KU 1136 file help needed

[Flyingkag]

Hi all,

do maybe someone maybe have a scanned copy of KU 1136 file?

Concerned would be USAAF losses on november 25th 1944.

Thanks for any possible help;

Best feelings from France

Mathias

[Alex Smart]

Hello Mathias,

Don't have a copy but there were two enteries.
25 Nov 44 - - L 4 H - Strassburg - KU 1136A
25 Nov 44 - 1330 - Piper Cub L 4 H - Strassburg - KU 1136

Perhaps this answers your question.

All the best
Alex

[Flyingkag]

Yes Alex, it is a begin of help, thanks!

Do you believe it concernes two differents Piper L4? Or the same one?

mathias

[Alex Smart]

Hello Mathias,
I fully expect this to be two reports on the same aircraft.
I am not sure but would "L4-H" be the Squadron / aircraft letters ?
Seems I've seen a light a/c with "L4" side codes in a photo somewhere ?
From "Support & Strike" 9th AAF book, "L4" was code for the 91st TCS, 439th TCG.
All for now
Alex

[Flyingkag]

Hi Alex,

L4-H is the type and modell of the plane, Piper -L4 (L for "liaison" aircraft)known as "Piper cub" in civilian use.

unit probably was a ground unit as it served as "artillery spotter", and plane didn't belong to USAAF;

Thanks for your kind help!

Mathias

[Alex Smart]

Hello Mathias,

From the AAIR website.
44/11/25 - L-4B - 43-963 - Hq - 9 - KTOA - 4 - Warren, Lloyd O - BEL - Venviers

All the best
Alex

[Flyingkag]

Thanks Alex,

the one Piper I'm searching is the (other) one given as "Strasbourg" (area), 13.00 hour, at this time still in GER (germany);

in reality Strasbourg was liberated 2 days before but the plane seems to have crashed north of the front line, some kilometers north from Strasbourg.

thanks for your help!

Mathias

[Laurent Rizzotti]

As the 2nd French Armoured Division liberated Strasbourg, it might have been a French aircraft.

[Flyingkag]

Bonjour Laurent,

c'était là une de mes deux hypothèses, avec la 79th DIUS plus à l'est voir la 45th DIUS plus au NO.

Un vétéran des Piper L4 de la 2eDB m'a dit au tél il y a 15 jours qu'il ne garde le souvenir d'aucune perte de L4 en "combat" aérien (abattu devrait-on dire plutôt ...vu les capacité de "combat" du L4, non armé!). Il était blessé et hospitalisé à cette date cependant.

Le mystère reste entier pour l'heure. A suivre...

merci pour l'info en tosu cas, et excellente soirée.

Mathias

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(For other guests)

Thanks laurent,

it is one of the possible ground unit; other are the 79th DIUS and 45th DIUS; according with a vetarn of the 2nd DB, he never heard something about one of the Piper L4 of his unit being shot down in "airfight"; but he was on hospital at this date after having "landed" in a tree some days before.

mathias

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Bonjour, Mathias,

I will continue in English so everybody can read and understand.

I thought I had a source about French Piper Club ("Les ailes français en guerre, n°10") but it is not covering all units: the Piper attached to the 5e DB are well described (with all losses) but there is nothing in the book about those of the 1e or 2e DB.

As for US Piper Club, a quick search on the ABMC shows that Staff Sgt Percell Hunt of 311th Field Artillery Batallion, 79th Infantry Division died on 25 November 1944. It is the only casualty listed for this date by this database, but is shows only men that are buried aboard or still missing (and so will show only 25-30% of Army units casualties). For the few other Piper losses I know, both crew were officiers.

Hope it helps

Bonne journée

Laurent