[WWI] Johann Dierle and Hans Hofaker

[jmikl2957 at comcast.net]

I checked the French Air Service War Chronology to see if the
Franks/Bailey/Duiven date of July 29 is more likely and this is just getting
curiouser and curiouser (with apologies to the White Rabbit).  While there
were no French claims or casualties on June 20, those of July 29 also don't
seem to fit.  The French losses of that date don't include any Breguet
bombers, only one Br210 Corps d'Armee Breguet.  Br11 was out bombing
evidently, for Artigaut and Legrain claimed a probable D.VII on the 29th,
but over the Aisne, nowhere near Oberndorf.  Caudron R.11 crews also claimed
three Germans, but evidently as escorts to Br11 and also over the Aisne.

As to the possibility that Dierle was lost to an Independent Force aircrew,
that's a no-go, also.  I checked the Appendices book for Raleigh and Jones
and the IF didn't fly a mission either on June 20 OR July 29!

Is there a French equivalent of Area 51?  Or maybe Dierle formated with the
five TBFs lost in the Bermuda Triangle and led them astray...


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerry Lynn" <kelynn at cisco.com>
To: <jmikl2957 at comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 10:43 AM
Subject: Re: [WWI] Johann Dierle and Hans Hofaker


> Hi Mike,
>
> Note the discrepancy between the date cited by Kilduff in OTF, 20 June
> 1918, and the date
> cited by Franks, Bailey, and Duivin and also O'Connor, 29 July 1918.
> You might cross check
> the latter date in Bailey's "French Air Service War Chronology" since he
> seems to subscribe
> to that date in "Casualties of the German Air Service."
>
> I agree that Hofaker may have been down by the British.  Note that he
> was shot down on
> 30 Nov 17 but died on 1 Dec 17.
>
> Regards, -K-
>
>
> jmikl2957 at comcast.net wrote:
> > It's amazing what you can find out with a little help from your
> > friends--and the resources of the authors for Grub Street.
> >
> > Johann Dierle of Kest 4b was shot down on 20 Jun 18 near Oberndorf,
> > presumably by a gunner on a French bomber.  At least the eyewitness
> > reported a battle with French aircraft.  However, Frank Bailey's
> > _French Air Service War Chronology_ notes that the only French claim
> > that day was by Bos and Digeon of Sop270, an artillery unit.  Does
> > that mean that the victor was not French, but actually a member of the
> > British Independent Force?
> >
> > Hans Hofaker was killed on 30 Nov 17 on his first flight over the
> > lines.  There were no French claims that day.  Checking with the
> > internet, the place where he fell was Havrincourt, which is about 15
> > miles due north of St. Quentin, which makes likely the supposition
> > that his victor was British not French.
> >
> > A little more research should nail this one down.
> >
> > Thanks, guys!
> >
>