Stab I/StG77 18 August 1940

[andy bird]

Trying to confirm that it was Hptmn Meisel and Obergefr. Jakob flying a Ju87B-1 who where shot down by 235 Squadron Blenheim from Bircham Newton. After a short engagement over the Channel?

Your Sincerely,

Andrew Bird

[Doug Stankey]

Here is all that we have about Meisel:

MEISEL, Herbert. 10.07.40 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./St.G. 77 (to 18.08.40 KIA).

However, he is not listed among the losses for I./St.G. 77 for this date, in “The Blitz , Then and Now”.
On the other hand, Francis Mason’s “Battle Over Britain” states that Meisel was shot down by Hurricanes of 43 Sqdn. near Selsey Bill at 14:25 hours and declared MIA.

The apparent lack of information in the Cornwell loss data in the Blitz book implies to me that there is a lack of hard evidence to confirm exactly what had happened, so perhaps the Mason version is wrong.


We hope that this helps.

HLdZ
DGS

[andy bird]

Doug,
Thanks for the info which helps.
Been looking at a diary (Norman Smiths) it reads: 'Spy confirms OC of Stuka shot down by Bircham Newton Blenheim at 14:25 hours.'

Then and Now BofB for the date reads shot down by British fighters.

Once again,

Thanks

Andy

[Chris Goss]

Andy: A number of Stuka Executive Officers were lost this day and I have never seen anything that confirms who shot down Meisel. Andy Saunders might like to comment?

[Peter Cornwell]

The reason this loss is not mentioned in The Blitz Then & Now is simply that it did not meet the criteria for inclusion. Only Lw aircraft that actually came down in Britain or crashed in UK waters and from which aircrew were either captured or recovered dead are listed.

I know of no evidence that would positively link the claim by No.235 Squadron with the loss of MEISEL as distict from the claims of No.43 Squadron (who were certainly involved) as well as those of No.152 Squadron.