HE59 lost on 8th August 1940

[nick de carteret]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

If you mean who was the 238 Sqn pilot, it was Sqn Ldr Harold Fenton at 1340 hrs

Chris, my uncle was never credited with this aircraft as a victory and in fact I don't believe he realized that the HE59 had been lost.

To quote from his book re the Eighth of August :

"During the scrap a few miles south of the Isle of White, Eric Turner, the 'A' Flight Commander was shot down. There was no rescue launch in the area so I went out to have a look for him - on my own, as all the others were being refuelled. I could not find any trace but, while searching, I spotted a German seaplane at sea level. I went down to attack, gave him a long burst but, being much faster, I overshot and his gunner must have got in a lucky one which cut an oil pipe. My windscreen was covered in black oil. I turned North but shortly afterwards my engine seized. Having so little height, I had to ditch rather than bail out."

So in fact it was the HE59 that shot down the Hurricane!