83rd FS losses on 26 February 1945

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Garry Fry, in his "Eagles of Duxford The 78th Fighter Group in World War II", Phalanx,1991 (p.99 & 139), mentions the following:

Marvin Bigelow: "I was on the February 26th mission when Charles O'Brien and Leonard Olson were lost. O'Brien developed electrical trouble near Berlin and started home with Olson escorting him. I got the full story several years later when I ran into Olson as I was leaving the dormitory at the University of Colorado. O'Brien had to belly land his P-51 in Germany and Olsen crashed his Mustang in an attempt to land and pick him up. Both were captured. In his belly-in, O'Brien had hit his head bad and was at times violent. Olson and the German guard aboard the train taking them to POW camp could not control O'Brien. O'Brien was worrying so much about his wife and her reaction to his loss and capture that he leaped from the train to escape and broke his leg in the process. He was forced to turn himself in to the Germans to get it reset. Several days later he escaped again and was shot to death about sixty miles behind the German lines." (p.99)

Personnel Losses:
2-26-1945

O'Brien, Charles R. F/O 83FS KIA. He had electrical trouble at the target and started home escorted by Lt L. Olson. A forced belly landing behind enemy lines ensued and he was taken POW to gain medical help. Later shot to death while attempting escape. P-51 44-11627:HL-J. (p.139).

See:
Eagles of Duxford The 78th Fighter Group in World War II.
Fry,Garry L.
St. Paul:Phalanx Publishing,1991.
pp.99 & 139

Col.