This is probably an obvious question that’s been well researched, but I haven’t had the opportunity of seeing the books or TV programme. I assume the teams have researched whether the tail of Bader’s Spitfire wasn’t blown off as a result of flak?
Or perhaps an extra man on a grassy noll?
I was also wondering, were any other aces on any side of the war ever known to have been shot down by friendly fire (either air to air or by flak or shps, etc?)
Short answer is, yes there was. In Keeping with this thread, Whaley Heppell, who’s name was bandied around quite freely by both Andy Suanders and Dilip Sarkar, was a victim of ‘friendly fire’. As an ‘Ace’ during the battle of Malta, Whaley Heppell was shot down by aa fire, April 8, 1942. He was later to state: ‘I recall registering strikes in the wing roots and tail unit of the Ju 88…and the next thing I can remember was falling head first towards the harbour sans aircraft’. It was later found an AA shell caused a direct hit to the rear of the Spitfires cockpit.
Sign In
