Gerald Edge, Hurricane Ace

[Alex Smart]

Hello Michael,
In response to your question.
The question was about claim on the 9th May,40.
So it would seem he only had 1/3 claim.

But from Toms reply in which he quoted the ORB it would seem that only the two pilots actually fired on the victem, if that was the case then I find it odd that the Combat Claim Form's that were researched by John Forman would have shown that F/O. Hope had not fired at the victem ?
He must have made a claim ?
The Claim must have been approved ?

[Tom Semenza]

Alex,

I don't know from where John Foreman got his information. There is no Combat Report for Ralph Hope for that date on TNA website (nor for Austin for that matter.) Edge's combat report contains no narrative and, in addition to the usual time, date, place, etc., contains only an overlay showing the amount of ammunition expended. Link below:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D7492526

Here is a link to the 605 ORB (Form 540) for May. Everyone can judge for themselves, but there is no indication that Hope fired at all. The Form 541 seems to indicate the same.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8415854

Regards,
Tom