Lt. Vance P. Ludwig, 56th FG, 1 Dec. 1943, Belgium
 

Hello,

Has anybody got information as to where 1st Lt. Vance P. Ludwig and his P-47 fell to earth on December 1st 1943? Was it near the city of Leuven (Louvain) Belgium?

1st Lt. Vance P. Ludwig
KIA December 1st 1943
56th Fighter Group/ 63rd Fighter Squadron
Ramrod 344 Solingen, Germany
P-47 D-5, s/n 42-8607, UN-K
MACR 1276
Cause: German fighters near St. Trond, Belgium
Buried: Arlington National Cemetery

Regards,
Dirk

Re: Lt. Vance P. Ludwig, 56th FG, 1 Dec. 1943, Belgium
 

Hi Dirk,

The aircraft of 1st Lt Vance P. Ludwig crashed 1 km S.E. of Merdorp near Ambresin at 12.45 h.

Rgds

Re: Lt. Vance P. Ludwig, 56th FG, 1 Dec. 1943, Belgium
 

Hi Régis,

Many thanks for your help!

It appears that Major Egon Mayer of Jagdgeschwader 2 claimed four P-47’s that day: one in the Huy-Gembloux area (12.50), one in the Liege area (12.50), one in the Gembloux area (12.53) and finally one in the Leuven area (Louvain area) (12.53).

Another P-47 of the 56th FG/ 62nd FS was lost that day, namely P-47 D-6 s/n 42-74631. Its pilot 2/Lt. Harry M. Pruden Jr. got killed in action. Cause: enemy fighters near Cologne.

Do you happen to know whether s/n 42-74631 fell in Germany or Belgium? Are there any other P-47’s known to have crashed in Belgium that day?

Regards,
Dirk

Re: Lt. Vance P. Ludwig, 56th FG, 1 Dec. 1943, Belgium
 

Hi,
Pruden's P47 42-74631 last contact was at 13.10 by Capt Dauohin aprox 15 miles west of Cologne. Believed that he came down in the border area.MACR 1277.
Alex

Re: Lt. Vance P. Ludwig, 56th FG, 1 Dec. 1943, Belgium
 

Hi Dirk ,

Perhaps this can help you further :

01/12/1943
Etikhove
P-47D-5-RE
Ofw Otto Schneider 6./JG 6
42-74631 56FG-62FS
Halesworth
2nd Lt Ruden Jr Harry M ( KIA )
MACR 1277

Greetings
Alain

Re: Lt. Vance P. Ludwig, 56th FG, 1 Dec. 1943, Belgium
 

According to 'Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces' five P47's were lost during the day.

42-6211 (1st Lt C.L. Brown-61FS/56FG) -Force-landed at Bavegem, 7 miles SE of Ghent. Pilot POW.
42-8607 (1st Lt V.P. Ludwig-63FS/56FG) -Crashed near St Trond airfield. Pilot killed.
42-74631 (2nd Lt H.M. Pruden Jr-62FS/56FG) -Lost German/Belgium border. Pilot killed.
42-8006 (1st Lt J.C. Hull-358FS/355FG) -Crashed near Sterreken. Pilot killed.
42-22545 (1st Lt J.M. Williamson-357FS/355FG) -Crashed near Gelsdorf, Germany. Pilot POW.

Another three P.47's (one each 56, 78 and 353 FG's) made force-landings in the UK.

Regards,

Steve

Re: Lt. Vance P. Ludwig, 56th FG, 1 Dec. 1943, Belgium
 

Alex, Alain, Steve,

Thank you very much for the info on the other P-47's losses that day.

Regards,
Dirk

Re: Lt. Vance P. Ludwig, 56th FG, 1 Dec. 1943, Belgium
 

Hello Dirk ,

Lt Vance was buried in grave nr 360 at the allied cemetery on the airfield of St-Truiden by the Germans.

Greets
Alain

Re: Lt. Vance P. Ludwig, 56th FG, 1 Dec. 1943, Belgium
 

LUDWIG, VANCE P 1LT USAAF, 8TH AF 63 FTR SQ, 56 FTR CP WWII AC DATE OF BIRTH: 04/08/1916 DATE OF DEATH: 12/01/1943 BURIED AT: SECTION 34 SITE 1206 ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Regards to all, Michael Patterson
Webmaster, Arlington National Cemetery Website
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net

Re: Lt. Vance P. Ludwig, 56th FG, 1 Dec. 1943, Belgium
 

HI,

Any idea where exactly (which town/city) Pruden of 56th FG chrashed?

42-74631 (2nd Lt H.M. Pruden Jr-62FS/56FG) -Lost German/Belgium border. Pilot killed.


Thanks.

Martin