Shot down Fw 189 on 16.5.1940

[Peter Cornwell]

Marius,

You can make it complicated if that is your wish. For my part, I note claims for Fw189s filed by No.79 Squadron in the right area - these being, as far as I am aware, the only claims for such a type filed by any Allied pilot on the day in question but please correct me on this if I am wrong. As the Fw189 was an unusual type to meet on operations at the time, I see no reason to question the validity of these claims.

[Marius]

Peter,
I am sure the type could has been misifdentified by French pilots as a "Do 17".
Otherwise, the 79 Sqd achieved all 3 victories in the evening. The simplest way to compare and check both Fw 189 losses is to find out when exactly they flew their missions.
Any idea who could know these details ?

[Peter T]

Hi Marius,

German sources do not provide any detail.

I have an account by P/O TC Parker, and it’s clear that he shot down the Focke-Wulf Fw189A-0 of FF Uffz Heinz Schmitz: “ Led Green section with P/O Dorien-Smith and Sgt McQueen. Saw Focke Wolfe (sic) at 3000 ft so attacked with good lookout for Me’s, enemy/a dived down very low but closed up and fired until he hit the ground and exploded. We were then subjected to extremely heavy ground fire of all kinds which damaged all the a/c. …”

The second Focke-Wulf Fw189A-0 was claimed by P/O Clift, and Sgt Cartwright. Although I do not have a combat report, I see no reason to question the validity of these claims

Peter

[Seaplanes]

Considering that not a single FW 189A-1 series had left the production lines by 30 June 1940, one must anticipate that any aircraft must have been a V-muster or one of a few A-0 pre-production series. On 30.6.40 most of these were serving as test aircraft either at Focke-Wulf or at Rechlin.

[Marius]

Thanks Peter.
But what about the third shot down Fw 189 ???
And why don`t you think that all three pilots claimed the same aircraft (Seehase) ? Or maybe one of the British pilots shot at the Hs 126 of 4.(H)/13 ?