Help needed P-47 42-22761 Jan 44

[Melvin Brownless]

Hi to all,

As I mainly research luftwaffe topics I am a little out of my depth regarding U.S aircraft losses. I am hoping if anyone out there could possibly give me some further information regarding a P-47 loss in Jan 1944.
The pilot was (Rank unknown) Lynn W. Hair flying P-47, Serial, 42-22761 crashed at an unknown location in Oxfordshire in January 44. I know of a P-47 crash site near Henley, Oxfordshire but so far we have not been able to identify the loss. We have found a large parachute buckle so perhaps the pilot was killed? I would very much appreciate any additional info regarding 42-22761 to see if I can eliminate it from my enquires.

Thanks in advance,

Melvin.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The list of USAAF accidents at http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/s...y/Jan1944O.htm
shows this crash occur on 11 January 1944 near Chipping Warden. Pilot Lynn W Hair of 370th FS, 359th FG, was killed in the crash.

He is not buried in England, so his name (and rank) doesn't appear on the list of dead available on the Net.

Also neither the pilot or the aircraft appear on the site abouth 8th AF fighters (Little friends).

There is a 359th FG forum on the USAAF Forum: http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/forumid_343/tt.htm

Hope this helps

Laurent

[Melvin Brownless]

Hi Laurent,


Thank you so much for the excellent links to these two web sites, your efforts are very much appreciated!!!

Kind regards,

Melvin.

[Peter Randall]

As it happens, this loss does appear on my web site but under the a/c serial number, not the pilot, due to uncertainty of the assignement on this one. Try just entering "Hair" into the search "keyword" at the bottom of the page and he wil be the third of the three entries. Since that list was compiled though, more information has come to light but I am not updating this database yet as I am currently in the process of putting a 359th FG web site on line in conjunction with the unit historian. However, as far as Lt Hair is concerned, 42-22761 was coded CR-U and he crash landed as stated above on return from Field Order 216. At the time he was flying as Green 1 - the 5th flight of the 370th FS on this mission. As a matter of interest, his wingman was Lt. Charles W Hipsher in 42-74640 CR-W who force-landed at Downham Market, Green 3 was (then) Lt. Ray S Wetmore in 42-8663 CR-G who force-landed at Molesworth and Green 4 was Lt. William N Tucker Jr who was in 42-75090 CR-M and who was killed in a crash-landing at Rednal, Wales. Not a good day for Green Section!

Peter