Who are they ?
 

who are these people and when and how did they arrive in the UK?
Several members of the American Veterans Archaeological Recovery (AVAR) team.
Does not seem to be anything to with the DPAA.

Re: Who are they ?
 

I had not heard of them until your post. Details are here:


https://americanveteransarchaeology.org/

Re: Who are they ?
 

More info on the group:

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/a...-recovery-avar

The current B-24 project in England:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-57663496
https://news.sky.com/story/us-vetera...crash-12345414

This appears to be this plane, a B-24, serial number 42-94826, MACR 7550:


http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/9871

MACR 7550:

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91035941

Page 5 of the MACR is the bombardier's comments. He notes that "A-5 could not be set up as I saw them (pilot and co-pilot?) working with it."
The A-5 was the Sperry AutoPilot. Without the autopilot flying the plane for the final moments, it probably was impossible for all the flight crew to get out of the plane once they let go of the controls. The plane would immediately go down.

Co -Pilot John James Crowther: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8055...e-daily-times/
(Note the MACR lists Crowther as the co-pilot while the newspaper article says he was the pilot. Also, according to the newspaper article, it appears that Crowther was found outside the plane and that either his chute failed to open or he jumped too late. It is possible Montgomery kept flying the plane at the end to give Crowther and Holoka a chance to get out. The fact that they started the bail-out while still over water suggests to me that things were rapidly going wrong at the end.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...james-crowther

The Pilot Montgomery and Flight Engineer Holoka are still missing per DPAA list: https://www.dpaa.mil/Portals/85/WWII...S_20210625.pdf

Re: Who are they ?
 

No not them. Wrong forum...

Re: Who are they ?
 

Thanks for the info about them. Seems that they operate with the knowledge and support of the DPAA.
But would they not have to get legal permission to dig here when it would be (as seems) a site of a crash where an aircraft occupant is still believed to be ?
Is it known what official legal permissions have been granted to have enabled the dig ?

Re: Who are they ?
 

There is a pamphlet here which gets into some of these questions:

https://historicengland.org.uk/image.../milaircsites/

Re: Who are they ?
 

Thank you Rolland,
The pamphlet spells out the need to follow procedures when there is a possibility of old armaments and/or human remains, which in this case is most certainly the case.

Re: Who are they ?
 

Alex,

I am going to order Crowther's IDPF file. I am curious as to what it says.

Re: Who are they ?
 

Many thanks Rolland, perhaps you could email me a copy when you have time
Crowther was found beside the wreckage i think.
But Montgomery and Holoka are the one's still Unaccounted for and may well still be within the wreckage.

Keep safe
Alex

Re: Who are they ?
 

Alex,

I will keep you posted. I found these articles which have more details.
https://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/news...ircrew-3285132

https://www.dailyadvent.com/gb/tag/a...gical-recovery

I suspect this was from one of the earlier (1974 or 1984) recovery efforts.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...1944-513353494

Re: Who are they ?
 

Thanks Rolland,
Interesting to find that there had been earlier recovery efforts. Wonder if a licence was issued then,and if it would still be valid today ?
I now understand that a licence has recently been issued for this search.
So all is above board.
Hope that yet another MIA will be returned home.

Alex

Re: Who are they ?
 

On this link (scroll down a little) there is a facebook post from July 2 related to the dig which includes 6 photos and an announcement of limited tours of the site.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/arundel.sussex/posts/

The six photos here:

https://www.facebook.com/arundel.sus...type=3&theater

include a colorized photo of the crew.

Re: Who are they ?
 

As I saw the picture, I thought so too. :-)

Re: Who are they ?
 

Identification of the pilot: http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=63297

Re: Who are they ?
 

Thank you Rolland for the update.
However it still means that the Flight Engineer Holoka, is still missing.