Originally Posted by
2805662
So, in short, SOE/RAF persist in conducting operations by night in an area patrolled by USAAF night fighters, without resolving whatever the "dispute" is, & without coordination with the organisation conducting the patrols. Aircraft are (predictably) shot down, yet somehow it's the USAAF's fault? Sounds like hubris & incompetence came home to roost.
well to be more accurate and factual for the time.
the only Night Fighter Squadron 426th was based in china.
there job was to escort american bombers to japan
these escort operations were far to the north. "obviously"
By the middle of January 1945 the Japanese were not trying to intercept the bombers. the Japanese has assessed correctly. that the cost of these operations in man and material versus the poor results, that the yanks would not continue these raids for long. which was true.
Japanese records show that they had no aircraft flying on the night of the 22/23 january.
american an american 426th P61 pilot was credited with 1 kill and 1 damaged
KH277 and KH217 both crashed into high ground on there pre designated track. ( IE they were where they were supposed to be.)
The weather was a bit iffy on the way out. but the weather was clear on the return ( but it was night).