P-61 buffs

[Erich]

cancer Brian and another item which I will not explain right now. thanks for the wishes and hopefully the info for your data was of some useage.

thumbs up !

[Brian]

Hi Erich

I am so sorry, I just didn't know. It makes your contributions much more valuable and meaningful. I, and I am sure on behalf of all those who read this, offer my very best wishes.

In our thoughts
Brian

[Brian]

Hi Erich

When you feel up to it may I ask you to have another look at 422/425 records, please.

Night of 5-6 August 1944, Axtell claimed a Do217 probable. Is there any indication of serial number of P-61 and time of combat?

Night 14/15 August: A P-61 was in combat with a He177 - the P-61 was damaged and crash-landed. Who were the crew? And serial number of P-61?

You mention a Major Ross claiming a V-1 on 23 July 1944. I have not come across his name before. Any further details?

Hope you are feeling somehat better.

Best wishes
Brian

[Monaco]

Hello,
maybe it´s a little off theme, but are this the only Black Widow claims by Luftwaffe fighter pilots?

26.08.44 Hptm. Suhr I./JG 301 P-61 £ wanting 03.00 ± 13 - yes
26/08/44 P61A-5-NO Ser.No. 42-5545 (Macr8706) 425 Night Fighter Squadron USAAF.
25.12.44 Ofw. Siewert IV./NJG 6 P -6 1 £ Raum Luxemburg 0 1 . 5 5 Reference: Kock NJG 6
? not identifíed - no MACR

Do you know the identity of the claim of 25/12/44 and is that of 26/08/44 the right one?

Greetings
Monaco

[Erich]

Brian the date is actually the next eve. august 6-7-44

120 rds of 20mm used, hrs were 0130-0345 P-61 # 68. Clear with light haze, 8/10th-10/10 clouds CAVU Operation # 4 defensive patrols. 8 P-61's up.
Followed a Do 217 ? over Bayeux in a violent evasive action from 8,000 feet leveation down to 4500 feet and at 600 feet dead astern he fired a little above into the German crafts fuselage. do 217 dove into the clouds neat Bay of Mont St. Micael.

Major Ross is a question in my data base............

August 14/15, 44

Operation # 11 haze to 8000 feet, stratus to 11/12000 feet. 9 P-61's up.

"Impatient Widow" # 91 flown by Gordon followed an He 177 from 2./KG 40 going 180mph. fired into the wings and tail, pieces flew off. rear gunner of He 177 fired 13mm ? and hit P-61 in starborad engine and shout out hydrallics. He 177 dove away, P-61A-10 had cat. B/E damage, crash alnded with one engine. 2350 to 0110 hrs, Gordon used 150 rounds of 20mm ammo. The P-61 was actually written off destroyed.......... 1 kill for the He 177. the rear gunner of the He 177 was Unteroffizier Fabinger, and the pilot Hauptmann Stolte. // the rear gunner actually was using a 2cm weapon // gordons P61 was serial # 42-5591

Brian do I get a signed copy and a mention for your future volume in payment ;-)
__________________________________________________ ___________

Monoco the 425th nfs was not operational on the 26th of August 44 as they were still working on the Vannes A/F to get it operational.

on the 27th of august, 44 pilo Lt. Nelson Willis clipped a telephone pole and smashed into a bridge ......... KIA and evidently witnesses to this effect, 3 other P-61's received flak damge though this could of been Luftw craft damage, nothing to say either end sorry.

on 29th of august 44 Lt. J. Webb crashed 3 miles S.E. of A-33N, Vannes KIA as this was operation # 13. This may well have been German a/c related ?

on the night of the 24/25 and 25/26th of December no losses reported by the 422nd or 425th nfs. But for the follwoing evening 26/27 December the 425th nfs lost P-61 # 84, Lt. Byars shot down by US AA guns near A-94 nacy, at least this is what is posted in the microfische. could this be the Ofw. Siewert kill often claimed ? An interesting comment for the 26/27 December 44 mission, 20 P-61's airborne on night intercepts clear, haze in the valleys. Many chases-lost due to GCI controller and the German A/C traveling too fast...........interesting yes ?
# 74 Colligan actually engaged a RAF Lancaster by mistake and was fired upon, but no damge. another pilot thompson flying P-61 # 82 visual on an Fw 190 and tried to intercept the GErman craft but it evaded by peeling off to the deck. # 74 Janicek lost a Bf 110 down to 500 feet altitude and the German 110's evasive action, escaped. 2 Ju 188's ? claimed for the evenings ops

[Brian]

Hi Erich

Of course you will! Perhaps you'll let me have your full name and address (by PM if necessary) to enable me to credit you properly. It goes without saying that I am extremely grateful to you for your generous assistance.

With best wishes
Brian

[Monaco]

Hi Erich,

thanks for the reply. It would have been too easy...IV./NJG.6 was flying Bf.110s and Ju.88s at that time from bases in Unterfranken (my home region), Schleissheim,Gerolzhofen, Kitzingen and from Ingolstadt (Bavaria), but this do not help much I think. Maybe the P-61s claimed were another twin tailed type (B-25?) - identification at night is always a problem. Maybe the claims were erroneously made.

Good luck

monaco

[Brian]

Hi Monaco

Have you a copy of MACR8706 relating to the P-61 shown lost on 26/8/44? I was about to order a copy when I realised you quote this in your message. If so, who were the crew?

Cheers
Brian

[Monaco]

No Brian, I have not, I´m sorry.

Monaco

[Brian]

Hi Erich and Monaco

I have now obtained a copy of MACR8706 relating to the loss of P-61A-5 42-5545 on the night of 26/27 August 1944. It was an aircraft of 425thNFS with pilot 1/Lt Nelson D. Willis only on board (no R/Op) engaged on ground strafing troops in the region of the Balz Bridge. It departed A.33 either at 2100 hours/or was last heard from at 2100 hours (not clear). Believed to have been hit by enemy AA fire, although Free French forces reported that it was seen to hit trees, rise to 200 feet and explode in mid-air. No mention of enemy aircraft activity.

Cheers
Brian

PS: Erich- I hope you're feeling somewhat better.

PPS: Erich - if you are up to it, would you mind having a look at 422ndNFS records and advise the identity and any other details of the P-61 pilot who claimed a V-1 shot down on 17/18 July 1944 but was not credited with it. Also, on 20/21 July when Capt Spelis shot down a V-1, another was claimed by a second pilot but similarly not credited. Who was this?

Cheers
Brian