B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

My Uncle (John W. Greenman) piloted a B-24 Liberator which was hit by flack on a final run to Linz, Austria on April 25, 1945. Everyone was able to escape the bomber, but before leaving the cockpit, John placed the plane on auto pilot and it was headed towards Gmunden, Austria.
According to a note in "Berlin Diaries 1940-1945" by Princess Marie Vassiltchikov, she witnessed a bomber banking over the lake in Gmunden on that day (incorrectly identified as April 26th) and then crash. April 25th was the last bombing run, according to Uncle John.
Can anyone suggest how we might go about finding the wreckage of this plane?
Thanks for any suggestions

Re: B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

Hi John,

is there information given by the witness, if the AC may have crashed in the lake or in the surrounding hills?

Along the way: the lake near Gmund is called Traunsee. A P-47 was salvaged there some years ago.

Greetings

Lino

Re: B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

Hello Lino,
Thank you very much for responding to this!
I just spoke with my Uncle about your question. He has a copy of the book, Berlin Diaries, in which the bomber is mentioned as "circling over the lake" (which would be what would happen when a plane is only being kept aloft by 2 engines on one side of the plane, as it runs out of gas).
The Diary also mentions:" as it banked and swept down towards us...it crashed into our park and was burning when we arrived to see it."
This means that it crashed into a "park" in Gmunden!!!

My Uncle also mentioned that he had been in touch with Wolfgang Neuwirth who lives (lived?) near Linz. The Archivist from the town of Wels gave Wolfgang my uncle's contact information...but my uncle never heard anything back from Wolfganf N. after he had given him all the information about the bomber that he could.

-John

Re: B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

Hi John,
i know somebody in this area of Austria, i may ask him if he knows details about the B-24. As my hollidays start after tomorrow, it may take a while. I'll send you a PM with my contact details. If you should not get any further informations in this forum, please remind me in about 20 days, then i'll be back in bavaria.

Greetings

Lino

Re: B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

Hello Lino,
I have had no more information.
Can you point me towards your acquaintance??
Thanks!!
-John

Re: B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

Hello John,
1Lt. Greenman was pilot of 42-51636. MACR 13989.
Other crew were:
Funk;Tronoff;Brandt;Bruyere;Blankinship;Anderson;D ominey;Bechen and James.
mACR can be seen in full on "Footnote"
Alex

Re: B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

Hi John,

I'm back from hollidays and informed my contact in austria. Now i'm waiting for an answer. I'll keep you informed, as soon as there are any news.

Regards

Lino

Re: B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

thank you Lino!!
:-)
john

Re: B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

Thank you.
I am unfamiliar with "Footnote"
Can you direct me to itplease?
Thanks,
John

Re: B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

hello john,
Footnote can be found here:


http://www.footnote.com/search.php?q...=Within%3A1945

you can take a quick view or join and get copies.

All the very best
Alex

Re: B-24 Liberator-downed on April 25, 1945-Austria
 

Thank you Alex,
Some of these documents are new to us.
Thanks again!
-John