Lt. Claude Halterman of the 366th FG

Lt. Claude Halterman of the 366th FG was my mother's favorite uncle. He was killed in action February 28, 1945 over Germany. We never knew the details of what happened to him, or where/if he was buried. It would be a great comfort to the family if anyone could give us more information.

[RSwank]

He is still listed as MIA. His name is on the Wall of the Missing at Margraten, Netherlands.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/44007091

The MACR for the crash is almost impossible to read, but here are two eyewitness statements as best I can make them out.


I was flying (Relic?) Yellow four on a mission near Grevenbroich Germany at about 1200 hours. I saw my element leader, Lt Halterman get hit in the right wing (root)? with flak. It started burning immediately. He shouted “I'm bailing out.” The plane immediately went into a spin. I saw the canopy jettisoned, but I did not (see)? Lt Halterman leave the plane, nor did I see a chute open. The plane crashed and exploded at approximately 2 ½? (1/4)? miles Northeast Grevenbroich.


Marvin W Miller
1st Lt. Air Corps


I was leading Relic? Yellow flight on the 28th February 1945 at about 1200 hours. We were looking for targets of opportunity for our rockets when my number three man called in vehicles in a ( woods)?, just as he finished (saying? (this)? he called that he was hit, I'm bailing out. I turned, saw him go into a spin from about (7000)? (9000)? feet , his ship hit the ground and blew up at ( (map ref) W-299102)? approx. 2 ½ 2 ¼ miles NE of Grevenbroich, Germany. I did not see him get out of his ship or see a parachute)? (of)? (anykind)?

Lowell B? (Smith)?
1st Lt Air Corps

[RSwank]

The plane Claude Halterman "may" have been flying on 28 February was a plane normally flown by Bob Brulle:

"Virginia" B2-J 42-28098 according to the link below.


http://forum.armyairforces.com/390FS...5-m157771.aspx

Bob Brulle has written a book called "Angels Zero" which may have some mention of the incident.