Is 1st Lt Stephen PASCAL still MIA ?

[ClinA-78]

Hello

I came across a German newspaper article (see www.crashplace.de/berichtvarrigsen.JPG) telling the recovery of a F-5 in Varrigsen on October 2004.
Some elements (date of loss given as 7th April 45, white code '16'(sic.) on boom) lead me to the possible identity of the aircraft : F-5E 44-23715 of 67th TRG 30th PRS still missing with its pilot : 1st Lt Stephen PASCAL
I wish to know if the recovery team (lead by Mr Bethke) has succeeded to find out the identity of the aircraft and his unfortunate pilot who is still listed as missing!
Did the US authorities had taken the few human parts to identify them?
Has someone any info about this discovery and its silent (and possibly final) conclusion?
I try to contact Mr Bethke without a reply up today.

My particular interest is that Stephen Pascal was hosted by a Belgian family (when he flew from Gosselies airbase, A-87) and even get 'fiancé' with the mother of a friend working in Florennes airbase. He had also projects to settle in Belgium but destiny rules... The lady was called Olympe and, unfortunately, she has died two years ago still puzzled with Stephen's death. My friend has the ring of his mother, the same ring was wornt by Stephen the day he went missing. My friend has many anecdotes about Stephen (whose father - Ernest - was a quite talentuous Hollywood film producer) and would be happy to clear the identify of the Varrigsen's MIA pilot particularly if a ring was found.

Best regards

ClinA-78

[Icare9]

Hello, ClinA-78. I assume you are Belgian n'est pas?
Have you tried contacting the newspaper which published that report for any contact names or further details which they may not have published?
I cannot help you much, but I too am following a "Ring" trail. Halifax HR732 failed toreturn from a bombing raid on Leipzig on 4th December 1943. There is a likelihood that it was hit twice by flak and exploded in midair on the approach to Leipzig. 3 years after the end of the war, his widow received his wedding ring, but nothing else.
No nightfighter records match and a rear gunner from the same 51 Sqdn reported seeing a bomber at the same altitude hit twice by flak and explode. No other trace of the aircraft has been reported or traced.
Coincidentally, a Ju88 was lost that same night after shooting down 2 Lancasters (not recorded in claims) and in Sept 2003 the pilots body was recovered from the wreck in Ochsenwerder near Hamburg. His widow and daughter (then 60) at least had closure which is what I am trying to help the relatives of the crew achieve.
Good luck with your search!

[Leendert]

For those who can read sufficient German: http://www.flugzeugforum.de/forum/ar...p/t-19176.html

Regards,

Leendert

[Paul]

Stephen L. Pascal

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

Service # O-773791

30th Photographic Squadron, 67th Reconnaissance Group

Entered the Service from: California
Died: 8-Apr-46
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Luxembourg American Cemetery
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Awards: Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

[Paul]

Contacted my friend who is Superintendent at Luxembourg Cemetery. He told their MIA list has just been updated and Pascal is still listed as MIA....

Paul

[ClinA-78]

Hello all,

Thank you Gent's of your interest (however I hoped going further with this 'enquête').
Yes, Stephen Pascal is still quoted on the memorial in Luxembourg (Why not in Henri-Chapelle or Neuville-en-Condroz US military cemeteries?). I think his body (and obvious ID parts) is still buried in Varrigsen as the newspaper article suggested the second engine is also deeply buried. However I had difficulties to really follow the German forum extract posted by Leendert.
I am trying to contact Mr Bethke (the recovery team leader) to clear the fate of this gallant airman.

In Stephen Pascal's memory

Best regards

ClinA-78

[ssg keay]

Here is the story. Only a few remains of LT Pascal were recovered, including his pistol (Colt Mod.1911). The remains were then handed over to Mortuary Affairs, who in turn sent them to JPAC (Hawaii). Alas, as I understand, there was not enough for a DNA test to be performed. I know that JPAC planned to return to the site and finish the excavation, but I do not know if that ever happened, as we are not on best terms. The remains found during the Bethke dig fit in two hands. Funny though that the pistol, oxygen mask, etc were found. You would think the rest would be there, too.
Also, it takes a long time for the recovered MIA lsit to be updated. The pilot I recovered in 2005 was still listed as MIA 2 years later. Only in 2008 was his status updated to recovered. Danny

[ClinA-78]

Hello Danny,

Very interesting. As I supposed they didn't succeed to recover ANY important parts of the body... but they found pistol, oxygen-mask, etc. strange indeed. They seem to have hurried the dig (we know that P-38 crashed vertically are deeply buried; for instance I have recovered one at nearly 8 m depth), and neglected the second engine (engine data plate as a clue). Once again, we must be very precise and 'minutieux' when digging suspected MIA aircraft beside legal authorization. Some people are more interested in debris...
Do you know more about Mr Bethke and his recovery team and its archievement (more than 100 digs!)?
Planning a second dig should be appropriated.
And what about your researches, Danny?

Best regards

ClinA-78

[ssg keay]

ClinA, I know enough about Bethke, but that is not a topic discussed in an open Forum. My personal feelings toward him are neutral.
I am active duty US Army and that has been a pain in my side a while. I am gone to often to lead any digs. My last MIA recovery was in August 2005 (1LT Paul Mazal). Before that I assisted our sister team in Giessen when they recovered three Australian MIAs. It is also getting harder and harder to do recoveries with the proper permissions. In Germany, the state claims all aircraft wrecks as theirs. You can excavate (and foot the bill), but they legally can take every sincle scrap of metal (which they rarely do). English planes (not only in Germany) are still property of the MOD and as such (if human remains are suspected to be inside) considered war graves, which should remain undisturbed (with exceptions). For American MIAs of course JPAC consider themselves the Gods of recovery (NO COMMENT), but the biggest issue are the different German state laws and the fact that the archaeological societies now feel they should excavate, or at least be present, when an aircraft is recovered. In the Netherlands, the Dutch Air Force has their own recovery team (my respect), but the community/town where the wreck is located normally has to foot the bill for the recovery, which can be very steep. I know several sites in Holland where MIAs might be located. Belgium and Luxembourgh are easier though. My next target is in Luxembourg. How about you? And where are you located???

[ClinA-78]

Hello Danny

I am living near the Florennes Air Base (2e Wing Tactique and A-78 for allies) where I am working as a NCO NBC specialist. For more than 15 years (I am 30), I investigate in WW2 aircrafts (and airmen of course) crashed in my country as a passion. I am not a WW2 collector or a treasure hunter (there are many in 'digs stories') but just passionated by the localisation and identification of wreckage (I call it 'microhistory'). I went on more than 150 crashsites and managed to dig out 8 wrecks including the very last missing German fighter pilot lost in May 1940 (Lt. Adolf von Böselager MIA on the 13 May 40) recovered and identified in September 2002. I consider myself as a link between "archives researchers" (I respect them and I know very well some of them as 'specialist') and ground researches. In fact, as you know, the critical matter in WW2 airwar are the witnesses who left us at tremendous rate. Before making digs, we need to interrogate the people who lived those events, this is part of our history.

Best regards and best luck in you researches

ClinA-78