Mosquito or Beaufighter?
 

Hi guys

Have just been reading Jo Capka's Red Sky at Night, in which he writes about his Mosquito being shot down by a US B-24 on 27 June 1944. Blinded in one eye, he nevertheless crash-landed his aircraft at Layer Breton on the Suffolk/Essex border and survived with burns. His navigator has baled out.

However, another source suggests that his aircraft was Beaufighter KV974!

Please help!

Cheers
Brian

Re: Mosquito or Beaufighter?
 

HI Brian,

F/L Josef "Joe" Capka DFM / F/L G.T. Williams DFM of the 68 Sqn were badly damaged by rear gunner of American Liberator what returned from attack in Creil, France. Capka blinded by blood and shell fragments c/l at Layers Breton near Colchester. The crew flew Beaufighter VI, KV974, WM-R.
Josef Capka was former member of the 311 Sqn and survivor of one tour in 1941.
The 68 Sqn received their Mosquitos two weeks later.

Regards,
Michal

Re: Mosquito or Beaufighter?
 

Thanks Michal - I wonder why Jo believed he had been flying a Mosquito? Have you read his book?

Do we know which US bomber group was involved in the raid on Creil?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Mosquito or Beaufighter?
 

Brian,

I read only a part of the book. I didn´t note mention about type of a/c.
Liberators returend from Mission 443 that day. There were despatched about 250 bombers to hit CROSSBOW supply sites around Pas de Calais, Criel and Chantilly, France. 195 B-17s hit the Pas de Calais area, 12 B-24s hit targets of opportunity and 11 B-24s hit Criel Airfield. I believe the Liberator was from 489th BG.

Michal