56 Squadron Claim 18 May 1940

[andy bird]

Recently dusted off a AM record at RAF Museum which mentions that 56 Sqn claimed a Ju 88 on 18 May 1940 23 miles off Ostend - just happens to be in the area a Blenheim from 235 was lost after three are mistaken for Junkers 88As, three Hurricanes fired on them and L9395 disappeared.

Checked Peters Cornwells excellent book I can see Do. 17's but not a Ju.88 by this squadron.

Could anyone confirm this about 56 Sqn

Yours Faithfully

Andy Bird

[Brian]

Hi Andy

BLUE on BLUE Volume 1 shows L9395 the victim of three Bloch 152s of GCII/8.


(copies of Blue on Blue Volume 1 retail £19.95 available to members at £15.00, signed. Ideal Christmas present!!)

Cheers
Brian

[andy bird]

Many Thanks for this Brian
Yours Faithfully,

Andy Bird

[Peter Cornwell]

It seems that you didn't check my book very well, Andy.

235 Squadron, Bircham Newton Shipping protection Ostend

Blenheim IV L9395. Shot down by S/Lt Jacquemet, Adj Marchais, and Sgt Dietrich of GC II/8 and crashed in the sea off Nieuport 7.10 p.m. P/O C. S. Robinson, Sgt D. V. Moseley, and LAC A. E. Waddington missing. Aircraft lost.
Yet another tragic accident, despite the efforts of Adj Henri Mir of GC II/8 who recognised the aircraft as a Blenheim and tried to alert attacking pilots who took it for an He111. Some accounts suggest that it was also attacked by an RAF Hurricane but no corresponding claim has been traced.

Source: The Battle of France Then & Now (p313)

[Pieter H]

Andy,

There is a lot of confusion around the claims at this time and date (evening May 18) since it was a day of heavy fighting with many units involved.
But I have no match whatsoever between 56 Sqn (neither A nor B flight, which were at different airfields). Both were very active over the mainland, especially around Vitry that was heavily attacked. Until 7.30 p.m. no 56 Sqn Hurricane was active over/near the coast.
So the only opportunity to encounter a Ju88 off the coast of Oostende was during the return of A-flight to Biggin Hill. They took off around 8 p.m.
I personally have no claim of 56 Sqn on that return flight, but would be interested in details.
Also, as Peter's book shows, there are no unexplained German losses in that area and around that time.

Peter,

On the 235 Sqn L9395 loss I am not sure your interpretation is correct. I realize there have been discussions on this topic before. Still I think Arnaud Gillet has some fairly convincing inputs that suggest the Blenheim was shot down by Hawks of GC I/4, which was being witnessed by Blochs of GC II/8. See his Victoires de la Chasse Francaise 2, p.51. At the same time: we'll probably never be 100% certain.

Regards, Pieter

[andy bird]

Dear all,

Thank you for this apologies - waiting to have a cataract operation at the moment eye sight failing. At least I can enlarge the text on my mac.

Yours faithfully,

Andy Bird

[andy bird]

Dear all,

Thank you for this apologies - waiting to have a cataract operation at the moment eye sight failing. At least I can enlarge the text on my mac.

Yours faithfully,

Andy Bird

[Brian]

Hi Andy

Best of luck with the eye operation

Cheers
Brian