Hampden, as I knew a few people who flew in the type including Harry Moyle who wrote the Hampden File for Air Britain Historians

[Larry Hickey]

Larry,

Send me a PM with your email address and I'll forward a copy to you.

I note that the boys on the dike? have short pants, indicating is was fairly warm weather, yet the trees are bare, although possibly just beginning to leaf at the beginning of spring. Early spring 1941?

Regards,

[Ex Shack]

Hi Larry
The photo has Foto Historica overprinted.Would they (whoever they are) have or know the details that you seek?
Regards
Dick

[brommer66]

Originally Posted by Larry Hickey

.....possibly just beginning to leaf at the beginning of spring. Early spring 1941?

Hi Larry,

Just want to point out that it could be at least a year earlier than 1941. Hampdens were used for missions to Germany even before the actual war had started in Holland, Belgium and France (10 May 1940), thereby intruding into 'neutral' airspace. These missions included o.a. reconnaisance and leaflet dropping. For the neutral countries s.a. Holland and Belgium these intrusions of their airspace was treated the same way as intrusions by German aircraft and at least 4 British aircraft came down in Holland before 9 May 1940, either shot down by Dutch fighters, flak or otherwise. However, the information that I have does not include a Hampden that came down in Holland or Belgium. I have no information about France.

Btw the picture is still available on the eBay site, although the auction has ended.

Regards
Jos

[Larry]

Just a quick thought as its late.

The Hampden in the photo appears to have black up the sides of the fuselage and in a straight demarcation line. This says to me that it was taken on or after October / November 1940 and if the kids in shorts and the trees suggest the spring then spring 1941 could be a good starting point.

Who else thought that the serial had L .4 - or was it just me!

BTW in view of the fact that 408 RCAF used a waivy demarcation line in the upper and lower colours I think this Hampden was from a RAF Sqn