Gentlemen,

Thank you for your assistance. I will search for information on Kangas from the 416th records. They list his home town and university he graduated from.

The 416th were always attempting to shoot down "Recce Joe" who flew over Allied territory at night taking photos using the photo-flash bomb technique with Ju88s from Begamo. The Mosquiotes even attempted to shoot down the German aircraft as they landed at Begamo during the night.

During one mission on 24 March 1945, after observing several patterns of flares over a period of time, Capt. Iribe correctly deduced the pattern of signal flares to have the runway lights turned on. He asked his navigator, Talmidge Simpson, to fire a set pattern of flares, and the Luftwaffe turned on the runway lights. Iribe then attempted to strafe Ju88s parked along an apron but S/L and anti-aircraft fire forced him away.

The above account is from Talmidge Simpson, although the 416 NFS records state the events quite differently:

"Capt. Iribe had been stooging around Begamo airdrome to receive Recce Joe on his return. He dipped behind one mountian in hiding and waiting, once roaring down over the airdrome like a lion on its prey. Searchlights tried to cone him and he was shot at from all over. He stooged around until a warning came that Recce Joe was returing to base, then circled the airdrome. Recce Joe came in, was coned in searchlights, identified himself with a serie of red flares. Field landing lights came one, he landed, lights went off all in a matter of a few seconds. Iribe was not in a position to attack but came in behind him shooting red flares. Searchlights tried to catch him again. He went home tired after a busy night."

Memories fade with time, and this may have happened with Mr. Simpson. He may, or may not be corrcet in his recollections.

Give me time to answer your requests for information. Just returned from Mawell AFB where I copied records of various WWII units, including those involving the 416th. Need time to digest this information.

It seems there was no jet involvment with the chase as previously described. But how do we account for the high speeds recorded by both the Mosquito and GCI.

Yours very truly,
Norman Malayney