1941 Fighter Command Losses

[Andy Saunders]

I am trying to resolve a couple of queries in my 1941 FC losses.

On 27 March 1941 Sgt P H A McSherry of 609 Sqn (P7785) was killed when shot down at Springetts Farm, Hythe Hill, Kent, but I also have another Spitfire recorded as down at Dibgate Camp, Hythe, at 17.45 on the same date. Aircraft in flames. Pilot dead.

It does not seem from the location/timing that this is a duplication of the McSherry loss but I have thus far not identified what other loss it could be. Is it possible this is Plt Off A H Smith of 74 Squadron, P7328?

I also have a Spitfire down at Paddlesworth, Kent, at 12.30 on 13 March 1941 which I cannot identify. Could this be Sgt Darling's aeroplane of 611 Squadron??

[Andrei Demjanko]

Originally Posted by Andy Saunders

Is it possible this is Plt Off A H Smith of 74 Squadron, P7328?

I think it's unlikely. P/O Smith was lost at about 11.00 off Dungeness. The pilot was actually P/O Robert Smith 87383, and is commemorated on Runnymede Memorial, so his aircraft most probably indeed crashed into the sea

[Nokose]

Norman Franks book RAF Fighter Command Losses vol.1 (revised) has MacSherry as being shot down by a Bf 109 of I/LG2 SW of Dungeness at 16:30. Smith's spitfire at 11:00 off Dungeness by a Bf 109. The other losses were 4 Hurricane I from a collision near Liverpool from the 315 Sqn.

[Andy Saunders]

Thank you both.

Slowly all of these various errors and anomalies are coming out in the wash, but I am grateful for the correction reference Robert Smith. That also explains why A H Smith has thus far eluded me and was on my (long!!) query list.

Either the Dibgate crash is something not yet identified or it is somehow a repeat of the McSherry episode - although it seems to be a very specific location that does not really link very closely with the known location of the McSherry crash.

[Peter S]

Originally Posted by Nokose

The other losses were 4 Hurricane I from a collision near Liverpool from the 315 Sqn.

In fact F/Lt W.Szulkowski PK-X V7188 collided in the air with Sgt E.Paterek PK-W V7187; both killed.
Apart from that:
P/O T.Hojden PK-V V7656 crashed into the sea due to lack of fuel, killed
F/O K.Wolinski PK-T P3936 ditched in the sea and was rescued.

Regards

[paulmcmillan]

Originally Posted by Andy Saunders

I also have a Spitfire down at Paddlesworth, Kent, at 12.30 on 13 March 1941 which I cannot identify. Could this be Sgt Darling's aeroplane of 611 Squadron??

Darling's aircraft is supposed to be P7368

The trouble is different sources have different locations and causes:

First Source: 611 Sqn, Circus, hit in air combat with Me109 of JG51, crashed in forced landing, hit fence Hornchurch(crash landed Dungeness ?) 13.3.41(pm), Sgt A.S. Darling safe;


Accident Card: P7368 IIa 611 Sqn Hornchurch 1740 hrs. Cat C. Returning from patrol. Engine failed on landing grazed topof boundary fence and crashed. Pilot notto blame 13.3.41, Sgt A.S.Darling 740554 (RAFVR).

John Foreman '1941 Series Books': Damaged by Bf109s crashlanded Dungeness, Sgt Darling safe;

Could there be another one down on the same day and the two separate incidents are being confused

[paulmcmillan]

Can anyone with access to Spitfire the History please confirm that


P7886 611 Sqn, Hornchurch Cat C. Practice flight. Stalled on landing u/c collapsed 17.3.41(15:00), Sgt WM Gilmour 742733(RAFVR)safe; was on 17.3.41 and not 13.3.41 ???

[Tom Semenza]

Paul,

The date given is 13-3-41 (FAAC 13-3).

Cheers,
Tom

[paulmcmillan]

Tom
Thanks

So Gilmour P7886 could have been the Hornchurch incident and Darling in P7368 crashed at Dungeness ?

Note similarity of serials