AN appeal has been made in a bid to shed further light on a wartime crash in Colchester.

As the 75th anniversary of VE Day, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, fast approaches, the family of a US airman have also marked a major milestone.

On March 15 1945 Willard Scherz, who had been based at Boxted Airfield, was killed after the plane he was in developed engine problems and came down at North Station.

Richard Turner, of Boxted Airfield Museum, explains Willard’s nephew, Larry Faller, visited the museum last year having researched his uncle’s time with the 56th Fighter Group, which was based at the airfield.

The base is actually in Langham but has always been known as Boxted Airfield to avoid confusion with another, also called Langham, in Norfolk.

Richard says when Larry travelled to the airfield he brought with him copies of various documents which helped them detail Willard’s flying career.

“Willard did his basic training at Ryan Air Force base before leaving for Europe in 1944.

“He flew his first mission on 7th October 1944.

“His final mission that resulted in his death was on the 15th March 1945 having completed 48 combat missions,” says Richard.

Within his missions he was credited with the destruction of one enemy aircraft and probably one other, as well as damaging two more.

Despite three quarters of a century having passed, Larry is still keen to find out more about what a happened on the day his uncle died and perhaps get something from the site if anyone managed to collect anything at the time.

Richard says Willard took off from the Boxted on the day of the crash and developed engine trouble.

There is an eye witness account, from a Mr Frost and his wife which details what happened.

The couple reported hearing the engine mis-firing and that the aircraft spun around three times and then crashed into the ground.

Hi account, witnessed by army officials, says : “My wife and I were in our garden when the Thunderbolts began to take off and pass nearby, so we watched them as we always do.

“They were taking off in pairs.

When UN S came over my wife and I both noticed and remarked that the engine was missing and not running smoothly like they usually do.

Then almost immediately, the engine quit, causing the plane to spin around three times and dive into the ground to the right. Upon impact with the ground, the plane exploded and burst into flames.”

Willard was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the family were presented with the Purple Heart.

Richard says Larry told them Major Paul Conger, Willard’s squadron commander said : “I was very close to Willard so it was a great personal loss to me.

“Willard attended church every Sunday with our chaplain T Adams, when not on missions, they were close friends.

“Willard’s flying ability won the deep admiration of his fellow flyers.”

Now, 75 years on, Larry is writing a booklet and is hoping there may be someone who remembers the crash, despite it having been so long ago.

Larry, who was only a little boy when Willard was killed, would like to have something to remember his uncle by.

Richard says : “Larry as a four year old had a ride in Willard’s car when he visited the family before leaving for combat in Europe.

That is his only memory of his uncle.”

Willard’s story is featured on a new panel the museum has put together, which will be unveiled when the museum re-opens for its first open day and welcomes its first visitors of the year.

This had been due to take place on Sunday but has now been postponed due to the current global situation surrounding Corona Virus.

Richard explains this will now be reviewed on a monthly basis as to when it will re-open to the public.

The new storyboard panel tells a series of stories of bravery, long service and combat and is to be known as “Friends” because of of them come direct from the relatives of the men featured.

The team of volunteers, lead by chairman Richard Turner, will also be revealing a new uniform exhibition for this year which are displayed in specially made display cases.

An appeal was launched last year to raise funds for the cases after the Boxted Airfield Historical Group which runs the museum, purchased the eight uniforms mainly relating to the US 9th Air Force.

* If you can help with information about Willard please contact Richard Turner on 07503952354. For more information on the museum go to www.boxted-airfield.com