May 14th 1940 and few little things

[Brian]

Hi Birgir

Yes, you are probably correct. I am sure the Buffalo pilots who thought they saw Bf109s had in fact encountered Hurricanes, although one did claim a Messerschmitt shot down (no Hurricane lost). Similarly, Buffalo and Hurricane pilots mistakenly identified Buffaloes as 'Zeros' (Ki-43s, in fact). Highly confusing.

Cheers
Brian

[BlenheimBuff]

To All Concerned,

Can we please draw a line under this whole argument and just move on? I speak as a junior member of the forum, but have to say that I am surprised that so much effort and focus is being placed on this particular thread. As far as I can see it is simply a case of differing opinions, and a debate which is not supported on either side with unequivocal evidence. The thread is becoming increasingly petty and confrontational, and as such threatens to devalue the whole forum. If personal contributions are being made simply to advance personal agendas rather than to genuinely advance our understanding of these events then they have little value in my book.

I understand the strength of emotions that this subject generates, but unless someone can provide real physical or documentary evidence to support their personal opinions then let's just agree to differ and move on without further acrimony. If the individuals concerned feel unable to do this then maybe the forum moderator(s) should intervene.

Regards,

Ian

[Bernard]

From one concerned,

I am not going to accept under the name of whatever is, that someone by wichever kind of logic is, would state that four RAF Fairey Battles would have been shot down by French fighter pilots without being able to provide any kind of serious argumentation.
The fact is that Mr Gillet in his book states this fact.
Without providing any worther source than his believing.

His book is published.
His book is sold.
Many people believe what is published!
Do you know about revisionism?

Sincerely yours.

Bernard.

There is no shame in stating that in this case I DON'T KNOW!.

[arnaud]

Before the publication in french and in english of our developpement of the friendly fires of GC III/7 on May 14 1940 (around 100 pages), we would like to give you some informations about those 4 Henschel 126 as said "shot down on May 14 1940" :

http://aviation1940.site.voila.fr/page3.html

Arnaud Gillet

[arnaud]

Souscription :
La Furie / Fury :
Jusqu’au 10 mai 2010 au prix de 15 euros (20 euros après souscription), sortie espérée pour le 14 mai 2010 : chèques encaissés au paiement de l’imprimeur :
a envoyer à :
M. Arnaud Gillet
58, rue du Neuf-Bourg
51490 Bétheniville


Le 14 mai, les Français sont abasourdis apprenant la chute de Sedan… Les cœurs se serrent et les poings de referment, mais l’espoir d’une victoire s’éloigne au retour des nombreux bombardiers… Traumatisme dont l’ampleur décrite, ici, après vingt ans d’une recherche assidue dans les archives européennes et d’investigations sur le terrain dévoilant les manipulations, les non-dits, les secrets de cette catastrophique journée.
Un officier allemand, en particulier, assiste au combat du groupe de chasse III/7 qui se solde, d’après l’historique, par la destruction de quatre avions allemands, mais, en fait, de nationalité française et britannique à la suite d’une incroyable série d’erreurs, unique dans l’histoire de l’aviation : le comble d’une terrible journée marquée aussi par les nombreux retours inopinés à la base des bombardiers français refusant « le sacrifice suprême » sur Sedan, infestée de chasseurs et batteries antiaériennes…

On May 14 1940, the French were deeply stunned by the news of the fall of Sedan. One can imagine everyone’s pang of anguish or clenched fists…
Moreover on some French airfields and bases, the hope of a victory faded away when the few bombers that returned from mission over Sedan had been unsuccessful…
That traumatic experience is described in this book, after twenty years of extensive research in European archives and thorough investigations out in the field. Part of these efforts have allowed to focus on that tragic day and to discover manipulations, unvoiced comments, and secrecies behind the official version of events.
One German officer in particular witnessed the air battle involving fighters of III/7 Groupe. The Operations Record Book of that unit claimed the destruction of four German aircraft. It was in fact an unbelievable series of friendly fire, quite unique in aviation history, involving French and British aircraft – the last straw during that ill-fated day, also exceptional by the numbers of unexpected returned to base of French bombers, refusing the “sacrifice supreme” over Sedan infested with German fighters and anti-aircraft batteries…

[Ruy Horta]

Arnaud, will it be a Bi-lingual publication?

[arnaud]

Bonjour M Ruy Horta,

This book, dedicated to men (French and British) shot dead during this combat, is in French (left pages) and in English (right pages). The French text had been translated by a friend and corrected by some English speaker researchers in aviation. I thank them very much for this precious help: one person met in this forum (thank to “12 O’clock high!”).

It is a A4 format with many precise maps, tables and photos (88 pages).

To pay the printer in May 2010, I ask my friends to subscribe in this purchase to May 10 2010 at a reduce price (15 euros, postage free for France, plus 2 euros for Europe, plus 4 euros for the rest of the world) then 20 euros. If someone from “12 O’clock high!” is interesting, it would be helpful… Unfortunately I am not a big company just a simple author and payment is difficult for Europeans. You could pay by IBAN…
http://aviation1940.site.voila.fr/index.jhtml

My book is at printer’s. I do hope it will be available for May 14 2010 for the 70th anniversary of this combat.

[arnaud]

La réponse de la WASt (Berlin) : sans commentaire...