17-May-40 2./JG 76 Schypek or Schulten

[Jim P.]

On 17-May-1940 2./JG 76 was involved in a scrap with GC I/5. According to 'Die Jagdfliegerverbände, III' and, I think, the loss, Joachim Schypek was WIA and baled out of his machine. However, in Gillet's 'Les victoires de la chasse francaise, II' on page 35 an entry Schypek's logbook shows that he was flying WNr. 6127 and did not report him taking to his chute. As a matter of fact looking at my own copy of the Schypek FB he continued flying WNr. 6127 on the 18th & 20th of May. Gillet continues and appears to be quoting from French documentation to the effect that the actual pilot shot down was Bernd Schulten.

My French being not so good, I was wondering if any members of the board from France or other French speakers who may have this book could give a more exact translation/synopsis of this event.

[christian]

Hi

It was Lt. Bernhard Schulten. He was shot down at Hirson-Area and came to the Reserve Lazarett Frankfurt/Main with wounds. The I./JG 76 became the message about Schulten at the 19.05.1940. On the 25.05.1940 he came back to his unit.

Greetings Christian

[Jim P.]

Thank you Christian.

[Chris Goss]

Jim: Same story is repeated in '12 Days In May' which was not substantiated by Schypek when I interviewed him some years ago

[Jim P.]

Gettin' old bites - read the book several years ago and have absolutely no remembrance of reading about that incident. Thank you.

However, your statement 'not substantiated by Schypek' leaves me somewhat confused. Did he just not remember the incident or was he indeed WIA (even though his FB says otherwise)? Trying to clarify as part of a database project. We can take this off-line if you'd prefer.

[Chris Goss]

He was not shot down nor was he wounded. As his logbook says, Lt Schulten abgeschossen!

[Jim P.]

Having had a chance to review '12 Days in May' it appears, unless there is a later edition than the one I have, that the authors attribute the 2./JG 76 loss in question on 17-May-1940 to Schypek. So far it appears that only Gillet has noted and corrected the conflict in a published source - Schulten vs. Schypek. At least amongst the sources I know. I have a copy of Schypek's FB and certainly hadn't noticed the conflict between this and other sources. Cudos to Mr. Gillet. Hope it adds to the recording of an accurate record of the campaign in May 1940.

[ouidjat]

Actually, "Raucourt bei Origny" or "bei Origny" alone, "Bei Hirson" means nothing.
1st you have to discover which Origny you're talking about from Normandy to Alsace and, 2nd ... Same thing with Raucourt.
...
Here is your place: Raucourt-au-Bois. And old auction.

Cheers, Franck.

[Peter Cornwell]

Franck,

Interesting. I have another view of this aircraft captioned as 'La Raminoise', which is SE of Artaise-le-Vivier, a little west of Huttes-de-Raucourt, SSW of Raucourt-et-Flaba ?

Location apart, exactly what other evidence is there to connect SCHULTEN with this Black 7 ?

[robert]

Peter I think we have also then and now photos confirming our location.

Regards

Robert