[Alex Smart]

So we are back to post five where Boris had -
"Gennadiy Shadrin of 117.GvIAP near Bela Crkva, east of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, on 14 October. Whilst returning from a patrol, he was vectored towards an unknown plane flying at altitude of 3.000 meters. He quickly caught up with it and recognized a Mustang with USAAF markings. The Soviet ground control suspected that the aircraft was recconoitering their positions and instructed him to force it to land. Despite some hand signs, wing waving and warning shots, American pilot did not respond and tried to flee in southern direction. It was then that commander of 10.GvShAD gen.maj. Andrej Vitruk ordered Shadrin to shot him down, which he did. American pilot bailed out, but his parachute failed to open and he fell near Bela Crkva ".

Followed by - " In order to hush up the incident, a Bf 109 was claimed instead and all involved ordered to keep quiet ".

The date given seems to be certain - 14th October 1944 - So it can only be perhaps a miss identification of an aircraft by the "victor" or perhaps the date is incorrect ?

From all input in this thread it looks very much like it could not be any of the P-51's lost on the date given, One pilot(Bell) evaded, one pilot( Leary ) was POW while the two killed( Mann and Houghton ) are dismissed.
In post seven we are offered - "while debfriefed by Intel in Bari he gave out questionable grounds as into the event ".
I have read it and see nothing questionable within it ?
Perhaps this can be expanded by the inclusion of the debrief into this thread ?

I offered the earlier date of 13th but that fatality ( Westmoreland ) was also excluded.

This leads me to the conclusion that this was either a friendly fire event or the pilot exaggerated his claims this is not unknown and has been done by others either through deliberate act or excitement of the moment.

Then there is the chance that the "facts" as known do not fit the "story" being told. This has come up in other threads from time to time as well.

Whatever the case it would be good to solve just who this killed P-51 pilot was.

Maybe we should go back to the start and search out those Bf109 losses and even Russian Lag and Yak losses for the date given in the area, even local aircraft under training if any ?
As the ID was for a "P-51 who's pilot baled out, chute failed, pilot killed " - we can be sure it is a single engined, single crewed aircraft - yes ?

All the very best
Alex