"Looking for unusual scenarios" Topic

"On July 16, Lieutenant Klemann's B-25 was attacked and shot down by Freeman Ricketts of the AVG, who'd never before seen a Mitchell bomber, and who mistook it for Japanese. Happily the crew was able to bail out, and there were no casualties from the encounter."

warbirdforum.com/b25s.htm

"Autumn 1942: Bristol Bisleys (Blenheim Mk V) of No. 15 Squadron South African Air Force attack a Junkers Ju 52 German transport aircraft with bombs and machine gun fire after forcing it down in the desert. The Bisleys, escorted by four Bristol Beaufighters of No. 252 Squadron RAF, intercepted the German transport aircraft while returning from a strike on an enemy train. The Beaufighters shot down a Ju 52 and damaged one of the escorting Messerschmitt Bf 110s, while the Bisleys forced down a second Ju 52 and subsequently destroyed it with their bombs. One of the Bisleys was shot down by return fire."

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"On 14th June 1943 this was one of 2 Condors that encountered a Halifax (DK130/EE) of 295 Squadron, towing a Horsa glider from UK to North Africa. The Condors forced the Halifax down into the sea, along with the Horsa. The crew of the Halifax were seen to enter their dinghy but were never recovered and were posted missing in action. The 2 occupants of the Horsa were rescued by a Spanish fishing boat after 11 days at sea.F8+AR was shot down by US fighters in March 1944. Hptm Schabert and his crew went missing, in another a/c, in December 1943."
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"Not so much a dogfight but more of a turkey shoot was related by Eric 'Winkle' Brown in his book "Wings of the Luftwaffe". He was one of a pair of Hawker Hart Trainers (I think) that were flying over Salisbury Plain. An Me-110 sidled up to his companion and at its leisure opened up with the rear guns and blew it out of the sky."

"Italy, 1944, in which a Storch "shot down" a P-47D. As I remember it, the P-47D (a Brazilian one) was already damaged and the pilot was probably looking for a suitable spot to crash land. It seems that it came very low and inadvertently at the rear quarter of a Storch which, having spotted the P-47D earlier, flattened against the treetops. As the distance got closer, the rear gunner fired its MG; it may or may not have impacted the P-47, but the pilot panicked and bailed out (as I remember the article said, but he more likely put it down, on account of the height) immediately."
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"On one occasion however a Lysander was attacked by two Me 109s. One Messerschmitt was shot down in flames and the other was so badly damaged that it was forced to break off the engagement. (History of XIII Sqn)."

Three B-32's of the 386th BS, 312th BG were attacked by Saburo Sakai and squadron mates on 18th August 1945. The B-32s claimed two probables after firing 4,000 rounds. There were no losses on either side one of the B-32 crewman was killed and two more were wounded. Robert

"A dogfight but no shoot-down. Early 1940 a Cervia Autogyro on weather patrol over France, near border with Germany was set upon by three Messerschmitt 109. They seemed to expend all their ammo, and probably fuel too, before leaving the Cervia alone. "
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P-61 Black Widow vs. He 177 Greif

KG 40 Heinkel He 177 crew of pilot Hptm. Stolle (centre) after their 'successful' combat with a 422 NFS P-61 Black Widow during the night of 14/15 August 1944. The Alsatians 'Max' and 'Moritz' also flew sorties.
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For USN F6Fs the only action over Europe transpired during the invasion of southern France in August 1944. USS Tulagi with VOF-1 (Lieut. Comdr. WF Bringle, USN) and USS Kasaan Bay embarking VF-74 (Lieut. Comdr. HB Bass, USN), both squadrons, operating F6F-5s, provided coverage for the landings. VF-74 also operated a 7-plane F6F-3N night fighter detachment from Ajaccio on the island of Corsica.
On the day of the invasion, 15 August, VF-74 flew 60 sorties, VOF-1, 40 sorties, all ground support missions.

On the morning of 19 August, a four-plane division of VOF-1 pilots spotted the first German aircraft, three He-111's. The Americans were too short on fuel and could not attack. Two of the Americans were forced to land on HMS Emperor due to their fuel state. Later that day, two He-111's were spotted by another VOF-1 division and were promptly shot down, this occurring near the village of Vienne. Lieut.Poucel and Ens. Wood teamed up to bring down one and Ens. Robinson brought down the second. Soon thereafter, in the same vicinity, a third He-111 was shot down by Ens. Wood. That same morning, a division of VF-74 pilots led by Lieut. Comdr. Bass brought down a Ju-88 and in the afternoon another division attacked a Do-217 with split credits to going to Lieut. (j.g.) Castanedo and Ens. Hullard.
On 21 August, pilots from VOF-1 shot down three Ju-52 transports north of Marseille. Two were credited to Lieut. (j.g.) Olszewski; one went to Ens. Yenter. Operating for two weeks in support of the invasion,these two squadrons were credited with destroying 825 trucks and vehicles, damaging 334 more and destroying or otherwise immobilizing
84 locomotives. German aircraft shot down: VOF-1: 6, VF-74: 2."
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"Like on his two previous missions that day, Batz manned the "Black 5" when he took off together with Fw. Otto Fönnekold's four-plane Schwarm from the airfield at Gostagayevskaya at 1720 hours. The Bf 109s climbed while they flew toward the frontline at Kiyevskoye, and after only slightly more than ten minutes they ran into a formation of Il-2s. These were aircraft of the latest type, equipped with rear guns. Fönnekold managed to shoot down one of the ground-attack planes before the combat was over and the remaining Soviet planes had escaped.

The German fighter pilots continued climbing while they circled above the battlefield. They also saw the Fw 189, flying in a southwestern direction and heading toward Kiyevskoye. In that moment, the two 821 IAP Spitfire pilots were approaching the same area, from a higher altitude.

Spitfire Vb fighters made ready for service with the VVS

Led by 21-year old Mladshiy Leytenant Vladimir Lobachyov, the Spitfire Para had shortly before been pulled into combat with two other Messerschmitt 109s at 3,000 meters altitude, probably from the Slovakian 13./JG 52. But since their mission was to intercept the Fw 189, they had withdrawn from that combat--but not before they had expanded all their ammunition. Nevertheless, Lobachyov was determined to destroy the German reconnaissance plane. From a position at around 4,500 meters, Lobachyov saw the Fw 189, but also realized the four Bf 109s. He realized that he had only one chance, and that surprise was the only factor that could lead to success. He shoved the stick forward and his Spitfire Vb with red stars on wings and fuselage started diving toward the Rama.

The German fighter pilots caught sight of the two diving Spitfires--erroneously identifying them as "Airacobras"--too late to interfere. We will never know if the Fw 189 pilot Ofw. Robert Neugebauer and his crewmembers ever saw what struck them--they all were listed as missing. Willi Batz recounted:

I saw two Airacobras come diving steeply from high above in order to attack the Fw 189. I opened fire against the attacking pair from too large a distance and saw how one of the Airacobras flew straight into the Fw 189, thus ramming it. The second Airacobra made a sharp turn to the left and tried to attack the crewmembers of the Fw 189, who had bailed out. I managed to open fire against the Airacobra while I was turning, and saw shrapnel fly from the aircraft and the cockpit started burning. The pilot bailed out and the Airacobra was destroyed as it hit the ground.

Lobachyov's Spitfire chopped off the Fw 189's tail plumage, and the successful Soviet fighter pilot was lucky enough to survive and bail out. And so were, as seen also through Batz's account, the German flight crew. According to the Soviet report, Lobachyov found the three parachuted German airmen on the ground. After a short exchange of fire, during which one of the Germans was wounded by a bullet from Lobachyov's flight pistol, Soviet troops arrived to capture the enemy fliers.

The Spitfire that Batz shot down was recorded as Willi Batz's 12th aerial victory. Batz would survive the war, bringing his total tally to 237 victories. He passed away on September 11, 1988."

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Capt. Claude J Crenshaw
"November 21st, 1944 was a busy day and mission in the vicinity of Merseburg, when he ran into several large gaggles of enemy fighters. In rapid succession, he shot down five enemy FW-190 fighters, but was awarded four victories and one probable. Upon arrival back at Wreatham, it was discovered that only three of his six .50 caliber guns had been working. Crenshaw credited his high score to his new G-Suit and the K-14 Gyro Gun Sight, which enabled him to complete violent maneuvers and accurately target enemy aircraft"
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"2 January 1943
A single P-43 of the 76th FS piloted by Captain Jeffrey O. Wellborn flew a routine weather reconnaissance flight to Bhamo. He encountered an "I-45". The Japanese aircraft was above the P-43 but Wellborn climbed on to its tail without being detected. Wellborn's first burst took the Japanese by surprise. The Japanese aircraft then attempted to escape by diving but Wellborn followed and shot the aircraft down in flames. Wellborn probably encountered a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft rather than an I-45 (i.e . Ki-45).
This was to be Wellborn's only aerial victory."
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WING COMMANDER HOWARD PETER "COWBOY" BLATCHFORD, D.F.C., of Edmonton, Alberta, enlisted in the RAF as a pupil pilot on 3 February 1936. When the war broke out he was a Flying Officer with No. 41 Squadron and subsequently served with Nos. 212 and 257 Squadrons. He commanded No. 257 Squadron from 6 July 1941 until he was promoted to Wing Commander (Flying) for Station Digby on 8 September 1941. W/C Blatchford was killed in action on 3 May 1943 while on flying duties with Station Coltishall.
Known as "Cowboy" Blatchford, he accounted for 6 enemy aircraft destroyed 3 probables and two others damaged.
The citation for his D.F.C. reads, in part: "In November 1940, this officer was the leader of a squadron which destroyed eight and damaged a further five enemy aircraft in one day. In the course of the combat he rammed and damaged a hostile fighter when his ammunition was expended, and then made two determined head-on feint attacks on enemy fighters which drove them off."
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Chinese P-66s
"East of Enshih P-66s encountered the unescorted Type 99 light bombers that had just attacked the airfield. Although the Japanese identified their radial-engine opponents as P-43s, they were actually P-66s a type not previously encountered by the Japanese. The successful Chinese pilot was Chen Zhaoji of the 41st Squadron. The Ki 48 that went down took Lieut. Iwamura and the rest of his crew to their deaths."
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"In June 1942, the operational IAR fighter forces on the Eastern front, combined into the Flotilla 2 Vânátoare consisted of Grupul 8 Vânátoare, commanded by Cdr. Lt Col E. Pirvulescu, and included Escadrila 41, Escadrila 42 and Escadrila 60 with 12 IAR 80As each. During the Battle of Stalingrad, on 12 September, Grupul 8 Vânátoare IAR 80Bs (along with Grupul 7 Vânátoare's Bf 109s) claimed to have shot down seven Yaks but they lost two IARs. Grupul 8 moved at the end of September, to Karpovka, joining Grupul 7, equipped with Bf 109s. On 12 and 13 December, Grupul 6 used its IAR 81s to support the German counterattack by the Panzergruppe Hoth of the Heeresgruppe Don, from Kotelnikovo towards Stalingrad. In the summer of 1943 the FARR's IAR-80s were transferred to Romania for air defense duties,where they were used in combat against the USAAF. USAAF attacks were directed at the oil refinery installation at Ploieşti, in particular. On 1 August 1943 the IAR 80 faced for the first time the B-24 Liberator. They were 178 B-24 from 9th USAAF, part of the Operation Tidal Wave. The IAR 80Bs of Escadrila 61 and 62 of Grupul 6 Vânátoare, as well as IAR 80Cs from the newly formed Escadrila 45 of Grupul 4 Vânátoare, together with the Bf 109Gs from Esc. 53 and Bf 110s from the Romanian night fighter squadron, dived on the low-flying, four-engined bombers, belonging to five USAAF bomber groups (the 44th, 93rd, 98th, 376th and 389th). The Americans lost – in combat or on the way back – 51 bombers. Only 89 reached their bases, of which only 31 were serviceable for a mission the next day. The Romanians pilots claimed 25 certain and probable victories for just two losses, one IAR 80 B and one Bf 110C. According to Romanian statistics, IARs and Messerschmitts were confirmed as having shot down ten B-24s, with two probables.

On 10 June 1944, IAR 80s took part in one of the major air battles when the USAAF attacked Ploieşti, with 36 P-38 Lightnings of the 82nd Fighter Group carrying one bomb each, escorted by 39 Lightnings of the 1st and 82 FGs. The IAR 81Cs from Grupul 6, as well as the German fighters from I./JG 53 and 2./JG 77, intercepted the large American formation. Romanian pilot Dan Vizanty, commander of Grupul 6, recalled later:

"Our Lightning attack came as a complete surprise to the Americans. Our attack was so quick that not one of the 100 (sic) American aircraft managed to fire a single shot at our aircraft parked on the ground. Everything happened between ground level and about 2,000 meters (6,550 ft), and was total confusion. I was excited and proud of my "mills", the IAR 80s, which, thanks to their extraordinary agility, remained victorious in the air. I saw their crazy dives, quick rolls, reverse turns and inverted flying, always with just brief burst of fire to save ammunition. It was an incredible sight, but also a drama for the Lightning pilots, who, at this low altitude, were inferior to the ever-present, nimble IAR 80s".

The USAAF lost 22[16] or 23 P-38s on that day. Eight were claimed by Grupul for themselves – the rest were claimed by the Luftwaffe and by anti-aircraft gunfire. The Americans claimed 23 victories, although the Romanians and Germans each reported only one aircraft lost on that day.[1]

The American account of this battle conflicts significantly with the Romanian one. Fighter pilot Herbert "Stub" Hatch, who took part in the dogfight, wrote that his flight of 16 P-38s, the 71st Fighter Squadron, was challenged by a large formation of Romanian IAR 81C fighters that he misidentified as Focke-Wulf Fw 190s. According to Hatch, the fight took place at and below 300 feet (100 m) in a narrow valley. Hatch saw two IAR 81Cs hit the ground after taking fire from his guns, and his fellow pilots confirmed three more kills from his guns, making Hatch an ace in a day. However, the outnumbered 71st Fighter Squadron took more damage than it dished out, losing nine aircraft. The Americans never again repeated the P-38 dive-bombing mission profile over Romania. But during 1944 USAAF aircraft appeared over Romania in more significant numbers. Many air combats occurred and by the time of their last encounter with the USAAF on 3 July 1944, pilots of Grupul 6 vanatoare had submitted 87 confirmed (and ten not confirmed) claims. But casualties among the Romanian fighter pilots quickly mounted too. The three IAR 80/81 groups (the 1st, 2nd and 6th) in a period of less than four months – known as the "American Campaign" – had at least 32 IAR pilots killed in action, including 11 aces. These losses exceeded the number of casualties suffered in the previous two and a half years of fighting against the Soviets.Because of these heavy losses, all IAR 80/81 units were withdrawn from combat against Americans in July 1944 and IAR pilots started to convert to the more modern Bf 109G-6s."

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Rumanian IAR-80s/81s versus Luftwaffe aircraft though I'm not sure what types. From what I have seen 14 were lost in clashes with the Luftwaffe. Robert

"The P-38 was more abordable, especially on 10 June 1944, when the USAAF struck with the 1st and 82nd Fighter Groups.The 6th Fighter Group raised 23 IAR-81Cs in the air, at 12:30 am. At about 2500 m ground station signalled that "two feathered Indians" (the code name for P-38s) are attacking the airfield. Cpt. av. Dan Vizanti then gave the order: "Paris to Paris 1,2,3. We attack! Follow me!" The entire group dived on the unsuspecting pilots of the 71st Fighter Squadron (1st Fighter Group). The dogfight took place at an altitude of a few hundred meters and it lasted four minutes. The nimbler IAR-81C proved to be more than a match for the Lightning at that altitude. Within this short time span, 14 P-38s were shot down (including by the airfield AAA which was firing indiscriminately). The Romanian pilots claimed 23, but this is easily explainable due to the confusing circumstances. The 6th Fighter Group lost four men, two because of a mid-air collision."
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Bristol Bulldog vs SB bomber

"Six Bulldogs of the Osasto Heinilä/LLv 26 took off from Littoinen. One SB was shot down jointly by lentomestari Lauri Lautamäki (BU-72) and AA artillery. The bomber crashed at Perniö.
The bomber was from 10 AB, which reported that ten SB2 bombed fuel stores in the port of Turku."

"Mosquito night fighters continued to operate over Europe until the end of the war with a low casualty rate, in spite of the efforts of the Heinkel He 219-equipped units and Messerschmitt 262 jet fighters which were flown at night by pilots from 10./NJG 11. The commander of this unit, Oberleutnant Kurt Welter, claimed perhaps 25 Mosquitos shot down by night and two further Mosquitos by day while flying the Me 262, adding to his previous seven Mosquito kills in "hot-rodded" Bf 109G-6/AS or Fw 190 A-8 fighters. From September 1944 through to May 1945 a total of 92 night-flying Mosquitos of all marks on bombing, target marking, intruder and night fighter operations were lost.[23] As far as can be ascertained, three of his Me 262 claims over Mosquitos coincide with RAF records.[24]"
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Chinese I-15 Biplanes versus Japanese biplane fighters.

"On 10 April Zhu was again in action in the same Hsuchow area. In an earlier action on 25 March, the 3rd PG had lost six I-15bis and three pilots killed when they where attacked by 19 Kawasaki Type 95 (Ki-10) biplane fighters of the JAAF 2nd Daitai near Kwei-teh airfield (Koi-toh in Japanese). Zhu was not in that action and was out to avenge his comrades. In this Second Battle of Kwei-teh, the Chinese sent 18 I-15bis from the 3rd and 4th PG to again attack Japanese Army field headquarters at the elementary school in the town of Chao Chuang.
Zhu Jia-Xun was flying one of the seven 3rd PG I-15bis led by Major Lin Tsuo. Of the remaining I-15bis five were from the 22nd PS, 4th PG and six from the 23rd PS, 4th PG. The Chinese planes bombed and strafed their target to great effect, setting many fires in the school compound and scattering many Japanese Army horses. On their return journey, the 3rd PG took the high cover position at 4,500m, 500m above the 4th PG aircraft. Near Ma Mu Chi, the lower formation of Chinese aircraft was attacked by three Nakajima Type 97 monoplane fighters (this was the combat debut of this type) and 11 Kawasaki Type 95 fighters of the 2nd Daitai led by Major Tamiya Teranishi.
The 3rd PG I-15bis were in a perfect position to "bounce" the Japanese fighters. Zhu caught the Type 97 of Sergeant Major Risaburo Saito (NCO50) as it was diving on a 23rd PS I-15bis. Zhu apparently hit the Japanese pilot with his fire and Saito crashed his plane into that of Lieutenant Chen Hui-Min. Chen managed to bail out but Saito was killed. Afterwards, Zhu was surrounded by a number of JAAF fighters and his I-15bis was damaged. His engine cowling was shot away but Zhu managed to land his I-15bis safety in a wheat field. Most of the Chinese fighters were already short of fuel when the fighting started, nevertheless, they gave a good account of themselves. In the melee, two other 4th PG I-15bis were shot down, one pilot bailed out and the other was lost. Three other 4th PG aircraft force landed due to damage and fuel starvation but they were recovered. The 3rd PG lost one I-15bis and its pilot. Two, including Zhu, force-landed due to damage or fuel starvation but both aircraft were recovered. Two other 3rd PG pilots were slightly injured by Japanese gunfire but returned to base safely. As for the JAAF, in addition to Sergeant Major Saito, one other pilot, Lieutenant Yonesuke Fukuyama died of his wounds. Fukuyama, flying a Type 95 and despite repeated gun stoppages, managed to claim three Chinese fighters shot down when being heavily engaged together with Sergeant Major Shimokata before being hit and severely wounded in the right arm and left leg. Fukuyama flew part of the way back to Ching Chow airfield while holding the stick with his mouth! He managed to crash-land his plane at the airfield after covering the 200-kilometre flight in 50 minutes. He was immediately removed to hospital but died of his wounds four days later. Two other damaged JAAF fighters crash-landed back at Ching Chow airfield and two crashed landed at the battlefield. Of the latter, one of the JAAF pilots was picked up by his wingman who landed in no-man's land between the Chinese and Japanese Armies.
Tokuya Sudo from the 2nd chutai of the 2nd Daitai claimed two I-15bis in this combat. Captain Tateo Kato's 1st chutai of the 2nd Daitai (Ki-27s) fought against eight I-15bis and Kato personally claimed two of the Chinese fighters.
According to Japanese records fifteen Japanese fighters took part in this combat over Guide claiming 24 victories from 30 encountered while losing two fighters."
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"An Me262 Attack

Lts. Richard M. Kenny/Arnold V. Kuehn (NS712) left 13 January for a Bluestocking weather reconnaissance flight over Germany.

Kenny: At 1516 while south of Berlin at 30,000 feet, I turned west and then decided to make a 360 degree orbit to obtain a better visual inspection of the Berlin area. As I made the turn, we spotted two Me262s approximately 4 to 5 miles behind and below the Mosquito. There was a low cloud layer extending westward from the Hanover area. I could not outrun the jet aircraft, so I prepared to make a dash for the clouds.

Just before starting my dive, I made another turn for a quick check of the rear, and to my surprise, there was an Me262 on my tail with his four nose guns flashing. The jet was quickly closing in at 500 mph, so I immediately applied full throttle and dove for the cloud layer. During the steepest part of the dive, we had a true ground speed well over 450 mph. The jet continued following close behind, repeatedly firing.

I rolled the Mosquito on its back, as if going into a `split-ess', and instead of heading straight down, I rolled over off my back, then jinking, turning from one side to the other, and then climbing. I avoided flying straight or making any turns to prevent him from obtaining a deflection shot. The jet did not fire any tracer rounds during his alternate passes, closing in from four to five hundred yards before firing. The jet kept firing below me and the cannon shells were exploding far in front of the Mosquito, as if they were time-fused rounds.

The '262 made repeated attacks from all quarters but I evaded his every move by weaving and performing extremely violent `corkscrew turns'. The attack began at 30,000 feet and wound down to 12,000 feet before the jet broke off his pursuit, either because of ammunition shortage or low fuel. The encountered lasted from 1516 to 1525 hours with the jet continually on my tail firing at me.

The Me262 then pulled along side on my right at a distance. The Luftwaffe pilot waved his hand, then turned around and headed for the Berlin area. The second '262 never made a pass and always remained off to the side, several hundred yards away.

The cloud tops near Hanover were at 12,000 feet and I continued the flight to England flying just above the clouds. Watton was closed due to inclement weather so I landed at Bradwell Bay at 1745. The RAF crews servicing the Mosquito claimed the wrong type of spark plugs were installed in the engines! That is one mission I will never forget."

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So. Anyone have any examples? Robert

Now this would be a very frustrating dogfight LOL. Robert

"Oberst Johannes Steinhoff encountered a dozen Russian fighters early in 1945 without managing to shoot down a single one—he started doubting the dogfighting qualities of the Me 262. He recalled:

"I passed one that looked as if it was hanging motionless in the air (I am too fast!). The one above me went into a steep right-hand turn, his pale blue underside standing out against the purple sky. Another banked right in front of the Me's nose. Violent jolt as I flew through his airscrew eddies. Maybe a wing's length away. That one in the gentle left-hand curve! Swing her round. I was coming from underneath, eye glued to the sight (pull her tighter!). A throbbing in the wings as my cannon pounded briefly. Missed him. Way behind his tail. It was exasperating. I would never be able to shoot one down like this. They were like a sack of fleas. A prick of doubt: is this really such a good fighter? Could one in fact successfully attack a group of erratically banking fighters with the Me 262?""
dark-history.eu/Me262.htm

"The first known example of a successful attack of air-to-air rockets on another plane took place on August 20, 1939 during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol. A group of Soviet Polikarpov I-16 fighters under command of Captain N. Zvonaryev successfully destroyed a few Japanese warplanes by launching of RS-82 rockets. Soviet RS-82 rockets were mounted on special pylons under wings of Soviet fighters.[3]"
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"The 1st combat use of the RS rockets.
Five I-16 ftrs additionaly armed with eight RS-82 rockets were sent to Manchuria for test purposes. The pilots: Zvonarev(commander), Pimenov, Fedosov, Mikhaylenko, Tkachenko) The first victories: 20th aug. 1939: 2 Japanese I-97 ftrs were shot down by RS rockets; 21st aug. 1939: one I-97 ftr and two B-96 bmrs. The RS-82 were effectively used even at distances over 1km. Also rocket attack had big moral effect – the Japanese usualy break a formation and ran; they even couldn't recgognise what's killed them (the Japanese expertes only supposed that the Russians used big gun about 76mm). Total victories until 15th Sept. : ten I-97, two B-96, one light bomber B-97 in 85 missions; there were no Zvonarev's flight losses.

Soviet designations for the Japanese military planes:
I-95 = Ki-10 ; I-96 = A5M ; I-97 = Ki-27 ; B-96 = G3M"
wio.ru/spain/china-a.htm

" On 10 April 1945, a Halifax bomber was shot down by Fritz Kelb flying a Jägerfaust-equipped Me 163B, most likely from I. Gruppe/JG 400 operating from Brandis, Germany."

"Royal Navy catapult-launched fighter planes have scored 1st kill: Luftwaffe long-range "Condor" bomber, over Atlantic"

Chinese D.510 vs Japanese G3M

4/12/39 Capt. Chen Tse-Liu. G3M shot down over Lanchou area.

ROCAF D.510s

"Some accounts claim that the Dewoitines were only used as fighter trainers by the Chinese. In fact, after the French had departed, the surviving Dewoitines were deployed by the Chinese 17th Chung tui (approx. squadron). On 4th November 1939 they were part of a force that intercepted formations of Imperial Japanese Navy G3M bombers attacking Chengtu. Captain Shen Tse-Liu in aircraft '5921', leading the 17th's Dewoitines, attacked the G3M of 13th Ku commander Captain Okuda in a head on pass, using the 20mm cannon to set fire to the Japanese bomber and destroying it."
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Helmut Lent Me-110 pilot.

"On the early morning flight to Fornebu, Lent engaged and shot down a Norwegian Gloster Gladiator.[33] While the Ju 52s transporting the German paratroops came under heavy fire, Lent's Rotte engaged the enemy ground positions. Lent's starboard engine caught fire, forcing him to land immediately. With Kubisch manning the movable machine gun, Lent negotiated the capitulation with the Norwegian ground forces and the airfield was in German hands.[40]

At 18:50 the same day, Lent and his Staffelkapitän Werner Hansen took off again from Fornebu in undamaged Bf 110s. During the 40-minute flight, they came across a RAF Short Sunderland flying boat, serial number L2167, from No. 210 Squadron RAF which they shot down together; Hansen received credit for the "kill".[41] This incident is covered in great detail in the 2010 one hour documentary "A Very Short War" produced by Conti Bros Films and distributed by SBS Distribution (Australia/New Zealand) and CabinFever Distribution (rest of the world).

Helmut Lent was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class on 13 May 1940 before he was transferred to Trondheim on 18 May.[42] He claimed his second aerial victory of the Norwegian campaign on 27 May over a RAF Gloster Gladiator from No. 263 Squadron RAF, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Caesar Hull. On 2 June 1940 Lent and his wingman Thönes claimed a Gladiator each. The flight lasted 5 hours and 46 minutes and their opponents were again from No. 263 Squadron, aircraft serial number N5893 piloted by Pilot Officer J.L. Wilkie, and N5681 piloted by Pilot Officer L.R. Jacobsen. He claimed his seventh victory overall and final of the Norwegian theatre of operations on 15 June 1941 over a No. 254 Squadron RAF Bristol Blenheim, piloted by Pilot Officer P.C. Gaylord."
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24/01/1943 J.U.88 Attacked by J.U.88 – no damages – Liberator B/59

16/03/1942 FW.200 Condor Hits scored causing engine fire – Liberator R/59

14/08/1943 FW.200 Condor Some hits scored – Liberator S/59

14/08/1943 FW.200 Condor Escaped into cloud – Liberator F/59

Shootout Between an H6K and a B-17
"In the Solomons, there were air to air combat between long range patrol planes which came across each other during their long overwater flights. In such encounters, US B-17 (PB-1) and B-24(PB4Y)s were almost always superior to their Japanese opponents which were mostly slower, less heavily armed, and almost unarmored flying boats and floatplanes. Type 2 Flying boats (H8K2) proved to be more of a match, but however exceptional its performance was as a flying boat, the handicap against the land-based planes were undeniable.
When the Japanese started losing flying boats in a rapid succession, they at first did not realize the casualties were being caused by enemy patrol planes, because most of them were apparently shot down before they could radio an detailed message about their opponents.
Lt. Hitsuji, 851 NAG, was commanding an H6K (Mavis) in November 1942, and became one of the first to find out what shot down Japanese patrol planes and survive. The following is a translation from his memoir "Saigo no Hikotei (The Last Flying boat)" (Asahi Sonorama, ISBN4-257-17286-X)."
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"Sgt. Satoru Anaubuki downs three B-24s and a P-38
Satoru Anabuki served mostly with the 50th Sentai and is the top IJAAF ace of WWII. He fought in the Burma Indochina theater until he was injured on October 8, 1943. After being transferred to Japan in 1944, he also fought the mainland defense campaign, and ended the war with 36-54 kills. Anabuki became the first living soldier in the history of IJA to be awarded a personal certificate of merit.

On October 8 1943, Sgt. Satoru Anabuki took off from Mingaladon at 1215 to intercept a formation of B-24s heading towards Rangoon. His takeoff was delayed by about five minutes due to a fouled spark plug and he was trying hard to catch up with the three other Hayabusas of his chutai that took off before him.The sky was hazy that day, and when Anabuki caught a glimpse of the other Hayabusas, they disappeared into the haze. Searching for friendly planes, he suddenly came across the B-24 formation he was ordered to intercept.

The B-24s were apparently taking evasive action after having bombed the convoy in Rangoon harbor. For a moment, Anabuki was disappointed that he could not stop their bombing, but another thought came to his mind. Eight Hayabusas were supposed to be flying cover over the convoy. The three others that took off before him were also supposed to be over the target. Why are they not attacking the B-24s? And it was strange that all the B-24s seemed intact after encountering some eleven fighters?　He guessed that none of the Hayabusas ever found the enemy due to the haze, but even as he thought, he was approaching the enemy quickly. If he was the only one to find them, he had to do it alone.

Anabuki jettisoned his drop tanks, and radioed five times that he found the enemy, but as usual, the radio wasn't working, and he just heard a lot of noise coming back. He was flying at 5500 meters,and the enemy as about 500 meters below him. Eleven B-24s, in groups of five, three and three. Anabuki searched for escorts, and there they were, two P-38s, right over the bombers. Anabuki felt that the P-38s were totally off guard, as they were cruising along in a straight line. No Hayabusas were forthcoming, but Anabuki, finding himself in a great position for attack, put his plane (named "Kimikaze" after his wife Kimiko) in a dive towards the enemy."
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"In the afternoon on 13 February, lentomestari, Lautam�ki (GL-253) and ylikersantti Oiva Tuominen (GL-255) were first scrambled at 14:00 and sent to Matkaselk�. After this there was an alarm – a large Russian bomber formation was approaching! Luutnantti Knut Kalmberg (GL-260) and Kivinen took off first as they were in readiness with running engines. Five others followed so all nine Gladiators of Kivinen's unit were airborne. They met nine I-15bis fighters and engaged them. Six Russians tried to form a "Spanish ring"-defensive circle. Kalmberg attacked these Russians, but as he started shooting, three other Russians attacked him and hit his Gladiator. He tried to disengage by diving, but his plane went into a spin and dived into the ground at Havuvaara, killing him. Meanwhile, Kivinen�s Gladiator was hit in the engine. He disengaged with a steep dive and landed at V�rtsil�. The rest of the Gladiators were now dogfighting with the Russians. In the dogfight J�rn Ulrich were hit and he was wounded. He made a forced landing with the last of his strength between Kuhilasvaara and Havuvaara. His Gladiator GL-257 was badly damaged and not repaired anymore. In this fight, Ilmari Joensuu (GL-256) claimed one I-15bis at 14:40 while Ulrich was credited for the destruction of two between 14:15 and 15:05. Other Finnish pilots in this engagement were Pentti Tev� and lentomestari Niilo �Arpinaama� Artola. Artola was not a pilot of LLv 26 but a Blackburn Ripon pilot of LLv 16. He was on a familiarization flight with a Gladiator when the Soviet fighters appeared. He joined the battle although he was not sure how to operate the guns! However, he managed to fire a bust on an I-15 chasing a Finnish Gladiator. It seems that the I-15bis fighters were from 49 IAP, which lost Starshiy Politruk M. A. Kopman, who was KIA, while claiming two Gladiators."
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"During the night of 8/9 September 1939, six Whitleys of 77 Squadron and six from 102 Sqadron took off from England to undertake leaflet dropping operations over Germany. Two Whitleys from 77 Squadron strayed over Belgium on their return. Duty pilots at Nivelles fighter base were alerted when the incursions were first reported, and shortly afterwards Captain Lucien Boussa of the 5e Escadrille of Flight Regiment 2 took off in a Fairey Fox, joined by two Fairey Fireflies of the 4e Escadrille, piloted by Daniel Leroy du Vivier and Marcel Michotte. The trio intercepted one Whitley and Boussa fired a burst in front of its nose in an effort to force it to land. Instead the Whitley's gunner returns fire, hitting Leroy du Vivier's Firefly obliging him to make a forced landing forthwith at 06:00.
Another Fairey Fox flown by Boussa's No 2, Adjutant Albert Genot with Corporal Roger Alaffe as his gunner, had now also got off the ground and pursued another bomber signalling, its position by radio. A white Verey light was fired at the bomber which replied with a red and continued on its way. Genot drew off and like Boussa fired a burst across the Whitley's bows. This aircraft too returned fire, hitting the Fox in the tail and rear fuselage and setting it on fire. The crew baled out as the stricken aircraft went down to crash on the estate of Count Gaston d'Oultrement at Nouvelles at 06:00. Genot was wounded in the hand, and Alaffe broke his right shoulder on landing.
It would seem that their opponent was Whitley K8951 (Flight Lieutenant Connell), the crew of which reported shooting down a fighter. The bomber was itself damaged in this encounter and went on to crash-land at Lognes, France, the pilot having suffered a slight head wound (the aircraft was later repaired). "
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Early Yugoslavia

"Before the war the main figter school was based in Mostar, and the planes were of mixed type.

After the first few days of the war only two were left, a Me 109 and a Hurricane.

A infrantry colonel asked if someone from fighter school could fly over to Imotski and find out if the Germans are already there. Two pilots Franjo Godec and Stipčič took off. Godec was flying the hurricane this time. Half way there Godec spoted three Me 110's below heading towards Mostar. Fliping vre his wing hoping Stipčić would notce the Germans too, Godec attacked the Me 110 now flying in the Mostar valley. Even though his bursts met their target, the Me 110 just kept flying. In the heat of the battle Godec didn't notice that the other Zerstorers were gaining on him. He wanted to fire another burst, but he ran out of ammo. Exactly in this moment he was hit by a ignition cannon shell. The cockpit was immediately filled with thick black smoke, preventing Godec to breath. But he was determined to get that Me 110. He tried to cut off the tail of the fighter with his airscrew, but luckily the Me 110 started spinig before Godec reached ramming ditance (this type of the attack was latter known as Taran). He slamed the Me 109 in half loop opening the cockpit at the same time. He bailed out, only to be slamed with his back to the tail surfaces of his fighter. After buncing off the aircraft he opened his parachute. The strong wind was now carring toward Mostar city. He touched down at Jasenica village, but was dragged for a long distance before being able to cut off his parachute. He had a broken leg and a spoiled flying day, but was othervise OK."
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Also in 1941 Yugoslavia,

"The flight of IK-3's lead by the talented aerobatic champion and flight instructor Savo Poljanec from Maribor soon reached the first wave of enemy bombers.

Poljanec lead the group on to the bombers but they were seperated because of the German Me 109 diving on them. Poljanec was now alone and fighting with the guns of 27 bombers. The experienced aerobatic pilot made an immelman turn and came back down the side of the formation concentrating on the right bomber of the last three. Just before the bomber was engulfed in fire the tail gunner watched the victorious Poljanec climb over the formation. Then on the alititude of 6000m Poljanec noticed that a formation of German Me 109 fighters were preparing an attack on him. Poljanec evaded the first fighter, and then started a high speed pursuit, with a couple of short bursts from Poljanec the Me 109 began lossing altitude and was aparently out of control. His joy was to be shortlived because in the next moment, he was attacked by the next fighter who was following him closely all this time. Poljanec felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder and his engine started to quit. Seeing there was no point of proceding, he shut off his engine and started spinnig. The trick worked since the enemy fighters sure of their kills started climb again. His spin became uncontrolled now and only his great experience as an aerobatic pilot enabled him to exit this spin, and this only at minimal altitude. Poljanec was now flying his bullet ridden IK 3 towards Zemun trailing a glycol trail behind him. Just before landing he was strafed by a Me 110 and one of his shell exploded behind the seat that Poljanec was ocupaying. But all in all he managed to land safely and was immediately put in hospital.

Worth mentioning here is that Poljanec in a IK-3 flew a lot of mock dogfights against Yugoslavian Me 109E usually flown by Boris Cijan."
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"On 26 August, luutnantti Olli Puhakka's seven Fiats from 1st and 3rd Flights were scrambled in poor weather to Konevitsa, where a formation of seven I-16s, six LaGG-3a and four Il-2s were engaged. Lentomestari Oiva Tuominen reported:

"At 11:05-12:00, altitude 1,800-100m.
On the return the radio at Saunasaari informed us of four Victors coming straight at us. I observed the planes when the Russian flak shot at them. I climbed at the side??? At 1,800 metres I was at the same level as the last plane. I attacked it when all four I-153s came at me. I shot at one during the curve and the altitude fell too 200m. Three planes pulled a little altitude when I was able to shoot at the fourth and it started to pour some smoke and after a while exploding into pieces. The other three attacked me at the same time, when after rolling a while with them got to fire on one in a bank, when it crashed in a 45o angle to the ground. Two fled south. I returned low on fuel.
My plane FA-18."

In the engagement between 11:05-12:00, lentomestari Tuominen (FA-18) claimed two I-153s as probables (confirmed by the HQ without witnesses) over Miikkulainen-Lumisuo, kersantti Osmo Länsivaara (FA-21) claimed one Il-2 over Konevitsa, lentomestari Lautamäki (FA-13) claimed a Hurricane over Konevitsa and ylikersantti P. Saarni (FA-32) claimed a damaged I-16 over Konevitsa.
In a second engagement between 11:20-11:35, vänrikki Nils Trontti (FA-33) claimed a Hurricane over Saunasaari.
The Soviets reported that at 10:28-11:47, eight Hurricanes of 3 GIAP-KBF escorted four Il-2s of 57 AP-KBF to Sortanlahti. Shortly after the strike the detachment was attacked by two Fokkers and four Capronis. In the combat four Capronis were claimed shot down. These were claimed by Kapitan K. Khametov, Starshiy Politruk N. Kosurokov, Kapitan G. Kostylev and one shared between Kapitan I. Kaberov and Starshiy Leytenant A. Yevrgafov. One Il-2 and Khametov's Hurricane did not return."
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Belgian CR.42s Vs Ju 52s and Bf 109s

In the early morning on 10 May the II�me Group was ordered to evacuated from Nivelles to Landing Field No 22 at Brustem.
When the last aircraft were preparing to land, the flight led by Capitaine Callatay spotted a formation of Ju 52/3ms over Tongres. The transports were from 17/KGzbV5 tasked with dropping dummy parachutists. The three CR.42s took on the Ju 52s and Callatay scored hits on a Ju 52 near Alken at 05.30. This aircraft crash-landed at Maastricht. The Belgian pilot were immediately pounced on by escorting Bf 109s from I/JG1 and the three Belgian pilots broke off the engagement and headed back to Nivelles thinking that the field at Brustem had been put out of action by German bombers.
Callatay was later credited with a destroyed Ju 52/3m."
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21 April 43 Rumanian Me-109G vs Soviet RZ biplane in a dogfight 4 km west of Starobielsk.Biplane shot down. Robert

Squadron-Leader Andrew William Barr, D.F.C. and Bar, hereinafter called "Nicky"

"His adventures began quickly. His return in the guise of a sheik occurred in January 1942, only a few months after his posting to operational work. Rommel had entered Benghazi again to begin the second big effort to drive the British from Africa. Barr was out on bomber escort when they were attacked by a formation of enemy fighters. They were over El Agheila on from Benghazi. Nicky tackled two Italians. He destroyed one. Then he turned on to a Messerschmitt which had shot down one of his squadron. He destroyed the German. He was going down to land and rescue his comrade when two Messerschmitts closed on him.

Nicky's wheels were almost down and his guns had jammed. He manoeuvred rapidly, working swiftly. Then he turned for battle. With one good burst he blew up one German in mid-air. Two other Messerschmitts joined the fight. That was the end. Nicky was shot down. The Germans followed him all the way with guns blazing. They set fire to his machine and wounded him as he raced away.

For three days he was on the dodge in enemy territory. He made the most of it. He observed enemy positions and noted strengths. Friendly Arabs gave him robes and a camel. When he got through he had valuable information for the Army. That was fine work. His magnificent battle over El Agheila, in which he destroyed three of the enemy, had brought his aggregate kills to eight, six fighters and two bombers. He was awarded the D.F.C."
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Mosquitos vs He-111Z Zwilling

"In February 1944 Charlie came upon something over Dole, France that he dubbed "one of the funniest sights I've ever seen". He and his wingman were confronted with an unusual "monstrosity" of an aircraft, the Heinkel He-111Z Zwilling of the German Luftwaffe which was two Heinkel He-111 bombers joined together at the wing, with an additional engine added to be a glider tug. The He-111Z was towing two Gotha Go-242 transport gliders. His wingman noted that the He-111Z had a large number of gun positions. He and his wingman shot down all the aircraft. This contributed to his tally as a one and a half aerial victory."
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Lucky Lester
"In a perilous mission on July 18, 1944, Lt. C. D. Lester downed three German aircraft in less than six minutes. He earned the nickname "Lucky" because he survived this and other dangerous missions without as much as a scratch or bullet hole in his aircraft. Here's Lucky's own account of that day in the Summer of '44:

"It was a clear day in July 1944 when the P-51 Mustangs of the 332nd Fighter Group took off from their airfield at Ramitelli, Italy. Our mission was to rendezvous over northern Italy's Po Valley at 25,000 feet with B-17 Flying Fortresses enroute to bomb a German airfield in southern Germany. We had been given the task of escorting the bombers to the target and back, providing protection from enemy aircraft. We relished the assignment since it allowed us to conduct a fighter sweep, which meant we provided general cover, but had no specific group of 'Forts' to protect. I flew with the 100th Fighter Squadron. The name 'Lucky' stuck because of all the tight situations from which I had escaped without a scratch or even a bullet hole in my aircraft."
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I think the dog fight on 43.07.01 between a Hudson and a Jake over the Timor Sea very interesting. Robert

There are a couple of claims by RNZAF Hudsons against a Jake and Pete. Robert

Kaos. Just wanted to thank you for your heroic input. Although i dont comment much on the boards these days, I am a Lurker and really enjoy your amazing research.

Several of your scenarios have hit the Blazing Skies table recently, including the Iron Annies vs CR 42's. Who would ahve ever matched those on a wargames table.
The Ju52's even managed to down a CR42 with a ridiculously lucky shot through the pilots brain!

Many thanks again :)

Thankies Tommi. Glad to be of help. I have tried very hard to present some good examples. Made it sort of a pet project LOL. Robert

Anyone else know of any others not already mentioned? Robert

A-36 versus He-111

"Some A-36's did fight enemy aircraft, but Dills says that he encountered an enemy airplane on only one of the missions he flew. This occurred during a low – level strafing mission with seven other A-36's over Italy. Dills recalled the details:

"We really shouldn't have been out that day; the ceiling was only 700 feet, and the area was full of hills and mountains. But, there we were……..I was flying on Major Kelly's left wing, and I fell in behind him, hoping that we could make it through this valley. As I caught up to him, he turned left into me. I was still on his left, but now I was ahead of him. I reduced throttle so that he could catch up. I was looking back and noticed that he was catching up very fast. But, he passed me. I gave it more throttle in order to catch up to him, but he kept going faster."

Dills finally saw the object of his leader's attention:

"There was a Heinkel HE-111 cruising through the valley at 500 feet……of course, Kelly was going a lot faster than I was, and he got the first shot at it and set it on fire. I took a shot at it as I went by, but I'm not sure if I did any damage. I wanted to get the hell out of there, because….here came the other six airplanes and THEY wanted to take shots at this thing too. So, here we were, fooling around under a 700 foot ceiling, trying to take shots at this damned thing! I'm surprised we didn't shoot each other down! So, I just went off to one side and watched. I mean, obviously, he (the Heinkel) was going to crash because he was already on fire. His left wing dipped and he hit the ground at a 45 degree bank. The wing broke off at the root, where it had been set afire, and the whole wing flew up in the air. I can still see it in my mind, with the black and white cross. The fuselage slid across the ground, leaving a sheet of flame behind it that was 500 feet long and 50 feet high. When they investigated after we had captured the territory, the local people said that they had buried 15 German pilots, who were on board. I felt like Major Kelly should have gotten credit for 15 victories. I mean, what's more important? Shooting down the plane or the pilot? Obviously, the pilot. If you let the pilot go back and get another airplane, you haven't really done anything by shooting him down. But, if you kill the pilot, that's a true victory. I hate to put it that way during peacetime, but it's the truth."
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