FRIEND OR FOE ?
AN EARLY SOVIET ENCOUNTER
by E. Neil Borgnis
-Mission 894, largest ever to Berlin - 1264 heavies and 600 escorting P-51s - was launched against targets in and near the German capital to deliver 3724 tons of bombs. Twelve Mustang fighter groups escorted the bombers while two others went to nearby areas.
As previously agreed, the Russians were notified of the mission and its targets. The encompassed area between the Oder and Pasewalk-Berlin had been defined earlier to ensure that Russian and American forces would not meet accidentally.
Flying from East Wretham, 46 P-5IDs from the 359th Fighter Group divided into two formations - Group A led by Captain Ralph L. Cox, 369th Fighter Squadron, and Group B led by Captain Ray S. Wetmore, leading ace of the 359th with 21.5 victories, with 28 aircraft from the 368th and 370th Fighter Squadrons. The time is now 1135 flying at 2,000 ft when Captain Cox leads them in an attack on aircraft seen strafing Zackerick airfield north of Kustrin. There are now fifteen aircraft in the area, Germans as well as Russians. Captain Cox brings down a his fifth victory so quickly that he does not have time to identify its markings. His wingman, Lt. Harold R. Gates, barely avoids colliding with that aircraft but clearly sees its white crosses.
In the midst of this confusing dogfight, as aircraft spin down and explode on impact, the Soviet flak, up to now quiet, throws a wall of fire up to 5,000 ft. Red flight dives on two unidentified aircraft climbing at 10 o'clock. Lt. Robert J. Guggemon (Red 3) identifies one of them as a FW-19O while his leader fires a long burst at the other one. Noticing a ventral radiator beneath his opponent, Red Lead realizes that it is a Yak-9.
Just then, Lt. Robert E. McCormak (Red 4) fires a short burst at another aircraft and hits it just as his adversary reverses his turn. McCormak identifies it as a "round-wing Me-109" in gray blue camouflage. Meanwhile, Lt. Bryce H. Thomson (Yellow 3) attacks an aircraft which he believes to be German, but soon realizes his error. Looking aft, he sees another one about to fire at him. Breaking left sharply, Thomson ends up on the tail of a Yak-9 after a 360-degree turn and places himself on its side while wagging his wings to show his national markings and making hand signals. After hesitating, the Russian responds in kind. With confusion everywhere and little chance of finding the Germans, Cox orders his pilots to break and get back in formation.
In the meantime, Lt. Robert S. Gaines' flight is in difficulty after being separated from the group over Berlin. While flying at 10,000 feet toward Joachimsthal, Gaines sees three or four unidentified aircraft flying below towards the east. Followed by his flight, Gaines makes a 180-degree turn to the left, losing altitude. While making a pass at the leader, Gaines sees the tail-end Charlie breaking away, notes that it is finished in a bluish scheme and devoid of markings; nevertheless, he formally identifies it as an Me-109. He fires at the aircraft which catches fire and falls toward Joachimsthal Lake. Meanwhile, F/0 Harley E. Berndt (Yellow 4) starts to fire at the second "enemy" aircraft while 600 ft. away and quickly moves in. After seeing his bullets chew up the wing root and cockpit of the "enemy" aircraft which dives away, Berndt rejoins his leader. Time is 1130.
All over the area, formations are running into each other. Northeast of Berlin, some 65 miles from the German capital, a flight from the 353rd Fighter Group is attacked from the rear by two La-5s. Seeking to be identified as friendly, the US fighters wag their wings, but to no avail. The Russians come back for a second pass. The P-51s fire a few warning shots while the Russian fighters fire at a straggling B-17.
At 1315, Lt. Tiede, a flight leader in Group A, spots three aircraft above and at 6 o'clock. Crump and Atkins climb toward them and, identifying them as Russians, try to contact them on radio channels A and C. At that very moment, a fourth fighter speeds toward Kyle and fires a short burst at him. The Russian then joins in formation with the other three and, together, they fly away after making a wide turn. The four P--51s then rejoin the stricken B-17 which they escort until 1320 when they are forced by fuel considerations to abandon.
On the Monday following these encounters, Marshal S. A. Kudiakov, chief of staff of the Soviet Air Forces, sent a strong note of protest to Gen. Hill at the US military Mission (USMILMIS) in Moscow. Notably, Marshal Kudiakov stated: 'While near Kustrin, Soviet Yak fighters approached the formation, saw they were Americans, and withdrew. While withdrawing, they came upon German fighter planes which were about to attack the American formation and so the Soviets attacked the Focke Wulfs. Soon the American Mustangs joined in the battle and shot down 4 Yak planes.
In a report dated 19 March, Col. Alfred R. Maxwell, chief of operations, noted minor incidents: "Two P-51s followed two Yak-9s to Zackerick airdrome north of Kustrin and shot down one of the four Fw-190s which were strafing the airdrome. Russian aircraft were circling the airdrome at the time, and when one crashed, the Soviets threw up intense accurate light flak - the P-51s then withdrew".
During the melee over the airdrome, one Yak fired on American aircraft without effect. Pilots report Russian aircraft painted blue exactly like identified German planes and that although haze and patchy clouds complicated recognition, recognition signals were ineffective.
In his reply dated 20 March, Gen N. D. Antonov, chief of staff of the Soviet Army, reported the destruction of six Soviet aircraft by US fighters and stated: "When the group of American planes reached Morin (35 kilometers northwest of Kustrin), at the time over the Morin region there were 6 Soviet (Yak-3) fighters. The Soviet fliers, having noticed the German fighters which were chasing the Americans, attacked the Germans, but they themselves, in turn, were attacked by American fighters".
On 2 April, Gen. N. D. Antonov raises his tone: "Your letter of 28 March 1945 did not satisfy me ... In the air at the time and in this region were a total of 8 Soviet fighters and not 34 planes as indicated. Not a single Soviet attack was made on American planes. Soviet flyers recognized American bombers immediately and Soviet fighters attacked no American planes but only German planes. In your letter it is claimed that the Germans did not shoot down a single Russian plane. Consequently all 6 Soviet fighters were shot down by American planes. By observation of Soviet pilots and also by observation of ground troops it was accurately established that American planes flew 6 to 8 kilometers cast of Kustrin. Conclusions drawn from the investigation virtually prove criminal action of individuals of the American Air Force and do not indicate that such actions will not occur again in the future."
The next day, Gen. Arnold had the following message forwarded to Gen. Antonov in which he stated: "I am greatly distressed to learn that further investigation by Gen. Spaatz reveals that some of our US personnel were at fault in the March 18th incident. I deeply regret the death of Soviet flyers and the destruction of Soviet aircraft resulting from this incident. I am requesting General Spaatz to make exhaustive investigation of this incident and to take strict disciplinary action against individuals who are to blame".
SOURCES-- Detailed mission reports by the 353rd, 357th and 359th FGs--Telex, Memorandum,and Letters from Gen. Spaatz to Colonel Alfred Maxwell, Gen. Anderson to USMTLMIS Moscow, Gen Arnold, War to US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mighty Eighth War Manual, Missing Air Crew Reports, The Army Air Forces in WWII, to name a few.
