US C-47 shot down by RAF 29 October 1942

[Brian]

Hi guys

A US C-47 was shot down in error for a Ju88 on 29 October 1942 by RAF fighters over the Mediterranean.

Can anyone provide details of the C-47, its fate and crew?

Cheers
Brian

[dp_burke]

How about

S/Sgt Thomas L Downs 3rd Squadron 1st Ferry Group
1 Lt Lens H Hansen Jr DFC no unit listed Named Jens H Hansen Jr elsewhere.
PFC Charles F Cline Headquarters Squadron 9th Airforce Survey Command
Capt Paul F Roth Headquarters 323rd Air Survey Group


They don't sound like an Air Crew however, except for Downs and Hansen maybe.

Maybe there were suvivors and passengers were the casualties?

[Brian]

Thanks Dennis

That seems like an encouraging start. Hopefully there's a lead or two to follow.

Cheers
Brian

[kaki3152]

Here's a snippet from "The Liberandos:376th BG"

"Widespread resentment followed the contemporary loss of two other First Provisional pilots,Capt. Paul Roth and Lt Jens Hansen on a courier flight to Cairo in a C-47. Their C-47 and another C-47 were flying through the designated defense corridor at Port Said,near the Suez Canal when a RAF Spitfire shot them down.

[Leendert]

Brian,

1st Lt Jens Hansen's name appears in a Headquarters Roster of 1 October 1943 with the notification "deceased" under "Officers formerly in Ninth Air Force Headquarters".

For many more names see
http://home.comcast.net/~dhsetzer/paper/Desert009.pdf

Regards,

Leendert

[Brian]

Thanks Kaki & Leendert

Now we're getting somewhere. Yes, both Capt Roth and Lt Hansen - and probably PVC Cline (HQ Sqn 9thAF).

Strange that I haven't been able to locate this C-47 in the various USAAF losses I've searched, so we still require unit and serial number.

I wonder what unit a courier aircraft would have been flying with?

Cheers
Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

The US did have an Africa-Middle East Wing of Air Transport Command at that time.
Period of shooting down of C-47 coincides with final Battle of El Alamein and a Royal Navy cruiser squadron with destroyers had (held) exercises north of Port Said, all of which may have contributed to the RAF Spitfire being on extra alert for intruders.

Regards,

Leendert

[Brian]

Thanks Leendert

My information on this incident adds:

"At the subsequent court martial the errant pilot was completely exonerated as the American aircraft was 150 miles off course and had failed to display the mandatory identification codes."

Cheers
Brian