Hurricanes collision over Belgium

[Alain57]

On may 25nd 1940 two Hurricanes from 151 Sqdn collided over Belgium.P-3319 flown by F/L Ives Frederick 37782 ( MIA ) Runnymede Memorial and P-3323 flown by P/O Bushell. It seems that both airplane came down near the places named Vinkem and Wulveringem in Belgium. Is this correct ?

[Peter Cornwell]

I can offer the following:

151 Squadron, Manston Escort Blenheims to St Omer

Hurricane P3323. Collided with F/L Ives in a turn and spun into the sea 12 miles off Ostend 5.15 p.m. P/O J. M. Bushell missing. Aircraft lost.

Hurricane P3319. Collided with P/O Bushell in a turn 12 miles off Ostend and turned for coast. Possibly that reported forced-landed at Noordhoek, near Wulveringen, 5.30 p.m. F/L F. A. Ives unhurt. Aircraft a write-off.
Freddy Ives made his way to Ostend and was assigned a place back to England on the SS Abukir but was not among 32 survivors of the 230 souls aboard when she was torpedoed on the night of May 28.

Most interested in your reference to Vinkem. Where is that exactly ?

[Alain57]

Hello Peter ,

Thanks for the help. Vinkem and Wulveringem are two villages near the town off Veurne on the belgian coast a few miles from the french border.The map reference is 51°00'N - 02°39'E.

Alain
Belgium

[Peter Cornwell]

Thank you, Alain. It's as 'plain as a pike-staff' so don't know why I had trouble finding it. Finger trouble I guess.