1 RCAF Sqn pilots flying on 24/08/40

[andy bird]

Does anyone happen to have a list of the RCAF pilots that flew in the afternoon of 24 August 1940, when they attacked three Blenheim's of 235 Squadron.

Just like to work out who may of nailed Blenheim Z5730.

With thanks in advance.

Kind Regards

Andy Bird

[RossGmann]

You may already have the following information
The following link http://daveg4otu.tripod.com/iowweb/iowc.html gives the following details
24-08-40 T1804 Blenheim 235Sq,s/d in error by 1 (RCAF) Sq, cr Bracklesham bay- 2 killed

Kind regards

Ross

[andy bird]

Thanks for the info Ross, but yes I do have that info already.

Cheers

Andy B

[SMF144]

Andy,

Our resident expert on friendly fire incidents, Brian Cull, should be able to help you out. If not, let me know and I'll see what I can dig up for you.

Stephen

[Brian]

Hi Andy

My reserach suggests that the Blenheim fell to the combined fire of Flt Lt Gordon McNabb and Flg Off Jean-Paul Desloges.

Volume I of Blue on Blue, which includes this incident, is to be published next month (at long last!).

Hope this helps

Brian

[Col Bruggy]

Hi Brian,

The following might be of interest:

NORTHOLT, ENGLAND.

August 24 (1940). Squadron were sent on an interception but returned to base, having landed at Tangmere to refuel.

The Operations Record Book did not tell the true and terrible events of August 24, 1940, the only occasion when unpalatable facts were overlooked. The Squadron shot down two Blenheim patrol planes of 235 Squadron RAF Coastal Command, mistaking them for German JU-88 bombers. McNab and F/O P.B. Pitcher recognized the planes as friendly when the interception was made off Portsmouth, but others did not. F/L McGregor and F/O J.P.J. Desloges together claimed a JU-88 destroyed and F/O A.D. Nesbit, Arthur Yuile and W.P. Sprenger claimed hits on another JU-88. The pilots said they had been fired on, but the Blenheims had been shooting yellow and red Very pistol flares to identify themselves as friendly. One Blenheim crashed into the sea and the three-man crew [sic] was killed. The other crash-landed and the crew got out out with cuts and bruises. It was a tragic introduction for No.1 Squadron into the Battle of Britain. RCAF Headquarters in London did not tell National Defence in Ottawa about it until after the war, on February 27, 1947, and then only in reply to an official query. The Letter from London said,

The five combat reports submitted by No.1 Canadian Squadron, dated 24 August, 1940, and queried in your referenced letter, were unsubstantiated claims. The two aircraft destroyed in these combats were Blenheims of Coastal Command.

Documents giving the full story of the mistaken attacks were enclosed.

Two versions of the Operations Record Book of No.1 Canadian Squadron for the month of August 1940, are in existence. One version described the attack on the Coastal Command aircraft on August 24, but implies that it was broken off before any damage was done. This version of the Operations Record Book omits any mention of the genuine Squadron victories on August 26 and August 31. The second version of the Operations Record Book omits all mention of the attack on August 24, but describes the action on August 26 [and 31].

It is the second version which survives in the files of the defence department's history directorate and in the microfilm copy in the National Archives.

See:
High Blue Battle:The War Diary of No.1 (401) Canadian Fighter Squadron, RCAF.
McIntosh,Dave. (Edited and annotated by).
Toronto:Stoddart Publishing Co.,1990.
pp.23-4.

Col.