French Walrus collides with US L-5 Sentinel -3 July 1944

[Leendert]

On 3 July 1944 a 1st ERS L-5 Sentinel (no serial known) collided with a French Walrus of 4.S off Ajaccio, Cosica.The L-5 crashed in the Med, with two airmen to regret (DNB): 2nd Lt Carl R. Mingle and PFC Daniel J. Rickwald.

Interestingly, a US and a French text give a slightly different approach to the subsequent rescue mission, meaning that each leave the other out. Or have missed each other altogether because the Americans had left the scene already?
I refer to http://240plan.ovh.net/~flottill/cd/walrus-02.htm (in French) and http://www.dvrbs.com/camden/CooperHo...onHospital.htm both under 3 juillet/July 1944.

French text says a (French) Loire 130 seaplane was called up, and unfortunately hit the Walrus on completion of its landing run on the water. Loire 130 got seriously damaged, Walrus could reach base at Aspretto, sailing (not flying) home on its own power. Loire was towed back to base.

US text says a 1st ERS Catalina was sent out, crew found the Walrus and also noticed a dinghy with the body of who later appeared to be Lt Mingle. The Walrus pilot (Chouillet) was taken aboard the Catalina.

PFC Rickwald is missing since.

Too bad the French text gives no time frame to reconcile both accounts.

Any further details appeciated, thanks.

Regards,

Leendert