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8th Air Force (USA) P-38 supported attack at Almelo 44-6-14

1944-06-14 · Almelo · Netherlands

The story

8th Air Force (USA) attack at Eindhoven Airfield. The 20th Fighter Group (Lt.Kol Johnson) supported this raid. It helped the fourth formation, two Combat Wings of B-24's.

After this mission they (Loco Busters) also supported attacks at Zwolle, Hengelo, Almelo and Enschede in the east part of the Neterlands.

Capt. Terrence M.Williams of the 77th Sqn (captured and was a prisoner of the Nazis until his liberation in 1945) and Lt. Stanley P.Spencer of the 55th Sqn (KIA) did not return.

Capt. Terrence M. Williams (77th) and Lt. Stanley P. Spencer (55th) failed to return from the mission, both as the result of flak encountered while strafing trains. Terry was making a pass at a train in Zwolle when he was hit by flak from a flak car and his right engine caught on fire. He pulled up and got the engine feathered but could not get the fire out so he bailed at 3000 ft. Spence was hit while strafing a loco near Hengelo. He pulled up to about 200 ft. then crashed on the other side of the train. -- from King's Cliffe Newsletter, Summer 1997, Vol. 15, No. 2, p.4 --

Burial of Spencer: Williamsfield Cemetery Williamsfield Knox County Illinois, USA

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