74. Squadron Spitfire lost on 21.5.1940

[Kaiyan]

do not know if this helps but

ZP-J 22.05.40 Aubert in K9867 force landed at Berck-sur-Mer

[Faenor]

Hi Kaiyan,

I ave info about this machine (and more photos), but Í m interesting in machine lost day before and issue with serial number-machine could not be lost in 2 different days..........

Faenor

[Faenor]

hi all,

the right serial number is K9957 :

http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ls/r/C14501981
http://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/K9957

Solved from my side.

Faenor

[Stig Jarlevik]

Faenor

Interesting topic!

There is a problem with both dates and aircraft here.

If we concentrate on the pilot, what Kaiyan says is that many sources list P/O R.D. Aubert as having force landed on the 22nd and not 21st as stated in BofF.

If we then concentrate on the aircraft
K9977 is listed as lost on 30.12.1939 by all other sources I have as well, so I think we can be pretty safe BofF is wrong when saying Aubert flow that aircraft, either on the 21st or 22nd.

Aircraft K9867 also creates a problem, since its record card seems to say it was lost on the 23rd and not 21st (or even 22nd)

I think that Peter (in some other context) said he had relied and checked upon all the ORB available. I can't remember if he also said he counter balanced his details with what had been checked on the record cards or not, but hopefully he gets around reading this and makes his own comments.

You also have to remember this was a very tough period for the British. They were basically on the verge of loosing the war and record keeping was probably one of the least promoted aspects they were facing, so there is bound to be many official discrepancies around.

Cheers
Stig

PS: Yes indeed K9957 could be a good candidate since it is recorded as missing on the 21st.

[Faenor]

Hi Stig,

yes, this is interesting topic, same like Hawker Hurricanes during same period (start WWII to Battle of Britain).

Plane K9867 ZP-J was lost 23.5.1940 - S/Ldr. F.L.White forced-landed at Calais-Marck. During few hours was rescued by pilots of 54. Sq with Miles Magister covered by 2 pilots.

http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/as-leathart.htm - there is wrong date
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/AllenJL.htm

In this link and info about S/Ldr. White, there is photo of pilots 74.Sq - some of them was shot-down during Dynamo operation and some of later.
http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WhiteFL.htm

From my view, in the excellent book Battle of France Then and Now, there is just the typo - wrongly K9977 and right one is K9957

But - maybe I´m wrong :-) I´m just amateur in this part of history :-)

Faenor

[Bertrand H]

Hi

If the ZPJ could have been the K9867 the photo of this a/c is not taken at Calais-Marck

The airfield is absolutely flat flat flat

The hill behind looks better close to Berk-sur-Mer

Bertrand