44-14808 Donna J
media-25739.jpeg
UPL 25739
This photo was in my father's (Lt. Billy J. Murray) scrapbook. He joined the 353rd FG/ 351st FS in August 1944. He first flew P-47s and then transitioned into the P-51D. He first flew the "Donna J" #44-14808 YJ-O which was "cracked up" by Lt. Robert Wiehe on Jan. 17, 1945 after an engine failure. Wiehe survived the landing 2.5 miles SE of RAF Wattisham, Suffolk, England, but the plane was written off. Murray then received P-51D #44-13978 and named it also "Donna J" for his sister, Donna Joyce, when he had a landing/take-off accident on March 22, 1945. The photo is captioned "cracked up Donna J #3", so I believe it to be his third plane the #44-13978.
Billy J Murray collection
personal effects of Billy J. Murray
The aircraft was called the "Donna J" and flown by Lt. Billy J. Murray of the 353rd FG/351st FS. It was crash landed on Jan. 17, 1945 by Lt. Robert Wiehe with engine trouble 2.5 miles SE of RAF Wattisham. Wiehe survived the crash.
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18162953 / O-708745
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot 353rd
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15327667 / O-721567
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 14 January 1945