P47 crash in a sleepy English village
 

Hello,

I have been told today of a US fighter (P47 i think) that crashed into a river bank near Nantwich in Cheshire sometime between 1943 and 45.
The location is only a stones throw from the village centre.

I think the pilot is still with the aircraft as it was too deep or dangerous to recover being into a river bank.

Does anyone have details on this or know if the pilot was recovered?

Re: P47 crash in a sleepy English village
 

Trapper, a Google search turned up this:

http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co...nds42-7925.htm

"Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-7925 of the 495th FTG USAAF, crashed on the edge of the town of Nantwich in Cheshire on the 14th January 1944 after entering a high speed dive at 24,000ft. The assumption in the crash report is that the pilot suffer anoxia and passed out."

Re: P47 crash in a sleepy English village
 

This was 1st Lt Arthur BROWN if it is, indeed, the loss Tapper refers to. The aircraft crashed at Shrewbridge. He has a known grave and is not "missing". I have a feeling I have seen photos of the crash - possibly in the late Roger Freeman's collection.

Re: P47 crash in a sleepy English village
 

This was definitely Lt Brown's aircraft. Shrewbridge is on the edge of this pleasant little town, which is not exactly what I would call a sleepy little village! A reliable eyewitness told me many years ago that all they recovered of the pilot was a finger, so it is probably true that this is his grave, despite a headstone at Madingley.

Re: P47 crash in a sleepy English village
 

Thanks for the responses.
Been able to look into this in more detail.

It would appear he crashed near Shrewsbury Road in Nantwich and the local people have erected a memorial in his name.

The ground is logged as consecrated land and a plaque asks visitors to treat it as so. Lt Brown, a New Yorker was NOT recovered and is said to still be buried with his aircraft, hence the consecrated land.

Cheers
Jon

Re: P47 crash in a sleepy English village
 

From the ABMC website:

AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION
http://www.abmc.gov/images/bannerww.jpgArthur L. Brown

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

Service # O-886150

Headquarters, 495th Fighter Group

Entered the Service from: New York
Died: 14-Jan-44
Buried at: Plot A Row 4 Grave 36
Cambridge American Cemetery
Cambridge, England Awards:

Re: P47 crash in a sleepy English village
 

How strange,

The link here says he is still with his aircraft and the plaque says "here lies"

yet he has a grave too?

Do the US have empty graves for missing servicemen?

http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co...nds42-7925.htm

Re: P47 crash in a sleepy English village
 

Maybe someone should contact the ABMC (http://www.abmc.gov/home.php) or JPAC (http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/) to ask what's going on?....

Re: P47 crash in a sleepy English village
 

Jon

It would not be unusual for only partial remains to be found and buried, thus giving the casualty a formal grave and not officially "missing". I suspect that this is the case here, although the reality might well be that the greater part of his mortal remains were/are in the aircraft. To all intents and purposes he is not MIA to the American authorities and thus, I suspect, the site would not be of of interest to their CILHI people (now called something different - I forget what!) despite what might still be at the crash site.