Base: Took off from ALG - Coulommiers
Take off time. 1400hrs
Op: Recco
Failed to return from strategic reconnaissance sortie on the 14/05/1940. Possibly shotdown by Lt Malischewski of Stab I./JG76 over Sedan, 1240 hrs. Who recorded that he had shot down a Blenheim, possibly of 59 Sqn.
Two blenheims were lost on this day - The other Blenheim aircraft was piloted by P/O CJE Chamberlain
Update March 2012:
According to the ORB - P/O Hawks & crew took off from Coulommiers, which was the airfield used by ACAB - The Allied Central Air Bureau. ACAB had their HQ at Chauny, which was nearby.
Flight Global lists all three as "Missing Believed Killed In Action" on the 30th May 1940.
Ken Jelfs (cousin of P/O Chamberlain - the other crew pilot lost this day) notes that Hawks & crew were airborne at 1400hrs and Chamberlain and crew by 1700hrs.
All lost:
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During WWII, the RAF used three-letter codes to identify their aircraft from a distance. Two large letters were painted before the roundel, which signified the squadron to which the aircraft belonged, and another letter was painted after the roundel which indicated the individual aircraft. Aditionally, there was the individual serial number for each aircraft, which was painted in a much smaller size, usually somewhere at the rear of the aircraft: (more)
Codes used by RAF 59 Squadron:
PJ Sep 1938 - Sep 1939
TR Sep 1939 - Oct 1942
1 Aug 1943 - Jul 1944
WE Jul 1944 - Oct 1945
BY Oct 1945 - Jun 1946, Dec 1947 - Oct 1950