Menu

103 Squadron RAF

Notices and News

..........

103 Sqn History

103 Sqn WW1

103 Sqn 1937 to 1940

103 Sqn Post War

..........

Airfields of 103 Sqn

Aircraft of 103 Sqn

103 Sqn WW2 Aircraft Record

Lancaster ED888

103 Sqn WW2 Losses Index

..........

103 Sqn Roll of Honour

103 Sqn POWs, Escapers Evaders and Internees

..........

Profiles 103 Sqn A to M

Profiles 103 Sqn N to Z

Profiles Misc

..........

Articles and Misc

Resources

Check out active NAFO Ukrainian fundraising campaigns here

103 Squadron Fairey Battle Losses 1939/40

103 Squadron Fairey Battle Losses have always been interesting to me as they are difficult to research due to the absence of reliable official records. In my view it was the finest period in the Squadron’s history. During the Battle of France they fought with great valour determination and initiative against overwhelming odds without respite.. The Squadron records were burned or just lost during the later stages of the retreat through France along with a lot of other documentation. However there are a number of photos from German and local civilian sources which keep turning up which help in this research and these add considerable interest. A number of other UK researchers and contacts abroad have always proved very helpful re all this. Too many to mention

The list below has been compiled by me and is pretty much the same as other sources as known. It may differ in the odd detail. I will add more information to these in many cases plus photos on separate pages in the next few weeks.

....................

6^th August 1939 – Fairey Battle I - K9263 – Coverdale – Training Exercise.

6^th August 1939 – Fairey Battle I - K9373 – Vipan – Training Exercise.

Collision between above 2 aircraft in Nottingham area. 1 killed others safe.

....................

27^th September 1939 – Fairey Battle I – K9271 –Vipan – Op Reconnaissance Franco German border – Attacked by Bf109s. 1 fighter shot down and confirmed. Force landed near Maginot Line. 1 crew died of wounds and 2 safe

....................

1/2^nd March 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5236 –Carver - Training – Emergency landing at Amboise. Crew safe but all injured.

....................

26/27th March 1940 – Fairey Battle I – P2256 – Hinton - Training – Hit tree on take off and crashed near Moronvilliers. 3 killed.

....................

10^th May 1940 - Fairey Battle I – K9270– Lowne – Op Luxembourg – Crashed near Hotton, Luxembourg. 2 killed and 1 POW.

10^th May 1940 - Fairey Battle I – K9372 – Wells - Op Luxembourg – Shot down by light flak near Dippach, Luxembourg. Crew baled out and POW

10^th May 1940 - Fairey Battle I – K9264 - Drabble – Op Luxembourg – Shot down by light flak and crashed near Petange, Luxembourg. 3 killed.

.....................

12^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5512 –Morgan-Dean - Op Bouillon – Badly damaged by light flak and crash landed at Haracourt, France. 2 killed

12^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – P2193 - Morton - Op Bouillon – Shot down by light flak and crashed near Sensenruth, Luxembourg. 2 killed.

.....................

14^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – K9374 – Perry - Op Sedan – Hit by flak and aircraft damaged. Pilot badly wounded. Force landed near airfield. Pilot evacuated to England but died in hospital a month later. Awarded DFM.

14^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I - P2191 –Fitzgerald – Op Sedan – Aircraft damaged in attack by Bf 109s and force landed. Crew safe but pilot slightly injured.

14^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – K9408 - Beardsley – Op Sedan – Aircraft damaged in attack by Bf 109s and force landed. Crew safe.

14^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5516 – Cunningham – Op Sedan – Hit by flak and exploded in mid air. 2 killed.

.....................

16^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5234 – Abandoned at Betheniville.

16^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – K9404 – Abandoned at Betheniville

....................

22^nd May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – N/K – Crich – Op Amiens/Bernaville – Damaged by flak and force landed. Crew safe.

....................

22/23^rd May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – N/K – N/K – Op Trier area - 2 aircraft reported to have force landed away from base but no details known and nothing to collaborate this. Crews safe.

....................

25^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – N/K – Op Battle Area – Beardsley – Crew safe

....................

26^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5514 – Leyden – Op Roumont – Fighter victim. Crashed at Ucimont – 2 killed and pilot badly wounded and POW.

.....................

28^th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5515 – Max – Op Battle area – Damaged by light flak and landed at French airfield at Chalons. Aircraft left to its fate. Crew safe but two wounded.

....................

5^th June 1940 - Fairey Battle I – N/K – Harper - Op Battle Area – Damaged by flak and force landed. Observer and Air Gunner baled out. Crew safe.

....................

7^th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – N/K – Brams – Attacked by fighter which was claimed shot down. Force landed and crew safe.

......................

8^th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – N2253 – Beardsley - Op Poix  – Attacked by Bf109s and force landed. Crew POW.

8^th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – P2315 – Thorougood – Op Poix – Attacked Stukas and were attacked by Bf 109s. Force landed at Maudie. Crew safe but Air Gunner wounded

....................

9^th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5246 – Lee - Op Battle area – Abandoned out of fuel on return – Crew safe but pilot broke leg.

.....................

10^th June 1940 - Fairey Battle I – P2328 – Thomas - Op Vernon – Reportedly attacked by French Caudron 714s of GC1/145. Crashed at Gasny 2 killed.

10th June 1940 - Fairey Battle I - N/K - Kelly - Op Vernon - Reportedly attacked by French Caudron 714s of GC1/145. Returned to base but DBR. Crew safe

10^th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – K9409 – Op Vernon – Crich – Returned to base but DBR. Crew safe.

.....................

14^th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5513 - Brumby – Op Evreux –  Crash landed near Laval/Morannes. Crew safe.

14^th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5362 – Hawkins – Op Evreux – Attacked by Bf109s and shot down. Crew POW. Hawkins later escaped.

14^th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – Various – 2 aircraft destroyed in bombing at Souge and possibly others at the MU at Nantes

....................

3^rd August 1940 – Fairey Battle – L5433 – Brams – Training – Collided with trees on approach to Cottesmore airfield. 2 killed

....................

9^th September 1940 – Fairey Battle – L5010 – De Sandoval Sievier - Op Calais – Recorded as Lost Without Trace. 3 missing.

.....................

Compiled by David Fell from various sources and my own databases.

Sources and Books page.

Contact - D W Fell at e mail on the link below

103 Squadron RAF

www.103squadronraf.org.uk

Privacy Policy

©️ David Fell - Northlincsweb.net. All rights reserved

Member of Cross and Cockade and Air Britain