French airman grave

[Reiner]

Hi

Who was this French fighter pilot? The photo is from the album of a former German soldier of the 14th (Pz.Jäger) / IR38.

Regards, Rene

[Bertrand H]

Hi,

If the date is correct on the grave there is only one lethal loss on 24 june 1940.

Name is Henri Raphenne of GC 1/6 lost with MS 406 n°1056 close to the village of Mours-Saint-Eusèbe (not so far from Romans (Drome).

Info from the book "Ils étaient là" by Paul MArtin.

If you have this picture what is it on the top of the cross ?

bertrand

[Reiner]

Hi Bertrand

I have only a copy of this photo. At the weekend I can see the original.

Regards, Rene

[Alex Smart]

May I suggest that it is either a photo taken of the pilot or of someone who's picture he had on him at the time of his death ?

[Reiner]

Hi

This photo is from the album of Heinz-Walter Schellner, Panzerjäger in the 14th / 38th Infantry Regiment. End of the war Schellner was a successful fighter pilot in JG302 / 301. I think the date on the cross is the date of death. At an unknown date of death German soldiers just written the month and not the day .For example "Juni 1940"

Regards, Rene

[madaroums]

Hello
There is a picture of Henri Raphenne on this webpage : http://frenchaces.pagesperso-orange.fr/as/m+q_s.html
Cheers
franck

[Reiner]

Thank you Franck!

Rene

[Dan Gilberti]

Hi
According with Me Germaine L'Herbier-Montagnon (SHD IPSA File n°90 5 march 1941), we have 2 grave ( one temporar) near the crash plane in first time, and one other after in Mours-Saint-Eusèbe cimetarry.
Bsrg, Dan

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Problem is that the IR 38 was nowhere near the area where Raphenne died. It was in western France (Tours, Cher, Indre and Vienne being the last areas during June 1940).

After the armistice, the unit went to the Gironde area (between Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast), and there is another French pilot who died on 24 June 1940 in this area, but he was not a member from the Armée de l'Air, but belonged to the Aéronautique Navale (the French Fleet Air Arm).

Second-maitre Henri Charles Pivet of escadrille AC5 was killed when his Morane 406 was shot down by Flak during a strafing pass on the German troops that had just occupied the fort of Le Chay at Royan, on the northern shore of the Gironde. The Morane (serial unknown) crashed close to the fort.

This occured at 1430 hrs, while Raphenne was killed at 1930 hrs, so the latter is still the last French pilot KIA during the campaign.

Edited:
I found one diary of a German officer belonging to 1./IR 38 who said he was in Royan in end June and July 1940. So it is very probable the picture was taken there, and is Pivet's one.