Chester John Butcher
Military
Object Number - UPL 29751 - Brig Gen Chester J Butcher 357FS, 355FG, 8AF.
On 5 Jan 1944, P-47D 42-22538 'The Butcher'. Upon returning to base, pilot became lost and while attempting to land a first airfield sighted, he landed hard and damaged the landing gear. Immediately took off and returned to base and made a wheels up landing. Forced to make an emergency landing near Biscarosse, FR after being damaged during a strafing run on a bomber escort mission on 27 Mar 1944 in P-51B #43-6777. Prisoner of War (POW).
Awards: DFC, AM(9OLC), LOM(2OLC), PH(OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME, Air Force Commendation Medal.
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
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
![P-51 Mustangs of the 355th Fighter Group break formation, ready for landing, over the ground support vehicles and control tower of Steeple Morden Airfield. Image signed on reverse with the approval of station censor. Handwritten caption on reverse: '355 FG Steeple Morden, Control Tower, read crew + P41 [sic] group peeling off for landing.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377141.jpg.webp?itok=zxxvSLfB)
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Lafayette, LA, USA | 4 January 1922 | |
|
Other Crashed |
Steeple Morden, Royston SG8, UK | 5 January 1944 | Forced Landing Steeple Morden/Sta 122 Cat 3 Damage Lt Chester J Butcher, 5-Jan-44. P-47D 42-22538 - 357FS 355FG 8AF |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 27 March 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I. |
|
Other Shot down |
64200 Biarritz, France | 27 March 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) ramrod to Biarritz belly landing after hit by ground fire. MACR 3446. |
|
Other Crashed |
Eglin AFB, FL 32542, USA | 8 March 1949 | Landing Accident due to Mech Failure Eglin AFB, FL Cat 3 damage Capt Chester J Butcher, 8-Mar-49. F-86A 47-618 - 3200PGC |
|
Died |
Lafayette, LA, USA | 15 November 2013 | |
| Lafayette, LA, USA | |||
|
Based |
Steeple Morden | 27 March 1944 | Assigned to 357FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Buried |
Lafayette, LA, USA | Calvary Cemetery Lafayette Lafayette Parish Louisiana, USA |
Revisions
http://littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=Butcher&Submit=Search
https://www.fold3.com/image/28646172
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbapi.asp?Pilot=Butcher%2C+Cheste...
http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/107544/brigadier…
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=170427253
http://littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=Butcher&Submit=Search
https://www.fold3.com/image/28646172
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbapi.asp?Pilot=Butcher%2C+Chest…
http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/107544/brigadier…
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=170427253
1996 355TH FG Assoc. Directory MACR 3446, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3446 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
