Wilfred A Van Abel
Military
media-6539.jpeg
UPL 6539
Republic P-47C-5-RE Thunderbolt 41-6537 UN-Q of the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. The mount of Lt. Wilfred A Van Abel [ in cockpit ]. No name on aircraft but imaginative artwork ! Lt. Van Abel became a POW on 2 September 1943 whilst flying this aircraft. Photo also shows UN-Q's crew chief Sgt Damon Itza on the wing, he went on to be 'Hub' Zemke's Crew chief in Sept 1943.
www. littlefriends.co.uk
On 2-Sep-43 while piloting P-47C 41-6537 [UN:Q] 56FG/63FS 1LT Wilfred A. Van Able's flight was attacked by German aircraft near Armentierres, France and he was shot down. He was able to successfully parachute to the grouns and was captured as a Prioner of War (POW) MACR 468.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
Missions
- Date: 2 September 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Holton
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Moosburg, Germany | 2 September 1943 - 13 July 1945 | Held at Stalag 7A, Moosburg, Bavaria. Officially Returned to Militray Control (RMC) 13-Jul-45. |
Born |
Revisions
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources
Lee Cunningham 29-May-2015. Added POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database. Crafted Summary Biography based on "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
MACR 468 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database