Combat Report H M Stephen & Mungo-Park 74 Sqn, 27 Oct 40

[Chris Goss]

Again, these appear to be missing from the NA and the F540 is sparse so does anyone have a copy or transcript?

[SteveB]

Chris

Do you know there are some Combat Reports at RAFM Hendon? I believe they inherited copies of reports that were held separately from the main system I think by Fighter Command?

It was a few years ago that I saw them....

Steve

[Frank Olynyk]

Chris,
Mungo-Park's CR is in Air 50/32 sequence unspecified. Stephen's CR: Air 50/32-405&406. in addition Nelson's CR: Air 50/32-328&329, and Chesters' CR: Air 50/32-44&45. The frame numbers are from my copy of the microfilms, not the currently downloadable PDFs. These all occurred in the same area between 0850 and 0910. Mungo-Park was credited with a damaged, the others each with a destroyed. All claims were for Me 109s, south of Maidstone.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks both. It would appear that they are missing for the day in question or at least not listed

[Frank Olynyk]

Chris,
I would suggest on your next visit to the PRO that you pull the microfilm for AIR 50/32 and look at it. Mungo-Park's CRs start at frame 292 and go to 325. Maybe they got "lost" between the filming and the digitization? The current digitization indices in AIR 50/32 do not match the frame numbers on the microfilm.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Frank. Not been to the PRO (NA) for years and it would appear the one I am seeking is Sgt Bill Skinner who made a claim but again no sign of his CR

[Alex Smart]

No mention of Skinner on 27th Oct, in John Forman's "RAF FC Victory Claims part 1".

Only, 74 Sqn - Nelson, Chester's, Stephen & Mungo-Park.
Claim Bf109 however for him on 2nd November. Followed by 2 claims Ju87's on 14th November.

[Chris Goss]

You understand my problem now! F540 doesn’t help but Men of the BofB, Skinner & now Cossey say yes

[Tom Semenza]

Chris,

The Combat Reports that Frank mentions are available for online viewing and can be found in the 74 Sqn. Appendix to the ORB in AIR 27/644 frames 44 through 54. These include a squadron report as well as individual CRs for Stephen, Mungo-Park, Chesters and Nelson. S/L Malan is shown as force landing due to battle damage without making any claims himself. No where is Skinner mentioned.

However, and this is interesting, the sqn. report gives the total claims as 3 Me 109s destroyed and 2 damaged. The claims for the four pilots listed were 3-0-1. So that leaves 1 damaged claim unaccounted for. We can speculate that this is Skinner's claim as related by Col. Bruggy.

Tom

[Chris Goss]

Thanks all. I now have what Tom mentions but still nothing for Skinner