Crashsite American P-51C-1-NT Mustang 42-103295

On 21 May 1944, the American P-51C-1-NT Mustang 42-103295 of the 355th Fighter Group /358th Fighter Squadron USAAF crashed at this location. The Mustang F of the 355th Fighter Group /358th Fighter Squadron USAA was based at RAF Steeple Morden, Hertfordshire, and was escorting bombers on a mission to Gladbeck. The aircraft lost altitude due to fuel shortage and was hit by FLAK fire. The pilot, Lt. Robert F. Mulvey, was able to parachute out of his aircraft but injured his left foot during the landing and was taken prisoner. He survived captivity in the Stalag Luft III and Stalag VIIa camps and died on 6 August 1958.

The monument at the crash site was unveiled on 22 June 2023.

The story of the crash of the P51C-1-NT of the 8th Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces is described in the book: ‘Het abrupte einde van drie missies boven Rucphen’ (The abrupt end of three missions over Rucphen) and ‘The abrupt end of three missions over Rucphen’.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Ad van Uffelen (1, 2, 3), Jan Taheij (4)