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name
SPICER, Harold Eugene - Date of
birth
1923 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Tennessee -
Hometown
Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-708344 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
63rd Fighter Squadron,
56th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 September 1944 - Place of
death
Zwiepseweg
Lochem, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 5 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas J. Spicer (father)
Mary E. (Collins) Spicer (mother)
Paul E. Spicer (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-25515 -
Data
Type: P-47D-21RE
Nickname: Ann K
Destination: Arnhem, the Netherlands
Mission: Area Support
MACR: 9166
More information
Harold E. Spicer joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army Air Corps on 25 July 1941 in Roanoke, Virginia.The Luftwaffe fighters were totally surprised by the attack and fought for survival. 1st Lt Cameron Hart, leader Red Flight, with 2nd Lt Harold Spicer as his wingman selected a FW-190 and engaged the German fighter. 2nd Lt Harold Spicer also engaged a FW-190 and was last seen chasing it northeast but was never heard from again and was later declared killed in action.
1st Lt Richard P. Anderson flew in the same group and stated the following:
"At approximately 1515 hours, from 3,500 feet, we sighted 15 to 20 FWs, 15 miles northeast of Arnhem. I was flying Daily Red Three and followed Daily Red Leader on the initial bounce. Lt Spicer followed the leader also, and I bounced another FW 190. After turning, I saw Daily Red Leader on the dock after his FW 190, and Lt Spicer was not with him at that time. I last saw Lt Spicer on the initial bounce when he followed the leader down from our altitude, which was 3,500 feet, direction northeast near Denekamp."
Lt Spicer was buried by the Germans on 23 September 1944 in Barchem. After the war, he was reburied on 12 March 1946 at Margraten Cemetery.
The recovery of the airplane took place in the summers of 1999 and 2001.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.arga-nl.nl, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com
Photo source: Nigel Julian, 56th Fighter Group, Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Jon Strupp