11.08.2009, 14:34
That P-38 was captured by the Italians and flown by a pilot by the name of Captain Guido Rossi. Here's the story:
"In one of the most unusual cases of revenge recorded by either side in the war, US Army Air Force Lt. Harold Fisher plotted to locate and shoot down the Italian pilot who shot him down in 1943 using a decoy American P-38 Lightning fighter.
The US plane was being used by the Italians in very much the same way the German KG 200 units captured Allied aircraft to infiltrate Allied formations and then shoot down as many as possible. Captured intact when a US pilot mistakenly landed at an Italian airfield, the now Italian used P-38 would approach stragglers from US formations offering to provide fighter protection. When close enough, and at minimal range, the bombers were such easy prey. Such happened to Fisher over the Mediterranean. Fisher and crew survived, and were rescued.
The incident so infuriated Fisher that he managed to convince his commanders to try and shoot the P-38 down. Allied pilots were noticeably leery of any P-38's now, and losses were mounting. Lt. Fisher managed to borrow an experimental B-17 equipped with additional armament and armor. The 'YB-40 Escort' was a B-17 with extra turrets, guns, ammo, and armor plating designed to provide escort for pure bomber B-17's. Mounting 16 .50 caliber machine guns, it proves too slow to keep up with standard bombers, but would be perfect in this mission. Fisher planned to use himself as bait for the decoy P-38.
Fisher had learned the name of his English speaking nemesis, Captain Guido Rossi, and the fact that Rossi
"In one of the most unusual cases of revenge recorded by either side in the war, US Army Air Force Lt. Harold Fisher plotted to locate and shoot down the Italian pilot who shot him down in 1943 using a decoy American P-38 Lightning fighter.
The US plane was being used by the Italians in very much the same way the German KG 200 units captured Allied aircraft to infiltrate Allied formations and then shoot down as many as possible. Captured intact when a US pilot mistakenly landed at an Italian airfield, the now Italian used P-38 would approach stragglers from US formations offering to provide fighter protection. When close enough, and at minimal range, the bombers were such easy prey. Such happened to Fisher over the Mediterranean. Fisher and crew survived, and were rescued.
The incident so infuriated Fisher that he managed to convince his commanders to try and shoot the P-38 down. Allied pilots were noticeably leery of any P-38's now, and losses were mounting. Lt. Fisher managed to borrow an experimental B-17 equipped with additional armament and armor. The 'YB-40 Escort' was a B-17 with extra turrets, guns, ammo, and armor plating designed to provide escort for pure bomber B-17's. Mounting 16 .50 caliber machine guns, it proves too slow to keep up with standard bombers, but would be perfect in this mission. Fisher planned to use himself as bait for the decoy P-38.
Fisher had learned the name of his English speaking nemesis, Captain Guido Rossi, and the fact that Rossi