Date: 1944 May 29/29 | A/C Type: P-47D Thunderbolt | SN: 42-26372 | Code: PI- | A/C Nickname: | ||||||
File: 472 | Airforce: USAAF | Sqn/Unit: 356 FG - 359 FS | Mission/Raid: Bomber support to Anklam. | |||||||
1 | Pilot | 1Lt. William C. O'Barr Evaded, later POW. | 9 | RWG | ||||||
2 | Co-pilot | 10 | TG | |||||||
3 | Nav. | 11 | ||||||||
4 | B | 12 | ||||||||
5 | E | 13 | ||||||||
6 | RO | 14 | ||||||||
7 | BTG | 15 | ||||||||
8 | LWG | 16 | ||||||||
Engine problems on return and jumped out over the North East Polder, near Schokland. The P-47D on photo is just to show the type of aircraft. It is not O'Barr's 42-26372. |
His collegues saw Lt. O'Barr touch the ground with his parachute. On the ground he was helped to evade and was smuggled out the Polder to Kampen. He evaded with help of the resistance for some time, but four weeks later he was POW in Dulag Luft (23 June 1944).
From Kampen he must have been fitst in hiding in Amsterdam, Amersfoort or another town. Then moved further to the South of Holland via probably Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Werkendam, the Biesbosch or Dussen.
On the other side of river Bergse Maas the pilot helpers group 'Andre' received him (Sprang Capelle). He was helped further by group 'Cor van der Hooft' in Breda. However, just west of Breda Lt. O'Barr was arrested in Oud Gastel. After the war and his stay in Stalag Luft 1 (Barth), he stayed with the airforce and became Colonel.
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More photos: http://www.nopinoorlogstijd.nl/p-47-thunderbolt-bill-obarr/
© ZZairwar (Zuyder Zee Air War)
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