56 FG pilot

[Nokose]

On the 31 December 1944, 2nd Lt. Andrew Chasko of 56 FG was shot down in his P-47. I am trying to determine what was their mission time that day and where he crashed at the time that he became a POW. My book on the 56 FG does not provide this information. The cause is listed as unknown if it was by flak or German aircraft.

[Rottler]

Hello Nokose,

according to the MACR 11170 it was a bomber escort mission to Hannover. 2nd Lt Chasko was shot down at 13.00 hrs near Mesum southeast of Rheine district Steinfurt. The German casualty no./Abschussnummer was J 2739.

Regards
Leo

[KM1957]

Details are from "Beware the Thunderbolt" by David McLaren. Major James Carter led the mission with the 61st Fighter Squadron with take-off at 0857.They were directed to rendezvous with 3rd Bomb Division B-17's headed for Misburg. Just after making R/V, the 62nd Fighter Squadron was vectored to bogies reported near Quackenbruck. Lt. William Stovall was killed in the fights and to quote, "Lt. Andrew Chasko was also seen to go down and explode, but it was not known whether flak or a German aircraft knocked him down."

Kent