The story
At the date of 11-10-1944, time: not known, the aircraft type Auster has been lost. The location of the plane was found at: Ysselsteyn (near Deurneseweg). The unit of crew and plane is: 127 Wing. First flyer rank: Flying Officer, name: A.J. Horrell. The plane belonged to the Allied forces.
The Observation Record Book of 659 ( Air Observation Post) Sqn. RAF (443 RCAF Hornet Sqn), airfield B-82 Grave, reports at 21 October 1944 the presence of an Auster with serial NJ-669 with 2 graves near 715232. This is E-715232 near Ijsselstein.
F/O.Arthur James Horrell , Pilot 24 age # J/21413, from Windsor, Ontario – 1.E.12 grave location.
F/O.Louis Paul Emil Piche, Pilot 33 age # C/25294, from New London, Connecticut, USA- 1.E.13 grave location.
Crashed 11 October 1944 near IJsselstein. Buried at the Venray War CEMETERY Auster MkV – C/N 1051.
Crash due to: Auster on a ferry flight from Grave, Holland to Antwerp, Belgium to pick up a Spitfire aircraft. Strayed off course and was shot down by German 20mm Flak.
Further info
- Arthur & Louis Piche were flying together in a two seater plane(an Auster) heading to go pick up 2 Spitfire planes to bring back
- They drifted over enemy lines and were shot down, near the farms of Fleurkens & Jeurissen along the Deurneseweg (name of a road)
- They were listed as MIA in the beginning
-Louis was injured and Arthur stayed behind to take care of him - Eventually both men were killed
-German was seen wearing one of the uniforms that belonged to either Arthur or Louis and also had a set of dog tags around his neck that belonged to one of the men as well.
-German was also seen wearing Arthur's watch as well
-After that both Arthur and Louis were listed as KIA (killed in action). I got a lot of my information from Pat Ockenden (Gord Ockenden's wife) as well as Ivor Willams who is one of the last surviving members of squadron 443.
Photo's: Find a Grave
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