238 Squadron pilot in the sea 1940

[Peter Cornwell]

I am hoping someone will post an answer to this query for it is something that has puzzled me for the past 25 years. There is nothing in 238 Squadron records to substantiate this account and my analysis of aircraft serials at the time failed to throw up anything that seemed to relate, hence the absence of a corresponding entry in my loss lists in BoBT&N.

Some time references for context - the squadron flew their first combat operation on 2 July 1940, and scored their first victories on the 11 July 1940 so, given the dates mentioned by Eric BANN in the footnote to his letter, my guess is the letter was written on either Friday, July 19 or 26, the incident having taken place some days earlier ? The No.238 Squadron ORB records engagements on 13, 20, and 21 July, but no mention of BANN being shot down as described. Nothing in RNLI records either but this is always a 'long shot'.