Mustang Loss Kosovo Aug 1944
 

Does anyone have a record of a Mustang crash-landing not far from Prizren during this month?

Re: Mustang Loss Kosovo Aug 1944
 

I don't have info on any Mustang crashed in Kosovo.

Plane 44-13436, Edward Isackson KIA, that was last seen on August 10 near Skopje.
It is only 60km from Prizren, so it is possible he crashed there.

What info you have on crash?
Specific date could help a lot.

Re: Mustang Loss Kosovo Aug 1944
 

I have a photo with the date and location on the reverse but that is all

Re: Mustang Loss Kosovo Aug 1944
 

Hi Chris,

Is it a RAF or USAAF machine?

Cheers,
Boris

Re: Mustang Loss Kosovo Aug 1944
 

Is there exact date?
And is it possible to see markings on plane which may point to some fighter group?

Re: Mustang Loss Kosovo Aug 1944
 

It is a Mustang, belly landed in Kosovo. No idea of if it is RAF or USAAF as no markings can be seen. Photographer just wrote Aug 44. Will post if needs be

Re: Mustang Loss Kosovo Aug 1944
 

It would be nice to post photo, if it is not a problem.

Re: Mustang Loss Kosovo Aug 1944
 

This is it

Re: Mustang Loss Kosovo Aug 1944
 

Hi Chris,

Very interesting photo (at least for us in Serbia). This is definitely RAF machine and as such the 213 Sqn is the only candidate and they were quite active in that area in that particular time frame. From the data that I have an Mk.III might fit into the picture.

On 27 July F/Sgt A Smailes was hit by flak during a loco hunt in the area Priština - Kosovska Mitrovica and reputedly force landed 5 km NE of Uroševac (which is some 40 km NE of Prizren). It could have been a small navigational error on behalf of the returning pilots, as I know for many instances when RAF & USAAF pilots missed their whereabouts over Yugoslavia for quite a distance.

None of the August losses fits so well. Two pilots were killed, two bailed out and the one that made a forced landing did so in Croatia, in Partisan-held territory.

Cheers,
Boris

Re: Mustang Loss Kosovo Aug 1944
 

Boris/Vathra

I have looked closer at what is written on the back of the photo and it now appears to be Strecke Kragujevac-Prizren. A bit more digging and I have found that 174145 Fg Off Anthony Archibald Smailes force-landed 3 miles NE of Uroševac 1015 hrs 27 July 1944 and was taken POW. Serial, which is incorrect, is stated to be B318? Does this help?