US Fighter shot down-P-47D?
 

Somewhat unclear but interesting shot of a US fighter supposedly shot down over Cologne in late 1943. Caption is: "US fighter plane shot down by one of our fighter pilots in the area of Cologne. Date late 1943."

The picture is from the Facebook of Michael Balss.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1533...?ref=bookmarks

The clearly visible "3" could indicate that it is a P-47D from the 35 FG, 22 FS whose unit code was "3T" . If it from the 36th FG, the date is wrong as the 36th FG did not start operations until May 1944. Any thoughts?

Re: US Fighter shot down-P-47D?
 

The child on the right isn't really dressed for winter, so spring/summer 1944 more likely...


Regards,


Leendert

Re: US Fighter shot down-P-47D?
 

No, this doesn't look like the area of Cologne. Could it be Gabreski's ship near Mendig after July 20th, 1944 ?.

Horst Weber

Re: US Fighter shot down-P-47D?
 

If this photo was after June 6 1944 would there not be D Day stripes?

Re: US Fighter shot down-P-47D?
 

I don't know, but on May 21,1944 the 36th FG lost three P-47Ds in Belgium. The s/n are 42-25886,42-25874,and 42-25879. Two pilots KiA, one evaded.The bulk of the 36th casualties were after D-day, but I agree w/ John, that if this was after D-Day it would have stripes. That is, if it is a 36FG 22FS casualty?

Re: US Fighter shot down-P-47D?
 

Hello,
22nd FS had nine(9) accidents in 1943. All were in the USA.
In 1944 they had sixteen(16) MACR's.
In 1945 they also had sixteen(16) MACR's.
Must be "3T" if 9th AAF as all the other Squadrons with code starting with "3" were Troop Carrier Squadrons.

Therefore if Germany then MACR's were -

441106 - 42-26009 - 10281.
441203 - 42-28818 - 11439.
441210 - 44-19923 - 10860.
441231 - 42-26010 - 11492.

450122 - 44-20621 - 11957.
450208 - 44-20223 - 12272.
450210 - 42-75248 - 12300.
450213 - 42-74657 - 12302.
450213 - 42-26699 - 12306.
450223 - 42-25871 - 12643.
450225 - 42-28469 - 12731.
450310 - 44-33138 - 12976.
450310 - 44-33158 - 12977.
450319 - 44-33016 - 13178.
450321 - 44-33260 - 13218.
450409 - 4419853 - 14382.
450419 - 42-25956 - 14383.
450419 - 42-26578 - 14384.
450601 - 42-8497 - 14560.

Alex

Re: US Fighter shot down-P-47D?
 

I would hope that Short_Stuff visits the site soon. He is a member and would think he can provide this info.

Tony

Re: US Fighter shot down-P-47D?
 

The 3T code indicates 36th Fighter Group, as Alex said. The 36th did not start operations until about May 1944. The fact that there are no D-Day stripes means it must be prior to 6th June, so the time scale for this is extremely short. I have only three (non UK) losses for them within that period, and all three were in France.
If I were a gambler, my money would go on 42-25879 3T-U flown by John Balcunas and lost on 21st May in the area of St Germain de Coulamer, near Metz. He evaded. (E&E report # 0801) and MACR 5009.
Peter

Re: US Fighter shot down-P-47D?
 

There were four 36th Fighter Group losses in May of 1944, all from the 22nd Fighter Squadron. Three went down on May 21 and one on May 27. Details of each follow, with information taken from group and squadron records, Balcunas' escape and evasion report and MACRs. None of the losses, barring Church who no one saw crash, seem to fit a belly-landing as the photo shows, unless the two which were reported as "spinning in" landed as shown. Balcunas bailed out so again, not sure his ship would have landed as indicated. BUT, that is just my thought and hopefully someone can provide exact details (serial number) of 3T-U. First, the May 21 pilots:
42-25879 with Lt. John Balcunas evading; he stated he was attacking a train and was hit by fire from anti-aircraft weapons on the train. he bailed out near St. Germain de Coulamer.
42-25874 with Lt. John M. Church KIA; he was last seen in bad weather and crashed west of Haudainville.
42-25886 with Maj. Richard T. Deabler being KIA; he flew through a train explosion and was reported to have spun-in near Longwy.
May 27:
Lt. Frank Fazekas was KIA in 42-75525. He was reported to have "done a tight spiral into the ground" near Ledezeele. The pilot who saw him surmised possible oxygen trouble but that was just his guess.

Kent

Re: US Fighter shot down-P-47D?
 

One slight correction--Fazekas crashed near Lederzeele, I left out the "r" in the previous post.

Kent