GC I/8 on 18/5/40

[Fairlop]

Hi,

A Czech Cpl.Chef Kralik of GC I/8 was shot by Bf 109 down and c/l near Douai with his damaged MB.152 N° 527 that day. My poor sources say it was about 14:30. That´s all.
Does anyone add further info about time of action, task, number of participated a/c etc. ?

Thanks and regards,
Michal

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The book "Les victoires de l'aviation de chasse française", volume 2 (16 May-4 June 1940), de Mr Gillet had nothing about this fight, only victoires of GC I/8 early in the morning and in late afternoon. This day GC I/8 was one of the several French fighters groups engaged over the area reached by the German Panzers in Northern France. Their orders were apparently to obtain local superiority to allow French recon aircraft to follow the German advance without loss and chase German recon AC (Hs 126). Orders for the units that were engaged in this area are listed as "area cover" or "sweep" depedning of the unit.
Only mention of your pilot is in the list of Czech pilots in Armée de l'Air at the end of the book. It is listed as Cpl-chef Antoine Kralik and was with GC I/8 from 27 Dec 1939 to 27 May 1940.

On 27 May 1940, he was shot down in the early morning during a battle vs German fighters and crashed near Le Quesnel, Somme, aboard Bloch 152 n° 555. Source for the loss is Mr Martin's "Ils étaient là". He was one of the 6 fighters escorting 3 Potez 63.11 on the Bapaume-Arras-Douai axis. Another fighter of this unit, Bloch 152 n° 236 was shot down in flames in the same battle and crashed near by, but the French Adjudant Henri Castel bailed out and survived with very bad burns at the face and hands. According to the same book, both were shot down by Werner Mölders (19th and 20th victories). On the page 134-135 there is an extensive description of the battle by Henri Castel, and of his subsequent long recovery.
The casualty list of this book lists him as Antonin (notice the different first name) Kralik, Polish, but I have hand-written this as Czech, and indicated he was 20 years old (taken from the text by Castel)

On 18 May 1940, Martin's book gave no more details, but said he bailed at 14h30 out from his Bloch 152 n° 527, not exactly the same as what you said. He was unhurt and came back to his unit by finding a lift in a passing vehicle. Castel said in the text that he was shot down "near Bauvais", but may be wrong, Martin in the main text gave no place but Douai seems more logical for a combat loss. But if the aircraft was lost for another reason, Beauvais may be the place, and may account on the fact that the pilot came back quickly to the unit.

[robert]

Hi,

I have that on 18.05.40 Kralik was shot down by Olt.Hans-J.Ehrig from 1/JG77 and on 27.05.40 GCI/8 clashed with elements of JG53: stIII/JG53 and 8/JG53.


Regards

Robert

[Fairlop]

Hi Laurent and Robert,

thanks for your comments. Antonin Kralik was 24 years old and f/l his crippled Bloch. A few pictures of that landing exist.
Robert - from what source you have Oblt. Ehrig of 1./JG77 as victor ? Area of his victory fits +- but the time looks 1 hour later. And at about 14.00 were only Blenheims claimed in Arras area.

Regards,
Michal

[robert]

Hi Fairlop,


my source is an articel from HPM (I guess it was wrote by Jiri Rajlich I have it not on my hand now).
The differences between German and French time were even bigger (even 1,5 hours sometimes).

Robert

[Fairlop]

Hi Robert,

Could you write me what issue is the HPM please ?
I´am surprised there were differencies between German and French time. Is there a connection with established summer time in Germany ?

Regards,
Michal

[Ota Jirovec]

Hello Fairlop,

The HPM issue in question is 12/2005, page 33. The article about Antonín Králík was written by Jiří Rajlich.

Ota

[Fairlop]

Ahoj Oto,

If you have this issue in your possession could you make a copy of it please ?

Regards,
Michal

[Ota Jirovec]

Ahoj Michale,

I surely will send a copy to you if you are patient enough to wait till Monday.

Ota

[Fairlop]

Oto,

Excellent !

Thanks,
Michal