Command Atlantic, December 1943.

[Chris Goss]

German records state one He 177 was shot down by Mosquitoes at 1803 hrs (157 Sqn-I have photos of the damage caused to one of the Mosquitoes) and a Liberator claimed to have damaged one at 1825hrs. Another record states 3 He 177s had a combat with a Liberator and twin-engined fighters and a Sunderland. Reedy's combat was at 1825hrs with 4 He 177s and he did not file a claim for anything according to Coastal Command. Only loss was Eidhoff's He 177. As to the PB4Y-1 lost, 63926/E VB-110 was lost when they crashed into a hill in bad weather near Okehampton killing Lt W W Parish and 9 crew. No mention of any German aircraft being involved just bad weather. If whoever wrote Wikipedia had consulted primary and secondary sources, they would have discovered the truth. Page 167 of my KG 40 proves this-the lead Mossie pilot saw the PB4Y-1 which proves what the German records state. Note the He 177 was an A-3, 535557 from II./KG 40 (5 Staffel)