Lufwaffe base near Samson de la Roque France

[BostonW8350]

My father crashed around Samson de la Rogue, France in early the morning of Aug 17, 1942. His two crew members of his Boston III (#W8350) 418 Squadron (RCAF) are buried in the cemetery of St John the Baptist there. He was found by the Luftwaffe, provided first aid and later taken to a local airbase (We assume perhaps Triqueville) for dinner with the squadron commander.

We are trying to locate the crash site, the local German fighter base - as well as to identify the squadron commander at the base- according to my father's diary, he was about 28 years old and had 53 "air victories" with the Iron Cross (first Class) - his rank was the equivalent of a Flying Officer in the RAF.

While at the Luftwaffe base, the squadron was scrambled while he was there to intercept 12 B17s and Spits in the area of Rouen- turned out to be the first combat sortie for the American 8th Airforce of WW2. Records show that at least one JG 2 Gruppe and all 3 JG 26 Gruppen were scrambled against the raid – if that helps in locating the base.

[Chris Goss]

From what I can see, there were no claims for Bostons on the night of 16-17 Aug 42 and that the target for your father was Bretigny. I./JG 2 was at Triqueville at that time and Ofw Josef Wurmheller of 1./JG 2 had 53 kills or thereabouts by this time and was aged 25

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello BostonW8350!

You are probably talking about Saint-Samson-de-la-Roque (49°*25′*43″*nord, 0°*25′*54″*est). Do you happen to know if your father was shot down by Flak or had some kind of malfunction (engine failure, engine fire on board, etc.) that resulted in his crashing?

It is possible, but am not sure if this document is available, to find the RAF Crash Report for W8350. Someone can lead to that document.

The book "JG 26 War Diary, volume 1", by Donald Caldwell do inform on page 268 that on the 17th August 1942, this Jagdgeschwader had 4 scrambles, resulting in 6 Spitfire claims (mostly against 401, 402 and 602 Squadrons), without losses recorded. The author do inform that JG 2 "Richtofen" scrambled earlier and sustained one loss against the B-17s of the VIII AIR FORCE, without claiming!

Hope this help your research. I do know that Historians Jean Louis Roba and Eric Mombeek had written War Diaries (Books) about the JG 2 "Richtofen", which I do not have. Perhaps someone do have those books and can add more for you, regarding that particular day you are looking for.(https://www.amazon.com/Dans-France-3.../dp/2930546085)

Most humble and sincerely yours
Adriano B.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

http://www.francecrashes39-45.net/pa...0c367d1c52324a

Maybe this Group can add more onto your research....

Adriano B.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

You can additionally (if you already have not done so) find more here, on FILE AIR 27, at Nara Kew (Files AIR 27/1820/12 and AIR 27/1820/11):
http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ils/r/D8403951
and
http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ils/r/D8403950

Adriano B.

[BostonW8350]

Plane crashed trying to avoid search lights while straffing a convoy heading north toward the Siene. Tail Hit some trees pulling uo over a ridge and went down - trying to locate the crash site near Saint-Samson-de-la-Roque (49°*25′*43″*nord, 0°*25′*54″*est)

Thanks for your help

Originally Posted by Adriano Baumgartner

Hello BostonW8350!

You are probably talking about Saint-Samson-de-la-Roque (49°*25′*43″*nord, 0°*25′*54″*est). Do you happen to know if your father was shot down by Flak or had some kind of malfunction (engine failure, engine fire on board, etc.) that resulted in his crashing?

It is possible, but am not sure if this document is available, to find the RAF Crash Report for W8350. Someone can lead to that document.

The book "JG 26 War Diary, volume 1", by Donald Caldwell do inform on page 268 that on the 17th August 1942, this Jagdgeschwader had 4 scrambles, resulting in 6 Spitfire claims (mostly against 401, 402 and 602 Squadrons), without losses recorded. The author do inform that JG 2 "Richtofen" scrambled earlier and sustained one loss against the B-17s of the VIII AIR FORCE, without claiming!

Hope this help your research. I do know that Historians Jean Louis Roba and Eric Mombeek had written War Diaries (Books) about the JG 2 "Richtofen", which I do not have. Perhaps someone do have those books and can add more for you, regarding that particular day you are looking for.(https://www.amazon.com/Dans-France-3.../dp/2930546085)

Most humble and sincerely yours
Adriano B.