Circus 87 claims 26.08.1941

[Andrei Demjanko]

Hello

There is some discrepancy concerning the total of FC claims on the mission in question

Old T.Wood lists have 3 destroyed (one 603, two 452), one probable (603) and two damaged (603). F540 of 452 Sqn and squadron's Intel report seems to support this, saying two Me 109 E's were claimed as destroyed.
On the other hand F541 of 452 Sqn says the claims were two Me 109 E's as probables, which in turn supported by BCIR No.186, which says the total for Circus 87 was 1-2-3

It is unclear if the claims were upgraded or downgraded. What was final "official" number of claims for Circus 87?

[Greg S.]

Hi,


the official report of Circus 87 said claimes were 1-2-3: 0-2-0 for 452 and 1-0-3 for 603.

[Andrei Demjanko]

Greg S.

Many thanks, much appreciated

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Greg S.

Hi,


the official report of Circus 87 said claimes were 1-2-3: 0-2-0 for 452 and 1-0-3 for 603.

I amused myself by checking how John Foreman interpreted these claims, and he differs quite a bit....with a total 3-1-2

452Sq: 2-0-0 (F/L A G Douglas and Sgr A R Stuart, one destroyed each)
603Sq: 1-1-2 (F/L F D S Scott-Malden, destroyed; Sgt D F Ruchwaldy, prob dest; Sgt D J Prytherch and again Sqt Ruchwaldy, one damaged each
(He lists the same claims in his Fighter Command War Diaries Vol 2)

Also in his latest book Air-War 1941 The non-stop offensive part one, he again says basically the same except:
603Sq: All pilots are now from 611Sq (presumably a mind lapsus since nothing indicates that these pilots were from anything else than 603Sq)

Checking what is availble in Shores' books I find that he gives the following
A G Douglas confirmed claim 26.8.1941
A R Stuart confirmed claim 26.8.1941
F D S Scott-Malden confirmed claim 26.8.1941
D F Ruchwaldy one probable and one damaged 26.8.1941)
D J Prytherch one damaged 26.8.1941

So in this case, both Foreman and Shores say exactly the same thing.

How this should be interpreted with the "official view" is something I don't know.... What actually is an official RAF view?

Cheers
Stig