JDK wrote:
The 'one of ours flown by an enemy' stories have circulated throughout the history of air combat. With only a couple of exceptions, when investigated, there's a more reasonable explanation - errors in combat, misidentification etc.
The problems of operating an enemy aircraft in combat with them overwhelm the few 'advantages' when examined in detail - problems the novelists tie themselves in knots over with secret signals, paint, special manoeuvres etc. so their fellows know they're 'one of them' - funny how the other guys never tell about those codes...
The only documented case (rather than BS or speculation based on a post-flight debrief) I'm aware of is an Italian flown P-38. There may be more.
(Of course there are also confused cases in places like the Balkans with changing alliances and getting anything flying.)
Cheers,
Angelo Tondi I believe flew that P38 but I could be mistaken. It's been a long time. One of our association people was a WW2 heavy vet who flew B24's out of Foggia and Bari. I believe I recall him mentioning Tondi who might have nailed a Lib or two with that Lightning. Had something to do with Sardinia I think.
DH