Liberator crashed 26.12.1944 (Hungary)
 

Hi all


Does anybody know something about crashed B-24 Liberator in Kerekegyháza in Hungary ??? I know only that it is probably place of the crash. Few airmen survive,few more kiled. It could be plane B-24 no 42-51131 but I am not sure. If it is plane will be confirmed the pilot was Walter L. Gunn (455th BG). MACR report unknown :(

Please help if you can.

Fenix

Re: Liberator crashed 26.12.1944 (Hungary)
 

I had no luck finding a MACR on fold3. Perhaps others will have better luck.

There is mention of the Gunn loss on page 3 of this newsletter:

http://www.455th.org/Newsletter/PDFs/Spring%202005.pdf

It is not clear that the man making the request ever got a reply (at least not in subsequent newsletters that I could find). The newsletters were ended in 2016. The mission number of the loss was Mission 171, flown on December 26, 1944. There is a little info on mission 176 on page 132 of this:

http://www.15thaf.org/304th_BW/455th...20Missions.pdf

There is a photo of the Gunn crew on page 6 of this:
http://www.455th.org/Newsletter/PDFs/Spring%202002.pdf

Some of the names are mis-typed , e.g. Dana I Kelleher and Eugene B Scerbo:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ber...y&pid=16831520

Re: Liberator crashed 26.12.1944 (Hungary)
 

Known losses on December 26, 1944 in Hungary:

451 BG, B-24L, S/N: 44-49414 at Magyarkeszi at cemetery
455 BG, B-24H, S/N: 42-51131 at Kerekegyháza-NW, 5 km
455 BG, B-24L, S/N: 44-49377 at Szedres-NE, 1.5 km at forest
456 BG, B-24G, S/N: 42-78345 at Tiszasas, Kása-Halom field
MKHL, Levente II. at Csolnok
MKHL, Levente II. at Süttő
672 ShAP, IL-2m3, S/N: 1872466 at airfield, - combat damage
149 GvIAP, Yak-1b, S/N: 44191 at Verseg
13 GvIAD, Yak-1b, S/N: 12192 at ?
6 ОАЗ, Po-2, S/N: 3693, at ?
930 NBAP, Po-2, S/N: 8298 at Hatvan
312 NBAD Stab., Po-2, S/N: 8248 near Hatvan

...and perhaps 1-2 IL-2 from these, between December 25-29 with unknown date:

1874686
1875696
1886603
.................................................. ..................

27 GvOTBr, T-34/85, chassis No.: 0408553 at Hatvan
27 GvOTBr, SU-76M, chassis No.: 407796 at Hatvan
54 TP, T-34/85s: '707', '713', '723', '727' at Kecskéd-E
3 TBr, T-34/85: 'B-132' at Sikátorpuszta, Budapest-E
...etc.

Gabor

Re: Liberator crashed 26.12.1944 (Hungary)
 

Hi

HGabor - Great info !!!

455 BG, B-24H, S/N: 42-51131 at Kerekegyháza-NW, 5 km

Yes It will be this one which I am looking for. Does exist any details this crash in local newspaper ??? The plane was from 455 BG (740 BSq). Target in this day was Oswiecim (Poland).


Fenix

Re: Liberator crashed 26.12.1944 (Hungary)
 

Only thing I know is that 4 crewmembers (Gunn, Barton, Frescoe, Crowley) were buried later in Budapest, Budaörs road (central) American War Cemetery.

Gabor

Re: Liberator crashed 26.12.1944 (Hungary)
 

Ok thanks.
Do you know maybe what was the caused of the crash ? Hit by artilery over target ?? Maybe enemy fighters ?? I try to find the MACR report but still nothig :(


Fenix

Re: Liberator crashed 26.12.1944 (Hungary)
 

Sorry, no idea.
Gabor

Re: Liberator crashed 26.12.1944 (Hungary)
 

There is no MACR on this plane.
Other members were Arthur Boucher, Paul Brown, Dana Kelleher, Eugene Scerbo, Henry Belcher, Anthony D'Agostino, came back on Jan 18.

Before reaching target, engines were starting to give trouble (3, then 4, then 2), crew jettisoned bombs and headed for emergency landing.

Re: Liberator crashed 26.12.1944 (Hungary)
 

Vathra



Very big thank you for the new info. Could you write the source this info ?


Fenix

Re: Liberator crashed 26.12.1944 (Hungary)
 

Escape statement, obviously.