World War II fighter unearthed 65 years later

BITBURG, Germany – Rudolph Rinnen, public relations specialist for Volksbank Bitburg, answers questions about the wreckage of a P-47D Thunderbolt during a press event March 24. The wreckage was discovered Feb. 24 after being buried for 65 years. German and American reports detail that on Feb. 14, 1945, an American P-47D was shot down in the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nathanael Callon)

World War II fighter unearthed 65 years later

BITBURG, Germany – Horst Weber, member of the Bitburg Area Historical Club, holds a piece of fuselage appearing to be a star from the national insiginia, designating it as a U.S. plane, March 24. Wreckage of the P-47D Thunderbolt was discovered Feb. 24 after being buried for 65 years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nathanael Callon)

World War II fighter unearthed 65 years later

BITBURG, Germany – Horst Weber, member of the Bitburg Area Historical Club, explains the markings on the engine cowling of a P-47D Thunderbolt during a press event March 24. The wreckage was discovered Feb. 24 after being buried for 65 years. German and American reports detail that on Feb. 14, 1945, an American P-47D was shot down in the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nathanael Callon)

World War II fighter unearthed 65 years later

BITBURG, Germany – Wreckage from a P-47D Thunderbolt sits at the discovery site March 24. The wreckage was discovered Feb. 24 after being buried for 65 years. German and American reports detail that on Feb. 14, 1945, an American P-47D was shot down in the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nathanael Callon)

World War II fighter unearthed 65 years later

BITBURG, Germany – Staff Sgt. Matthew Bright, 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs broadcaster, documents an interview with Rudolph Rinnen, public relations specialist for Volksbank Bitburg, during a press event March 24. Wreckage of a P-47D Thunderbolt was discovered Feb. 24 after being buried for 65 years. German and American reports detail that on Feb. 14, 1945, an American P-47D was shot down in the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nathanael Callon)

World War II fighter unearthed 65 years later

BITBURG, Germany – Horst Weber, member of the Bitburg Area Historical Club, and Rudolph Rinnen, public relations specialist for Volksbank Bitburg, compare original markings of a 353rd Fighter Squadron P-47D Thunderbolt to a piece recovered from the plane wreckage March 24. The wreckage was discovered Feb. 24 after being buried for 65 years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nathanael Callon)

World War II fighter unearthed 65 years later

Published March 26, 2010
By Senior Airman Nathanael Callon
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

BITBURG, Germany -- The wreckage of a World War II P-47D Thunderbolt was discovered Feb. 24 65 years after it was shot down where a new housing complex is set for construction.

German and American reports state that on Feb. 14, 1945, an American P-47D was shot down and the pilot, Capt. Kenneth Dahlberg, a Minnesota native, had been captured after a German anti-aircraft unit in the nearby town of Metterich had fired two bursts of armament into the air and disabled his plane.

"When I heard that a plane had been discovered in the area, I knew exactly whose plane it was," said Horst Weber, a member of the Bitburg Area Historical Club and World War II enthusiast.

Captain Dahlberg, the squadron lead, was leading his squadron of eight planes back to their home station in France after bombing military targets north of Pruem, Germany, when his plane was hit.

About 45 minutes after his plane crashed, he was captured by members of the anti-aircraft unit. Captain Dahlberg suffered a major head wound, so he was treated at a local hospital before he was transported to an interrogation center and finally, a prison-of-war camp, where he stayed until the end of the war in Europe.

Engineers from Mainz, Germany, were inspecting the empty field for chemicals and remnants of World War II armament when they discovered traces of metal below the surface.

"All spots in Bitburg are inspected for bombs and chemicals from World War II prior to construction because Bitburg was heavily bombed, especially on Dec. 24, 1944," said Rudolf Rinnen, a public relations specialist for Volksbank Bitburg.

After the metal was found, engineers slowly excavated the remains of an airplane that had been buried more than 65 years ago.

"These are definitely parts of an American aircraft," Mr. Weber said. "Most of the pieces are aluminum and this particular color is characteristic of American aircraft of the time period."

The remnants of the plane, mangled pieces of the engine cowling and fuselage can be traced back to the 353rd Fighter Squadron of the 354th Fighter Group, which was flying missions from France at the time.

"We knew that in this area an American fighter ace was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire and we know through German documentation and reports that the aircraft had landed in this area," Mr. Weber added.

The distinct yellow engine cowlings, with black skull and crossbones, were the squadron's unique color markings.

"It is very rare to find aircraft of this time period," said Mr. Weber. "It is even rarer to know that the pilot (a World War II fighter ace with 14 confirmed kills) is still alive."

When remnants of American aircraft are found, they still belong to the U.S. until the government relinquishes the property. In this case, the parts were released to the land owner, which is Volksbank Bitburg.

"We plan to restore the better parts of the wreckage and make an exhibition of it at a local museum here in Bitburg so people can see a piece of history," Mr. Rinnen said.

Although the whole plane is not accounted for, it is a significant find for the 52nd Fighter Wing community, because the base is home to the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the successor to the P-47. It also has a special meaning for the residents of Bitburg, because it is an important piece of their recent history.

"This means a lot to me," said Mr. Weber. "The first time you see history and can see the evidence in its original location, it is really an amazing feeling," he said.

The events leading toward the end of World War II were devastating for the local community. On Christmas Eve, 1944, Bitburg was the subject of intense air raids that left the city crippled and 85 percent destroyed. The rebuilding of Bitburg after the war uncovered many artifacts from the raids, but none as noteworthy as the P-47D.

"In the last 65 years, many people have uncovered bombs and fragments, but the P-47D is a remarkable find," added Mr. Rinnen. "This plane is a part of the history of Bitburg now."