Blue on Blue footage (US x RAF Mosquito?)

[Faenor]

Hi all,

from my youtube archive, there is the whole sequences of the gun camera - including the last moment of this Mossie :-(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB5fDmT_2x4

Based on this movie, it is probably Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS522:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/165286

This Mossie was claimed like Me 410 by 4th FG 335 FS pilot over Helgoland - sadly in the area, where the all US escort fighters were "really hot".

As I remember, there was similar movie from RAF/US fighters, which shotdowned 2 Mossie during flight.

Faenor

[ClinA-78]

Any evasive action... why? Focused on PR job?
We will never know.

ClinA-78

[RSwank]

Two pilots from the 4th FG, 335th FS (fixed, thanks Frank) were credited with the shoot down of a "ME 410", each getting half a credit.

The first was 2nd Lt Ralph Edward Lewis. Lewis was later killed on 18 November 1944.
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/175301
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...h-edward-lewis

The second pilot was 1st Lt Elmer Norbert McCall, Jr. (1923 - ????)
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/57574

McCall finished the war with this his only credit. He became a businessman in the Pittsburgh, PA area. He started a family business which
is still operated by McCall family members today.

Two RAF men in the Mosquito:
Pilot: Flight Lt Alfred Earnest Palmer (39 missions).

Copy/Paste link and Search for Palmer here: isle-of-wight-memorials.org.uk/towns/ventnorwm.htm


Navigator: Flight Sgt Douglas Gardner (39 missions).
http://www.undyingmemory.net/Newmark...20douglas.html

[Frank Olynyk]

Typo: Lewis and McCall were in the 335th FS of the 4th FG.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Leendert]

Am somewhat puzzled that a Me-410 was seen as a/c shot down by gun camera interpreters too? No questions made afterwards?

Regards,
Leendert

[Faenor]

Hi Leendert,

probably yes, but they will not share it :-(

For many cases , the fighting took just seconds and there was no time for detailed identification - 2 engines, a high rudder, over the occupied Holland - a clear Me 410 and a vision to incease the score. Sadly, s.... was happen.

If I remember correctly, MTO Mosquitos wore red stripes on the rudder for this reason - be safe again the US fighters.

Faenor

[Buckeye30]

Faenor. The red-white recognition stripes were marked on in 1944 by 60 Sqn. SAAF ( yellow spinners) and 680 RAF (red ) Mk.XVIs. in Italy. The black-white bands were for Operation Dragoon in S. France.



https://www.flickr.com/photos/8270787@N07/3032868486
Regards
Nick

[Faenor]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

Faenor. The red-white recognition stripes were marked on in 1944 by 60 Sqn. SAAF ( yellow spinners) and 680 RAF (red ) Mk.XVIs. in Italy. The black-white bands were for Operation Dragoon in S. France.



https://www.flickr.com/photos/8270787@N07/3032868486
Regards
Nick

Hi Buckeye30,

these re/white stripes was reaction on attact from US fighter to PR Mossies - to show them, that they are friends and not Me 210/410 - you can imagine, that these stripes are not standard luftwaffe marking and from rear view can be visible fro attacker.
And MTO mean Mediterranean Theater of Operations - somethink like ETO for Europe, PTO for Pacific - so Italy is there too :-)

Faenor

[RSwank]

I found this link to a pdf file about 140 Squadron.

http://www.jshawmsc.f2s.com/140squadron.pdf

On page 46 is a photo identified as PR XVI NS777 of 140 Squadron at Melsbroek, December 1944.

The black and white stripes do not go entirely around the plane fuselage and the tail does not have any distinctive markings.

I can't see any markings on the top of the wing(s) (the bottom of the wing is not visible).

Page 38 mentions the loss (no details).

[Buckeye30]

Hi Rolland. These are the remains of the "D-Day" (ie Normandy) stripes as distinctive from the similar "Dragoon" markings on Mosquitos in S. France in Aug. 1944 ( French aircraft had them but much narrower); the D-Day ones were ordered removed from all surfaces by a SHAEF letter Dec.6 1944 EXCEPT for the PR wing in 2nd TAF. so some were left under the fuselage only as on many Ninth AF P-47s ( from top surfaces from July 6).
The stripes on French aircraft in S. France ( eg. P-47s, D.520s, SBDs and Bostons) were very narrow, about 6" and marked further outboard on wings. Some FAA Hellcats supporting the invasion had the wider style on escort carriers.
Nick