information about 78th Fighter group pilots

[laurentbiblio]

hi,
I look for information and documents about 2 pilots of 78th Fighter Group killed in action near Arras in february 1944 :
the pilots I look for are :
Lt Donald R MORSCH - killed in Ficheux -near Arras
Lt William S Swanson - killed in Wailly les Arras.

I would like too find a photo of them.

Hoping your help

Laurent

[shooshoobaby]

Laurent -
From Eagles of Duxford : 78th FG by Garry Fry
78th FG rondevoused with returning Bombers North
Central France.
Attacked by 20 ME109s
Lt. Morsch and Lt. Swanson disappeared during Dogfight.
Lt. Morsch - MACR # 2295
Lt. Swanson - No MACR listed
Sorry - No Photos in Book
Mike

[petewenman]

LittleFriends lists the following info which suggests Swanson was not flying MX-P when it was lost.

42-74733 P-47D 82 MX-P Swanson Lt William S

Lost 11 Feb 44 - Lt. Joseph A Scheibler KIA
MACR 2294

However Millers Fighter Units and Pilots 8th AF shows Swanson as lost on the 11/02/04 while flying MX-P with both him and Morsch both listed as "hit by a Me-109 southwest of Arras. "

Given the MACR for MX-P is the number immediatly before that for Morsch and Scheibler is not shown in Millers as being lost, I think its a fair bet that MACR 2294 relates to Swanson's loss on the 11/02/44.

HTH

Pete

[Peter Randall]

You are quite right Pete. My recording of Scheibler was taken from a much older listing and it should of course be Swanson in MX-P with MACR 2294. I will get the site updated.

Peter