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Personal info

Full name
VASSUER, Peter C
Date of birth
1 January 1917
Age
29
Place of birth
California
Hometown
Riverside, Riverside County, California

Military service

Service number
O-763422
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
436th Fighter Squadron,
479th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
23 February 1946
Place of death
Between Hessen & Dedeleben, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Tablets of the Missing

Plane data

Serial number
44-11739
Data
Type: P-51K-5
Destination: Halberstadt, Germany
Mission: Bomber Escort
MACR: 12672

More information

1st Lt Peter C. Vassuer attended colleg.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve as an aviation cadet in Santa Ana, California, on 24 March 1944.

He was shot down by friendly aircraft.

Statement from Maj Claire A.P. Duffin, Air Corps:
"I, Major Claire A.P. Duffin, was leading Bison White flight on a fourth strafing pass from southeast to northwest on the west end of Halberstadt Airdrome about 1340 on 22 February 1945. As I was about to fire, I saw four aircraft, which I believe belonged to the 4th Fighter Group, coming in at 90 degrees to our pattern, firing their guns. I immediately pulled up, calling to the flight to watch out for these aircraft. Right at this time, Lieutenant Vassuer called that he had been hit and asked for someone to come over and look at his aircraft. I saw him and went over. I saw that he was leaking coolant very rapidly. I called him and told him to take up a heading of about 293 degrees and I would cover him. Several minutes later, Lt. Vassuer called and said he had thrown several rods and was getting out. I told him to belly it in the field just in front of him. He bellied it in very nicely, called that he was all right and would see us later. I saw the hatch come open, and he climbed out. So I left him and rejoined the squadron, which I had turned over to my Yellow Flight leader. I gave instructions to Lt Vassuer to head for the small woods about 150 to 200 yards north of the field he was in. He replied he would. This was just prior to his bellying in. I believe he bellied in between the two small villages of Hessen and Dedeleben at about 1345."

Lt Vassuer was officially declared death one day and one year after he was reported missing in action.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - Enlistment Record / MACR

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Polytechnic High School yearbook 1938, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot 44-A, Williams Field, Arizona