Assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Whilst on mission to provide top cover for 335FS, section were bounced by Bf109's. A/C P-51 42-103791 received multiple hits and caught fire, forcing pilot to bail out. Pilot 2nd Lt Dean Lange wounded in left arm by cannon fire, captured shortly after landing in Beavais, France. A/C crashed just north of Therdonne, France. POW. 18-Mar-44. MACR 7944.



Awards: AM (2OLC), PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.



"On my last mission, I was wing-man to a captain, each of us carrying two 500-pound bombs, looking for “targets of opportunity” near Beauvais, France. We were flying nearly parallel and expected to observe the rear of each other, which we could not see for ourselves. Suddenly I saw bombs on the lead aircraft drop and then heard on my radio, “BREAK!” Which meant to turn quickly to avoid attack. Before I could react from this warning, 20mm cannon shells exploded in my cockpit, one shell shattering as it hit my left arm. It was immediately obvious that neither me nor my aircraft could fly any longer and I had to eject.

With my right hand, I pulled the aircraft into a right turn, trying to evade the pursuing Focke-Wulf 190. The 20mm shells were exploding on the wings of my aircraft and I feared the bombs under my wings might explode. I knew I must eject quickly, but since my left hand and arm were useless, I just jettisoned the canopy, released both the seat and shoulder harness, removed my helmet and oxygen mask all while holding the aircraft in a turn with the control stick between my knees. The “G”-forces from the steep turn made it extremely difficult to scramble out of the cockpit, but I managed somehow and found myself free of the aircraft, falling. Nearby were two Frenchmen who had been loading hay on a rack. They came to my aid and used my silk scarf to bandage my arm and stem the bleeding somewhat. Then two German Wehrmacht soldiers appeared and, waving away the Frenchmen, took me into custody." - Dean Lange detailing his final mission.