A P51 lost in February 1945 at La neuveville sous Montfort (Vosges Departmen=t

[gilles collaveri]

Thanks Tony, that's a great job you did;

I attach a picture of a part found on site: could it help identify the aircraft type ?
I shall let you know this story gets clearer;

Clin: thanks but non, I am not working on this area: I am just helping some friends living there.
And if you come in Toulouse, you are welcome, you know that.

Cheers all.

GC

[Tony Kambic]

More eliminations:

44-11739 (479th FG 436th FS) 9B-P Lost 22 Feb 45 - Lt. Peter C Vassuer details unknown MACR 12672
** Crashed near Halberstadt, Germany

44-14773 (359th FG 370th FS) CS-G "Mickey The Twist/Little Mary" Lost 23 Feb 45 - Lt. Malcolm C Paulette KIA MACR 12673
** reports last radio contact at 1400hrs south of zwikau ,germany. Crash position unknown

44-14402 (355th FG 357th FS) OS-H Haviland Capt. Fred R Jr. "Barbara" Feb 45 - Hardee KIFA
** Hardee was pilot who was KIFA. Engine trouble upon return to UK base ** south of Ipswich after 6 1/2 hour mission.
** 1st Lieutenant Sellers S. Hardee crashed on Glandfields Farm
** Haviland was previous pilot and named aircraft 'Barbara'

44-14260 (355th FG 357th FS) OS-W Wilson Maj. John H. "Becky" 14 Feb45 - KIA (crash-landing)
** Maj Wilson crashed near an emergency airfield close to Fosse, Belgium.

44-11688 (78th FG 82nd FS) MX-U Bibeau Lt. Lucian J. Lost in 24 Feb 45 - KIA MACR 12616
** Hit by flak during strafing and crashed near Dummer Lake, Germany.

44-15630 (357th FG, 363rd FS) B6-L lost Feb 9, 1945. MACR 12172 *** Capt. James W Browning KIMCA
** Last seen near Wurges, Germany. Captain Browning's flight was
** engaged in a fierce dog fight with ME-262's. Captain Bockay was
** there also and shot down two German jet fighters, but never
** Capt. Browning's plane again. Apparently, he was involved in a fatal
** mid air collision with a ME262, from witnesses on the ground.

44-15483 (52nd FG) lost Feb 22, 1945. MACR 12459 *** 52nd FG Based in Italy late war
** POW Pilot Bryant, Melvin H

44-15478 (31st FG) lost Feb 22, 1945. MACR 12667 *** 31st FG Based in Italy late war
** POW Pilot Roraus, Talvin J.

44-15447 (31st FG) lost Feb 2, 1945. MACR 11816 *** 31st FG Based in Italy late war
** Pilot Wagner, Frank B down by AAA while attacking airdrome,
** Kurilovec, Yugoslavia. Unknown whether pilot survived

44-14975 (20th FG, 77th FS) LC-K lost Feb 19, 1945. MACR 12498 *** Lt. Robert E Murrell
** Lieutenant Robert E. Murrell (77th) hit a tree with his wing while
** strafing a locomotive. His plane crashed into the ground.
** The 20th Group was assigned to an area in north central Germany near ** Halle and Magdeburg in which to destroy enemy transportation. Led by ** Lt. Col. Gustke the Group took off at 1120 and arrived in the area at ** 1330. The squadrons split up and strafed the areas between
** Halberstadt and Leipzig until 1415 when they withdrew. 12 locomotives ** were destroyed or damaged

44-14949 (353rd FG, 351st FS) YJ-Q lost Feb 24, 1945. MACR 12622 *** Lt. Raymond Hilgenberg KIA
** Possibly downed by ME262 over Germany. Last seen mixing it up with
** 262s.

44-11244 (20th FG, 79th FS) MC-J lost Feb 24, 1945. MACR 12617 *** Lt. Leonard M Wright Jr.
** POW, engine trouble over Darfeld, Germany

43-25126 (31st FG) lost feb 2, 1945. MACR 11820 *** 31st FG Based in Italy late war
** Pilot Gibson, Geroge W Shot down by AAA while attacking airdrome,
** Kurilovec, Yugoslavia

43-24797 (31st FG, 309th FS) lost Feb 22, 1945. MACR 12668 *** 31st FG Based in Italy late war
** POW Pilot Cravey, John T shot down near Innsbruck, AU.

[Leendert]

Gilles,

Was the area liberated in Feb 1945? If so, then perhaps you can rule out (most of) the MACRs, since the pilot would not have been missing (his whereabouts or fate were known).

Regards,

Leendert

[Tony Kambic]

William D Bates FLOF AL 6 2 1945 P-51D # 44-13884 QP-V (no MACR, not in accident lists)
** Abort due to mechanical issues; bailed out over Channel. Expired
** before rescuers reached him.

Clarence Edward Mains 1L CA 12 2 1945
** Listed as Body not recovered, still MIA

Jerry R McDonald Capt TX 28 2 1945 P-51D
** Crashed after flak hit while stafing train, near Landshut, Germany

[gilles collaveri]

Hi Leendert

good question, I shall check with the people doing the research locally.

Tony,

thanks a lot, Your efforts are very much appreciated. I forward all this information to theses guys looking for this Mustang.

Happy Christmas to all !!

GC