Friendly fire WWII

[Rainer]

Another naval related friendly fire incident:

The convoy WS-21 left the Clyde on 29 July 1942 with 19 troop transport and a strong escort of destroyers and cruisers bound for Freetown. At 08.55 hours on 31 July the Sunderland W4025 of 201 Squadron RAF took off from Lough Erne to escort this convoy northwest of Ireland. However, when it arrived over the convoy in very low visibility one of the ships* shot down the Sunderland in position 55°23N, 14°13W at 10.25 hours. HMS LEDBURY picked up the sole survivor (Sgt Wheatley).

The following crew members were lost:
F/Lt James Robert Traill, RAF
F/Lt Walter Harry Wakefield, RAF
P/O John Allen, RAF
F/Sgt James Andrew Collins, RAF
F/Sgt Maurice John Tomley, RAF
Sgt William Bluck, RAF
Sgt Clifford Gurney Fort, RAAF
Sgt John Robert Goodings, RAF
Sgt Vivian Lewis, RAAF
Sgt Harry Scarce, RAF
Sgt Norman Williams, RAF

*It is often stated that HMS HAWKINS shot down the Sunderland, but the cruiser was in command of the escorts and only reported the incident to the Admiralty without identifying which ship fired at the aircraft.