430th FS/474th FG P-38 Crash Landings

[Eagle0025]

Seeking info/details on a couple of 430th FS P-38 crash landings. The first one occurred on 23 August 44 when a P-38 droopsnoot, piloted by Capt. John E. Hatch Jr., made a forced landing in the vicinity of Evreaux, France. He was returning from a recon mission over the city of Paris when flak knocked out one of the P-38's engines. Both engines eventually gave out and Hatch made a successful crash landing in a friendly area held by US Army artillery troops. I believe the P-38 involved was P-38J-15-LO, serial number 43-28417, coded K6-V.

The second crash landing I have even less information on. It involved a P-38 flown by 2Lt. Norman D. Reskin. I believe it occurred on 11 Sept 44. Reskin was returning from a mission over Germany when he was forced to belly-land in a cow pasture "somewhere north of the Loire River" due to fuel exhaustion. It is possible it may have been in the Orleans or Angers area.

I am primarily looking to confirm the aircraft identities and crash site locations. Thanks in advance.

Cheers, Gary Koch (474th FG Historian)

[dp_burke]

From the database at:
www.aviationarchaeology.com

19 August 1944
440819 P-38J 43-28417 Unit: 2ADA A 9 9 LAC 3 Krutzsch, Shields H FRA Criqueville/A-2

Wrong aircraft above?

17 September 1944
440917 P-38J 42-67675430FS 474FG A72 9 TAC 3 Reskin, Norman D Peronne/A-72
This above would suggest he landed or had accident on the base.

Have you contacted the AFHSO office? Do their records not fill in the gaps.