Crashsite P38 44-23664 and 43-28369
 

Hi,

Who can help me to find the crashsites of P38 44-23664 (Lt. Bridgeman) and P38 43-28369, (Lt Ballard) both planes of the 367th Fighter Group, who lost on October 12th 1944 in the Aachen area.
Both Pilots became POW.

Thanks in advance,

Michel

Re: Crashsite P38 44-23664 and 43-28369
 

Hello Michael,
Quick reply is MACR's 9531 Ballard and 9532 Bridgeman.
Will check for any KU. Not much help only Barlow's is possibly identified.,there are several for the 13ththough.
From both MACR's the last seen map ref is given as 5-50°E 51°N, north of Aachen.
Alex

Re: Crashsite P38 44-23664 and 43-28369
 

Alex,
Thanks for your answer, the both MACR are already in my possion.
Oblt. Willie Stratmann 4/JG2 claimed a P38 on October 12th 1944 at Heinsberg.
I was hope maybe one of these two pilots crashed at Heinsberg.

Michel

Re: Crashsite P38 44-23664 and 43-28369
 

Good evening Michel !

This was a tricky time at a tricky place those days. The battle of Aachen took place in these days and frontlines moved and changed in the area. The "Battle of Aachen" lasted from Oct. 2nd to Oct. 21st, 1944.

The civilian population in the area was widely evacuated.

Both pilots luckily survived the crashs and were taken POW, but where ?.

Here, at this time and the current ongoing military situation, you'll hardly find a fact-finding estimate of both, the American and the German site.

By my opinion is it fruitless, to squeeze MACR's and KU-Reports in those military situation like Aachen in October 1944. They simply don't know it.

More aid would come from the German Jagdgeschwader record books, the civilian statements in the area postwar and demilitarisation in the area. They are documented in the "Landesarchiv" and probably in local newsletters.

It's hard !

Best wishes !

Horst Weber

Re: Crashsite P38 44-23664 and 43-28369
 

Hello,

the German "Meldung über den Abschuß eines US-amerikanischen Flugzeuges", Abschuß-Nr. J-135-A is listed in the documents of MACR 9532 for the P-38 J-25-LO 44-23664:
Abschußtag und Zeit: 12.10.44 15.30
Abschußort: Aachen
Flugzeugtyp: Lightning
Meldende Dienststelle: Limburg
Besatzung: 2/Lt. BRIDGEMAN Walter William 8.1.15 San Francisco O-763056
Verbleib: gef. Dulag-Luft West.

Unfortunately the exact crash place is unknown.

Regards
Leo

Re: Crashsite P38 44-23664 and 43-28369
 

Thanks Leo,
I did not mention the German paper as it only is in one of the reports, a similar one is not in Ballards MACR. But the map refs are both the same. Which I thought might narrow down Michael's search.The macr's are only 4/5 pages including cover page with only the MACR number as you will know.
Alex

Re: Crashsite P38 44-23664 and 43-28369
 

guys,

Thanks for your info,
I will try to find documents in the "Landesarchiv" our the local archive.

Michel