26 June 1941 - Circus 24

[Bruce Lander]

Hi,

I have been looking at the claims/losses for this day mainly for the possibilty of identifying Johnny Johnson's first kill. It seems that only 5 Bf.109s were lost/damaged, and not all apparently due to combat:-

1. Bf.109F-2 (12668) 5/JG.2 Black 8 + - LK 100%
Uffz. Walter Reich MIA crashed near Boulogne

2. Bf.109F-2 (6760) II/JG.2 Mechanical failure 30%
pilot not known force landed Abbeville

3. Bf.109F-2 (6759) 4/JG.2 LK 100%
Uffz. Max Meindl MIA crashed 6 km SE Dunkirk, dead pilot found
13 km SE St.Omer. (presumeably parachuted)

4. Bf.109F-2 (6754) II/JG.2 70%
pilot not known Force landed Merville, 30 km SE St.Omer

5. Bf.109 9/JG.2 LK 50%
Fw.Paul Paetau crashed La Panne (De Panne)

RAF claims for confirmed victories as follows:-

1. 616 Sqdn. P/O. J.E.Johnson Bf.109 Gravelines (pilot b/o)

2. 616 Sqdn Sgt. W,J.Johnson Bf.109 Dunkirk

3 92 Sqdn S/Ldr. J.E.Rankin Bf.109 15 km S Gravelines
seen to crash

4. 92 Sqdn. F/O. A.R.Wright Bf.109 20 m S Dunkirk

5 92 Sqdn F/Sgt. R.E.Havercroft Bf.109 S of Dunkirk

6. 610 Sqdn P/O. F.A.O.Gaze Bf.109 Pilot in dinghy

7. 54 Sqdn S/Ldr. R.F.Boyd Bf.109 Gravelines/Dunkirk

8 611 Sqdn F/O. T.D.Williams Bf.109 Gravelines/Dunkirk

9. 611 Sqdn P/O W.G.G.D.Smith Bf.109 Gravelines/Dunkirk

10 611 Sqdn. Sgt. D.E.Fair Bf.109 Gravelines/Dunkirk


NB; Both 4 & 5 claimants from 92 Sq were surprised to be given confirmations as they only claimed probables. Claimant 6 of 610 Sq
is doubtful as no 109 went into sea!
I am leaning towards loss 3 (Meindl) as Johnny Johnson's victim and loss 4 as Rankin's
Any thoughts please

Cheers

Bruce Lander

[Bruce Lander]

Hi,

a little more on this :-

The 109 claimed by Duncan-Smith of 611 was about 3 mile S of Dunkirk.
The 109 claimed by Williams of 611 was 2 Miles SE of Dunkirk and originally claimed as a probable.
Also is it possible the 109 claimed by Gaze of 610 that went into Sea just of the Coast near Gravelines/ Dunkirk was in fact the 109 of Paetau noted as coming down near De Panne ? (I see this is close to Dunkirk)

Any ideas anyone

Cheers

Bruce Lander

[Stig Jarlevik]

Can't help you here Bruce

One question, Foreman in his claims book states that W.J Johnson was with 145 Sq while you say 616 Sq.

Can you confirm Foreman is wrong and you correct?

Cheers
Stig

[Bruce Lander]

Hi Stig,

My error - W.J.Johnson was 145 Sq - I obviously mis-identified him in the confusion of the dogfight !!!
Johnson later moved to 611 Sq before going to Malta with 126 Sq claiming several more victories ( see ACES HIGH).

Cheers

Bruce Lander

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks for the confirmation Bruce

Easy enough to make mistakes like this. I simply want to know my second hand sources are reasonably correct you know.

Cheers
Stig