Help to identify this unknown RAF pilot captured by Germans...

[loiclemarchand]

Hello to all,

Does anyone could help me to identify this RAF pilot who was captured by Germans forces. There is a caption on the back of the picture but I'm unable to read or transcript "Goethe" language. So if a gentleman is ready to help me hmm well thanks in advance !
Regards
Loic

PS : 2 attached files

[Icare9]

Hello, Loic
Can't help with the translation but how smartly dressed is he!!
It doesn't look like typical flying gear, but as if he's stepped out from his tailors!!

The photo has a photographer stamp in Leipzig, which might give an indication that he could have been shot down during an attack on Leipzig or nearby.
I can't see any rank indications on his uniform, no Sergeant stripes, so presumably a Pilot Officer, no wedding ring (unless that's what the soldiers are examining, with some abrasion on his cheek and a bandaged right hand, perhaps burns?

He's identified as a Pilot, but I can't imagine a fighter pilot wearing a tight collar and tie, so more likely his rank? If a bomber crew, then he's got out of his flying suit, but still looks incredibly well turned out, although he looks a bit shaken.

He doesn't seem to have any other crew with him though, as I would expect the photographer to have got them into the shot if they were there.

The trees in the background look to be in full leaf, so not wintertime...
Mosquito? Reconnaissance?

Any idea as to where or when it might have been taken?

[loiclemarchand]

Hello,

Sorry I have no idea about when and where the photograph was taken. Thanks for your reply and indications.

Regards
Loic

[Adriano Baumgartner]

The probability of him being a RECON airman is good...or as ICARE9 put, maybe a daylight bomber pilot. HOWEVER the Leipzig connection for me seems not correct. The German who took the picture may have taken it on another town and printed it in Leipzig, when on leave or returning to his base...
LOIC, have you managed to translate ALL the text behind the photograph? Could you put it here for us translated? German is a very difficult language and the writting is no good...so it could help us.
Yours
Adriano

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Could the airman on the picture you submitted BE the same as that one?
YES, it seems his aircraft burned...and it really is daylight on the picture. I can not see this airman having flown at night and being caught at daylight...no...for me his capture ocurred on the same day he was shot down..by day!
LOIC, could you have a close ( scan with close on photoshop ) on the hands of this pilot...maybe we can see some stripes and identify his rank. He certainly IS an Officer, by the way he is dressed...
My "guess": ( the front of his face, and his left eye almost matches that of S/L Roger Bushell - OC 92 Squadron shot down on 23rd May 1940 )...But it is a long long shot on the dark....
Yours
PS: Tried to find out on the Great Escape list IF there was a similar face...no luck...till I saw S/L Bushell´s face...but it is not 100% sure..so, let others join the thread and put their "guesses"...
Yours
Adriano

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Just found another earlier picture of S/L Bushell at
http://www.rogerbushell.com/
Definetely NOT him...he seems to be blond and the guy on your picture has dark hair.
Sorry!
I tried...

[Icare9]

I'd agree with it being a daylight capture, but as he's obviously had his hand bandaged, that could still include a night bomber pilot.
No rank rings on his cuffs or collar badging. The RAF tended to have these smart turnouts early on so perhaps he's a shot down Battle pilot in May/June 1940? I guess earlier rather than later as the German troops have the"Invasion of France" look about them.
Perhaps we need a German uniform expert to identify what unit the are from and any dating info they have?

[ssg keay]

I have seen this photo somewhere before, I think a book. I have a feeling he was a surviver from the Blenheim raid on the German ports in the beginning of the war, or a Whitley pilot. I just cannot remember. Danny

[borborygm]

As far as I can read it, the text translates as follows:

"these are the pilots of the first burning english machine which I have ever seen. Still in Belgium.

A lieutenant, ? , ?

heavy burns


I hope this helpes a bit.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

I don't know but I think that I see...
A "Bar" beneath the center of the Pilots Wings.
And on his shoulder a patch that looks like it could read as "Austrailia" or New Zealand".
On his lower sleeve I just see what could be two "Flying officer" stripes.

Then again I could be seeing things.
Alex