Did USAAF´s 415th NFS took part on GISELA?

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Good night to all...
I came across two victories achieved by 415th NFS pilots on 03rd March 1945:
1- 1/Lt Henry J Gilpin ( AO 00740166 )
2- 2/Lt Walter Cleary ( AO 01692656 )

Could someone inform me the kind of GERMAN machine those nigh-fighter pilots claimed and, if possible, the HOUR?

Did they took part on some kind of reaction to Operation GISELA, or simply were on routine patrols when achieved their victories?

Thanks for any enlightment on the subject

Adriano

[Leendert]

Could it be Lt Henry Giblin and not pilot, but radar-observer Lt Walter Cleary?
They formed one crew.

These men are mentioned here and there on UFO sighting websites....

Regards,

Leendert
Brugge/belgium

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Leendert!
Thanks for the information they were part of a crew! I found those names on an Alphabetical list of USAAF´s Night-Fighter claims and did not know they formed a crew! I guessed they only put the names of pilots...However, being a crew, they apparently shot down something that night. Do you have any more information? Was it a BF 110, a JU 88 they claimed? I will try to find out more...thanks!
Adriano

[Leendert]

Adriano,

According to website http://www.geocities.com/mep1100/415NFS.html the Giblin/Cleary crew had a total of two victories flying Beaufighters: a Ju-88 and a captured B-17 in Luftwaffe colors.

Unfortunately it doesn't say where and when these claims were earned.

Regards,

Leendert

[Michal]

On March 3 1945 was shot down by night fighter a B-17G coded A3+BB near Luvigny at 06.15 hours. Plane took off at 23.08 on March 2 1945 from Stuttgart/Echterdingen to drop supplies and agents. Probably over Central France, Belgium and The Netherlands. Plane belonged to Stab I./KG 200.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Michal

Plane belonged to Stab I./KG 200.

No it didn't. KG 200 codes operated on a strange system: A3+BB was an aircraft of 1./KG 200. Ju 188s A3+_D belonged to 4./KG 200.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

MICHAL,
You answered my question: 415th NFS was not involved in any kind of interceptation during operation GISELA. Thanks for adding the hour and precise date of the action. Very kind of yours...
Will check on the book of KG 200 for the name of the crew flying this captured B-17. Very interesting stuff...
Thanks for all who contributed here...
Adriano

[Erich]

a side note Adriano from the 415th nfs microfische, the Beau crew and the ground control confirmed the crash of the B-17 at 6.20hrs and that 6 of the German LW crew were captured alive, they had just dropped agents before the Beau opened fire. the B-17 tail gunner fired several bursts before the Beau shot out the engines of the B-17.

E ~

[Frank Olynyk]

Gilpin and Cleary were in a P-61 Black Widow. The claim was made at 0518 (I don't know what time zone they were using), at V-4881, 20 m E of Baccarat.

Frank.

See my post later in this thread. FJO.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Thanks Erich and Frank for NEW information.
Frank: it seems however that 415th NFS first received theirs P-61 on 20th March 1945 and scored NO official victories with them. So, we must assume the above mentioned crew was flying on a Beaufighter as you mentioned ( V-4881 ). Thanks again for the new information about time, place and hour of the combat. Kind of yours...
Adriano