Friendly fire WWII

[Brian]

Hi guys

Spotted on a website: On returning from a night raid on Harwich (Essex) on 20/21 November 1940, a BR20 of the 13 Stormo was allegedly shot down by a night fighter at 0045 on the morning of 21st, and crashed into the North Sea with the loss of all the crew. Presumably the crew had advised control they were under attack before their demise. I have no record of a corresponding RAF night fighter claim. Could the night fighter have been German? However, a scan of my records fails to reveal such a claim, but of course once the error had been realised any such claim would have been disallowed. Can anyone throw any light on this?

Cheers
Brian

[Brian]

More for you to ponder. Any further details available?

3 March 43: DB-7B AL496 343BS USAAF shot down by friendly fire Chelveston (pilot Henry K. MacDonald).

9 March 43: P-47 41-6263 63FS/56FG unauthorised flight by member of ground crew - crashed - identity? fate?

9 June 43: B-17 42-29884 352BS/92BG shot down by friendly fire Alconbury (pilot Lopez J. Mantoux)

7 November 43: B-26 41-31951 454BS/323BG shot down by friendly fire near Earls Colne (pilot Joe J. Patton)

7 June 44: B-26B 42-96110 599BS/397BG shot down by friendly fire and crash-landed Rye (pilot Edward W. Kretschmer)

16 August 44: B-24H 41-28981 457BG shot down by friendly fire over North Sea (pilot Charles W. Grace)
B-24H 42-50580 788BS/467BG shot down by friendly fire over North Sea (pilot William V. DeWitte)

27 December 44: P-61A 42-5584 425NFS shot down by friendly fire nr Jarny, France (Carl H. Byars)

Over to you guys

Thanks

Brian

[shooshoobaby]

Brian-
B17 # 42 - 29884 June 28 ,43 to Air Force Service Command
Re- gained July 8,43
Shot down Aug. 12,43 Pilot Hans Johnson 10 POW
Macr #374 92d BG

B - 24 # 128981 ditched North Sea March 4,45 Mid air collision
Pilot - Lt George Mills No MACR 467th BG

B - 24 # 42 - 50580 damaged Aug.16,44. Salvaged Sept. 21,44 467th BG
From: " Heavy Bombers of the Mighty 8th "
Cheers,
Mike

[Brian]

Hi Mike

That's strange! I extracted the details above from the ARMYAIRFORCES website, re Accidents Overseas section. Sommit bain't be right!

Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hi Brian,

The site you cite above is listing all accidents and incidents, most of the AC were not destroyed but only damaged. Only when it is indicated that the crew bailed out or the aircraft was destroyed can you be sure it was a total loss, in most other cases the AC was repaired later.

[Brian]

Thanks Laurent for the explanation. However, I would still appreciate any information re the incidents listed.

PS Have you received the book?

Cheers
Brian

[Brian]

Hi guys

To add to my earlier listing of apparent friendly fire incidents as noted on the 'ArmyAirforces' Accident Reports website:

23 Feb 1945: F-6 44-14602 lost to friendly fire (Donald G. Dowell); F-6 43-12409 lost to friendly fire (Wallace F. Mitchell baled out)

5 March 1945: B-24 42-100334 lost to friendly fire (pilot Ralph E. Reed) Clacton, Essex

15 March 1945: C-47A 42-92424 lost to friendly fire (pilot William F. Lange) Gravesend, Kent

17 March 1945: B-24 42-40163 lost to friendly fire (pilot Howard T. Worrall)

9 April 1945: B-17G 44-8798 ditched due to friendly fire (pilot Aliston Slade)

Again, any help will be much appreciated.

Cheers
Brian

[Brian]

Here's another! I did enquire if anyone knew the identity of a US P-51 pilot shot down in error by a Free French Spitfire pilot on 7 October 1944, presumably over Southern France. It seems that the following P-51 units lost aircraft on this date: 332FG (two), 20FG (three), 55FG (one), 359FG (one), 361 FG (one), 479FG (one), Is anyone able to narrow down the possible candidate?

Also, I am trying to establish the UK bases (Kent/Sussex) occupied by the following US fighter squadrons in June/July 1944: 326FS/362FG; 381FS/363FG, 365FS/358FG, 22FS/36FG (an aircraft type), 412FS/373FG - I know that you know what I don't know! Thanks

Brian

[shooshoobaby]

Brian -
B-17 # 48798 390th BG 569th Sq. CC - O
shot down , Friendly Fire , Ditched English Channel
Command Pilot - William Corcoran . Pilot - Alliston Slade
TG - Aurthur Trindle KIA , 8 RTD No MACR

B - 24 # 210034 93d BG 409th SQ. YM - O/K " Old Patches "
Shot down March 5, 45 NO MACR
Mike

[JACK COOK]

Having not looked throught every post on this thread I run the risk of duplication but I'll take my chances. Capt Jack Coonan 38th FS 55th FG shot down by his wingman Lt Amoss in Jan 45. There was a 78th FG P-47 shot down by error over England during a practive dogfight with the pilot killed. Lt Ernie Shipman of the 31st FG was shot down by a P-38J over Italy in 1944 and captured. Then there's the "Mad Gunner" who downed severed US aircraft before his shame led him to refuse to baleout when his B-17 was shot down.