9th Air Force P-47 I.D. Help

[Mark Copeland]

Hello Everyone!

I was wondering if I could ask the help of the 12 O'Clock High community with the identification of the P-47D Razorback. It was a Ninth Air Force aircraft with the Squadron markings of "V5" and an Aircraft identification letter of "D." There is a nose art on the port cowling of "Rene."

I have two images that I would like to share, but they won't copy into this post.


The aircraft belly landed during the Battle of the Bulge, but no specific date was given to help in the identification.


Thank you in advance for any identification help!

Mark Copeland

[kaki3152]

411 Squadron, 373 FG

[KM1957]

Is it razorback or bubble top P-47? 42-26142 was V5-D "Rene" of Capt. Donald Raine. However, he completed his tour in November of 1944 before the Bulge. I do not show 42-26142 being involved in any kind of belly or crash-landing, but my records are not 100% complete.

Kent

[KM1957]

Also, V5- was the codes for the 412th Fighter Squadron, not 411th. That unit was U9.

kent

[KM1957]

Did some digging, it appears 42-26142 did belly-in on January 20, 1945 near Daussouix, Belgium. Pilot on that date was Charles E. Brown. However, this was possibly a non-operational accident instead of combat-related. I can check later to try and clarify that.

Kent

[KM1957]

Found it--it was an accident, not combat related. Crash site was Daussoulx (earlier comment spelled wrong). Brown lost sight of his airfield after being told to circle while other planes were landing from a combat mission, he then got lost as bad weather closed in and he bellied-in at Daussoulx after running out of fuel.

Kent

[Stig Jarlevik]

Kent

The French P-47 site also claims this aircraft had a ground accident at A-29 on 3 Sep 1944 when
piloted by Albert Hagg Jr.

That doesn't sound like enough reason to end up on its belly, so the date 20 Jan feels like the one
Mark is after

Cheers
Stig

[Alain57]

Hello ,
I have the following on this event:
Date: 20 January 1945 Location: Daussoulx (near Namur), 5020 Aircraft: P-47D-22-RE Incident: Crash landing due to fuel shortage. Had to give priority to a P-47 returning from a mission low on fuel. He said he could wait until he had enough fuel, but they directed him to Brustem. However, he had to make an emergency landing in a field. Serial Number: 42-26142 Unit: 373rd Fighter Group, 412th Fighter Squadron Code: V5 Base: A-89 Le Culot Pilot: 2nd Lt. Charles E. Brown (SAFE), Service Number 0-829627. Earned his wings on 15 April 1944.
Regards
Alain57