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Re: P-38 lost over Bulgaria on 26 August 1944?
The Mustang pilot was 2nd Lt Henry A. Wise Jr., 332nd Fighter Group, 99th Fighter Squadron.
On 26 August 1944 56 P-51 escorted bombers from the 304th Bombardment Wing to barracks near the Bulgarian airfield at Baneasa. On the trip back to base in Italy, Lt Wise was forced to bail out when the oil pressure dropped. He was captured by Bulgarian soldiers and taken to prison. After three weeks the Russians moved into the country and forced the Bulgarians to sign peace terms. The POWs were freed and sent across the border. In September Lt Wise returned to the 99th FS in Italy. He was promoted to 1st Lt and sent home.
Source: An article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch from 26 September 2009.
Regards
Leo
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