Request info about B-24 and his crew
 

I'm looking informations about aircraft of lt Prchal crashed 11 jan 1943 after bombing Naples. Many informations about Prchal are in book LIBERANDOS pages 91 to 93. Someone have it and cand sent those informations? Thanks!

Re: Request info about B-24 and his crew
 

Here are some fragment from B-24 crash site. Some idea about them? In the place there are also some old car fragments so someone of part is not from aircraft. I indicate those parts. Thanks.

Fragments of engine
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9656/dvc07757.jpg

Fragments of fuselage
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/6889/dvc07758.jpg

Small parts
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/5622/dvc07759.jpg

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5971/dvc07760.jpg

28D1022 ALCOA 32D1150R 32D2005-50
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2593/dvc07761.jpg

7736 32B1144 7314
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8937/dvc07762.jpg

Plexiglass
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/3998/dvc07763.jpg

What it is?
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9877/dvc07764.jpg

What it is?
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5711/dvc07765.jpg

Car or aircraft?
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4116/dvc07766.jpg

Car or aircraft?
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5492/dvc07767.jpg

Car or aircraft?
http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/8121/dvc07768.jpg

Car or aircraft?
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/8562/dvc07769.jpg

Battery pack. Where it is allocated?
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/1585/dvc07770.jpg

What it is?
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3807/dvc07771.jpg
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/9208/dvc07772.jpg
http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/3299/dvc07773.jpg

Small parts
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/7959/dvc07774.jpg

SUCTION RELIEF VALVE
Type B-8
MFRS. PART No. 216B
MFRS SER. No. A 5120
Specification No. 28368
Order No. W535A 15807
PUMP ENGRNG SER CORP.
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/8249/dvc07775.jpg

Re: Request info about B-24 and his crew
 

Salerno,

I don't know how far you are with the crew list, but the co-pilot was Lt Eugene. L. Ziesel from Omaha, Nebraska, just like the pilot Lt Louis A. Prchal.

Lt Ziesel is mentioned on findagrave.com.

The ABMC website gives Sgt Merle J. Andrews and Sgt Harold C. Vanness with date of death 11 Jan 1943 (376th BG, 514th BS), but confirmation needed if they indeed were crew members too.

I hope this is a start.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Request info about B-24 and his crew
 

Many thanks. I hope to find the names also of other men on this aircraft. Witnessing spoke about 3 or 4 men bail out but just one survive and was captured. Do you have some idea to find all name of this B-24? Thanks again.

Re: Request info about B-24 and his crew
 

Salerno,

A post on armyairforces.com reveals some more info: http://forum.armyairforces.com/Unkno...2-m214047.aspx

Here Prchal's B-24 is identified as "59-W".

Note that 376th BG lost another B-24 on 11 Jan 43, the one of Lt Col John Payne, so the sergeants I mentioned may have been on this plane instead.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Request info about B-24 and his crew
 

Thanks but because I'm not fluent in english language I not understand much that discussion about MACRs....

Re: Request info about B-24 and his crew
 

Salerno1943,

The names you're after most likely the ones on this link: http://arkansasgravestones.org/view.php?id=144254

Those other names are Elwood E. Carr, Jess W. Cotham, Jack B. Lavender and Roy O. Woody.

Both Prchal and Ziesel are mentioned too and they're probably all from the same B-24 lost on 11 January 1943.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Request info about B-24 and his crew
 

This morning we find this:

PRATT & WHITNEY AIRCRAFT
A. C. OR BU. MODEL
R-1830-43
A.C. OR BU. NO.
41 - 15 101
http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/7845/dvc07947.jpg

Re: Request info about B-24 and his crew
 

Salerno,

The engine number must somehow lead to the identity of the B-24. The B-24D model used P & W R-1830-43 engines, I believe.

Sgt Jack B(uren) Lavender was the Radio Operator.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Request info about B-24 and his crew
 

Thanks Leendert. I also believe engine number can give us some help to identify aricraft. However there are no MACRs for B-24 shot down 11 january 1943 so I can't compare engine number...