29-11-43 P-47D 42-8631 or 42-8598 ??

[Harrie]

Hi all members,

In order for preparing 75 years of liberation in the Netherlands i will call for help on this occasion for a mixed-up case. On 29-11-43 in the Hamlet of Gasselternijveen in Holland 15km SE of Assen a P-47D was sd ,or shortage by fuel and crashed .For years it was P47-D - 42-8631 with ID code YF-U and pilot 1Lt Charles K Hecht . We have traced the plane in early nineteens and found engine parts wich confirmed a P-47D . But for some strange reason this event is vanished also on the SGLO database and is now recorded as force-landed at Vreeland province Utrecht . For my information P47-D 42-8598 is force landed at Vreeland . However we will commerate 75 years of lberation with the correct information of pilot and Jug . Who can help with this mixed up .

Regards Harrie

[Revi16]

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html


42-8598 (MSN 746) 359th FS [OC-D], 356th FG, 8th AF, RAf Martlesham Heath, Station 369;Shot down by Lt Heinrich Overhagen in Bf 109G-6 of JG 1/8 and crashed at Vreeland, Netherlands. November 29, 1943; MACR 1452. Pilot bailed out and taken POW. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/90905924


42-8631 (MSN 779) 358th FS [YF-U], 355th FG, 8th AF, Steeple Morden, Station 122; "Mud Cat"; On November 29, 1943 the aircraft was despatched to provide penetration support to bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany.When the flight reached Holland it was attacked by German fighters. The fighter sustained battle damage in the attack and was forced to crash land at Gasselternijveen near Vreeland, Netherlands; MACR 1284. Pilot POW; Parts recovered 1987 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/90903514

[Peter Randall]

You are correct with 42-8631 YF-U at Gasselternijveen.
42-8598 was with the 356th FG, 359th FS, squadron code OC- and crash-landed at Vreeland for the same reason - out of gas. Pilot of 8598 was John D Hull and both pilots became POWs.

[KM1957]

Hull was flying OC-D on this date.

Kent

[Harrie]

Hi Mr Revi 16 ,Peter Randall and KM1957,

Thank you gentlemen for your useful input it is a MACR with some sceptic/typo -errors ? .In the questionaire casualty is asked -Did you bail out ? answered with NO ,now for sure 100% he bailed out and received medical treatment by local docter . I guess the mixed up reason is Gasselternijveen is NOT nearby Vreeland Utrecht where 1Lt John D Hull 42-8598crashlanded , distance approx 150 miles SW. P47D 42-8631 was S/D according their waypoints probably by 11./JG11 and not crashlanded .
But now there is proof it is indeed the 42-8631

Thanks again Harrie