"Looking for unusual scenarios" Topic

Nightfighter Me-262s versus night Mosquitos

"Several two-seat trainer variants of the Me 262, the Me 262 B-1a, had been adapted through the Umrüst-Bausatz 1 factory refit package as night fighters, complete with on-board FuG 218 Neptun high-VHF band radar, using Hirschgeweih ("stag's antlers") antennae with a set of shorter dipole elements than the Lichtenstein SN-2 had used, as the B-1a/U1 version. Serving with 10 Staffel, Nachtjagdgeschwader 11, near Berlin, these few aircraft (alongside several single-seat examples) accounted for most of the 13 Mosquitoes lost over Berlin in the first three months of 1945. However, actual intercepts were generally or entirely made using Wilde Sau methods, rather than AI radar-controlled interception."
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On the night of 11 Jun 1943 Maj. Werner Streib in about 30 minutes was able to shoot down five RAF Lancasters while flying a He-219. Robert

The particular palane 'F1+FS' was being flown by Feldwebel Rolf Heitsch, with 3 crew mates (Schmid,Pfeiffer & Sauter). This plane was fitted with a rear facing Infantry Flamethrower in the fuselage.

In the forthcoming melle that developed several Allied pilots noted flames coming from the rear of the plane, many believing that they had given the plane it's final kiss of death so to speak. One pilot from 504Sqn had his Hurricane covered in oil, when the Flamethrower malfuntioned at 16,000ft. When it did work it's flame was only some 100yds long, far to short to be effective against fighters attacking from 400yds (365mtrs)."

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Just finished reading Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot by Wolfgang Fischer.He recalls an encounter when in the Med and flying in FW-190s to another airfield IIRC he and his fellow pilots came upon what he thought were British A-36s or P-51s attacking an bridge or aqueduct. They dropped tanks and
immediately dove on the enemy aircraft. after a fierce melee did the realize the were USAAF P-39s!They were surprised at how well the P-39s did at low level. Robert LOL

James "Jabby" Jabara
"In a March 1944 mission while Jabara was escorting bombers to Germany, a German pilot shot off his canopy. Although he faced below freezing temperatures at the high altitude, he was able to shoot down a German aircraft before returning to base."

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I forgot to mention he was flying a P-51 but I don't know what German type he shot down. Robert

In this months edition of Fly Past ( flypast.com ) it recounts the story of the shooting down of a Do17 of 8Staffel/III/KG76 which along with another 18 Do17'S launched a raid against London on September 15th 1940.

I forgot to post the first part of the quote from the Fly Past article. Robert

With the number of posts in this thread, I might have missed it. Apologies if already covered. USAAF 417th NFS Beaufighters in combat against a Fw200 over southern Europe

Perhaps their most famous operation was to attack the low flying German Condor that ran the route from the Reich to Spain carrying German gold and treasures</q?

I have found that the 415th NFS claimed to have shot down one on 9 Sept 44 but it wasn't allowed. Robert

415th flying from Djon-Longvic confirmed one Fw200 on 27 Sep 44, down as a Lufthansa aircraft "Pommern"

Sorry. I screwed up on the date. It was 23 Sept 44. I believe the claim was for a Fw-200K. Since the 415th was stationed in France at the time that sounds right. Robert

"P-61 # 82 if the 425th nfs. Pilot Ormsby chases a Ju 87D and is hit by return fire of the rear gunner/radio operator. He ws then hit by US AA at 9,000 ft near Nancy. Ormsby called out on radio to stop firing but the US AA commander kept telling his men to shoot or he would court martial the gun crews ! 1 to 2 AA shells came up through the floor of the P-61 and killed Ormsby and broke both legs of the radar op Hower, but Hower struggled and bailed out, with German civilians taking him to Darmstadt's hosptial…….March 24, 1945."

Robert

"Mosquito crew of 25 Squadron actually claimed two V-1 launcher He 111s over the North Sea on 28/29 September 1944."

Robert

"Night 14/15 August: A P-61 was in combat with a He177 – the P-61 was damaged and crash-landed."

In 1941 on his 365 Hp Whirlwind R975E1 engined FK51, Sgt Binckmann of the KNIL was attacked by 3 Mistubishi Zeros at take off, succeeded to dodge them till and out manoeuver them successfully till one of them crashed and the remaining two decided to leave totally disgusted and all ammo spent!"

Some other chances for some unusual combat could be during the Spanish Civil War where the Spanish Koolhoven F.K.51s could be used as fighters and night fighters. Robert

Marine PV-1 Ventura from VMF(N)531 by "Captain Duane Jenkins, who stumbled upon a Betty Bomber on the evening of November 13, 1943." Robert

"The Netherlands, May 1940:
Sergeant pilot J. Roos was flying the Fokker D-21, reg.nr. 225. With two others he had escorted a flight of T-5's, bombing the Maas bridges at Rotterdam. On their way back they were attacked by 12 Me's from Waalhaven. Three of them chased Roos. He was driven in a corner.He decided to bail out. As he threw off his cockpit cover to jump off his aircraft he saw the canopy strikethe propeller of the following Me-109, so it was knocked out.He decided not to jump but escaped in the clouds. Coming out of the clouds he was surprised to be on the tail of another Me-109. In ideal position to open fire he shot down the Messerschmitt. The moment Roos thought he was safe, his plane was hit by a projectile, obviously from Dutch anti aircraft fire from the ground, and he was thrown out of his open cockpit. Just before reaching the ground he succeeded in opening his parachute and landed, seriously wounded, in the surroundings of Leiden."

Robert

This lists a few engagements during anti-sub patrols,
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Robert

Timmo has gotten around to putting up one of the scenarios posted here for his Blazing Skies game. Robert

Evening Chaps.

Actually I have put a few up! Your work wont go to waste Kaos!

I dont know if anyone here has tried Blazing Skies but it s free and its rather good, so join up- download and grab your starched scarves.
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Thanks Tommi . They look good so far LOL . Robert

It will be good to see them all done up for your set of rules . Robert

Err, Yeah. I think I will have my work cut out!

Thanks though, I will carry on plugging them in :)

Found this over on the ww2incolor site,

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"The only Fiat CR.42 captured by the French during the brief campaign of the Italy against the France (10-24 June 1940). The aircraft, military registration, MM.5590, pilot Tenente (Flying Officer/1st Lieutenant) Zuffi, was forced to land for engine troubles on Cuers Pierrefeu, during a strafing mission, 15 June 1940, of this airfield base of the French Aéronautique Navale's Escadrilles AC3 (11 fighters Bloch MB151) and AB3 (11 dive bombers Vought 156). The aircraft was repainted with the French marking and an all pale-blue finish (but retaining, as showed in the photo, the fuselage's Fascist emblem!). The plane was turned in Italian authorities on following August while his pilot was released just after the signing of the armistice between Italy and France, Villa Incisa's Armistice, 24 June 1940. The mission over Piers Cuerrefeu was one of two raid launched by the Italian air forces against French airdrome on 15 June 1940: the other was against Le Luc-Le Cannet des Maures raided by the 53nd Stormo's 23nd Gruppo took off from Turin-Caselle. Cuers Pierrefeu was strafed by 27 Fiat CR.42 of the 150th Gruppo, of the same 53rd Stormo, took off from Cervere, near Cuneo, split in two groups, one of 15 aircraft, the other of 12, with the cover of other groups each of a dozen of CR.42. Six Vought wad destroyed on the ground, while on the fight with the AC3's Bloch MB151, scrambled on two sections, the Second-Maître Miramont, aircraft AC3.3, s/n 69, despite various damages downed the CR.42 MM5579 of the Capitano (Flight Lieutenant/Captain) Nino Caselli, KIA, but after few minutes made a forces land at Hyères. The Caselli and Zuffi's CR.42 was the only Italian planes lost during the Cuers Pierrefeu's strafing. On the other hand the French losses was heavier: MB151 AC3.15, s/n 51, shot down just after the take-off, pilot Adjudant-Chef Hourcade KIA; MB.151 AC3.1, s/n 77, heavy damaged, crash landed, pilot Lieutenant de Vaisseau Ziegler, AC3's leader, wounded; Bloch 151 AC3.9 s/n 37, shot down in flames, pilot Second-Maître Le Bihan serious wounded during the crash land (death after 5 hours in hospital); MB.151 AC3.8 s/n 348, heavy damaged and crash landed, pilot Soulimont unhurt. Another clash triggered during the raid over Le Luc-Le Cannet des Maures between the CR.42 of the 23nd Gruppo plus other CR.42 of the 3rd Stormo in combat air patrol and the French fighters, Dewoitine D.520 in this case of the Armée de l'Air's GC III/6, took off from Luc on 11,45 a.m. and split on two patrol each with three aircraft, the first composed by Adjutant Pierre Le Gloan, with Capitaine Jean Assollant and Capitaine Jacobi (the late turned back because engine troubles), the second by Capitaine Guerrier, Sous-Lieutenant Capdeviolle and Adjutant Japiot. The French claimed in total five planes down by Le Gloan (four CR.42 and a BR.20 in recce mission) all complied by the command of Zone d'Opérations Aériennes Alpes (Alpes Air Operational Region), but the official record of the Italian Air Force confirm for the entire day of 15 June 1940 a total loss of six aircraft, included the two CR.42 lost over Cuers. The other has: Fiat CR.42 MM4361, 23rd Gruppo, pilot Cap. Filippi POW; Fiat CR.42 MM4366, 18th Gruppo, pilot Maresciallo (Warrant Officer) Colombo KIA; Fiat CR.42 MM unknown, 18th Gruppo, pilot Sergente (Flight Sergeant) Parmeggiani, POW; Fiat BR.20M MM2187, 172nd Squadriglia (recce flight after the missions for observe the raid's results): two crew members KIA, three POW. Very probably this four planes are Le Gloan's kills. Victor Sierra"
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Tommi has done the last one up and it looks good too. Robert

For the most part the early years of the war look likw where alot of the most unusual encounters happened. Robert

"On 18 March 1945, one of the "Myrts"' managed to spot U.S. carriers en route to Japan.
The 343 Kokutai's Shiden-Kai on display in its museum on the island of Shikoku.
The N1K2-J Shiden Kai on display in the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida

The following morning, 343 Kokutai's Shidens intercepted 300 American aircraft. Many of the 343 Kokutai Shiden force were N1K2s. When the Shidens encountered VBF-17 Hellcats, three aircraft were lost on both sides in the initial attack; one Hellcat and two Shiden were shot down by enemy ground fire, two fighters collided in mid-air, and one Hellcat crashed while trying to land. Then the other Shiden dove on the Hellcats, downing another one. In the end, the 407 Hikotai lost six fighters versus downing eight VBF-17 Hellcats.

More serious was the encounter with VBF-10 Corsairs, when two of the Corsairs were separated from the main formations, and then attacked by 343rd Shidens. Four N1K2s were shot down and the Corsairs managed to return to their carrier, USS Bunker Hill. The N1K2s soon got their revenge, when VFM-123 Corsairs were surprised by Shidens, initially mistaken for Hellcats, with a 30-minute aerial combat ensuing. Three Corsairs were shot down and another five were damaged while three other heavily damaged F4Us which had landed on carriers were subsequently thrown into the sea. Of the 10 Japanese aircraft the Americans claimed, not one was effectively downed. Two Shidens however, were shot down at landing by Hellcats of VF-9. Many other Shidens were destroyed by American fighters over another airport, where they tried to land because they were low on fuel. At the end of the day, 343° declared 52 victories, U.S. fighters 63. The actual losses were 15 Shidens and 13 pilots, a "Myrt" with its three man crew, and nine other Japanese fighters. The U.S. also had heavy losses, with 14 fighters and seven pilots, and 11 other attack aircraft."
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"Another good point about the P-40 was its amazing ability to absorb punishment and still continue to fight, be it from machine guns and cannons, wear-and-tear, hostile weather, or rough landings. Clive Caldwell, Australia's top-scoring ace with 28 1/2 victories and the leading P-40 ace with 20 1/2 of these victories demonstrated this rather dramatically in North Africa.

While flying top cover for supply planes inbound for Tobruk, two Bf-109's led by the 114-victory ace Werner Schroer ambushed him. The German planes punched 108 machine gun bullets and five 20mm shells into the hapless fighter, damaging its instrument panel, controls, tail, wings, and wounding Caldwell in the back, shoulder and leg.

Instead of crashing to the ground, the Tomahawk managed to stay airborne. And instead of attempting to escape, the Sydney-born Caldwell turned into his attackers and returned fire. He shot down Schroer's wingman, unnerving Schroer to the point that he ran for home. The Australian ace made it home."
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"Saburo Sakai, Japan's leading ace to survive WW II, recounted an incident over Port Moresby, New Guinea where a P-40 piloted by Les Jackson used this tactic with deadly efficiency. This is Sakai's account of that encounter.

"We passed Moresby and the bursting flak fell behind. I sighed with relief. Too soon! Nearly a mile above us, a single P-40 fighter dove with incredible speed. He came down so fast I could not move a muscle; one second he was above us, the next the lone plane plummeted like lightning into the bombers. Six hundred yards in front of me, I watched the fighter- he was going to ram! How that plane ever got through the few yards' clearance between the third and fourth bombers of the left echelon, I shall never know. It seemed impossible, but it happened. With all guns blazing, the P-40 ripped through the bomber formation and poured a river of lead into Miyazaki's plane. Instantly the Zero burst into flames. With tremendous speed the P-40 disappeared far below."
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"One unique account was that of Lt. Alexi Khobistoff of the Red Air Force, who perfected an unusual method of destroying enemy aircraft when his plane's guns froze from ice build-up. With his sights set on a Heinkel 111, the distracted Khobistoff struggled to clear his guns when all of a sudden the prop of his plane tore through the bomber's wing. He managed to stay airborne while his target careened into the ground. He repeated this act a second time, but on this day it was intentional, cutting the rudder off of yet another German bomber. The third time and his fifth kill happened when a 109 mortally wounded his plane. Rather then go out quietly, the tenacious Khobistoff dove his plane into the nearest enemy fighter he saw, chewing its tail to bits. He bailed out and spent several weeks in the hospital, never to repeat his unorthodox tactic."

"One of the first combat actions of the RNZAF P-40s was the destruction of a Japanese floatplane while escorting a Hudson. Another was participating in an Allied attack on three Japanese destroyers that had steamed into an Allied minefield."

Now here is one for you Tommi . Lt. Richard Candelaria in a P-51 Mustang vrs BE-109 and Me-262 jets .

" HAVE A BUNCH OF GERMANS CORNERED!

This statement is reportedly what Lt. Candelaria radioed to his squadron mates on that particular day as noted in the book: "The Last flight of the Luftwaffe" by Adrian Weir:

"…..one of the 435th FS pilots searched the sky around him for signs of contrails. Already feeling alone 1st Lieutenant Richard G. Candelaria had lost contact with the rest of his flight and on reaching the rendezvous with the bombers had decided to attach himself to the low squadron of Liberators. Finding no signs of the German fighters, Candelaria held his position and held on his tanks. Little did he know that he was about to experience a day to remember."

While other elements from his squadron were engaging a rotten of Me-262's in which a jet fighter was shot-down by Capt. Verner E. Hooker. Candelaria would be in the fight of his life.

"From his position alongside the lower bombers, Lieutenant Candelaria was at last alerted to the presence of the jets when the bombers began to fire flares as a general warning to the rest of the group."

"Spotting a pair of Me-262's which had started to climb back towards the bombers, he turned towards the jets, facing the leading aircraft head-on. Hoping to divert the jets from their approach, Candelaria must have began to have doubts as to the wisdom of his move as the rotten made no attempt to alter its course."

"With only fractions of a second separating the fighters from a collision, the Me-262 pushed his aircraft into a shallow dive beneath the Mustang. In a very unusual move, Lieutenant Candelaria tried to drop his tanks on to the jet below, them half-rolled his fighter into a position on its tail just as the German pilot opened fire on the bombers".

With the drop tanks tactic having no effect, Candelaria opted for his more conventional armament and let loose a burst which scored direct hits on both fuselage and wings.

With the fighter still in his sights, his concentration was broken by the sight of streams of red and white tracers, the size of golf balls flashing past him."

At that moment the second Me-262 was right behind him and firing on him, before he could free himself from the danger, he receive hits on his aircraft right wing, luckly the damage was not serious.

"At the same time the leading jet broke to the left and entered a half-roll which became a steep dive with smoke trailing behind. Hoping to catch the second jet Candelaria attempted to haul his fighter into a turn, but the jet was diving at high speed, perhaps in a attempt to assist his crippled Kamerad."

Candelaria was later given a probable Me-262 destroyed, it appeared later that the jets were being used to draw away the escort fighters away from the bombers, so that the Elbe pilots would commence their attack runs, with no problems from the escorting P-51's."

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USAAF pilot by Lt Eubanks Barnhill flies his P-47D Thunderbolt off the deck of Escort Carrier USS Manila Bay to ward off an aerial attack from four D3A Aichi "Val" dive bombers during refueling operations east of Saipan, Jun 23 1944.

P-47D Thunderbolts of the 318th Fighter Group being ferried to Saipan on Escort Carrier USS Manila Bay. Note bomb splashes from an aerial attack by four D3A Aichi "Val" dive bombers during refueling operations east of Saipan, Jun 23 1944.

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Some more about Lt.Candelaria,

"At that particular moment the 434th Fighter Squadron received the warnings from a lone pilot who had spotted a formation of about 15 BF-109's heading directly towards the bombers, as the pilots of the 434th immediately headed at full speed to assist the lone pilot, that had given the warning, that pilot Lt. Candelaria was preparing to meet the attack.

The enemy formation consisted of three four aircraft flights lead by a experience leader, Candelaria decided to attack the nearest flight leader, but this tuned out to be a very competent German fighter pilot.

Candelaria tried to put himself in the best firing position, as he followed after the the flight leader BF-109, he noted that the rest of the flight did not attemped to fire on him or even the bombers they simply followed the leader, as he made several passes on the bomber, which he shot-down one of the bombers.

Its guessed that the flight was formed from pilots of the "Elbe: group but probably lead by pilots from JG 300 and JG 301, and the aircraft that Candelaria was following had enough conventional ammunition to carry out a conventional attack on the bomber formation and flown by a experience pilot, but he failed to notice the P-51 that was right behind him as he was firing on the bombers even rolling his fighter.

"With mounting frustation Candelaria chased after the BF-109 and for a split moment found him in his sights. The luck of the Luftwaffe pilot had finally run out: the brief burst of fire struck his fighter. Perhaps in order to escape the confines of the bomber stream to concentrate on the annoying American."

"The BF-109 broke away from the B-24's with his formation remaining in close contact. None of the other BF-109's made any attempt to intercept the P-51, which reinforces the belief that they were very inexperienced in the techniques of aerial combat."

"The leading BF-109 now aware that the Mustang on his tail was out for blood, would have to fend for himself and eliminate the danger by his own skills. However with a number of aircraft in close proximity he selected the wrong direction to attempt a roll and the battery of Browning machine guns being aimed at him unleashed a burst of hot metal which ripped into the Messerschmitt."

With a trail of smoke and coolant erupting from the BF-109, panic erupted amongst the now Leaderless Schwarn. Breaking their formation, they belatedly attempted to discourage Lieutenant Candelaria but the damage had already been done and the leading BF-109 continued to lose altitude until the pilot jumped free at about 2,000 ft."

The leaderless flight formation tried to hit or chase away Candelaria, that a second "Schwarn" leader arrived to assist them, but the German pilot misjudge his speed and overshot the Mustang, which put him in the center of Candelaria's K-14 gun sight, Candelaria opened fire after firing a short burst, the German pilot cut his speed that the two fighter found themselves flying side by side. Candelaria looked over to the BF-109 and saw the German pilot bailed out.

Now with two "Schwarn" with no flight leaders, there was now confusion with the German fighters, now the subject of attention of many BF-109's Candelaria continued to fight it out.

"Able to out-turn his pursuers, he again opened fire and almost instantly a third BF-109 stalled out and the pilot jumped free. A fourth BF-109 followed only seconds later as the pilot lost control of his fighter attempting to follow the Mustang. This Luftwaffe pilot was trapped in his wildly spinning machine as it crashed to earth."

"As Candelaria claimed this fourth BF-109, his fifth victim of the day, help finally arrived as other P-51's reached the bombers. The first pilots to arrived included 1st Lieutenant Charles Heathman and William Barksky who were both in position to observe the final moments of Candelaria's combat and confirm the burning wreckage of four BF-109's all within a radius of less than five miles."

This combat is reported to have taken place between 1225 to 1230 hours.

After his hectic aerial combat, Candelaria decide not to risked it and stayed with this Group of pilots for the remainder of the mission, later in his after combat report he credits the arrival of these P-51's that saved him for the surviving Bf-109s.

For this particular mission Lt. Candelaria achieved the status of "Ace" with a score of six German aircraft destroyed plus one probable, while the rest of the 435th fighter Squadron put in claims for one Bf-109 and one Me-262 shot down by Capt. V. E. Hooker, while the rest of the 479th claimed 4 more Bf-109s plus one Me-262 shot down plus one more damaged."

"March 9th 1945
III./KG76 flew three sorties against the Remagen bridge. Ofw Bruchlos of 8./KG76 was reported missing in WNr.140589 following an attack on the bridge.

March 11th 1945
Two Ar234s from III./KG76 attack the bridge.

March 12th 1945
Two Ar234s from the Stab and two from 6./KG76 bomb the bridge around noon. This was the first operational sortie flown by 6./KG76 with the Ar234. During the afternoon 14 Arado's from III./KG76 bomb the same target using Egon procedure. One aircraft WNr.140351 was damaged on landing.

March 13th 1945
Seven Ar234s from 6./KG76 and 12 from III./KG76 bomb the bridge without success. Uffz Zwiener from III./KG76 bailed out near Wesendorf.

March 14th 1945
During the afternoon 11 Arados from 6./KG76 attacked the newly constructed pontoon bridge south of the main Ludendorff bridge at Remagen. Heavy flak and fighter defenses were encoountered. Ofw Johne was shot down by a Spitfire and killed north of Limburg, Ofw Baumler and Fw Schulte were attacked by Lightnings but both bailed out safely and Hptm Morich's aircraft was damaged by flak and attacked by RAF Tempests. Hptm Hirschberger was shot down and killed by Mustangs.

March 17th 1945
Hptm Morich led an attack by two Arados from 6./KG76 on the Remagen bridgehead during the afternoon. Uffw Pohlmann was killed when his Arado (WNr.140180) was destroyed in a crash-landing at Burg following an engine failure.

From Arado Ar234 Blitz by Smith and Creek. (Monogram 1992)."

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"On 6 January 1942, Wirraways of No. 24 Squadron attempted to intercept Japanese seaplanes flying over New Britain; only one managed to engage an enemy aircraft, marking the first air-to-air combat between RAAF and Japanese forces.[3] Two weeks later, eight 24 Squadron Wirraways defended the city of Rabaul from over 100 Japanese attacking bombers and fighters, resulting in the destruction or severe damage of all but two of the Australian aircraft.[4] On 12 December that year, Pilot Officer J. S. Archer shot down a Japanese A6M Zero aircraft after he spotted it 1000 feet (about 300 metres) below him and dived on it, opening fire and sending the Zero hurtling into the sea. This was the only occasion that a Wirraway shot down another aircraft (and is one more than the total of aircraft shot down by its fighter offspring, the Boomerang)"
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Unless I messed it in here. Per Wikipedis:

A G3M of the Mihoro Air Group was involved in a dogfight with a Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat of No. 205 Squadron RAF near the Anambas Islands on 25 December 1941, in which the Catalina was shot down.[4]

"On the night of 16-17 July 1943 the leader of 235th Squadriglia, captain Aramis Ammannato, with a Do.217J-1, shot down over Vigevano a RAF's Lancaster."

"The bomber involved was the Lancaster III "EM-W" serial ED692 flown by P/O L. E. Stubbs and was shot down by the Do.217J-1 of Cap. Aramis Ammannato at 04,15 hours of 17 July 1943. The only survivor of the British bomber was the dorsal gunner Sgt. W. O'Brien, who was found miraculously unharmed in the low waters of the river Ticino, near the wrecked remains of the Lancaster…"

Fiat Cr.3s Vs SAAF Hurricanes and SAAF Ju-86s.

"The Fiats had their baptism of fire on 17 June, when the Cr. 32s of 411a Squadriglia, flown by Tenente Aldo Meoli and Maresciallo Bossi, attacked three Junkers Ju 86 from 12 SAAF squadron (bound to bomb Wavello), escorted by two Hurricanes of 1 SAAF Squadron. The Fiats shot down one of the Ju 86s and then pounced the Hurricanes, shooting down the one flown by 2/Lt B.L. Griffiths that was killed in the crash"
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"Werwolf Hurricanes of the 64th Sentai

One of the most bizarre incidents in the first Burma campaign was the fate of two Royal Air Force Hurricane fighters, captured on Sumatra in the Dutch Indies, and intended to be used against RAF bases in Burma.
Following its brief encounter with RAF Buffaloes and AVG Tomahawks on Christmas Day, 1941, the 64th Sentai and its retractable-gear Nakajima Hayabusas returned to the campaign in Malaya. The group was under the command of then-Major Kato Tateo, probably the most famous of the Japanese army's fighter pilots. On January 16, Kato and his men were diverted to the pending attack on Sumatra in the Dutch Indies (now Indonesia). (The long-ranged Hayabusas were still based at the former British airfield at Ipoh in southern Malaya.) On February 14, the group supported an airborne landing on Palembang, which succeeded in capturing the airfield and the nearby Dutch oil refineries.

At Palembang airfield, the 64th Sentai took found two comparatively undamaged Hurricane fighters and put them in shape for flying. Major Kato himself piloted one of the British planes, and the other was assigned to squadron leader Capt. Anma Katsumi of the group's 3rd Chutai. Predictably, the two Japanese officers found themselves under attack by friendly aircraft, as a 64th Sentai veteran recalled. Neither was damaged, evidently, and to prevent another occurrence the tails of both Hurricanes were painted white.

Soon after Rangoon fell to the Japanese on March 8, the 64th Sentai returned to the mainland. Its new base was at Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, due east of the AVG's former airbase at Toungoo. The Hurricanes came along, evidently still flown by Major Kato and Capt. Anma. (The reinforcements would have been welcome: although it had received new aircraft at intervals during January and February, the group had only 15 Hayabusas in service when it made the move the Malaya.)

The intention was to use the Hurricanes in "werwolf" attacks on British airfields where similar aircraft were based, notably Magwe and Akyab. However, that would have to wait until the group was based nearer to the action. When the 64th Sentai took part in the big raid on Magwe on March 21-22, the Hurricanes didn't take part, since they would have been unable to make the 550-mile round-trip flight.

So it was that the "werwolf" Hurricanes were sitting on the ground at Chiang Mai on the morning of March 24, when the AVG Tomahawks swept across in their vengeance raid, ordered by Chennault to pay back for the Allied air disaster at Magwe. When the AVG pilots claimed fifteen Japanese aircraft destroyed at Magwe--more about that later--two of them were the former RAF Hurricanes. No more was heard of the werwolves, so evidently they never flew again."
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Here is a good one. On Christmas Eve 1940 a No 237 "Rhodesia" Sqdn Hawker Hardy claimed a Ca.133.

I have read somewhere that in Sept 1940 that most Chinese aircraft were avoiding Japanese bomber raids due to their fighter escorts that the Japanese set a trap for them. They kept a spotter plane in the area and when the Chinese returned they were attacked. There were approx.27 I-15s and I-16S versus 13 Type 97 "Claude"s. Robert

Special Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a/U1 Vs P-47. I'm not sure of the date. Afaik there was only 4 built

"The Me 262A-1/U1 differed from the standard A-1a in nose mounted armament. It featured two 20mm MG 151 cannon with 146 rounds each, two 30mm MK 103 cannon with 72 rounds each, and two 30mm MK 108 cannon with 66 rounds each."

Robert

One night after picking up a downed US pilot a Lysander was almost lost to a Luftwaffe Night Fighter.

"Perdomo flew another five hour mission on August 7th, so far he had not scored any aerial victories and the war was coming to a close. The atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9th, but while the allies awaited Japan's response to the demand to surrender, the war continued.

On August 13th, the 507th was assigned mission number 507-35, to search the vicinity of Keijo (Seoul) Korea, for airborne enemy aircraft and to engage them if found. Take off was to begin at 0953. A total of 53 P-47's from all three squadrons of the 507th were scheduled to participate, but after mechanical failures and aborts only 38 reached the target area. (12 each from the 463rd & 465th and 14 from 464th) The course was set from base to Nagasaki, Kyushu to Korea arriving near or around Keijo (Seoul) at about 1315 hours. Approximately 50 enemy aircraft were sighted and engaged from 8,000 ft (2,430m) to the decks.

The first kill was claimed by Capt. Edward R. Hoyt of the 465, when he shot-down a Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" Bomber. At this juncture, Major James J. Jarman (leading the 464th with 1st Lt. Perdomo in his flight) descended to engage what was at that time identified as a Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" fighter – as it turned out, three more of them would appeared from the clouds.

Perdomo described what happened in his combat report:

I pushed the throttle into water injection with the prop pitch at about 2,700 rpm. As I gained on the Oscars, I placed my gyro sight on the last one and adjusted the sight diamonds on his wings. At this time the Oscars were flying a very loose vee. When I closed into firing range I gave him a burst and saw my bullets converge on his nose and cockpit. Something exploded in his engine and fire broke out. I was still shooting as he fell to the right.

After gaining his first kill, Perdomo went after the second Oscar:

I lined him up immediately on the second ship and began firing at about 30 degrees. I shot at this Oscar until parts flew off and fire broke out on the bottom cowling of his engine. I ceased firing when he rolled over slowly and dove straight into the ground and exploded.

He closed on the third Oscar:

I caught him in my fixed sight and led him as much as I could, firing all the way. He continued his spiral- turn about 180 degree until he was about 100 ft off the ground. Then he hit a high speed stall, because I saw his aircraft shudder, and it snapped him still tighter to the left and into the ground where he exploded like an oversized napalm bomb.

After shooting down the third Oscar, he headed back to town, where he saw the fire from his first kill. Almost simultaneously he spotted a parachute descending and identified the green-clad man below it as a Japanese pilot. He put his sights on him and passed by, rocking his wings. Perdomo them climbed to look for any other P-47's and encountered two "Willow" biplane trainers (Yokosuka Type 93 Intermediate Trainer K5Y) flying in formation. He after them and the "Willows" separated as Perdomo reported:

I picked the closet to me and started shooting. Flames broke out almost immediately. To slow my ship I crossed my controls and skidded. Them I shot more at him. This time I must have hit the pilot because the ship went into a spiral to the right and straight into the ground about 300 feet below.

After seeing the "Willow" explode. He tried to locate the other one, but it had escaped. He started to climb above the clouds, when three or four Oscars broke out above him and to the right. He turned into them and pointed his nose down, hoping they had not seen him. But at the last moment they pushed down on him. He shot under them, poured water injection on, and turned into the clouds. The Oscars made a half-hearted turn, but by them Perdomo was above and behind:

As I came in on these Oscars three of them turned to the left and one turned right I followed this single one and used my gyro sight. His only evasive maneuvers were turns. I shot at him in bursts until he flamed. He exploded when I pulled alongside because of the excessive speed. The mass of flames went into the ground.

He headed back to the city and the rest of the group. Over the airfield he saw two of the group's P-47's,chasing an Oscar that turned on the P-47's. Perdomo dived on the Oscar, engaging it shooting until his ammo ran out. The Oscar turned on him, as he mentions in his report:

I saw a yellow-tailed P-47 out of the corner of my right eye and yelled him to shoot the Oscar off my tail………The P-47 I saw turned on the Oscar and began firing. He missed with the first burst, but clobbered him with the second. I saw the Oscar go straight in and explode. I believe the pilot of the P-47 to be Lt. Harry Steinshover.

This is confirmed in 2nd Lt. Harry M. Steinshover combat narrative. He had shot-down an Oscar, at the beginning of the fight, as he reported. After getting the first Oscar the following took place:

I pulled off the target and climbed to 3,000 ft to join my element leader. He (Perdomo) sighted an Oscar about 1,000 ft below us and dived for him. He opened up but ran out of ammunition. His speed carried him under the enemy plane. The Oscar started a turn to the left and my element leader broke right. The Oscar immediately made a sharp turn to the right and opened fire. I close to 1,000 ft and opened fire and the enemy plane started smoking. I fired at him all the way to the ground and he exploded.

By 1345 hours the 507th started the return to Ie Shima with elements landing about 1755 hours, an 8 hour, and 18 minute mission. In total the 507th claimed 20 enemy aircraft plus 2 probables and one "Betty" bomber on the ground, for the loss of one P-47N of the 464th flown by a pilot who had claimed 2 Oscars during the fight. He was shot-down and bailed out over the sea. He was picked up by the Japanese, and help prisioner at Keijo until the end of the war.

Major Jarman recalled how Perdomo's claims were confirmed:

When we landed back at Ie Shima Perdomo shyly stated that he had destroyed five, including one biplane trainer type. Upon developing the gun camera film it was clearly proven that he had actually destroyed five aircraft including the biplane which no else had even seen.

FRANKS NOT OSCARS

It is interesting to note that the type of enemy fighters engaged by the 507th were actually the Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate code named "Frank" from the Japanese Army Air Force's 22ndand 85thSentais. Both Units had been assigned to Kimpo airfield since May 1945. "
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Here is a very interesting encounter between John Alison in his P-40 and some "Sally" bombers on a night bombing raid,

One-Man Air Force,The Night Ambush Of Pilot John Alison

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Robert

"29 August 1945 Soviet pilot Zizevskii, flying a Yak-9 Frank, damaged a US Army Air Force B-29 Superfortress dropping supplies to a POW camp near Hamhung Korea and forced it to land. The crew of the B-29 was not injured in the attack.
2-16 September 1945 Soviet fighters fired on US Navy 7th Fleet air patrols in Manchurian airspace.
15 November 1945 While on a routine patrol mission, a US Navy PBM-5 Mariner was attacked by a Soviet Fighter 25 miles south of Dairen (Port Arthur) Manchuria. No damage was inflicted. The PBM-5 was investigating six Soviet transport ships and a beached seaplane in the Gulf of Chihli in the Yellow Sea. Some sources state that this happened on October 15th, not November 15th."
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Blackburn Skua Vs He-115

"On 25 April 1940, a Skua shot down a He115 of 2/506 (WkNr 2248)>"

"Lundstrom in "The First Team", definitive reference on USN F4F ops and USN air combat generally in 1942, stated flatly that the Japanese lost no fighters in that combat. The atagonists were 8 VS-5 SBD's (including Vejtasa's) being used as close-in anti-torpedo plane CAP around the carriers, vs a group of Zuikaku B5N's (Type 97 carrier attack planes, 'Kate') escorted by A6M's. This pre war concept of defensive use of the SBD assumed slow torpedo planes, but the SBD's didn't have the requisite speed advantage (if any) over the Kates, which blew past them in a shallow dive, untouched. Then the 6 Zuikaku Zeroes attacked downing 4 of the SBD's without any actual loss of their own. Vejtasa and his squadron mates were brave pilots and I assume he reported what he though he saw but actually that combat was a disaster, and in fact the SBD anti-VT defense tactic was never tried again."
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