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

[Leendert]

Just to add that 366th FG lost another pilot and P-47 in Belgium on 4 Sep 44: Lt Charles L. Dunham Jr. (O-701739), KIA with 42-28317 near Diest.

A candidate for Taylor's P-47 may be 42-2634(8?). The serial is mentioned on a USAAF loss list with 366th FG and date 4 Sep 44, but last number can't be read conclusively.
Correct spelling of Taylor's given name is Bayard as opposed to Baird.

Regards,

Leendert

[pointedeflèche]

Hi Leendert,

Thanks!

So, if I'm not mistaken s/n 42-2634(8?) was either assigned to Lt. Bayard B. Taylor or to Lt. Claude Halterman, who belly landed in the vicinity of Soissons that day.

Or were there any other P-47's of the 366th FG lost to enemy action or flying accidents that day?

Regards,
Dirk

[Horst Weber]

Good morning Dirk an Happy Easter !

There is one more 366th FG, 390th FS pilot lost this September ,4th, 1944. Lt Charles L. Dunham Jr. (O-701739), KIA with 42-28317. His Missing Aircrew Report (MACR) has the # 8476.

Taylor and Halterman made it without a MACR into friendly territory. Anyhow, no good day for 390th FG, Taylor and Halterman were shot down but reaching friendly territory and Dunham was KIA in enemy territory.

Horst Weber

[Moonraker]

Hello gentleman ,

Perhaps this can help a little bit:

4/09/1944
Halle-Booienhoven ( between Tienen and Sint-Truiden )
3290
P-47D-26-RA
Flak at 0855 hrs
Recce Leuven area
42-28317
366FG 380FS
B2
2nd Lt Dunham Jr Charles L ( KIA ) 0-701739 Tulsa County Oklahoma
MACR 8476
Buried at the village of Halle-Booienhoven on 04/09/44 at 1500 hrs, buried as unknown X-3110 at Neupré. On 08/04/1946 at 1115 uur buried as known identified , later reburried at Eldon Missouri USA .

Happy Easter