Friendly fire WWII

[Juha]

Hello Brian
are You interested in a case of “friendly” bomb hits on a plane in same formation. The plane was not lost but the fastest man to obey pilot’s bale out order became a PoW. To me it is a little different to “friendly” fire cases which almost all were results of mistaken identity.

Juha

[Brian]

Yes please, Juha!

Cheers
Brian

[Fairlop]

Brian,

11th November 1944 brought an unfortunate case when the 43 Sqn were set upon by six USAAF Mustangs. Leading six Spitfires from No.43 Sqn on an area cover over Padua, the WinCo W/C Ernie Wootton DFC found his a/c being bounced by the P-51. Splitting the formation up, he ordered "Don´t shoot" as it became a case of every man for himself in a game of survival.
Fortunately, the unidentified Mustangs broke off the attack, but not before the Spitfires flown by F/Ls Creed and Cummings had been badly shot up. Creed had managed to c/l PV667 on the aerodrome at Rimini not badly hurt, but Cummings´ Spitfire PT585, was seen to going into a dive and it was later learned that he had been killed.

Regards,
Michal

[Zemper]

Thought some of you may be interested in seeing the attached pictures. They are two of a series of pictures showing a B-17 out of formation being hit by a bomb from the B-17 above. The date on the photos is October 24, 1944. The pictures were taken by the photo officer (my Grandfather) who was in the 457th BG.

-Eric Zemper

[Robert Todd]

In December 1944 Lt Allen Burgham, Senior Pilot of 835 Squadron took off in ther twilight of an arctic "Day" to intercept 40 Junker's 88's attacking the convoy. Also taking off with him was Sub Lt "Dusty" Miller as Burgham's Number two. Darkness came quickly and they were in poitch black conditions in day fighters (Wildcat VIs). They only caught glimpses of the enemy flying in low at less than 500 feet. They managed to disrupt the torpedoe runs and not one ship was hit. However they were left up there and in serious trouble flying only on instruments and with no help. Burgham flew for over an hour and a half and was directed by the fighter direction officer of the ship. It was problematic because they were giving him directions relative to the ship - not to him. Fianlly after all that time he maaaaade it back only to be faced with a wall of tracersd from most of the ships in the convoy. Finally the shooting was ended by the Admiral (McGrigor). The exhausted pilot landed in total darkness (he received the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallant actions and was written up in London's newspapers. The Admiralty called it "a magnificent piece of workj" as he became the first man in history to land a day fighter at night (onto a 68 foot wide deck)

When he lanmdfed he was hit with a sea of angry piloits. They had seen Miller coming up the sea lane approachiung the ship. His undercarriage was down and his landing lights were on. he was waggling his wings. He was hit by a wall of fire from HMS Bellona. The navy never admitted that Miller was killed by friendly fire. But i9t is instructive to note that Rear Admiral McGrigor sent a sharp order to all ships to not fire on single engine aircraft. The enemy had two engines on thier planes and didn't fly with landing lights on and undercarriage down!

[Jan Hermkens]

Hello Brian,

I am new here, and I am a fanatic R(adio) C(ontrolleed) scale modeller, specialy Warbirds.
Most of my Warbirds I have build from own plan, and was 6x European Star Cup Champion.

- 4x with B-17 (scale 1:8, span 4 meter, engines: 4x fourstroke 7,5cm3).

- 2x with P-61 (scale 1:6,6,span 3,10 meter. 2x fourstroke V-twin 40cm3.)

-Runner-Up with Short Sunderland(1:10,span 3,45m.4x twostroke 7,5cm3)

Perhaps it has been already posted here, but a P-61 did shoot down a
B-29 at June 1. 1945.

regards,
Jan, the flying Dutchman from the Netherlands.



B-17 Flying Fortress




P-61 Black Widow




Short Sunderland flying Boat





for more see my homepage www.home.versatel.nl/jan.hermkens

[Brian]

Thanks Michal and Jan (fantastic site) but I do have these incidents already recorded.


Cheers
Brian

[Fairlop]

Brian,

Do you need details about attack of the 312 Sqn Hurricanes on the 29 Sqn Blenheims on 13/10/1940 ?

Regards,
Michal

[Pawel Burchard]

There are some documented cases when German Stukas and bombers hit German ground troops during the so called battle of Kursk. Does it count?

regards,
Pawel

[Brian]

Yes thanks Michal I have details.

Pawel -are you able to provide details etc please?

Cheers
Brian