USAAF Mosquito 9-4-1945

[Henk Welting]

Looking for the serial number of a Mosquito aircraft lost 9-4-1945 of 25th BG (Recce) 654 BS, piloted by 1/Lt John A. PRUIS - 0-705419, buried St.Avold Mil. Cem., France (Plot D Row 14 Grave 37). His navigator 1/Lt Claude C. MOORE (svcnr unknown) survived. Involved in a chaff flight; crash location not known. Lt Pruis was a former B17 pilot of 491 BG(H).
Regards and thanks in advance for your help.
Henk.

[Leendert]

Henk,

Although I have no first hand source, Mosquito PR XVI NS782 is a contender.

This a/c appears on a loss list with "Salvaged Battle damage" under 653rd BS (date ops here 8.4.45, but perhaps night operation and actual loss date 9.4.45, salvage date 20.4.45) and on dehavilland.ukf.net with SOC 10.4.45.

Groet,

Leendert

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Leendert for this quick response. I'm not a USAAF-fanatic; info for my best friend Jan Hey. Will inform Jan.
Goed weekend,
Henk.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Henk and Leendert,

All that I could come up with is -
For NS782 an accident at Watton on the 8th March 45 and SOC on the 10th April 45.

For the 9th April 45
PZ467 to the USA.
NS744 landing accident at Manston pilot, John M. Carter.
NS757 Spun in Shepards Grove, pilot Robert W. James.
MM867(incorrect Beaufighter serial) pilot R.L. Hoover. (Correct Mossie serial number MM752).

1Lt. John A. Pruis was in a landing accident at Watton with RG113 on the 6th April 45.

Alex

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Alex.
Your info means that we can delete NS782 from the list being a possible contender. Question remains what brought PRUIS over France ?
Will inform my friend Jan.
Good weekend,
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

Alex,

MM867 was a Beaufighter Mk.VI.F !

Henk.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Henk,

Yes you are quite correct Beaufighter MM867 , 415 NFS James M. Hanson, LeVallon, France (Y-18) date for which I now have is 16/9/1944. Then later on the 9th April 45 at St: Dizier (A-64) with Robert H. Watt.

A second name for 9th April 45 is 1Lt. Terrence S. Hall. ABMC site (25 BG)

Hoover's Mossie was MM752.
(ref: AAIR site)

Sorry for mix up, had distractions.

Further Edit:
From The Mighty Eighth Chronology
Other Units Supplement
page 545

8th April 1945
P. Lt. Robert W. James - KIS
N. Lt. Terence S. Hall - KIS
9th April 1945
P. Lt. John A. Pruis - KIA
N. Lt. Claude C. Moore - WIA

From The Mighty Eighth War Diary
page 483/4

8th/9th April 1945
25 BG despatched 3 Mosquitos on night PR Germany.

9th April 1945
Other Operations
25BG despatched 4 Mosquitos "Chaff" screening for 1st AD, 4 Mosquitos on WR Continent/UK (1 aborted and cr Shepherds Grove A/F, 2 K.).

Alex

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Alex; will inform my friend Jan.
Regards,
Henk.

Dear Henk,

See if you can locate a copy of the book, "Aerial Intelligence of the 8th Air Force." In it you will find that this indivdual PURGED my name from my WORK, including the story of how the Mossie was lost, on page 97. His actions created turmoil within the 25th Bomb Group Association, and split the organization apart, such that, Mosquito crew members no longer attend the reunions.

The above individual died three years ago, and no doubt, his soul will now burn in hell forever.

Norman Malayney

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Norman for info. Will talk about it with my friend Jan.
Best regards,
Henk.