Dagwood Cosh or Winnie Churchill?

[keith A]

On 28/07/1943 890 Squadron brought down at least one Bv138C. but who claimed it? Ray Sturtivant's FAAA 1939-1945 states it was SLt Johnnie Lowder and the senior pilot of 890, Dagwood Cosh... however Hank Adlam states that it was SLt Adrian Churchill who shared it with Lowder. He also seems to indicate 890 scored a second victory on that day or another, the claimant being Jack Parli. Lowder, Parli and Churchill later all made claims against Japanese aircraft flying Corsairs, but only Churchill makes it into TOE and no mention of this victory.

regards

Keith

[keith A]

By the way, the Ottawa Citizen published an account on 4 August 1943 that seems to indicate Churchill shared his victory with another pilot, and Cosh claimed his later in the day, unshared.

If this is true then Churchill now has 3 victories, and Parli may have shared the victory with either Cosh or Lowder...

[Chris Goss]

The claims were S/Lt J F Lowder in FN228 and S/Lt D R B Cosh in FN294 claimed 2 and 404 Sqn claimed another 2. 2/406 lost 5 that day. Cosh's name was Digby as opposed to Dagwood (which was probably his nickname)

[keith A]

Hi Chris,

Yep I agree that this is what is shown in Surtivant's and the 404 Squadron records but what about the newspaper report? Ray's book was written a while back, and there are a few errors here and there in the claims as you know. It's pretty much my bible for my research (as are his others) but some of the reports may be wrong. The canadian reporter has no need to fabricate details and the claims. The report is within a week of the actual event, the claimants are relative unknowns... so an element of doubt has to exist, surely?

Adlam equally has no reason to invent these victories or re-attribute them. He has the advantage of being there after all. I also agree the Bv138 casualties seem to agree two victories in July but most sources think that there were three. Again it's possible that the 8/7/43 victory by 881 Squadron is included.

Adlams claim that Jimmy Sleigh and Basil Bartlett shot down an Fw200 hasn't been found but perhaps when we locate the date of decease for Basil Bartlett we can investigate?

Dagwood may be a nickname as you say.... a comic character.

cheers

Keith