[Boris Ciglic]

Hi Chris,

Very interesting photo (at least for us in Serbia). This is definitely RAF machine and as such the 213 Sqn is the only candidate and they were quite active in that area in that particular time frame. From the data that I have an Mk.III might fit into the picture.

On 27 July F/Sgt A Smailes was hit by flak during a loco hunt in the area Priština - Kosovska Mitrovica and reputedly force landed 5 km NE of Uroševac (which is some 40 km NE of Prizren). It could have been a small navigational error on behalf of the returning pilots, as I know for many instances when RAF & USAAF pilots missed their whereabouts over Yugoslavia for quite a distance.

None of the August losses fits so well. Two pilots were killed, two bailed out and the one that made a forced landing did so in Croatia, in Partisan-held territory.

Cheers,
Boris