The Eagles Over Europe Project

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I had copies made so I could post images of the two 88 SQ Battles for which I'm seeking serial numbers:

1) http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-Ghq...-Ghq77Sg-L.jpg

2) http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-dQn...-dQnVMLf-L.jpg

I'm also seeking confirmation that the following 88 SQ Battle, L5243, RHo? is actually in a salvage dump at Mourmelon, as I have it captioned in my DB. This is a very large scrap pile and I'm wondering if this is not the repair facility at Nantes, rather than Mourmelon. Can anyone confirm the location of this photo?

3) http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-XRW...-XRWCMW2-L.jpg

Any help would be appreciated.

[Bertrand H]

Hi Larry,


One of the last issue of Batailles Aériennes was on La RAF en France, part 1, Battle in turmoil, May-June 1940 :

http://www.aircraft-navalship.com/pr...aeriennes/2147

Jean-Louis Roba and Claude Archambaud and some other authors did a list with the known losses of this a/f.

Here are some candidates of Battles' 88 sqdn lost at Mourmelon or abandoned in France.

In French but easy to understand

MOURMELON

L5233. 88 Sq. RH-. Très endommagé le 14 mai 1940 sur le secteur de Sedan et abandonné à Mourmelon.
P2355.88 Sq. RH-. Détruit au sol par bombes à Mourmelon le 10 mai 1940.
L4956 88 Sq. RH-. Détruit au sol par bombes à Mourmelon le 10 mai 1940.
L5526 88 Sq. RH-. Détruit au sol par bombes à Mourmelon le 10 mai 1940.
P2258 88 Sq. RH-. Détruit au sol par bombes à Mourmelon le 10 mai 1940.
L5243. 88 Sq. RH-. Abandonné à Mourmelon le 17 mai 1940 lors d'un départ.
L4956 88 Sq. RH-. Détruit au sol par bombes à Mourmelon le 10 mai 1940.
L5233. 88 Sq. RH-. Très endommagé le 14 mai 1940 sur le secteur de Sedan et abandonné a Mourmelon.
L5243. 88 Sq. RH-. Abandonné à Mourmelon le 17 mai 1940 lors du départ.
L5526 88 Sq. RH-. Détruit au sol par bombes Mourmelon le 10 mai 1940.
P2258 88 Sq. RH-. Détruit au sol par bombes à Mourmelon le 10 mai 1940 et sabordé.
P2355.88 Sq. RH-. Détruit au sol par bombes à Mourmelon le 10 mai 1940.

ABANDONED IN FRANCE


K9441. 88 Sq. RH-. Endommagé le 29 février dans un exercice et probablement abandonné lors de l'offensive allemande.
K9318. 88 Sq. RH-. Endommagé probablement en janvier 1940. Probablement abandonné en France.
K9349. 88 Sq. RH-. Probablement abandonné en France.
K9352. 88. Sq. RH-. Probablement abandonné en France.
K9441. 88 Sq. RH-. Endommagé le 29 février dans un exercice et probablement abandonné lors de l'offensive allemande.
L5462. Versé au 88 Sq. le 20 mai 1940. RH-E. Endommagé probablement le 26 et abandonné en France.
L5466. Versé au 88 Sq. le 25 mai 1.940. RH- ,probablement abandonné en France.
P2160. Verse au 88 Sq. le 8 juin 1940. RH-, probablement abandonné en France.

I have not crossed with the known photos and so took off the serial not in relation with "your" loss.

Bertrand

[Larry Hickey]

Bertrand,

Thanx. Yes, we have that publication, and the most recent one on the Hurricane as well. We're deep into the 88 SQ records at the British NA, which, unfortunately for 88 SQ leave a lot to be desired for the WC/FC. Your efforts here are greatly appreciated.

Are you back from Wissant now and did you achieve your goals?

[Pieter H]

Larry, back to your first question, I would say from the picture that the RH-L was the L5527. But that serial doesn't appear in any of my listings, so as always not 100% sure.

Regards, Pieter

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Pieter,

One day I am sure a better photo will reveal the serial !
Meanwhile the last digit of '7' puzzles me. As far as I can tell 88 Squadron had no Battles in use on 10 May 1940 with the serial ending in '7'. On that date also they only had two Battles in the 'L55xx' serial range; L5526 and L5581 which was lost on May 14th.
The search goes on !

Regards,

Martin.

[frog61]

Hello,

I have only just seen this post so apologies for the delay in replying. I have a photo of RH-L at Mourmelon and can confirm that the serial number is L5526.

Kevin

[Larry]

If not a 7 then a 2?

[Larry Hickey]

Kevin,

Please see your PM file.

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I have now seen Kevin's evidence and can confirm that RH-L photographed damaged at Mourmelon was serial number L5526.

Thanx to Kevin for all of us trying to unravel the mystery on this one.

[F19Gladiator]

Hi,
Would be interesting to see what Kevin's photo reveals as the photo linked to by Larry, which I also have from eBay, more looks like L5527. The last digit for sure looks more like "7" than "6" to me. However, there migh be a much better image showing something else?
BR
Göran