Most Obscure Fighter to down an American 4 engined bomber

[kaki3152]

My guess would be a Bulgarian Avia 534 during a Ploesti raid.

[Csaba B. Stenge]

The Avias never shot down any 4 engine bombers. My vote is a lightweight early Japanese fighter.

[CJE]

Indeed, the Avias could not even catch up the B-24s and lost several (?) of their own to the gunners.

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by CJE

Indeed, the Avias could not even catch up the B-24s and lost several (?) of their own to the gunners.

It was indeed a Czech Avia fighter, but not the Avia B-534, but the even more obscure type, the B-135.

For details, check the Avia B-35/B-135 monography book published by MBI in Prague, book I co-authored.

[Csaba B. Stenge]

I am not so familiar with the Bulgarian aviation, but according to my knowledge, the B.135 monoplanes really claimed one B-24 (on 30 March, 1944, when the 15th AAF attacked Sofia) The 450th BG lost one Liberator on that day (from the 723rd Sq, crew of Lt. Clarke). I have just the info, that a tail gunner from one another plane reported the plane falling down without control, but they did not mention attacking fighters (just AA fire). So maybe they shot it down, but maybe not (crashed due to other cause but was confirmed to the fighters) My vote is still a Japanese fighter (but need sb who researched very deeply their Army aviation)

[Flitzer]

I'll go with Slt av Constantin Balta's two B-24 kills with an IAR 81C.

(Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 54)

[kaki3152]

Ok,I'll stick my nose again into this obscure quest. It was a Japanese Pete floatplane in 1942.

Failing that, did the French D-520s ever claim a four engined bomber? They flew extensively with the German training schoold who ocasionallly claimed victories.

Carlos

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Carlos,

If you are looking for Dewoitine claims, check again the Bulgarian AF, since they flew sorties against the 15th AAF with the type between 10 December, 1943 and 5 April, 1944 (and claimed air victories as well).

[kaki3152]

That would be some interesting information!
Wonder how many victories were ultimately claimed.

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Here is an online list of the Bulgarian claims:
http://members.aol.com/bogdanovaslav...mbats1943.html