Ar 196 losses on 2 January 1942

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

On 2 January 1942 4 Spitfires of 602 Sqn on a Rhubard to France met over the Channel two German aircraft identified as "He 114s" and claimed both shot down at 1350 and 1400 hrs off Le Treport, but the Spitfire Vb P8722 was hit by return fire. His Norwegian pilot, Kapt. Jens Schjelderup Hertzberg, ditched after the engine cut but was lost.

According to one source, these "He 114" were in fact Ar 196 of BoGr 196. I would like to identify them, if they were shot down as the RAF pilots claimed.

A possible ID for one of them may be the WNr 148 that was according to a list of Ar 196 losses in Avions n°146 lost on 2 January 1942 in an air battle in sector 69/05 Ost. Fw Hilarius Kuhn (pilot) killed, no other crew name.

Thanks in advance