2 Will Get Ya 4

[Jack Cook]

Gum camera still of Lt Col Elwyn Righetti CO 55th FG attacking 2 Mistels on Feb 3, 1945. Outcome....3 confirmed and 1 probable

[Cripes A Mighty]

Katydid!!!!!

[K5DH]

OK folks, I have some questions. If a pilot shot down a Mistel, would he be credited with one kill or two? The Mistel was made up of two independent airplanes, but they were operating as one. Would that make a difference? Since the bomber portion was unmanned, did that make it a missile (hence the name, I suppose) instead of an airplane? If a pilot shot down the bomber portion once the fighter pilot had cut it loose, how would that victory be counted? While I'm on the subject, when Allied pilots took down a V-1 buzz bomb, either by gunning it or "tipping" it, how was that counted?

Dean the inquisitive

[Second Air Force]

Dean,

I suppose the Mistel combination would count as a single kill if shot down while still coupled--after all, it's just a fighter with a huge bomb under the belly. After demating, I'd guess the two would be scored separately? On the subject of the V-1, I don't think they were counted as kills toward ace status since they were not piloted. Not sure, but I think that is how it goes. The Meteor had V-1 kills but I don't think it is listed as having shot down any enemy airplanes.

Interesting subject,
Scott

[airnutz]

On the subject of the V-1, I don't think they were counted as kills toward ace status since they were not piloted. Not sure, but I think that is how it goes. The Meteor had V-1 kills but I don't think it is listed as having shot down any enemy airplanes.

I don't know the answer either Scott, but I'd be surprised if they didn't get a "count for a kill"..the V-1,
tho unpiloted, was still a bomber which killed..more often than not, the civilian populace.

[Second Air Force]

You could be correct on the V-1 counting as a kill. It just seems that I read somewhere that the "tipping" maneuver wasn't considered a legitimate shoot-down, and that V-1s didn't count the same way as a manned aircraft. I know they shot down a LOT of the things between the fighters and anti-aircraft batteries.

[Jack Cook]

In the 8th AF if they were together it was 1 and apart it was 2.
Col Righetti receives credit for 3.
V-s weren't counted. A number of 354th FG pilots had gun kills mover V-1s.

[Mudge]

Jack...not sure I like the quality of that "GUM" camera.

Mudge the picky

[Second Air Force]

Thanks for the clarification on scoring Jack.

Notice that the '88s in the photo Jack posted have cockpits rather than the large shaped charge? I wonder if these combos had been trainers earlier.

[lestweforget]

Those Mistel pilots must have felt like real sitting ducks. Very interesting photo. First time I have seen operational photo's of Mistels. Any idea what area these photo's were taken?

[tom d. friedman]

Dean, my thoughts exactly.... how did the usaaf / raf make this judgement? as to kill credit?

I suppose the Mistel combination would count as a single kill if shot down while still coupled--after all, it's just a fighter with a huge bomb under the belly. After demating, I'd guess the two would be scored separately? On the subject of the V-1, I don't think they were counted as kills toward ace status since they were not piloted. Not sure, but I think that is how it goes. The Meteor had V-1 kills but I don't think it is listed as having shot down any enemy airplanes.

Interesting subject,
Scott

[Jack Cook]

Katydid!!!!!

[tom d. friedman]

sorry, i f'd up the reply...... story of my life... i was trying to convey while the 2 were still mated & shot down as 1 it would apply as such, hence, separated & downed individually counted as 2. what were the usaaf / raf judgements on these kill scenarios??? by the way, great post topic, i have a ju -88 radio control box "supposedly" from a mistel, no provinence or documentation as from a mistel hookup, but definetely from a ju -88. it's for sale, $335.00 +shipping. i've had it near 20 years.