French Glenn Martin shot down over Freetown on 13 June 1941

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

On 13 June 1941 the French Glenn Martin n° 136 (5B-1) of Flotilla 5B took off from Conakry for a reconnaissance sortie to Freetown.

According to several French sources, it was intercepted by Hurricanes that killed two crew and damaged the aircraft, that was later ditched by the pilot close to a ship, the Norwegian cargo Rolf Jarl, that arrived the same day at ... Freetown, where the two French survivors were interned.

But in the book "Mémorial de l'Aéronautique Navale (1910-2010)", by Lucien Morareau, it is written that the Glenn was hit by AA fire rather than by fighters.

In none of the other sources is the fighter(s) identified, and AFAIK the Freetown Defence Flight (that later became 128 Sqn) was created (under dependence of 95 Sqn RAF) with Hurricanes to intercept French recon aircraft over the port only in July 1941.

I would like confirmation of the cause of the loss of the Glenn. Can anyone confirm or infirm if British fighters were airborne over Freetown this day ? If yes, the pilot's names will be an appreciated bonus.

Thanks in advance

Laurent

[CJE]

Laurent, why don't you ask Lucien?
His email address is easily available on the Aeroforums site.
Unfortunately, I have nothing to add to what I wrote in my books on the Vichy Air Force.

Chris

[Alex Smart]

Hello Laurent & Chris,
I looked for these Hurricanes but could only find the following from the AB series "L" through to "BZ".
128 Sqdn
Z2331; 2420; 4254; 4256; 4313; 4484 "WG-A"; 5217; 5340.
BD776; 897.
BE550; 686; 688.
BH217; 219; 279.
BN223; 279; 603.
Some of the "Z"'s above may be involved along with the only one that I could find for 95 Sqdn Defence Flight ( was this also known as the Freetown Defence Flight or was that yet another flight ?) which would have been one of the Aircraft involved at the time in question I think.
Z4257 - collided with DC-2 NC44278 and c/l at Hastings, Siera Leone 7th Sept 1941.

Hope this is of some use.
Alex

[Col Bruggy]

Alex,

You seemed to have missed a least one No.128 Sqn Hurricane:

10 May 1942
No.128 Sqn
Hurricane II BH146

Took off off on recce mission (accompanied by OC No.128 Sqn., S/L 'Killy' Kilmartin), searching for a missing US B-25. Overflew Conakray airstrip and was hit by stray rifle fire. Aircraft was ditched in a coastal marsh. Pilot later located by a searching Hudson, and picked up by a Sunderland

754247 Sgt Arthur George TODD RAFVR - (later 119873 W/C., DFC) - Safe

See:
Hurricane at War: 2.
Franks,Norman.
Shepperton:Ian Allan,1986
pp.57-64.

Adds a bit more detail to the Freetown Defence Flight.

Col.