Friendly fire WWII

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Date is 23 September 1944

"Another accident at Millville is much different from the others. On September 23rd, 2LT Andrew J. Easterwood was killed in a crash in the Atlantic Ocean. Easterwood was the number three man of a flight of five aircraft on an aerial gunnery mission. On his fifth or sixth pass at the target, his aircraft apparently hit the target cable and began a slow roll to the right. The ship continued forward, rolled on its back and started a spiral to the right. The aircraft crashed into the ocean and was never recovered. Easterwood's aircraft crashed as the result of hitting the ¼ inch cable and not the stabilizing bar.

2LT Asa W. Shuler, one of Easterwood's closest friends, thought otherwise. Shuler had been in pilot training with Easterwood and reported to Millville at the same time. When attending his memorial service in Alabama, Shuler mentioned to a family member that he thought that Easterwood had been shot down. This would have been impossible based on the information in the accident report. All of the airplanes in the flight had fired all of their ammunition, but that same report fails to address possible defects in the airplane and health issues. We can only speculate about the cause of this unusual accident, as Shuler was killed in action in France."

http://p47millville.org/history_accidents.html

[Brian]

Hi guys

Here's something for the weekend!!

15-16/8/43 Mosquito shot down Wellington. Who was the errant pilot?

22/10/43 Mosquito shot down FIU Mosquito. Ditto

21/12/43 Two Typhoons 609 Sqn and Spitfire 501 Sqn shot down by P-47s.
Who were the US pilots?

28/3/44 Mosquito 107 Sqn shot down by P-51. Was this Lt CF Anderson 335 thFG?

23/4/44 Albemarle V1610 shot down by RAF nightfighter?

11/6/44 Mosquto 333 Sqn shot down by Allied fighters Orkneys?

28/6/44 Mosquito 192 Sqn damaged by Mosquito.

Hope someone can help with the latest. Sincere thanks. I owe you a drink!!

Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

333 Sqn loss was discussed on the RAF forums last week IIRC. Names of crew and faulty pilots were given (IIRC again).

[Brian]

Hi Laurent

Being a rather ignorant person I do not understand what you mean! Where can I find the discussion on the 333 Sqn loss? What RAF forums? And was does IIRC mean? Apologies for being dumb!

Brian

[John Beaman]

IIRC = If I Recall Correctly

[Andy Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Brian

Where can I find the discussion on the 333 Sqn loss

Hi Brian,

Here is the link.

http://www.rafcommands.com/dcforum/DCForumID6/7514.html

Ross McNeill's site has some great data, many very knowledgable individuals post there.

Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Brian]

Once again my sincere thanks, guys.

Laurent - I have now found the RAF Forum and have extracted details of the 333 Squadron Mosquito - thanks, and also to you John and Andy. I'm new to websites and am only just finding my way around - as is pretty obvious!! Thanks also Stephane for the 303/He115 connection - I will dig further during my next visit to Kew.

What a great site and with so many generous and knowledgeable contributors. Keep 'em coming!

Cheers
Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

A new one: on 13 May 1944 a P-40 bombed a Spitfire on the ground in Italy. Some more details at http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=368

Also on this forum, a post on friendly fire in the Pacific by "Six Nifty .50s":
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=252