Hptm Gerhard Plischke, + 17 Nov 39

[Chris Goss]

Thanks both-you understand my questioning especially when you look at Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger Band 1 pages 200-201 where the 8/KG 1 comes in!

[Larry deZeng]

III./KG 1 and thus 8. Staffel were not yet formed on 17 November 1939.

III./KG 1 (First Formation)

Formation and Training. (Dec 39 - Feb 40)
Formed 15 December 1939 at Burg near Magdeburg (new) and equipped with Heinkel He 111 bombers. Following training and workup, the Gruppe was declared operational on 2 Feb 1940.

Phony War West and Attack on France and the Low Countries. (Feb 40 - Jun 40)
20.2.40: transferred to Nordhausen in Thuringia and from there began flying occasional night reconnaissance and propaganda leaflet—dropping sorties over eastern France. No losses were reported while flying these missions.

L.

[Chris Goss]

Who would be an aviation historian, eh?

[Doug Stankey]

This sent me into a tizzy! After rummaging about, I conclude that the part that Larry refers to is an apparent temporary note that was to have been deleted after hashing out some issue. Sometimes I miss these in the final edit prior to release. Normally these notes are conspicuously flagged for easy removal. Sorry about that. However, the correct version does appear a little further on:

PLOESCHKE, G. 16.11.39 Hptm., Staka 3./KG 51 KIA - He 111 H abandoned over Italian/Austrian border after disorientation in storm conditions during a leaflet raid to Bordeaux and Marseille.

As for source for this, it appears that my main source was on page 116 of:
Cornwell, Peter D. The Battle of France Then and Now (Old Harrow: After the Battle, 2007). ISBN: 9-781870-067652.

I shall clean out the offending temporary note.

Is everyone happy now?

[Larry deZeng]

Thanks, Douglas, because we now know that this is Shores vs Cornwell. Hopefully, one or both of them will step forward and reveal their sources so we can try to get to the bottom of this. Should they fail to do so, a detachment of Hell's Angels, Banditos, Outlaws and Devil's Disciples mounted on Harleys can pay them a visit and make then an offer they can't refuse.

L.