Joseph Lyndon PICHE

Source : Arnaud Gaté

17 novembre 1922 Homestead,

Miami-Dade County, FLORIDA

Single

Source : Frogman

P-47 Thunderbolt - type D-11-RE - s/n 42-75461

Mission: Bomber escort on Le Mans (72)
Take-off 16h45 from A-8 Picauville (50) - Stele inaugurated in 2006
Perhaps hit by the flak, the pilot tries to land but by lack of power, the plane stalls and hits an old gun pit

The apprareil hits the ground and catches fire - 17h55 - Charred pilot - Aircraft destroyed

 CEMETERY TEMPORARY of  La Cambe N°3539

Story of Cemetery Temporary  

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

Rapport du 2Lt Charles D Dooney:

At the time of the fatal accident of 1st Lt Joseph L Piche in P-47D aircraft No 42-75461 which occurred 17 July 1944 at about 1755, I was flying number four position in the third flight of a three flight formation. Lt Piche was flying number three in the same flight.

On the peel off he maintained a lower altitude than number one and two men in his flight. I followed him around the pattern about 300 feet higher and off his right wing. He tried to make the turn from the downwind to base leg at about 140 mph adding power, but the plane appeared to stall and then spiraled under to the left. He was only about 400 to 500 feet so recovery was impossible.

The airplane hit an old gun pit at about twenty to thirty degree angle.

It tumbled twice, end over end and burned immediately. I circled and reported the accident to the controller. It seemed that the pilot was killed instantly and the plane was a complete wreck. Original ) 

Source : Aerosteles.net

Source : Aerosteles.net

Jud Thomas Piche, the twin brother
Birth Date: 17 Nov 1922
Birth Place: Homestead, Florida
Death Date: 8 Aug 1996

Source : RCA

Source : Frogman

Source : RCA