Operation: Armed Recce Siegen area, Germany

Date: 16th March 1945 (Friday)

Unit No: 23rd Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force

Type: P-47D

Serial: 44-32977

Code: 7U:?

Base: ALG (Y-10), Le Culot, Belgium

Location: Near Altendorf, SE of Wuppertal, Germany

Pilot: 2nd Lt. Christian William Cracknell O-1996074 AAF Age 24. KiA

Above: Courtesy of the Democrat and Chronicle, dated 5th February 1945

REASON FOR LOSS:

2nd Lt. Cracknell took off from ALG (Y-10) at Le Culot in Belgium on the morning of the 16th March 1945 as part of a two flight sortie on an Armed Reconnaissance in the Siegen area, Germany.

After mission statement by 1st Lt. Marvin W. Heiden O-716128 of the same Squadron:

‘Lt. Cracknell was flying number four position in red flight and had called in a train which we dive bombed. He went down to strafe and rejoined the formation. He was last seen when he went in strafing barrage ballons, following red leader. We received a faint answer, but could not understand him when asked for his position. The time was 08:45 hrs 16 March 1945. Target area was three miles west of Olpe, Germany’.

After mission statement by 1st Lt. John W. McClelland O-700296, red leader, of the same Squadron:

‘Lt. Cracknell was the fourth man in my flight and had been instrumental in finding the targets which we were strafing. When we rejoined to return him, he was missing. When called over the radio, we heard a faint reply which we believed to be Lt. Cracknell. We could not contact him again. He was last seen in the target area about 3 miles west of Olpe, Germany at approximately 0845 hours’.

The circumstance leading to the loss of the aircraft and death of 2nd Lt. Cracknell are not known, however, it was recorded that the aircraft had crashed near Altendorf about 3½ km (2 mls) east of Radevormwald, which is SE of Wuppertal, Germany.

Above: Courtesy of the Democrat and Chronicle, dated 10th April 1945

Burial Details

Above Grave marker for 2nd Lt. Cracknell (Courtesy of Dominique Potier – FindAGrave)

2nd Lt. Christian William Cracknell. Air Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Purple Heart. Reinterred at the Ardennes American Cemetery, Plot ZZ, Row 2, Grave 36. Finally laid to rest in Plot C, Row 3, Grave 41. On the 24th March 1920 in Coalville, Leicestershire, England. Son of William James and Lucy (née Albrighton) Cracknell of Rochester, New York, USA. Husband to Georgianna Kathlyn (née Lorch) Cracknell of Rochester, New York, USA.

He and his family emigrated to the USA on the 12th March 1921.

Researched by Ralph Snape and dedicated to the pilot and his relatives (Sep 2024).

Other sources listed below:

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt