Mureaux in Holland?

[Pieter H]

Thanks Laurent!

Still, assuming that the location is indeed the Netherlands as claimed in the caption, it is definitely a wrecked Mureaux 117. The picture clearly shows the tail with the characteristic Armee de l'Air tricolor tail panel and the often used french styke big number 2.

My interpretation is then that this is a Muraux used for liaison with the 7eme Armee and either crashed while landing or abandoned and burned or damaged on the ground during a german air attack.

Without more details on the whereabouts of the picture it will be difficult to conclude more.

[Jaap Woortman]

The only plane that comes close to the type you have mentioned is the:
40-05-10, Herkingen ( bij boerderij Hr.Geluk)Mureaux 115.
Pilot and unit unknown.
It is the only Mureaux in the database of the Dutch Studygroup Airwar 1939-1945.
I do not know if there is a big difference in construction between 115 and the 117.
We are interested in a scan of that picture.

Jaap Woortman
Secretary Dutch Study Group Airwar 1939-1945.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

So a possible explanation of this loss, confirmed by Jaap with date and place, will be a liaison aircraft, not belonging to operationnal units that are dealt with the book "Ils étaient là".

Last year I started to list the losses of the training and auxiliary units of the Armée de l'Air, but I only reached January 1940 before finding a new job and running out of time. So I can't help here. I plan to go to the SHAA one day this month and will try to find something for the 10 May.

[Pieter H]

Dear Jaap, Laurent,

Thanks! This at least confirms a Mureaux loss in May.
The location of the island Goeree-Overflakkee is quite surprising, wouldn't have expected french flights up to there already on May 10, especially not a slow and defenseless Mureaux. In this case it was also hardly a liaison flight, beacuse there were no french forces on Goereee to liase with. But as a loss during a recon flight it should normally be listed in "Ils etaient la". Still some questions left.

If Jaap's classification of a Mureaux 115 is correct, it should most likely be an aircraft of GAO501 from Dunkerque-Mardyck, since this was the only GAO of the 7e Armee flying with Mureaux 115. GAO552 from St Omer flew Mureaux 117.
The difference between Mureaux 115 and 117 was the engine, and the main visible difference the engine cowling. However, since the plane is on its nose it is not possible to identify the exact type. I hope the 115 comes from identification of the wreck in 1940, so I have no reasons to doubt on that.

By the way, the picture is from "Mei 1940" of Schoenmaker and Postma p.74.

Pieter

[Peter T]

Hi Pieter,

just have a look at Ebay auction 6254180663. I think one of the pictures is the one you are refering to. These are rather well known and come from a photographer of SS Verfügungs Division. If this your plane, have a look at the way of this unit and this should give you an idea of the possible locations.

Regards

peter