Operation: Armed Reconnaissance to the Chartres area, France

Date: 5th July 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 514th Fighter Squadron, 406th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force

Type: P-47D Thunderbolt

Serial: 42-74660

Code: O7:?

Base: Ashford (Station #417), Kent, England

Location: About 2 km (1¼ mls) NE of Breuilpont, France

Pilot: 2nd Lt. Elmer Ellsworth ‘Dutch’ Springer Jr. O-695100 AAF Age 23. Evader

Above: 2nd Lt. Springer Jr. from “The Eagles Forty-Three J” (Courtesy of the Army Air Forces Collection of Historical Documents from World War II).

REASON FOR LOSS:

2nd Lt. Springer Jr. took off from Ashford at 19:00 hrs on an Armed Reconnaissance to the Chartres area, France

The following is the after mission statement by 1st Lt. Noah Lewin-Epstein O-743037 which describes the encounter leading to the loss of 2nd Lt. Springer Jr. and his P-47D:

‘I was flying Yellow #3 with Lt. Springer on my wing. The time was 20:15 hrs, at an altitude of 11,000 feet heading back home. We were bounced by 3 Fw190s over Évreux, France, and I broke to the left violently. This was the last time I saw Lt. Springer.

After shooting down an Fw190, I started back up and spotted a smoking P-47 in a dive, with a Fw190 on its tail. I saw the pilot bale out. It is possible that this was Lt. Springer, but I am not certain’.

The aircraft crashed near the edge of a thick wood 2 km (1¼ mls) NE of Breuilpont, France.

After baling out he landed about 45 m (50 yds) from where his aircraft had crashed at about 21:15 hrs. He immediately buried his billfold which contained his AGO card (Identity card) and some papers. He then made off through the woods for about 90 m (100 yds) and hid his pistol and Mae West. He then took off again, running through fields until he came to the road running between Hécourt and Breuilpont.

On modern day maps this road is the D836 and Hécourt is some 2 km (1¼ mls) to the north of Breuilpont.

He saw that the road was heavily travelled by vehicles and cyclists and decided to wait until dark before attempting to cross over. As he lay in some thick rushes a young Frenchman came by and noticed him.

Note: The river Eure runs to the west and close to the road outside of the village of Hécourt.

Since he was young and not too well dressed he decided to ask for help. After some difficulty the young man understood that 2nd Lt. Springer Jr. wanted him to return to his location at midnight. He indicated that there were no Germans in the area. At midnight the young man returned bring with him some food. 2nd Lt. Springer Jr. was then taken to the château à Breuilpont, located in the centre of Breuilpont, which had recently been vacated by SS troops. The young man pointed out that there were plenty of beds and that 2nd Lt. Springer Jr. should spend the night there. He indicated that he would return at 08:00 hrs the next morning.

The next morning he returned with a local schoolmaster from the village and a second man who claimed to be a retired Maj. in the British Intelligence Services. The provided him with civilian clothes but as he admitted later, foolishly handed over his ‘Dog Tags’. The plan was for him and the young Frenchman to walk to a nearby village and when about ¾ km (1 ml) west of the village wait there until 19:00 hrs and wait for a friend of his, a doctor, to arrive in a car to take them further.

At 21:00 hrs the doctor still had not arrived so the Frenchman left to get additional help returning 30 mins later. At 22:30 hrs another Frenchman arrived and took him to a nearby large château where he stayed the night.

The following morning, 8th July, he eventually was taken to Chaignes when he met up with a Sgt. Rider and a Cpl. Poleski.

Sgt. Eugen F. Rider 36560221 and Cpl. Walter F. Polaski 38188584 were from the 574 BS(M), 391 BG(M) whose B-26B was shot down by flak on the 27th May 1944.

On the 13th July Cpl. Polaski left for Aigleville, just 1½ km (1 ml) to the SW of Chaignes. He was liberated on the 18th August by elements of the US 5th Armoured Division.

On the 18th July 2nd Lt. Springer and Sgt. Rider were moved to Le Mesnil Guyon, some 7½ km (4¼ mls) to the ESE, where they remained until the 18th August when people from the local Resistance group arrived and took them by motorcycle to an unnamed town. Here they made contact with elements of the US 5th Armoured Division.

2nd Lt. Springer Jr. returned to duty on the 23rd August 1944.

Burial Details

None - Survived the war

He went on to survive the war and also served in Korea. He was awarded the DFC and Air Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters whilst serving with the 29th Tactical Command and a further 3 Oak Leaf Clusters whilst serving with the 5th Air Force between the 20th June and 22nd December 1952 in Korea.

Elmer Ellsworth Springer Jr. Col USAF (Retired)
23rd May 1921 – 31st December 2017
Arlington National Cemetery, Section 64, Site 6616

Researched by Ralph Snape Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to this Pilot and his relatives.

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