44-14062
**Strafing a train in the vicinity of Amiens, pilot 1Lt Will D Burgsteiner hit a tree, removing most of the starboard wing, escorted by colleagues he managed to land back at base on undercarriage despite the damage.
Object Number - UPL 29475 - "P-51D 44-14062 of the 368th Ftr Sq, 359th FG (coded CV-Q) after losing a chunk of the right wing & aileron in an unspecified incident**. The ship...
Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. Starboard wing repaired after 6ft ripped off in train strafing incident in Amiens, collided with tree. Failed to Return (FTR) mission aborted over the English Channel, pilot radioed that he was on fire. A/C abandoned 10 miles from Orford Ness when cockpit filled with smoke. Pilot 2nd Lt Merle B Barth Killed in Action (KIA). 20-Nov-44. MACR 10474.
Connections
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Units served with
![Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P, serial number 44-14543) nicknamed "Precious Pat", piloted by Lieutenant Ralston; (IV-Z, serial number 44-15007) piloted by Lieutenant Klem; and (IV-D, serial number 44-15394). First handwritten caption on reverse: 'November 15 1944- 369th FS Lts. Ralston (P), Klem (Z), [illegible] (D).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '15/11/44 369th Fighter Squadron, 3](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377226.jpg.webp?itok=RQw6Mu-P)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19082759 / O-817874
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20402716 / O-674277
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Collided tree damaged A/C |
Amiens, France | 17 August 1944 | Whilst strafing a train, hit a tree in P-51 44-14062 losing six feet of the starboard wing. Pilot 1Lt Will D Burgsteiner nursed aircraft back to base for a most unusual landing. |
|
Crashed Over Water (OW) |
10 miles off Orford Ness, Woodbridge IP12, UK | 20 November 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) mission aborted over the English Channel, pilot radioed that he was on fire. A/C abandoned 10 miles from Orford Ness when cockpit filled with smoke. Pilot 2nd Lt Merle B Barth Killed in Action (KIA). 20-Nov-44. MACR 10474. |
|
Manufactured |
Inglewood, CA, USA | Built at North American. | |
|
Delivered |
California, USA | Delivered to USAAF. | |
|
Assigned |
Wretham, Thetford IP24, UK | Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. |
