Seeking photos/info of 92 SQ Spitfires crashed & damaged during 23.5.40 combat over France

[Larry Hickey]

wise62,

It would be a big help to me to know where the crash site of Gillies' Spitfire has been located. Can you provide this?

Thanx,

[wise62]

Copy of the local newspaper about the dug up of the unknown Spit near Blériot-Plage Sangatte

Wise62

[Andy Saunders]

From your earlier posting this was the Spitfire of Learmond, I thought?

Is the Spitfire flown by Gillies at the same place?

[wise62]

to Larry Hickey,

Could you send me a private message ?
it's not possible for me as your forum boxe seems full.
Wise62

[wise62]

Hi,

Picture of the engine plate and little parts of clothes found during the dug of the spit of Bleriot/Sangatte, 21 years ago....

wise62

[Andy Saunders]

Unless I am mistaken (and I don't think I am!) the small Spitfire data plate is exactly the same one as that which is illustrated on page 104 of "Crashs sur le Pas-de-Calais 1940 -1945" by Hugues Chevalier.

I suspect very strongly that the site from where this originates is the crash site of Pat Learmond's Spitfire. It would be interesting to know, exactly, where the crash site was located. Learmond is still missing.

Equally, it would be good to know where Gillies crashed, Wise 62.

[wise62]

Hi,

Many of the items found during the activity of Maurice Choron association are now into H. Chevalier and J.Leclercq 's hands (as for G.Chalk and P. Laguna spitfires parts). In his book, Hughes Chevalier refers to "Maurice Choron group" and have added pictures of several of these items. I think that these parts had been kept by the president of the association, Patrick Hembert, who gave up them.
For me, I have only a picture of the plates and parts of clothes, taken when they have been found in 1987.
Unfortunatly, I have lost contact with Patrick Hembert many years ago.

But what do you think about Peter Cazenove report : He crash-landed on the beach, north of Calais, where his spitfire has been found in 1981,as you know (After the Battle) : you write : " when making for the town, he came across the incinerated fragments of a spitfire, cremated among its wreckage where the remains of his friend, Pat Learmond".

"Making for the town" : Calais, from the northern beach but The wreck of the unknown spit has been found south of Calais
So Cazenove would have had to walk through the town of Calais before to meet the wreck, over the harbour.

Do you know the exact point where P. Cazenove has been taken POW?

Wise62

[Andy Saunders]

I do not know exactly where Peter Cazenove was taken POW.

He apparently took part in the final defence of Calais, but am not sure if it was actually in the town.

The account about his discovery of Learmond's wreckage is taken from Tuck's book "Fly For Your Life" and so it might not be 100% accurate, of course.

It is still possible that the wreck to the south is Learmonds, and still possible that it was found by Cazenove. Unfortunately we will never know.

I was in contact with a Patrick Duriez in the Pas de Calais area many years ago and who had researched many losses but I have lost contact with him, too, and I am afraid that Chevalier and Leclerc do not seem to have any wish to deal with English-based historians and researchers - which is a pity as we could all help each other a great deal!

[wise62]

I dont know if there is still something to find. I hope that you read french

[Andy Saunders]

Thank you, Wise62. Interesting though it is I have struggled to be able to read the text. It is too small and too low res. If I try to print it, or to increase the size, the text gets worse. Any chance you could re-scan at a higher res? It would be VERY much appreciated!