Franz Eckerle, JG 54 on the Western Front

[Nokose]

Franz Eckerle was credited with four victories on the Western Front in 1940.
1) 15May40 12:00 Spitfire (while with 3./JG 76) in the "Battle of France Then and Now" it lists Hurricane (P2622) RAF 615 Sqd F.O. H.N. Fowler (POW).

2) 30Jul40 20:04 Blenheim (while with 6./JG 54) at Vlissingen. Any information if this has a matching plane with the RAF?

3) 01Aug40 16:50 Blenheim (while with 6./JG 54) 5 km vor Haamstede. Same as above.

4) 09Nov40 11:45 Spitfire (while w/ 6./JG 54) 3 km east of Deal. Could the date on this one actually be the 08Nov40? In the book "Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses of the second world war" by Norman L. R. Franks it has no losses for the 09Nov40 but on the 08Nov40 it has Spitfire IIa (P7285) F/O M.T. Kirkwood (KIA) on the 08Nov40 off Deal.

Also another thread here shows a Blenheim claimed on the 27Jun40 but that it was not confirmed.

[robert]

Hi,

30.7.40 Blenheim R3674 15 Sqn
1.8.40 Blenheim R3898 114 Sqn - jointly with Ofw. Hauer
9.11.40 Spitfire P9313 1 PRU

Robert

[Nokose]

Thanks Robert. Do you have the pilots names and fates.

[Nick Hector]

Nokose,

Hurricane 15.5.40: P2622 of 615 sqn. F/O H N "Bill" Fowler baled out and joined French troops, later POW (escaped from Colditz in September 1942)

Blenheim 30.7.40: R3764 (R3674?) of 15 sqn. F/O P F Eames POW, P/O F H Jones and Sgt P Murphy both KIA

Blenheim 1.8.40 (along with another claim by Ofw. Michael Hauer): Two claims for R3898/RT- of 114 sqn. P/O J D Goode, Sgt. E A Will and Sgt. V St G Barrow all KIA

Spitfire 9.11.40. I have the same serial, but I have no pilot details.

Hope it helps...

Nick

[Chris Goss]

Mark Kirkwood of 603 Sqn was definitely lost on 8 Nov 40

[Nokose]

Thanks Nick and Chris. The 1 PRU Spitfire is probably the one for the 09Nov40 but sometimes its necessary to check. Even the Russian records have the wrong date on occasion from what I've read recently. Eckerle shot down two I-16 on the 22Aug41 but the two pilots lost appear in different reports with the date listed as the 21st (error) and 22nd but the loss was the 22nd.

[Nokose]

Could the 114 Sqn have had a Blenhelm returned damaged on the 01Aug40 to account for the extra claim?

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

I have seen information that states that Spitfire PR I (P9313) of 1 PRU, RAF was flown by F/Lt JWS Fowler when it went missing on 9 November 1940. I have no idea how accurate this might be so any confirmation either way would be appreciated.

Horrido!

Leo

[Chris Goss]

P9313 on 9 Nov 40 was flown by Flt Lt John W S Fowler who is still reported as missing. I have just the one Blenheim lost/damaged on 1 Aug 40 but do not have access to the F540 to confirm

[Martin Gleeson]

The 114 Squadron ORB indicates only two of their Blenheims attacked enemy targets this day (1 August 1940). This was due to bad weather. The Blenheim crew that returned stated they encountered no flak over their target airfield and made no reference to any attack by aircraft, though they noted that their Blenheim was followed across the Channel by an unknown aeroplane.
No mention of any damage and based on the above crew report it seems they suffered none.

Regards,

Martin.