43-6946
Assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. One time personal aircraft of Lt Ralph 'Kidd' Hofer. The Kidd was almost interned due to this aircraft and a mechanical failure which righted itself just in time. A/C struck a high-tension wire and caught fire on a strafing mission to Stendal. Unable to exit A/C pilot Lt Allen F Bunte landed the ship in a lake, extinguishing the flames. Dazed by the impact, he sank with the P-51, eventually escaping from the cockpit and waded to shore. POW. MACR 3609.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron 335th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2045177
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Interned almost |
Lake Constance | 18 March 1944 | Whilst on a target withdrawal support mission, A/C suffered from a runaway-propeller which caused extremely high r.p.m.’s in the engine. Lt Ralph Hofer set course for neutral Switzerland at 6000ft. After passing Lake Constance and crossing into Swiss territory, Hofer started to climb up to bail out. After jettisoning the canopy and standing up on the pilot’s seat, the propeller suddenly came back to normal control. Hofer stepped back into the cockpit, began calculating the remaining fuel and decided that he possibly could make it back to England. Lucky Ralph Hofer landed at Manston airfield with only 6 gallons fuel left in his tanks. Throughout the whole journey back home he had to endure an uncomfortable ride due to the lack of his canopy and icy winds whipping around the cockpit. |
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
39576 Stendal, Germany | 5 April 1944 - 5 April 1944 | A/C struck a high-tension wire and caught fire on a strafing mission to Stendal. Unable to exit A/C pilot Lt Allen F Bunte landed the ship in a lake, extinguishing the flames. Dazed by the impact, he sank with the P-51, eventually escaping from the cockpit and waded to shore. POW. MACR 3609. |