US cargo aircraft shot down January 1944

[Brian]

Hi guys

I've just noticed on another website that British aircraft/AA fire shot down a US cargo aircraft carrying P-38 field mod kits to the UK, in January 1944.

Sorry to be so vague but I'm sure someone will know about this and provide details, please.

Cheers
Brian

[Atcham Tower]

A C-54 that got mistaken for a Condor, I believe! Don't have details to hand.

[kaki3152]

According to the information I remember it was shot down by Polish Spitfires who mistook it for a FW-200. I'll see if I can find more data.

[kaki3152]

I did a little digging on the Web and determined that the incident probably happened on March 25,1944. The plane was C-54A, S/n 41-37274 and the Action code on the Overseas Accident site is KEXFF or Killed EXplosion due to Friendly Fire

http://www.aviationarchaeology.org/s...y/Mar1944O.htm

[Brian]

Thanks Kaki

I wonder if that is the same incident? My records show that C-54 41-37274 was shot down on 25/3/44 by two Sea Hurricanes of 824 Squadron flying from HMS Striker off Casablanca. It was not showing IFF when attacked. Is it likely that this aircraft would have been carrying P-38 mods for the UK? Or was it way off course?

Cheers
Brian

[shooshoobaby]

Brian -
I read about this way back -
I believe the shootdown was
near Iceland.
Mike

[kaki3152]

Brian,

The location of this crash is listed as "ATL" which stands for Atlantic. Your source may be right as I was just trying to find a C-54 casualty that would fit the scenario,i.e., shot down by friendly fighters.

[Brian]

Hi guys

I've just found another note on a website which states:

23/3/45 Martlet from 'Striker' shot down C-54 in error for FW200 – C-54 (ATC) left Lagens Field, Azores in morning for UK, overflew British convoy at 5,000 feet – mistaken for FW200 and shot down by Marlet. All crew and passengers killed.
Either 42-72346 or 42-72368

Can it be that 'Striker's' fighters shot down two C-54s, one one 25 March 1944, and the second on 23 March 1945? Too much of a coincidence?

The mystery deepens!
Cheers
Brian

[FrankieS]

42-72346
Date: 23 MAR 1945
Type: Douglas C-54B-1-DC
Operator: United States Army Air Force - USAAF
Registration: 42-72346
C/n / msn: 10451
First flight: 1944
Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants:
Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants:
Total: Fatalities: / Occupants:
Airplane damage: Written off
Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: ()
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Terceira-Lajes Airport, Azores (TER/LPLA), Portugal
Destination airport: ?
Narrative:
The C-54 departed the Azores bound for the U.K. En route the aircraft passed overhead a convoy at 5,000 feet on top of broken cloud with visibility 20 miles. A Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter from the Australian Navy aircraft carrier HMS Striker mis-identified the transport for a German Focke Wulf FW-200 and shot it down killing all on board.
The identity has not been confirmed. As another C-54 was also repored lost on this date, 42-72368 might also have been the airplane in question.
Sources:
» RAFCommand.com
» RAN Reserve News, July 2001


42-72368
Date: 23 MAR 1945
Type: Douglas C-54B-1-DC
Operator: United States Army Air Force - USAAF
Registration: 42-72368
C/n / msn: 10473
First flight: 1944
Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants:
Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants:
Total: Fatalities: / Occupants:
Airplane damage: Written off
Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: ()
Phase: Unknown (UNK)
Nature: Military
Departure airport: ?
Destination airport: ?
Narrative:
Destroyed.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.

[Leendert]

Brian,

If HMS Striker is to play a part in this, then this ship apparently was involved in Operation Iceberg I in March 1945, the landings on Okinawa.
Not exactly the Azores....

On the other hand, the ship was in the Atlantic till October 1944.

Aviationarchaeology has no listing for 42-72346, but 42-72368 had a ground accident at Amberley, Qld on 5 Feb 45.
Joe Baugher only says "w/o 23 March 1945" for 42-72346.

Regards,

Leendert