While looking for a MIA infantry soldier found parts of Lancaster HK664

[ssg keay]

Last Thursday and Friday we were looking for an American soldier since February 1945. Instead we found parts of Lancaster HK664. She was hit in the bomb bay by AA on 23 December 1944 and blew up, scattering herself and her crew over a 2km radius. Of the crew there are three buried and five missing. The parts we found cam from the engine cowl.

Danny

[Larry]

Where?

[Joerg Dietsche]

According to Chorley location is Hamm roughly 9 km NW from the center of Bitburg.

[ssg keay]

Not exactly...Chorley is only as accurate as the loss files.
She actually came down 2km north of the Luxembourg town of Echternach.
Parts are on both sides of the Sauer river, so in LX and GE!

Danny

[Horst Weber]

Originally Posted by ssg keay

Not exactly...Chorley is only as accurate as the loss files.
She actually came down 2km north of the Luxembourg town of Echternach.
Parts are on both sides of the Sauer river, so in LX and GE!

Danny

Good morning Danny !

The exact crash location of this a/c is the plateau between Ernzen and Echternacherbrück, very close to the former glider-airfield of Ernzen. In 1994 were some larger parts of the a/c found near the hamlet of Ernzerhof. It is true, that the a/c was hit by Flak on a mission to Trier that day and the debris were strewn on a wide area. As much as I know about the case, the remains of the crew were found by American troops in the slopes between the Ernzen plateau down to the Sauer river valley at Echternach.
There is a U.S. recon-motion picture, showing the Ernzerhof hamlet with debris of the Aircraft.

All the best
Horst Weber

[ssg keay]

Hallo Herr Weber, yes the Ferschweiler Plateau is where we were working that day. One of my friends from LX said there was a very big piece laying there until a while ago and someone must have recently taken the part along. My guess is it was a large chunk of cowling. By the way Herr Weber, do you know anyone who has found parts of a P-47 near Paschel, Saarland?

By the way, do you have the recon picture you mentioned? I would love to look at it.

Thanks, Danny, von Hohenfels, Bayern

[hanshauprich]

Plan has an 8 men crew, armed with one .50BMG. 1990-1992 I found pieces from the cockpit, pilots seat etc.

[ssg keay]

Interesting, I might put her on my lost for research for a later date being that there are still 5 missing crew. But first I have to focus on the P-47 in Paschel. Danny

[hanshauprich]

Around Paschel was heavy fighting between US-Forces and 6.SS-Gebirgsdivison "Nord" during March 1945. Another P-47 Pilot is still missing near Hentern. (Oktober 1944, shoot down by AA over Saarburg, Pilot bailed out and escaped but still MIA).

[ssg keay]

Herr Hauprich, first H.G.P from Aachen said hw knows you well, so nice to meet you Sir.

The one we are looking for near Paschel went down on (I think) 2 February 1945. The pilot, CPT Booth is also still missing. I think the one in Hentern turned into a war crimes case, correct?

Thanks, Danny