Hello,

Looking for details on a 148 Sqdn operation flown 22.11.1944 over northern Italy. A Lysander was shot down on a 'special op' by a over zealous American P51 pilot from the 12th Airforce. Lysander was at the time escorted by P51 Mustangs flown by No.3 RAAF Squadron.

Questions, a) Can anyone confirm that 148 Sqdn was involved, b) who was the pilot, c) what was the purpose of the flight, d) crash site.

Any help welcome.

Thanks

Steve Smudger Smith



Steve Smith
No.3 Group Operational Research 1939-45

The No.148 Squadron History records this Lysander as T1456, shot down near Venice.

In 'Flights of the Forgotten', Ken Merrick states that No. 148 Squadron flew only two Lysander sorties to N. Italy in Nov. '44, but doesn't give further details.

I have a list of known No. 148 Squadron Lysander pilots if you're interested?

Hi,

Thank you very much for the response to my post. Yes I would like any details on the pilots, appreciated.

Regards


Steve

Hi Steve,

The following is taken from the 148 Sqn History:

"Known Lysander pilots:

Sqd. Ldr. Peter Vaughan-Fowler
Joe Manning (Married in Italy, returning with his wife from honeymoon in Milan, hitched a lift in a Hudson, which crashed - both were killed)
Flg. Off. Franklin
Jack Raynes
Flt. Lt. Attenborough
Flg. Off. Dalzell"

Vaughan-Fowler and Dalzell both survived the war. I don't know about the others, but I've just searched CWGC's 1944 records for them without success.

Let me know if you identify the pilot of T1456, I'd be interested to know!

Cheers,

Aidan

The pilot of T1456 was one of the airmen mentioned earlier, but his name has a different spelling:

On 22.10.44, FO John Rayns (died 22 *November* according to CWGC) was shot down by a Mustang - despite having fighter escort - while delivering three passengers to enemy territory as part of operation 'Templar'. All were killed.

Thank you both for the information provided. On my next trip to the P.R.O (next Tuesday) I will see what doc's are avialable.

Kindest regards


Steve

You're welcome!

I'd be interested to know if you find more at the PRO.

Will you post any new info. on the forum?

Regards,

Aidan

Hello, i've read your post about the Lysander shot down by mustangs over north italy. According to my data, the plane was shot down near Alessandria (Piemonte region, northwest italy) and one of the SOE agents carried by the plane was Major Neville Temple Darewski. That's true? Thanks

Aidan,
Do you have anything in your historial records about the operational flights of 414720 Fl Sgt Ian McGugan RAAF att 148 Squadron RAF, KIA, Friday 11th February, 1944 - missing on operation in Albania whilst piloting Halifax JN959 "N" It appears he was buried initially in Pariah Cemetery,Bjilosi near Centinje, Montenegro before being reinterred in Belgrade War Cemetery.It appears from his service record that he joined 148 from 27 OTU on or about 1st December 1943.I have infornation from CWGC, AWM and National Archives Australia service file but no operational details. If possible your help would be appreciated. Thanking you.

Hi David,

I have a copy of the ORB page for the night in question:

'Date: 10/11 February 1944.

Aircraft Type and Number: Halifax II, JN959, N.

Crew:
F/S McGugan, I. (Aus)
F/S Hough, B.A. (Aus)
F/S Mann P.G. (Aus)
F/S Lee, E.G. (Aus)
F/S Plaxton N.E. (Can)
Sgt Elkes, A.
Sgt Palmer, J.
Sgt Harris

Duty: Operation Stables 6
Time up: 2008
Time Down: -

Details of Sortie or Flight:
DNCO. This aircraft was airborne at 2007, nothing more was heard from it and it is presumed lost.'

There are more details of that night in the monthly summary:

'A programme of 11 operations laid on for tonight, 4 in Albania and 7 in Northern Italy, but at mid-day the Met. conditions forecast for Northern Italy had deteriorated and all aircraft were switched to Albanian targets. 10 aircraft only took off, Halifax “L” (FLt Edwards) being cancelled just before take off when it was discovered that one of the fuselage containers full of explosives had burst open and littered the interior of the aircraft. Seven of the 10 aircraft were successful, of the failures, one (W.O. Chalk) found the target covered by 10/10 cloud, another (W.O. Pitt) was fired at from the ground by machine gun tracer whereupon the Captain decided not to drop and brought the load back to base. This firing was also reported by F.O. Dunphy, who was on the same target. The last aircraft (F.Sgt. McGugan) is missing. He was on the same area from which the firing was reported and nothing has been heard or seen of him.'

I probably have more ORB extracts relevant to McGugan if you're interested. Let me know.

Best wishes,

Aidan

Do you have any information regarding Operation 401C on the night of 3rd July 1944.

My cousin Fl/Sgt Leonard James Smith was dorsal turret gunner on Halifax JU292 FS-W 148 Sqdn lost on this Op, all killed after a nightfighter attack,by Ober Ltn Johannes "Hans" Krause KC in a Do-217 N-2

Terry

regarding your question I found this in my research

22.10.44 Lysander
T1456
148 Sqdn RAF F/O Raynes - pilot - killed
2 SOE agents also killed
aircraft shot down en route to Austria
during daylight operation from
Northern Italy by USAAF P-51