P-47 lost on 4th February 1944 during Chiasso air raid

[net_sailor]

Hello,

I found another mystery. On 4th February 1944 group of allied fighters strafed a Chiasso (Switzerland) on border with Italy. Swiss Flab claims one P-47 destroyed. Aircraft was hit by 20 mm gun and reported as crashed on Italian territory in Pare, about 3 km SW Chiasso.
Where I can find more info about this incident? What unit this P-47 belong?
Americans officially denied their responsibility, as well as two other attack on Chiasso on January when Swiss train was strafed and engine driver killed. These incident are interested in too.

[Revi16]

Here's a list for Italy. Nothing on 44/02/04.
http://www.accident-report.com/world/europe/italy.html

and Switzerland, again nothing on 44/02/04
http://www.accident-report.com/world...itzerland.html

[net_sailor]

Thanks for answer.

At first I must apologize cause I made mistake in date.
Correct date of this incident is: 4th February 1945.

So far didn't found any trace in American sources. But I have got another idea.
I took into consideration it could be an aircraft belonged to Free Fench Air Force.
I verified most of the French losses of that day but one still remain a mystery. The GC 2/6 "Travail” operated with their Thunderbolts in Po river valley. P-47 driven by M.P. Guyot was lost due of Flak fire. There is known any details about this case?

[Leendert]

I'm sure our French board members can inform you about pilot Guyot, but didn't GC 2/6 have P-39Q Airacobras instead of P-47 Thunderbolts at that time?

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

In fact the USAAF lost 2 x P-47s in combat in N. Italy on 4 Feb 45, but too far from Chiasso, it appears.
That day 2 a/c of 66th FS, 57th FG went missing on a B-25 escort mission to the Brenner Pass area.
Pilots were Lt. Guilford D. Groendycke (KIA, 42-29344) and Lt. Edward J. Palovich (POW, 42-29034). They were bounced by 30 + Lufwaffe fighters.

Exact location of loss unknown to me.

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

The online newspaper Le Confédéré (see http://doc.rero.ch/lm.php?url=1000,25,21,1945-01-12.pdf)
tells on p.4 under "Nouvelles suisses" of the 11-1-1945 attack on the train at the Chiasso station in which train engineer Mr. Bezzolo was killed and his assistant Mr. Moeschli was seriously wounded.
Story says that a dozen American fighters appeared over Chiasso at around 13.20 hrs and one fighter then strafed the train at a very low altitude.
It appears that another train was also strafed at the Mt. Olimpilo tunnel, which resulted in a wounded chef de train.

Regards,

Leendert

[net_sailor]

Hello,

Many thanks for details of incident on 11 January. I knew about one person killed only.

About GC 2/6 you are right. P-39 remained on strength till VE Day. But wrong type identification is a common mistake. I accept possibility it could be one engined fighter "any-type".

Some French Thunderbolts were lost or damaged on 4th February but mission flown at that day by GC 1/4 "Navarre" and GC 1/5 "Champagne" were headed in north of Switzerland. For example:
The P-47 44-20665 Sergeant Lecea was hit by flak during a mission on Bremgarten, it crashed southeast of Neuf-Breisach, the pilot was killed.
The Cdt Marin La Meslée 04/02/45 GC 1/5 "Champagne" shot down by German flak and find death in the P47D 44-20384 near Rustenhart - Dessenheim.
The CMS Uhry of GC 1/5 "Champagne" was shot by Flak and was killed in crash of his P-47 near Rustenhart.
Captain Hirschauer GC 1/4 Navarre was hit by flak along the Rhine, and crash-landed his P-47 44-20809 on north of Colmar.
Three other P-47 of GC 1/4, were hit by German Flak in the same area as the previous ones and will return to Tavaux severely damaged:
The P-47 driven by SGT Edmond Gille returned with a huge hole in the fuselage.
The P-47 D 30 44-20357 of SGT Jean Barberis returned without wingtip.
The P-47D 42-20055 CNE Hubert Boitelet returned with difficulty, with cylinder cut off by a 20mm shell, and huge hole in the tail and at the turbo caused by 37mm shell.

In fact the USAAF lost 2 x P-47s in combat in N. Italy on 4 Feb 45, but too far from Chiasso, it appears.
That day 2 a/c of 66th FS, 57th FG went missing on a B-25 escort mission to the Brenner Pass area.

These two losses of 66th FS are familiar for me. I have detailed MACR account and both losses were reported in Vicenza area - 200 km from Chiasso/Como.

[Leendert]

The type Thunderbolt is mentioned on some Swiss websites for the (4) Feb 45 shoot-down at Chiasso, but confirmation is not given indeed.

If not American or French, then Brazilian?

Article on American-Swiss relations and accidental bombings: http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/a...helmreich.html

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

And here a story about a bomb drop on 29-1-45 near Chiasso which shattered windows, but caused no bodily harm, and questions to prevent attacks on Swiss territory.

See p. 3 in the 31-1-45 issue of La Confédéré. http://newspaper.archives.rero.ch/ol...ublication=LCE (click on feuilleter un numéro and go to appropriate year/month).


Regards,

Leendert

[net_sailor]

Originally Posted by Leendert

The type Thunderbolt is mentioned on some Swiss websites for the (4) Feb 45 shoot-down at Chiasso, but confirmation is not given indeed.

My information is based on yearly reports submitted by Commander of Swiss Air Force. This P-47 is described as single confirmed victory achieved by 20 mm Flab battery during the war cause crash landing of this aircraft was observed (exact place is given).

Thanks for link to the newspaper archive. It's very useful.

regards
n_s

EDIT
I found Juornal de Geneve on 5th Feb 1945 which writes: "One American fighter shot down during air raid on Chiasso at 10.30 morning".