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Looking for info on my great uncle . . .

Aircraft Requests Discuss Looking for info on my great uncle . . . in the Aviation forums; Recently, I learned from my Grandmother that her brother - Arthur Grant Sylvester from Sunnyvale, CA - was a P-47 ...

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    Looking for info on my great uncle . . .

    Recently, I learned from my Grandmother that her brother - Arthur Grant Sylvester from Sunnyvale, CA - was a P-47 pilot during WWII and was killed during one of his missions. He was apparently shot down over Metz, France on Oct. 26, 1944. His obituary stated he had received the purple heart and air medal.

    I'm still shocked that my family never talked about him or even told us grandkids that we had a great uncle killed in WWII. Especially seeing how we have four pilots in the family - 2 with military careers . . .

    Anyway, where can I try to find out information about my great uncle?? I have no idea about his service record, what unit he served with, how many missions he flew, etc.

    Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!



    Jim

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    You might have to start at the end and work backwards:

    October 1944 USAAF Missing Air Crew Reports

    is a listing of all USAAF Missing Air Crew Reports for October 44. There are four for P-47s on the 26th. Sadly, no names on that page, so you may have to order alll four (edit - see below) and go from there.

    Once you've got the correct Fighter Group, have a look at the forums here:

    ArmyAirForces

    There's likely a forum dedicated to the relevant group there, with folks who may be able to direct you further re: searching for info, photos, service records, etc.

    HTH

    EDIT - I think you can ignore MACR 9628 as that P-47 is listed as lost at Elmersdorf, and the two 366th FG losses don't seem to fit either, according to this page:

    366th Fighter Group Assoc - Casualties Cronological

    So, you probably want MACR 9629.
    Last edited by mhuxt; 10-16-2008 at 07:09 PM.

  3. #3
    the old Sage Erich's Avatar
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    Wink

    right O Mark !

    there were 4 P-47 losses

    362nd fg with one
    366th fg with 2
    378th fg with 1

    the 362nd, 366th were from the 9th Air Force. no clue about the 378th fg.

    and TA-DA ! Jim, you're in luck he was in the 378th fighter squadron of the 362nd fighter group. His P-47 had a blue ring on the nose and the code was G8.

    He was KIA on mission number 276.

    E ~

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    Wow Erich, that's speedy!

    What's the MACR #? Edit - must be 9629?
    Last edited by mhuxt; 10-16-2008 at 07:16 PM.

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    the old Sage Erich's Avatar
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    should be listed on armyairforces site for October 26th, 44. in the database link - missing aircrew reports

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    Heheheh:

    Duelling posts...

    Good chapter of info on 362nd FG operations in here:

    http://aupress.maxwell.af.mil/CADRE_...in/zentner.pdf

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    Senior Member seesul's Avatar
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    Yep, as already stated here, the best forum when you´re looking for someone is ArmyAirForces.com
    If you didn´t do it yet, post your request there...

    P-47 losses from that day:

    ser. N° date MACR FG FS A/C
    42-76137 10/26/1944 9624 366 P-47
    42-28295 10/26/1944 9629 378 P-47
    42-26919 10/26/1944 9628 362 377 P-47
    42-27237 10/26/1944 9623 366 P-47


    ...in memory of my friend Joe Owsianik, a former right waist gunner from B-17G, 42-97159 from 2ndBG 20th Sqdn, who was forced to bail out on Aug. 29th, 1944 over my country. Joe passed away on Novemer 1, 2010.

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    Now that was fast . . . .

    Guys - thanks for the information and leads. This site truly is amazing!! I found his personnel record and some other info. Now just trying to fill in the blanks surrounding his service and death. Will probably have to order the MACR in hopes of gleaning some additional information.

    Thanks again for all the help. Also, I'm planning on building the 1/48 Tamiya P-47 with his markings (or similar 378th FS markings). I'll post some pics when I get stared on the project.

    Here's a sample of my model work in 1/48 scale. Enjoy and thanks again for the help.

    Jim
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Looking for info on my great uncle . . .-img_3470.jpg   Looking for info on my great uncle . . .-swim-meet-s-3a-viking-043.jpg  

    Looking for info on my great uncle . . .-img_3492.jpg  

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    Senior Member seesul's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fasteagle107 View Post
    Guys - thanks for the information and leads. This site truly is amazing!! I found his personnel record and some other info. Now just trying to fill in the blanks surrounding his service and death. Will probably have to order the MACR in hopes of gleaning some additional information.

    Thanks again for all the help. Also, I'm planning on building the 1/48 Tamiya P-47 with his markings (or similar 378th FS markings). I'll post some pics when I get stared on the project.

    Here's a sample of my model work in 1/48 scale. Enjoy and thanks again for the help.

    Jim
    Beautiful models Jim!
    For MACR try this Footnote - The place for original historical documents online


    ...in memory of my friend Joe Owsianik, a former right waist gunner from B-17G, 42-97159 from 2ndBG 20th Sqdn, who was forced to bail out on Aug. 29th, 1944 over my country. Joe passed away on Novemer 1, 2010.

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    the old Sage Erich's Avatar
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    Jim my reference was to the 362nd fg history, Mogins Maulers. Sadly it does not have much at all about the mission except to bomb marshalling yards, 15 P-47's on mission.

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    Senior Member airboiy's Avatar
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    NICE MODELS!!
    Don't use tamiya plastic models-they are cheap. the last tamiya model i built was bust. Get trumpeter of hasegawa p-47, 'cause of the detail and decals. Another good brand is dragon.
    "Don't touch it! It's a live grenade!"last words of an anonymous German wehrmact soldier

    "Today we are ashamed and forgotten, but tommorow we will be heroes and remembered!" Unknown

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    Nice models!

  13. #13
    Benevolens Magister Airframes's Avatar
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    Great to hear you found some info on your great uncle. And, very nice models.

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    Senior Member B-17engineer's Avatar
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    Nice work Jim. Working on a diorama right now....bet you can find it somewhere around here.....

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    Senior Member Watanbe's Avatar
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    this reveals how impressive this site is! I'm glad you now have some information and hope it provides some closure for your family!

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