A 20th Fighter Group P-38 #42-67760 shot down by Egon Mayer

[loiclemarchand]

Hello everybody,
I'm looking for informations concerning the loss of a P-38J shot down by the ace Egon Mayer JG/2. The P-38's pilot was Neal Archer Jr. and killed in action the 14th january 1944 at La-Haye-le-Comte in Normandy. The serial of the P-38 was 42-67760 and used by 20th FG 79th FS.
Anybody have infos or the MACR#1855 concerning this loss and his pilot ?
How can I do to obtain infos about this US fighter pilot ?
I will be glad with yours helps.
Cheers
Loïc

[edwest]

You can order a copy of the MACR in question from this group.


http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/s.../44JanMACR.htm




Usual disclaimer,
Ed

[JP Favrais]

Bonsoir Loic
Le 14 janvier 44 le 20th FG est en mission N°8 entre ROUEN et LE HAVRE
J'ai le rapport de mission figurant dans l'historique du 20th FG si cela vous
aide je pourrai vous le faire parvenir par courrier postal
jp Favrais Pt " Association pour la Mémoire du
Lieutenant Russell G. QUINN "
20th FG 77thFS KIA 13.06.44
jeanpaulfavrais1@aol.com

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

This was AFAIK the 13th loss to the 20th Fighter Group.

2Lt. Neal J. Archer jr, KIA

P38 42-67760

79 Fighter Squadron

14th January 1944

MACR number 1855

Other losses were -

7-1-43...79...42-67039...Capt. Herbert W. Cumming...KIA
7-11-43...Hq...42-67022...Maj. John C. Wilkins...KIA
25-11-43...a/c crashed Felstead...Pilot safe
29-11-43...77...42-67016...2Lt.John S. Hascall...KIA
30-11-43...77...42-67038...1Lt.Robert L. Thomas jr...KIA
1-12-43...77...42-66723...2Lt. Jack L. Gard...POW
31-12-43...Details of loss Unknown
4-1-44...79...42-67187...F/O. Joseph L. Hamilton...POW
4-1-44...77...42-67191...F/O. Henry M. Higginbotham...KIA
5-1-44...77...42-67186...F/O. Bennie R. Carbajal...KIA
5-1-44...55...42-67198...2Lt. Robert H. French...POW
5-1-44...55...42-67194...2Lt. Arthur T. Altman...KIA

There was another P38 loss from the Group on the 14th but I have so far no details.

Hope this helps fill in the story

Alex

[John Beaman]

According to Kent Miller's 2-volume set on 8th AAF fighter pilots, Archer made no claims. The text on his loss states "...hit by a Me 109 south of Rouen". This may be from the MACR.

[loiclemarchand]

Many thanks Ed, J-Paul, Alex and John

I'm glad
Cheers
Loïc

[Locobuster1]

Archer, who hailed from Fort Benton, Montana, really didn't have a chance to score any victories, he had aborted on his first mission - 7 January, 1944 - and was on his second mission when he was killed.

---Update. In looking further into this I discovered Lt. Archer was actually on his third mission, having flown a complete mission on 4 January, then aborting on 7 January.