Dear readers,
 
I need help in this case:
Some weeks ago we found the crash site, assumedly, of  Capt. Paul Emile R. Vachon P38 J25 (429 Fighter Squadron) near Wahlen/Eiffel area.  
Informations about his crash:
On 25. February 1945, he went down with his plane. He jumped out and goes POW. At the time he was flying his assigned P38  44-23632. The MACR number is 12730
The mission was D/B strafing in that area.
His service number was O-1699044 
 
Did anyone know him or could tell me whether he is still alive / can give me a contact address of him or his family?  We need more details to verify his site.
 
I´m looking also for a picture of him because we will publish his case in our next book.
 
Any information helps!!

FRANK

Hello Frank,
 I am the historian of the 474th FG Association. Here is what I know of Paul Vachon's shootdown. Vachon was flying P-38J-25-LO, 44-23632 on 25 Feb 45. The mission was a single armed recce scheduled for the area bounded by Zulpich, Heimenz, Laacher Lake, and Pelm. The 429th FS located a mechanized ordnance repair depot at map coordinates F-315050 which they bombed and strafed on three or four passes. Vachon made two direct hits on the depot. He was last seen setting course for home but was straggling, according to Lt. Davenport. As the minutes ticked off into hours, his status changed from Not Yet Returned to Missing in Action. 429th pilots on that mission were Fleming, Burch, Bergendorff, Eggleston, Lenz, Hissey, Davenport, and Vachon.

The mystery surrounding Captain Vachon was cleared up to some extent when Lts. Lenz and Murdock talked to Lt. Killian of the 67th Tactical Recce Group. He claims he saw Vachon's P-38 hit by three direct flak bursts before it spun in. Capt. Vachon was not seen to bail out. News was later received on 14 Mar 45 from the 96th Evacuation Hospital that they had Vachon under their care. His injuries were slight, principally burns.  It was later learned on 28 Apr 45 that Vachon was with a Detachment of Patients, 492nd U.S. Hospital Plant. Vachon eventually paid a visit to the 474th FG on 9 May 45. That is the last anyone ever heard from him.

I do not know if Vachon is still alive. I can research that for you with surviving 474th FG veterans. The last information I had on his crash site was that it was in the vicinity of Wahlen, Germany.  I do know that Vachon's home of record was 18 Button St. Worchester 6, Massachusetts. Perhaps he returned there after the war.

Please keep me informed on this crash site. I would be very interested to learn of any details and witnesses you may find.

Cheers, Gary Koch