Me109 shot down or damaged a a Lysander 15 May 1940

[Danny152]

On 15 May at 12.55 a RAF Lysander of 13 Squadron apparently engaged and damaged a Me109. The engagement reported south of the city of Louvain. Does anyone have an assessment on what and who the Luftwaffe unit were?

Thanks

Danny

[Chris Goss]

I am afraid that around 22 Bf 109s were damaged, suffered accidents or shot down on this date. However, a 13 Sqn Lysander was possibly shot down by Oblt Willi Fronhoefer of 9./JG 26 at 1000hrs near Leuven and a 9./JG 26 Bf 109 crashed on landing at St Trond but no times given for this

[Danny152]

Thanks Chris, yes, I think it might be abit difficult to ID this one!

[Alain57]

Hello ,
I have this :
15/05/1940 Meerdaal Bos Limietendreef
Lysander II
10H00
Oblt Fronhöfer Wilhelm (9./JG26) vermoedelijk
Recce
N-1260
13Sqn
OO-
Authie
P/O Ollerenshaw Allan Christie pilot 41729 (KIA) 19 jaar Auckland City NZ
LAC Lucas Charles Francis gunner 937157 KIA) Newcastle-on-Tyne 01/01/1917
Begraven stedelijk kerkhof Leuven graf nr 6 en 7
FRONHÖFER, Wilhelm ("Willi"). 15.05.40 Oblt., 9./JG 26. 08.40 Oblt., in 9./JG 26 (to 31.08.40 POW – Bf 109 E-4 (Yellow 10+I) shot down by a 54 Sqdn. Spitfire and force-landed at Jubilee Farm near Ulcombe). Credited with 3 victories.

Around 1000 hrs a Lysander crasht into the Meerdaalwoud. Ranger Nackaerts and constable Evers were ordered to find the aircraft. They found the crasht Lysander two days later at the Limietendreef at Bierbeek.

Regards
Alain57

[Chris Goss]

I think the question is a Lysander shooting down or damaging a 109 not a Lysander being shot down?

[Danny152]

Thanks for the info guys, yes, apparently P/O Hurndall damaged a Me109 on this date, according to the combat reports.

However, that last bit Alain….. is interesting. I guess a French policeman, not sure about the Ranger???

Around 1000 hrs a Lysander crasht into the Meerdaalwoud. Ranger Nackaerts and constable Evers were ordered to find the aircraft. They found the crasht Lysander two days later at the Limietendreef at Bierbeek.

[Alain57]

Hello ,
In Dutch it says boswachter ( Ranger ) en veldwachter ( constable ). Probably the translation is not correct.
Ragards
Alain57

[Andy Mitchell]

Hi,

Using DeepL alternatives to Ranger/Forester include gamekeeper.

Maybe one of our Dutch members can clarify.

[ClinA-78]

'garde forestier' (boswachter) et 'garde champêtre' (veldwachter) in French if it helps...
Gamekeeper really ?

ClinA-78