9 May 1943 Spitfires damaged HMS Bicester
 

Hi guys

On 9 May 1943, bomb-carrying Spitfires erroneously attacked and damaged RN destroyer HMS Bicester.

Has anyone information, please? From which unit were the Spitfires? Were there any casualties aboard the destroyer?

Cheers
Brian

Re: 9 May 1943 Spitfires damaged HMS Bicester
 

Hello Brian

No report of casualties here - but at least you have a location

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bicester_(L34)

cheers

Allan

Re: 9 May 1943 Spitfires damaged HMS Bicester
 

...and no report of casualties on the RN casualties site

Re: 9 May 1943 Spitfires damaged HMS Bicester
 

Thanks Allan and Chris

I believe 152 Squadron was using bombs at this time - maybe the unit responsible?

Cheers
Brian

Re: 9 May 1943 Spitfires damaged HMS Bicester
 

Hello Brian

They were operating Spitfire VC's from "Paddington" Souk el Khemis at the time, perhaps a trawl through their ORB will give the answer.

cheers

Allan

Re: 9 May 1943 Spitfires damaged HMS Bicester
 

According to Naval History.net
May 1943
Convoy GTX ( Gibraltar to Tripoli to Alexandria ) 001
So perhaps a look on the Convoy website may give details of ships and events to the convoy ?
Alex

Re: 9 May 1943 Spitfires damaged HMS Bicester
 

Posts must be in English, the language of the Board, unless quoting from an original document. Please correct.

Re: 9 May 1943 Spitfires damaged HMS Bicester
 

Hi Brian,

What do you make of this?

No.152 Sqdn - Sunday 9th (May, 1943).

1/ When 152 went out early this morning they could find nothing worth bombing and so perforce brought their bombs back, all that is except 'Killer' Kingsford*, who p&##@$ off on his own out to sea, and finding a 40ft schooner with 70 to 100 men aboard, proceed to drop both bombs in the middle of it. After having first shot off the mast with his cannon, there seems little doubt that every Hun aboard can be counted as confirmed.
Later the squadron was out again, shooting up transport, each aircraft making two runs along the length of the convoy. On this trip F/Lt Baynham had trouble with his oil pressure, and Sgt Smith had to land at Medjez with an internal oil leak. (p.48).

2/ Log Book of 1376328 Sgt Leonard Alfred SMITH RAFVR (later 182872, DFM).
From April 27 (1943) to May 9th (1943).

1943 - Paddington Strip - Souk-el-Khemis - Tunisia.

May 9.

1.20 - Turned back with bombs - bad weather - bags of flak, hit in prop.

1.30 - Direct hit on ship - no flak - ground strafed barges.

1.35 - Direct hit on Fw 190 set it on fire - ground strafed dromes.

1.40 Direct hit on road staff car ran into it - had to force land at Medjez through glycol leak engine a right[sic] off.

* 1251830 Roy Stuart KINGSFORD (102557)

See:
Birth of the Black Panthers - 152 (F) (Hyderabad) Squadron.
Smith,William S.
Ely:Melrose Press,2012.
1/ p.48
2/ p.69.

Col.

Re: 9 May 1943 Spitfires damaged HMS Bicester
 

Hi Col

Very confusing!

Cheers
Brian

Re: 9 May 1943 Spitfires damaged HMS Bicester
 

Hello Brian
old thread but anyway see the post of Six Nifty .50s on 12th June 2006 in your Friendly fire WWII thread
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...ster#post24585

and the USAAF attack on RN Hunt class destroyers (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=26346) thread

Attackers were probably USAAF Spits or P-40s.