Hi ,
 
Who were the pilots of these ships who got lost during the Battle of the Bulge , does somebody has an idea of the crashsite ?
 
25/12/1944  
 
P-38J-15-LO
43-28823     474FG  MACR 11900
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
P-38J-1-LO
44-24615     474FG  MACR 11466                                                            
 Thanks
Alain                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
 

Hi Alain,
 
The two aircraft in question were from 428 FS. The two pilots in question are buried at Henri-Chapelle :
1Lt Bobbie R.Rankin 43-28823 crashed near La Roche (Belgium)
Capt Leland W.Smith 44-24615 crashed near Pronsfeld (Germany)
 
Best regards
 
Luc

Thanks Luc
 
Alain

Hi Alain,
 
Rankin's crash site is located about 2 km southeast of Gradmeml, Belgium. I have a Belgian contact who knows where the exact site is. I am still trying to locate Smith's exact site. I have seen Pronsfeld, Germany listed and I have also seen Grüfflingen, Belgium listed as a site. I have photos of both pilots and I correspond with Sheldon Crawford who was Smith's crew chief. Also, Smith's P-38 was coded F5-R.
 
As a side note, my father was shot down in Smith's personal ship on 25 Aug 44. It was P-38J-10-LO, serial no. 42-67669, coded F5-P.
 
Cheers, Gary

Hi Bary ,
 
Thanks for the information.
 
Alain