Missing WWII P-51C and Pilot found

[Tony Edmonds]

Hi Guys
not sure if this recovery has been reported before

http://bdtonline.com/cnhi/x1378301406/S ... ad-mystery

Tony Edmonds

[hang the expense]

Thanks for posting Tony.

[Versatile]

I posted that several days ago.
Different article though

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=45386&hilit=moritz


Thanks anyway.

[marine air]

If I had been a pilot in WW II I would have disappeared in a P-51C or maybe a mK 9 Spitfire. Good thing he's bringing it back, probably geting too old to fly it. (No, I didn't read the article.)

['nothernug]

If I had been a pilot in WW II I would have disappeared in a P-51C or maybe a mK 9 Spitfire. Good thing he's bringing it back, probably geting too old to fly it. (No, I didn't read the article.)

You really should have read the article. It is not to joke about.

The pilot was killed in a mid-air collision but apparently the crash site could not be found and therefore death not confirmed. Listed "MIA presumed dead" I would think. It seems his a/c burrowed in 18' on impact Well, he and his a/c remains have been found. Apparently, he uncharacteristically had a wallet with considerable amount of papers in them that will tell his family much about his service. At least, at last, they may put him to his final rest.

I had an uncle listed MIA in WWII. Members of the family recounted the anguish of not knowing his fate. Ours had a happy ending however. He turned out to be alive and in a German POW camp. Some SNAFU prevented notification of his capture and imprisonment. He dang near got killed in there though, and had he, we likely never would have known.

He said they used to trade things from the Red Cross kits through the wire with German kids for onions, potatoes and the like. The risk was, you had to cross the 'dead wire' to do it. The deal was tipping the guards. However, one day a guard must have had a mad on and took a shot at Uncle. The bullet missed but the rifle blast caught him in the head doing some damage. He survived but was ever after disabled to some extent.
He got home just in time for his Birthday so a big party/picnic was thrown for the whole family (He was one of 15 kids. Big Hillbilly family.) and it became an annual tradition to celebrate so at his house. Like so many, he is gone now.

I know this has nothing to do with aviation but, is in line with the topic story I believe and thought, might be of interest.

[Versatile]

If I had been a pilot in WW II I would have disappeared in a P-51C or maybe a mK 9 Spitfire. Good thing he's bringing it back, probably geting too old to fly it. (No, I didn't read the article.)

You really should have read the article. It is not to joke about.

The pilot was killed in a mid-air collision but apparently the crash site could not be found and therefore death not confirmed. Listed "MIA presumed dead" I would think. It seems his a/c burrowed in 18' on impact Well, he and his a/c remains have been found. Apparently, he uncharacteristically had a wallet with considerable amount of papers in them that will tell his family much about his service. At least, at last, they may put him to his final rest.

I had an uncle listed MIA in WWII. Members of the family recounted the anguish of not knowing his fate. Ours had a happy ending however. He turned out to be alive and in a German POW camp. Some SNAFU prevented notification of his capture and imprisonment. He dang near got killed in there though, and had he, we likely never would have known.

He said they used to trade things from the Red Cross kits through the wire with German kids for onions, potatoes and the like. The risk was, you had to cross the 'dead wire' to do it. The deal was tipping the guards. However, one day a guard must have had a mad on and took a shot at Uncle. The bullet missed but the rifle blast caught him in the head doing some damage. He survived but was ever after disabled to some extent.
He got home just in time for his Birthday so a big party/picnic was thrown for the whole family (He was one of 15 kids. Big Hillbilly family.) and it became an annual tradition to celebrate so at his house. Like so many, he is gone now.

I know this has nothing to do with aviation but, is in line with the topic story I believe and thought, might be of interest.

I enjoyed it. Thanks

[C VEICH]

Marine air,

I did not find your post offensive and, quite honestly, the thought of this deceased airman having "borrowed" the Mustang for his own enjoyment this past 70 years is a pleasant daydream. Much more pleasant than the reality.

[cooper9411]

One more hero that we all should give thanks to!

[marine air]

My last WW II era relative, James Ragland died last week. He served in the U.S. Army and earned a purple heart and other awards from the Normandy Invasion. I actually had a picture in my mind of an elderly, lean gentleman wearing suspenders, with a P-51C pirated away in a wooden tobacco barn, covering it with horse blankets and servicing it with Texaco non-detergent oil.
Occasionally pouring a few gallons into a wing tank and "clearing it's throat" while clearing his own with some fine Tennessee whiskey.
I certainly didn't mean any disrespect to the hero that perished 70 years ago.

[Ken]

Nice comeback, marine air. Hand salute and a tip of the hat in your general direction!

Ken

[JDK]

Thanks for those who posted the article. Sad that one article offers no credit to the finders, while the other makes a mention in passing (which has not, so far) been mentioned here.

It appears that without the Lincolnshire Aircraft Recovery Group, the pilot would remain 'missing'. Let us at least acknowledge that.

I'm no expert, but I understand that they wouldn't have been allowed to look for Lieutenant Moritz's aircraft as he was still missing, and private groups are not permitted to search for wrecks where there may be human remains or a missing crewman (unless they're searching in cooperation with an official organisation) in the UK. So it is also a fortunate accident that they were looking for a permitted crewless wreck, yet were able to resolve the MIA question for Lieutenant Moritz. Another example of fortunate chance.

Credit to the LARC looking (on their own 'dollar') and realising what they'd got, and following the correct procedure as well.

Regards,