26 June 1941 - Circus 24

[Bruce Lander]

Hi,

I have been looking at the claims/losses for this day mainly for the possibilty of identifying Johnny Johnson's first kill. It seems that only 5 Bf.109s were lost/damaged, and not all apparently due to combat:-

1. Bf.109F-2 (12668) 5/JG.2 Black 8 + - LK 100%
Uffz. Walter Reich MIA crashed near Boulogne

2. Bf.109F-2 (6760) II/JG.2 Mechanical failure 30%
pilot not known force landed Abbeville

3. Bf.109F-2 (6759) 4/JG.2 LK 100%
Uffz. Max Meindl MIA crashed 6 km SE Dunkirk, dead pilot found
13 km SE St.Omer. (presumeably parachuted)

4. Bf.109F-2 (6754) II/JG.2 70%
pilot not known Force landed Merville, 30 km SE St.Omer

5. Bf.109 9/JG.2 LK 50%
Fw.Paul Paetau crashed La Panne (De Panne)

RAF claims for confirmed victories as follows:-

1. 616 Sqdn. P/O. J.E.Johnson Bf.109 Gravelines (pilot b/o)

2. 616 Sqdn Sgt. W,J.Johnson Bf.109 Dunkirk

3 92 Sqdn S/Ldr. J.E.Rankin Bf.109 15 km S Gravelines
seen to crash

4. 92 Sqdn. F/O. A.R.Wright Bf.109 20 m S Dunkirk

5 92 Sqdn F/Sgt. R.E.Havercroft Bf.109 S of Dunkirk

6. 610 Sqdn P/O. F.A.O.Gaze Bf.109 Pilot in dinghy

7. 54 Sqdn S/Ldr. R.F.Boyd Bf.109 Gravelines/Dunkirk

8 611 Sqdn F/O. T.D.Williams Bf.109 Gravelines/Dunkirk

9. 611 Sqdn P/O W.G.G.D.Smith Bf.109 Gravelines/Dunkirk

10 611 Sqdn. Sgt. D.E.Fair Bf.109 Gravelines/Dunkirk


NB; Both 4 & 5 claimants from 92 Sq were surprised to be given confirmations as they only claimed probables. Claimant 6 of 610 Sq
is doubtful as no 109 went into sea!
I am leaning towards loss 3 (Meindl) as Johnny Johnson's victim and loss 4 as Rankin's
Any thoughts please

Cheers

Bruce Lander