11 Jul 40 4/KG2 Loss

[Chris Goss]

A little bit of confusion which no doubt board members will help sort:

- Peter Townsend damaged U5+GM ( I have crew details) which damaged his P2716/F & he baled out off Harwich.
- Combat is not mentioned in John Foreman's Fighter Command War Diaries or combat claims book
- Franks says combat was 1815, Mason says dawn, Germans say 0850
- Do 17 crash-landed Arras or St Leger but a photo if the crash says Mory
- Wk Nr is either 2542 or 2842

I thnk it was c. 0750 hrs UK time, Hurricane as stated, Do 17 as stated & Mory close to St Leger?

[Jim P.]

No help with the WNr., but have the crew and yet another time.

Do 17Z, , GENZOW, Oblt. Joachim, , II., 4., KG 2, weiße G, U5+GM, , , 11-Jul-40, Stkp. Luftkampf off Southwold with Hurricane from 85 Sq. (S/L Townsend). Bauchlandung with B, Bf and Bm WIA., F & B RK, Bf & Bm DKiG., Lfl.2/Kanal, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #1)-Vol.2; Balke, Der Luftkrieg in Europa, I, p.466; BoB, T&N, p.538; Mason, Battle Over Britain, p.163; Kaiser, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger, V.1, p.106-107, 168-69, , St. Leger, 50%, F, B Ltn. Walter BORNSCHEIN, Bf Ofw. Werner Borner & Bm Fw. Friedrich Lohrer, 06.15,

[Peter Cornwell]

The No.85 Squadron ORB times the sortie as 0530–0615 hours. This timing is confirmed by TOWNSEND’s own post-war account wherein he documents his aircraft as VY*K ? No mention in RNLI records. I have mailed you separately regarding that all-important WNr. Precise crash location of Mory ties in well with that reported as St Leger.