USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

I came across this interesting passage after randomly opening volume 3 of Christopher Shores et al A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945 (Grub Street 2016) - pages 252-253

Thursday, 14 January 1943
The Italian submarine Narvalo was sailing on the surface south-east of Malta when it was attacked at 1345 by three Beauforts on anti-submarine patrol. . . . carrying six Italian officers being repatriated and 11 Allied POWs plus their escorts. . . . The commander T.V. Ludovico decided to scuttle the vessel, but in the meantime two destroyers (HMS Pakenham and Hursely) arrived at full speed and opened fire, using machine guns to strafe the men leaving the vessel. Thirty-seven were killed including a captured British Squadron leader and seven US pilots from the group of prisoners. . . . "

I expected that U.S. newspapers would reveal a lot more information about the survivors but precious little about those who died. This is what I found.

Four U.S. Survivors - misspelled names in brackets[]
2nd Lt. Earle Spencer Millichamp [Millechamp] - Lake Wales, Florida (B-17 navigator)
2nd Lt. J.C. "Harrison" Lentz - Paris, Texas (P-38 pilot - 94th Fighter Sq, 1st FG)
2nd Lt. Rodman Dexter "Deck" Burley - Port Huron, Michigan (B-17 bombardier)
2nd Lt. Donald MacLeod "Red" Bryan [Bryant] - Kalispell, Montana (B-17 co-pilot)

One British Survivor
Major J.W. Street

Three U.S. pilots lost source: ABMC
1st Lt. Phillip Wagner Bailey (O-661692) - Letts, Iowa (B-26 pilot - 432nd Bomber Squadron, 17th BG)
B-26B shot down by Bf 109 12 miles W of Gabes on 31 December 1942. POW
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...-wagner-bailey
2nd Lt. Richard J. Carroll (O-724703) - Chicago, Illinois (P-38 pilot - 48th Fighter Squadron, 14th FG)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...joseph-carroll
1st Lt. Bedford E. Russell (O-403814) - Abilene, Texas (B-17 pilot - no unit listed)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...ford-e-russell
_________________________

"Locked in Italian Sub, Captives Survive Sinking"
British to the Rescue
by Weston Hayes - Associated Press Correspondent
Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan)
January 19, 1943 - pages 1 &10
Valletta, Malta, Jan. 18
(AP) -- The harrowing confinement of four American and three British prisoners of war in the torpedo room of an Italian submarine and their dramatic rescue when the U-boat was blasted by a British plane in the Mediterranean was disclosed Monday -- one of the oddest incidents of the war to date.

The seven allied prisoners had a close call, because when the submarine was bombed the Italians gave way to panic and scrambled for the conning tower and air in an every-man-for-himself dash.

The four Americans were Second Lieutenant E.S. Millechamp, 24, of Lake Wales, Fla., Second Lieutenant J.C. Lentz, Paris, Texas, Lieutenant R.D. Burley, Port Huron, Mich., and Second Lieutenant Don Bryant of Montana.

They told their story upon their arrival here along with Flying Officer J.N. Cartwright; pilot of a British bomber which sighted and bombed their prison submarine. All the Americans and Britons are recovering rapidly from their experience. Burley and Bryant received treatment for exposure and glass cuts. The Americans were airmen who had been forced down in axis-held territory and were being taken to Italy.

"We were aboard the submarine at Tripoli January 13," said Lieutenant Millechamp. "Without life preservers they put us in the forward torpedo compartment with a loaf of bread. We had two Italian soldiers as guards, but they never had been to sea before and got seasick. We had to take care of them.

SUB'S INTERIOR WRECKED
"At 1:35 p. m. the following day there was a terrific bang, which wrecked the inside of the submarine and blew out the lights. The Italians were panicked. They screamed and bumped into one another in a mad dash for the conning tower, which was protruding above water though the deck was awash."

Lentz took up the story:
"All but three Italians got out on deck, then shut the hatch, locking the remaining three and ourselves in the sub. We stumbled in the dark to the officers' mess, which had begun to fill with chlorine gas. There was a leak and the submarine began to sink. So the Italians on deck opened the hatch again to send down mechanics to stop the leak. We charged through that hatch in such a fury that the mechanics never got down."

One of the Britons, a major, had a pair of binoculars and saw a destroyer which he identified as British. He saw a flash, which he first thought was a heliograph signal, but as the shell whizzed overhead he and the others quickly realized they were now an artillery target (!).

FLAG TAKEN DOWN
The Italians next hoisted a flag to the conning tower, but the Americans and British, taking over from the excited crewmen, made them take it down. They also had the two deck cannon dismantled and thrown overboard as a further sign of surrender.

JUMPED INTO THE SEA
But the shells kept coming, and then the Italians jumped into the sea. The submarine was sinking slowly and the Americans had to leave the deck also. Millechamp, clinging to the conning tower, was the last to jump into the water. The Americans and Britons were in the water nearly two hours without life jackets. The Italians, who had life preservers, still were yelling and screaming and alternately praying, the Americans related.

SAVED BY DESTROYER
But the British destroyer finally hove to and rescued all the men struggling in the water. Lentz was so exhausted he had to be pulled aboard.

NARROWEST ESCAPE
But Burley had the narrowest escape. British seamen gave him artificial respiration for an hour and 30 minutes before they restored him to consciousness.

All the men were given hot baths, wrapped in blankets, and placed in bunks aboard the pitching destroyer. The roll was so severe that two British sailors sat on Lentz to keep him in his bunk.

After a time, hot tea, soup, bread and marmalade. An hour later they were served a chicken dinner. "It was the best food we ever had," said Millechamp.

At Port Huron, Mrs. Wilbur West, reporter and Sunday society editor for the Port Huron Times-Herald, was overjoyed to learn of the escape of her brother, Lieut. R. D. Burley, from the Italian submarine. Mrs. West said that a cablegram from her brother informed their parents, Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Burley, of his safety at American headquarters in Malta "after various adventures," but gave no further details. Lieut. Burley's wife Frances, whom he wed last June, just a week before he received his bombardier's commission at Abuquerque, N.M. also lives in Port Huron. Burley attended the University of Michigan for a year.
_____________________

"Italians Think Deck Burley is Still Their Prisoner"
The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan)
18 February 1943, Thursday - pages 1& 5

There was a kid wearing British battle dress at our table. He was Rodney D. Burley, of Port Huron, Mich., one of five flyers saved when British destroyers sank an Italian submarine carrying them to a prison camp a few weeks ago.

Burley's most vivid memory of his trip is waking up aboard the British destroyer, groping blindly for a mug of tea, saying, 'What's this stuff?' and hearing a voice say: 'Well, I'm damned. He's American, not Italian.'

"When he talks of the hour that he spent in the submarine while it was being depth-bombed, he is very casual, as they always are when something has hit them hard. He remembers how cold the air felt when they got on deck and the scared faces of the Italians watching the destroyers bear down on them."
___________________

"Army Confirms Death of Lt. Bedford Russell"
Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Texas)
22 November 1944, Wednesday - pages 1 & 11

. . . The plane piloted by Lieutenant Russell, he said, was returning to a North African base when it was shot down in a bitter fight with Messerchmitts. The B-17 was shot to pieces but Russell "by skillful maneuvering, managed to crash land on the desert without hurting anyone," he said.

The Italians later captured the men and after about 10 days put them on the submarine. . . .

The other prisoners and I were in the water for nearly two hours," Lieutenant Millechamp said. "The shelling went on. A lot of Italians and four of the prisoners were killed. The British, of course, had no way of knowing we were there." Lieutenant Russell, he said, was one of the prisoners who died. . . .
________________________

"Millichamp, a former life-guard, is credited with saving the life of a British officer [Major J.W. Street] by keeping him afloat when the submarine was sunk." [Millichamp was later awarded the OBE]
____________________

"Flyer Missing After Italian Sub is Bombed"
Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois)
Sunday, May 7, 1944

"Lt. Richard J. Carroll flew a P-38 to England in July, 1942, and was one of the first Americans to put a Lightning into action in Algiers, landing there Nov. 8, 1942, according to his mother, Mrs. William P. Carroll . . .

After 20 successful missions over enemy territory, Lt. Carroll was shot down over Gabes, Africa, in December 1942, and was captured by the Italians.

No word reached Mrs. Carroll from the war department. Recently she spoke to one of her son's buddies who was rescued: "The last I saw of him was when we were all in the water," was all he could answer to her plea for information."

"It's more than a year since the submarine was sunk and we haven't received any more information than that," Mrs. Carroll said. "If only we had some definite word."
___________________

A full account of this would make a great story.

Edward

Re: USAAF Survivors from Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 January 1943
 

I was initially perplexed that the loss of the B-17 piloted by 1st Lt. Bedford Russell was not listed in HMAW vol. 3.

A historian more knowledgeable than I informed me that the bomber was unassigned and being ferried to a U.S. B-17 base when it was shot down c. 3 January 1943.

B-17F "Nameless"
1st Lt. Bedford E. Russell - Pilot
2nd Lt. Donald M. Bryan - Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Earle S. Millichamp - Navigator
2nd Lt. Rodman D. Burley - Bombardier
+ enlisted flight crew

Below is a description of the shootdown of the B-17 by Lt. Millichamp.

"Florida Pilot [Navigator] Tells of Escape From Italian Sub"
By Merrill Mueller (Newsweek's North Africa Correspondent)
The Miami News (Miami, Florida)
Sunday, February 21, 1943.
New York, Feb. 20 - Last Dec. 19 the Flying Fortress Nameless took off from a field somewhere in America and followed the compass course to war set by her navigator, Second Lieut. Earle Millichamp, 24 of Lake Wales, Fla. Within 25 days the Nameless was destroyed over enemy lines, her crew captured, and then in an almost unbelievable air-force saga, most of here officers were rescued from a sinking Italian submarine in mid-Mediterranean.

Earle Millicamp told me the story: "We'd just started for our base after a raid when Messerschmidts jumped us. It was dusk, and we had difficulty keeping in formation after the enemy's second attack had damaged Nameless. As the rest of the formation another Messerchmidt shot out one engine and the aileron and ripped up the wing so we crash landed. We all piled out and set the plane afire. I helped the bombardier break up and throw the pieces of the Norden bomb sight for miles around the desert.

"Suddenly 50 Italians supported by a light tank appeared and made us prisoners. We were driven immediately to Gabes where we were fed at one of the enemy's largest air bases. We continued to Tripoli, where we underwent a couple of terrific air raids. Those RAF boys surely lay it on. That port was a mess.

On the afternoon of Jan. 13 we were rushed to an Italian liner, but it sailed without us. At dusk, as another heavy air raid started, we were pushed into a 12-year old 600 ton submarine and were told that we were being taken to Taranto and to be prepared for an uncomfortable voyage which would last five days. . . . "

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

NARA POW records for Russell, Millichamp, Burley provide no info re unit, but Bryan says 346th BS, which was part of 99th BG operating in N. Africa.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Thanks Leendert

I had not checked the POW rolls at NARA.

I assume that 2/Lt. Donald M. Bryan would have been assigned to the 346th Sq / 99th BG following his liberation as the unit was not based in North Africa until February 1943.

I hope that someone might know the names of the two other British POWs who were rescued on 14 January 1943 as well as the names of the enlisted men of the flight crew for 1/Lt. Russell's B-17. They would have their own POW experiences and perspective on their shootdown.

Edward

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

This is an odd loss

Why is there no MACR issued?
How come it was shot down over Gabes? If the aircraft was on its delivery flight it is a terribly faulty navigation.

I can understand the loss is not in MAW 3 since, if I understand it correctly, they deal with combat related losses.

Even more strange is that there is no listed claim for the aircraft either.

Cheers
Stig

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

A cached article in the South Florida newspaper Sun Sentinel of Sep. 19, 2021 relates Rodman Dexter Burley's story. He says the shoot down was on 3 Jan. 1943.

Burley enlisted on March 21, 1941, when he was 21. After some time in the infantry, began flying missions as a bombing officer on a B-17.

"On Jan. 3, 1943, his ordeal began. That day his crew was shot down while flying over the Sahara Desert. He survived the crash with a small shrapnel wound to his thumb, and he and his crew were captured."

USAAF Chronology has no heavy bomber missions for 12th AF that day.

Missing crew and/or B-17 must be recorded somewhere indeed...

Regards,
Leendert

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Interesting story about Burley printed at the time. Burley was from Michigan:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8936...-times-herald/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8936...-times-herald/

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

99% sure that 1Lt. Phillip Wagner BAILEY, O-661692 was in B-26B 41-17905, 432nd BS, 17th BG.12/31/1942.

LENTZ a/c was I believe 41-7582, 1st FG/94th FS. 01/07/1943.( January 7th,)

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

From joebaugher.com No MACRs mentioned.


41-17905


17905 (17th BG, 432nd BS, 12th AF) shot down by Bf 109F-4 flown by unknown pilot of JG 53/5 near El Hamma, Tunisia

after being hit by flak over Gabes, Tunisia Dec 31, 1942. 5 crew KIA, one bailed out and returned to duty.



41-7582


7582 (2 FTS) crashlanded 5 mi Ne of Berteaux, French Morocco Dec 28, 1943

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Stig, I believe that some of the reasons for the lack of documentation on the loss of the 1st Lt. Russell's B-17 is that the bomber and crew had not been assigned to a combat squadron at the time of the loss.

However I cannot explain why an Axis claim for the shootdown of the B-17 does not appear in HMAW vol. 3.

Leenert, thanks very much for locating the 2003 South Florida Sun-Sentinel article on R. Dexter Burley receiving the Purple Heart.

"A Private War"
By Susan J. Park Staff Writer
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 28, 2003

"Burley and the other prisoners scrambled to the surface, only to be greeted by three allied destroyers shelling the submarine. "The aftermath was the worst part of the whole thing," Burley said, wincing at the memories. "People getting blown all apart."

For hours they were fired upon, and Burley struggled to stay alive by diving into the water and holding onto the side of the submarine. With the shelling, he realized that he couldn't stay in the area, so he swam out in the bitterly cold water without a life preserver. Miraculously he was spotted and fished out by the British destroyer. But by that time the rough waters had taken their toll on Burley. He was thought to be dead."They shot me in the heart with adrenaline," he said. "They got me breathing and my heart working again."
_____________

Below are excerpts of two articles noting Millichamp's rescue of Maj. J.W. Street and the subsequent award.

"Florida Pilot [Navigator] Tells of Escape From Italian Sub"
The Miami News (Miami, Florida)
Sunday, February 21, 1943 - page 24
" "We swam away toward one destroyer, which now stopped firing, but Major Street, who had been a prisoner longer, rapidly tired. I had shed most of my clothes and was managing all right in the choppy sea." (Millichamp is a former life guard). So I asked the major: 'How are you making it?' He nearly choked as he tried to continue to swim and told me: 'All right son. You go ahead.' I just grabbed his shirttail and pretty soon we were having a cigaret with the crew on the destroyer."

"Halifx Decorates 12 U.S. War Heroes"
Confers Awards for Aiding British on Behalf of King George
The Morning Post (Camden, New Jersey)
24 November 1943, Wednesday - page 5
"Lt. Earle Millichamp, Army Air Forces, Lake Wales, Fla., was made a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). . . . Millichamp's heroism as a prisoner of war in Africa on a sinking enemy submarine under Allied fire, when he rescued a British Army officer and got him aboard "one of His Majesty's ships."

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

This is an odd statement by Baugher

The T in FTS indicates trainer/training, and there was nothing called that in North Africa at the time.
There was a 2 FS (52 FG) operating at this stage, but they flew Spitfires, not P-38.

There is of course a fundamental problem to much of the USAAF early days in the region.
The reporting system did not work well enough, at least not with regard to aircraft lost.
For some reason it seems to have effected the fighter units the most. The losses of the actual aircraft are not recorded against the pilot (s) in question.
That is the reason so many USAAF serial numbers are missing in the MAW volume.
No point in looking at the record cards either, since their SOC dates has nothing to do with the actual dates lost.

The present B-17F is most likely in such a category. In a way I can understand the lack of a MACR since the loss possibly ended up "between two chairs" and was never issued, and when most of the crew was rescued someone perhaps thought "what's the point"?
But it is irritating there is no claim from either German or Italian files. Very odd.:confused:

Alex
From where does your details regarding the P-38 41-7582 come from? It would be nice to tie up Lentz loss with a correct serial number!

Cheers
Stig

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Just FYI that Lt Donald M. Bryan flew as pilot with 97th BG, 340th BS later in 1943.

Biskra, main B-17 base early 1943, was bombed by the Luftwaffe on 3 Jan 1943.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

One reason for the lack of MACRs for aircraft lost in 1942 and early 1943 is that the MACR system did not start until July 1, 1943. MACRs for losses before that date were prepared from the information on hand after that date. If a squadron or group had changed bases more than once (before July 1, 1943) how much of their documentation was dragged along to the new base?

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Good point Frank

But surely there must have been some reporting system for loss of aircraft, otherwise the units would run out of aircraft in the end.

It certainly explains the lack of connection between serial numbers and crews but it does not explain the seemingly big gap where we don't know exactly when a certain aircraft had been lost. Somewhere such a loss must have been reported.

Cheers
Stig

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Hello Stig,
Some years ago I traced dozens of P38's and F-4s and 5's.
Have some of it still on paper, but sadly now there is no reference details attached , so do not now know how or where it came from. Only possible link may be that it was his assigned a/c when bringing the P38's over from the USA, but I have now no idea if that was the case. "Bolaro" I think the opp was named ?

Some of the pre MACR date ( that Frank highlights ) losses can perhaps be found within those MACR's in the 16000 series.

Thanks for your input
Keep safe
Alex

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Ernie Pyle to the rescue!

A search for information about the Devers' crew, who bailed out of their B-17 on 3 January 1943, turned up more information [AHMAW vol. 3 page 236].

Apparently three B-17Fs took off on January 3rd and were unable to find Biskra airdrome.

Two pilots made force landings after being attacked by Axis fighters.

Lt. Devers continued but after running out of gas had the crew bail out. They reached Allied lines on 10 January and were assigned to the 97th BG.

2nd Lt. Jesse L. Coalter - B-17F #42-5357 (force landing. Crew Captured Jan. 4. Plane later bombed and strafed by P-40 fighters)

2nd Lt. Harry M. Devers - B-17F #42-5227 Bucket of Bolts (crew safely bailed out and reached Allied lines)

1st Lt. Bedford E. Russell - B-17F #42-5142 Nameless[?] (force landing - plane burned by crew. Crew captured Jan. 3)

B-17F #42-5227 Bucket of Bolts
"crew bailed out over friendly territory,
Crew reached Biskra January 10, assigned 97th BG."
Source: Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

1st Lt. Harry M. Devers - Pilot (Martinsburg, West Virginia)
2nd Lt. Richard Banning - Co-Pilot (Britt, Louisiana)
2nd Lt. Charles Watt - Navigator (Jacobsburg, Ohio)
2nd Lt. Victor Coveno - Bombardier (Cleveland, Ohio)
Sgt. W. K. Thiams - (Fayetteville, NC)
Sgt. Joseph Obradovich - (Lacrosse, Wis.)
Sgt. Richard Hasbrough - (Brooklyn, NY)
Sgt. Harry Alsaker - (Montana)
Sgt. Robert Oberon - (Cresline, Ohio)

A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume Three
Tunisia and the End in Africa November 1942 - May 1943
(Grub Street 2016)- page 238

Tuesday, 5 January 1943
"On this date an Ultra intercept recorded that a captured B-17[Lt. Coalter] had been strafed and destroyed by two P-40s. During a raid [on 5 January] one such aircraft from the 97th Bomb Group had been reported lost east of Biskra, fate unrecorded. Similarly, a second of the unit's aircraft [Lt. Russell or Lt. Devers] had failed to return from an unspecified area of Tunisia two days earlier on the 3rd."

On January 10th the 97th BG B-17 lost on the 5th was bombed & strafed 3 miles NW of Kebili by two P-38s.
_________________________

"A Desert Saga"
By Ernie Pyle
The Tribune (Scranton, Pennsylvania)
29 January 1943, Friday - page 4
A FORWARD AIRDROME IN FRENCH NORTH AFRICA (By Wireless)
"Nine American boys have Just had a unique baptism of war.

They left America very recently on a bomber bound for the African front. They arrived here a little later, by camelback, after an incredible series of adventures, Including a battle with German fighter planes. Here is the story:

A Flying Fortress commanded by Lieut. Harry Devers of Martinsburg, W.Va., took off from America during the holidays and flew without incident across, the Atlantic and to the coast of Africa. Devers' crew of eight was composed of Lieut Richard Banning of Britt, La., copilot; Lieut. Charles Watt, Jacobsburg, Ohio, navigator; Lieut. Victor Coveno, Cleveland, and five sergeant gunners -- W. K. Thames, Fayetteville, N.C.; Joseph Obradovich, Lacross, Wis.; Richard Hasbrough, Brooklyn; Harry Alsaker, Montana, and Robert Oberon, Cresline, Ohio.

After landing in Africa they took off one recent morning and formed up with two other Fortresses for the last lap of their journey to war. They headed for the designated airdrome at the front, where they were to report for action.

They flew all day, and when they arrived where they thought the field should be they couldn't find it. So they flew on and kept hunting. The afternoon wore on and dusk grew near.

Suddenly, out of a blank sky, two fighters dived on them. Bullets began to spatter.

That was how these youngsters fresh from America discovered that they had wandered into enemy territory. What a fine way to start their war.

Devers' crew began shooting hack, but the fighters switched to one of the other Forts, one of which soon circled downward and disappeared, apparently shot down. It has not been heard from since [Russell crew].

The two remaining planes lost the Germans in the dusk. One made a crash landing. Devers circled over it and was given a signal not to land. Several days later American reconnaissance planes discovered this Fortress being towed along the road headed for Italian territory. They dived at it, guns going, and set it afire.

That accounts for two of the Forts and gets us down to our friends mentioned above.

They were alone in the air now and they headed back west to get away from the enemy. It was dark, and they still couldn't find the airdrome to which they were being sent, so they flew far south to make sure of getting sway from the mountains. They went up to 11,000 feet, flew until their gas was gone, and then jumped.

Devers gave them all instructions before they jumped. They were flying south and he would be the last man out, so he would start walking north and all the others south. The plan worked. Eight of the nine found each other within half an hour. Lieutenant Coveno landed in a gully half a mile away and spent the night there, rejoining the others next morning." [long description of walkout and camel riding follows]

A big tip of the hat to Steve Birdsall for helping to shed some light on all this.

Still would like to know which Axis fighters attacked the B-17s.

So who is going to turn all of this into a book and screenplay?

Edward

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Great finds and good part of mystery solved...

NARA POW record for Jesse L. Coalter says captured on 3 Jan 1943. Was (to be?) assigned to 346th BS, 99th BG.

Please note that for 42-5357 Osborne's Master Log gives conflicting info, but there's photo evidence of a destroyed #357 in a desert landscape.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Thanks again Leendert. In an newspaper article (9 August 1945) about Lt. Coalter following his return to the U.S. he states that he was captured on January 4. Hopefully more information will surface on this story.

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Excellent find Ed!! (Steve B and Ernie P can have my hat as well :) )

However I have now looked through the relevant pages of MAW 3 (p 236 - 238) and there is extremely little evidence there.
I can only find Devers' B-17 in the loss list. Nothing in the actual text.

The strafing is mentioned on p 238 but again nothing in the list.

Some final thinking
It would be interesting to know from where the three aircraft took off. My guess is they came from the south somewhere via the South Atlantic route.
Also interesting would be to know the weather that day. Three aircraft, all making quite a substantial navigation mistake....

Alex
Thanks for checking your notes. Pity you don't have any sources left. No worries, I would probably have had the same problems myself. Not good at noting down sources either....
I have now filed the P-38 loss with a ? behind.

I confess this topic has been most enjoying to take part in.
Really TOCH when it is at its best!!

Again thanks Guys
Cheers
Stig

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Another POW, likely from Coulter's crew, was Lt. Carl H. Holmstrom (0-661630), who later became famous as forging artist while in captivity.
See https://www.armywarcollege.edu/News/archives/12243.pdf

Full Coulter's crew most likely here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/142694316, image 24 (68/ME), with names of Coulter and Holmstrom.

Probable also is SSgt Joel M. Alford (34167617) with reporting date 4 Jan 1943. Also see
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...l-murry-alford with text (mistakenly?) saying 1942, but North Africa.

Miscellaneous German and German Documents # 14 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/142694377, image 34) more names as captured on 4 Jan 1943, together with Joel Alford as crew members of a Boeing:
They are: SSgt Theodore F. Barthelmy, T/Sgt Carroll R. Balmer, T/Sgt John S. Anderson and S/Sgt Arley Abercrombie. No names of officers mentioned here. Officers whisked away to the Italian sub and other crew ended up in German camps?

Regards, Leendert

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

A report would have been written for any aircraft that did not return for any number of reasons. And families would have been notified.

I attended a funeral for a man where a letter to his parents was prominently displayed. It stated that their son's plane had been shot down

while on a mission over Austria. I suggest checking Red Cross records as well.


Best,
Ed

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Hi guys

Most interesting! Out of curiosity - who was the captured Sqn Ldr reported killed when the submarine was strafed? (see Post 1)

Cheers, stay safe
Brian

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Leendert, thank you very much for tracking down these names.

Holstrom self-published the artwork that he created while a POW

Kriegie Life, A Sketch Book: Illustrated, Written and Published by Carl H. Holstrom, Prisoner of War No. 221
(Self Published 1946) - hardback
(Proctor & Gamble 1980) - paperback
33 pages w/ dozens of illustrations by the author

"Holmstrom was born in Connecticut and studied art at the Pratt Institute in New York prior to his service in the war, which began in 1941. After his plane crashed in Africa he was taken prisoner by German soldiers. During his imprisonment, he was transported from Frankfurt, Germany to Poland and then back to Sagan, Germany. Next, he was transported to Nuremburg during a well-known 200 mile, forced march in a winter blizzard, all before arriving at his last location, Moosburg, Germany where he and many others were liberated by General Patton's Third Army in 1945. The book details these travels, through pictures and words, and the last page contains a glossary of 'Kriegie Terms' used in the book, such as "Around the Bend" = "Mentally Deranged", "Foodacco" = "canteen of food and tobacco", and "Green Death Soup" = "dehydrated vegetable soup". A unique, first-hand look at the terrors of being a German P.O.W."

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Leendert wrote:
"No names of officers mentioned here.
Officers whisked away to the Italian sub and other crew ended up in German camps?"

It seems that the Russell crew was captured by the Italians while the Coalter crew was captured by the Germans.

All of the members of the Coalter B-17 crew reached Germany for the duration.

I assume that it was standard policy for both the Germans and Italians to split up the officers and enlisted men from Allied bomber crews. The officers of the Russell crew were spirited away on the submarine Narvalo to try and reach Taranto while the enlisted men were initially left in Gabès or Tripoli(?).

Were the enlisted men of the Russell crew eventually taken to Italy or did they remain in North Africa?
Were they liberated in 1943 or moved to a German POW camp?

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Some information about POW camps in Italy here:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...camps_in_Italy

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Edward,
Russell crew (Alford, Abercrombie etc.) all ended up in German POW camps, most if not all in Stalag 17B.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Hi guys

I'm interested in the British 'involvement in this tragic incident.

Apparently 11 British 'officer' POWs on board, of whom 8 lost their lives. On checking CWGC, I've located the following RAF/RAAF airmen whose date of death is recorded as 14 January 1943, and whose deaths are commemorated on the Alamein Memorial. Are these relevant?

Flg Off A.N. Austin 411726 RAAF
Flg Off W.G. Diehm 412049 RAAF
Flt Sgt G.H. Cameron 401416 RAAF
Sgt M.C. Harrison 408093 RAAF

Flt Sgt J.R. Gibbons 602828 RAF
Flt Lt H.G. Newman 62087 RAF (Malta Memorial)

British survivors included:
Maj J.W. Street (possibly others included Army POWs?)

Any contributions welcomed! Thanks

Stay safe
Brian

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

None of the deaths you mention would have been on the submarine. All died elsewhere.

Austin, Arthur Neville:
Pilot, Kitthawk. Lost on 14/1/43 . At 1640 eight 3 Squadron Kittyhawks flew an armed reconnaissance over the Gheddahia area. Austin failed to return.

William George Diehm lost on same day: https://aviationmuseumwa.org.au/afcr...george-412049/

Harrison and Cameron lost same day:
https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws....nt/7720111.PDF
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?qnum=79052

J R Gibbons: http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?qnum=74633


Newman died of diphtheria.
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?qnum=98876



Also found a picture of Millichamp and his obit.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8952...mpa-bay-times/

He originally joined the RCAF and was trained as a navigator. When the US got in the war he switched to the AAF. He later became a pilot.
He died in California in 1992.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8952...lompoc-record/

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Many thanks, as usual, Rolland

So, who were the British fatalities, including the Squadron Leader?

Stay safe
Brian

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

A British casualty was Lt John Benham Turner, 11th Hussars, according a 2005 post on wwtalk.com.
A 2007 story in the Colchester Gazette/Standard tells that the Italian submarine may have been torpedoed by a British ship his brother Hugh was serving on... However, this ship was HMS Porpoise, an RN submarine. Not sure if this sub was in any way involved.

In a tank regiment like the 11th Hussars, you also have squadrons...

Also see this Italian website with name of Turner and all Italian casualties: http://conlapelleappesaaunchiodo.blo...2/narvalo.html

Regards, Leendert

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Thanks Leendert

I hadn't thought of that - but such an officer still wouldn't hold the rank of Squadron Leader, as implied.

Perhaps Russell will respond - I believe he is a TOCH member.

Stay safe
Brian

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Brian, perhaps squadron leader not an official army rank, but definitively a common name for, well, an officer leading a tank squadron. Other army branches use name squadron for (sub)units as well.
See https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205188289

Full account of Lt. Turner's capture on 28 Dec 1942 here: http://www.warlinks.com/armour/11_hussars/11huss_42.php (just scroll down to that date).


Regards,
Leendert

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Hi Leendert

You could well be correct! Having perused the 11 Hussar war diary, there are several references to Sqn Ldr.

Many thanks. My enquiry closed!

Stay safe
Brian

Re: USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943
 

Here is what I had found before reading this thread. There might be a mistake or two since it was a work in progress:

The officers belonging to the crew of one of the misoriented B-17 ferry aircraft that landed behind enemy lines (piloted by Lt Bedford E. Russell), along with two P-38 pilots, two B-26 pilots, a South African and two British Army officers captured in Libya were originally scheduled to be transported to Italy aboard a liner on 13 January, but they did not arrive at the Tripoli docks in time to board it. Instead, the American and British POWs were put aboard one of the Italian submarine Narvalo. It had been used to transport fuel to Rommel’s army. Due to weather conditions, the Italian submarine commander decided to sail back to Taranto with the conning tower above the surface, which resulted in a British Beaufort from 39 Squadron sighting his vessel at 1330 hours on 14 January. Four depth charges were dropped, blowing the bows of the submarine above water, where it remained stationary with a list to starboard. The RAF plane called for assistance, which appeared in the form of two Royal Navy warships escorting a convoy (ME-15) six miles away. Although the submariners had raised a white flag, HMS Pakenham and HMS Hursley sank the Narvalo with gunfire, rescued its surviving crew and seven [identified] of eleven [known] POWs from the water. Saved were Lt Bernard A. Gillespie – pilot of a B-26 from the 17th BG shot down on 31 December, B-17 co-pilot, Lt Don M. Bryan, B-17 bombardier Lt Earle Millichamp, B-17 navigator Lt Rodman D. Burley, Lt J.C. Harrison Lentz – one of two P-38 pilots, a South African topographical engineer – Captain W.G. Alexander, and a British officer; Major [unknown] Street.

Lt Bedford E. Russell of the 97th Bomb Group, co-pilot Lt Philip W. Bailey from the B-26 flown by Lt Gillespie, Lt John Benham Turner of the 11th Hussars, and Lt Richard J. Carroll from the 14th Fighter Group were either killed by gunfire from the destroyers or drowned.

SOURCES: Thomas F. Gulley, et al, The Hour Has Come: The 97th Bomb Group in World War II (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company, 1993), pp. 62 – 63; The Victoria Advocate, “Foster Field News,” 21 Feb 43, Vol. 2, No. 8, https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat =19430221&id= ZsNHAAA AIBAJ& sjid=aIAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2411,5303805&hl=ithe Victoria Advocate - Ricerca Archivio di Google News; https:// http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5...llip-w-bailey; John D. Mullins, An Escort of P-38s, 46; John W. Lambert, The 14th Fighter Group in World War II, 155; http:// conlapelleappesaaunchiodo. blogspot.com /2016/02/narvalo.html); Award Citation, Lt Turner, John Benham, 11th Hussars, WO 373/23/466; Ken Anderson, Nine Flames (Capetown: Purnell & Sons (S.A.) Pty. Ltd., 1964), pp. 195 – 196, Entry for 14 Jan 43, 39 Squadron Operational Record Book, AIR 27/407/48.

Note: Five Beauforts were protecting the ME - 15 convoy. Instead of being used in an anti-shipping role, the torpedo bombers were employed as anti-submarine platforms protecting convoys to Malta.

B-17 ferry aircraft misoriented and force landed"

1/3/1943 E of Gabes 97th BG B-17F-40-BO Lt Bedford E. Russell (POW) + 8 POW misoriented
97th BG History, p. 62. Three replacement aircraft being ferried to Biskra from Morocco got lost. a/c serial # 42-1542. Made a belly landing near Gabes.

1/3/1943 vic Gabes 97th BG B-17F-40-BO Lt Jesse L. Coulter (POW) + 8 POW misoriented
97th BG History, p. 67. Colter was flying a/c serial # 42-5357. He made a wheels down landing near Gabes. This is the B-17 that the 33d FG got "credit" for destroying. (see 97th BG History p. 67).

1/3/1943 Eastern Algeria (S. of El Oued) 97th BG B-17F-40-BO Lt Harry Devers + 8 bailed out and recovered misoriented
97th BG History, pp. 63 - 65. B-17F 42-5227. Crew bailed out when pilot could not find landing field. Ernie Pyle interviewed them at Biskra following their 10 January return.


NINE FLAMES: On 16 January, Lance Corporal Norton and six others were embarked on a submarine in Tripoli harbor and were taken on an uneventful voyage, mostly underwater, to Toranto, and from there sent to Bari where Lance Corporal Norton spent seven months before being moved to the prison camp at Laterina, where there were some 6000 prisoners. Two days before Lance Corporal Norton was shipped from Tripoli, Captain Alexander and ten other prisoners – English, Canadian, New Zealand, American and Indian officers – were embarked on an Italian submarine in Tripoli harbor, and placed in the forward torpedo compartment. They travelled on the surface during the predawn hours and submerged at daylight. It appears the Italian captain, impatient with the slower progress underwater, decided then to make the rest of the journey on the surface. But he was spotted by a Sunderland [sic] reconnaissance aircraft which straddled the submarine with three [sic] bombs, damaging it so it could not submerge. After dealing this crippling blow, the Sunderland got in touch with British destroyers escorting a convoy, and one of these soon appeared on scene and proceeded to shell the submarine. The prisoners in the torpedo compartment realized the ship had been damaged by the bombs and later they knew they were being shelled. Not relishing a watery grave at the hands of the Royal Navy, they overpowered their guards and made their way on deck where the Italian captain explained the position, told them he could not supply life belts, and that they had better swim for it. Captain Alexander, stripped to his underwear, was taking off his second boot when he was thrown over the side by the splash of a shell that fell periously close by. The Italian captain made no attempt to save himself, and went down with his ship. The men in the water thought they had little hope of being rescued, since it was unlikely the destroyer would stop to pick up survivors in hostile waters for fear of torpedo attack. But to their joy, the destroyer hove to and took them aboard. But the skipper, when he saw the motley crew who staggered over the side of his ship gasping their thanks in English, thought for one awful moment he had sunk one of his own submarines! The prisoners were taken to Malta by the destroyer, where they were given fresh uniforms and clothes and entertained by the governor himself. The following day they were put aboard and aircraft and flown back to the Marble Arch. Ken Anderson, Nine Flames (Capetown: Purnell & Sons (S.A.) Pty. Ltd., 1964), pp. 195 – 196)