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Capt Julius W. Toy states in the Missing Aircrew Report:
"Group led by Lt Col Blakeless crossed in enemy coast 1225 hours at 25,000 feet, just south of Kijkduin. As Group levelled off, 334 Squadron flying to starboard at 26,000 feet were bounced by 8 enemy aircraft from south and southwest and 3 to 4,000 feet above. Enemy aircraft were Me-109s and attacked in fours, zoom-climbed and attacked again, turning inside of and out-climbing our aircraft. 334 Squadron jettisoned tanks on bounce and were broken up. Upper with 335, tried to turn into sun in order to climb to help, but were bounced by 3 to 4 Me-109s from out of the sun, breaking up two sections. As 335 continued turn, squadron was attacked by 8 to 12 more enemy aircraft. Attacks were made by twos, fours and fives. 336 Squadron covered 334 and 335 Squadrons, during the combat, in which our aircraft and enemy aircraft made seven wide orbits, centering on Hypolitushoef. A P-47 was seen going down in flames, vicinity of Opmeer, after attack by Me-109. Another aircraft, believed to be a P-47, went into Zuider Zee just off Hypolitushoef. No chutes seen in either case. Inasmuch as we were the only Group in this sector at this time, it is thought that Lt Moon was flying one of the P-47s that was seen going down. No information has reached this group about Lt Moon's status since he was reported as missing."

The name of Ivan R. Moon is not known by many citizens of Wieringen, Holland. He was a Pilot on a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in 1943 and took part in the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group. This unit was stationed at Debden, England. He was the American pilot who was getting down on fire with his P-47 Thunderbolt on 3 November 1943 in Vatrop, Holland, after a spectacular gunfight. The P-47 Thunderbolt crashed near the houses of the families Dirk Verfaille and Jan Bakker. For both families, it was an intense experience.

Eighteen American P-47 Thunderbolts rose up from forward base Halesworth in England to make contact above Holland with a group of more than 500 Bombers for guarding them on a mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, to bomb shipyards and submarine bunkers. To fly that distance, they had an extra (drop-off) fuel tank. Above the Wadden area between Den Helder and Wieringen, they were attacked by 16 to 20 Messerschmitts coming from Schiphol, Amsterdam. The Thunderbolts dumped their fuel tanks to maneuver better. There was a heavy air fight that was started above the “Wadden” and ended above Hippolytushoef. During this fight, there was 1 P-47 burning and crashed near Vatrop, and another disappeared in the Waddenzee or IJsselmeer. After this air fight, the P-47 planes were going to the west to turn to their base. Their mission failed, and they had insufficient fuel to guard the bombers.

Statement from Mrs. Hillie Dissel-Verfaille:
"It all happened around the dinner. I heard crackling of the fire, and right after it, a very scary noise. At approximately 50 meters from our house, the plane was crashed; a terrible fire, and in a short time, there were lots of people. Very soon, the Germans were there with their Army trucks and took the people on a distance. Because it was close to our house, the Germans used our home to stay and patrolling around the crash site of the P-47 plane. After a few days, the pilot of the crashed plane was taken away. Many years after the war, there came 2 gentlemen, who collected material of the plane, and they knew the name of the pilot: “Mister Moon."

1st Lt Moon attended local schools in West Palm Beach and was a Post-Times carrier. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force as an instructor in May 1941. Later, he went to England as an RCAF bomber pilot, and in April, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Force. Shortly before going overseas, he was married in Canada to the former Sylvia Astles of New Carlisle, Quebec.