Mosquito shot down by RAF MUstang 9 April 1945

[Brian]

Hi guys

I have noted on a website that a US Mosquito of 25thBG (pilot John Prius) may have been shot down by an RAF Mustang near Eberbach on 9 April 1945.

I don't have the 2nd TAF series. Anything recorded?

Cheers
Brian

[Klaus Deschner]

Hello Brian,
Norman Malaney have interviewed Claud Moore, he was the Navigator in the Mosquito. The Interview is posted on July in this Forum by Norman.
I found three weeks ago the crashside of this Mosquito near Eberbach /Waldkatzenbach.
I found many Parts of the Mosquito incl. US-Equiptment, specally the Qxygen Blinker of the Qxygen System in the plane.
regards Klaus

[Bruce Lander]

Hi Brian,

Nothing in 2d TAF Book or in FC War Diaries. RAF Mustangs did claim on this date while escorting Lancasters to Hamburg and 126 Sq (1), 306 Sq (1) & 309 Sq (3) claimed Me.262's (see "Me262 Combat Diary" for details)

Cheers
Bruce

[Klaus Deschner]

Hello Brian and Bruce,
Claude Moore the Navigator of the Mosquito descripe during he parachute downwards three P-51 with RAF rondels circled around him.
regards
Klaus

[mhuxt]

No, Moore stated they were Free French Air Force roundels. The FFL did indeed have Mustangs, and were active in the area when the shoot-down occurred, details in the other thread on this site.

[Brian]

Hi guys

Egg on face again!

I actually participated in the earlier postings - slipped my mind! I've not yet reached the volume in which that incident will be recorded! That's my excuse anyway.

However, I don't believe that we actually discovered the French unit involved, did we? Which French units were operating the P-51 on that date?

Cheers
Brian

[Bruce Lander]

HI Brian,

the location of this incident is a long wasy south from Hamburg ( nearest large city is Heidelburg). I cannot think of any French units with P51's' they were using P47's, Spitfires and possibly P39's as far as I know - can anyone
offer any clues on this?

Cheers
Bruce

[SteveB]

I think the most likely candidate is Groupe de Reconnaissance GR.II/33 Savoie which converted to P-51s in February 1945 possibly taking over a/c from the 111TRS. It seems they were based at Luxeuil and or Colmar during March and April but I have not worked out whether that puts them close to this incident.

http://amismuseeair.org/pages/des_mu...ans_l27aa.html

http://2.33.savoie.free.fr/index.HTM

Steve

[Kutscha]

Is Luxeuil, Luxeuil-les-Bain?

If so it is ~150mi from Heidelburg.

Colmar is ~110mi from Heidelburg.

[Brian]

Hi guys

To summarise: It seems possible that GRII/33 may have been responsible for shooting down the US Mosquito on 9 April 1945. Anyone able to expand on this?

And from reading the GRII/33 website, a Mustang from that unit, flown by Lt Chautemps, was attacked and damaged by a French Spitfire of GCII/7 sometime in February/March 1945. I note that Bf109s were claimed by GCII/7 on 9/2/45, 27/2/45 (two), 18/3/45 and 14/4/45. Might one of these have been Chautemps' aircraft?

Cheers
Brian