Fw200 shot down on 24/05/1940 or 25/05/1940 near Ostend (= Oostende) , Belgium = ?

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi,

The Fighter Command Intelligence Summary No.106 from 1800 hours 24.5.40 to 1800 hours 25.5.40 (AIR 16/234) mentions :

quote
A Focke Wulf Condor flying near Ostend, and which was flashing the French letter of the period, was shot down by No.74 Squadron.
unquote

No other information/confirmation of this claim was found.

Which aircraft could it have been ?

Many thanks and best regards

Luc

[Chris Goss]

Definitely not a Fw 200 and no mention in the F540

[Luc Vervoort]

Chris,

Thanks for the confirmation that is was not a Fw200.

Were any other 4 engined aircraft active in that area around that date ? Could if have been another Squadron who made the claim ?

Best regards

Luc

[Chris Goss]

Luc: The F540s and Combat Reports for both days list the usual single or twin engine types likewise other sqns. The Luftwaffe had no other 4 engined combat aircraft at that time

[Luc Vervoort]

Chris,

Ogfr. Kurt Hartleben of I./KG40 was killed near Narvik on 25/05/1940. He is buried in the German War cemetery at Narvik. Was he aboard a Fw200 ?

Could it be that the location and the Squadron (which claimed the aircraft) are not correct in the Intelligence Summary ?

Best regards

Luc

[Stig Jarlevik]

Luc

Chris is way, way more skillful than me in these matters, but just to emphasize what he says.
74 Sq made six confirmed claims (+ two unconfirmed) on the 24th but none on the 25th, meaning if
the report is correct it has to be referring to the 24th.

However none of the claims were for any Fw 200 or anything else "four-engined". The statement
"flashing the French letter" made me a bit uneasy making me think in the terms of a French night bomber
making its way back in the early morning hours, or something like that.
However I cannot locate any French loss either which could fit the bill so the Intelligence Summary just
seems to be plain wrong....

Incidentally I don't believe in some huge cover up at the time still secret 80 years later....

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

On 25 May 40 a Condor of 1./KG 40 was shot down by a Gladiator of 263 Sqn right in the north of Norway so not 74 Sqn, French or off Ostend

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

On 25 May 40 a Condor of 1./KG 40 was shot down by a Gladiator of 263 Sqn right in the north of Norway so not 74 Sqn, French or off Ostend

Indeed Chris
All in your book. Perhaps the Intelligence Summary Staff was too focused on the evacuation of France
and mixed things up a bit?

Cheers
Stig

[Luc Vervoort]

Chris and Stig,

Many thanks for your replies.

The information in the Intelligence Summary was perhaps mixed up a bit, like Stig mentioned, or perhaps the staff who made the reports was still investigating the report mentioned in summary nr.96 :

It should be noted that German parachute troops wear British or Allied uniforms, or are dressed as priests, postmen, policemen or disguised as women.

Best regards

Luc