Combat on the 20th July 1940 over Dorset??? Was there???

[Danny152]

I am trying to find information on the combat - german units against RAF Squadrons on the 20th Jluy 1940. It is in regards to the loss of P/O Posener, 152 Squadron, I have been told he was KIA and picked up by a rescue launch. I cannot locate a combat report for this engagment and there is no mention within the Squadron ORB for any combat.

Anyone help??????

Cheers

Danny

[Larry]

I presume you have Fighter Command Losses 1939-41 and have seen the entry saying he was shot down in Spitfire K9880 off Swanage Dorset by Bf 109 of JG27 at circa 16:35 hrs. It just records the pilot as KIA.

If the pilot did bail out and was rescued or his body recovered by Lifeboat it is logical that this would be from Swanage and it might be worth calling the Swanage Heritage Centre in the town to see who has the Lifeboat records. The number I have for them is 01929 475836 but this might be for the guy who looks after the radar archive relating to TRE at Worth Matravers. However they are a friendly bunch so if you mention Battle of Britain they may have other contacts who can assist.

[Peter Cornwell]

Yes, the No.152 Squadron ORB is strangely lacking detail as to the loss of POSENER on 20 July 1940. Current best information indicates that 17 Bf109s of I./JG27 left Plumetot at 12.46 p.m. as escort for 9 Ju87s of III./StG2 from Cherbourg-Theville who made an unsuccessful attack convoy ‘Bosom’ 30 miles south of Swanage. Three Hurricanes of Blue Section of No.238 Squadron from Middle Wallop arrived late on the scene, were engaged by the Bf109s, and were shortly joined by a Flight of No.152 Squadron Spitfires from Warmwell. Resulting losses to both sides were as follows:

152 Squadron, Warmwell

Spitfire K9880. Shot down by Oberlt Gerhard Homuth (Staffelkapitän) of 3./JG27 in combat over Channel convoy ‘Bosom’ off Swanage 1.28 p.m. Pilot Officer Frederick Hyam Posener missing. Aircraft a write-off.

Spitfire K9883. Returned damaged following combat with Bf109s of I./JG27 over Channel convoy ‘Bosom’ off Swanage 1.15 p.m. Swung on landing due to burst tyre and undercarriage collapsed. Pilot Officer G. J. Cox unhurt. Aircraft damaged but repairable.

238 Squadron, Middle Wallop

Hurricane P3766. Shot down in flames by Oberlt Gerhard Homuth (Staffelkapitän) of 3./JG27 in combat over the Channel fifteen miles south of Swanage 1.25 p.m. Sergeant Cecil Parkinson baled out badly wounded - picked up by destroyer HMS Acheron but died next day. Aircraft lost.

3./JG27 Messerschmitt Bf109E-3 (3271). Shot down in combat with Hurricanes of No.238 Squadron and ditched in the Channel 15 miles off Swanage 1.15 p.m. Possibly that attacked by F/L D. E. Turner. FF Lt Ulrich Scherer missing. Aircraft Yellow 12 + 100% write-off.

3./JG27 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4. Shot down in combat with Hurricanes of No.238 Squadron and crashed in the Channel 15 miles off Swanage 1.15 p.m. Possibly that claimed by F/L S. C. Walch and P/O C. T. Davis. FF Oberfw Heinz Beushausen killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.

[Danny152]

Thanks alot guys!!!!!

I had a feeling you would see this plea Peter. Ha ha!!!! Hope your good mate?
Thanks again Larry and Peter.
Regards

Danny

[Peter Cornwell]

Danny,

I'm very good thanks. There were also collateral losses later in the day as a direct consequence of the earlier combat:

Stab I./JG27 Messerschmitt Bf109E-1. Shot down by Hurricanes of No.501 Squadron during search mission for earlier losses and crashed in the Channel three miles north of Sark 4.15 p.m. Probably that claimed by Flight Lieutenant P. A. N. Cox and Sergeant J. H. Lacey. FF Hptmn Helmut Riegel (Gruppenkommandeur) missing. Aircraft 100% write-off.

501 Squadron, Middle Wallop

Hurricane P3082. Shot down by Lt Igor Zirkenbach of 1./JG27 in combat over the Channel off Cherbourg 4.30 p.m. Pilot Officer Edmund John Hillary Sylvester missing. Aircraft lost.

SeenotflugKdo. 4 Heinkel He59C-2 (0838). Abandoned by crew while being shepherded towards the English coast by of Green Section of No.238 Squadron (F/O Hubbard, P/O Grier, and P/O Doulton) during search mission for missing 3./JG27 pilots three miles off Cherbourg 7.20 p.m. FF Fw Herbert Degel baled out but killed, BO Fw Gustav Luppe, BF Gefr John-Werner Rosenthal, and BM Hptgefr Peter Filz all baled out and missing. Aircraft D-AKAR 100% write-off.
The crew baled out too low for their parachutes to deploy. The body of Herbert Degel was washed ashore at Mers-les-Bains, Le Tréport, on August 20.

[Danny152]

A busy day by all then!!!! As you know its the 152 Squadron bit of interest. As you mentioned Peter just so little on the shoot down of Freddie Posener.

I put another plea for help on some pics of two German pilots, if you get a chance could you take a look mate? Just by chance you have seen pics of the two chaps anywhere?????

Speak soon I am sure.....

Tally Ho!

Danny

[Peter Cornwell]

Danny,

Photos of personnel is not my field. Your best source for such photos would be Chris Goss or Andy Saunders.

[Danny152]

Will do mate, I am really grateful for your help.....