Mosquito shot down by Mustangs, 28th March 1944
 

Dear researchers,

Perhaps another example of friendly fire:

On 28th march 1944 Mosquito LR276 SM-S of 305 Squadron was lost during a daylight attack on V-1 weapon site on position Z.3066 near Freval. The Mosquito ditched in The Channel after presumably being hit by Flak.

However, in the Operations Record Book no.2 Group 1944 (reference AIR37/23) a small handwriten note "shot down by Mustangs" is made near the entry of this loss.

Can anybody shed a light on this?

Thanks in advance,
Hans Nauta

Re: Mosquito shot down by Mustangs, 28th March 1944
 

Hi Hans:

The note may relate to NS856, aircraft T of 107 Sqn, lost to Mustangs on 28 March 1944 (same date). F/O J.A. Glen , W/O T. Davidson, both killed. Apparently attacked by P-51 near Vernouillet airfield, according to Fighter Command War Diaries, Volume 4. May have been Lt Charles Anderson of the 335th FS of the 4th FG (according to posts on this board).

Re: Mosquito shot down by Mustangs, 28th March 1944
 

Hi again Mark,

Well, this explains a lot. I presume the clerk may have attributed the info to the wrong Mosquito loss in the ORB. Even primary sources contain errors...

Thanks agian for your help!

Hans Nauta

Re: Mosquito shot down by Mustangs, 28th March 1944
 

I have checked it with my Mosquito friend. HX276 SM-S is listed as failing to return with no specific details, the crew being drowned. The sortie was between 1540 and 1710.

Re: Mosquito shot down by Mustangs, 28th March 1944
 

Dear Franek,

Thanks for the added details. For your records: the body of pilot F/Lt Bolislaw Sochacki, P.2214, washed ashore on 14th June 1944 in the vicinity of beach pole 35.6 near the coastal village of Bergen aan Zee, The Netherlands, and was buried on 18th June 1944 at Bergen cemetery.

Regards,
Hans Nauta

Re: Mosquito shot down by Mustangs, 28th March 1944
 

Franek:

Shouldn't that be LR276?

Re: Mosquito shot down by Mustangs, 28th March 1944
 

Hi Mark

Whilst you're around - have you anything on Mosquito MM920 of 68 Sqn shot down by Beaufighter V8742 from same squadron on 29/5/44?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Mosquito shot down by Mustangs, 28th March 1944
 

Brian

How much damage was made to MM920? According to Halley it went on to join 54 OTU and was SOC 10.7.1945 after use with 1689 Flt.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Mosquito shot down by Mustangs, 28th March 1944
 

I'm confused now - as far as I know, MM920 isn't a Mosquito serial number. The 68 Sqn. Mossie, according to my info, was MM503 - Pilot F/Lt C.L. Harris baled out OK, Sgt Eric Blood Hopkinson found dead.

Re: Mosquito shot down by Mustangs, 28th March 1944
 

Afaik the last MM series was MM822: NF30 488/51OTU/54OTU SOC 11.3.48

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