44-14647 Pedunk

media-27369.jpeg UPL 27369 P-51D #44-14647 , 5Q-A "Pedunk" of the 339th Fighter Group, 504th Fighter Squadron sitting at Bassingbourn in early 1945. Lost 20 March 1945 - Capt. Jerome J. Ballard "Jerry" POW. Photo by Lt. Thomas F. Flemming, 91st BG, 323rd BS. Photographic restoration by Nathan Howland. Thomas F. Flemming

Color 35mm slide from Lt. Thomas F. Flemming, 91st BG, 323rd BS.

Object Number - UPL 27369 - P-51D #44-14647 , 5Q-A "Pedunk" of the 339th Fighter Group, 504th Fighter Squadron sitting at Bassingbourn in early 1945. Lost 20 March 1945 -...

Assigned to 504FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) sweep to Bremen, whilst strafing Kaltenkirchen aerodrome, hit by flak in coolant system, pilot 1st Lt Jerome J Ballard abandoned A/C, chute streaming but not inflating due to the low altitude. Chute became entangled in tree tops saving his life. 20-Mar-45. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 13186.

Connections

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Units served with

People

Jerome Joseph Ballard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 504th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16160004 / O-822609
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
339th/504th Pilot Claire M Mason 25 Oct 44 - CTD 18 Jul 45.

Clair M Mason

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 504th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-722127
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

24568 Kaltenkirchen, Germany 20 March 1945 Failed to Return (FTR) sweep to Bremen, whilst strafing Kaltenkirchen aerodrome, hit by flak in coolant system, pilot 1st Lt Jerome J Ballard abandoned A/C, chute streaming but not inflating due to the low altitude. Chute became entangled in tree tops saving his life. 20-Mar-45. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 13186.

Manufactured

Inglewood, CA, USA Built at North American.

Delivered

California, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Assigned

Fowlmere, Royston SG8, UK Assigned to 504FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorRG Meinke
Changes
Sources

Added another photograph of the plane, taken by my grandfather in 1944. Fuselage code is partially obscured but the nose art clearly matches.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=14647

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 13186 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

44-14647: Gallery (2 items)

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