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