Unlucky Lt Jack Miller 83rdFS

[Brian]

Hi guys

Lt Jack B. Miller, a P-47 pilot with the 83rdFS was shot down in error by a Spitfire on 9 July 1944 (P-47 42-75403). He was rescued from the Channel by ASR

On 18 August 1944, Miller (P-47 42-26458) was shot down by a P-51B of 361stFG - and killed.

Can anyone add more to these incidents?

Happy New Year
Brian

[FrankieS]

Hi Brian !

For the first crash http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/s...y/Jun1944O.htm

gives June 5th as date, mid air collision 5 mil W Cambridge UK

[FrankieS]

440818 P-47D 42-26458 83FS 78FG 357 8 KMAC 5 Miller, Jack B ENG Duxford/ 1 1/2mi SE S357

[Brian]

Thanks Frankie

Obviously something wrong here!

I'll keep investigating.

Have a good one
Brian

[udf_00]

More likely candidates

For the June mid-air :

Date Aircraft Type Serial Number Sqdn Group Home Base AF Action D Pilot Country US State Location
440605, P-47D, 43-25550, Hq, 78FG, 357, 8, MACCRL, 5, Hughes, Thomas E, ENG, , RAF Bourn

For the August mid-air :

Date Aircraft Type Serial Number Sqdn Group Home Base AF Action D Pilot Country US State Location
440818, P-51B15, 42-106759, 376FS, 361FG, 374, 8, KMAC, 5, Dahl, Milton A, ENG, , Bottisham/Sta 374

[Brian]

Hi UDF

If I read you correctly, you are suggesting that Miller was involved in the June mid-air collision with P-47 flown by Hughes, and was killed in the August collision with a P-51 of 361st flown by Dahl (not shot down). Correct?

But probably shot down by a Spitfire in July? Seems ASR involved. Has anyone a report?

Cheers
Brian

[udf_00]

Brian,

If I read you correctly, you are suggesting that Miller was involved in the June mid-air collision with P-47 flown by Hughes, and was killed in the August collision with a P-51 of 361st flown by Dahl (not shot down). Correct?

June, 05 mid-air :

According to the first link supplied by FrankieS
Miller bailed out 5 miles west of Cambridge following a mid-air and
Hugues crash-landed at RAF Bourn also following a mid-air.

Bourn lie 6-8 miles West of Cambridge.

August, 18 mid-air

From

http://www.361fg.com/Hist.htm

August 1944 ....

... 18th 376th pilot Lt. Milton A. Dahl died in a mid-air collision with a 78th FG P-47 near the base. The pilot from Duxford was also killed ...

Found only one from the 78th FG involved in a mid-air on

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/s...y/Aug1944O.htm

udf

[Brian]

Hi UDF & Frankie

Further research reveals that Jack Miller actually baled out of 42-76232 HL-P on 9 July 1944, presumably the victim of the unidentified Spitfire.

Seems that he was third time unlucky!

Cheers
Brian

[jasonp51d]

Jack Miller was killed in a mid-air collision over Bottisham airfield. He flew through the 361st FG as they were entering the traffic pattern to land - unfortunately colliding with the P-51 of Milton Dahl.

For many years pieces of wreckage lay by the Bottisham to Six Mile Bottom Road - we are lucky to have small fragments of wreckage from both planes at the Bottisham Airfield Museum which will be opening in Spring 2010.


Best regards

Jason
www.361fg.com

[Brian]

Thanks for that, Jason

I hope to visit the new Museum sometime.

Cheers
Brian