Claims of 5 Sqn. on 10 Nov 1942

[Tom Semenza]

According to Air War for Burma (Shores), Mohawk equipped 5 Sqn. was credited with 2 destroyed, 1 probable and 5 damaged on this date in an engagement with Ki 43s. However the claims mentioned in the narative don't quite add up. The best I can make out is:

S/L W. Pitt-Brown 1 destroyed
P/O R. S. Tovey 1 destroyed(?)
Sgt. F. A. Gore 1 probable
F/L D. O. Cunliffe 2 damaged
P/O W. J. Lee 1 damaged

Can anyone supply the correct breakdown and attribution of the claims.

Thanks,
Tom

[Frank Olynyk]

Tom,
There are two documents covering these combats. One is the 224 Group Game Bag (Air), and the other is the 5 Sqn ORB. They are almost in agreement. Both credit Pitt-Brown and Tovey with one each destroyed. Both credit Cunliffe with two damaged. Both credit Lee with one damaged. Both credit P/O D F Bullen with a damaged. The ORB credits Gore with a probable, but the Game Bag credits him with a damaged.

This is of course the usual problem with multiple sources.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Tom Semenza]

Thanks, Frank. I guess two heads are not always better than one. Maybe a third is needed to break the tie?

While on the subject of Burma claims, perhaps you can help with the following. On 10 Dec. 42 four pilots of 135 Sqn. claimed 3 Ki 43s as probables (S/L Giddings, W/O Fox, F/S Hinton & F/S Arrowsmith). What is the allocation here? Also do you have the full name and service number for C. H. Fox?

Many thanks,
Tom