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Post by baz62 on Apr 7, 2013 18:24:56 GMT 12
I was idly looking at photos belonging to members of the P38 National Association and this photo was posted by one of my US Facebook friends, Jack Cook. On the left is comedian Joe E Brown and on the right is Lt Col Ged Johnson CO 49th FG at Tacloben, PI 1944. (I copied and pasted that bit) There are questions as you can plainly see among the Japanese kill markings what looks to be an Australian flag!!!! Someone thought it was a New Zealand one but there are 5 white stars. Anyone know anything about this?  |
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Post by Luther Moore on Apr 7, 2013 18:55:39 GMT 12
Lt Col Jerry Johnson of the 49th FG accidently shot down an RAAF Wirraway by mistake.
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Post by raymond on Apr 7, 2013 19:16:30 GMT 12
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Post by corsair on Apr 7, 2013 21:32:36 GMT 12
Hi fellas
It was actually a Boomerang !
Has been well documented
The story was even mentioned in an old issue of Classic Wings many years back
Also the pilot survived and was later tracked down by Johnson, who brought over some black market liquid as part of an apology
Corsair
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Post by Luther Moore on Apr 7, 2013 21:55:38 GMT 12
I was told it was a Boomerang by a friend but could only find records of it being a Wirraway.
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Post by baz62 on Apr 7, 2013 22:27:57 GMT 12
Ah thanks guys I can post that with the photo now cheers.
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Post by raymond on Apr 7, 2013 22:40:21 GMT 12
Thanks for the Boomerang tip as I was searching through the Wirraway serials and found nothing. Found this on www.adf-serials.com/ Go to Boomerang page A46-136 CA-13 959 09/43 served with 4 Sqn; On 15/11/43 it was flying back to base when a USAAF P-38 Lightning piloted by Lt Gerald R Johnson of 9 FS (who became the 5th Air Force's 4th highest scoring ace with 22 victories) fired a burst into the port side hitting mainplane and port tailplane with the aircraft lurching to starboard and lost height finally recovering at 500ft but with the port mainplane on fire and cannon ammunition exploding it was travelling too fast to land so F/O Robert McColl Stewart (408505) lifted the a/c over the river at the strip end belly landed into scrub whereupon it burst into flames and was totally destroyed and all this happened even though it was accompanied by A46-132 and two P-40s; it was converted to components and Lt Johnson had an Australian flag painted on the nose of his P-38 along with his Japanese victories. |
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Post by Luther Moore on Apr 7, 2013 22:46:58 GMT 12
Also the pilot survived and was later tracked down by Johnson, who brought over some black market liquid as part of an apology Corsair I would love to know how the apology went. |
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Post by baldrick on Apr 8, 2013 0:22:16 GMT 12
I would have thought that an apology for the shooting was unnecessary, accidents happen and have happened often to members of probably all nations. (Who shot Bader down?) But this is the only incident I`ve seen where the shooter was crass enough to paint a victory icon on his aeroplane. Most people would not boast about it.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 8, 2013 10:51:21 GMT 12
There was an RNZAF P-40 with a NZ Flag kill marking on it, after the pilot accidentally shot down his mate during an air-to-air firing exercise within NZ. I think it was at the Gunnery Training School at RNZAF Station Gisborne or something like that, does anyone know more details or have a photo of the aircraft? I cannot recall where I read that. I think the aeroplane had two Japanese kills too.
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Post by baz62 on Apr 8, 2013 12:43:57 GMT 12
There was an RNZAF P-40 with a NZ Flag kill marking on it, after the pilot accidentally shot down his mate during an air-to-air firing exercise within NZ. I think it was at the Gunnery Training School at RNZAF Station Gisborne or something like that, does anyone know more details or have a photo of the aircraft? I cannot recall where I read that. I think the aeroplane had two Japanese kills too. Wasn't it in Brendon Deere's Military Wings? I remeber seeing a photo of the aircraft I think after a forced landing and you can see the NZ kill marking? |
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Post by baz62 on Apr 8, 2013 12:46:51 GMT 12
I would have thought that an apology for the shooting was unnecessary, accidents happen and have happened often to members of probably all nations. (Who shot Bader down?) But this is the only incident I`ve seen where the shooter was crass enough to paint a victory icon on his aeroplane. Most people would not boast about it. Come on of course you would apologise and its funny because noone died or was injured, then it would be bad taste to apply a kill marking! Good on the US pilot to manning up to the shoot-downee! |
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Post by lesterpk on Apr 8, 2013 13:37:38 GMT 12
We put a Hornet kill marking on an A-4 after one of the junior pilots got a confirmed gun kill in training.
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Post by Luther Moore on Apr 8, 2013 13:49:06 GMT 12
I would have thought that an apology for the shooting was unnecessary, accidents happen and have happened often to members of probably all nations. (Who shot Bader down?) But this is the only incident I`ve seen where the shooter was crass enough to paint a victory icon on his aeroplane. Most people would not boast about it. Come on of course you would apologise and its funny because noone died or was injured, then it would be bad taste to apply a kill marking! Good on the US pilot to manning up to the shoot-downee! Agreed.I would of apologized and hoped that we could have a laugh over a beer or 20. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 8, 2013 14:01:49 GMT 12
I'm sure a Boomerang would be no match for a P-38, I wonder how short the dogfight was.
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Post by Andy Wright on Apr 8, 2013 15:00:02 GMT 12
Given Johnson, with that score, would have been a bloody good shot and that the Boomer pilot, if he saw the P-38 approaching, would most likely have thought "Ah, a P-38, no worries" ... not long.
Incidentally, since we're talking about 'amusing' kills, do you remember when the late Howard Pardue, in his Bearcat, clipped the rudder of a Yak with his prop in a prelim Reno race? Overnight, the Bearcat acquired a red star beneath the cockpit and the Yak received a new rudder complete with a "No Parking" P and a hand flipping the bird!
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Post by baz62 on Apr 8, 2013 17:27:56 GMT 12
I'm sure a Boomerang would be no match for a P-38, I wonder how short the dogfight was. Given the three .50cal and 20mm cannon in the nose I'd say short Dave. ;D |
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Post by Luther Moore on Apr 8, 2013 19:49:03 GMT 12
I read somewhere that he gave the Boomerang a short burst in the side and it started to flame and go down.The pilot crash landed it in the bush while trying to land on an airfield, so I don't think it was shot out of the air.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 8, 2013 20:32:31 GMT 12
That kind of sounds like being shot out of the air to me Luther.  |
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Post by Luther Moore on Apr 8, 2013 20:53:50 GMT 12
hahah Yea it didn't sound right.I meant it was wounded by a quick burst not blown up and the pilot had to bail.
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