Military
![1st Lt Louis G Alphonse [ Oklahoma City, OK ] 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF.](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-22625.jpeg?itok=oYCSTZGt)
1st Lt Louis G Alphonse [ Oklahoma City, OK ] 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF.
Gordon Alphonse - College of the Pacific, approximately 1938/9. Stockton, California.
Aviation Cadet Alphonse - Lemoore, California, 1943.
Assigned to 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. 40 x missions and credited 1 aerial victory.
Failed to Return (FTR) fighter bomber mission to Rheims, on landfall on French coast at Le Treport, last seen lagging behind formation and lost contact when they changed course. Shot down by flak strafing a US motor convoy near Avranches in P-47 42-8491 Killed in Action (KIA) 14-Aug-44. MACR 7373.
Awards: AM (2OLC), EAME, PH.
Group
The 356th Fighter Group flew 413 missions between 15 October 1943 and 7 May 1945 and suffered the highest ratio of losses to enemy aircraft claims of any Eighth Air Force Group. This gave the Group the reputation of being the 'hard luck' outfit. The...
Squadron
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 486FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF.
Shot down by friendly fire whilst mistakenly attacking a US motor convoy Avranches. Pilot Lt Louis G Alphonse Killed in Action (KIA). 14-Aug-44. MACR 7373.
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of Capt James B Smith. Re-assigned to Lt Louis G Alphonse. Failed to Return (FTR) target support mission to Arras, France. Straggling behind the formation, A/C was shot down by Bf109 which bounced...
Military site : airfield
Opened in 1917 as home to the RFC Aeroplane Experimental Unit, Martlesham Heath became well known during the 1920s-30s as home to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment. Used as an RAF fighter station from 1939, with only a grass airfield...
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Born | Oklahoma City, OK, USA | 24 May 1921 |
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Son of Louis and Bina H. [Eagan] Alphonse. |
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| Enlisted | Oklahoma City, OK, USA | 6 February 1942 |
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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
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| Crashed | Tonopah Airport, Tonopah, AZ 85354, USA | 27 October 1943 |
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Landing Accident Tonapah Aux Fld, Arizona Cat 3 damage, pilot Lt Louis G Alphonse, 27-Oct-43. AT-6C 42-44220 533TEFTS |
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| Assigned | Martlesham Heath, Martlesham, Ipswich, UK | 3 June 1944 – 14 August 1944 |
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Assigned to 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| Killed in action | 50300 Avranches, France | 14 August 1944 |
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Shot down by flak strafing a US motor convoy near Avranches in P-47 42-8491 Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 7373. |
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| Buried | Brittany American Cemetery Saint-James, France | 18 August 1944 |
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American cemetery of St. James in France. |
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| Buried | Henley and Hornbrook Cemetery Hornbrook, Siskiyou County CA | 1948 |
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Henley and Hornbrook Cemetery |
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