42-75216 Charming Ellen
Encountered mechanical failure on an escort and support mission for bombers on a mission to Soligen, Germany, 30 November 1943. The pilot, Lt William D. Grosvenor managed to regain control of his P-47 and strafed a train above Puurs, Belgium. Flying very low, the plane hit a telegraph pole and crashed in an orchard after Grosvenor managed to bail out at only 150m above ground. Pilot safe, managed to evade during seven months with the help of Belgian citizens and underground members (the COMET evasion network). Arrested in a trap on 20 June 1944 and imprisoned in Brussels, he had the luck to escape from the "Ghost Train" on 3 September 1944. See his evasion story at http://www.evasioncomete.org/fgrosvewd.html
The aircraft was named for the pilot's fiancée in the States
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15070171 at enlistment, then O-667814
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Holton
Missions
- Date: 30 November 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Mariakerke, near Puurs, Belgium | 30 November 1943 | due to mechanical failure before hitting a telegraph pole while strafing a German train above Puurs, Belgium. Crashed in an orchard in Mariakerke. |
Revisions
Research for pilot William D. Grosvenor's page at http://www.evasioncomete.org/fgrosvewd.html
MACR 3441 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database