IDENTIFICATION

[Peter Cornwell]

Stéphane,

I believe that the photograph you mention actually shows the following brought down on 1 April 1940:

4.(F)/11 Dornier Do17P (4033). Intercepted by Lt Cormouls and Adjt Blanchard of ECMJ 1/16 during photo-reconnaissance sortie and attacked between Rocroi and Flize. Then engaged over Signy forest by Adjt Renaudie and Sgt de La Gasnerie of GC II/2 and finally crashed into woods at ‘La Fourche au Bouleau’, near Mézières 12.10 p.m. Two crewmen killed, Uffz H-G. Altmann believed captured. Aircraft 6M+EM a write-off.

6M was the code for FernAufklGr.11 while 4N was that for FernAufklGr.22. I guess the sources you mention simply duplicated the original error possibly in ‘Les Aiglons’.

John,

The source of my information is personal research in course of preparation of my forthcoming book The Battle of France Remembered for After The Battle Publications. However if, as I suspect, your question is intended to be more searching then (and only as it is you) I consulted the following:

1) Ob d L Gebst Gen Qu 6 Abt (1c) losses 3.3.40 (document dated 5.3.40) Gen d Lw b Ob d H (Nachtrag zum 2.3.40) entry 1.(F)/22.

2) Namentlicheverlustmeldungen for 1.(F)/22 dated 2.3.40 (WASt Berlin)

3) Victoires Homologuées à la Chasse Francaise Mars 1940 p318 in ‘Ils Étaient Là ..’ by J. & P. Martin (2001)

4) ‘Fledgling Eagles’ p176 by Christopher Shores (1991)

Thank you both for your interest.