Lost Liberator- August 01. 1943.
 

During raid on Ploesti one damaged B-24 have found it way to Yougoslavia. It crashed in region of Konavle, (Close to town of Dubrovnik, and Boka Kotorska- bay of Kotor) some 2 Km from Adriatic sea. There was at least 5 survivers.
Could anyone help with more information about identity of plane?

Re: Lib lost on Aug. 1st, 1943
 

I think you are referring to 41-11840-P named The Witch. The crew was from the 389th. 6 crewmen were POW's and they were:

Pilot Julian Darlington
Navigator Joe Quigley, Jr.
TT Lloyd Brisbi
G Ned Howard
WG Anthony Rauba
G Joe Turley

The remaining 4 crew evaded and they were:

Co-pilot Daryl Epp
Bomb. Major Gillette
Radio. Dale Hulsey
TG Walter Hardiek

Notes:

On the return trip in a loose formation with three other ships
The Witch was attacked by 6 Bf-109's from three o'clock.
Cannon shells tore into the #4 engine and wing running away
the engine. Darlington feathered #4 and rang the bail out bell.
After successive Luftwaffe attacks The Witch lost altitude and
bellied in a wheat field. A Bulgarian border patrol came on the
scene and the rest is history.

Hope this helps,

Mike

Dear Mike,
Thanks for your infos, but this plane is not "Witch". Witch landed on Yougoslav-Bulgarian border wich is some 400 km far away from Adriatic coast

Lib Lost Aug 1st 43
 

Hi,

"Let Er Rip"

124121

Could this be the one ?

night

Alex

Realy don't know.
I have Browning 12,7 from that plane and part of fuselage (sand)
There were some 7 to 8 parashutes. All crew members who survived were captured by Germans.

Dear Alex,
What is the stor of "Let ER Rip".
Where it crashed?

Modly, are you sure it is the aircraft from 1-Aug-1943? To my knowledge, 41-24121 ('Let er Rip') and 41-23717 ('Exterminator') collided and both a/c crashed on Bulgarian side of the border with Yugoslavia. I don't know that any of the a/c from operation 'Tiadal Wave' came down in Yugoslavia, but I would like any additional info. Cheers.

August 1, 1943
 

Hi Modly,
Is one of these towns in the neighbourhood of your crashsite:
Butimanu
Cocioc
Ogrezeni or
Nedelea?
Let meknow.
paul

1st August 1943 Raid Ploesti
 

Hi,
Te following are ships that had crew become POW.

41-24294 Brewery Wagon POW's Rumania
42-40781 Hells Angels POW Rumania
42-40609 Jersey Bounce POW's Rumania
42-40804 Bertha POW Rumania
41-24121 Let er Rip POW's Bulgaria
42-40612 Eurocyldon POW's Rumania
42-40613 Pudgy POW's Rumania
42-40265 Honky tonk Gal POW's Rumania
42-40182 Porky II POW Rumania
42-40780 Available Jones POW's Italy (S/d over Ionian Sea on return)
41-24153 The Sad Sack POW's Rumania
42-40371 G.I.Gal POW's Rumania
42-63761 Lil' Abner POW's Rumania
41-24015 Wing Dinger POW's Rumania
42-40735 Sand Witch POW Rumania
42-40753 Eager Eagle POW's Rumania
42-40115 Boomerang(Big Load) POW's Rumania
42-40782 Chattanooga Choo Choo POW's Rumania
41-11840 The Witch POW's Bulgaria/ 4 evd Yugoslavia
42-40991 Kate Smith POW Rumania
42-41007 Margie POW's Rumania
42-23782 Boilermaker II POW's Rumania
41-24197 Tagalong POW's Rumania
41-11886 Lil Joe POW's Rumania
42-40313 Boots POW's Rumania
41-11776 Jersey Jackass POW's Rumania
42-40520 Yen Tu POW's Rumania
41-11819 Raunchy POW's Rumania
42-24246 Semper Felix POW Rumania
41-24198 Vulgar Virgin POW Rumania
42-40312 Aire Lobe POW Rumania

The above is taken from "Black Sunday"

The following is taken from "Operation Tidal Wave Aircraft Roster" off the web

41-11840 The Witch C/l @ Bulgaria-Yugo border
42-40364 Snow White & the Seven Dwarves lost over Bulgaria on return
[Black Sunday has this a/c as Prince Charming crew all killed].

So, from all of the above there would seem to be only two a/c that had crew that became POW in a Country other than Rumania or Italy.

There were also those a/c that were interned in Turkey and others diverted to Malta, Sicily,Cyprus not noted here. All others are reportedly lost over Rumania(all crew killed) or returned to Libya.

Night

Alex