Donald Martin PFAFF

Donald Martin PFAFF. 2nd Lieutenant 440714 United States American Air Force. with 552 Fighter Training School (495 Fighter Training Group) at RAF Atcham, Shropshire Initially built for RAF Fighter Command, during the Second World War its primary use was by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force. It was mainly the home of the 495th Fighter Training Group, where pilots were trained to fly Republic P-47 Thunderbolts although a few also were trained to fly twin-engined Lockheed P-38 Lightnings for both Eighth and Ninth Air Force units. Atcham continued to see use as a training base until it was returned to the RAF in March 1945

He was flying a Thunderbolt P-47D aircraft during a battle formation training exercise with four other P-47's on the 14 July 1944. He was jumped by another P-47 jumped the group. He took evasive action and his plane got into a spin from about 7,000 feet. He remained with his aircraft as he was over a populated area. He died on impact into the house in Upper Tean. He is at rest Woodlawn Cemetery, Wilkinsburg, Allegheny, Pensylvania

Credit is given into the extensive research into the crash and the rescuers was taken on by Jeff and Sarah Gibson.

On the below link the photograph with four people. The two on the right are Jeff and Sarah Gibson