P-51 D, 44-72391, Lt. J.F. Pound on 4th april 1945

[Bas Maathuis]

Gents,

Does anyone know where Lt. J.F. Pound of 356FG / 361FS and his P-51 D #44-72391 came down on the 4th april 1945.
There's no MACR or Aircraft Accident Report.
It is believed that Lt. Pound parachuted to safety.

Any info is welcome.

[FrankieS]

http://www.nimh.nl/nl/images/1945%20sec_tcm5-7286.pdf


says Meppel, NL

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=52.7&lon=6...&search=meppel

ciao !

[Aknevelman]

I did some research on the web:

USAAF chronology:
(http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/wwii/usaf/html/Apr.45.html)

WEDNESDAY, 4 APRIL 1945
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 926: 1,431 bombers and 866 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields, a shipyard and a U-boat shipyard in Germany; they claim 30-4-30 Luftwaffe aircraft; 10 bombers and 4 fighters are lost.
As part of this mission:438 B-24s are sent to hit Parchim (33) and Perleberg (29) Airfields; 97 hit Wesendorf Airfield, the secondary; attacks are visual; they claim 6-4-6 aircraft; 6 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 76 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 59 MIA. Escorting are 324 P-47s and P-51s; the P-47s claim 14-0-20 aircraft and the P-51s claim 9-0-3 aircraft; 1 P-47 and 3 P-51s are lost.

361FG Website (http://www.361fg.com/Hist.htm)

February 1945 1st The Group was reassigned to VIII FC as a change of station began with the detachment at St. Dizier moving to airdrome A-84 (later re-designated station 181-A & B), Chievres in Belgium, the 361st sharing the field with the 352nd Fighter Group.

April 1945 4th A target escort mission to Parchim airfield, in support of 2nd Air Division B-24s, witnessed what would be the Group's last aerial encounters with Luftwaffe fighters. The bombers were attacked three times by 30 Me262s but, even so, 374th pilot Lt. James T. Sloan claimed one destroyed, while others of both the 374th and 375th claimed another 12 Me262s damaged, for no loss.

April 1945 6th Following rumours of a return to England, orders from 8th AF HQ confirmed that the 361st would move back to its former station at Little Walden. The move began with the transfer of the advance party.

So 361 FG was stationed in Belgium at Chievres and the group was escorting bombers that night to targets in northern Germany. See map attached.
Loss of plane in Belgium (base) or near Meppel, Netherlands (on route) are still both possible.
I did not find any information on specific incident or the pilot. It is strange that the 361FG Website states there were no losses on the day. Still some issues to resolve…

[ssg keay]

Bas, if he came down behind allied lines there would not be at least a MACR. I have been looking for a P-47 that came down behind allied lines and I doubt I will ever find the plane due to this. We also have a B-17, same scenario, but we have the crash site. Danny

[Aknevelman]

I realise I did not reference the source that states the crash was not in Netherlands but in Belgium:

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/356th...0&next_page=12

This source states:

44-72391, P-51D, 361, QI-C
Lost 4 April 45 - Lt. John E Pound bailed out over Belgium.

Regards.

[Bas Maathuis]

Gents,

I'd like to thank you all for your help and reactions.

I also found the data on Little friends, and found "Meppel" (NIMH) as an other location.
Because this loss was on the 4th of April 1945 there is also a possibility that the location Meppel in Holland should read Meppen Germany. Groundforces where on the move to Lingen Germany which is close to Meppen. Lt. Pound could be flying Aircover for attacking groundforces.....

Any ideas?

[rpeck350]

From the 356 FG book they escorted bombers to an airfield.
Lt. Pound was listed as a spare but nothing about if he went on with the mission or not.
His plane lost its coolant .
Rick

[Bas Maathuis]

Rick,

Thanks for you remarks.
You could be right. Do you know which airfield?
Close to Meppen Germany are a few airfields. I know that Fw 190's where stationed at Klausheide, but I'm not sure when exactly.

[rpeck350]

Hi Bas,
The book says Reinsehelen Airfield and they broke escort at Meppel.
Didn't say where Meppel was just says Meppel.
He bailed out over Allied lines.
Rick

[Jaap Woortman]

Bas,

At April 4th, 1945 the Battle Line was still far south of Meppel. In the area of Zutphen-Deventer. At April 5th the Canadians were at Coevorden. Almelo, Vriezenveen and Goor were liberated.
Just for your information.

Jaap