ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 223633
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 22 December 1944 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito PR Mk XVI |
| Owner/operator: | 544 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | MM285 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Location: | RAF stn Benson, Oxfordshire, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Benson, Oxfordshire |
| RAF Benson |
Mosquito MM285: The crew was briefed on shooting objects around Szczecin. During the raid on Szczecin, 1 ME 109 was attacked, approaching unnoticed from the sun, from the front left. The navigator was just in the nose of the airplane ready to take pictures and drove the pilot on targets. The pilot noticed the enemy when he was 50 meters away and fired. The pilot turned the aircraft down sharply, turning off the intercom with centrifugal force. The Mosquito MM285 looked stricken as it was suddenly full of dust and chips, the navigator's parachute was punched out of the curtains. The navigator immediately moved into the seat and took the kneeling position (in) to look back. Messerschmidt was assisted by a mixture of alcohol and water (leaving black trails) and the Mosquito proved slow. Additional tanks were discarded and the throttle and throttle open fully. Messerschmidt attacked from the right, the navigator instructed the pilot to turn right and down. The enemy did not get the hits, but with the excess speed, he hurried to a new position quickly. He attacked from the left, the navigator instructed to turn the airplane to the left. The Mosquito fell in the corner and the [oxygen] mask was pushed away by the centrifugal force. At this altitude (25,000 feet) there is death without oxygen in 30 seconds !!! Immediately, the Navigator did not realize that he had no mask and conducted the pilot as the enemy was attacking again. But the pilot could not hear and the navigator lost consciousness. But with the willpower he woke up, adjusted his mask, and after a few breaths of oxygen he was able to see Messerschmidt right behind about 200 yards. He conducted the pilot to turn sharply to the right and up and tried to keep the northern course while fighting, as Sweden was the closest neutral country, and the crew hoped to jump down in the event of a downing. The enemy, however, was apparently attacking intentionally from the north to prevent her from doing so. The navigator was forced to conduct the pilot to keep the western course at the leaks, which he did. During the attacks, the Mosquito lost its height from 28,000 feet to 10,000 feet. After about 10 failed attacks, the enemy gave up the fight. Photographic chambers, which are screwed into the wooden pedestals of the hull, were punched out of the pedestals by centrifugal force. The crew returned home with arid throats, and the navigator was scuffed and battered, as he had to control the fight unrestrained and from a very tedious and unnatural position. 22/12/1944
Crew:
P/O (184.653) Ferdinand KEPKA (cs.pilot) RAFVR - OK
F/Lt (138.873) Karel VOKOUN (cs.nav.) RAFVR- OK
Sources:
1.http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/_DH98%20prodn%20list.txt
2.ORB 544 Sqdn RAF
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Mar-2019 15:31 | Nepa | Added [Operator] |
| 31-Mar-2019 15:35 | Nepa | Updated [Narrative, Operator] |
| 15-Sep-2021 20:33 | Nepa | Updated [Source, Narrative, Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation