Charles Perry No. 103 Squadron

[arnaud]

I look for a Charles Perry photo wounded on May 14th 1940 and died on June 14 1940 in England.

He was a No. 103 Sqaudron pilot....

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...sualty=2421366

[Larry]

In case it helps someone find a photo - Sgt Charles D Perry was flying Fairey Battle P2191 on 14th May 1940 in an attack on the River Meuse bridges. Despite being severely wounded after an attack by a Bf 109E and possibly AA fire, he flew his aircraft nearly back to Bethenville before crash landing. The other crew members escaped injury.

[Iain Torrance]

For good order it was PM-J, K9374 - crash landed Couroy / Machault

Best regards

[Larry]

Even though it is mentioned as Sgt CD Parry rather than Perry in The Battle File by Sidney Shail (Air Britain) the author specifically mentions it as P2191 that he was flying on 14th May 1940.

So what is the source for it being PM-J, K9374?

[Iain Torrance]

Yes I don't really use that book as a reference.

Firstly it is definitely not P2191 as it is PM-K the Tom Fitzgerald loss. I have phoney war photo showing code and Srl No and copy of his log book confirming P2191 as plane he was shot down in and I have German photos showing crashed PM-K as P2191. About as good as it gets for Battle of France! However if anybody can give me the crash site I would appreciate it very much, I only know it as being in a 'forward area'.

Crash site of Perry is well known (indeed see Arnaud's book) and many German photos show PM-J and the code.

Refer also to Chorley's Bomber Losses 1939-40 where - based on evidence known at the time to the author - P2191 was not attributed.

Incidently there are other Fairey Battle attributions I do not agree with - I hope to collate them and post somwhere on the web in the next few months, time permitting....

Best regards

[Iain Torrance]

Apologies - I misread the reference. Battle File is one of the much more reliable sources, I misread as a certain other book!! Sorry.