Operation Tungsten BV138 kills May 1944

[keith A]

According to the excellent Mr Sturtivant FAA Aircraft and to TOE I had Lt JA Cotching making two claims on this date but this site:

http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive....m#.WB5Nl_mLTIU

indicates that he could not have made both claims, and that the kills were by six pilots. I assume Cotching and SLt KB Pearson were among the claimants but their aircraft serial numbers are now unidentifiable by me. They were identified as Black Flight by the faa Air controller. Can anyone to identify the other four pilots?

regards

Keith

[keith A]

Also the site states 2 further Bv138s were shot down on 8.5.1944. I had assumed the kills were so similar that they were a mistake with two dates describing the same action however this site

http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-HF1944b.htm

confirms the destruction of 4 Bv138C in May 1944. I know from past posts that SAGr.130 lost two on the 6th and another on the 8th.

[Chris Goss]

I have a report from one of the 842 Sqn pilots who got one on 1 May 44

[keith A]

Hi Chris.

842 Squadron? My sources say it was shot down by pilots of 833! (Jack Large and Dick Yeo)

best regard

Keith

[Chris Goss]

Apologies they had come from 842

[keith A]

I thought they were from 819? Jack Large had made claims on the convoy runs in March/April 1944. Were the Wildcats from 842?