Curtiss lost on August 14, 1940

[Henofred]

Bonjour,

I am looking for the unit to which the ObFw. WALBURGER Josef belonged, a pilot killed on August 14, 1940 whereas he was flying a Curtiss (H-75 model?) over the Bourges airfield. According to a testimony this German pilot would be killed whereas it made acrobatics with this plane.

All the best,
Frederic

[Peter Cornwell]

Frederic,

I can only offer you the following (with reservation):

Erg. JGr.Merseburg Curtiss P-36 (0021). Crashed at Bourges airfield, cause unknown. FF Oberfw Josef Walburger killed. Aircraft KQ+CB 100% write-off.

(Source: Winfried Bock)

[Henofred]

Merci beaucoup Peter.

I believe that the Erg. JGr. Merseburg was a training unit but the role of this German unit was also to test the captured planes? This question because some Curtiss fighters were captured on the production line in the SNCAC factory of Bourges.

Best regards,
Frederic

[Stig Jarlevik]

Quite interesting Peter

Since the Models 75A-1 to A-3 were serialled in one single serial range, No 1 to 335, the model 75A-4 started all over again with No 1

No 21 (A-1) was destroyed with GC II/5 already on 20/09/1939 so this has to be No 21 (A-4) which has no fate in the Curtiss H-75 book published by Lela Press. Many of its sisters were captured by the Luftwaffe , ie Nos 16,17,18,19,20, 22, 23, 24. No 30 used the code KQ+ZA, so we can see the Stkz is also very valid.

Thanks again Peter
Cheers
Stig

[Stig Jarlevik]

Ahhh

The Lela Press book complicates this.
Just saw that it lists No 16 as the aircraft lost on this date.
Also says it was coded KQ+ZB and not KQ+CB

Cheers
Stig

[Henofred]

Hello,

On the Lela Presse book, P-130 :

Curtiss H-75 A4 or H-751 No16 (c/n 13821) Delivered by Curtiss on May 5, 1940. Motor Wright G205A No29379.Captured and used by the Germans. Destroyed by accident on August 14, 1940 in Bourges.

Best regards,
Frederic