Curtiss lost on August 14, 1940

[Henofred]

Bonjour,

I am looking for the unit to which the ObFw. WALBURGER Josef belonged, a pilot killed on August 14, 1940 whereas he was flying a Curtiss (H-75 model?) over the Bourges airfield. According to a testimony this German pilot would be killed whereas it made acrobatics with this plane.

All the best,
Frederic

[Peter Cornwell]

Frederic,

I can only offer you the following (with reservation):

Erg. JGr.Merseburg Curtiss P-36 (0021). Crashed at Bourges airfield, cause unknown. FF Oberfw Josef Walburger killed. Aircraft KQ+CB 100% write-off.

(Source: Winfried Bock)

[Henofred]

Merci beaucoup Peter.

I believe that the Erg. JGr. Merseburg was a training unit but the role of this German unit was also to test the captured planes? This question because some Curtiss fighters were captured on the production line in the SNCAC factory of Bourges.

Best regards,
Frederic

[Stig Jarlevik]

Quite interesting Peter

Since the Models 75A-1 to A-3 were serialled in one single serial range, No 1 to 335, the model 75A-4 started all over again with No 1

No 21 (A-1) was destroyed with GC II/5 already on 20/09/1939 so this has to be No 21 (A-4) which has no fate in the Curtiss H-75 book published by Lela Press. Many of its sisters were captured by the Luftwaffe , ie Nos 16,17,18,19,20, 22, 23, 24. No 30 used the code KQ+ZA, so we can see the Stkz is also very valid.

Thanks again Peter
Cheers
Stig

[Stig Jarlevik]

Ahhh

The Lela Press book complicates this.
Just saw that it lists No 16 as the aircraft lost on this date.
Also says it was coded KQ+ZB and not KQ+CB

Cheers
Stig

[Henofred]

Hello,

On the Lela Presse book, P-130 :

Curtiss H-75 A4 or H-751 No16 (c/n 13821) Delivered by Curtiss on May 5, 1940. Motor Wright G205A No29379.Captured and used by the Germans. Destroyed by accident on August 14, 1940 in Bourges.

Best regards,
Frederic

[Petitpoucet]

Hi guys,

I just had a look on my documents, i don't have the name of the unity concerned. Sorry.
And the final identification of the aircraft, i must agree with Stig, it is complicate !
Only because German archives use the two last numbers of the c/n to identify them, instead of the s/n, because they also captured Hawks from Norway.
I found three H-75 A4s (with Wright Cyclone engine) destroyed or damaged in accidents with the Lft : n°16, 17 and 19 (c/ns 13821, 13822 and 13824). But they also could have been n°21, 22 and 24, according to the original document.
For French archives, they all could match, they were all from the batch captured by the Germans.
But according to Finnish ones (they mention complete c/ns and s/ns of the engines, that permited me to confirm the s/ns of the aircrafts), n°16, 17 and 19 were not sold to Finnish Air Force by the Germans in 1941, when n°22 and 24 were.
Just hope my explanations are clear,

Friendly,

Lionel Persyn

PS : Sorry for my poor English !

[Henofred]

Thanks a lot Lionel for these additional explanations.
I take the opportunity to congratulate you for your book about the Curtiss fighters. Bravo.

All the best,
Frederic

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Lionel

I echo Fredric, a very nice book of yours!
I also see what you mean. Luftwaffe using the last two in Curtiss c/n (WNr) as ID instead of the French serial number. Admit I never thought about that possibillity, which then means c/n "21" is the same as French serial no 16. Clever!

Salut
Stig

[Petitpoucet]

Many thanks to both for your congratulations about my work.

Cheers,
Lionel