Through the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the remains of 1st Lt. Ottaway B. Cornwell, killed during World War II, were accounted for in 2018. On January 27, 1944, Cornwell was a member of the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, Twelfth (XII) Air Force, piloting a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, which was shot down over Pierrefeu-du-Var, France. Cornwell was engaged in battle with a German Messerschmitt 109 (Me-109). Another pilot also engaged in battle witnessed two unidentified aircraft crash into the side of a mountain near Pierrefeu-du-Var. Cornwell could not be reached through radio contact. Because southern France was occupied by enemy forces, an immediate search could not be conducted. After Allied forces liberated the area, they were unable to locate 1Lt Cornwell's remains.
-------------------------
July 27, 2018 - Airman Killed During World War II Accounted For
DEFENSE POW / MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY·THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Ottaway B. Cornwell, killed during World War II, has now been accounted for.
On January 27, 1944, Cornwell was a member of the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, Twelfth (XII) Air Force, piloting a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, which was shot down over Pierrefeu-du-Var, France. Cornwell was engaged in battle with a German Messerschmitt 109 (Me-109). Another pilot also engaged in battle witnessed two unidentified aircraft crash into the side of a mountain near Pierrefeu-du-Var. Cornwell could not be reached through radio contact. Because southern France was occupied by enemy forces, an immediate search could not be conducted. After Allied forces liberated the area, they were unable to locate Cornwell's remains.
DPAA is grateful to Mr. Steve Leleu and the French government for their assistance in this recovery.
Interment services are pending; more details will be released 7-10 days prior to scheduled funeral services.
Cornwell's name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Impruneta, Italy, along with the others missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
~Fulfilling Our Nation's Promise~
Pilot 4th FS, 52nd FG, 12AF USAAF, lost over France 27-1-44 Lt Ottaway B Cornwell KIA. MACR 2225.
'27-Jan-44 was unusually cold but clear and the wind subsided and missions resumed. Eight Spitfires led by Maj. Houston, Commanding Officer of the 4th FS, flew an ill-fated recce mission to France. As the formation approached the German airfield at Grande Bastide, 1st Lt Ottaway B Cornwell's flight observed Me 109s taking off, and he and Lt. Harold Beedle dove to attack them. On their first pass they used their combined firepower to shoot down one of the Me 109s, but failed until too late to see Messerschmitt's closing in on their tails. Cornwell and Beedle had left two Spitfires up high as top cover, and then dove to attack six Me 109s which were taking off. However, the attacking German fighters struck so quickly the top cover could not react. The Me 109s hit both Spitfires with fatal bursts and both of them were seen to hit the side of a nearby mountain and explode'
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Entered the service from Texas.
~
Actual burial here
-------------------------
July 27, 2018 - Airman Killed During World War II Accounted For
DEFENSE POW / MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY·THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Ottaway B. Cornwell, killed during World War II, has now been accounted for.
On January 27, 1944, Cornwell was a member of the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, Twelfth (XII) Air Force, piloting a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, which was shot down over Pierrefeu-du-Var, France. Cornwell was engaged in battle with a German Messerschmitt 109 (Me-109). Another pilot also engaged in battle witnessed two unidentified aircraft crash into the side of a mountain near Pierrefeu-du-Var. Cornwell could not be reached through radio contact. Because southern France was occupied by enemy forces, an immediate search could not be conducted. After Allied forces liberated the area, they were unable to locate Cornwell's remains.
DPAA is grateful to Mr. Steve Leleu and the French government for their assistance in this recovery.
Interment services are pending; more details will be released 7-10 days prior to scheduled funeral services.
Cornwell's name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Impruneta, Italy, along with the others missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
~Fulfilling Our Nation's Promise~
Pilot 4th FS, 52nd FG, 12AF USAAF, lost over France 27-1-44 Lt Ottaway B Cornwell KIA. MACR 2225.
'27-Jan-44 was unusually cold but clear and the wind subsided and missions resumed. Eight Spitfires led by Maj. Houston, Commanding Officer of the 4th FS, flew an ill-fated recce mission to France. As the formation approached the German airfield at Grande Bastide, 1st Lt Ottaway B Cornwell's flight observed Me 109s taking off, and he and Lt. Harold Beedle dove to attack them. On their first pass they used their combined firepower to shoot down one of the Me 109s, but failed until too late to see Messerschmitt's closing in on their tails. Cornwell and Beedle had left two Spitfires up high as top cover, and then dove to attack six Me 109s which were taking off. However, the attacking German fighters struck so quickly the top cover could not react. The Me 109s hit both Spitfires with fatal bursts and both of them were seen to hit the side of a nearby mountain and explode'
-------------------------
Entered the service from Texas.
~
Actual burial here
Through the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the remains of 1st Lt. Ottaway B. Cornwell, killed during World War II, were accounted for in 2018. On January 27, 1944, Cornwell was a member of the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, Twelfth (XII) Air Force, piloting a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, which was shot down over Pierrefeu-du-Var, France. Cornwell was engaged in battle with a German Messerschmitt 109 (Me-109). Another pilot also engaged in battle witnessed two unidentified aircraft crash into the side of a mountain near Pierrefeu-du-Var. Cornwell could not be reached through radio contact. Because southern France was occupied by enemy forces, an immediate search could not be conducted. After Allied forces liberated the area, they were unable to locate 1Lt Cornwell's remains.
-------------------------
July 27, 2018 - Airman Killed During World War II Accounted For
DEFENSE POW / MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY·THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Ottaway B. Cornwell, killed during World War II, has now been accounted for.
On January 27, 1944, Cornwell was a member of the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, Twelfth (XII) Air Force, piloting a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, which was shot down over Pierrefeu-du-Var, France. Cornwell was engaged in battle with a German Messerschmitt 109 (Me-109). Another pilot also engaged in battle witnessed two unidentified aircraft crash into the side of a mountain near Pierrefeu-du-Var. Cornwell could not be reached through radio contact. Because southern France was occupied by enemy forces, an immediate search could not be conducted. After Allied forces liberated the area, they were unable to locate Cornwell's remains.
DPAA is grateful to Mr. Steve Leleu and the French government for their assistance in this recovery.
Interment services are pending; more details will be released 7-10 days prior to scheduled funeral services.
Cornwell's name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Impruneta, Italy, along with the others missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
~Fulfilling Our Nation's Promise~
Pilot 4th FS, 52nd FG, 12AF USAAF, lost over France 27-1-44 Lt Ottaway B Cornwell KIA. MACR 2225.
'27-Jan-44 was unusually cold but clear and the wind subsided and missions resumed. Eight Spitfires led by Maj. Houston, Commanding Officer of the 4th FS, flew an ill-fated recce mission to France. As the formation approached the German airfield at Grande Bastide, 1st Lt Ottaway B Cornwell's flight observed Me 109s taking off, and he and Lt. Harold Beedle dove to attack them. On their first pass they used their combined firepower to shoot down one of the Me 109s, but failed until too late to see Messerschmitt's closing in on their tails. Cornwell and Beedle had left two Spitfires up high as top cover, and then dove to attack six Me 109s which were taking off. However, the attacking German fighters struck so quickly the top cover could not react. The Me 109s hit both Spitfires with fatal bursts and both of them were seen to hit the side of a nearby mountain and explode'
-------------------------
Entered the service from Texas.
~
Actual burial here
-------------------------
July 27, 2018 - Airman Killed During World War II Accounted For
DEFENSE POW / MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY·THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Ottaway B. Cornwell, killed during World War II, has now been accounted for.
On January 27, 1944, Cornwell was a member of the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, Twelfth (XII) Air Force, piloting a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, which was shot down over Pierrefeu-du-Var, France. Cornwell was engaged in battle with a German Messerschmitt 109 (Me-109). Another pilot also engaged in battle witnessed two unidentified aircraft crash into the side of a mountain near Pierrefeu-du-Var. Cornwell could not be reached through radio contact. Because southern France was occupied by enemy forces, an immediate search could not be conducted. After Allied forces liberated the area, they were unable to locate Cornwell's remains.
DPAA is grateful to Mr. Steve Leleu and the French government for their assistance in this recovery.
Interment services are pending; more details will be released 7-10 days prior to scheduled funeral services.
Cornwell's name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Impruneta, Italy, along with the others missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
~Fulfilling Our Nation's Promise~
Pilot 4th FS, 52nd FG, 12AF USAAF, lost over France 27-1-44 Lt Ottaway B Cornwell KIA. MACR 2225.
'27-Jan-44 was unusually cold but clear and the wind subsided and missions resumed. Eight Spitfires led by Maj. Houston, Commanding Officer of the 4th FS, flew an ill-fated recce mission to France. As the formation approached the German airfield at Grande Bastide, 1st Lt Ottaway B Cornwell's flight observed Me 109s taking off, and he and Lt. Harold Beedle dove to attack them. On their first pass they used their combined firepower to shoot down one of the Me 109s, but failed until too late to see Messerschmitt's closing in on their tails. Cornwell and Beedle had left two Spitfires up high as top cover, and then dove to attack six Me 109s which were taking off. However, the attacking German fighters struck so quickly the top cover could not react. The Me 109s hit both Spitfires with fatal bursts and both of them were seen to hit the side of a nearby mountain and explode'
-------------------------
Entered the service from Texas.
~
Actual burial here
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