P47 Crash at 16 March 1945 at Eberbach (Area of Heidelberg)

[Klaus Deschner]

P47 crash on March 16th, 1945 between Mannheim and Karlsruhe. (Germany)
Could anybody give me any information about a P47 pilot, who crashed with his P47 on
March 16th, 1945 at Eberbach ?
The P47 was hit by flak and crashed into the woods near the city of Eberbach.
Has anybody information about this pilot or who knows a pilot who is missing since March
16th, 1945?
I will be happy for information about the pilot.
Thanks for your help.
Regards
Klaus

[Horst Weber]

Good evening Klaus 1

Do you mean Eberbach on the river Neckar, East of Heidelberg ?.

If so, please note, that the area of operations between 3rd (US) Army and 7th (US+French Army ) met in this area. This means, that a IXth TAC P-47-3rd Army-P-47 as well as a 12th TAC (prov) -7th Army-P-47 could have been involved. If it was a 12th(prov) P-47, chances raise, that it was a French operated P-47.

All the best !

Horst Weber

[Heuser]

Klaus, Horst,

the closest P-47-loss of 9th AF for this day was 44-20596 of 86.FG, 527.FG, lost to AAA, 1/Lt. Leland P. Lewis, POW.

MACR 13078 gives the location with "M1803, 12 Miles NE Kaiserlautern", which is roughly the area in the "Pfälzer Wald" between Enkenbach-Alsenborn and Göllheim.

I've no idea about the French losses, anyone else?

Klaus: what is your source about the date and type of a/c? If I remember correctly, I've one or two entries with Eberbach in my Database, but in 1944; at least a P-51 of 55.FG on 05.11.44.

Best Regards

A.Heuser

[Klaus Deschner]

Hello Horst, Hello Heuser,
i am sure it was not a france operating P-47, a eyewithness told me it was a US-plane. i found many p-47 crashes on 16 March 45 but not this one.
the pilot was KIA in this crash and was burried in Eberbach till Mai 45, after this he was recover of US research group and take him to the City ULM, after this all trace losses.
in the archives in Eberbach i found some documentation about the crash, but the pilot was conducted as "unknown US-Pilot"
The crashtime was 09:45 in the morning.

The P-51 losses November 44 i know but i dossen`t found the crashside.

Regards Klaus

[Klaus Deschner]

A. Heuser,
what crashes do you have also of Eberbach?
I have also a other one, i found 3 weeks ago the crashside of a Mosquito of the 25th Bombergroup 8th AF near Eberbach and Waldkatzenbach. crash: 9 April 1945
Pilot was John Prius and Navigator was Claude Moore.
possible shoot down by friendly fire of P51 RAF.

And further, 300 meters far from this crashside i found the crashside of a P-47 of 1 Lt.Donald P.Copeyon 50Fg 10 Fs MACR 13627. 1 LT Copeyon was KIA in this crash.
regards Klaus

[BigWeeker]

Is the town/locality of "Guerlfangen" near Heidleberg?? An American site gives a loss of a P47 at the place, on the 16th of March '45....

Andy BigWeeker

[Klaus Deschner]

Hello Andy,
Gurlafingen is near by 120 km far from Eberbach.
This is a nother P-47.
Thanks for your help.
regards
Klaus

[tjms50]

I just ran across your inquiry as to a P-47 crash in the Eberbach area. A pilot in the 508th FS/404th FG, William H. Johns, flying 42-25723/7J-Q was shot down and killed in this general area on March 16,1945.

[Klaus Deschner]

Hello Tjms50,
thank you very much for your help in this case.
regards Klaus

[NUPPOL]

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