414thNFS Aircraft Inventory

I'm trying to define exactly all the aircraft types operated by the 414thNFS
from initial deployment in the MTO until V-E Day. I know they operated with
Beaufighters for most of this time and P-61's late in the war, but need additional
information on other a/c used by this squadron in daily combat operations.

Any help with this will be appreciated.
Bob

Thanks Jim, but what I'm trying to establish is whether
the P-38's, P-51's and A-20's were operated in a combat
roll once the 414thNFS was fully operational overseas.
Maurer isn't specific on this point.

Bob

Hi,

I always wanted to know which Units of the USAAF used the Bristol Blenheim ?
I think that some may have been used along with the Beaufighters in initial training in the UK or perhaps in the MTO ?

Alex

Skybear,...My understanding differs....if the Beaufighter was used from  1943-1945, and the P-38,  P-51, and P-61 all had dates of 1945, I would say that all of them....Beaufighter, P-38, P-51 and P-61,were all used in 1945.

A recon unit would use what was necessary for a particular mission.  The P-61 had radar to locate the enemy aircraft at night...possibly the P-38s and P-51s were used as fighter escort for the P-61...but, as I don't have access to history  of the 414th NFS, this is only a guess on my part.

Jim :-)

jpeters140

Skybear,...My understanding differs....if the Beaufighter was used from  1943-1945, and the P-38,  P-51, and P-61 all had dates of 1945, I would say that all of them....Beaufighter, P-38, P-51 and P-61,were all used in 1945.

A recon unit would use what was necessary for a particular mission.  The P-61 had radar to locate the enemy aircraft at night...possibly the P-38s and P-51s were used as fighter escort for the P-61...but, as I don't have access to history  of the 414th NFS, this is only a guess on my part.

Jim :-)

Jim,

The problem is that the 414thNFS continued to function until deactivated in 1947.
Although they did operate the P-38, etc. in 1945, it could have all been routine
post war activity.

Bob

Alex,

Any info on two 417th birds:

ND 204 (could be 294)  crashed in Sep 1944

or

MM 839? crashed in Nov 1944.  Looking for any MACR info for either of them.

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Re the 414th, or any existing squadron having P-38s, et al on the inventory, at war's end, it was so common to have nearly everything dumped/given/disposed of by disbanding units to those remaining, that I can well believe it.

The 417th, as an example, used a war weary Hurricane while in North Africa for pilot proficiency flights instead of using one of their operational Beaus.

About the P-61s and Beaus at the same time, once a unit was converted and trained to the Widow, the Beaus were given back to the RAF ASAP.

Alex,

Photo of 417th Hurricane being refuelled alongside squadron Beaus, Tafaroui, North Africa, probably sometime late 1943, but possibly early 1944.  I do not know the serial number.

Alex Smart

Hi,

Blenheims were -

MK. V's
BB179
EH347
EH443
EH458
all the above to the USAAF from 1st October 1943.
I suspect in the Middle East/North Africa.

Beaufighters with 414th NFS were at least the following -
V6745,V8800,V8397,V8632,V8733,V8743,V8753,V8758,V8759,V8760,
V8762,V8767,V8775,V8778,V8800,V8801,V8802,V8818,V8823,V8844.
BT297,BT301.
MM876,MM878,MM882,MM901,MM907.
ND157,ND158,ND168,ND212,ND240,ND261,ND265,ND277,ND289,ND294,ND313.
KV896,KV900,KV917.
KW162. There must have been others.

Alex

 
Hello,
I am an Italian writer and recently I wrote a book about the history of Alghero (Sardinia) airport.
I am still trying to describe the occurrencies and accidents regarding the Allied Air Forces in this airport.
As for the 414 NFS I found the following:
KW162
ND289
ND265
ND240
BT297
KV917
All these accidents occurred on the airfield or nearby. The problem is that I just have the registration marks and dates, but nothing about the details. Can anybody help me telling where and how I can get more information and details? 
Thank you