Uffz Richard ERNST, 9./StG 2, KIA 22 May 1940

[Joss Leclercq]

hello,

I'm looking for any details about Uffz ERNST, who seems to have been killed in action near Helfaut, south of St Omer, on 22 May 1940.

He was apparently buried in Gonnhem cemetery and was later transfered.

Can anyone confirm he was killed in action, who was his Bordfunker ? Stuka identity and target attacked ?

Many thanks in advance

[Peter Cornwell]

55550/19 Uffz Richard ERNST b.28/11/1916 was Bordfunker to 55549/3 Lt Peter MEYR b. 31/5/1917 both of 9./StG2 reported killed south-east of Arques on 22 May 1940.

[Joss Leclercq]

hello Peter,

Many many thanks for your details which are most welcome, you can believe me !

It was my opinion that Uffz ERNST was a member of the crew of a two-seater (so either a Ju-87 or a Hs-126) which crashed in the village of Roquetoire on 22 May 1940.
From scarce local records we had the date, but no names.
I found this name by pure chance in old records in Arras (Pas-de-Calais) and thought it might account for the crash in Roquetoire. Location was roughly given as Helfaut (famous later for the V2 site) which is about 10 km to the west.
Roquetoire indeed is south-east of Arques.
If you have any other information, I'd be very glad to hear about it.
Many thanks again as it is more that I ever found on this case.

Cheers from France and happy new year !