391 FS, 366 FG Jet Claim 22EFB45

[Steve Brew]

Thanks gents, most appreciated.

41 Squadron's Flt. Lt. Daniel Reid (RAAF) shot down an Ar234 on 2 March 1945, which is purported to have been the first shot down by the RAF in WWII. However, the 83 Group ORB states, with reference to Reid's victory, that it wasn't the first to fall into Allied hands, and goes on to talk about the event I've mentioned above, i.e. an initial erroneous identification, but subsequent assumption that it was actually an Ar234 ISO an Me262.

In fact, the report goes as far as saying the Ar234 wore the markings FI+MT, which identified it as belonging to 9./KG76. This was the same Gruppe to which the Ar234 belonged that 41's Reid shot down on 2 March.

In any case, this would all point to the USAAF's Lt. David Fox being the first Allied pilot to down such an aircraft, and Reid the second, albeit the first from an RAF squadron.

Thanks for your help gents. If anyone would like a copy of the report, please let me know.

Steve

[Nick Beale]

Fox's Ar 234 was the first such machine that the Allies captured. It came down near Selgersdorf, just behind German lines, and was overrun by US troops before the Germans could recover it.