P-51 lost over Germany at 17/01/1945

[Ruediger Kaufmann]

Hi all,

I look for information about the following P-51 loses from 17.01.1945:

P-51D, 44-15506, 78FG, 83 FS, Boner Gerald F. (KIA) (MACR 11859)
P-51B, 42-106676, 339 FG, 505 FS, Howard Waldon E. (KIA) (MACR 11864)
P-51D, 44-14581, 2 SF, Hornickel William E. (KIA) (MACR 11914)

One of these must be crashed near Iserlohn / Menden.

Best wishes

Ruediger

[RSwank]

The first and last planes you listed went down in the water off Holland. 42-106676 was seen to go down near Stadthagen. The pilot bailed out at 13:25 at approximately 2000 feet. Seems like a long distance to Menden?

[Horst Weber]

Good evening Ruediger !

According J-report # J-2878/2, a "Mustang" with the marking N9 Cock. came down on this day at about 13:45 hrs. at Hemmbrock, 4 km W of Menden/Westphalia.

So the responsible Luftgaukommando reports.

When an a/c with the squadron-code 6N (505th FG) lays after the crash upside-down, a spectator may identify this markings as N9cocade

The 505th FS, 339th FG was loosing this day two a/c:

- 44-15616, flown by Cpt. Richard B. Olander, obviously crashed in the vincinity of Gladbeck, Germany, accd. MACR # 11863. Attacking trains, but hit by anti-aircraft-fire, badly damaged, tried to get home but last seen in clouds. Fate of pilot is KIA.

- 43-106676, flown by 2nd Lt. Waldon E. Howard, obviously crashed in the vincinity of Stadthagen, Germany, accd. MACR # 11864. Attackink trains, hit by a/a, pilot bailed out. Fate of the pilot is KIA.

My guess is, that one of this pilots must be your man. On my opinion, the best evidence for this suggestion is the markings note N9 Cock. in the J-report. Those were written right after it happened and not today.

Hope, this helps.

All the best !

Horst Weber

[shooshoobaby]

Ruediger -
Lt. Hornickel 2d SF
P-51 # 44-14581 YF W
Mechanical Failure - Went Down near Wangerooge

Lt. Boner 83d Sq.
P-51 # 44 - 15506 HL G " Miss Debbie "
Mechanical Failure - Bailed out East of Great Yarmouth

Capt. Olander 505th Sq.
P-51 # 44 - 15606 6N C " Pauline "
HIT by Flak near Gladbeck - Last Seen in Clouds.
Could He have kept P-51 Airborne until crashing near Menden?
Mike

[Ruediger Kaufmann]

Many thanks Horst, Mike and RSwank !!!

Great work !!

I will look for the N9 code. This would be the target.

Best wishes

Rüdiger

[RodM]

Hi Ruediger,

late reply, but better late than never : )

The crash near Menden was definitely Capt. Orlander's aircraft ("Abschusz einer Mustang am 17/1 45 1345 Uhr in Hemmbrock 4 km Westl Menden"). The original German file (J-2878) identifies him by name and serial number ("Toter: Orlander Richard B. Erk M O-665223 Captain").

From other sources, I know the Germans buried Orlander at the Hauptfriedhof Dortmund, in Feld 17, Grab 2.

Cheers

Rod

[Alex Smart]

https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/olander%3Drichard

May be useful for weapon numbers.
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