FP_2015_05_

May 2015 FLYPAST 51

were lost in another raid at 16:30.

The last Hurricanes were also

destroyed at Le Culot.

The Messerschmitts then hit Cne

Guisgand’s flight, quickly shooting

down and killing Sgt Clinquart in

G-25. Guisgand’s G-27 was also hit

but he managed to bale out of his

blazing aircraft. He later succumbed

to his injuries, however. The third

biplane, G-32 flown by Sgt Henri

Winand, recovered to base but was

damaged.

The Bf 109 pilots claimed six

Gladiators destroyed: Hptm

Wilhelm Balthasar had shot down

two and Ltns Erwin Mann, Ludwig

Franzisket, Fw Heinz Gilbert and

Uffz Emil Clade one each.

By the end of that day most of the

Aéronautique Militaire had been

destroyed, although the survivors

continued to soldier on until the

Belgian surrender on May 28.

The seven surviving Fiats of 4 Esc

moving to Nieuwkerke in the north

of the country.

On the way there the Fiats had

another encounter, as Sous Lt Jean

Offenburg recalled: “At twilight

we were ordered to leave for the

west, away from the tragedy, in the

direction of the sea. And we, the last

remaining fighters, had set our

course for the setting sun.

“A ‘twin engine’ passed to

starboard, flying very low. I chased

it and easily caught up with it. It

seemed stockier than the others and

did not have the long, pencil shape

of a German bomber. At 500 yards I

was able to recognise the red, white

and blue circles. It was a British

Blenheim on the way home.”

SHOW OF FORCE

From Nieuwkirke the Fiats

covered the retreat of the French

7ème Armée from Fleurus, near

Charleroi, on May 14. Just before

14:00 the biplanes had a bitter

clash with Messerschmitts of

8/JG 3. Cne Jean de Callatay

claimed a Bf 109E destroyed and

1/Sgt Michotte damaged another

while Sgt de Moerlose may have

damaged a Do 17. Although

German pilots claimed five shot

down, the Belgian Fiats escaped

unscathed on this occasion.

The German blitzkrieg proved

irresistible and the remnants of

the Belgian forces could do little

to halt the advancing armoured

columns. Fiats of 4 Esc were in

action the following day, May 12,

losing one aircraft.

In a bid to boost flagging morale

the Belgian General Staff requested

a ‘show of force’ over the troops in

the front line. The CO of IIème

Groupe, Major Lamarche, asked

for volunteers and led Lt Yvan du

Monceau de Bergendael and W/O

Roy du Vivier in three ancient

Firefly IIMs over the

shambles of Antwerp,

which was wreathed

in thick black smoke.

All the time they kept

watch for marauding

Messerschmitts.

Over Keerbergen the

biplanes came under

ground fire and du

Vivier’s Kestrel engine

was hit. He managed

to successfully force-

land, only to be taken

prisoner

by his

own troops!

The others

continued at

low level over

Louvain and Brussels

before returning to

Nieuwkirke.

On May 16

battered

remnants

of the

Aéronautique

Militaire

were ordered to move to

France, the defence of

its homeland having lasted

barely a week. The six surviving

4 Esc^ Fiat CR.42s were joined by

six Fireflies evacuating to Norrent

Fontes and, later, Chartres.

The Fiats flew some patrols

from Chartres and, on June 3,

four of them intercepted a dozen

Do 215s – one of which 1/Sgt

Jottard claimed as shot down. The

Fireflies had by then moved south

to Montpellier where they made

their final flight on the 15th.

Many Belgian pilots eventually

reached Britain where they were

a welcome reinforcement and

eventually provided two Spitfire

squadrons. Others served with

success in RAF units – including

Yvan du Monceau de Bergendael

and Leroy du Vivier, who had

successful combat careers, both

commanding fighter squadrons.

“THE KING OF THE BELGIANS HAD CALLED UPON US TO COME TO HIS AID. HAD NOT THIS RULER AND HIS

GOVERNMENT SEVERED THEMSELVES FROM THE ALLIES... AND HAD THEY NOT SOUGHT REFUGE IN

WHAT WAS PROVED TO BE A FATAL NEUTRALITY, THE FRENCH AND BRITISH ARMIES MIGHT WELL AT

THE OUTSET HAVE SAVED NOT ONLY BELGIUM BUT PERHAPS EVEN POLAND.” WINSTON CHURCHILL

shambles of Antwerp,

in thick black smoke.

All the time they kept

watch for marauding

Over Keerbergen the

Vivier’s Kestrel engine Vivier’s Kestrel engine

was hit. He managed was hit. He managed

land, only to be taken

JottardJottardclaimed as shot down. The claimed as shot down. The claimed as shot down. The claimed as shot down. The

FirefliesFireflieshad by then moved south had by then moved south had by then moved south had by then moved south

Below

The wrecked Fiat CR.42

previously fl own by 1/Sgt

Marcel Michotte of 4 Esc.

MARCO GARGARI VIA LUDOVICO

SLONGO

Left

Fiat CR.42 R-5 displaying

the white cocotte (paper

bird) marking of 4 Esc.

P TAGHON

46-51_Blitzkrieg_fpSBB.indd 51 06/03/2015 16:58