While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Last Thursday and Friday we were looking for an American soldier since February 1945. Instead we found parts of Lancaster HK664. She was hit in the bomb bay by AA on 23 December 1944 and blew up, scattering herself and her crew over a 2km radius. Of the crew there are three buried and five missing. The parts we found cam from the engine cowl.

Danny

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Where?

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

According to Chorley location is Hamm roughly 9 km NW from the center of Bitburg.

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Not exactly...Chorley is only as accurate as the loss files.
She actually came down 2km north of the Luxembourg town of Echternach.
Parts are on both sides of the Sauer river, so in LX and GE!

Danny

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Good morning Danny !

The exact crash location of this a/c is the plateau between Ernzen and Echternacherbrück, very close to the former glider-airfield of Ernzen. In 1994 were some larger parts of the a/c found near the hamlet of Ernzerhof. It is true, that the a/c was hit by Flak on a mission to Trier that day and the debris were strewn on a wide area. As much as I know about the case, the remains of the crew were found by American troops in the slopes between the Ernzen plateau down to the Sauer river valley at Echternach.
There is a U.S. recon-motion picture, showing the Ernzerhof hamlet with debris of the Aircraft.

All the best
Horst Weber

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Hallo Herr Weber, yes the Ferschweiler Plateau is where we were working that day. One of my friends from LX said there was a very big piece laying there until a while ago and someone must have recently taken the part along. My guess is it was a large chunk of cowling. By the way Herr Weber, do you know anyone who has found parts of a P-47 near Paschel, Saarland?

By the way, do you have the recon picture you mentioned? I would love to look at it.

Thanks, Danny, von Hohenfels, Bayern

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Plan has an 8 men crew, armed with one .50BMG. 1990-1992 I found pieces from the cockpit, pilots seat etc.

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Interesting, I might put her on my lost for research for a later date being that there are still 5 missing crew. But first I have to focus on the P-47 in Paschel. Danny

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Around Paschel was heavy fighting between US-Forces and 6.SS-Gebirgsdivison "Nord" during March 1945. Another P-47 Pilot is still missing near Hentern. (Oktober 1944, shoot down by AA over Saarburg, Pilot bailed out and escaped but still MIA).

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Herr Hauprich, first H.G.P from Aachen said hw knows you well, so nice to meet you Sir.

The one we are looking for near Paschel went down on (I think) 2 February 1945. The pilot, CPT Booth is also still missing. I think the one in Hentern turned into a war crimes case, correct?

Thanks, Danny

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Good evening Danny !

Seems

But dying on wounds and buried by the Wehrmacht is also possible. Postwar, noone found a grave with identifiing items.

The fate of his a/c is well documented.

In this case, only a questioning of then present whitnesses in the area could trace to a step to a way of a solution.

Maybe some very early postwar files of the Kreis Saarburg local administration of the 1940/50'ties can help.

Best wishes

Horst Weber

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Very true Herr Weber, alas I am only briefly familiar with this case. Normally the Saarland is outside of my area of operation, but I am assisting the organization from Luxembourg at the moment, plus I received a request from the States for help, so I am trying my best.

Thanks for everyone's answer. Danny

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

About Hentern:

In Sept. 1944 the area around Hentern, Paschel, Lampaden, Schillingen, Zerf, Reinsfeld etc. etc. was used for the mobile launch sides for V 2. Also the German Army built the only V 3 launch ever gone operational (Target was the City of Luxembourg).
The German Security Forces like GFP, SD etc. was very ativ to protect this launches. So maybe the P-47 Pilot (I forget the name) came down at the wrong time and the wrong place.

Re: While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664
 

Hentern 1./Ltn. E.Shantz

He was shoot down by 2./le. FlakAbtlg. 751 (v) This report incl. several ayewithniss report, Lt. Shantz bailed out saftely and escaped!!
I have the very detailed Combat Report, this Report it not in the IDPF!
The French MG have ab list with Crashplaces around this aera, but the Landkreis Saarburg has not reported anything concerning the missing planes. (02.02.45 & 10.11.44)