Friendly fire WWII

[Boomerang]

This is a friendly-fire incident that I can't recall seeing here earlier.

In early May 1945, the Australian 19th Brigade (part of the 6th Australian Division) was located at Cape Wom on the north coast of New Guinea. It was moving east to attack Japanese positions at Wewak, as part of the mostly forgotten Aitape-Wewak campaign.

In 'The Proud 6th', Mark Johnston records events on 7 May (page 216): "all Australians on Cape Wom underwent a shocking ordeal. American Lightning aircraft mistook that cape for the Japanese held Wewak Point and attacked the unsuspecting Australians. Eleven were killed...Fifteen...wounded". The American P-38 unit is not identified in the book. Perhaps a forum member may be able to identify it.

Another incident to add to a list that is, sadly, far too long.

Don W

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

See: https://pacificwrecks.com/units/usaaf/crtc/index.html - scroll down to May 7, 1945.

Brief mention (+ maps), in Official History - The Final Campaigns/Gavin Long/Canberra/AWM/1963.pp.345-6 - Download:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1417188 pp.18-19 of 31 PDF)

Col.

[Leendert]

War Diary of USN cruiser USS Baltimore (CA-68) says that her two OS2U-3 Kingfisher spotting planes reportedly were shot down by 'friendly fighters' when operating off Formosa on 21 Jan 1945..
AAIR/Joe Baugher have BuNo 5307 and 09492 with loss date 22 Jan 1945.
Crews were uninjured and picked up by USS Colahan (DD-658). Pilots were Lt (jg) McDonald and Ens. Smith, no names of radiomen mentioned.

I have no idea if USN fighter pilots have claimed Japanese lookalikes on that day (21 Jan 45) off Formosa?

Regards,
Leendert

[Leendert]

See bottom of page: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/78404202

Involves Lt Paul K. Spradling of VF-82 on 16 Feb 1945.

Regards,
Leendert