Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

Dear all,

I have not been able to find a matching B-24 Liberator loss for the following claim on 6 March 1944:

Uffz. Philipp: 1 6./NJG5 B-24 20 km. NW Berlin: 4.000 m. 13.45

Cheers and thanks for any help,

Theo

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

Theo - only five B-24s were listed as downed by German fighter. One, North Sea; one Edam, the Netherlands; one, Plantlunne; one Furstenau and the last Muensterlager - all well west of Berlin

One went down to flak at Neuruppin - which seems close to your area. That was 42-7586 701BS/445BG Little Milo MACR 2960

Regards,


Bill

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

Hi Bill,

Cheers and thanks for that -does look like a match! BTW; I have for 42-7586 a nickname 'God Bless our Ship'; are you sure of the name 'Little Milo'?

I will try and find out in German records if there is a Flak claim for this a/c as well -I have identified at least two B-17 losses on 6th March 44 that were claimed by both a night fighter and by Flak.

Cheers, Theo

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

Good evening Theo,

42-7586 came down NNW Wall, which is about 15 km SW of Neuruppin.

This a/c and 42-109832 (93.BG, 330.BS) were in fact the only B-24 lost in the area of Berlin on this date, the latter came down in the Feldstraße in Berlin-Spandau.

Regards,

Alexander

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

Price and Ethell in "Target Berlin" (Jane's, 1981) give 42-7586 as "God Bless Our Ship."

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

Theo,

Stan Bishop and John Hey in 'LOSSES of the US 8th and 9th AIR FORCES, Vol. 2' give the location as " at 1345 hours, in a meadow, 1,100 yards NNW of Wall, District Ruppin, near Schoenwalde'. I presume this location came from the MACR 2960 which they mention. They do not give any reason for the landing, but note the name as 'God Bless our Ship' with 'Q+' on the lower part of the fins.
There are two photos in the book showing this B-24 after it landed. Unfortunately neither show the nose art or they are too grainy in quality.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

'Losses of the US 8th & 9th Air Forces' Vol. 2 by Bishop/Hey also give "God Bless Our Ship" and contains a photo from Wall.

The KU-Report states that this a/c was "forced to an emergency landing by AA and fighter" and had bullet holes in the tail, but the damage was classified with only 15%.

Regards

Alexander

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

Hello Theo,



Scroll down to entry 2960 and you will see "Little Milo/God Bless our Ship." I can't explain this. Can anyone say if an aircraft name change like this was somewhat common?


http://www.445bg.org/macr-summary.html




Best,
Ed

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

http://www.b24bestweb.com/godblessourship.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/littlemilo.htm
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/1576
There are 2 lines written under the co-pilot window, possibly "God Bless Our Ship". It's also possible that "Little Milo" was on the (usual) port side of the nose.

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

Thanks a lot guys for these additional details. It is indeed peculiar that the ship apparently had two nicknames.

Cheers, Theo

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

It was not uncommon for USAAF a/c to have two names or symbols. The pilot would put his stamp on the left side and the crew chief of the a/c would put his on the right side. Maj. George Preddy's well known "Cripes 'A Mighty 3rd" was such an example. It had, on the right side a barber's pole as the crew chief was the squadron barber.

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

Thanks a lot for explaining John, much appreciated! Cheers, Theo

Re: Identity B-24 victory claim 20 km. NW Berlin on 6.3.1944?
 

Hi all,
I have a notation on my database that this claim may also have been against 42-100288 of 446th BG. Crew of 1/Lt. Robert E Paltz, 3 rescued and 7 KIA. Listed as damaged by fighters W of Berlin, where the mission was aborted. Ditched in the North sea.