41-6538 WELA KAHAO!, Flak Bait

A P-47 (DQ-K, serial number 41-6538) of the 495th Fighter Training Group suffers a watery crash landing. media-377339.jpg FRE 574 A P-47 (DQ-K, serial number 41-6538) of the 495th Fighter Training Group suffers a watery crash landing. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 574 - A P-47 (DQ-K, serial number 41-6538) of the 495th Fighter Training Group suffers a watery crash landing.

This aircraft was the mount of Captains Walter J. Hollander and Stanley M. M. Anderson of the 334th fighter Squadron whilst it was with the 4th Fighter Group.

Hollander (also an 'Eagle' Squadron veteran) hailed from Honolulu, hence the nose art on this P-47, which means 'strike while the iron is hot' in Hawaiian. Anderson was flying 41-6538 on 15 April 1943 when it suffered an engine failure and was crash-landed at Langham. Later that same day, Anderson was shot down and killed by German fighters near Cassel.

41-6538 was repaired and transferred to the 495th Fighter Training Group, where it served until July 1944.



Under the control of novice pilots 41-6538 crashed four times. On 1 March 1944 41-6538 ran out of fuel causing her pilot Gilbert W Hunt to belly land the aircraft near Wellington in Somerset. Just over a month later on 13 April, Robert L Saferite crashed 41-6538 on take-off during a flight to Wrexham.



Moderately damaged, the aircraft was restored to flying condition and subsequently crashed again on 9 June by James E Cuddihee, who collided with another Thunderbolt whilst landing at Atcham. 41-6538 limped away with considerable damage including bent propellers, the other aircraft was broken in two.



Richard C Dunlap finally bought the end to 41-6538 on 4 July 1944 when engine failure caused him to crash at Wheaton Aston in Staffordshire.

Connections

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Units served with

People

Lieutenant Robert Boock, Lieutenant James Clarke, Captain William T O'Regan, Lieutenant-Colonel Chesley G Peterson, Captain Richard McMinn, Captain Stanley Anderson and Captain Oscar Coen of the 4th Fighter Group with a Spitfire at Debden Passed by the U.S. Army censor on 30 March 1943.

Printed caption attached to print: 
'Lt. Col. Chesley G. Peterson D.S.O., D.F.C., U.S. Army Air Force 4th (crossed through with censor's red pencil) Group Britain, who formerly commanded the old Eagle Squadron, seen at
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885096
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19033429 / O-758914
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
A P-47 (DQ-K, serial number 41-6538) of the 495th Fighter Training Group suffers a watery crash landing.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 552nd Fighter Training Squadron 82nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-2678
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885104
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Group 552nd Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

RAF Langham 14 April 1943 Belly landed due to engine failure or fire

Crashed

Wellington, Wellington, Somerset TA21, UK 1 March 1944 Ran out of fuel

Crashed

RAF Wrexham 14 March 1944 Crashed on take-off

Crashed

Atcham 9 June 1944 Landing accident, collided with P-47C (DQ-P, serial number 42-75129)

Crashed

Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire, UK 4 July 1944 Landing Accident Engine Failure RAF Wheaton Ashton Cat 5 damage, pilot Lt Richard C Dunlap, 4-Jul-44. 552FTS 495FTG 8AF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorRobert Barlow
Changes
Sources

Altered marking description: YJ-?
to: YJ-B_
(B with a bar underneath it)
Reason/source: This was my grandfather (Bill Barlow's) aircraft. The B with the bar below was also a wordplay - B Bar-low.

Date
Contributorapollo11
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorapollo11
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorapollo11
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Grammatical corrections to Biography field.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Media

41-6538: Gallery (3 items)