Voll's last mission

[keith A]

I came across this account on the internet.

"Flying a P-51D named "American Beauty," his final victories occurred during a spectacular, individual effort. While leading an escort mission to Munich on 16 November 1944, Captain Voll experienced electrical problems and left the formation.

As he returned alone, he spotted a single Ju-88 over Udine, Italy. Chasing the German aircraft as it attempted to return to its base, Voll was suddenly jumped by 12 Me-109s and FW-190s. He quickly dispatched the Ju-88 and turned into the enemy fighters. In a swirling, 5-minute battle, John Voll destroyed two FW-190s, one Me-109, had two probables, and two damaged… an impressive feat of courage and stamina."

Can anyone identify the Luftwaffe units involved?

regards

Keith

[Bruce Lander]

This combat is noted in "Air War Italy 1944-45" co-authored by fellow contributor Nick Beale ( a superb book) and states that despite covering all available sources no losses are able to be identified ! (at time of publication 1996). Has anything more come to light in the last 19 years ?

Bruce Lander

[veltro]

Having been part of the "team" behind that book, I can say that there are no news on that episode, apart from the consideration that such claims had no eyewitnesses to corroborate them.

This, added to the fact that the USAAF pilot did violently threw-up upon his landing means that there was a lot of stamina involved and that this doesn't go well with an accurate and reliable post-action report...

Facts like that often occurred in the heath of battle and the fact of being alone certainly did add to that.

P.S. Bear also in mind that by mid-November 1944 there were really very few LW and ANR units in the area of the episode and if no evidence was found at all, something simply doesn't add.

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

I had plenty of doubts about John Voll's air to air claims during the air war over Italy during WWII. His last mission was like a story that Hollywood USA made up!
Plenty of his air kills didn't match up with the Luftwaffe's real losses.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Broncazonk]

What did the gun camera film say? A P-51D in November of 1944 almost certainly would be carrying a gun camera wouldn't it? A report of the analysis of Voll's gun camera must exist somewhere.

[veltro]

Originally Posted by Broncazonk

What did the gun camera film say? A P-51D in November of 1944 almost certainly would be carrying a gun camera wouldn't it? A report of the analysis of Voll's gun camera must exist somewhere.

Well, I can only hope that you can be lucky enough to find where that "somewhere" is...