ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 175052
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| Date: | Wednesday 28 February 1945 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk 30 |
| Owner/operator: | 416th (NF) Sqn USAAF |
| Registration: | MM746 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Location: | 8 miles north-west of Villafranca di Verona, Northern Italy -
 Italy
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Pontedera airfield (I) |
| Pontedera airfield |
Mosquito MM746: Took off for GCI night patrol. 28/02/1945
"Every night at around nine o’clock for several weeks during the winter 1945, a German Ju 188 reconnaissance aircraft would fly over the American air base of Pontedera, Italy. Because of the regularity of these overflights, the intruder was nicknamed “Recon Charley”. On the night of the February 28, however, a de Havilland Mosquito was readied with USAAF Capt. Englert al the controls and Lt. Dichney working the radar. When the Ju 188 reappeared on the scene like a clockwork, the Mosquito took off in pursuit. The night fighter located Recon Charley but because of the Mosquito’s rapid closure rate it was in dangerous proximity to the target at the time the pilot opened the fire. The Ju 188, caught unaware of the Mosquito’s presence, began to disintegrate. Some of the debris struck the Mosquito, harming the engines and causing hydraulic damage. Upon return to Pontedera, the limping aircraft was greetedby a fog blanketing the base. Able to spot the glow of the runway lights, Capt. Englert manoeuvred the Mosquito over the faint landmarks, and than, with Lt. Dickey bailed out. These two members of the 416th NFS not only survived, but became the only Americans to achieve a confirmed victory flying a British built Mosquito during World War II.
Crew:
Capt. (O-679842) Lawrence E. ENGLERT (pilot) USAAF - Ok
2nd.Lt. (O.????) Earl R DICKEY (nav.) USAAF - Ok
Sources:
1.http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/_DH98%20prodn%20list.txtt
2.http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/18641
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 03-Apr-2015 09:58 | Thomas Fuk | Added |
| 18-Sep-2015 19:05 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 11-Oct-2018 16:49 | j155 | Updated [Location] |
| 30-Mar-2019 12:26 | Nepa | Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative, Operator] |
| 01-May-2019 19:28 | Nepa | Updated [Location, Operator] |
| 23-May-2019 11:12 | Nepa | Updated [Location, Operator] |
| 27-Jan-2021 20:37 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Operator] |
| 30-Oct-2021 16:32 | Nepa | Updated [Source, Narrative, Operator] |
| 04-Oct-2023 12:17 | Nepa | Updated [[Source, Narrative, Operator]] |
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