NS533

media-7233.jpeg UPL 7233 L to R - Lt Elbert Foster Harris (Nav) 1st Lt Ronald Max Nichols (Pilot) in front of de Havilland DH98 Mosquito NS533 at RAF Watton.

Object Number - UPL 7233 - L to R - Lt Elbert Foster Harris (Nav) 1st Lt Ronald Max Nichols (Pilot) in front of de Havilland DH98 Mosquito NS533 at RAF Watton.

Misidentified and shot down by a USAAF P-51 of the 357th Fighter Group at about 11:45 hrs. The Mustang pilot and his wingman climbed to engage from 23,000 feet and the Mosquito spun in from 29,000 feet. In the after action reports, both P-51 pilots implied that the twin-engined aircraft was silhouetted against the sun. The attacking pilot wrote that he did not see any roundels or invasion stripes on the aircraft and after the bogie turned onto his six o'clock and tried to dive away, he considered it to be hostile. Pilot, Lt. Nichols, was killed. Navigator, Lt. Harris, bailed out and evaded capture. Crash site west of Toulouse, France. 11th Aug 44.

Connections

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Units served with

A B-26 Marauder of the 654th Bomb Squadron, 25th Bomb Group, parked on a runway. Handwritten on reverse: '654 BS.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Reconnaissance

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 653rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-865483
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 653rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17065605 / O-678309
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Manufactured

Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK 24 March 1944 Hatfield Built, contract number 555/C.23(a), between 24-3-1944 and 31-12-1944.

Crashed

Toulouse, France 11 August 1944 Misidentified and shot down by a USAAF P-51 of the 357th Fighter Group at about 11:45 hrs. The Mustang pilot and his wingman climbed to engage from 23,000 feet and the Mosquito spun in from 29,000 feet. In the after action reports, both P-51 pilots implied that the twin-engined aircraft was silhouetted against the sun. The attacking pilot wrote that he did not see any roundels or invasion stripes on the aircraft and after the bogie turned onto his six o'clock and tried to dive away, he considered it to be hostile. Pilot, Lt. Nichols, was killed. Navigator, Lt. Harris, bailed out and evaded capture. Crash site west of Toulouse, France. 11th Aug 44.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
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ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 8544 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

NS533: Gallery (3 items)