Friendly fire WWII

[Brian]

Hi Mike - thanks for the latest.

Hi Jack - these are new to me, specially the 'Mad Gunner' - I don't know the story, please enlighten me. Thanks

Brian

[shooshoobaby]

Brian - your Welcome!
Mad Gunner is a true story , I think he was in the 100th BG or 385th BG.
Will look for it - Jack may know.
Mike

[JACK COOK]

The complete story of the mad gunner appeared in King's Cliffe remembered a few years back. Ernie Shipman was a good friend and wrote me the complete story of his shot down and capture about 15 typed pages. If you want I'll dig it out.Jack Coonan and I did some salmon fishing on his boat out of Newport before he had a fatal Heart Attack hauling in a big Chinnook. The date was around Jan 3 or 4, 1945 and he lead his flight on some AR-96s and was lining up on his 5th kill whewn Amoss thought he was a silver 109 and shot him in his coolent. Amoss later went down and they met at Stalag Luft 1 I believe.

[Brian]

Yes please, Jack, I would appreciate copies of Ernie Shipman's notes, particularly the shoot down. Where did 'King's Cliffe Remembered' appear - an article? Sorry to be so dumb.

And Mike, if you find anything on the 'Mad Gunner' I would also be grateful. Thanks as ever.

Brian

[JACK COOK]

The 78th FG P-47 pilot shot down and killed over England by a overly excited squadronmate was 2Lt Roy Wedell of the 83rd FS on March 13, 1944. I believe his P-47 was excavated in the early 90s but I've never heard the ID of the fellow who killed him.Ernie Shipman was shot down by a P-38J on July 31, 1944.I'm sorry but I don't remember the date of the particular issue of King's Cliffe Remembered with the Mad Gunner story. I'll look for it also.I have a lot of material on Coonan but getting clobbered by a friend wasn't a favorite war story of his.

[shooshoobaby]

Brian - I am not sure if the Mad Gunner shot anyone down. He would get delusional and shoot other b - 17s in formation, beleive he was a waist gunner - I know it is in a book I have - I'm on it!
Mike

[Brian]

Thanks again Mike and Jack, your help much appreciated. Look forward to more information.

Cheers
Brian

[shooshoobaby]

Brian - From " Combat Squadrons , USAF by Maurer- THE BIBLE of Squadrons.
1) 326th Sq.- 328th FG Home Defense USA 1942 - 1944 Disbanded 3/44
362d FG - Headcorn ,England 4/44 - 6/44. Ligneroller, France 7/44
2) 381st Sq. - Staplehurst, England 4/44 - 6/44. Maupertus, France 7/44
Redesignated 161st Tac Recon Sq. 8/44
363d FG - Redesignated Tac Recon Group 8/44
3) 365th Sq. - High Halden , England 4/44 - 6/44 .Cretteville, France 7/44
358th FG
4) 22d Sq. - Kingsnorth , England 4/44 - 7/44. Brucheville,France 8/44
36th FG Aircraft - P-47
5) 412th Sq. - Woodchurch , England 4/44-7/44.
373d FG Tour-En- Bassen ,France 7/44 - 8/44
Cheers,
Mike

[Brian]

Thanks a million Mike - that's cleared up a few minor queries. What type did the 365th fly at High Halden?

Cheers
Brian

[shooshoobaby]

Brian- 365th flew P - 47s
Mike