Friendly fire WWII

[Brian]

Many thanks, Laurent

Just the job!

Cheers
Brian

[Juha]

Hello Brian
I don't know if this is already mentioned but at http://www.luftwaffe-zur-see.de/Seel...n/Jahr1941.htm there are at least a couple own goals.

Cheers
Juha

[Observer1940]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

Here it is:

N.O.I.C. Lowestoft states that at 1226 today an aircraft came in from seawards over Lowestoft at 700 to 1000 feet. Ships opened fore and A/C was hit in port engine and came down in flames near Oulton. No recognition signals fired and A/C came out of sun on course 285°. Blenheim type but no roundels seen on wings or body. Was probably hit by point fore from Queen Empress. A/C burnt out. Three bodies identified as RAF personnel. Further enquiry will be held.
(C. in C. Nore 1956/22 to Adty.)

OPS 626 22/1. Blenheim 139 Squadron, returning from Operational mission crossed coast Lowestoft 1226/22 on straight course and recognised as Blenheim by local Constabulary. After passing over town, Naval guns opened fire and aircraft hit and crashed with loss of all crew. Action by Naval guns in direct contravention of S.D. 158 (1) appendix "A" paragraph 3 (2). Regret that I must press for a searching enquiry so that the responsibility for this act may be established, and in order that Naval A.A. fire may be brought under a proper system of control. This is the fifth occasion since last October in which my aircraft have been engaged by A.A. fire at Lowestoft alone and illustrated the irresponsible manner in which fire is opened on friendly aircraft.
(C. in C. Bomber Cd. 2340/22 to Air Ministry)

S.D. 158(1) is Part 1 of the Routeing, Recognition and Identification of Aircraft ... procedure / rules (also spelt "Routing" on the TNA catalogue) S.D. 158 (Secret Document 158) is the former department reference.

8 No 1940 & 1941 results here and there were a number of Editions for the various Parts.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...hb=tna&_st=adv


I think you have probably seen these 1941 files, Brian, but might be of interest to others. There were more incidents than these four files ...
http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...hb=tna&_st=adv

Mark

[Laurent Rizzotti]

5 September 1944: an US sailor killed by a firing aircraft off Florida, could only be friendly fire. See https://www.fold3.com/image/287154490

Close Call. On 04/05/45 our target was an ordnance depot at Bayreuth, Germany. We were 10 seconds from bombs away when I took one last look through the bombsite and saw a squadron of B-24s at a lower altitude sliding into our drop zone. We aborted the drop, made a 360 for another run that was successful. Had we dropped on the first run we most likely would have taken an aircraft or two out of the sky.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

On 25 April 1941 the German Kampfgruppe Herff was supposed to take Halfaya Pass, on the Lybian-Egyption border, with air support.

The German aircraft (probably Bf 110s of ZG 26) attacked the concentration area of the German forces rather than Allied positions, and the Kampfgruppe lost 7 dead and 10 wounded only in this "friendly" air attack.

See https://rommelsriposte.com/2016/08/2...25-april-1941/

[Brian]

Thanks guys

Sorry I haven't acknowledged recent postings sooner, but all much appreciated.

Cheers
Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

From the unofficial history of 445th Bomb Group (downloable at http://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/cgi/vie...ext=ww_reg_his), a case of "friendly bombing" in England on 22 February 1944:
"February 22 found our planes headed for Gotha, Germany, but the mission was recalled. No crewmen or planes were lost, but tragedy struck our base in another form. Early in the afternoon while planes of a neighboring group were passing overhead on their way to their base, there was a terrific explosion. A bomb had accidentally been released from one of the planes, and it fell just outside the living site occupied by the enlised men of our Base Sub-Depot. Two enlisted men were killed, several were wounded, and damage was done to the buildings in the site. In addition, the wife of a near-by farmer was killed as she sat opposite her husband in the kitchen of their home. She fell over dead practically into the arms of her husband."

A quick search of the CWGC database show no woman killed on 22 February 1944 (all listed female civilian killed died from injuries). I checked the area (DEPWADE, RURAL DISTRICT) and there was a woman listed as killed on 22 February 1943, at Hill Farm, Great Moulton, east of Tibenham airfield, the base of 445th BG:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/c...elen-beatrice/
Could be interesting to check if CWGC has the date right.

The two American airmen killed were probably Sgt William Daly and S/Sgt Lester D McCormick, both of 462nd Sub Depot, that was attached to 445th BG at the time. Both died on 22 February 1944 and are buried in Cambridge American Cemetery.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

A loss to friendly fire for 360th BS, 303rd BG, on 6 February 1944

2Lt Creighton G. Doering (CP)(KIA) - 11 dispatched (10 credited) missions flown - All with 1Lt Underwood (93, 94, 95, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 (Non Credited), 106) Was KIA on 6 February 1944 (Mission 106). Was hit with a 50 caliber bullet through the back of his head. Three bullets, believed to have been shot from a 379th BG(H) aircraft flying nearby, hit the B-17. One of the bullets was recovered. Body was returned to Molesworth.
Source: http://www.303rdbg.com/360underwood.html

[Brian]

Hi Laurent

Most interesting!

Research confirms that Mrs Cook did indeed die on 22 February 1944, so CWGC is in error!

Cheers
Brian