March 21st, 2008, 01:31 PM
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Ace
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: The world is my backside, hmm, backyard!
Posts: 6,114
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Re: Aircraft brought down by "Neutral" countries.
in Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Quote:
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The 82nd Fighter Group, another P-38F group, joined the 1st and 14th in Europe in November, 1942. Shortly all three groups were transferred to North Africa, the MTO. En route, over the Bay of Biscay, 82nd FG pilots downed two Ju 88 bombers. Several P-38's of the 1st FG, low on fuel, were forced down in Portugal, likely candidates for internment. In a comical scene, recounted in Aces in Combat: The American Aces Speak, Vol 5, by Eric Hammel, Lt. Jack Ilfrey made good his escape, while demonstrating the airplane's features to his armed Portuguese "hosts."
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The Portuguese government protested mightily against this breach of internment law, and the US did RETURN the miscreant P-38.
Jack Ilfrey
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Bah!
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