Sept 44 crash in Wavre area, Belguim

[pointedeflèche]

The 5th of September 1944 a small Allied plane (fighter aircraft?) was shot down by German Flak.

The Allied pilote was able to bale out and was hidden by the resistance people of the Belgian village named Gottechain (presently referred to as Bossut-Gottechain).

The aircraft itself hit a pigsty before ending up in a little creek named 'Le Train'. Two pigs were killed in the fire.

The creek runs through the rural villages named Grez-Doiceau and Archennes, both villages are situated only a couple of miles to the north/ northeast of the city of Wavre (Belguim).

In the direct vicinity of the above villages was situated the German airbase know as Le Culot (now referred to as Beauvechain).

Any information regarding this particular crash would be much appreciated.

Regards,
Dirk

[montana]

Hello Dirk,

I have a P-47 crashed between Grez-Doiceau and Gotttechain on the 4th of September. The pilot, 1st Lt Bayard B. Taylor, bailed out, evaded capture and was hidden by Belgian helpers at Gastuche. 1st Lt Taylor was a member of the 366 FG 390 FS of the 9th Air Force. Have you more information relating to this crash ?

[pointedeflèche]

Hi Montana,

Many thanks!
I have sent you a Private Message and Email.

Regards,
Dirk

[Horst Weber]

Good evening Dirk !

For additional information, an extract from 366th FG Report of Operations,
4th Sept. 1944:

Part IV

A. F.O. 169 Missions Y21-3, Armed Recce, Louvain, Namur, Hasselt, Liege.
B. 366th Fighter Group, 390th Fighter Sqd. 12 P-47's, no aborts.
C. TU: 1301 TOT: 1300-1425 TD: 1639
D. 2 P-47's missing destroyed. 1 P-47 damged (belly landed)
2 persons missing. 1st Lt. Baird B. Taylor (flak) 2nd Lt.
Claude Halterman (flak). Lt. Taylor bailed out 4 miles south
west of Louvain. Parchute seen to open. Lt. Halterman belly
landed in vincinity of Soissions. Called over RK after landing
and said he was OK.
..
..
..

Hope, this helps additionally.

All the best,

Horst Weber

[pointedeflèche]

Hello Horst Weber,

Thanks a lot for the information found in the Report of Operations!

- Was there an Escape and Evader Report prepared for Lt. Bayard B. Taylor and if this is the case do you happen to know the number of Taylor's E & E report?

- Any idea what Lt. Bayard B. Taylor's army serial number was?

- What was the serial number of his P-47?

Thanks in advance
Cheers,
Dirk

[Horst Weber]

Good morning Dirk !

Those Operation Reports were usually compiled in a time frame of two days after the mission. In this OpRep, no E&E report is mentioned and I have no number of it.

In my sources, no AAF/sn for the pilot Baird B. Taylor nor his P-47's s/n is mentioned.

I'll take a look into other sources, but can't promise by now anything.

Happy Easter

Horst Weber