1944-05-31 P-47D

Possibly the same as:

GOLDWASSER-Lawrence L. 84. Died January 20, 2001 at the University Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC, with his family by his side. Larry was born August 4, 1916 in Yonkers, NY, the son of Ida L. and Ben Goldwasser and graduated from Yale University's School of Fine Arts. After graduate school he designed scenery for Broadway shows. Larry designed and directed television productions for ABCTV and J. Walter Thompson Agency. As a partner in TeleVideo productions in New York City, Larry designed, directed and produced hundreds of television commercials. He was the recipient of mulitple Cleos for his television work. After retiring from TeleVideo, he taught Design at Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY. Larry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ruth Heath Goldwasser; Carol Troy and husband Michael of Brookfield, CT; Paul Goldwasser and wife Barbara of Reston, VA; Judi Hagerty and husband Michael of Scottsdale, Az; David Goldwasser and wife Joni of Roanoke, VA; grandsons Timothy Hagerty and Ben Goldwasser.

plane

P-47D Thunderbolt

Manufacturer :

Number Built : 15683

Production Began : 1943

Retired :

Type :

Alexander Kartveli was a engineer with Seversky Aircraft who designed the P-35, which first flew in 1937. With Republic Aviation Kartveli supervised the development of the P-43 Lancer. Neither of these aircraft were produced in large numbers, and neither was quite successful. However, the Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt, also nicknamed the Jug, was quite a different story. The Jug was the jewel in Kartvelis design crown, and went on to become one of the most produced fighter aircraft of all time with 15,683 being manufactured.

The P-47 was the largest and heaviest single seat fighter of WW II. The P-47 immediately demonstrated its excellent combat qualities, including speed, rate of climb, maneuverability, heavy fire power, and the ability to take a lot of punishment. With a wingspan of more than 40 feet and a weight of 19,400 pounds, this large aircraft was designed around the powerful 2000 HP Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine. The first P-47 prototype flew in May of 1941, and the primary variant the P-47D went into service in 1943 with units of the U.S. Armys Eighth Air Force. The Jug had a maximum speed in excess of 400 MPH, a service ceiling in excess of 42,000 feet, and was heavily armed with either six or eight heavy caliber machine guns. With its ability to carry up to a 2,500 pound bomb load, the Jug saw lots of use in ground attack roles. Until the introduction of the N model, the P-47 lacked the long range required for fighter escort missions which were most often relegated to P-51 Mustangs or P-38 Lightnings.

1944-05-31,1205,P47D,43-25590, 356FG/360FS, 1st.Lt.L.L.Goldwasser, Oud-Beijerland/Klaaswaal (zinkweg)

43-25590 (P-47D-21-RA) PI-?

MIA 31st May Lt Lawrence L Goldwasser POW (MACR 5403)

From his repatriation report:

Lawrence Loeb Goldwasser

Shotfractures to both Thights

Mother Ada Goldwasser, New York

2 nd Lt. 0 - 451801

Field hospital 719 2 juni 1944

Amsterdam 3 june 1944 Air Force Hospital 6/XI (german)

Intended destination: Osnabruck, bomber escort

Crash date/time 31 mei 1944 11:48

Crash time also mentioned 12:05 1,5 km SE Klaaswaal, 16km W Dordrecht

Positie : Zevenbergen

Cause: Ran out of Oil?

Aircraft: P-47 D21 nr.43-25590

Engine model: R-2800-63 nr: 42-126141

Weapons Cal 50

986686 FRIG

987021 FRIG

1102919 HI ST

590012 HiI ST

1101673 HI ST

1073489 HI ST

987211 FRIG

1073552 HI ST

mission

This was VIII FC F/O 355, mission 130 for the 356th. It was Goldwasser's 10th.( first May 22).

Penetration support to Germany escorting bombers; the 356th left the bombers near Hamburg .

from the 360th diary...

" Lt. Goldwasser's oil pressure dropped to zero. He bailed out OK at 11.48 hours from 11,000feet near Zevenburgen, south of Rotterdam".

The 356th put up 44 P-47s with 2 early returns.

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies Mission 382: 1,029 bombers and 682 fighters attack marshalling yards and aircraft industry targets in Germany and rail targets in France and Belgium; the fighters claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; one bomber and three fighters are lost:

1. Of 246 B-17s, 36 hit Luxeuil marshalling yard, France; 30 hit Florennes/Juzaine Airfield and four hit Namur marshalling yard, Belgium; 23 hit Gilze-Rijen Airfield and 12 hit Roosendaal marshalling yard, The Netherlands; and three hit targets of opportunity without loss.

2. 287 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards in Germany; 88 hit Osnabruck, 54 hit Schwerte, 52 hit Oeske and 50 hit Hamm; one B-17 is lost.

3. 491 B-24s are dispatched to hit rail targets in France and Belgium but are recalled due to clouds.

4. Four of five B-24s hit rail bridges at Beaumont-sur-Oise and bridges at Melun without loss; Azon radio-controlled bombs are unsuccessfully used against the bridges.

Escort is provided by 193 P-38s, 180 P-47 Thunderbolts and 309 P-51 Mustangs; P-38s claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; one P-47 is lost; P-51s claim 3-0-1 aircraft on the ground with two P-51s lost. 674 Ninth Air Force fighters provide support; no claims or losses.

Fighter-bomber missions against German airfields with 500 lb (227 kg) and 100 lb (45 kg) general purpose bombs:

1. 78 of 81 P-47s hit Gutersloh Airfield; they claim 5-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft.

2. 35 P-38s attack Rehein/Hopsten Airfield using DROOPSNOOT methods; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft on the ground.

22 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions over France without loss.

The USAAF's Ninth Air Force in England dispatches about 200 B-26 Marauders to bomb lock and highway bridges at Bennecourt, Courcelles-sur-Seine and Rouen, France. (Jack McKillop)

crash

No known german claim of a P-47 in the area of Oud-Beijerland. Only one P-47 is claimed that day over Rheda-Wiedenbrück. This is a town in the district of Gütersloh, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. however this was claimed around 19.15hr. where the P-47 at Oud-Beijerland is reported to have crashed around 12.05 hr.

The most likely cause of the crash is FLAK or engine failure.

EYE witness account

I was flying Vortex White three (3) on a bomber escort mission. We had completed our escort and were on the way out when my wingman Lt Goldwasser noticed a drop in oil pressure. I pulled back alongside , he called and said the pressure was down to 20 pounds. At that time black smoke came out of the super charger, followed by white smoke. After that there were flames coming out of the supercharger and the engine becan to sputter. He half rolled at about 11000 feet and bailed out opening his chute immediately. I followed him down to about 4000 feet. He was alright at that time so I pulled up and came home

Lester H. Knapp 2nd Lt Air corps

Flight came home early because of oxygin failure of flight leader.

Judging from this information the plane crashed because of technical failure (loss of oil) but it does not explain the POW report which mentions "shotfractures to both Thights". Perhaps he was hit earlier by FLAK. Pilot is reported to have bailed out and was wounded which is consistent with Lt. Goldwasser POW report that mentions he was interned at Hospital Meiningen #1288 (Serves Stalag 9-C) Meiningen Saxe-Meiningen 50-10

The pilot is reported to have suffered "Shotfractures to both Thights". This raises the question how this could have happened. Did he receive those after bailing out or did he receive those while still in his plane? He supposted to have crashed because of Engine failure but perhaps those were caused by FLAK hits earlier.

crew

POW repatriation report

Built in greater quantities than any other US fighter, the P-47 was the heaviest single-engine WWII fighter to go into production and the first piston-powered fighter to exceed 500 mph. The Thunderbolt performed 546,000 combat sorties between March of 1943 and August 1945 and is considered the real forerunner of today's multirole fighters.

One of the outstanding features of the P-47 was its remarkable acceleration when the aircraft was put into a dive. Any plane that attempted to break off contact by going into a dive would soon be overcome by the remarkable speed of the P-47. Once the P-47 caught up to its prey, one burst from its eight 0.50 machine guns would obliterate anything it got a bead on.

The P-47B entered USAAF service in November 1942, becoming officially operational with the Eighth Air Force stationed in the UK on April 8,1943. However, the P-47B's range was not adequate for escort duties, and its maneuverability at low and medium altitude was poor. Since it was almost twice as heavy as it's opponents it exhibited a poor rate of climb, but had other advantages that more than compensated where it was lacking. In spite of its early shortcomings, the P-47 at least showed promise as a measure of real protection for Allied bombers, which had previously suffered very heavy losses.

The P-47D-15-RE Thunderbolt on top, was the first version to have underwing pylons to use droppable fuel tanks. Below is a P-47D-1 with white bands on the nose and tail to distinguish it from the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A.

P-47s flew more than 546,000 combat sorties between March 1943 and August 1945, destroying 11,874 enemy aircraft, some 9,000 locomotives, and about 6,000 armored vehicles and tanks. Only 0.7 per cent of the fighters of this type dispatched against the enemy were lost in combat. As a testament to the survivability of the P-47, it should be noted that the top ten aces who flew the P-47, returned home safely. Before the war was over, a total of 15,579 Thunderbolts were built, about two-thirds of which reached operational squadrons overseas.

The final version, the P-47N, was built primarily for use against the Japanese in the Pacific theater. Shown is a XP-47N fitted with a bubble canopy.

Endnotes:

1. David Mondey. The Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II. New York: Smithmark Publishers, 1996. 216.

2. Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers. The American Fighter. Sparkford, Nr. Yeovil Somerset, 1987. 390.

3. David Mondey. 216.

4. Enzo Angelluci and Peter Bowers. 390.

5. William Green. Famous Fighters of the Second World War. New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1967. 84.

6. Ibid. 85.

7. David Mondey. 217.

8. Lloyd S. Jones. US Fighters. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers., 1975. 115.

9. Howard Mingos, ed. The Aircraft Year Book for 1943. New York: Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce, 1943. 273.

10. Roger A. Freeman. Thunderbolt. A documentary History of the P-47. Osceola, Wisconsin: Motorbooks International, 1992. 25.

http://www.aviation-history.com/republic/p47.html

Unit

356FG/360FS

The 356th Fighter Group

Station:

Martlesham Heath 5 October 1943 to 2 November 1945

Station Callsign:

Recount

Group Callsign:

Soundwave to 22 April '44 then:

Lampshade (A Group)

Notebook (B Group)

Seaweed (C Group)

(No Squadron Callsigns in C Group)

360th Fighter Squadron Code: PI Callsign: Plasterto 22 April '44 then:

Vortex (A Group)

Deansgate (B Group)

356th Fighter Group

HISTORY:

Constituted as 356th Fighter Group on 8 Dec 1942 and activated on 12 Dec. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1943, and assigned to Eighth AF. Served in combat from Oct 1943 tO May 1945, participating in operations that prepared for the invasion of the Continent, and supporting the landings in Normandy and the subsequent Allied drive across France and Germany. Used P-47's until they were replaced by P-51's in Nov 1944. From Oct 1943 until Jan 1944, operated as escort for bombers that attacked such objectives as industrial areas, missile sites, airfields, and communications. Engaged primarily in bombing and strafing missions after 3 Jan 1944, with its targets including U-boat installations, barges, shipyards, airdromes, hangars, marshalling yards, locomotives, trucks, oil facilities, flak towers, and radar stations. Bombed and strafed in the Arnheim area on 17, 18, and 23 Sep 1944 to neutralize enemy gun emplacements; received a DUC for this contribution to the airborne attack on Holland. Flew its last combat mission, escorting B-17's dropping propaganda leaflets, on 7 May 1945. Returned to the US in Nov. Inactivated on 10 Nov 1945.Redesignated 118th Fighter Group. Allotted to ANG (Tenn) on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 2 Oct 1947. Redesignated 118th Composite Group in Nov 1950, and 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Feb 1951. Ordered to active duty on 1 Apr 1951 and assigned to Tactical Air Command. Used RF-47, RF-51, RF-80, and RB-26 aircraft for training and maneuvers. Relieved from active service and returned, without personnel and equipment, to control of ANG (Tenn) on 1 Jan 1953.

SQUADRONS:

106th: 1951-1953. 185th: 1951-1953.

359th (later 155th): 1942-1945; 1951-1953.

360th: 1942-1945.

361st: 1942-1945.

STATIONS:

Westover Field, Mass, 12 Dec 1942

Groton AAFlD, Conn, 12 Mar 1943

Mitchel Field, NY, 30 May 1943

Grenier Field, NH, 4 Jul-15 Aug 1943

Goxhill, England, 27 Aug 1943

Martlesham, England, 5 Oct 1943-4 Nov 1945

Camp Kilmer, NJ, 9-10 Nov 1945.

Berry Field, Tenn, 1 Apr 1951

Memphis Mun Aprt, Tenn, 12 Apr 1951

Shaw AFB, SC, 15 Jan 1952-1 Jan 1953.

COMMANDERS:

2d Lt Joseph Moris Jr, 28 Dec 1942

Capt Harold J Lister, 29 Dec 1942

Lt Col Harold J Rau, 9 Feb 1943

Col Einar A Malmstrom, 28 Nov 1943

Lt Col Philip E Tukey Jr, 24 Apr 1944

Lt Col Donald A Baccus, 3 Nov 1944

Col Philip E Tukey Jr, 11 Jan 1945-unkn.

Lt Col Enoch B Stephenson, 1 Apr 1951

Lt Col William J Johnson Jr, May 1951

Lt Col Ralph F Newman, 16 Aug 1951

Col James L Rose, Jan 1952

Lt Col Stanley W Irons, 2 Jun 1952

Col Robert R Smith, Nov 1952-Unkn.

CAMPAIGNS:

Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

DECORATIONS:

Distinguished Unit Citation: Holland, 17, 18, and 23 Sep 1944.

INSIGNE:

On a blue oval with a yellow border an aerial camera supporting binoculars and a torch, the whole group winged, all yellow with flame proper and lenses blue and white, above the torch and between the tips of the wings three white stars. (Approved 5 Jan 1954.)

MACR (Missing Air Crew Report)

WEDNESDAY, 31 MAY 1944

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 382: 1,029 bombers and 682 fighters attack marshalling yards and aircraft industry targets in Germany and rail targets in France and Belgium; the fighters claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 1 bomber and 3 fighters are lost:

1. Of 246 B-17s, 36 hit Luxeuil marshalling yard, France; 30 hit Florennes/Juzaine Airfield and 4 hit Namur marshalling yard, Belgium; 23 hit Gilze-Rijen Airfield and 12 hit Roosendaal marshalling yard, The Netherlands; and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 45 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 4 WIA.

2. 287 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards in Germany; 88 hit Osnabruck, 54 hit Schwerte, 52 hit Oeske and 50 hit Hamm; 1 B-17 is lost and 58 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 10 MIA.

3. 491 B-24s are dispatched to hit rail targets in France and Belgium but are recalled due to clouds; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 7 damaged.

4. 4 of 5 B-24s hit rail bridges at Beaumont-sur-Oise and bridges at Melun without loss; Azon radio-controlled bombs are unsuccessfully used against the bridges.

Escort is provided by 193 P-38s, 180 P-47s and 309 P-51s; P-38s claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground with 1 P-38 being damaged; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot is MIA) and 3 are damaged; P-51s claim 3-0-1 aircraft on the ground with 2 P-51s lost (pilots are MIA). 674 Ninth Air Force fighters provide support; no claims or losses.

Fighter-bomber missions against German airfields with 500 lb (227 kg) and 100 lb (45 kg) GP bombs:

1. 78 of 81 P-47s hit Gutersloh Airfield; they claim 5-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged.

2. 35 P-38s attack Rehein/Hopsten Airfield using DROOPSNOOT methods; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft on the ground.

22 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions over France without loss.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse