41-6538 WELA KAHAO!, Flak Bait
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
This aircraft was the mount of Captains Walter J. Hollander and Stanley M. M. Anderson of the 334th fighter Squadron whilst it was with the 4th Fighter Group.
Hollander (also an 'Eagle' Squadron veteran) hailed from Honolulu, hence the nose art on this P-47, which means 'strike while the iron is hot' in Hawaiian. Anderson was flying 41-6538 on 15 April 1943 when it suffered an engine failure and was crash-landed at Langham. Later that same day, Anderson was shot down and killed by German fighters near Cassel.
41-6538 was repaired and transferred to the 495th Fighter Training Group, where it served until July 1944.
Under the control of novice pilots 41-6538 crashed four times. On 1 March 1944 41-6538 ran out of fuel causing her pilot Gilbert W Hunt to belly land the aircraft near Wellington in Somerset. Just over a month later on 13 April, Robert L Saferite crashed 41-6538 on take-off during a flight to Wrexham.
Moderately damaged, the aircraft was restored to flying condition and subsequently crashed again on 9 June by James E Cuddihee, who collided with another Thunderbolt whilst landing at Atcham. 41-6538 limped away with considerable damage including bent propellers, the other aircraft was broken in two.
Richard C Dunlap finally bought the end to 41-6538 on 4 July 1944 when engine failure caused him to crash at Wheaton Aston in Staffordshire.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Air base
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- 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 No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885096
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19033429 / O-758914
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 552nd Fighter Training Squadron 82nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-2678
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885104
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 495th Fighter Group 552nd Fighter Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
RAF Langham | 14 April 1943 | Belly landed due to engine failure or fire |
Crashed |
Wellington, Wellington, Somerset TA21, UK | 1 March 1944 | Ran out of fuel |
Crashed |
RAF Wrexham | 14 March 1944 | Crashed on take-off |
Crashed |
Atcham | 9 June 1944 | Landing accident, collided with P-47C (DQ-P, serial number 42-75129) |
Crashed |
Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire, UK | 4 July 1944 | Landing Accident Engine Failure RAF Wheaton Ashton Cat 5 damage, pilot Lt Richard C Dunlap, 4-Jul-44. 552FTS 495FTG 8AF. |
Revisions
Altered marking description: YJ-?
to: YJ-B_
(B with a bar underneath it)
Reason/source: This was my grandfather (Bill Barlow's) aircraft. The B with the bar below was also a wordplay - B Bar-low.
Personal research & 4th Fighter Group 'Debden Eagles' by Chris Bucholtz.
Personal research & 4th Fighter Group 'Debden Eagles' by Chris Bucholz.
Personal research & 4th Fighter Group 'Debden Eagles' by Chris Bucholz.
Aviation Archaeology, 41-6538, http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbasn.asp?SN=41-6538&Submit4=Go
Little Friends, http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=495&Style=item&origSty…