Crash site C-46 Commando Operation Varsity?

2nd Lt. James F. Claussen

Jimmy Claussen flew a C-46 during Operation Varsity on March 24, 1945.

After dropping the paratroopers, his plane was shot down and crashed somewhere around Wesel where Jimmy died.

Now next of kin from America want to erect a memorial at the place where the plane came down.

Can someone help me with the location of the crash of the C-46 Commando 44-77602 48th Troop Carrier Squadron 313 Troop Carrier Groop.

 

Hi.
I have a contact in Hamminkeln who has compiled locations of crash sites. I’ll see what I can do.
Alex.

 

Roel,

Might be able to help. Friend in Germany is expert on crashes in the area. He lives near Hamminkeln and helped me in the past.
Another friend, in UK, is specialized in 313th Troop Carrier Group .
I will check my files as well (20 years Troop Carrier research).

Hans
Airborne Troop Carrier Facebook page

 

Hi HDB!
Who is your friend in Germany?

Alex.

 

His name is Ortwin. Lives in Dingen (hope i have that right...from top of head), north of Hamminkeln.

When I reached out to the author of Der Luftlandung (Johan Nitrowski), he directed me to Ortwin.

And your contact?

 

Yes Ortwin who works in the town hall. I figured it might be him. Didn’t want to email him if you have already!
Alex.

 

Alex, yes, dropped him an email yesterday.

But have not yet heard from Roel, who started the topic.

 

Hi Alex it would be great if you could help me. James F Claussen's family would love to know the location. Then they would like to erect a memorial in that place. It is said that the paratroopers were still on the plane when it was fired, but I cannot fully judge whether this is correct.

 

Hello MarketC47 I would really like it if you can find something in your files. Every information that people have for me is great, maybe we can make ends meet and we will arrive at the right location. Then it is still the question to the German authorities whether they allow a kind of memorial plaque or monument to come, but that is my next step.

 

I think they could allow it. There’s one the site of the farm where John Kormann (17th AB) had his be merciful moment, that’s just south of the village.
The local authorities are very good when it comes to Varsity stuff.

 

If anyone has a fold3 account they could look at the MACR report there is a map and stick list.

 

MACR maps usually are not very detailed.

Local expert might be able to help. Roel, of it worked ok, you received a message.
No detail on location known yet.

 

MACR 44-77602 Chalk No. 52

Crew chief T/Sgt. Charles L Williams "...was partially out of side escape hatch when aicraft crash landed and as result he was thrown clear of wreckage and unconscious. Later gained conscious as German medics carried him to a cellar, dress wounds and departed. Patient admitted to the 114th Evacuation Hospital with laceration of groin and contusion left eye..."

Carried 29 paratroopers 17th Airborne Division, a third more than a Dakota!

 

Lt. James F. Claussen Individual Deceased Personal file

 

Hello Brithm
Thank you very much for taking the trouble to find with me the location where 2nd Lt. James F. Claussen crashed with his plane on March 24th 1945.
I had already looked at the MARC report where people talk about the crash of my plane but I still can't determine the exact location that would be great if we could find it.
But so far I am very happy with all the information you have sent me.

 

Hello all. I am 1st Lt. James F Claussen's niece. First of all, thank you all so much for your interest in my Uncle. It really does mean the world to me. If there is anything at all that I can send to you that might aid you in your research, please let me know. I have his military file, or as much as there was left, as there was a fire in the '70's in the building where they kept the records. It is my understanding that all of the paratroopers got out on that day.

 

Here is a list of the paratroopers who were on the plane that day. It mentions on the bottom that all we able to get out.

 

Hello everybody, I realize I am late to the conversation - I was just wondering whether you found the location of the crash?

 

Hi - just in case you're still interested: I contacted our local expert Ortwin and he thinks he has an answer to the question regarding the crash site...
Best
Alex

 

Hello ProudWWIINiece and everybody,

I had a chance to consult our local expert, Ortwin, on this case. He has a theory - and in my view a plausible one. He knows the crash sites for most US transport aircraft downed during Opertaion Varsity - so what he says in our case is not just guesswork. A few cases - especially with regard to C-46 losses - are still unclear. But Ortwin considers our case as solved. In the following post I am combining his information with my findings - the latter will help to underline the plausibility of Ortwin's suggestion.

He found the wreckage of a crash-landed aircraft on this aerial photo - it is surrounded by US Waco gliders. But as opposed to the gliders the wreck is indicated by skidmarks which such gliders do not produce.


We know from the MACR for 44-77602 that there was an emergencey landing resulting in a crash - one crew member was thrown clear of the wreckage. We also know that he was treated by German medics. Just a bit south of the crash site a German dressing station was in the process of being set up on March 24th - they never finished the job because they were taken by surprise by the airborne landings starting at 10 AM on that day. This was the only German dressing station in the area of the airborne landings - it was supposed to be established in a manor house called Gut Weissenstein (also called Wittenstein in the old days). Theshort red line tries to indicate the skid marks.


Lt. Claussen's C-46 was part of 48 TCS - from the list of paratroopers on board I could establish that he carried soldiers of A-Company, 1st Batallion, 513th Para Infantry Regiment. They were - by mistake - dropped a little too far north. The sketch below shows the actual drop zone in blue:


Below a war time Alliied map of the area - it also shows where the 1st Bn/513th PIR was dropped (blue) and is shows the course on which 48the TCS approached the area (red). The curved red arrow shows the proposed course of the right turn which leads to the crash site decribed above. The short arrow indicates skid marks leading to the crash site .