Friendly fire WWII

[Laurent Rizzotti]

THis page is in French but if you are interested (ie If you have not this case in your files already) I will translate it:

on 9 AUguts 1944, a Albermale of 296 Sqn was probably shot down by an Allied nightfighter over Britanny.

Link: http://www.absa39-45.asso.fr/9aout44/aout44.html

[Laurent Rizzotti]

A case for the Luftwaffe. 1 October 1943 on Eastern Front

"On 1 October, Petermann participated in the escort of 40 He 111 twin-engine bombers. On the return journey his Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 15851) received a direct hit from German flak. He received severe wounds to his left arm and wrist and his left foot. With his engine on fire, he decided to bale out but found his parachute had also been damaged. He managed a belly-landing in no-man’s land between the front lines where he was rescued by German troops and hospitalised. However the wounds to left arm were so severe that amputation was necessary. In addition he had lost the fourth toe of his left foot. Petermann was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 29 February 1944, for 60 victories, while recovering in hospital."

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/petermann.html

[Laurent Rizzotti]

A Pacific story:

"In spite of the fact that 'Black Mac's Killers' arrived forty days after the Okinawa campaign began, and the weather was horrendous throughout, they shot down 35 enemy aircraft-all radar intercepts, which is almost as many aircraft destroyed as all 3 other night fighter squadrons on Okinawa, combined! VMF(N) 533 is the top scoring Night Fighter Squadron of the Pacific Theater in WWII. VMF(N) 533 had the best safety record and the highest combat ready rate for any operational squadron in the Pacific. In 15 months deployment overseas the 'Scrappers' logged nearly 11,000 flight hours with only two regrettable losses, both due to 'friendly' fire, 1st Lt.'s Wilhide and Kelley."
Source: http://www.acepilots.com/usmc/usmc_vmfn533.html

THE ABMC website has a 1st Lt Robert Wilhide killed on 17 May 1945 or 2nd Lt Wilfred Wilhide killed on 26 May 1945, both of them being USMC pilots !!! Too much Kelleys listed to find the good one.

[Brian]

Thanks guys for the latest - and my apology for the late response (Broadband connection problems again! I must remember to pay the bill!!)

Cheers
Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Brian, I don't know if you're still collecting these cases.

Here are two new (for me) ones in the Pacific:

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraf...alexander.html

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/f6f/25839.html

[Brian]

Hi Laurent

Yes, I certainly am. I am also aware of these two incidents but not in such detail. The 'famous pilot' mentioned was, if you don't already know, Pappy Boyington.

I am looking forward to your continuation of French friendly fire incidents from 1940!

Cheers
Brian