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Archive Report: US Forces
1941 - 1945

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via Helpdesk
USAAF Crest
19.09.1944 84th Fighter Squadron P47D Thunderbolt, 42-25985, WZ-C, 1st Lt. John Fee

Operation: Dive Bombing

Date: 19th September 1944 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 84th Fighter Squadron 78th Fighter Group

Type: P47D 22RE Thunderbolt

Serial: 42-25985

Code: WZ-C

Base: RAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire

Location: Zaltbommel, Holland

Pilot: 1st Lt. John Robert Fee O-2045056 USAAF Killed

REASON FOR LOSS: 

Weather conditions were described as Heavy ground haze with limited visibility.

Statement provided by 2nd Lt. Richard Spooner on the incident:

“I was flying Shampoo Blue Four. I observed Shampoo Blue Leader (Lt. Fee) make a pass at a flak position near a bridge at Zaltbommel, Holland (4QE-2961) In pulling up off the bridge, he broke to the right violently and entered into a spin. At this time he was at about 1,000 ft. He did not bale out. The plane crashed into the river about a hundred yards from the bridge and disappeared beneath the water. I did not see anyone come up afterwards. The time was about 14:25 hrs on September 16th, 1944.

I was not close enough to notice whether or not he had been hit by flak, but as it was intense at that spot, I believe he had been hit.”

Burial details: 

1st Lt. John Robert Fee. American War Cemetery, Margraten. Plot M, Row 1, Grave 8.

Researched by Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered, May 2015. With thanks to Michel for photograph of grave and Alan Zingheim for photo of pilot.

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Acknowledgments: Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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Last Modified: 03 May 2015, 21:42

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