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Re: 474th FG 42-104399 1 April 1945
Hello Phil,
The pilot in this incident was 2Lt. Robert L. Coleman (serial no. O-769612) of the 429th FS. On April 1, 1945, the 429th took off at 0836 hours from Euskirchen (Y-59) on an armed recce in the area of Warburg, Nordheim, and Mordhausen. There was bad weather in the recce area so the Squadron flew east. They located and attacked the airfield at Gottingen with 10-plus Luftwaffe aircraft of various types on the field. Bombing and strafing results were excellent. A 30-car passenger train was also strafed and damaged in the area.
Just before making the attack on the airfield, Lt. Coleman's P-38J-15-LO was hit by flak. He was seen to split-S from 3,000 feet just east of the marshalling yards at Gottingen (map grid coordinates C-525280). Two flashes were seen when the P-38 struck the ground. He was not seen to bail out. No parachute was seen. Coleman was later declared KIA.
Hope this helps.
Cheers, Gary
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