WIX Archives
Re: Ferrypilot to Sweden shot down 2 german fighters
Posted by Alex Smart on Sun Mar 21, 2004 06:05:32 PM
In reply top Ferrypilot to Sweden shot down 2 german fighters posted by GT on Tue Mar 16, 2004 04:31:29 PM
Hi,
44-72156=26013.
This serial number has had me puzzled.
It has been noted that the serial was 44-73156 and not 44-72156.
There is also a very fine photo of a P51 which is said to be 44-72156 (in colour) In USAAF markings that has post WW2 tail bands of red and yellow.This was in occupied Germany.
So that could not have been 44-72156 if as is stated, as she was already in Swedish possesion from April 45.
If it was then the one that went to Sweden must have been 44-73156.
Then 44-73156 = 26013
I would not think that the pilot would have got the serial number wrong in his report but there are remarks to the effect that the serial may be wrong so, which is correct ?
Thanks.
Alex
: Has anyone details of a Bf109 and a FW190D loss over the N
: orth Sea on the 10 or 14 april 1945?
:
: The German fighters was shot down by one of the Mustangs b
: eing delivered to Sweden. According to Swedish sources was
: the P-51D 44-72156 delivered to Sweden on 10 april but th
: e pilot Bates combat report is dated 14 april 1945.
:
: The american pilot "celebrated" on arrival to Stockholm th
: e kills by flying very low under V?sterbron!. (Westbridge)
:
:
: Any info will be welcome, name of the pilots of the Bf109/
: FW190D and JG, Gruppe, Staffel, a/c Markings and wk nr if
: known.
:
: Any info will be welcome.
:
: 14 April 1945
: 1409th AAF Base Unit, European Division, ATC
: 1235Z hours
: 58-20N, 11-00E [elsewhere this is noted as being about 15
: miles from the Swedish coast]
: CAVU
: Me-109 - FW-190 [one of the eyewitnesses states that this
: was a long nosed FW-190]
: Destruction of two (2) enemy aircraft
:
: I was the pilot of A/C P-51 D-20-472156 [ie, 44-72156] whi
: ch was being flown to Stockholm, Sweden, together with oth
: ers, for delivery to the Swedish government. We were at 15
: ,000 feet, a flight of four (4), flying on course, when we
: observed two (2) boggies at eleven o'clock low. We turned
: in their direction for the purpose of identification and
: saw that one was an Me 109 and the other an FW 190. Lt. WH
: itmore, who was flying lead, took after the first one, the
: FW 190, and I took after the Me 109. I fired about a thre
: e (3) second burst and the enemy aircraft burst into flame
: s and went down. By this time, Lt. Whitmore had discovered
: that his guns were jammed and he was calling for help. Cu
: tting them off in a turn, I came in behind the FW 190 and
: fired a burst at about 90 deg deflection. The FW 190 burst
: into flames and started down. It was observed to blow up
: at about 5000 feet by Captain Boychuck, the pilot of one o
: f the other P-51s. I claim the destruction of the two enem
: y aircraft. One an Me 109 and the other an FW 190.
:
: Arthur W. Bates, Jr, 1st Lt., A.C.
: P-51 D-20-472156
: AAF Insignia [Markings]
: 500 rounds .50 cal A.P. and Inc. 5-1
:
: Arthur W Bates, Jr.
: 1st Lt., Air Corps,
: O-823897
:
: Eyewitness reports were supplied by Capt. A Boychuck, 1st
: Lt W J Sullivan (pilot of the B-17G being escorted), and 1
: st Lt. Harold E Whitmore.
:
: Elsewhere in the reports it is noted that the Swedes paint
: ed two swastikas on Bates' P-51.
:
: Regards
: GT