Friendly fire January 14, 1945

[Brian]

Hi guys

Thanks for the invitation to comment. The Typhoon was R8688/X of 247 Sqn flown by Flight Sergeant Dudley C Horn, who was shot down by a P-47 SW of Ewijk. He was killed and is buried at Bergharen.

The following extract is from RISE FROM THE EAST by David Marchant

At 1300, Nos.247 and 182 Squadron’s participated in a joint effort aimed at attacking an unloading platform for a V-2 site at Zwolle. Wing Commander North-Lewis led the Squadron, with Sqn Ldr Gray leading No.182. The journey out was uneventful and the Rhine defences kept silent. Over the target area a bank of strato-cumulus obscured the ground, but by a stroke of luck the rail siding became visible through a gap in the cloud. A swift attack was made &rom 10,000 ft, with hits seen all along the track complete with fifty stationary trucks. Returning to base, two silver P-47 Thunderbolts streaked out of the cloud with guns blazing, their victims Blue section. An immediate break to starboard was made, but Fit Sgt ‘Ginger’ Horn, due to his position in the formation, had not completed the manoeuvre and his aircraft suffered a number of strikes which caused the engine to fail. The Thunderbolts sheered off immediately, whilst Ginger endeavoured to glide back to Allied lines west of the Rhine, which he reached, hut as his Typhoon touched down it hit an embankment flanking a dyke, bursting into flames. Ginger Horn died in the crash.

Also lost this day was Typhoon RB331 of 174 Sqn that was also attacked by six P-47s - Flg Off G.B. Chapman baled out east of Haltern and was taken prisoner.

I don't seem to have the names of the errant P-47 pilots for either incident, so any help would be appreciated - P47 claims for FW190s??

Cheers
Brian