media-400751.jpg FRE 2832 A P-51 Mustang (YJ-Z, serial number 44-14610) nicknamed "Sweet Marie" of the 351st Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group after belly landing, 15 February 1945. Official caption on image: "GAD-222-337-353) (15-2-45) (4610-P51) (Rest)."

2nd Lt John G Lancaster flying YJ-Z (a/c 44-14610) requested a homing while over the Thames Estuary. He was brought in over land, but his engine cut out and he was forced to belly land the aircraft at Church Farm, Stockbury, Kent. Cause was determined as part poor weather and part poor technique in that Lt Lancaster did not use the correct technique to switch from his empty right gas tank to a new fuel tank. He reported :

My engine started running rough and cutting out. I was flying at about 8000 ft and each time it cut out I would lose several hundred feet. I tried to smooth it out by changing power settings, and when it would cut out completely, I would change tanks and use the primer. Finally, at about 4000 ft I called ‘Colgate’ on ‘B’ Channel, told him the circumstances and asked to be vectored to the nearest field. While I was contacting Colgate, the engine cut out again and I was unable to get it started although I again switched tanks and used the primer. The ground was not visible except in spots due to the ground fog; so with the engine dead I turned back to an open spot which I had just passed. At about 1000 ft the engine showed signs of starting and I retarded and advanced the throttle several times but to no avail. I was unable to get sufficient power to maintain altitude, so I landed wheels up in an open field.

1LT. Raymond Hilgenberg flew "Sweet Marie" on his first combat mission on Nov. 6th,1944. This was the first of his 40 combat missions. He was KIA on February 24th, 1945 returning to base from an escort and strafing mission when he was hit with anti-aircraft fire.
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Roger Freeman Collection

I just fixed the info on my uncle 1Lt. Raymond Hilgenberg. I incorrectly named his first mission in Squirt, in fact, it was Sweet Marie!