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Personal info

Full name
SPICER, Harold Eugene
Date of birth
1923
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Tennessee
Hometown
Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee

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