A ? RE: Col. Henry Spicer's capture.

[NickM]

Guys:

The Commander of the 357th FG, Col. Henry Spicer was shot down & taken prisoner March 5, 1944...anybody know the circumstances of his shoot down?

Thx

NM

[Buckeye30]

This was VIII FC Field Order 261, escort to 2BD B-24s ( targets airfields in S. France ); Spicer had a brush with an FW190 then headed north from Bordeaux with wingman John Pugh, then hit by flak near Caen . Spicer figured on getting out over the Channel but Pugh reported..........
" We climbed to about 4,000 feet, still heading north, when the Colonel's plane caught fire. He again told me to give a May Day, then bailed out about ten miles off the French coast. I saw the Colonel's chute in the water and his dinghy inflate..."

Pugh returned safely but Spicer was picked up by the Germans and ended up in Stalag Luft 1. He was replaced by Lt. Col. Graham. Chuck Yeager also shot down by flak but evaded.

Regards
another Nick

PS he was flying P-51B 43-6880 G4-H "Tony Boy" ( MACR 2993). For photo see "Little Friends" gallery.

[NickM]

Thanks...but I though Yeager got shot down by a FW-190;

NM

[drgondog]

I believe Yeager was hit in a head on pass with a Fw 190

[ClinA-78]

According to an article published in Avions N°97 (04/2001), hit by Uffz. Irmfried KLOTZ.