French loss on the 12th August 1917-Westende

[Regulus]

Hi,

On that sunday a Flak battery at Middelkerke shot down a French plane that landed at Westende. It seems the fuellines were shot and that both crewmembers were taken POW in good health. I know the plane was a pusher.
Any idea who the crewmembers were, unit, and what plane this was ?

Thanks and best from Regulus

[gregoire]

Are you sure of the date and that the plane was a pusher
for the 12th august 17 the french casualry read as
Adj Guy Baillou of N86 flying a spad (GC14)
Sgt Lucien Sarazin and Marechal de logis Ernest francois of Sop 123 (GB4 )on sopwith Nu 3085 both killed
Adj Grinde and soldier Balland of VB101 (both MIA)
S-Lt Gautier killed flying a farman
Lt Angot of C39 on a Caudron (WIA)
MdL gabriel Luizet and Lt Andre Minoret of C9 (not taken prissoner)
and adjudant Marius Lebon of C4

[Regulus]

Hi Gregoire,

Thanks for reacting ! No doubts about the fact that it was a pusher (Voisin ? Farman ?). The date is not 100 % certain. I found this in the Kriegstagesbuch of a veterianarian, Wilhelm Rieck, and I even saw a picture of the plane.

I remember there was even some kind of an S in a circle on the rudder. The underground was a bright color. It might have happened earlier, but most certainly after the 9th. The statement in his diary is somehow a bit unclear. It sounds a bit as if it just happened in the morning and that he goes to take a look at it in the afternoon. But it can also be interpretaded otherwise.

Best from Regulus

[Soderbaum]

Hi Regulus

On 11 Aug 1917 one Bristol d.d. was shot down at Westende by Flak Middelkerke together with Flakbatterie 552...ref NB

The British crew apparently from 48 sq RFC were taken POWs..ref TSTB

This fits roughly your description

:-/
Gunnar

[Regulus]

Hi Gunnar,

Thanks. An F2b that they flew.
Could be a possibility. However the picture says Avion Francais Descendu Westende. And Rieck also talks about Frenchmen.
I will try to get the picture and post it.

It is not easy that way to get the indetification. Well, you know me

Best from Regulus

[gregoire]

I am looking at the french air service war chronology so if the plane is a pusher its happens in august 17 after the 9th and before the 12th I have the following possibility
on the 10th
from V 485 a voisin with MdL Francois Lacord and QM August August Plurien both were to died of wound QM stand for quartier maitre a naval rank
then the unit is 480 are supposed to be coastal defense unit its insigna was the leter E

V116 Lt Etienne Bizard died of wound and observer SLt Desjardin injuried this unit was based at st pol sur mer the insigna is a blue dragoon it was later part of GB3

hope that help

[Regulus]

Thanks Gregoire,

It most certainly does !
I might get the photo by the end of the week. If so I will post in on the Forum immediately.

Best from Regulus