P-51 loss on 2 April 1945

[Alex Smart]

Hello Danny,

E-Post arrived.
Many thanks, will read it soon.

Happy Easter
Alex

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello, Danny sent me the IPDF too (thanks again), and by reading it I doubt that Lt Sodermarck was the man involved in this case.

The initial burial report said that Lt Sodermack was buried on 9 April 1945, and died on 31 March 1945. If American soldiers had came to the crash place the day he crashed, as in the German website story, I doubt the body would have been left 8 days without burial, and the death date would have been known.

By the way the death cause is listed as "Head crushed, FCC right leg". Anyone has an idea what FCC means in this case ?

[Leendert]

My estimate for FCC: Fracture, Complete, Comminuted.


Regards,

Leendert

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by Alfred.MONZAT

There is no doubt the aircraft in the photo is 44-11341 of the 2nd SF but the damages look totaly different of the ones suffered on 8 January 1945 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/8884).


May it have been repared after all ?

I found nothing in Bill Marshall's book about the 355th FG and 2nd SF for the 2nd SF on 2 April 1945 but may he have something to add about this photo...

Regards

Alfred

Peter is correct about the 11/26/44 photo in the link of theCrash landing damage photo with Ceglarski at Steeple Morden.

Alfred - it could have been repaired but -

YF-D started life in the 358FS, then assigned to E Flight 358FS/2SF. It was damaged with Ceglarski at controls following a belly landing at Steeple Morden on November 26, 1944. On January 16, 1945 it C/L with Castleberry on the continent. Castelberry was not hurt but YF-D was seriously damaged and I think written off.

If repaired it would have returned most likely to another Group as it would have only remained in service with the 355th if flown back to Steeple Morden within several days

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Have looked through the lists of MIA's still not yet recovered for the 2nd April 1945 and found two P38's( 1 14FG, 1 82FG ), five P51's ( 2x Austria, I China, 1 Hungary 1 North Sea ?) and five P47's ( 3x 27FG, 1 79FG, 1 86 FG), only one P51 pilot seems to be anywhere near.

HASSELL, Edward M - 814685 - 2Lt - P-51 - 44-13814, 364FG/385FS. MACR 13965.

Thing is he was reported to have turned back but had gone into the sea, search only found oil slick though, also I do not think that he would have reached so far inland when returning over the Continent but just maybe if out of fuel and in a long glide ?? Thoughts on this please ?

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Another side to this story may just be that the witnesses at the time just got it wrong ?
I would expect however that after so long at war with the UK they would know the difference between the markings of the RAF and the "Star & bar" of the US forces.
But anything is possible, so here are some RAF losses around the time in question.
Typhoon losses -
01/04/1945
137 Sqn - EK128, force landed NW of Rheine near Lingen, pilot safe.
137 Sqn - RB193, s/d by flak E of Múnster, pilot killed.
174 Sqn - RB396, Flak, force landed NE of Denekamp, pilot safe.
181 Sqn - MN819, Flak, force landed E of Nordhorn, pilot evaded.
183 Sqn - DN248, Flak, s/d Hardenburg, pilot killed.
183 Sqn - MN419, dbr, SoC 12/06/45.
183 Sqn - SW476, Last seen E of Zutphen, pilot pow.
193 Sqn - RB373, Flak NE of Almelo, pilot pow.
247 Sqn - SW408, Flak, NW of Ensberen, pilot baled, evaded.
247 Sqn - SW425, Flak, force landed near Meppen, pilot pow.
266 Sqn - PD473, Flak over Lonneker, pilot killed.
02/04/1945
198 Sqn - one a/c Cat E.
439 (RCAF) Sqn - MN581, Flak ? force landed 9m N of Nordhorn, pilot pow.
03/04/1945
174 Sqn - RB487, Crashed in bad weather 6m W of Rheine, Rhodesian SAAF pilot killed.

Tempest Losses -
02/04/1945
3 Sqn - NV777, Cat E.
80 Sqn - NV982, Flak Rheine-Hannover area, pilot killed.
80 Sqn - SN139, Last seen E of Friesoythe, pilot Shot while pow.
03/04/1945
56 Sqn - EJ526, engine trouble, crashed S of Diepholz, pilot evaded.
56 Sqn - NV728, engine failure, force landed E of Friesoythe, pilot safe.
274 Sqn - NV990, engine failure, force landed SW of Hengelo, pilot safe.

Refs were AB RAF serial number series and Fighter Command War Diaries and Franks RAF Fighter Command Losses vol 3.

RAF Mustang Losses (Germany) -
29/03/1945
154 Sqn - KH697, (44-11400) pilot killed, MIA.
04/04/1945
165 Sqn - KH504. (44-10867) pilot killed(?), Bellylanded 29m West of Wiesbaden.

Alex