Identity question about a victory of W.F.Galland
 

Hello all

17/04/43:
According J.Mattews,he claims a B-17 (15h06,20 km W.N.W Somme Estuary),others sources says a Mustang!!...perhaps a Typhoon!

What is it exactly?
Michel

Re: Identity question about a victory of W.F.Galland
 

Jochen says P-51 as does Don Caldwell

Re: Identity question about a victory of W.F.Galland
 

Yes,hence my question.
My idea is that claim is unsubstantiated

Re: Identity question about a victory of W.F.Galland
 

Time and location are the same which is unusual if there was another (unsubstantiated or otherwise) claim as claimants usually separate back to back claims by a minute. Look at Bretnütz's claims for 16 Aug 40-both 249 Sqn losses (bounced) were simultaneous but are separated by a minute

Re: Identity question about a victory of W.F.Galland
 

Both location and hour of Galland's claim match with the RAF Circus 284, during which 403 Sqn claimed two Fw 190s shot down. Either he mistook a Spitfire for a Mustang, or a reco Mustang wandered in the area, but in any case there were no Allied loss during this operation.

There was one Allied loss probably at the time, a Typhoon of 56 Sqn. 56 Sqn ORB is uncomplete: Form 540 says 8 Typhoons went on a sweep to protect B-17 coming back from Bremen, one was lost to engine failure and Flg Off Cluderay bailed out over the sea, was unable to get into his dinghy and finally lost his grip on it and drowned. A Walrus was sent to retrieve it but turned back after losing its Spitfire escort and then his W/T. Form 541 only lists 4 Typhoons on a sweep between 1425 hrs and 1545 hrs on the Dutch coast. Cluderay and the other men in his formation are not listed, and so no serial is listed for the lost Typhoon.

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...on-(56-Sqn-RAF) has it as DN478, and points to Galland being the cause of the loss, but the location is very far from Galland's claim.

Re: Identity question about a victory of W.F.Galland
 

DN478 is correct for the Typhoon lost on 17/4.

It was also reported as lost (crashed) into sea 90 mls NE of Cromer which is right on track for an aircraft coming from the Bremen area and going back to its base at Matlaske. (Was it called Matlask during WW 2?)

To me there is not way that Galland could have been anywhere near that place.

B Rgds
Stig

Re: Identity question about a victory of W.F.Galland
 

Convinced that his 40."Abschus" (B-17,mustang,typhoon) is unsubstantiated...to remove from his list,it's not the only one

Regards
michel

Re: Identity question about a victory of W.F.Galland
 

Hi all,

some info about Typhoon DN478 and pilot F/O E. N. CLUDERAY (J/15371):


https://www.thetyphoonproject.org/ra...-Cluderay.html

Looks like "standard issue with Typhoon engine"

Faenor