Fairy Battle loss on 11.5.40?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hallo Peter

I must I admit I hate to be a pain in a most prominent place of yours...

However I fail to see the connection, perhaps because I don't have full details. I DID look at the gruesome photos (thanks Ed) at the time, but I myself am at a total loss to make out ANY serialnumber in these photos plus the distressing fact that the photos state 11.5.1940 and not 10.5.1940. That of course can be a mistake from the individual who wrote the text on the backside.

Unless of course you can ID the wounded/dying airmen in the photo(s) the only useful item we actually have is the letter R on the Battle a place name and the date 11.5.1940.

The two books I have are of course not very exact in detail as regard to the exact spot each Battle fell that day, so I can only assume you have more detailed info in the checked loss reports of WHERE these Battles were shot down/went missing, but since the two young crews most certainly was on the same mission and succumed more or less on the same time they surely fell quite close?

From my point of view, I fell you gallop ahead of me here, and just perhaps are jumping to conclusions. I don't know to be honest, but as a side note, I am sorry I started this thread since looking again at the photos the futillity of war and all the needless sacrifices the European youth had to make in the face of political follies makes the chasing of which individual who was in which Battle rather crumble into ashes....

All the Best
Stig

[Peter Cornwell]

Hello Stig,

The connection you seek is in the location quoted compared to recorded losses. These being for No.226 Squadron on that mission:

226 SQUADRON, REIMS-CHAMPAGNE

Battle (K9183). Hit by ground fire during dive-bombing of enemy columns between Wallendorf and Diekirch and crashed at Hirzenhaff Farm, south of Bettendorf, 6.30 p.m. Flying Officer D. A. Cameron died of wounds in Diekirch hospital May 13. Sergeant C. S. Hart captured unhurt. AC1 J. G. Ward captured slightly wounded. Aircraft MQ*R a write-off.

Battle (L5247). Shot down ground fire during dive-bombing attack on enemy columns between Wallendorf and Diekirch and crashed in the northern suburbs at Faubourg de Luxembourg, Weimerskirch 6.30 p.m. Flight Lieutenant B. R. Kerridge captured badly wounded, died May 15. Corporal G. H. Dixon captured badly burned. Sergeant D. I. Anthony captured unhurt. Aircraft a write-off.

Battle P2180. Returned damaged by ground fire during dive-bombing attack on enemy columns between Wallendorf and Diekirch 6.20 p.m. Sergeant H. J. Barron wounded in left leg. Sergeant D. E. Bingham and Corporal L. Smith unhurt. Aircraft damaged but repairable - destroyed on evacuation 16 May.

Believe me, a serial number is on the rear fuselage but I accept that it is difficult to make out - the starboard side view being best. Also, in my experience, photo captions are best treated with caution inevitably being subject to the vagaries of human memory.

Recognising that the two books you have lack the necessary detail to make any proper judgement, you must be correct to assume that I have more detailed information. Forty or more years research has its compensations I guess. And as you volunteer the fact that you 'don't know' I should tell you that while I often reach conclusions it is generally via a fairly cautious and deliberate process - at my age I rarely 'jump'.

Finally, don't be too dispirited for you didn't start this thread, I replied to a query from Larry Hickey. I am also at odds with your final comments believing, as I do, that it is important to document these events as accurately as possible. We owe them that much.