Downed allied pilot in Iszkaszentgyörgy Hungary in 1944

[Larry deZeng]

Is this fellow any relation to Graf von Pappenheim?

RABE von PAPPENHEIM, Ernst. 09.01.43 Oblt.(d.R.), trf from Erg.KGr.z.b.V. 300 to Minensuchgruppe 1 and appt Staka 2./MSGr. 1. 05.43 appt Staka 5./Minensuchgruppe 1 (to 08.44). 12.44 Hptm. and Staka 4./MSGr. 1.

If the plane shot down in summer 1944 was brought down during daylight hours then it was American. If it was shot down at night, then it was probably British.

Either way, it will be very difficult to identify the crew member without a specific date. Many planes were shot down over Hungary during the summer of 1944.

L.

[Jari41]

Hi!

In 1944 castle was run by count Alexander zu Pappenheim (born 1905). He died in 1995 in Salzburg.

If and as I have been told the pilot was captured in the daytime so it must have been then an American pilot. Incident happened between July 1944 and September 1944.

One more interesting historical detail is that family Oppenheim left they home castle in October 1944 because of approaching Red Army. Count Pappenheim returned once in the home late 1944 only to find out that castle was serving as a German army headquarters. Would be interesting to find out which headquarter was located in the castle!

[Larry deZeng]

Hi Jari41 -
Then the work at hand would be a careful search through the July, August and September 1944 MACRs (Missing Air Crew Reports) for U.S. 15th Air Force that was based in Italy. The researcher would need to identify all losses in and around Székesfehérvár, Iszkaszentgyöry being 10 km NW of Székesfehérvár. My guess is that the researcher will end up with perhaps 10 or more names. Once these names are compiled, how would you know which one is the man you are looking for?

L.

[Jari41]

Hi!

Thank you very much for your comments. I’ll try to turn to eyewitnesses one more time to have more precise information about the incident and will also try to reach Pappenheim family members.

J

[HGabor]

Pilot was most likely 2Lt. Fred Roberts Crawford (O-754075, POW) of 15th USAAF, 52nd FG, 4th FS P-51B Mustang (WD-C, S/N: 43-24871) pilot on June 16, 1944 near the fishing pond at Iszkaszentgyörgy.