A/c - Somewhere in Italy 1945

[KrisJG3]

Does anyone have any idea where the downed plane from
the movie might have been? It is helpful to watch
the movie and the earlier frames of the flight.
Maybe a few maps and descriptions from the attached link
will also be useful.
Stop time from film - 8:22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyqub_YhRd8


------------------


II Corps in Italy 1945 ==> Polish II Corps

https://mikesresearch.com/2020/03/29/bologna-1945/

"...The Polish II Corps advanced north along the Via Emilia (Highway 9) corridor towards Castel San Pietro and Medicina. The attack was spearheaded by Task Force Rud or Rudforce (named after its commanding officer General Klemens Rudnicki). It was formed in the Spring of 1945 and consisted primarily of the 3rd Carpthian Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Carpthian Infantry Division and the 4th Wolyn Infantry Brigade of the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division. On the first day, the USAAF mistakenly bombed the Polish units (‘Friendly Fire’) which took heavy casualties, however the Poles achieved their first objective in capturing the heights above the river Senio. On April 10, the open ground between the river Senio and Santerno was broken through after a night attack using Crocodiles (probably C Squadron, 51st Royal Tank Regiment), to punch through a gap between the German 98. Infantrie-Division and the 26. Panzer -Division. The German units put up a tenacious defense and mounted counter attacks before the Poles finally dislodged them and captured Imola on April 14. Over the next few days, the Polish units gave chase through Sillaro, over the Medicina Canal and engaged the 4. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment which were forced to withdraw. In pursuit, the Poles crossed the heavily defended river Gaiano and engaged the rest of the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division. The Polish attack was so successful that the German division was disintegrated. The 5th British Infantry Division swung further north and took the Ferrara-Bologna road which cut off the remaining German units escape route...."

List of PL-soldiers:
https://www.polishexilesofww2.org/ar...lish-2nd-corps

[RSwank]

Ummm..... no guesses yet. Just to start a discussion......

Could it be a RAF P-40 (Warhawk)????

Were any squadrons still flying them in 1945 in Italy, if that was when the movie was taken?

[kaki3152]

5 SAAF and 3 RAAF Sq used Kittyhawks in 1945 (Fighting Colours-Bowyer)

[SteveB]

Sorry that's not correct 5(SAAF) converted to Mustang III/IV towards the end of September 1944 and 3(RAAF) began converting at end of October 1944. I think the main operators of Kittyhawks on 239 Wing in 1945 were 450(RAAF) 'OK' codes and 250 'LD' codes.
Steve

[KrisJG3]

Originally Posted by RSwank

.... Were any squadrons still flying them in 1945 in Italy, if that was when the movie was taken?

I think the part of movie could be made by Polish rec. a/c like this one ? :

1) https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/22...f67d55bcbce43/
2) https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/224758/
3) https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/224760/

Description of the photos above from links:
Pilot of the "Kubuś" reconnaissance aircraft and an artillery observer at the same time.
Time: 1945-04
1) Topic title: The soldiers of the 2nd Polish Corps during the fights in the foreground of Bologna
2) Topic title: "Kubuś" reconnaissance plane used to coordinate artillery fire.

Map:
https://mikesresearchcom.files.wordp.../bologna-3.jpg

[Revi16]

I'm seeing a Spitfire.

[Versuch]

Revi16 I concur, and the port wing does not appear to show leading edge lump of
the undercarriage fairing.

[KrisJG3]

Maybe here is answer (but emblem looks like Italian a/c) ?

http://aircrewremembered.com/editori...-zx-v-w800.jpg

(place: Sesto Imolese)

http://aircrewremembered.com/moffat-...EryyXC_vm4SOWc

or

"....permitted; ARTY R’s, Photo R’s and TAC R’s into the Po Valley and Naval Base at Spezia and others. In November our second in command, Sqn Ldr Peter Bezancenet, was shot down. We heard he had escaped, but was shot in the leg by an American soldier as he was coming back through the front line. I visited him in hospital in Rome later on and
he seemed quite cheerful. I completed my tour of ops on 11th January 1945 doing an ARTY R south of Bologna. ..."

Source (more) :
http://www.naval8-208-association.co...-45Page04.html

More photos with Italian emblem:
http://www.eaf51.org/Photo_03_51_ICAF_Spit.htm

[Nick Beale]

Is a bigger capture, adjusted for shadows and highlights any help?

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Now all we need is the picture enhancement logiciel used by CSI Las Vegas...