Wartime Italy, 1940-45

[mayfair35]

Hello Brian,
As I was preparing to answer your questions, I realized that you indicated the Lysander was shot down on 22 Nov. 1944. If this is correct, it could not have been the one I know about. My incident happened before 4 October 1944 as the pilot involved ran out of gas that day and bailed out in Northern Italy. But the fact that a Lysander was shot down over Northeastern Italy and by a P-51 cannot have occurred too often?? I am also confused by your statement that the B-17s were returning from a bombing raid in SOUTHERN ITALY?? That would be impossible as our 15th AF bases were already as far north as a line drawn from Rome directly East. All our 15th AF bomber bases were in Southern Italy. Do you possibly mean a target in Northern Italy or Southern Austria or Germany? And the wings of a Spit are so distinctive that it would be hard to mistake them as P-51s. Actually I understand that our pilot never saw any escorting fighters. Thus if your facts are correct, I must conclude there are at least two incidents where a Lysander was shot down in North Italy by a P-51!!
I await your comments. Should you wish to contact me by Email, I am mayfair35@aol.com
Cordially, Art Fiedler