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1945
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P 51D-20-NA 44-72214 crashed Vedskølle 12/3 1945.
The aircraft belonged to USAAF, 8 Air Force, 78 Fighter Group, 83 Fighter
Squadron.
The aircraft was named “Poop Shooter II”.
T/O 09:00 Duxford. OP: Bomber support to Swinemünde.
When outbound over Husum 1st Lt Dean C. Johnson`s B 51 started to loose coolant
and he was ordered to go to Sweden while 2nd Lt William B. Sprengler was ordered
to follow him and see what happened to Johnson. A heading of 35 degrees was set.
When they were getting closer to the island of Sjælland Johnsons engine was
loosing power. A fire started in the engine and it started melting. Melted
aluminium was flying back and hitting Johnson in the head, and the temperature
in the cockpit was getting hot. When he was over the island of Sjælland he was
down to 1500 ft, and he bailed out. He opened his chute at 1000 ft and while
floating down he could see his aircraft hit the ground and blow up. The time was
11:45 hours.
When Johnson was floating down, Sprengler circled him and when he landed and was
collecting his chute Sprengler “bussed” him at 30 ft and then headed back
towards England.
Johnson and his aircraft had come down near Vedskølle and he started walking
towards east. Leo Larsson had seen the flyer coming down in his parachute and
hurried to the place where Johnson landed. He followed Johnson and caught up
with him. Johnson turned and said “Please, will you help me to Sweden ?”.
Larsson promised to help and hid Johnson in a nearby forest. Later Larsson
returned to the forest bringing food for Johnson. Johnson stayed in the forest
while Larsson arranged for him to be taken care of.
Missionary Esbo of the island Glænø promished to arrange housing for Johnson.
During the night Larsson and his brother in law took Johnson to Glænø where he
was housed by teacher Sønderriis.
Johnson stayed for about eight days before the message came that he should
continue his journey. He was disguised as a sewing machine repair man and
together with Sønderriis rode on bicycles to Slagelse where Johnson was handed
over to Hans Jacob in Løvegade street.
After a couple of days Johnson was moved to Høng and on 22/3 he arrived in
Roskilde together with Lars Skotte where they had lunch and snaps with Arboe-Rasmussen
and toasted to allied victory.
After lunch Arboe–Rasmussen drove them to København in an ambulance. He passed
close to the Shell house so Johnson could see the damage done by British
Mosquito bombers.
On 23/3 1945 Johnson was sailed over to Sweden. He travelled to Stockholm and
was sent from Bromma airfield to England.
Sources: MACR, DFEV, LBUK.
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