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.
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6th August 1939 – Fairey Battle I - K9263 – Coverdale – Training Exercise.
6th August 1939 – Fairey Battle I - K9373 – Vipan – Training Exercise.
Collision between above 2 aircraft in Nottingham area. 1 killed others safe.
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27th 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
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1/2nd March 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5236 –Carver - Training – Emergency landing at Amboise. Crew safe but all injured.
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26/27th March 1940 – Fairey Battle I – P2256 – Hinton - Training – Hit tree on take off and crashed near Moronvilliers. 3 killed.
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10th May 1940 - Fairey Battle I – K9270– Lowne – Op Luxembourg – Crashed near Hotton, Luxembourg. 2 killed and 1 POW.
10th May 1940 - Fairey Battle I – K9372 – Wells - Op Luxembourg – Shot down by light flak near Dippach, Luxembourg. Crew baled out and POW
10th May 1940 - Fairey Battle I – K9264 - Drabble – Op Luxembourg – Shot down by light flak and crashed near Petange, Luxembourg. 3 killed.
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12th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5512 –Morgan-Dean - Op Bouillon – Badly damaged by light flak and crash landed at Haracourt, France. 2 killed
12th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – P2193 - Morton - Op Bouillon – Shot down by light flak and crashed near Sensenruth, Luxembourg. 2 killed.
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14th 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.
14th 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.
14th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – K9408 - Beardsley – Op Sedan – Aircraft damaged in attack by Bf 109s and force landed. Crew safe.
14th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5516 – Cunningham – Op Sedan – Hit by flak and exploded in mid air. 2 killed.
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16th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5234 – Abandoned at Betheniville.
16th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – K9404 – Abandoned at Betheniville
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22nd May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – N/K – Crich – Op Amiens/Bernaville – Damaged by flak and force landed. Crew safe.
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22/23rd 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.
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25th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – N/K – Op Battle Area – Beardsley – Crew safe
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26th May 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5514 – Leyden – Op Roumont – Fighter victim. Crashed at Ucimont – 2 killed and pilot badly wounded and POW.
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28th 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.
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5th 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.
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7th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – N/K – Brams – Attacked by fighter which was claimed shot down. Force landed and crew safe.
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8th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – N2253 – Beardsley - Op Poix – Attacked by Bf109s and force landed. Crew POW.
8th 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
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9th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5246 – Lee - Op Battle area – Abandoned out of fuel on return – Crew safe but pilot broke leg.
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10th 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
10th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – K9409 – Op Vernon – Crich – Returned to base but DBR. Crew safe.
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14th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5513 - Brumby – Op Evreux – Crash landed near Laval/Morannes. Crew safe.
14th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – L5362 – Hawkins – Op Evreux – Attacked by Bf109s and shot down. Crew POW. Hawkins later escaped.
14th June 1940 – Fairey Battle I – Various – 2 aircraft destroyed in bombing at Souge and possibly others at the MU at Nantes
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3rd August 1940 – Fairey Battle – L5433 – Brams – Training – Collided with trees on approach to Cottesmore airfield. 2 killed
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9th September 1940 – Fairey Battle – L5010 – De Sandoval Sievier - Op Calais – Recorded as Lost Without Trace. 3 missing.
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Compiled by David Fell from various sources and my own databases.
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