French seaplane loss 8 June 1916

Regulus · 9 April 2006, 01:27 PM

Hi,

On the 8th June 1916 at 02.45 hours two German destroyers seem to have left Zeebrugge to get the wreck of a French seaplane which was shot down near the Thornton Bank by a non identified German 'Kampfflugzeug' and both crewmembers were taken prisoner.

Any ideas on the French crew and the German victor plus units ?

Thanks and best from Johan

Billy9 · 9 April 2006, 01:37 PM

Hi Regulus;

Accortding to the book "L'AVIATION MARITIME FRANCAISE PENDANT LE GRANDE GUERRE' there were no losses on that date. THis is an excellent book on French Naval Aviation, if you don't have one I would highly recommend it.

There is a listing of all naval aviation losses, plus many other very interesting material, but it is in French.

Bill

Regulus · 10 April 2006, 09:41 AM

Hi Bill,

French is no problem at all, however the German war diary specifically states that it was a French plane, curious thing !

Thanks and best from Johan

Soderbaum · 10 April 2006, 12:41 PM

Hi Johan

I have the French Naval crew as Qm Henri Mercier POW and Qm x le Prevost POW, both from CAM....the aircraft had s/n or code nr 5...

Anyone who have le Prevost first name...?

Gunnar

Regulus · 10 April 2006, 12:49 PM

Gunnar,

Thank you very much !!!

Some say that this was a victory of Bönisch, but I do start to have doubts about this...

The KTB of the Sea operations of the Marinekorps Flandern states in the entry of 5 August 1916 : Damit hat Leutnant zur See Bönisch seinen vierten Gegner im Luftkampf vernichtet.

His 4th, not 5th... ?????

Best from Johan

Soderbaum · 10 April 2006, 12:56 PM

Hi again Johan

This French FBA was the second victory for Boenisch....!

Gunnar

Regulus · 10 April 2006, 01:10 PM

As I was supposing, great to have this confirmed ! Thank you very much Gunnar !

Best from Johan

MikeW · 10 April 2006, 01:38 PM

Johan,

le 9 juin, le Donnet-Denhaut codé D-5 (QM Mercier et Le Prévost) tombe en panne entre Ostende et Zeebrugge. L'équipage est capturé par un torpilleur allemand. Cet événement est réclamé comme victoire aérienne par le Flgmstr A Ponater et le Ltn E Bönisch, sur le Friedrischafen 639. L'appareil a été retrouvé vide d'occupants, à la dérive, par L'Aventurier qui, ne pouvant le remorquer à cause d'un ballonet crevé, l'a finalment coulé au canon.

source: L'aviation maritime Francaise pendand la grande guerre.

Mike

Regulus · 11 April 2006, 11:34 AM

Mike,

Thank you very much, this completes the pucture for me ! Great !

Best from Johan