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