The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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231537 2nd Lt. Charles Clark Heckel United States Army Air Forces 428th Fighter Squadron 474th Fighter Group from:Decatur I've been researching my Grandfather's plane for over ten years, sadly he passed last fall but not before I was able to get some pieces from his crashed mount that was excavated by some nice fellows in Germany. They sent me the parts and didn't even charge mail fees. Great guys. I've tried in vain to get any photo of my Grandpop's plane, 42-68153. Here's the story. On October 13, 1944. My Grandfather Charles Heckel and 11 other pilots left A-78 in Florennes for a mission over Germany. His group was made of 12 American P38's in the 428th Fighter Squadron, 474th fighter group. This was the second mission of the day and the 12 were on a Gladbach- Roermond- Duren run, and somewhere over the Dusseldorf area, east of the Rhine, about 2:30PM they spotted 25 FW 190's flying in three decks. A fight ensued, and soon 12 more 190's joined in. Within a matter of minutes, 6 190's and 3 P38's all crashed within about a 15 mile area. One of the American pilots was killed, Lt Richard Holt. The other two had a collision, my Grandfather was wingman for the CO Lt Col Darling (Lt Col Darling and 2nd Lt Heckel) they both were able to bail out of their burning AC's. They were picked up immediately. Lt Colonel Henry Darling was initially caught by SS and on his knees for execution but was saved by a Wehrmacht Captain. The other pilot, Lt. Charles C. Heckel (my grandfather) was running through German farm land when he leapt a fence and went into the arms of 12 German farmers. A Wehrmacht trooper arrived shortly and Heckel and Darling were taken to a small town jail. The next day they went by train to an interrogation camp near Frankfurt and finally to Stalag Luft III. Eventually, those prisoners went to Moosburg freed April 29, 1945 by Patton's third Army. MACR attached. I've spent many hours trying to find a photo of his plane. It seems to have begun at the 20thFG 55th FS then was transferred over to the 474thFG when the 20th got mustangs. I've been unable to find a photo of it in either area. Some sites say it was KI-J at 474th but I don't know boom letters from the 20th. Any assistance would be appreciated. In addition, I've tried to find out the pilots who flew the BF 109's from that Oct 13.1944 They were from JG2 Richtofen. I know 6 were lost but not their names, again any assistance would be appreciated. I've made inquiries from Schatzucher.de and face book Richtofen Jagdeschwader 2 to every American site I can find. Probably have several hundred hours in the search. Any assistance in how to proceed finding: a 42-68153 Photo, story and or photos of Jagdeschwader 2 on 13th of October 1944 or the Wehrmacht account of pick up Darling and Heckel near Dusseldorf. I appreciate any assistance. Day of arrival at 428thFS Phil Johnson Add to this record.  Related Content: Stalag Luft 3 Prisoner of War Camp Stalag 7A Prisoner of War Camp Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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