P47 371st FG lost in the vosges - France

Hello,
Very very interesting website !!
My name is Gerome and I live in the north east of France, in the Vosges Mountains. I research informations about the 1st Lieutnant Robert Booth, of the 405th - 371st Figther group. The 1st Lt booth had for mission to help the lost battalion survivors, in the forest of Biffontaine - Vosges France. In fact, the 1st regiment of the 14s1t - 36th Texas Divsion, were cut off by almost 700 germans during the last week of october 1944. The 405th musted to drop Belly tanks over the lost bn perimeter. Inside these BT, were some medical supplies, ammunitions, radio batteries, food.....  I found 6 of 46th BT dropped and now two are at Austin - Tx at the 36th museum.
http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/symposium/lostbattalion.htm
 
We research what happened to the brave lieutenant Booth. We know he crashed the 27th october 1944 over the vosges, but we don't know where and what happened to him. Maybe someone will can help us to know the truth.
 
By advance, thanks you very much,
Best regards,
Gerome Villain

THANKS TO OUR LIBERATORS FOR OUR PEACE AND FREEDOM FROM THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS - FRANCE

Hello Gerome.

1st Lt. Robert A. Booth.
#0-812740.
Died 27th October 1944.
Entered the service from Connecticut.
Buried: Plot B, Row 12, Grave 23 - Epinal US Cemetery, Epinal, France.
Awards: DFC, Air Medal with 9 Oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart.
405th Fighter Squadron, 371st Fighter Group.
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
Possibly flying out of Y7 Dole-Tavaux airfield.
Can't find a Missing Aircrew Report, maybe someone can help?

Hope this helps.........Steve.

 













AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION







Robert A. Booth


First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # O-812740
405th Fighter Squadron, 371st Fighter Group

Entered the Service from: Connecticut
Died: 27-Oct-44
Buried at: Plot B Row 12 Grave 23
Epinal American Cemetery
Epinal, France

Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Phil in Belgium

Gerome,
 
Lt Booth was flying P-47 42-76477.
 
Regards,
Leendert
 
 

THANKS YOU very much all, you are wonderful.
The story of the lost bn is realy important for me, and his rescue too. And if  the rescue was possible, it was with the precious help of the 371st FG. And you are right, they were based at Dole / Tavaux.
But it seems very difficult to find the missing reports......
Again, thanks for your help,
Gerome

THANKS TO OUR LIBERATORS FOR OUR PEACE AND FREEDOM FROM THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS - FRANCE

Gerome.

P-47D-20-RE 42-76477

Aircraft crashed near Fougerolles (70) ?

This aircraft had previously had an accident on the ground at Picauville A-8 on the 10th July 1944 whilst with the 510th FS/405th FG.

Go here: http://wing.chez-alice.fr/USAAF/405th_FG/Pilots_&_Nose_Arts_510th_FS.html

Scroll down to 1st Lt. John D. Zeltwanger. He was the pilot who crashed 42-76477 on the 10th July '44. I have no idea if the pictured  P-47 is your plane though!

Steve.

Gerome,
J'ai cherché, mais comme les autres je n'ai trouvé aucun MACR pour BOOTH.Avec son n° matricule, il faudrait aller voir sur NARA et demander son IDPF (Indentification Deceased Person File).Il te faut une justification en béton armé pour recevoir une réponse.La priorité est réservée aux membres de la famille de la personne recherchée
La raison pour laquelle il n'y a pas de MACR pourrait-être que sa base se trouvait en territoire libéré ou bien, qu'il se soit crashé dans une zone occupée par les forces alliées.Généralement, il n'y jamais de MACR pour les aviteurs tombés en zone libérée, càd, sous contrôle allié.
Je vais communiquer ton mail à mes amis chercheurs Belges ( dont certains sont assez "callés en la matière".On ne sait jamais et qui ne risque rien n'a rien.
Good Luck
Phil
PS: à toutes fins utiles: save.philippe@skynet.be
 

Phil in Belgium

Hi Leendert,
Nice shot! You've found the serial # of the a/c.That's a good start point.
But, nevertheless, no MACR!
As usual, we've still have to scrape and digg!
Best regards from a (sunny!!!!) Belgium
 
Phil

Phil in Belgium

Hello Cheesey and Phil,
 
Again thanks a lot for your precious help, it seems it will be difficult to find informations. You are right, it seems 1st Lt Booth crashed in the area of Fougereolles, but the problem is the coordinates of the crash, after translation of it, the spot is in the Vosges, near Remiremont (88). So, Fougerolles and Remiremont aren't so far, we already contacted hall of severals personn of these town, but nobody remember something about it.......
 
Encore merci,
Gerome

THANKS TO OUR LIBERATORS FOR OUR PEACE AND FREEDOM FROM THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS - FRANCE

Not near any of my sources right now and probably will not be until sometime next week, but I'll go through what I have.  My uncle was CO of the 405FS/371FG at the time, I believe, so let me do a little digging.

Do you know M Higgins?

Rich Leonard

Bonjour Gerome,

An accident report was written for Lt Booth. When the aircrafts crash landed in allied territory an accident report was completed instead of a MACR :http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/AARmonthly/Oct1944O.htm

You can send a request for the accident report by mail to maxell AFB.

Good research,

Olliball

Hello Rich and Olliball
Thanks a lot for your precious help. It seems Lt Booth was  crashed in the area of Fougereolles - France. Now, I will try to contact the halls, museum, newspapers of all the towns in this area.

Thanks RIch, to interview your brave uncle about our 1st Lt. Why not, maybe he will help us. Yes, I know Michael, and I am very proud to meet him next week at Austin - TX ! he is very nice and we spoke about our research about the crash of 1st lt Booth.

Agian, thanks a lot to everybody for your wonderful help ! I am sure we will find what happened to him....

Merci beaucoup,
Gerome

When you see Michael, please give him my warm regards.  He has, I believe, some info on Lt Booth.

Regretfully, my uncle has been unavailable since 5 January 1945.  When I get to the material, though, I'll see if I have anything else on Lt Booth.  Michael and I have discussed this by phone and I know he can help you.

Let me know if you find my uncle's wingtip, lost, I believe, the same day as Lt Booth's crash, in an altercation with a tree trunk. 8^)

Regard,

Rich

Hi RIch,

To be honest with you, we work together with Michael to find the place of the crash.... but as you know, Michael lives at Savannah - USA, and me I live in the Vosges Mountains - France, not very far of where our 1st Lt was killed.... Michael is very wonderful and very pleasant. It was an honor for me to meet him last week at Austin.
I wish you a very nice day,
More later,
Gerome 

THANKS TO OUR LIBERATORS FOR OUR PEACE AND FREEDOM FROM THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS - FRANCE

Hello Rich,
 
I met Michael HIggins, last jully at Austin Tx, and we continue to research what happened to our 1st Lt Booth. At the same time,  you have found what happened to your brave uncle, and we know exactly the position of the crash of his plane. There is one people here, who remembers very well have saw the plane crashed !!
Have a nice sunday to all,
Gerome

THANKS TO OUR LIBERATORS FOR OUR PEACE AND FREEDOM FROM THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS - FRANCE

Aviation Archaeology lists:
 
Robert A Booth P-47D 42-76477 371FG/405FS 12AF Killed in a crash dated 27 Oct 1944, 5mi. from Fourgerolles, France.
 
Terry T.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hello Terry,
 
Thanks you very much for your help. You are right, it seems Lt Booth crashed his plane at about 5 miles of Fougerolles. But what is very strange, is nobody remember something about that. I emailed all the halls all around this town, and in the Vosges too, and impossible to have an idea of the place of the crash, and it was sure in this area because 1st Lt booth is burried at the american cimetery of Epinal, no so far of Fougerolles.
Again Merci Terry,
Have a nice day
Gerome

THANKS TO OUR LIBERATORS FOR OUR PEACE AND FREEDOM FROM THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS - FRANCE

Gerome, he might have crashed in hard to access territory (woods, mountain etc) and might not have been found until a lot later.  In that case no one, not even city-hall would have any information.  Check local cemeteries and see if their burial register shows any funeral either by name or as an unknown aviator.  If you can get your hands on the IDPF, is should tell you when and where he was found (at crash-site or in a cemetery).  This should really help you if you can get it..but it might take a few months to receive once ordered.   Danny (Germany)

Translation of the entry
 
Gerome, 
I sought, but like the others I did not find any MACR for BOOTH.Avec his n° number, it would be necessary to go to see on NARA and to ask its IDPF (Identification Deceased Person File). You need a concrete justification reinforced to receive an answer. The priority is reserved to the members of the family of the required person the reason for which there is not MACR can-to be that its base was in released territory or, that it was crashé in a zone occupied by the allied forces. Generally, it y never of MACR for the aviators fallen in released zone, càd, under allied control.
I will communicate your email with my Belgian enquiring friends (of which some are enough “holds on the matter”. One never knows and who does not risk nothing has anything.
Good Luck
Phil
PS: for whatever purpose it may serve: save.philippe@skynet.be 
    

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942

Have a reprint of the 371 FG book and it said he was lost during a food drop mission nere ST.Die.
There was a battalion of US infantry that was surrounded on a hill top SW of St. Die
The weather was so bad that the pilots of 405 FS decided to risk it.They flew on the deck in hazardous conditions and Lt. Booth crashed headlong into a hill.
So I don't think there willbe a MACR .
Hope this helps.
Rick

Hello My Friends,
 
Thanks you very much for your precious help, I am sure, with your help, we will find what happened to him.
Yes Danny, you are right,  he crashed in the area where you have a lot of mountains. Maybe do you know the Vosges (not very far from Strasbourg) ? e just know, Lt Booth was burried at the american cemetery of Dinozé, near Epinal.
Thanks you Phil, it is a good idea too, to contact the Nara and the IDPF, and I hope, same I am not member of his family, they will answer me. I will try it.
Yes Rich, you are  right too, his goal was to drop some belly tanks over the forest of Biffontaine, (very near of the town of St Dié) but just before to arrive at this area, he falled. You are right, the weather was very terrible, cold, rain and the last day of the lost bn affair, there was snow !! I met one  of these wonderful pilot, last July, and he related us, that it was very difficult to drop the BT, they didn't know if the BT's were dropped at the good place, and some of these BT were falled in German area. The lost bn guys saw the BT's were falling, but they couldn't have them.... It was very difficult for the texans.
 
Again my friends, thanks you very much for your help,
Have a nice day, and take care,
Gerome