[mayfair35]

Brian:
While going through these various comments, I came upon your 5 Oct 2005 (Wow!) statement in which you mentioned your frustration in not being able to find anything about a Westland Lysander shot down on 22 Nov 1944 by a P-51.
I recalled hearing something about such an event and started searching. Our official report of the mission (#123) for that date says nothing about this incident; however there was an officer in the 318th FS who made rather complete notes about many of the missions, this being one. I will quote you what he wrote. This was a PTW mission to marshalling yards at Munich, Germany.

First part of his comments references the mission details. There is then this added part.

At 13:45 on the Groups return and from a height of 17,000 feet an observation aircraft was seen at 4,000 feet. Three P-51s (who?) made a pass at the aircraft. The flight leader closed in to identify the aircraft, the recognition from astern lead him to believe that it was a German aircraft and he fired a few bursts at it, observing hits on the wing and rear fuselage. The flight leader then called out to the other two aircraft of his flight to hold their fire, as the aircraft was British. The third man in the flight was then jumped by two Spitfires, he immediately turned into them and fortunately no one fired. The third man was then jujmped by a flight of 52nd Fighter Group P-51s, waggling his wings the 52nd Fighter Group aircraft realized their mistake and broke off. The flight leader believed on further recognition the aircraft attacked was a Wesland Lysander, no fire or smoke was observed and the aattacked aircraft appeared to be in good shape as it was left to make its way.

FYI the Formation leader of the Group for this mission is deceased as is the mission leader of the 319th FS; however, the mission leader of the 317th FS is still alive.

There was an earlier incident in which one of our aces was involved; however, he could not have been part of this incident as by November he was a POW.

Cordially, Art Fiedler