Operation: Armed Reconnaissance in the vicinity of Ulm, Germany

Date: 22nd April 1945 (Sunday)

Unit No: 367th Fighter Squadron (Orange Tails), 358th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force

Type: P-47D Thunderbolt

Serial: 44-33357

Code: CP:E

Base: ALG Y-79, Mannheim/Sandhofen, Germany

Location: Near Attenweiler some 40 km (25 mls) SW of Ulm, Germany

Pilot: 2nd Lt. Raymond William 'Ray' Seedorf O-830554 AAF Age 22. KiA

2nd Lt. Seedorf was credited with the destruction of a Bf109 on his first combat mission (Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil. European Theatre of Operational (ETO))

Above: Courtesy of The Tablet, dated March 3rd, 1945

REASON FOR LOSS:

2nd Lt. Seedorf took off, on his 89th combat mission, as Exhaust Yellow #2 in a flight of four P-47s from the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) Y-79, Mannheim/Sandhofen in Germany in the afternoon of the 22nd April 1945 on an Armed Reconnaissance in the vicinity of Ulm, Germany.

Ulm is some 170 km (106 mls) to SE of ALG Y-79 at Sandhofen, Germany

Overall the mission successfully destroyed 39 Motor Transport (M/T) vehicles, 6 Buildings, 1 Me110, 1 Do217, 1 horse drawn cart and 2 staff cars. 2nd Lt. Seedorf and 1st Lt. Paley failed to return to base from this mission.

Below is the after Mission statement by 1st Lt. Donald F. McKenna, O-701781, which describes the circumstances of leading to the loss of 2nd Lt. Seedorf:

“I was leading Exhaust Yellow flight on an armed Reconnaissance Mission, A.0. #22, 22 April 1945 in the vicinity of Ulm. During the mission Yellow #4 and #3 returned to base and Exhaust Red #3 and #4 joined my flight”.

Note: Red #3 was 1st Lt. James Robert Paley O-677120 and Red #4 was 2nd Lt. Louis F. Rechtold O-707643.

“Exhaust leader called for a squadron assembly above the clouds which was 6/10ths coverage, base about 3500 feet. I put the flight in trail and climbed thru the holes. Just as I reached the top Lt. Rechtold, Exhaust Red #4, number two in trail called me on the radio saying that two ships had just collided in mid-air I looked back and saw one ship spinning down with the whole tall sheared off. This was Lt. Seedorf Yellow #2, his canopy was not open, nor was a parachute observed by Lt. Rechtold or myself, His plane crashed and exploded into flames at Attenweiler Germany, 25 miles Southwest of Ulm”.

The trail order was:

Yellow #1- 1st Lt. McKenna,
Red #4 - 2nd Lt. Rechtold,
Yellow #2 - 2nd Lt. Seedorf,
Red #3 - 1st Lt. Paley.

1st Lt. Paley’s P-47 (Unknown Serial No) was damaged in the collision and he decided rather than bale out he would attempt to fly as far west as he could and then either force land his aircraft or bale out. He only managed to keep his P-47 the air for another 10 mins and then made a forced landing in a field close to some woods at 17:00 hrs. He successfully evaded capture and joined up with Allied forces late the next morning.

2nd Lt. Seedorf was initially buried in a local cemetery believed to be the Friedhof (Cemetery) at Attenweiler.

Above: Courtesy of The Tablet, dated June 16th, 1945

Burial Details

2nd Lt. Raymond William Seedorf. Air Medal (11 Oak Leaf Clusters, the 11th was awarded posthumously). Born on the 11th September 1923 in Rockville Centre, New York. Son of Chauncey Charles and Mae Agnes (née Bergmann) Seedorf of Rockville Centre, New York, USA. His recovery and final resting place are unknown.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this Pilot. Thanks to Nancy Byrne, the niece of 2nd Lt. Seedorf, for informing us of his loss.

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