What's unit?

[arnaud]

Hello,

There is like a ghost or something painted on the tail.

Is it possible to identify unit? : A/c shot down near Jandrain in May 1940...

Thanks

[ClinA-78]

Jandrain... in Belgium?

[arnaud]

Yes

[ClinA-78]

Ju88? Unknown in that area...

[arnaud]

Source : service historique Belge, service historique français

[ClinA-78]

Which one ? The Belgian one or the French one?

I have found a tiny info (unfortunately without accurate source) about : a German bomber brought down by AA of 11e Dragons on the 12 May 1940 in Orp-le-Grand near Jandrain road.
Perhaps it could be this one... or another.

Best regards

[Pieter H]

Arnaud,

see earlier discussion on this one I started already a while back http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...light=jandrain

At that time we could not come to any conclusive match.

Given that quite some time has passed, let's try again to eliminate options.
If I take the list of Ju88 from Peter Cornwell's list as the reference on dates May 11 to 14 in a large area around northern Belgium, I come to the following:

May 11
3.(F)/122 near the island of Texel; confirmed
8./LG1 returned damaged after attack over Steenokkerzeel in central Belgium

May 12
1.(F)/121 at Retranchement in Dutch Zeeuws Vlaanderen; confirmed
5./KG30 at Hazerswoude; confirmed
7./LG1 damaged over Vlissingen

May 13
none

May 14
1.(F)/121 at St Kruis Winkel; confirmed
3.(F)/122 near Aalst; confirmed?
9./LG1 returned damaged after attack over Mons in southern Belgium

On the one hand the skull emblem on the tail makes me think of III./LG1, although I don't have any proof of further use by this unit of such emblems.
All three a/c from III./LG1 in above list were only damaged and supposedly returned to their base. Without access to the primary source I must assume this is correct, eliminating them as candidates.

In contrast the losses of the reconnaissance Ju88's all seem to be confirmed by local data, pictures etc, so confusion on the location with Jandrain/Orp is unlikely. The most doubtful was the 14-5 3.(F)/122 at Aalst, but given that the crew was taken prisoner also this one is no option, since by that date Jandrain was overrun by the German panzers.

So without more data we remain where we are: a mistery.

Regards, Pieter

[ClinA-78]

Hi,

I miss the former post. Nice to read the replies of my late fellow researcher Régis (at least we got the same reference!).