Auster(?) 24 December 1944

[Leendert]

Claims for an 'Auster' (almost) invariably included L-4 and L-5 types. Such claims even in areas far outside British zones.

Next to the already mentioned L-5 of 153rd Liaison Squadron with S/Sgt Bernard B. Brown at Romsée, 5 mls/8 kms SE of Liège, another loss further south at/near Ettelbrück, LX.
This was L-5 42-99065 of 14th LS with pilot T/Sgt Charles Leipersock (POW) and passenger Major Randolph M. Jordan (HQ 10th Amd Div, KIA).
But may have been shot down by German flak...

Ken Wakefield's 'The Other Ninth Air Force' also has loss of a 78th Div Arty L-4 44-80298 'due to enemy action', but apparently at own airstrip.
78th Inf Div operated in the BE-GE border area at that time.

The 153rd LS L-5 most likely match.

Regards,
Leendert