Friendly fire WWII

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hi Brian,

I continue to find friendly fire incidents here and there, and will report them here.

Here are two, both for 49th FG USAAF:

31 October 1944:
To start the day wrong, the ack ack shot down a P-38 from the 7th squadron while it was landing. There was a strafing raid in progress, but that was a scant excuse for the tragic incident.
Source: http://www.flyingknights.net/unit/oct44b.htm
The pilot may have been 2nd Lt Robert W. Searlight who was KIA this day but I have no confirmation of this, or any serial.

4 April 1942
See the following link: http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_89349/tm.htm
It describes a raid on Darwin. Returning intercepting US fighters were fired on by Australian AA fire and two shot down, with one pilot KIA.

Best regards

Laurent

[Six Nifty .50s]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

Hi Brian,

4 April 1942
See the following link: http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_89349/tm.htm It describes a raid on Darwin. Returning intercepting US fighters were fired on by Australian AA fire and two shot down, with one pilot KIA.

Lt. Grover Gardner bailed out and Lt. John Livingstone was killed during his emergency landing attempt.

[Brian]

Thanks for the latest - nice to hear from you once again, Nifty, trust you are well.

Keep em coming!

Cheers
Brian

[shooshoobaby]

Brian - from Kelly Gross's book page 241.
354th pilot M.J. Slavlan P-47 AJ - I serial # unknown
Shot down by U.S. Anti - Aircraft near 354th base, Rosieres- en - Hays
December 4 , 44.
He also witnessed a P -38 shot down by U.S. AA at Base A - 2.
Evening of June 26,44.
All evidence points to P-38 #2104416 479th FG
Lt. Burton Gross( not related) KIA Macr 6557- Filed the next day.
Cheers,
Mike

[Brian]

Cheers, Mike, two new names for me. The shooting down of the P-38 at A.2 was the incident witnessed by Richard Turner - the one we couldn't establish earlier.

I assume Slavin's aircraft wasn't badly damaged - it doesn't appear in the Armyairforces listing. Does anyone know more about him?

Have a nice one - the weather here today in Suffolk is beautiful - and about time too. Just perfect for the second day of the Third Test Match against Sri Lanka!! With apologies to all Americans who do not appreciate the real 'beautiful game'!

Cheers
Brian

[paulmcmillan]

Brian - Are you aware of this incident?

Look up X4818 on this web site?

http://www.adf-serials.com/2a58.shtml


If you do, I don't suppose you have crew names do you?

Thanks

Paul

[Brian]

Hi Paul

Many thanks. Yes, I have this one fairly well recorded including names. The pilot accidentally shot down was sadly killed.

Cheers
Brian