NS711

Misidentified and shot down by a USAAF P-47 of the 36th Fighter Group (9th Air Force) at about 17:00 hrs. The Thunderbolt pilot and his wingman climbed to engage from 17,000 feet. The Mosquito was at 18,500 feet when the pilot, Lt. Carroll B. Stubblefield, banked to present the national markings which were not recognized, probably again due to the lighting conditions. Stubblefield's plane also had a red tail to discourage attack by friendlies, but it's not clear if the ground attack pilots were briefed. The Mosquito had a top cover of eight P-51s of the 479th Fighter Group (8th Air Force) but they were unable to make radio contact with the P-47s until after the Mosquito was destroyed. The pilot was killed but the navigator bailed out safely and was captured. Crash site near Brilon, Germany. 24th Mar 45.

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 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron 654th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38062903 / O-707493
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group 381st Service Squadron 653rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16060906 / O-740303
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Brilon, Germany 24 March 1945 Misidentified and shot down by a USAAF P-47 of the 36th Fighter Group (9th Air Force) at about 17:00 hrs. The Thunderbolt pilot and his wingman climbed to engage from 17,000 feet. The Mosquito was at 18,500 feet when the pilot, Lt. Carroll B. Stubblefield, banked to present the national markings which were not recognized, probably again due to the lighting conditions. Stubblefield's plane also had a red tail to discourage attack by friendlies, but it's not clear if the ground attack pilots were briefed. The Mosquito had a top cover of eight P-51s of the 479th Fighter Group (8th Air Force) but they were unable to make radio contact with the P-47s until after the Mosquito was destroyed. The pilot was killed but the navigator bailed out safely and was captured. Crash site near Brilon, Germany. 24th Mar 45.

Assigned

Watton, Thetford, Norfolk IP25, UK 25th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Moved information added by user Wattonman from aircraft markings and biography to source message.

User Wattonman states: The tail section was not painted red, despite this information being given in Martin Bowman's Mosquito books. I tape interviewed James Richmond and he states there was insufficient time to paint the tail red.

A photo of NS711 at RAF Defford obtained from James Richmond appears on page 185 of Norman Malayney, "The 25th Bomb Group (Rcn) in WWII",Schiffer Publication Ltd. 2011

Date
ContributorWattonman
Changes
Sources

Norman Malayney, "The 25th Bomb Group (Rcn) in WWII" Schiffer Publishers Ltd. 2011.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 13437 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database