Any P51 losses on 07/04/45 ?

[Andy Mac]

Guys,

Looking for said details, possibly near a German town called Wittenberg ??

Many thanks in advance,

Andy.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Andrew,

I may be able to help you.

Did not yet get shot of paperwork of another search from earlier.

7th April 45
P51 losses

44-63804 354FG MACR 13838
44-72296 55FG 338FS "CL-P" 2Lt. Harold J. Lonantz MACR 13949
44-72217 78FG 83FS "HL-H" 2Lt. Robert H. Talbot MACR 13952
44-11325 339FG 503FS 1Lt. David A. MacKenzie MACR 13953
44-15346 355FG 354FS "WR-K" "Bobby Socks" 2Lt. Gilbert M. Plowman MACR 13958
44-72306 355FG 354FS "WR-I" "Mary Luo" 1Lt. Newell F. Mills
MACR 13960

These are just the American losses perhaps not all of them.

Night

Alex

[Andy Mac]

Blimey - and I thought there may have been two . . .thanks Alex. We ought to meet for coffee one day !

Actually I wonder how many would get together in the UK?

[Peter Randall]

I can add a little to Alex’s information:

44-63804 was 356th FS a/c AJ-O, pilot Lloyd E Bates became a POW.

44-73396 for Lonattz read Konantz. Shot down by B-17 near Pritzwalk. Harold was Walter’s brother – see my 55th FG gallery for photo of them together.

44-72217 Talbot became a POW - was hit by a P-51 near Saltau and bailed out near Dummer Lake.

44-11325 was D7-K. Killed in action – hit by B-17 fire near Ahrensburg

44-15346 and 44-72306 involved in mid-air collision and both pilots killed. I have this as over the North Sea but Kent Miller gives as near Bremen so it could be over the North Sea.

I make that enemy 1, own goals 5, assuming that Bates was downed by enemy action. It could not be said to be a good day for allied aircraft recognition!

By the way, I live in the East End of London and Nick King comes from Bedfordshire.

Peter

[Andy Mac]

Peter - magic, thanks!

[Alex Smart]

Hello Peter,

You forgot Lassie the Dog.

Harold and Walter's that is.

photo of all three in "the 55th Fighter Group v Luftwaffe" by J M Grey

Alex