454thBG/738thBS loss - 9thApril,45
 

Hello,

Seeking details of a 454thBG/738thBS loss on the 9th April,45.

MACR 14696, not available on Fold3.

A/c serial I understand ended with numbers "362".
There were at least two that served with the 738th BS.
42-78362
And
44-50362

Both a/c survived the war and ended their days back in the USA.

From what I understand the loss was of one crewman on the 9th April,45.
Anyone know the details and/or the aircraft serial number or have the MACR ?

Thank you
Alex

Re: 454thBG/738thBS loss - 9thApril,45
 

Alex,

Aircraft was not lost. Ball Turret gunner S/Sgt Real J Caron fell out of the turret on April 9, 1945, and returned to the group on the 15th. Pilot was 1st Lt Hubbard C Capes. MACR form does not give any aircraft serial. #362 is from Caron's statement of June 7, 1945.

Mission report from Maxwell identifies aircraft as 0362 #60. It therefore has to be 44-50362.

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: 454thBG/738thBS loss - 9thApril,45
 

Hello Alex,

here is the statement of S/Sgt Caron:
"On 9 April 1945, I was flying as ball turret gunner on Aircraft #362, on a combat mission to Area Apple, Italy. At approximately 1424 hours, about 3 miles from the target the nose gunner called on interphone saying "smoke ahead". To get a better view I rolled up my guns and as I did the turret door fell off and I was hanging half in and half out of the turret. I tried to grab something to pull myself back in but the suction of the slipstream pulled me out. After falling a short distance I pulled the ripchord and floated down to earth. I landed between the 2nd New Zealand Division and the German lines near the Senio river. The New Zealand troops picked me up and took me to a forward aid station. I had hurt my foot on landing and was unable to walk. They then took me to a forward headquarters where I stayed for 2 days. The headquarters called my organization the first night when I was there and told them I was safe. After two days I moved with the headquarters up beyond Lugo, Italy where I stayed until for one day and then they found me transportation to the rear. on the 11th of April 1945 they took me to Ravenna, Italy where I was given transportation by jeep to Forli, Italy and then put on a C-47 which took me to the Bari Airport. At the airport I explained my situation to a RAF Officer who took me to Bari where I went to a Military Police Headquarters and called my organization for transportation. I reported to my organization for duty on 15th April 1945."

Regards
Leo

Re: 454thBG/738thBS loss - 9thApril,45
 

Hello Frank & Leo,
Thanks for your replies.
I had wandered which of the two serial's it may have been and if there were other possible that had served in the Group.
The airman's report sure proved the system of searching out infiltrates worked.
Thanks both
Alex