Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 17 May 1940 - Me109 claimed by?

[Danny152]

On the 17 May a 13 Sqn Lysander was engaged by up to 9x Me109 aircraft engaged this Lysander, serial N219, flown by F/L W Blackwood. Would anyone know anything about the shoot down and who it was claimed by on the Luftwaffe side? It was a morning sortie.

The aircraft caught fire and both the pilot and Air gunner were badly burned.

Thanks

Danny

[AndyMa]

Danny,
Can you confirm the date of this incident please?
ASN gives 16 May: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/131580
TNA gives 20 May: https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C14502001
It is not mentioned at all in "Battle of France Then and Now".
Andy

PS Serial was N1219 of course.

[Chris Goss]

A quick check on 16 May 40 1./JG 27 claimed a Lysander at 0650 hrs; on 17 May II./JG 2 claimed one at 0835 hrs. Nothing 20 May

[AndyMa]

13 Sqn also lost L6885 around that time, with its crew.
The CWGC list their date of death as 16 May 40:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...ey-borg-banks/
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...francis-lawes/
TNA go for 17 May 40: https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C14502273

So a lot of confusion around these dates, as can be expected.

[Danny152]

Hi Guys, I have the details of F/L Bill Blackwoods from his family, including logbook and copies of letters he wrote describing this engagement. He took off twice on the morning of 17th May when he was bounced by upto 9x Me109s.

He was flying N1219 when it crashed and also have a photo of the crash site.

By the sounds of it my new book will hopefully shed some light on these crashes.

Cheers

Danny

[Chris Goss]

Stab II./JG 2 kill was SE or Brussels at 0835 hrs German time by Hptm Wolfgang Schellmann so do the times match?

[AndyMa]

Thanks for the confirmation of the date Danny. I look forward to your new book.

[Danny152]

William and his Air gunner were admitted to the 17 General Hospital then later to QA, Corsham, England.

Chris, it was a sortie at 7AM from Douai and lasted for a estimated 40 minutes. What is the time difference, the same is it not?

Cheers

Danny

[Pieter H]

Hi Danny,


I think the times of the claim by Hptm Schellmann at 8.35 a.m. German time (=7.35 BST) and a 40 minute flight after take-off from Douai at 7.00 a.m. match perfectly.
What was the crash location, I suppose somewhere on the Belgian side of the border?


Cheers, Pieter

[Danny152]

Pieter

They were supporting Artillery spotting duties that's all I know, fleeing for home and crashing in friendly lines.

Thanks guys for confirming this information.

Cheers

Danny