Fairy Battle loss on 11.5.40?

[Larry Hickey]

Hi,

Was there a Fairy Battle shot down at a place called Ernsdorf, which might be in Luxembourg, on 11.5.40? Any particulars?

Thanx,

[Peter Cornwell]

Hi Larry,

This is your man - happy bidding ! 10 May 1940 is the correct date.

226 SQUADRON, REIMS-CHAMPAGNE

Battle K9183. Hit by ground fire during dive-bombing of enemy columns between Wallendorf and Diekirch and crashed at Hirzenhaff Farm, south of Bettendorf, 6.30 p.m. Flying Officer D. A. Cameron died of wounds in Diekirch hospital May 13. Sergeant C. S. Hart captured unhurt. AC1 J. G. Ward captured slightly wounded. Aircraft MQ*R a write-off.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hallo Peter

I have no particular reason to disbelieve your details, but in the past (the books Valiant Wings by Norman Franks and Blitzed by Victor Bingham) K9183 has been indentified as lost on this mission with F/Lt Kerridge at the controls, while L5247 is identified as the one flown by Cameron.

Supposing you are correct, what is your source and do we have an explanation why the two other authors made their cross identification mistake?

Since you are quoting the aeroplanes code you are perhaps looking at a place they failed to look at?

Cheers
Stig

[Peter Cornwell]

Hello Stig,

Franks & Bingham made no mistake, my own notes confirm that the serials they quote are exactly as they appear in the No. 226 Squadron ORB - I guess the real question is why then did I chose to transpose them ?

In short, it was on the advice of a well-known researcher whose opinion I have come to respect & trust over the years, & indeed still do. It is also possible that I may have been further persuaded by Gillet's 'Rupture' - a book I value but which, I now recognise, may have been influenced by the same source.

However, take a look at eBay Item 180090688668 and let me know what you think. Despite what appears to be a prominent letter 'K' on the top of the rudder where the serial often appeared I freely admit that I can make out (or think I can) L5247 on the rear fuselage much better than I can K9183. Maybe somebody with state-of-the-art technology can advise ?

I am very happy to be shown to be wrong (again) - as always, my only concern being to document things as accurately as possible.

Thanks for your question.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Peter Cornwell,

I know you from ZERSTORER book and admires your work. I entered this querie just for curiosity. Your last answer touched me quite a lot...I feel mankind is lacking this kind of relationship, honesty to admit our own errors and be glad to adquire further knowledges.
Please, excuse me for interrupting the Historical chain of information, but I will read you with other eyes now and much more respect ( Human and Historical respect ).
Sincerely yours

An admirer

Adriano Baumgartner

[Peter Cornwell]

Adriano,

Thank you for your comments - I am humbled.

Hopefully, someone with photo-enhancing software will soon provide us with a conclusive answer to the question.