identification of a FW190 lost 28 February 1943

[Chris Goss]

I am afraid to say that this appears to be another optimistic claim

[Frédéric Bruyelle]

Thanks Steve...

we could imagine that the plane would have been hit without being shot down, and that in a burst of optimism, the British pilots believed it to have been destroyed ... but the problem remains that no German archives mention only the bombing of the base of Maupertus - which cannot be denied. we don't have the key....
not yet ....
frédéric

[Frédéric Bruyelle]

Good evening
the significant distance separating the cotention of Orleans forbids to think that there would be a link between these two destructions.
the mystery remains intact. could it be an FW belonging to a training unit?
what were the other JGs (apart from JG 26 which was too far away) which were in France at that time?

good evening and thank you for your input.
Frederic

[Stig Jarlevik]

I think we have to be content that this enigma is not going to be solved as such.

However, I also belong to the group who actually think the British pilot hit 'nothing'

First of all a loss in the Orleans area is simply out of the question.

Since the attack on the 28th was on Maupertus the obvious escape by the Whirlwind pilots would have been
to the north. How come the British claim is to the east (and quite a bit to the east) at Barfleur?
I agree that the pilot(s) from 130Sq, obviously covering the mission, could have pursued an attacker east,
but why would any Whirlwind pilot follow after them?
Their job was finished and all that remained for them was to go home/escape as quickly as possible.
So how come they knew anything about the claim made by 130Sq? Why is anything written in their ORBs at all?

Just curious....
Cheers
Stig

[Frédéric Bruyelle]

Hi Stig,
You're right. it is acting wisely to be able to think that what one is certain of may in fact be inaccurate.
here are the elements that I have and which partly answer your questions.
The 263 squadron testified to this destruction of FW in the following context: by starting the dive bombardment, the last Whirlwind found itself isolated, at the tail of the device. it was the one who was attacked by two FWs. the n°2 of the German fighters was targeted and seems to have been destroyed by the fighter of the 130 sqd.
the pilot of the Whirlwind has testified.
the 602 squadron which was in top cover heard and saw that the bombers were in contact with the enemy. He turned around and presented himself as reinforcements. They said they saw the destruction. It's also listed in their ORB.

everyone could be wrong. The German fighter was able to get away with it. According to the account made of this circumstance, he would have fallen into the sea. But who today can be sure?

the only point which is really positive to accredit the thesis of the destruction of this FW, it is that nowhere one finds trace of the confrontation between British and Germans on this occasion.
and as no one imagines a kind of collective mirage of the pilots of three squadrons, it is that undoubtedly, and in spite of much research, we have not yet identified the German squadron which intervened, and which (or did not) suffer any loss.

I thank you for your intervention Stig, I think like you that it is essential to ask all the questions

frédéric