D-Day Ju 87 massacre

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by Gizmo

drgondog,
My source for P-51 lost is "D-Day - The Air battle" by K. Delive. See page 124: [Ju 87s]" "Flying in V formation of three-plane Vics, and going westward toward the beach-head and flying on the deck. The formation was bounced, with claims listed bellow. Lt. Douglas was hit by Flak near Calais coming out and missing in action"
Also "Fighter Units and Pilots of the 8th USAAF" by K. D. Miller listing Lt. Walter A. Douglas (357th FS) as a POW, P-51B 42-106862, hit by Flak over Calais and bailed out off the coast. So probably Douglas was shot down by Flak after combat with Ju 87 formation.

BTW -This error on french website linked above, looks like to be result of attack by unfriendly software.

357FS
Phillips,Lt.George KIA Shot down by flak near La Mailleraye ~1325. Killed bailing out - hitting rudder.
OSH 43-6640 MACR 5506 FLAK Whitten Letter 357FS History

Douglass,Lt.Walter POW Lost,let down through cloud cover,hit by flak E Calais at approximately 2130.
OSB 42-106862 MACR 5513 FLAK Whitten Letter 357FS History



I was only taking exception to the comment of a loss (implied but not stated) due to the fight w/Ju 87's

Douglass was on the way home from the fight and letting down through the cloud cover to get his bearings. He was shot down by flak about 20 minutes after the fight was over.

My source is "Our Might Always - Volume I, History of the 355th FG, 355th TFW and FW" by Bill Marshall

It is a greatly expanded and researched history of the 355th that I did 25 years ago - and the primary source of Kent Miller's 355th data..

Regards,

Bill