42-106438

media-401095.jpg FRE 2297 A P-51 Mustang (WD-U, 42-106438) of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, flown by Lieutenant Curtis Simpson, after a forced landing in Switzerland, 19 July 1944. "P.51B Mustang , coded WD-U, right side three-quarter view, with mountainous background, which I said was in neutral country. It was, in fact, Switzerland, when Lt. Curtis Simpson was forced to abort a mission to Munich on 19th July, 1944, following a glycol leak." Information from Debden historian Keith Braybrooke The fighter was subsequently dismantled by Swiss air force mechanics and transported to Dubendorf, where its engine was repaired. Repainted in Swiss colours, the Mustang returned to the skies on 1 August 1944. Roger Freeman Collection

Personal research & 4th Fighter Group 'Debden Eagles' by Chris Bucholtz.

Object Number - FRE 2297 - A P-51 Mustang (WD-U, 42-106438) of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, flown by Lieutenant Curtis Simpson, after a forced landing in...

Assigned to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Lost 19-Jul-44 on bomber escort to Munich, suffered glycol leak, aborted and forced landed at Ems, Switzerland pilot Lt Curtis Simpson Interned. A/C was subsequently dismantled by Swiss air force mechanics and transported to Dubendorf, where its engine was repaired. Repainted in Swiss colours, the Mustang returned to the skies on 1-Aug-44 . Returned to the USAAF during fall 1945, being ferried to BAD-1 Burtonwood, UK, by another interned USAAF P-51 pilot, Capt. Robert D Brown of the 357th FG.

Connections

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Units served with

335th Fighter Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

4th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

People

Robert D Brown

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 357th Fighter Group Base Air Depot 1 362nd Fighter Squadron
Service Numbers: O-740360
Highest Rank: Captain
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Curtis Simpson

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 335th Fighter Squadron
Service Numbers: O-758869
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Places

Burtonwood

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Base Air Depot Area (BADA) : 1st Base Air Depot (1 BAD)

Debden

Site type: Airfield

A B-17 Flying Fortress (QJ-D, serial number 42-32073) formerly of the 337th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group, in service with the Swiss Air Force. Handwritten caption on reverse: '42-32073, Dübendorf, 13-4-44.'

Dubendorf

Site type: Airfield

Missions

8th Air Force 482 Fighter Escort

Date: 19 July 1944
Official Description:

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Other Forced Landing	Domat/Ems, Switzerland	19 July 1944	Lost 19-Jul-44 on bomber escort to Munich, suffered glycol leak, aborted and forced landed at Ems, Switzerland pilot Lt Curtis Simpson Interned.
Other Dismantled/Relocated/Repaired	Dübendorf, Switzerland	20 July 1944 - 31 July 1944	A/C was subsequently dismantled by Swiss air force mechanics and transported to Dubendorf, where its engine was repaired.
Other Test flown in Swiss hands	Dübendorf, Switzerland	1 August 1944	Repainted in Swiss colours, the Mustang returned to the skies on 1-Aug-44.
Assigned	Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK		335th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF.
Other Ferried back to USAAF	Burtonwood, UK		Returned to the USAAF during fall 1945, being ferried to BAD-1 Burtonwood, UK, by another interned USAAF P-51 pilot, Capt. Robert D Brown of the 357th FG