30 October 1944 Loss of Joseph E. Fiset

On the night of the 30th of October 1944, Joseph E. Fiset was a crew member on board a transportation flight from Villacoublay (close to Paris) to Querqueville, (close to Cherbourg). He was flying with ten others on a Douglas C-47 Skytrain #43-48592. Due to an electrical fault and lousy weather, the aircraft was following a German radar beam directly to the German Occupied island of Jersey. The pilot believed that flak fire from the German Anti-Aircraft Batteries was an accidental US friendly fire. The C-47 fired identification flares, however, moments later, the C-47 was downed by the German guns. Due to the low altitude, The C-47 ditched into the sea north to Bouley Bay. They survived the landing, but heavy sea conditions resulted in the drowning of all but the pilot.

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Sergeant
JOSEPH FIEST
Service #32491115
U.S. Army Air Forces
326th Squadron
31st Transport Group

Loss-of-Joseph-E.-Fiset