P-47 out of Zuiderzee

[Ken Fern]

In a recent post about the B-17 out of the lake there is a mnetion of a P-47 pulled out of the Zuiderzee. This was stored with a Dutch museum before being offered for disposal. Sadly I heard about this too late and it had gone to a German museum by the time I contacted them.

It is now on display unrestored with the Motortechnika-Museum in Bad Oeynhausen Germany. I was in negotiations to acquire it a couple of years ago but things faltered and they wont speak to me any more (dont know why)

I enclose a picture in the museum (hopefully if it works) i dont know the registration number... does anyone?

KEN

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m290 ... ermany.jpg

[Dan Johnson II]

I'm assuming this is the 4th FG P47D # 42-7924 QP-F of Frank Gallion, whose remains were recovered at the time of the Jug's recovery.

http://www.pagowirense.nl/wr-his7a.asp

Dan

[Ken Fern]

Thanks Dan, very interesting.

Ken

[Paul Patist]

Ken & Dan,

This is indeed Frank D. Gallion's P-47D ! Rumors go that the MLM (Military Aviation Museum) swapped the a/c parts for some uniforms....


Paul

[mennie]

Hmm, too bad that it's not on display at the Military Aviation Museum Soesterberg. They have a P-47 engine in storage.
The airplanes in that Motortechnika-Museum seem to be in awful condition.
Maybe we/I can do something about this?

[Paul Patist]

Mennie,

Don't know what can be done...I think it's a disgrace if this swap story for uniforms is true !
The whole recovery of Gallion's a/c was a huge publicity stunt as seen in the light of the celebration of 50 years Liberation in 1995...
So sad to see the a/c went to Germany.

Paul

[Ken Fern]

I hope you have better luck than me, I have tried to speak to them since my original deal went sour but they wont answer any correspondence (both in English and German) and when I tried to ring up I couldnt get past reception.
I have only ever seen a couple of pictures of it taken a few years ago, but it would be interesting to know what condition it is in now, corrosion wise as the Zuiderzee is a freshwater lake.
Does anyone on the forum live close enough to get some new shots?

Ken

[tom d. friedman]

being an ohio related ww 2 mia i filed away the info in 1993. i dug it out to share some interesting details........ gallion was from millersburg ohio. up to the time of his recovery there was a head stone inscribed in his name in a small cemetery their, even though he wasn't under it. his name is also on an american mia memorial in holland. he was shot down by an me 109 while escorting b-17s to bomb a german naval base at wilhelmshaven. he crashed november 3rd 1943. up to his recovery gallion had a surviving brother & sister. gallion started ww 2 flying for the royal canadian air force, & later transfered to the usaaf. found with the body was a crusty zippo lighter, gallion's dog tags. also present were 3 machine guns. the wreck was found during an aerial survey of a shipping route in 1993 & was removed by the dutch navy as it was deemed a hazard to ships traveling in that erea. the wreck was 50 miles north of amsterdam. up to 1993 there were 800 to 900 additional wrecks in the ijsselmeer.

[mennie]

Does anyone on the forum live close enough to get some new shots?

It's about 280 kilometers from where I live, it can be done.
But this weekend is Fairford and the weekend after is Sanicole Airshow so it won't be very soon. I might make a call before going, to see if I can also visit the 'scrap yard' with the Russian birds.

Last edited by mennie on Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Paul Patist]

Tom,

From the ABMC website about the Netherlands-American Cemetery at Margraten:

Frank D. Gallion
Flight Officer, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # T-190742
334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group
Entered the Service from: Ohio
Died: 3-Nov-43
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart - Remains recovered


As his remains are recovered they put an asterix (*) at his name on the Walls of the Missing...

[Paul Patist]

http://www.fourthfightergroup.com/memorial/memorial.htm

Paul

[Paul Patist]

Tom,

A good friend of mine was at the Dutch Army Grave Service facility when they examined Frank's remains.
I think he still has some pictures from the lifting of his a/c...

Take care,

Paul

[tom d. friedman]

thanks paul!! WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE PICS!! thanks for the additional info too. best, tom

[Paul Patist]

Tom,

You're welcome ! My friend recently moved so I hope he can find those pictures....It might take some time !

Paul

[tom d. friedman]

paul, i've waited since 1993, a little longer time won't hurt!! best, tom