P-47D-63 Thunderbolt - 42-74722 - UN-O
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Wayne J. "Butch" O'Connor, 0-659325 (KIA)
56 Fighter Group / 63 Fighter Squadron USAAF.
Squadroncode: UN-O.
Basis: Halesworth (UK).
Crashlocatie (volgens het MACR): Coesfeld (Duitsland).*
*Aantekening d.d. 30-11-2018:
Een Nederlandse onderzoeker geeft -na studie over crashes in de regio Coesfeld- aan dat O'Connor eerder dichter bij Nienberge dan bij Coesfeld moet zijn gecrasht.
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56 Fighter Group was aangewezen om de bommenwerpers te begeleiden vanaf Münster tot aan de Nederlandse kust.
O'Connor vloog in de "white" formatie met Capt. Burke en F/O Robey ten noordwesten van Münster toen enkele Duitse jachtvliegtuigen werden waargenomen.
In de omgeving van Coesfeld vloog de formatie door een wolkendek.
Uit het wolkendek komend, werd O'Connor's Thunderbolt niet meer gezien. De formatie probeerde contact met O'Connor te maken hetgeen niet lukte. Daarna raakte men in gevecht met Duitse jachtvliegtuigen.
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Later werd bekend dat O'Connor is neergeschoten en bij Coesfeld is neergestort.*
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De Thunderbolt van O'Connor werd geclaimd door Ltnt Martin Lacha van 2e Staffel/Jagdgeschwader 1.
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Wayne J. O'Connor werd geboren op 12 juli 1920 in Aberdeen, South Dakota (USA) en werd begraven op de begraafplaats in Nienberge/ Münster, nabij het ziekenhuis.*
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Na de oorlog werd O'Connor herbegraven op Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia (USA) - sectie 34, graf 3105.
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Onderscheidingen: - DFC + cluster
- Air Medal met 3x Oak leaf Cluster
- Purple Heart
56 Fighter Group / 63 Fighter Squadron USAAF.
Squadron code: UN-O.
Base: Halesworth (UK).
Crash location (according the MACR): Coesfeld (Germany).*
*Notification from 30-11-2018:
A Dutch researcher comments -after a study on crashes in the Coesfeld region- that it is more likely that O'Connor crashed closer to Nienberge than to Coesfeld.
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The 56 Fighter Group was assigned to escort the bombers from Münster to the Dutch coast.
O'Connor flew in the "White" formation with Capt. Burke and F/O Robey, north-west of Münster where some German fighter planes were seen.
In the surroundings of Coesfeld, the formation flew through some clouds.
Comming out of the clouds, O'Connors Thunderbolt was missing.
The formation tried to contact O'Connor but were not succesfull.
After that, the formation had an air battle with German fighter planes.
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Some time later, it was confirmed that O'Connor had been shot down and had crashed near Coesfeld (Germany).*
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O'Conner's Thunderbolt was claimed by Ltnt. Martin Lacha of 2nd Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1.
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Wayne J. O'Connor was born on July 12th, 1920 in Abderdeen, South Dakota (USA), and was buried in the cemetery near the hospital in Nienberge/Münster (Germany).*
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After the war, O'Connor was reburied in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia (USA) - section 34, grave 3105.
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Decorations: - DFC + cluster
- Air Medal with 3 Oak leaf Clusters
- Purple Heart
56 Fighter Group Log
63 Fighter Squadron Logo
crashsite O'Connor.
Wayne O'Connor
Crash location O'Connor, Coesfeld.
Missing Air Crew Report 1440.
O'Connor with his P-47 and dog.
O'Connor's P-47 crashed by other pilot september 7,1943.
Wayne O'Connor receiving medal.