Hello,

I'm looking for any help or information people may have on an incident witnessed by a relative in 1944.

The incident happened 3-5 weeks after D-Day (afraid he can't be more specific), over the beach at la Brèche, Hermanville, Normandy.

He witnessed 6 or 7 Lightnings coming in low over the sea towards the beach.

The British bofors guns opened up on the fighters. He thinks 3 were hit - one came down about a mile away, one had an engine hit, which was smoking, and a third also appeared to be damaged.

He was wondering if this was a documented incident, and if there is any information out there as to why it happened.  I've been Googling for a while with little success, and any info on sites or resources that may be useful in such a search would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Phil

  PHil,  I don't know anything about this incident, but I would wonder if it would have been recorded as a "friendly fire" incident at all.  My uncle, 1st LT. clifford J. Peck, KIA July 15, 1943 in Sicily, a member of the 111TRS, was the victim of a friendly fire incident and my family was never informed of this.  I found it out from a former member of the squadron.  I wonder how may "friendly fire" incidents were just conveniently overlooked and officially recorded as something else.....  best, Dave Peck

David J. Peck

Be advised a casualty by friendly fire warrants the Purple Heart medal.

Robert

Robert:
So if I shoot myself in the foot on actrive duty, in a combat zone I can get a purple heart?

Terry T.

Terry T,
I am familiar with only one case of an individual recieving the "Purple Heart",  for wounds contracted from the so called misnomer "friendly fire". I use the word misnomer because I for one having been shot at with 3"50 shells by a sister ship, did not find those shells very friendly. The individual I allude to was a 1st Lt forward observer in the 176th FA Battalion 3rd Army. While in a FO position with his Sgt and driver/radioman a FA observation plane flying overhead mistook him and his men as Germans and called in battery fire upon them. He heard their co-odinance called in to the battery by the plane, but by the time they could reply the damage was already done, The Lt recieved sharpnel wounds and was cared for by his Sgt, and evacuated to a hospital where in time he recieved a call from his Colonel, that the war was over for him. After a lengthy hospital stay he was transferred to Ft Bragg as an instructor. I think he deserved the medal, not because he was my fathers kid brother, a close favorite of mine a few years older than me, but because he damned near got killed from the so called "friendly fire".

Fair Winds and following seas.
John, (GM 3/C USS Frost DE 144)

Kin to LT. John W. Farnkopf
15th AAF, 52 FG, 4th FS; Madna, Italy
MIA 11/11/44 remains found 12/8/53

You should be able to collect disability if you are affected by the incident.

Please note the guideline...perhaps you may ask the author.

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode10/usc_sec_10_00001129----000-.html

Robert

Terry T.


Robert:
So if I shoot myself in the foot on actrive duty, in a combat zone I can get a purple heart?

Terry T.

Robert,
I really dont know the full extent of his injuries. I was in the Navy at the time, but do remember the telegram home said he was wounded in action, nothing on the incident. I remember his facial scars that faded as the years went by. He told me on one of my visits to him how he got wounded and that his Sgt saved his life. I guess I was one of a few people that he talked to about his service, his children did not know who he served with or how he was wounded. I dont know if he recieved any disabilty payments. He passed away in the early 90s.

Fair Winds and following seas.
John, (GM 3/C USS Frost DE 144)

Kin to LT. John W. Farnkopf
15th AAF, 52 FG, 4th FS; Madna, Italy
MIA 11/11/44 remains found 12/8/53