Harold Eugene Spicer was born around 1923 in Tennessee, the son of Thomas Jefferson Spicer and Mary Elizabeth Collins.
Harold Spicer was the pilot of aircraft P-47D-21RE with serial number 43-25515, nickname Ann K. He was on an area support mission to Arnhem, the Netherlands. He crashed 15 miles North East of Arnhem, Denekamp area, in the Netherlands.
The Luftwaffe fighters were totally surprised by the attack and fought for survival. 1st Lt Cameron Hart, leader Red Flight, with 2nd Lt Harold Spicer as his wingman selected a FW-190 and engaged the German fighter. 2nd Lt Harold Spicer also engaged a FW-190 and was last seen chasing it northeast but was never heard from again and was later declared killed in action.
The recovery of this USAAF P47D 43-25515 UN-T took place in the summer 1999 and 2001. This a/c was shot down during heavy air battles over Lochem during Operation Market Garden. The pilot, 2nd Lt Harold E. Spicer, was killed in action. He was buried by the German forces. He was buried on 23 September 1944 in Barchem (row 2, grave 162), After the war they reburied him on 12 March 1946 at the American WWII Cemetery, Margraten, the Netherlands, H, 5, 20.
Eyewitness statement of 1st Lt Richard B. Anderson.
At approximately 1515 hours, from 3500 feet, we sighted 15 to 20 FW’s , 15 miles NE of Arnhem. I was flying Daily Red Three and followed Daily Red Leader on the initial bounce. Lt Spicer followed the leader also and I bounced another FW 190. After turning, I saw Daily Red Leader on the dock after his FW 190 and Lt Spicer was not with him at that time. I last saw Lt Spicer on the initial bounce when he followed the leader down from our altitude which was 3,500 feet.
The Cleveland Herald, December 1, 1944
The following which was delayed by censorship regulations was written before Lt. Harold E. Spicer was reported missing over Holland on September 21.
An eight Air force Fighter Station, England – Second Lt. Harold E. Spicer, of Cleveland, Tenn., is a fighter pilot flying with the P-47 Thunderbolt Group commanded by Lt.-Col. David C Schilling, of Traverse City, Mich., which destroyed seventy-nine German planes in one day – a record for American fighters in the European Theatre of Operations. Ten were destroyed in the air and sixty-nine on the ground. With Col. Schilling leading, the planes dove down in flight of four and silenced flak positions on four airdromes before turning their .50 caliber guns on the parked planes. Huge fires were left burning, and at one drome a hangar and another building were set on fire. The pilots made repeated passes over the fields to strafe the aircraft, many of which were heavily camouflaged. The ten Huns destroyed in the air were knocked down while attempting to break up the attack. The seventy-nine “kills”boosted this fighter group’s total number of planes destroyed to 683-538 in the air and 145 on the ground. Lt. Spicer is a son of Mr. and Mrs. thomas J. Spicer of Cleveland, Tenn.
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of death: 21 September 1944
- County: Bradley
- Hometown: Cleveland
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Battles: Operation Market Garden
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VII, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Harold E. Spicer
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