Looking for info on 1st Lt Gene w Oehlman, 474thfg/430thfs

My brother, 1st Lt Gene W Oehlman flew with the 474thfg, 430thfs...he was shot down on 17 Dec 1944 and subsequently taken POW at Stalag Luft 1.  Anyone out there who might know the serial and model number of his plane, a P38?  Or anything else about his plane or what section he was in at Stalag Luft?  If known, what was the location where he was shot down?  Nature of the mission/sortie?  How many planes involved?  thanks much, Chuck

Hi Chuck,

17/12/1944 44-23648 P38J-25-LO Macr 10973 474 FG 430 FS
Pilot Oehlman Gene W.1Lt. 0-763317 pow Stalag Luft 1 Engine Type V-1710
Serial A051598




A051412 Machine Guns
20mm

123042

0.50

1542447




1542438




1542417




210455 German documents
-


Crashed at
Bitsburg area (L2370)


Remarks
Shot down by FW190.


           
Here is some information about the last mission of your brother.
Please do not hesitate to contact me via pm for more details.

Best regards from the other side of the ocean !

Luc

Hello Chuck,

I am the chief historian of the 474th FG (WWII) Association. I am familiar with the mission your brother was shot down on. Your brother was flying a P-38J-25-LO model, serial number 44-23648, coded "K6-R", on that fateful 17 Dec 44 mission. He was on an afternoon mission in an area between Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany. They had just bombed two bridges and strafed a train when they were bounced by a group of Fw190As from the First Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 11. Three 430th FS pilots were shot down on that mission: your brother, Lt. Theodore Modzeleski, and Lt. Rufus Jeffcote. Modzeleski crashed 2km east of Spangdahlem, Germany and was taken POW. Jeffcote managed to belly land his shot up P-38 behind friendly lines at airfield A-97, Sandweiler, Luxembourg. Your brother's P-38 is listed as crashing near Bitburg, Germany, but I also show a crash site location of Hosingen, Luxembourg. I am still researching to confirm the site.

Your brother was likely shot down by one of the following four JG11 pilots:
Hptm. Rudiger von Kirchmayr Stab I./JG11
Uffz. Werner   Stab I./JG11
Ltn. Klein        4th Staffel, JG11
Fw. Koch         4th Staffel, JG11

I have a copy of your brother's Missing Aircrew Report, his Stalag Luft I photo, plus a couple of drawings he did for you while in captivity. I can email those to you. I don't know exactly which compound he was held at Stalag Luft I, but I can find out for you. My father was also a POW there in one of the North Compounds.

BTW, I believe your brother was good friends with another 430th pilot, Gene "Hock" Paynter. Gene is still alive. I met him at the 474th FG Association reunion in San Diego last year. Hope this helps.

Cheers, Gary Koch

Hi Gary!

Thanks very much for your response and the info you provided!  If you could email me anything you might have regarding Gene, the MACR, any photos you might have, or otherwise, it is greatly appreciated.

A couple of years ago I did have a conversation with Chuck (Paynter), and he provided me some other info as well.  One thing he said was that they were "bounced" by 60-100 planes!  Any info on that?

I also recall Gene telling me that he volunteered for the mission that day, and I THINK he said he was not flying his own plane.  Any info on that?  It seems that I recall  Gene saying he was shot down near Aachen, Germany, which might be near where you're citing...

BTW, you're not related to one of those German pilots to which you referred are you?!  I rather doubt it!!!  Where did you get the info on those German pilots?  Very interesting stuff...

Thanks again Gary, and I look forward to hearing from you again! 

    All the best,

   Chuck Oehlman 

Hi Chuck,

Check your PMs.

Cheers, Gary