Friendly fire WWII

[Dave Richardson]

Hi Brian

Here's a possible friendly fire incident for you. On the morning of 21/08/1942 Stirling bomber R9329 from 149 Squadron crashed in Devon returning from a mining op in the Gironde Estuary. All the crew were killed, my uncle was the front gunner. During my research I'm becoming convinced that the aircraft was fired on by the Plymouth AA guns. The crash site is about 3 miles NE of Plymouth. The following information leads me to believe it was a "friendly fire incident":

· In his book The Stirling Bomber by M.J.F. Bowyer records that the aircraft was "shot down by British A.A. guns"

· I have a scan of a letter from the National Archives to another of my uncles from 1980 (he was also researching the crash in pre-internet days), which has a note typed at the bottom ".. over Plymouth it was hit by anti-aircraft fire causing it to crash near the village of Cornwood"

· The RAF Air Historical Branch have confirmed that from the Form F765c "The aircraft was returning from a mining operation and from the accounts of the other aircraft in the area it is likely that this was the one heavily engaged by to ground defences and probably damaged. Return would therefore be made at low level." They went on to say that their records make no reference to British AA guns being involved.

· The location of the crash site suggests that the aircraft will have flown over Plymouth. I've spoken to to an eyewitness of the crash, who now is quite elderly but clearly remembers the aircraft flying up the valley on fire.

I don't know where to look now to try and get some confirmation one way or the other. Any thoughts?

Dave

[Brian]

Hi Dave

Your evidence already looks fairly conclusive to me. However, have you consulted the Squadron's ORB - which may contain further information?

Have you a complete crew list by any chance?

Cheers
Brian

[Dave Richardson]

Hi Brian

Yes, I got the Squadron ORB but it makes no reference to what we now call friendly fire. I've emailed the National Archives to see if they can shed any light on the comment on the bottom of the letter my uncle received. I don't know if there would have been an inquest with the airmen dying in England so I've emailed the Plymouth Archives office to see if they can help on that score. I'll keep you posted. The crew was:

Pilot Officer Geoffrey Ernest Robertson, age 25
Sergeant Dudley Howard Harris, age 20
Sergeant Denis Roy Simpson, age 26
Sergeant Peter Edward James Jenkins, age 22
Sergeant Lawrence Henry Nicholson, age 21
Sergeant Frank Sidney Clarke, age 25
Sergeant Cecil Jacques Bond, age 19


I've produced a booklet of remembrance for the crew which the Mildenhall Register have kindly put on their website. It can be found here:


http://www.mildenhallregister.stirli...memberance.pdf


Cheers
Dave

[Laurent Rizzotti]

From the history of 1st Light AA Regiment:
"On 18th December 1941 - A Troop attacked by 15 Hurricanes and the guns had to open fire in self protection and one plane was brought down and on another occasion C Troop was attacked by 24 Tomohawks and 2 men were killed. Such was the confusion of battle."

Source:
http://www.desertrats.org.uk/orgartillery.htm

The book "Mediterranean Air War", vol 1, had for this day one loss without details in the text:
260 Sqn Hurricane shot down by Flak; Plt Off Cidman returned safely

One of the killed might have been Gunner James Bollard, killed the same day and commemorated on the El Alamein memorial. I have not found another victim for the regiment this day.

[Brian]

Hi Laurent

I'm sure it was Plt Off (John) Gidman of 260 Squadron, but I haven't got my records to hand.

Cheers
Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks for the confirmation Brian.

Any planning for the continuation of the Blue on Blue series ?

[Brian]

Hi Laurent

Yes, the 'Blue on Blue' series is progressing - with this type of subject one never knows when to draw a line!

I'm ever hopeful, so keep watching!!

Cheers
Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

A SBD of USN bombing Marine on Gavutu Island on 7 August 1942:
http://missingmarines.com/2012/04/17...ond-leon-bray/

A Marine SBD shot down by US ships off Guadalcanal on 18 September 1942:
http://missingmarines.com/2013/04/19...d-evan-thomas/

[Leendert]

Laurent,

A destroyer (DE-420) was named after Lt. Leland E. Thomas.

Interestingly the accompanying bio on Lt Thomas on history.navy.mil gives this version surrounding the circumstances of his death: Lieutenant Thomas was killed in action at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 18 September 1942 while launching an aggressive attack on enemy warships.

See http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l5...d_e_thomas.htm

Regards,

Leendert

[Laurent Rizzotti]

That is how the official story is written. By the way the MAG-23 War Diary confirms the loss to friendly fire, and there was no action this day against the enemy by SBDs from Guadalcanal.
http://www.fold3.com/image/279777731/