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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
10.06.1944 No. 386th Fighter Sqd. P47D 42-76279 D5-H 2nd Lt. John A. Weese

Operation: Fighter Sweep over the Cherbourg peninsula Normandy

Date: 10th June 1944 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 365th Fighter-Bomber Group, 386th Fighter Squadron

Type: P47D Thunderbolt

Serial: 42-76279

Code: D5-H

Base: Beaulieu, Hants, England (USAAF Station 408)

Location: St Aubin sur Mer France

Pilot: 2nd Lt. John Alfred Weese O-815792 USAAF Age 24. Killed 

REASON FOR LOSS:  

Statement of 1st Lt. Valmore J. Beaudrault 0-6808339:

On the 10th June 1944, I led a flight of four on a patrol mission over the Cherbourg assault area. Lt. Weese was number four man in my flight. 

Left: 2nd Lt. John Alfred Weese USAAF (see credits)

Above left: Station 408, England, Right: Then and now crash site. (see credits)

He became separated from the rest of us in the clouds at 12:45 hrs at 6.000 ft. At 13:10 hrs he called over the R/T saying that he was hit and his prop was out and his oil pressure was gone. 

Said he was at 7.000 ft and could see the beach head and thought he could belly land behind our lines. He seemed very cool and I don’t think that he had been injured. Nothing more is known about him.

Burial details:  

Initially buried at Bernieres Sur-Mer Cemetery near St. Aubin-Sur Mer, Normandy, France. Grave 8. Body repatriated after war end.

2nd Lieutenant John Alfred Weese. Bethlehem Cemetery. Son of Mrs D.H. Reese of 515 sixth Street, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan, USA. Born 26th January 1920.

Researched by Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered - June 2015. With thanks to Steven Warnick, Mrs. Sally Connors, Mike Cavity for photographs.

KTY 10.06.2015 (Anniversary of loss)

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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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