Ventura loss

[John Manrho]

Does anybody have anything on a Ventura loss on 31.3.1943? Any theatre?

Thanks,

John

[Henk Welting]

John,
I've a Ventura file on date; no loss mentioned.
Gegroet,
Henk.

[John Manrho]

Thanks Henk,

were there any Ventura missions that day? I am looking into a possible Lw-fighter claim of a Ventura on that day.....

Groeten,

John

[Larry]

With regard to the Lockheed Ventura it was used in NW Europe with RAF No2 Group in March 1943 (21 Sqn, 464 Sqn and 487 Sqn) but no losses show in Bomber Command Losses for these units on 31-3-43.

No losses show in 'Though Without Anger' for Transport Command and in any case 299 Sqn got their Venturas after March 1943

140 Sqn used Ventura briefly from Feb 1943 in a the Photo Recce role and it may be that a plane from this Sqn was lost on that date. Someone may have studied this unit in more depth.

Another small possibility is that the aircraft was one of 3 or 4 Venturas held by 1482 Bombing & Gunnery Flight flying from RAF West Rayham at the time.

Coastal Command didn't get their Venturas till the autumn of 1943 so ignore 251 Sqn, 519 Sqn and 521 Sqn. Ignore also Met Flight 1407 for same reason.

The same applies to the following Sqns in the Middle East who got their Venturas after March 1943; 13, 459, 500 and 624.

After the above you will need to check out the SAAF and RNZAF

[John Manrho]

Thanks Larry, this will need further research.

John

[Larry]

Oh and don't forget the RCAF in Canada

[dp_burke]

Can you tell us the details of the claim? Perhaps the LW pilot simply miss-indentified the aircraft he attacked. What area does the claim relate to?