Shot down hurricane 16th may 1940

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi,
The following details can be found in the excellent “ Twelve days in May “ by Brian Cull and Bruce Lander with Heinrich Weiss (published by Grubb Street in 1995) on page 169 and 170 :
Quote
The Bf110C (2N+HH of 1/ZG1) crashed near Walem, one mile north of Mechelen, with the deaths of Lt Heinrich Brucksch and his gunner, Gfr Heinz-Werner Roth. However, Hptm Adolf Galland of Stab/JG27 reported downing a Hurricane one mile south of Lille at 1830, but since Sgt Wilkinson reported that he had seen the Bf110 shoot down Sqdn Ldr Gifford’s Hurricane, it would seem that the latter had fallen to the Bf110 crew and that Galland had attacked Wilkinson’s Hurricane.
Unquote


The RAF Casualty pack AIR81/476 doesn’t mention anything about an attack by a Bf110. The file includes the following information supplied by the Squadron Leader of 3 Squadron (on 17 July 1940) :
Quote
..and have to inform you that Squadron Leader Gifford was last seen in combat with a Heinkel. He had fired several bursts into the enemy aircraft and followed it down over an enemy ammunition column. F/Lt. Wilkinson who followed Squadron Leader Gifford down, and eventuatlly got the Heinkel, reports that ground fire was very strong at the height at which he encountered the enemy aircraft. On seeing the enemy aircraft crash he immediately got out of the zone of fire. F/Lt. Wilkinson did not see Squadron Leader Gifford again and fully expected that he had returned to Base. No one actually saw Squadorn Leader Gifford brought down by Anti-aircraft fire or crash. He was reported missing on the 16th May, 1940, whilst on patrol in the vicinity of Hamme Mille.
Unquote


Best regards


Luc