1.6.40, Dunkirk, early morning fight

[Evgeny Velichko]

Hi gents!

I am trying to find all possible info about action, wich took place at ~5:30-5:45 over Dunkirk.

As far I I've found, a number of Bf110C (12? report of Sgt. Potter of 19 Sqdn) of I./ZG1 appear as a fighter sweep over Dunkirk, and then came some Bf109E's of I./JG26.

They met Spitfires of 19, 222 and 616 Sqdn. Aircombat resulted:

Spitfire Mk.I, K9836, 19 Sqdn, Sgt.J.A.Potter, damaged by Bf110 fire and ditched on Channel at 5:30. A/c lost, pilot resqued.
Spitfire Mk.I, P9377, ZD*U write-off, 222 Sqdn, P/O L.Morant unhurt, a/c fired by pilot after forcelanding at Bray-Dunes at 5:30.
Spitfire Mk.I, P9317, ZD*A write-off, 222 Sqdn, P/O Falkust captured after forcelanding at Le Toquet at 5:40
Spitfire Mk.I, P9339, ZD*J write-off, 222 Sqdn, P/O Massey-Sharp killed, failed to return from combat with Bf109 of I./JG26 and Bf110 of I./ZG1. Beleived to be crashed at Pihen-les-Guines at 5:40. Possibly one wich collided with Bf110C of Oblt. Moeller of 2./ZG1.
Spitfire Mk.I, N3232, 222 Sqdn, Sgt. White killed when shot down at 5:35 over Dunkirk, possibly a victim of Uffz. Wolf of 3./JG26.
Spitfire Mk.I, 616 Sqdn, shot down and ditched into Channel at 5:45, beleived to be a victim of Oblt. Losigkeit of 2./JG26. Pilot F/O Bell resqued, a/c lost.
Spitfire Mk.I, 616 Sqdn, crashlanded at Rochester out of fuel following combat with I./JG26 (and with I./ZG1?). P/O Holden beleived unhurt, a/c damaged but repairable.

Bf109E-3, I./JG26, shot down by Spitfires of 19, 222 and 616 Sqdn over Dunkirk at 5:45, pilot unhurt, a/c write-off.
Bf109E-1, 3./JG26, shot down by Spitfires of 19, 222 and 616 Sqdn over Dunkirk and crashed at Pervijze at 5:45, Lt. S.Gruel killed, a/c write-off.
Bf109E-3, 3./JG26, shot down by Spitfires of 19, 222 and 616 Sqdn over Dunkirk and crashlanded near Furnes at 5:45, Oblt. R. Germeroth wounded, a/c a write-off.
Bf110C, 1./ZG1, shot down in combat with Spitfires of 19 and 222 Sqdn over Nieuport and crashed alongside a road from Koksijde to Oostdunkirke at 5:30. Beleived to be a victim of P/O Sinclair of 19 Sqdn. Pilot Fw. Donsing unhurt, b/f Uffz. Rotz killed. A/c a write-off.
Bf110C, 1./ZG1, shot up in combat with Spitfires of 19 and 222 Sqdn over Dunkirk at 5:30, pilot unhurt, b/f Uffz. Richter slightly wounded. A/c damaged but repairable.
Bf110C, 2./ZG1, collided in head-on with Spitfire of 222 Sqdn losing starboard wing and crashed. Oblt. J. Moeller and Uffz. Schieferstein bailed out and captured unhurt. A/c a write-off.
Bf110C, 3./ZG1, shot down in combat with Spitfires of 19 and 222 Sqdn at 5:30, Uffz. R.Mueller and Uffz. Dietch killed, a/c a write-off.

I have no details on RAF pilots claims.

But about Luftwaffe I have following:
Uffz. Heinz Wolf of 3./JG 26 claimed Spitfire over Dunkirk at 5:36 (conf.)
Oblt. Fritz Losigkeit of 2./JG26 claimed Spitfire over Dunkirk at 5:40 (conf.)
Lt. Eduard Tratt of 3./ZG1 claimed Spitfire over Dunkirk at 5:45 (conf.)
Lt. Eduard Tratt of 3./ZG1 claimed Spitfire over Dunkirk at 5:45 (conf.)

I have no additional info about claims of other I./ZG1 pilots, but anyway Gruppe lost two of its successfull pilots - Mueller and Moeller.

Does anybody have any additional info on that fight? Any RAF reports and claims? Any additional Luftwaffe claims?