Capt Robert T Holmes P-51D
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HOLMES, ROBERT B CAPT US ARMY AIR CORPS WORLD WAR II DATE OF DEATH: 04/16/1945 BURIED AT: SECTION C-25 SITE 14327 FT. SNELLING NATIONAL CEMETERY 7601 34TH AVENUE, SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55450 (612) 726-1127
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FROM Waymarking.com
In April 1945 residents of the village of Ruzyne, which was situated on the outskirts of the
city of Prague, were used to frequent U. S. fighters flying over their heads and hearing the
noise of fire of the flak defending the nearby aerodrome. They were not that suprised than
seeing a Mustang, with the black and white checkerboard nose marking approaching form
the west at 4 p.m. on April 16, 1945. But suddenly they found out there must have been
something wrong with it: The ship was losing attitude and smoking...
The Mustang eventually crashlanded at the garden next to what is now the highway leading
from Prague to the International Airport. The pilot Capt. Robert B. Holmes of the 78th
Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, was KIA. The report of the local police post said "the aircraft,
which was recognized as 'Mustang', hit the ground at 4.15 p.m. and burnt down".
N 50° 05.740 E 014° 18.407
Wreckage at the crash site
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Recently recovered piece of wing
Recovered Fuselage above and checkerboard cowling below