IV./JG 54 vs. Vigilant

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

on 26 September 1944 a pilot from IV./JG54 filed a claim for an enemy a/c in the Arnhem region that he identified as a Vigilant. Now, assuming that he was not way ahead of his time and claiming an A-5 Vigilante I'm at a loss what type of a/c he had in mind when filing his claim. Can anybody enlighten me ?

Many thanks in advance and

KR

Jochen Prien

[MW Giles]

Best guess Stinson L-1 Vigilant

see link

http://ww2db.com/aircraft_spec.php?a...t_model_id=416

Therefore he probably saw an observation a/c and came up with this, there are several small planes used for this job that all look alike

Regards

Martin

[Jochen Prien]

Many thanks !

KR

Jochen Prien

[Broncazonk]

I like the A-5 Vigilante theory way better.

Bronc

[kaki3152]

There was a science fiction story in which an advanced Spy jet (think SR-71) gets sent back to the combat zone of WWI, specifically 1917. It appeared in the Sci fi magazine Analog in July 1968. The title was "Hawk among the Sparrows" by Dean McLaughlin.
In the story, the plane goes back in time while monitoring a French nuclear bomb test.
The pilot, American, finds himself in the middle of WWI.
Implausible, to say the least, but a pretty good story.

[karl lusink]

Originally Posted by Jochen Prien

Gentlemen,

on 26 September 1944 a pilot from IV./JG54 filed a claim for an enemy a/c in the Arnhem region that he identified as a Vigilant. Now, assuming that he was not way ahead of his time and claiming an A-5 Vigilante I'm at a loss what type of a/c he had in mind when filing his claim. Can anybody enlighten me ?

Many thanks in advance and

KR

Jochen Prien

Jochen,
Probably an L-4 Piper Cub of the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery?
Regards,
Karl Lusink
ARGA

[Rottler]

Hello,

in the database of the Dutch Airwar Study Group 1939-1945 is registered:
T4385A
26 Sep 1944 Piper Cub L-4 Recce flight, unit 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion. 1430 shot down by Bf 109, crash location Heumen - Overasselt.
Pilot Lt J. A. Gariglietti USAAF, Observer Lt Aitken USAAF.
Regards
Rottler

[Jochen Prien]

Dear Karl, dear Rottler,

I think the last post settles it as it fits perfectly apart from a 20 minute time difference.

KR

Jochen Prien

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by kaki3152

There was a science fiction story … It appeared in the Sci fi magazine Analog in July 1968. The title was "Hawk among the Sparrows" by Dean McLaughlin.

I'm impressed — I read that story but I could only remember the title and the image on the magazine cover!

[kaki3152]

Ahem, I still have that issue. My Sci Fi collection is still in the garage so I just had to dig some to find it.