[Observer1940]

Brian

The November 1940 RAF Review of Accidents (stamped RAE 13 February 1941) referring to friendly A.A. and friendly aircraft instances states:-

"Paragraph 41 of the October review gave details of twenty instances during September - November of R.A.F. aircraft being shot down or damaged by ground defences or by other RAF aircraft." ...

Although we are aware of other officially recorded instances, paragraph 41 does not officially list a Battle, or even a Wellington (see the Wellington case below), in September 1940.

According to the Bomber Command file, Bomber Command are still very upset and angry and continually making complaint and further comment regarding the Court of Inquiry into the shooting down of Battle L5568 of F/O B. E. Moss 72027, B. C. Long 580616 & T. Radley 646336 on 1st August 1940 at Anderby Creek (nearest town Mablethorpe). Bomber Command felt that there were other problems contributing to the shooting down and it was not their Battle Captain's fault, one being the opening of new Bomber Stations taking 6 weeks to two months to be officially notified to be notified to all concerned. Bomber Command are mounting a vigorous defence from several angles, on behalf of the late Battle crew, for months after the Inquiry.

The other problem researchers have, is that two volumes were running at the same time at Bomber Command of such friendly instances and only certain time periods of the one volume appear to have been released into AIR 14 at the PRO in 1991.

Also the AIR 14 file does not cover friendly aircraft incidents outside the file covering dates, or friendly incidents of other Commands.

There are numerous incidents in ORBs and A.A. War Diaries.

Wellington 18th September 1940
For Example, in the Bomber Command Minute Sheet note 69 for this one and looking at the photocopied Minute Sheets in 14/390, the Bomber Command reference appears to be referring F/O Moss's Bomber Command Battle.

"69"
"G/C. Ops."
"At Encl. 67A is a report from No. 3 Group concerning an incident that occurred between a Wellington and a Blenheim fighter on 18th September. As this has followed up the accident in which a Battle was shot down, I have prepared a draft" ...

The Wellington was returning on operational mission and attacked by a Blenheim. The Blenheim landed at Martlesham Heath. Wellington A/c 9277, 99 Squadron, Capt F/Lt Harvey 18th September 1940.

Regards Mark