US aircraft friendly fire shoot down 1942

[BrianC]

Hi guys

I have a note that an American aircraft (PBY?) was shot down in early 1942 by the combined fire of freighters SS Ocean Freedom and SS Earlston, over North Sea/off Iceland (?)

Can anyone provide further information, please?

Cheers
Brian

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Possibly:

06/20/1942
VP-73
Consolidated PBY-5A 2458
Icelandic Detachment.
Lt William Cole.

Lt Cole, one of the squadron's leading authorities on instrument flying, used that skill to return to base after a harrowing experience. In Plane No. 73-P-8 (BuNo 2458) on a stormy morning. Lt Cole took off to fly convoy duty over an Allied convoy that was being harassed by U-boats and German aircraft. Visibility was nil, the convoy was off course, and the first thing that Lt Cole knew he was being fired upon with heavy AA., quite possibly from the convoy. One engine was knocked out, and the rudder control was damaged, and five of the crew were wounded. Somehow, Lt Cole and the uninjured members of he crew (Lt JG Tex Dyer and the Aviation Machinist's Mate Cecil Haycraft ) managed to get the crippled plane back to Iceland. With most of the instruments knocked out, Cole and Dyer had to fly blind through the 'soup.' They made it by dead reckoning, with Haycraft operating the rudder with a crowbar. Cole was able to land and beach the plane on the south coast of Iceland. The plane was later salvaged by the U.S. Navy.

See:
VPNAvy! USN, USMC, USCG and NATS Patrol Aircraft Lost or Damaged During World War II
Campbell,Douglas E.
N.p.,Syneca Research Group,2018.
pp.282-5 (p.284).

Col.

[RSwank]

Some info and pictures here:

http://stridsminjar.is/index.php/a-l...r-june-20-1942

[BrianC]

Many thanks, guys

Much appreciated.

Cheers
Brian