US B26 shot down in the Ardennes area 1944
 

I am seeking details of a B26 that was shot down in the Ardennes region i think on or around 23/12/44.
I am lead to believe it was from the 391st bomb group 9th Air Force.

Any information appreciated

Re: US B26 shot down in the Ardennes area 1944
 

Jon - on this date : B - 26 losses Ardennes
391st lost 16
387th lost 4
397th lost 10
322d lost 3
394th lost 1
Tough Day!

Re: US B26 shot down in the Ardennes area 1944
 

Hi

Thanks for your help......Not a day to have been B26 crew !!
The 391'st lost 16 aircraft do we know what they were attacking and if it was Flak or fighters that caused the losses.

Jon

Re: US B26 shot down in the Ardennes area 1944
 

The heavy B-26 losses on 23 December 1944 are well-covered in a number of books. They were the heaviest during the whole war.

Just try Google with B-26 and "23 December 1944" and you will find enough sites to have a good view of what happened.

Re: US B26 shot down in the Ardennes area 1944
 

Jon - 391st and 386th assigned to attack railroad viaduct at Ahrweiler.
2 PFF B - 26s hit by Flak - Formation bounced by 60 LW Fighters.
16 A/C lost - God bless Them. This is a Day to Remember them all!.
Regards

Re: US B26 shot down in the Ardennes area 1944
 

Jon, I have each of the 16 391st BG B-26 losses listed by specific B-26 model, serial number, squadron code, and MACR if you'd like. Let me know and I can post for you. I also have the same info for B-26 losses from other groups on this day.

Cheers, Gary Koch

Re: US B26 shot down in the Ardennes area 1944
 

Hi all, Gary, can you help me out with the documents you mentioned back in 2006?

I am writing a book about one B-26 that went missing that day and remained so for over 60 years. Danny

Re: US B26 shot down in the Ardennes area 1944
 

Hi Danny,

Mmm, A B-26 lost in Belgium.
Well, would you be mind to tell us more once published?

Best regards

ClinA-78

Re: US B26 shot down in the Ardennes area 1944
 

Hello ,

Perhaps this can help a little bit :
23/12/1944
Bastogne east
B-26C-45-MO Mid air explosion after attack by 20 Me 109
Mayen bridge
42-107577 387BG TQ-N Clastres A-71 (F)
1st Lt Church Wayne W.
MACR 11403
Probably a victory off Lt Günther Rennewanz 15/JG3
23/12/1944
Bastogne
B-26C-45-MO
Mid air explosion after attack by 20 Me 109
Mayen bridge
42-107598 387BG 559BS TQ-G Miss Kam Clastres A-71 (F)
1st Lt Pile William O piloot ( MIA ) 0-686489 13/02/1920 Circleville Ohio - TOM Neupré.
2nd Lt Ward Robert W co-piloot 0-830759 Michigan ( MIA ) TOM Neupré
2nd Lt Walsh John J bombardier 0-761269 ( POW ) Luft 1
1st Lt Luce John C navigator ( POW ) 0-747034
Cpl Hall H Belden radio 39333562 ( POW ) Luft 11B
T/Sgt Danner George W engineer 39166630 ( POW ) Luft 4b
S/Sgt Becker Milfred L tailgunner 38402301 ( POW ) Luft 4b
S/Sgt Stasuk Frank L ( POW ) engineer 13050239
2nd Lt Ovis Harold 0-722655 ( POW ) Luft 1 Gee operator
MACR 11464


23/12/1944
Witry B-26F-1-MA
Flak at1020hrs
Hagen 42-96309
387BG 557BS KS-G Clastres A-71 (F)
2nd Lt Stith George N ( KIA ) piloot 0-697177 Iowa - Luxemburg US Cemetry
2nd Lt Lutman Jesse A ( KIA ) 0-819554 co-piloot PA Mckeen County buried: McKean Memorial Park, Lafayette Twp
2nd Lt Sutter Ellis D ( RTD ) 0-761315 bombardier
S/Sgt Swanson Hilbert G 16078375 gnr
S/Sgt Stevens Henry L 14042061 ( MIA ) TOM Neupré
1st Lt Hensley Lloyd ( RTD ) 0-759931 Gee operator
S/Sgt Jackson Ephriam ( RTD ) 39901649 gunner
MACR 10877


23/12/1944 Manderfeld
B-26B-55-MA
Flak
Bridge near Eller
42-96144
397BG 596BS X2-C
Bank Nite Betty Peronne
1st Lt Estes Charles W ( KIA ) 0-731561 piloot Caldwell County MO
1st Lt Collins William D ( KIA ) 0-693625 co-piloot Decatur County Indiana
1st Lt Lewis Craig ( KIA ) 0-417548 Cook County Illinois Neupré C/9/22
S/Sgt Negri James P ( KIA ) 12215734 engineer Steubben County New York
T/Sgt Epps William E ( KIA ) 38449367 radio Pulaski County Arkansas Margraten D/3/28
T/Sgt Daszkiewicz Bruno ( KIA ) 16187391 Chicago Illinois -
Pfc Korn Abraham J ( KIA ) 12029144 toggler Essex County New Jersey


Regards
Alain57

Re: US B26 shot down in the Ardennes area 1944
 

1st Lt Estes B-26 crash site was found at Almuthen in Belgium just recently.

Regards
Jörg