Looking ID of these photos of downed 142 SQ Battles during the WC

[G-ASEA]

I still cant make out the last two numbers of the Battle. In another photo of the scrapyard i can make out Battle K9202 N of 98 sdn.
The Battle on the beach i have got the location as Calais, dont know if this is right. All i can make out is right hand side L in front of the roundel, left side Q, The tail is broken just after the roundel.

Dave

[Larry Hickey]

Dave,

The beach FL you are referring to is for sure QToL of 142 SQ. The crash location is probably a Beach at Boulogne. One view shows a line of houses on the shore. If someone from this board lives near Boulogne I would be willing to send them this photo and see if they can ID the location for us. If we can ID it there this would almost certainly date the photo to either 22 or 23 August 1940.

Regards,

[G-ASEA]

Larry,

There are house on the cliff behind and to the right of the Battle as it faces you. I can't see any on the left, just cliffs.

Dave

[G-ASEA]

Can anybody id this beach, where the 142sdn Battle crash landed? From these photos.

Dave

[Andy Saunders]

There are one or two sites where it is possible to view aerial oblique photos of the French coastline and I have used this on a several occasions to help pin down a location on the Channel Coast. One site is here:
http://www.francecoastline.com/

It takes a bit of time, but it isn't impossible.

I'm sure there is another site which will take you on a slow virtual "flight" along the coastline where it is much easier to identify places, although invariably the photos we are interested in are at ground level, so one has to imagine what those scenes look like from the air. However, that isn't impossible where there are distinctive features.

Perhaps worth a try?

[udf_00]

Photos shot at low tide ?

[Larry Hickey]

Andy/"udf_00"

Yes, this is at low tide along the French coast.

Andy: this is an excellent research tool for landmarks and terrain along the French coast of which I wasn't previously aware. I quickly spotted about three areas along the French coast at Boulogne that look promising. I think we have enough photos to nail the location on this one. However, I don't have the time right now to study this closely. If someone with eagle-eyes has the time to research this and compare the photos with the coastline I'd be happy to send them my copy to supplement what Dave has posted. That should provide enough evidence to nail this one to Boulogne. Contact me by PM if you want to help.

Regards,

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Would someone check their copy of Chorley's Bomber Command losses and provide me with the info on the 142 SQ Battle loss in the Boulogne area on either 22 or 23 Aug 1940? My copy is out of the office for some transcription work and Peter is on holiday. Would appreciate the info on the loss that we've been discussing here.

Regards,

[G-ASEA]

From BC Losses by Chorley.

22-23 Aug
142sdn L5503 Op: Boulogne QT
Mid Taylor RN pow
P/O A G Middleton pow
Sgt L M Lowry +
T/O 1825 Eastchurch to attack E-boats at Boulogne. Sgt L M Lowry has no known grave, while his fellow crew were reported prisoner.

L5582 Op: Boulogne QT
Sgt E A Pearce +
Sgt T S Duncan +
Sgt G Thompson pow
T/O 1825 Eastchuch. Presumed down in sea. Sgt Thompson survived to become prisoner, but the names of Sgt Pearce and Sgt Duncan are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Dave

[Larry Hickey]

Dave,

Thanks. That's just what I needed.

Regards,