Allen Franklin Bunte
Military
Personal research & 'The Debden Warbirds' by Frank Speer.
Object Number - UPL 13993 - 1st Lt. Allan F. Bunte.
1st Lt Allan F Bunte was one of the few pilots who had been married prior to assignment to the 4th Fighter Group. Assigned to 335th Fighter Squadron, transferred to 334th Fighter Squadron.
On 5 April 1944 his P-51B Mustang hit high-tension wires near Gardelegen, causing the fighter to burst into flames. Bunte ditched in a nearby lake, knocking himself unconscious. The Mustang sank, but Bunte came to in time to release himself and bob to the surface. After paddling to the shore in his dinghy, Bunte was captured and became a POW. MACR 3609.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Florida, USA | 22 July 1920 | |
|
Other Assigned |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 23 January 1943 - 25 May 1943 | Assigned to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Promotion |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 23 April 1943 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
|
Other Transferred |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 25 May 1943 - 5 April 1944 | Transferred to the 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Struck H/T Wires |
Gardelegen, Germany | 5 April 1944 | hit high-tension wires near Gardelegen, causing the fighter to burst into flames. Bunte ditched in a nearby lake, knocking himself unconscious. The Mustang sank, but Bunte came to in time to release himself and bob to the surface. After paddling to the shore in his dinghy, Bunte was captured and became a POW. MACR 3609. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 5 April 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). |
|
Died |
Orlando, FL, USA | 27 March 1995 | |
| Eustis, FL, USA | |||
|
Buried |
Sumter County, FL, USA | Florida National Cemetery Bushnell Sumter County Florida, USA |
