Max von Chelius

31 December 1998, 11:43 PM

Max von Chelius, flying an Albatros DVa, was shot down in flames 14Sep 1917. Was it K.Park and H. Owen flying BF2 for No 48 Sqn or was it

René Fonck flying Spad for SPA 103 that killed Chelius?
Anyone that knows the exact time of René Fonck kill?

rgs,

roarkr

1 January 1999, 02:28 AM

Hi Roar,

Jasta Pilots infers that it was Park and Owens.

Above the Trenches outright credits Park and lists the time as 1845 N of Dixmude.

Fonck's claim was for an unspecified EA E of Langemarck, no time given. Unfortunately this is as specific as it gets in many instances for this fine gentleman.

Hope this helps.

VBR,

FokkDR1

1 January 1999, 05:34 AM

Hi,
In the new book " The Storks" by Norman Franks and Frank Bailey,

René Fonck is credited with the downing of von Chelius. Any references is not given. Other books (Jasta Pilots etc.) indicates that Park and Owen downed von Chelius.
This indicates for me that Norman Frank has got new information about von Chelius.

rgs Roar

1 January 1999, 10:40 AM

What were Park and Owen flying??? A couple of ya make it sound like they were sharing a kill?
And if in a recon plane,who was the observer?

1 January 1999, 11:40 AM

Sorry Dan. It was BF2b A7227, Park the pilot,
Owen the observer.

VBR,

FokkDR1

Darryl · 2 January 1999, 05:56 AM

Hi Guys,
Communique 105 lists Park&Owen as shooting down an EA. The pilot appeared to be shot after which the aircraft burst into flames.

As this victory is claimed at or north of Dixmude it is most likely the one. Fonck's unspecified claim is, as has been said, East of Langmarke which is a few miles to the South East of Dixmude. Too far to be likely to be the one.

Fonck may have wounded Ltn

Gisbert-Wilhelm Groos
for his victory, but that is a blind guess based on the fact that he appears to be the only unaccounted for casualty on that day AMONGST THE JASTAS. Fonck could have bagged a two seater!!!

regards

Darryl