P47 crash in a sleepy English village

[Tapper]

Hello,

I have been told today of a US fighter (P47 i think) that crashed into a river bank near Nantwich in Cheshire sometime between 1943 and 45.
The location is only a stones throw from the village centre.

I think the pilot is still with the aircraft as it was too deep or dangerous to recover being into a river bank.

Does anyone have details on this or know if the pilot was recovered?

[Kutscha]

Trapper, a Google search turned up this:

http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co...nds42-7925.htm

"Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-7925 of the 495th FTG USAAF, crashed on the edge of the town of Nantwich in Cheshire on the 14th January 1944 after entering a high speed dive at 24,000ft. The assumption in the crash report is that the pilot suffer anoxia and passed out."

[Andy Saunders]

This was 1st Lt Arthur BROWN if it is, indeed, the loss Tapper refers to. The aircraft crashed at Shrewbridge. He has a known grave and is not "missing". I have a feeling I have seen photos of the crash - possibly in the late Roger Freeman's collection.

[Atcham Tower]

This was definitely Lt Brown's aircraft. Shrewbridge is on the edge of this pleasant little town, which is not exactly what I would call a sleepy little village! A reliable eyewitness told me many years ago that all they recovered of the pilot was a finger, so it is probably true that this is his grave, despite a headstone at Madingley.

[Tapper]

Thanks for the responses.
Been able to look into this in more detail.

It would appear he crashed near Shrewsbury Road in Nantwich and the local people have erected a memorial in his name.

The ground is logged as consecrated land and a plaque asks visitors to treat it as so. Lt Brown, a New Yorker was NOT recovered and is said to still be buried with his aircraft, hence the consecrated land.

Cheers
Jon

[Paul]

From the ABMC website:

AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION
Arthur L. Brown

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

Service # O-886150

Headquarters, 495th Fighter Group

Entered the Service from: New York
Died: 14-Jan-44
Buried at: Plot A Row 4 Grave 36
Cambridge American Cemetery
Cambridge, England Awards:

[Tapper]

How strange,

The link here says he is still with his aircraft and the plaque says "here lies"

yet he has a grave too?

Do the US have empty graves for missing servicemen?

http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co...nds42-7925.htm

[Paul]

Maybe someone should contact the ABMC (http://www.abmc.gov/home.php) or JPAC (http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/) to ask what's going on?....

[Andy Saunders]

Jon

It would not be unusual for only partial remains to be found and buried, thus giving the casualty a formal grave and not officially "missing". I suspect that this is the case here, although the reality might well be that the greater part of his mortal remains were/are in the aircraft. To all intents and purposes he is not MIA to the American authorities and thus, I suspect, the site would not be of of interest to their CILHI people (now called something different - I forget what!) despite what might still be at the crash site.