235 Sqn in action over Holland and Belgium May 1940

[phasselgren]

I hope someone can help with correct information about 2 engagements over Holland and Belgium in May 1940 with 235 Squadron involved. The information From A Clasp For ‘the Few’ by Kenneth G. Wynn and Those Other Eagles by Christopher Shores differs in some points.

13 May 1940
From A Clasp For ‘the Few’:
E.H, Hargill was attached to 235 Sqn from 248 Sqn. “He flew his first operation on the 13th and whilst escorting gun boats in the Zuider Zee the formation was attacked by a force of Me 110s and Ju 88s. After a short brush with the enemy aircraft the Blenheims were able to escape into cloud, being badly outnumbered. All returned safely and one enemy machine was claimed as destroyed.”
According to Those Other Eagles McHardy (flying Blenheim lVf L9450) was one of four that shared a damaged Ju 88 or Bf 110. The other crewmembers were P/O J. Morris and LAC E.A. Ringwood.

18 May 1940
“On the 18th May Mchardy captained one of three aircraft detailed to escort two trawlers off Zeebrugge, later believed to be carrying the Dutch Royal family to England. Sighting a Heinkel at 10000 feet, the chased it down to the sea level, where McHardy and another pilot shot it down. At this point the Blenheims were attacked by three Me 110s and a 109 and in the combat which ensued two 110s were destroyed, one by McHardy, whose aircraft had an engine damaged by a final burst from the German rear gunner just before his plane hit the the sea.”

According to Those Other Eagles McHardy (flying Blenheim lVf L9392) destroyed one Bf 110 3 miles off Blankenberg but nothing about the Heinkel. The other crewmembers were Sgt J.H. Spires and LAC Heavisides..

Thanks in advance
Peter

[Chris Goss]

13 May 40: Offensive patrol by 235, 248 & 254 Sqns. They engaged 5 x Bf 110s and 4 x Ju 88s. Sgt Tubbs claimed a Bf 110. I have no note of who was with Tubbs.

18 May 40: Escort to convoy. They atatcked a He 111 which was bombing the convoy and scored some hits but weere then attacked by Bf 110s; McHardy in L9392 and Penington-Legh in L9456 each claimed a Bf 110

[Pieter H]

Few additions:

• The dutch Queen Wilhelmina was brought to England on May 13, and although she herself planned to land in Zeeuws Vlaanderen (the part of dutch soil bordering on Belgium) the captain of the english vessel considered this too risky and she was brought straight to England instead. So the flight on the 18th off Zeebrugge can not have covered evacuation.
• The convoy transfering the queen was covered by at least 254 Sqn Blenheims and 74 Sqn Spitfires, but as part of a rotation scheme 235 and 248 Blenheims might have partiticpated too. I don't have the detailed flight plans to verify this.
• The claims of a Bf110 by 235 Sqn on the 13th are not supported by any reported Luftwaffe losses.
• Then the actions on the 18th: the claims of the 2 Bf110's by 248 Sqn were unfortunately wrong. They were in fact 2 Potez631 of the french Aeronavale unit AC2. One was shot down at De Panne, one at Blankenberghe off the belgian coast. This happened around 16.00.
• This day was however bad for the inter-allied co-operation, since 2.5 hours later french Hawks of GC I/4 shot down Blenheim L9235 of 235 Sqn off Nieuport. Both these cases were clearly accidents due to bad identification. More details can be found in Gillet's "Victoires de la Chasse Française part2".

Kind regards, Pieter

[phasselgren]

Thanks Chris and Pieter,

Chris: regarding the 18 May do you know if McHardy was one the pilots that scored hits on the He 111?

Pieter: Interesting additions these "friendly fire" incidents were completely new to me

Kind regards
Peter

[Chris Goss]

I am afraid the diary does not say anything

[phasselgren]

Ok and thanks once again

[Pieter H]

Small correction: the 235 Sqn Blenheim shot down on May 18 was the L9353, not the L9235.

Pieter