B-25 loss 5th June,1943
 

Hello,

Seeking serial number of a B25 of the 310th BG, 379th BS.
Date : 5th June, 1943.
Cpl. John S. Kovar - 32219584, killed after controlled landing at position 36°.45" N, 11°.80" E, ( a few miles to the SW of Pantelleria ) by Bf 109 strafing the downed aircraft ( MACR 16521 ).
Pilot Lt. S. F. Schlitzkus, later returned as did the other three survivers, only to lose his life on the 27th August 1943 ( MACR 637 ).

Many thanks
Alex

Re: B-25 loss 5th June,1943
 

Alex, this link identifies the plane as 42-32413, see pdf page 32.

http://57thbombwing.com/310thHistory/310_BG_1943-06.pdf

Re: B-25 loss 5th June,1943
 

Hello Rolland,
Many thanks for the link, it answers the question.
But -
Lt. Schlitzkus’s ship made a controlled landing at 36 deg. 45 min. N and 11 deg. 30 min. E. After leaving the plane the survivors were strafed by one ME-109 until the bastard expended all of his ammunition (see attached story for further details.) Cpl. J.S. Kovar, Bombardier was lost. The other members of the crew were Lt. R.C. Werner C.P., S/Sgt. R.E. Teeple R/O., and Sgt. L.W. Edwards A/G
Just how/where is the "attached story for further details" to be found ?

Thanks yet again
Alex

Re: B-25 loss 5th June,1943
 

I'd say that's a very apt and succinct description of the 109 pilot.

I too would be interested in reading the rest of "the story" if it is available.

Re: B-25 loss 5th June,1943
 

On the same site of the above link, there are files per squadron and I thought the one for 379th FS for June 1943 will include the "attached story", but it is not the case:
http://57thbombwing.com/379th_History/History7.pdf

The text is the same as compiled in Group history.

Re: B-25 loss 5th June,1943
 

Alex, just a correction to your original post, Samuel C Schlitzkus returned to duty after the 5 June crash landing, but he was not killed on 27 Aug 43, he bailed out and was captured. He was a POW in Italy for one month then escaped in Sept 43. (Since Italy surrendered in September, he may have just walked out of the POW camp before the Germans took over). He evaded for several months and was recaptured by the Germans in Jan 44 and sent to Stalag Luft I. He stayed in the Air Force after the war and served in Korea and Viet Nam.

He died in 2002.

https://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/n...tzkus-samuel-c


https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...nce-schlitzkus

Kovar, the one crewman killed on 5 June 43 is still listed as MIA.

https://www.abmc.gov/node/535029#.WoDRlZ3wbMo

Re: B-25 loss 5th June,1943
 

Hello to all,

283 Squadron, the ASR Walrus unit landed to pick up 4 survivors from a ditched Mitchell, couldn't take off and taxied back towards Sousse with a naval launch as company. Thus the four crew included Schlitzkus, who was not captured.

Regards

Russell

Re: B-25 loss 5th June,1943
 

I understand from RSwank post that Schlitzkus was captured (for the first time) on 27 August 1943, not on 5 June 1943.

Re: B-25 loss 5th June,1943
 

Laurence
Apologies, I misread it.

Russell

Re: B-25 loss 5th June,1943
 

No problem Russell :)

Still the attached story would be interested. I wonder if the Bf 109 strafed the dinghy or the ditching aircraft. And I wonder too when the bombardier was lost. From the available text it is unclear if he was hit before the ditching, lost during the ditching or killed by the strafing.

AFAIK there was only one claim for B-25 that day, the 65th victory of Oblt. Hans Roehrig at 1509 hrs 60 km. S.S.W. Porto Polo at 3.000 m. But Italian pilots were also flying Bf 109s in this period. And the fact that US crew identified the attackers as Bf 109s is no proof that they were Bf 109s.