[Alex Smart]

Hi,
Yes 601 Sqdn RAF did use the Airacobra.

I take it that the shoot down was achieved by a 218 Sqdn aircrew in 1941, as I do not have the book to check details refered too above.

From August 41 to March 42.

From Air Britain AA100 to AZ999
AH576 Bellylanded Mildenhall 29/8/41.
AH581 Crashed on approach Debden 13/12/41.
AH582 Control lost during aerobatics. Dived into yard Gwynne Street Chappel, Bedford 19/10/41.
AH596 Crashed in forced landing 6m NNE of Colchester, Essex 30/9/41.
AH598 (3FPP) Engine cut stalled dived into ground near Fingland. Cumberland 15/11/41.
AH601 Engine cut bellylanded at Duxford, DBR. 12/12/41.
AH603 Engine cut on take off Duxford 21/11/41.
I fear none of the above fit the story .
As far as US forces in the UK at this time I expect that they were only advisers.

The P40
Again in RAF use.
I could only find the following -
24/11/41
AH773 26 Sqdn Shot down off Ambleteuse pilot rescued from Channel.
13/12/41
AH865 400 Sqdn Shot down 12m off Etaples by Fw190 of JG2.
AH??? 400 Sqdn Shot down ??? details not known .

Thats all I could find for 1941. There may well have been other incidents but I fully expect that they would not have been US aircraft. Pilots maybe but aircraft no.
It is very possible that the pilot was American serving in the RAF or RCAF and might have been at this time with attached to an Eagle squadron for some reason or other, rather than being in the squadron.

Alex