474th FG Crashes - Sept 1944

[Eagle0025]

Hello all,

I'm seeking information on the following two 474th FG incidents:

17 Sep 44 - 2Lt. Richard Stein was returning from a Market Garden support mission to airfield A-72, Peronne, France when the tower at A-72 noticed his landing gear was not down. They instructed him to try and land at an airfield closer to Paris. Stein tried to land at Villacoublay and Le Bourget, but was "flared off" at both fields due to the same problem. They had to use flares because Stein's radio had apparently failed. According to witnesses, Stein made a circuit of the field and then headed back north (apparently trying to get back to A-72). On the way back, Stein crashed "north of Beaumont". It is possible this may have been the airfield at Beaumont sur Oise (A-60), but I am not sure. It is also assumed he tried to land there because he was low on fuel. Stein was likely flying P-38J-20-LO, 44-23519. No MACR was written since his crash site and body were found within 48 hours. Does anyone have any other details on this incident or know where the exact crash site is? I am researching this for Stein's nephew who would like to know more about what happened.

27 Sep 44 - 1Lt. Wilbur L. Jarvis III was flying on a mission to the Dusseldorf-Koln area when his P-38 (believed to be P-38J-10-LO, 42-67832) was hit by flak and Jarvis was forced to bail out. He landed on the outskirts of Duisberg and was taken POW. I can find no record of a MACR for this incident. One certainly should have been written. I am looking for a MACR (if it exists) and location of the crash site.

Thanks in advance,
Gary Koch (474th FG Association Historian)

[Horst Weber]

Gary !

Very interesting questions !

Unfortunately, I have no ideas to yor first case, acting in France.

But the Jarvis, III, case seems to be more interesting in probable investigation.

There is indeed no entry for this pilot and his a/c in the (regular) list of the MACR, listed day-by-day.

1st Lt. Wilbur L. Jarvis was shot up by FLAK in the area of Düsseldorf, Germany, at about 16:30 h and the pilot was seen bailing out.

This is a fact, according to the OPREP "A" report by 474th FG, # 156 for 24 hours, ending 24 hours, ending 27 Sept. 44.

Lt. Jarvis was later in his status as a POW transported to STALAG-Luft 1 in Barth.

There is no entry this date in the MACR-files, but an according (supposes) entry into German files. The LGK-report # J 2207 gives a LIGHTNING at about 17:30 h on 27 Sept. 1944 "10 km. E. Krefeld", which is considerable close to the "OPREP" reported crash-location, as well as the time fits.

For more infos, please contact me by PN.

All the best !

Horst Weber