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Old 25th January 2014, 00:43
ssg keay ssg keay is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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ssg keay has a little shameless behaviour in the past
Re: Need Help! Arado 234 losses over North-Rhine Westphalia

I wonder if this incident was in fact the loss of two Arados instead of two Me262:

Shoot-down of two Me 262 bei members of 439 Sqdn. RCNAF, 14.02.1945

The first sortie at 0730 hours set the pace. Led by Lyal Shaver, Chuck Jackson, Hugh Fraser and Adam Saunders set out on an armed recce into Germany. Near Legden, north of Coesfeld, they found a passenger train which Shaver and Jackson hit on the second attack, damaging the engine and one coach. After hunting for other targets in the area (and finding only flak), the section set course for base, passing north west of Ahaus. Let Lyal Shaver take up the story here:
"While flying west at 7000 feet, approximately 20 miles from Coesfeld, I observed two Me.262s in line abreast flying wets at 3000 feet. I informed the other pilots and dove to attack. I came in line astern slightly below the enemy aircraft and opened fire with a short two second burst at 100 yards. No strikes were observed. I raised my sights slightly, closed to 50 yards, and again opened fire with a two second burst. The enemy aircraft exploded in mid air. I flew through the blast and saw the other Me.262 break off to port. I fired two bursts from quarter position but did not observe any strikes. I then saw Red 3 (F/O Fraser) attacking from above and to the rear. After both the enemy aircraft and Red 3 disappeared below cloud, I observed a plume of black smoke bulging above the cloud. The enemy aircraft appeared to be very clean or brand new. The underside was pale blue green, and the top was light mottled camouflage. Approximate cruising speed was 400 m.p.h. Hugh Fraser saw Shaver's jet explode.
"I then attacked the port enemy from quarter position and broke down to port. I opened fire with a three second burst at 400 yards, closing to 50 just as the enemy aircraft disappeared into cloud. At that time I saw the port engine fall off the Me.262. I pulled up to 1500 feet under cloud and saw the enemy aircraft hit the ground and burst into flames. I climbed to 8000 feet and during the climb passed an open parachute which had something burning at the end; but I don't think it was the pilot."
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