2 Spitfires friendly fire January 1945

[BrianC]

Hi guys

Two Spitfires shot down by friendly fire in Holland on 4th and 5th January 1945, possibly by 8LAA.

Has anyone details? Pilots' identities and fate? Units?

Cheers
Brian

[BrianC]

Oops! Wrong forum! Please rectify.

Thanks,
Brian

[Leendert]

SGLO database (https://www.verliesregister.studiegroepluchtoorlog.nl/)
and 2nd TAF, Vol. 3 give no such Spitfire losses in Holland for 4 and 5 Jan 1945...

Regards,
Leendert

[Leendert]

Brian,

You probably saw your info on this link: https://www.royalartilleryunitsnethe...ft-claims.html

The 04-01-45 AA claim points to T5075 in the SGLO database: Spitfire NH544 of No. 332 Squadron with Sgt Christophersen killed.

SGLO has due to German ground fire....

8 RCA LAA Reg't was stationed in/around Tilburg, S. Netherlands, at that time.

Regards,
Leendert

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The webpage https://www.royalartilleryunitsnethe...ft-claims.html is listing at least one crash that is not an AA claim.

For 27 November 1944, it has:
8 LAA RCA Regiment 27-11-1944. Mosquito Oisterwijk-Wolvensteeg Oisterwijk,navigator found badly wounded

The diary for 8 LAA RCA is available at this link (https://www.royalartilleryunitsnethe...-regt-rca.html) and says:
"During the afternoon observors at F-3 gun site saw a Mosquito aircraft crash some distance from their site. Civilians told personnel manning the gun that a parachute was in the area South of them where they went and discovered an Allied airman badly injured. First aid was carried out and medical authorities notified. A search was also carried out for the pilot but was unsuccessful."

So it is possible that the Spitfires on 4 and 5 January 1945 crashed near 8LAA without being shot down by it. Or even that the Spitfire reported on the 5th was fouind on this date and crashed the previous day, as no loss is reported in Holland for the 5th. Sadly the diary of 8 LAA is not online for this period.

Another example for 17 January:
89 LAA Regiment 308 Battery 17-01-1945. Spitfire uiterwaarden Slijk-Ewijk-Dijkstraat shot down by enemy AA

Diary available at: https://www.royalartilleryunitsnethe...-regiment.html
Probable loss (to be checked); https://www.verliesregister.studiegr...rea=&airfield=

[Leendert]

Mosquito in diary of 27-11-44 in fact NT207 of No. 107 Squadron on 26-11-44 with pilot W/O G. Warren and Nav. Sgt. W. Roberts, both survived and latter wounded.

Regards,
Leendert

[BrianC]

Hi Leendert

Thanks for clarifying the situation - much appreciated, as ever.

Yes, that was my source. I wonder why so much misinformation?

Cheers
Brian